Severus was lost – lost for words an lost in every possible sense. They had tricked him, she had tricked him, or helped to do so! He tried to think of a way to explain … he could say that the love-potion was most likely to be Amortentia, that he had guessed the sweets to be gingerbread, but he didn't. He knew that guilt was written on his face, but he had no strength left to hide it. He didn't care any more. His plan had backfired in the worst way possible, he was likely to be expelled, but he didn't think about that. He wasn't able to think at all, nor to feel anything but overwhelming shame and regret … all he could do was look into two green eyes that used to show friendship once – and showed nothing but fear and disgust now. It almost broke his heart.
"Mister Snape." He didn't know how many times Dumbledore had addressed him. He looked up. The old wizard's blue eyes pierced into his. "Sir?" His voice was no more than a hoarse whisper.
"I would like you to answer Miss Evans' questions. How do you know about the gingerbread and the Amortentia? Because neither one or the other has been mentioned specifically."
Severus didn't answer, he couldn't. He just sat there, head hung, tears in the eyes, and said nothing.
"Maybe it is your turn now to take the Veritaserum?" There the opportunity was … would have been. He had taken the antidote, the truth-potion wouldn't work on him, he would be able to lie … but he had no strength left to try and fool Dumbledore. It was over, and he had lost, lost everything he had ever cared, ever longed for … "What won't be necessary." He had nothing left to fight for.
"So you do admit the you spiked the sweets Mr. Potter bought for Miss Evans?"
"Yes."
"In order to get him expelled?"
"Yes."
"And it didn't occur to you what you would to her?"
"No." This last word was barely audible. I'm not going to cry! I'm not!
"Mr. Snape, I'm shocked, disgusted and disappointed! I would have thought better of you! You will go to your dormitory at once and you will stay there until I send for you. Now get out of my office!"
Slowly, Severus got up and, without rising his gaze, left the room.
After the door had closed behind Snape, Dumbledore turned to Lily and James, a stern look on his face – but his eyes were twinkling merrily. "And what am I going to do with you two?"
Lily avoided his gaze guiltily, but James, who had heard that particular question far to often to be bothered (only it had always been Sirius next to him before, and the most certainly had not been holding hands), responded with a goofy grin. "You consider yourselves pretty smart, don't you? And you are, no doubt about that! On the other hand, it would not be fair if …" He clapped his hands and yet again the house-elf appeared. "Steward, please fetch Misters Black and Lupin, and Miss Whitman as well", he ordered. "I think you'll find them right outside my office, hiding under an Invisibility Cloak." He smiled at James' shocked expression and continued. "Ask them to join us, please."
"Yes, sir!"
James stared at Dumbledore. "Professor, how do you …"
"… know about your Invisibility Cloak? You're not the first member of the Potter family I had the pleasure to teach at Hogwarts, you know? I caught your father once, when he tried to … well, I think he should tell you the story! Just ask him what happened in his fifth year, involving a certain fourth year Ravenclaw-redhead …" He winked. "You could ask your mother, too – she knows the story as well!" His eyes became reminiscent, and he murmured something about "Potter-boys" and "redheads".
Both James and Lily (who had blushed again, more deeply than before) were truly relieved when there was a knock on the door, and Sirius, Remus and Tara entered, looking confused. Dumbledore drew up two more chairs (literally spoken, with his wand), an gestured politely. "Miss Whitman, Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin – please take seats." They did, and for some time he observed the five youths silently. Then he looked at Sirius. "So that's what you're using your brains for, Mr. Black? Except of planning pranks, of course."
If Sirius was startled by this, he hid it well. "What do you mean by that, Professor?" he asked, rather harshly. "Helping my friends? Getting back on a … snake for trying to get my best mate expelled and hurting his … hurting our friend? Yeah, that's what I'm using my brains for!"
"Not to mention", Remus added quickly (for Sirius' tone had been almost offensive), "what he – we – managed to get a confession out of Severus without having to resort to … more drastic measures."
"And he only got that he deserved, sir", Tara chimed in. "He was impaled by his own sword, if I may say so."
