Chapter 25
Severus slipped into the seat beside Lily at the front of the classroom. Both of them eager to return to brewing, definitely something he'd missed over the summer. Today, they were beginning NEWT level work, he was already familiar with pretty much all the potions they would be working on, he'd read so much during his free time.
Lily gave him a bright smile as he glanced over at her, her eyes warm and sparkling. The class was smaller than in previous years, not all the Slytherins had continued on to the more advanced level, though unfortunately Mulciber was there - no doubt aiming to improve his skills enough to work for You-Know-Who. And Potter and Black were there, they'd let everyone know they were aiming to be Aurors and Potions at this level was a necessary requirement. He only hoped they paid more attention to their work than to him.
Slughorn bustled around the room, wandering between the desks as the students took their seats. Severus kept his eyes on the display at the front of the room, an assortment of glass vials and cauldrons simmering away, spirals of steam rising from the pearly surface of one of them.
"Welcome, welcome NEWT students" Slughorn began, satisfied that all necessary were present, "As I'm sure you're aware, this class is going to be considerably trickier now than in previous years" he said as he headed for the front of the classroom, standing beside the display on his desk. "To start with, a little test for you, just some of the potions you'll be able to produce by the time your NEWT's are completed"
Severus glanced at the display, all were pretty obvious, to him at least. And probably to Lily too, she'd read almost as much as he had.
"So, who can tell me what we have here?" Slughorn asked, gesturing towards a cauldron containing a perfectly clear, gently bubbling solution. Severus raised his hand, as did a couple of others. "Mr Snape?"
"Veritaserum, Sir" Severus answered.
"And its effects, Mr Snape?"
"To force the drinker to tell the truth, Sir"
"Excellent. Now, anyone else care to tell me about this particular potion?" Slughorn asked, lifting up a vial containing a murky looking sludge. A few people raised their hands, "Mr Potter?"
"Polyjuice, Sir. Allows someone to take on the physical appearance of someone else" Potter answered.
"Indeed. Well done, Mr Potter. And finally, who can identify this one?" he asked as he indicated the final cauldron. This time only two put their hand up, "Miss Evans?"
"Amortentia, Sir. A powerful love potion, that creates an obsessive love" she answered. Severus tried to ignore the sniggers that came from Potter and Black. No doubt in his mind what they were laughing about.
"Excellent, Miss Evans. A rather dangerous substance in my opinion. Rather intriguing and interesting, it has a different scent to everyone, depending on what they find attractive" he informed them, "Would anyone care to take a sniff?" he asked with an amused expression, standing aside as students cautiously approached, clearly curious as to what scents they would find.
"Don't you want to find out what it smells like to you?" Lily whispered in his ear. Severus grinned as her breath tickled his cheek.
"I don't need to, I already know what I find 'attractive'" he told her with a smirk, he couldn't fail to miss the blush that crept over her cheeks. "What about you, aren't you curious?" he asked.
"Nah, I'm good where I am thanks" she replied with a mischievous smile.
"Right then, if you could all take your seats" Slughorn's voice called out after a few minutes, waiting for everyone to move away from his desk. "Today, we're going to be working on Draught of Living Death, an extremely powerful sleeping potion, that when taken gives the drinker the appearance of being dead. A very tricky potion, that requires a great deal of concentration. Now, if you'll take out your books and equipment, you may begin" he instructed.
Soon, the dungeon was bustling as the students all began removing items from their bags. Books, cauldrons, scales and supplies were soon being spread across the desks, chatter soon rippling around the room as they began their work. Everyone was working alone for this project, giving Severus mixed feelings. On the one hand, he enjoyed working alone, going by instinct as he created his potions. On the other hand, he missed the feeling of creating 'something' with Lily, the warmth it gave him as their joint effort took shape, receiving praise from their Professor.
The two of them worked side by side, both making good progress with their potions, exchanging glances and smiles as their potions simmered, bubbling away as it changed colour.