Albus Dumbledore smiled fondly at his students. "It was not my intention to criticize you, Mr. Black – although I would really appreciate if you could consider to direct at least a small part of you considerable intelligence to your classes. In fact I intended to tell you – all of you! – that I'm really proud of you!" They gaped at him, surprised. "First of all, Mr. Potter. You really showed your quality in this incident: chivalry, honour – and strength of character in the face of temptation!" Both Lily and James were crimson again, while their friend chortled with laughter at Dumbledore's choice of words, and the headmaster clearly was enjoying himself. "The qualities of a true Gryffindor – and a good man. Then, Mr. Black. As I said before, you've come up with a really clever plot to trick Mr. Snape into revealing his own deeds, I'm truly impressed! But what impresses me even more than your cleverness is your loyalty. You are willing to do anything for your friends, and that also is a sign of a true Gryffindor." He looked at Tara and Remus. "That also holds true for you two, for you stood by your friends during a difficult situation. But you are also living proof that Gryffindors are not just bold and brave. You've done a fine piece of scientific work by figuring out a way to undo the effect of the cross-magical interaction! Filius has often argued that you two belonged to his house, and you certainly would have done well in Ravenclaw, too."
Dumbledore sat silently for a while. Then he turned his gaze to Lily. "Now, you, Miss Evans … you've had a hard day, I'm sure: being drugged, being stunned, being trapped inside you body, not knowing what happened or what to do …" He looked at her kindly, and despite herself, she felt tears in her eyes again. James put his arm around her shoulder. "But still: Here you are, unharmed. You've found a strength inside yourself you didn't know you possessed. And you've learned a valuable lesson today: You learned to trust – even the Marauders!" he added with a chuckle. Everyone smiled and looked at each other. Then Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Each of you will receive 50 points for Gryffindor in recognition of your display of true Gryffindor-virtues." James and Sirius high-fived, and the others looked quite pleased with themselves. The headmaster smiled at this, but when he continued, his voice was serious. "There is one more question." They all fell silent at once. Dumbledore now addressed James and Lily. "What Mr. Snape tried to do to you was terrible, and the consequences, if he had been successful, would have been most severe. He certainly will be punished, and I have to tell you that his deeds would even justify his expulsion from Hogwarts." There were five sharp intakes of breath at this words. "Since you would have been the ones to suffer from his actions, I'd like to hear your opinions on this matter. The decision, however, will be mine alone."
Lily and James looked at each other. "What do you think, James?" she asked.
He hesitated. "I'm not sure … There's a part of me that just wants to pay him back, to hurt him as much as possible because of what he tried to do to you." He smiled a little. "But that's that part of me Padfoot had to stop yesterday – and I don't want that part to make my decisions. And I think that in some way I'm responsible for what happened: If I hadn't bullied Snape that much during the last years, he would not hate me like that today, and maybe he would not ever have come up with that plan … On the other hand …" He fell silent. "What do you think?"
"I …I don't want him to be expelled", she said, hesitant, but determined. "There was no actual harm done, quite the opposite, and …" She drew a deep breath. "… and I think he told the truth before: He really did not realize what he would do to me! He was … blinded by his hatred. I know that he'll never again be the Severus Snape I knew, but he was my friend once, and I want to remember him like that …" She looked at Dumbledore. "I don't want him to be expelled."
The headmaster wanted to speak, but was cut off by Sirius. "You know, Lily, if I were in you place", his voice was rough, "I would have done anything to revenge myself upon him!" He looked at her, an his expression softened. "You're a far better person than me, Lily Evans!"
Lily was speechless at this. She just squeezed his hand as a thank you.
"I could not have put it better myself." Dumbledore got up. "Mr. Snape will remain at Hogwarts – but he will be punished most severely, I assure you. And I will let him know that you two argued for him … he may learn something from it. And now off you go, all of you. Since you missed breakfast, I'd suggest you go and visit the house-elves … I'm sure they'll be delighted! But don't get yourself caught!" He winked.