"How come you know so much about love potions, Evans?" Potter's voice suddenly interrupted, at Lily's side by their desk. Severus' eyes snapped to his, the unspoken accusation hanging in the air.
"Because she reads, Potter. You should really try it sometime" Severus snapped, not taking his eyes off him. Potter snorted.
"Yeah, right. Well I think there's something else happening"
"Like what, exactly?" Lily snapped, slamming a hand down on the desk.
"Like Snivelly here, slipping some of that Amortentia in your drink" Potter smirked.
"How dare you" she growled dangerously, face glowing red as she tried to suppress her anger. Severus could feel his own anger bubbling, tried to take calming breaths as he gripped the edge of the desk.
"Well, you can't deny it's possible" Potter shrugged, "Why else would someone like you, suddenly want to be with someone like him?"
"What the Hell is that supposed to mean?" she snapped before Severus could say anything.
"You know what it means" he grinned, "You're beautiful and intelligent, and he's, well, Snivellus"
Before either of them could say anything, Severus' cauldron started bubbling heavily, sparks emitting from its surface as it began to smoke. Severus caught Potter glance at something behind him, he turned to see Black stepping away, the pair of them quickly heading back to their own desk.
"What's happening?" Lily asked as the cauldron smoked heavily.
"Get down!" Severus shouted, pulling Lily down, attempting to shield her as the cauldron exploded. Splashes of hot potion hitting his robes. Fortunately others around them ducked as he'd yelled. Nobody was hurt, but all that remained was his smoking cauldron now lying on its side, the half finished potion spreading across the desk.
"My goodness, what on Earth happened, Mr Snape?" Slughorn asked as he made his way over.
"I thought Snape was supposed to be good at Potions" Black mocked across the room.
"They did something to his potion, Sir" Lily told him.
"Oh?"
"Black must have put something in there while his back was turned. Potter came over making some rather ridiculous comments, Sir" she explained.
"Is that true, Mr Snape?" Slughorn asked.
"Yes, Sir. I didn't realise Black was behind me until they were running back to their desk"
"That's ridiculous, Sir. We didn't do anything!" Potter protested.
"Needless to say, I will be talking to the Headmaster about this" Slughorn informed them all. Potter and Black both glared, Lily looked annoyed. "Now, both of your potions have been ruined by... whatever has taken place. Would you like to make it up this evening?" he asked them both.
"Yes please, Sir" Severus answered. Lily nodded, she wouldn't want to miss out, and chances are they'd have the lab to themselves. Slughorn would probably be in his office, staying nearby to make sure nobody came to interfere again.
With a heavy sigh, Severus and Lily cleared up what remained of their ruined potions. It was going to be a very long year, it wasn't even the end of the first week and the Marauders had their pranks and taunting underway. And Severus wasn't entirely sure how much provoking he could take until he snapped.
...
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, eyeing the two boys stood in front of him. Disappointed that the two of them were still determined to keep provoking Severus Snape. Professor Slughorn had filled him in on today's Potions class, the sniggers he'd heard, comments sent in the direction of Severus. Or as they preferred to call him 'Snivellus'. The sneaking of something into Severus' cauldron, the explosion that had taken place. Fortunately nobody had been injured today, the worst outcome meaning Mr Snape and Miss Evans had to spend this evening re-doing their ruined work.
"Needless to say, I'm very disappointed in both of you" Dumbledore told them sadly.
"As am I" Professor McGonagall volunteered, hands clasped in front of her as she stood beside Albus, "I expect much better behaviour from my own House, Mr Potter, Mr Black" she informed them.
"But Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, we didn't do anything!" Potter protested, though not at all convincingly.
"Snape hates us, he'd say anything to get us in trouble" Black added.
"But this hasn't come from Mr Snape" he informed them. The two boys looked at each other, a mixture of confusion and guilt. "Professor Slughorn came to me to discuss today's class, and I felt it prudent for us to have a little... discussion" he explained as he indicated for the boys to take a seat. Potter and Black sat as Dumbledore stood, walking around to perch in front of them on the edge of his desk. "This isn't the first time you've had an issue with Mr Snape, the incident in Diagon Alley..."