"We'll try not to", James answered, grinning.
They were almost out, when Lily remembered something. "Professor, may I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Miss Evans."
"How did you know that Sirius came up with the plan?"
The others turned back to listen. "Dear Miss Evans", Dumbledore answered, smiling, "if you had observed five and a half years worth of Marauders'-pranks instead of yelling at one of them all the time (Lily's cheeks of course turned pink again at this), you would have notice that each of them has his own style, which is quite unmistakable, like a signature. Mr. Potter's pranks are simple, carefree, elegant – and most likely successful." His eyes twinkled. "Remember the one time he turned the hair of all the Slytherins pink? That was a typical Potter-prank: one simple spell, and three quarters of the school were laughing all day – including most of the staff, in fact!" James grinned. That one had always been one of his favourites.
"But if I remember rightly", argued Tara, "the Slytherin's hair would switch colour whenever someone tried to put it right and undo the spell!"
"That's right, Miss Whitman", Dumbledore confirmed. "In the end it took Professor Flitwick almost two hours to find a counter-spell … but that was not Mr. Potter's work! I should think Mr. Lupin here can tell you everything about that part. Yes", he said, when Tara looked at Remus in surprise, "that was a typical twist of Lupin: highly skilled charmwork, that's his mark! Like bewitching the hour-glasses that show the house-points so that every point awarded to Slytherin is added to Gryffindor, while all points lost by a Gryffindor are in fact taken from the Slytherins." He smiled at Remus, who was glowing under Tara's admiring look. "That was really advanced spellwork, and I must confess that I was highly tempted to award at least 20 points to him – but I think Horace would not have approved, he was fuming already!"
They all laughed. "But you asked for Mr. Black's signature", Dumbledore continued. "Well, his pranks always require nerve and daring, are a little rough and blunt sometimes and have the fatal tendency to get out of hand …" He looked at Tara and Lily over his halfmoon-spectacles. "I trust you to remember that day back in your forth year when you found your … ah … underwear wave from the Astronomy Tower, a sign underneath, saying: From the lovely Gryffindor fourthyear witches?" He chuckled as he saw the two girls glare draggers at Sirius, who just shrugged nonchalantly. "That was a typical Black!"
"But today's plot was completely different!"
"No really, Miss Evans. Do you realize that to get your garments he somehow had to bypass the charm that usually prevents boys going up the stairs to your dormitory? There was some seriously thinking done there! And as for today: In my opinion it requires both nerve and daring to come to my office, playing a charade like you did, trying to fool me long enough to get Mr. Snape to confess." He looked down at her. "And it could have gone wrong, too: What if I had insisted on questioning you? Would you have been able to act as convincing as Mr. Potter? If not, I might have gotten the impression of you trying to frame Mr. Snape! And what if I had not offered Mr. Potter the choice between Veritaserum and Legilimens, but had insisted on the latter? I'm quite sure there are some things in his mind he doesn't want me to know – which is quite natural, of course." Lily looked shocked, she evidently hadn't thought of this. "But that's a Black to you: Planning is quite useful, but it will only get you so far, and for the rest: take the risk and trust to luck!"
Professor Dumbledore still looked at Lily. "May I ask you a question in return, Miss Evans?"
Lily was surprised, an a little unsure: "Of … of course, Professor."
"Now that you got to know Mr. Potter a little better – will you at last go out with him when he asks you the next time?"
That Lily had not expected, and she blushed furiously once more. But she didn't look away this time. "Yes", she said, smiling. "Yes I will."
"That's good to know", he answered kindly. "Well, of you go!"
That they did. They had, however, not taken more than a few steps, when they heard him call: "Mr. Potter?"
James turned. "Professor?"
"Just so you know: I'm about to break my promise!"
James looked at him, confused. "What …" Remus' eyes, however, widened.
"Rumour has it that you love Miss Evans – is that true?"
And James Potter, still under the influence of the most powerful truth-serum known, turned to Lily Evans, his heart in his eyes: "With all my heart and all my soul."