"That was his fault, Sir!" Potter snapped.
"From what I witnessed, I do not believe that to be the case" he told them, peering at them over the top of his glasses. The boys both looked at the floor. "I do not know why you have taken such an exception to Mr Snape, but I do not like it" he informed them.
"He's dark, Sir!" Black spat out.
"And you know this for a fact, Mr Black?" he posed to him.
"Well, it's kind of obvious. He's been friends with Mulciber and that lot since he got here, plus those spells! Mulciber used one of his spells to hurt Evans!" Potter rambled. Dumbledore sighed.
"Do you believe Miss Evans would have remained good friends with him for all these years if was indeed, dark, as you suspect?"
"What if he's controlling her, Sir?" Potter asked.
"Do you think I wouldn't have noticed if that was the case, Mr Potter?" Dumbledore asked. Potter shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Neither of them answered. "Whatever grudge you happen to have, I suggest you let it go" he told them, "I do not want to hear of Mr Snape's work being sabotaged again, nor do I wish to hear of anyone taking a trip to the Hospital Wing" he informed them.
"Yes, Sir" they both answered sheepishly.
"Do you have anything to add, Professor McGonagall?" he asked his Deputy.
"Only that Mr Potter and Mr Black should try and make more of an effort to keep away from Mr Snape, and probably Miss Evans as well. I do not like it when points are taken from Gryffindor - particularly if I have to remove them myself. Do not give me a reason to do so" she said as she looked them over.
"Yes, Professor" they mumbled.
"Very well, the two of you may go. But be warned, I will be watching"
"We're not getting a detention, Sir?" Potter asked.
"We all know that one of you two did something to Mr Snape's potion, but there is no proof. This time, consider it a warning. Try to think more carefully about the results of your actions" he warned them, hoping then would listen and leave Severus alone.
The more time he spent with Severus, the more he realised the boy wasn't dark. He was a victim. Over and over again, in every area of his life. A quiet boy it was too easy for others to gain an advantage over. Sooner or later, he would fight back, there would be a final straw. Albus knew it was up to him to make sure that didn't happen.
Dumbledore watched as the now dismissed boys rose from their chairs and left his office without another word.
"I'll keep an eye on them, Albus" Minerva assured him, offering a curt nod as she too swept from his office, leaving him alone to contemplate the events of the day.
...
Lily made her way back to the Gryffindor common room, exhausted after a long day. A full day of classes, followed by an evening with Severus, brewing Draught of Living Death again, thanks to Potter and Black meddling, blowing up Severus' cauldron which in turn, had ruined her own. Even if hers hadn't been ruined, she would have gone with him to the dungeons, Professor Slughorn would have let her stay.
Sighing, she dropped into a comfortable chair by the fire, stretching her legs out in front of her, closing her eyes, taking a few minutes to bask in the warmth before she headed for bed. House mates were gathered in various groups around the room, two playing Wizards chess, a group playing exploding snap, a few reading quietly, a group of four boys engaged in a discussion...
"It just doesn't make sense" she heard Black say.
"I know. He hasn't been in the Slytherin dorms once since we got back" Potter added.
"That we know of" Lupin told them, "You can't possibly be watching him 24 hours a day. And we've only been back a couple of days" he added reasonably.
"No, but surely if he's not sleeping in the dorms, Dumbledore should know. We have to tell him" Potter told them.
"What if Dumbledore already knows?" Lupin asked.
"What if he doesn't?" Potter snapped back.
"And how exactly would you explain to him that you know he's not sleeping in the dungeons?" Lupin asked. She heard Potter sigh, and fought the urge to jump up and start shouting at them again, "You've already been told to keep away from him, leave him alone" Lupin continued.
"There's something not right going on though, you know that as well as us, Moony" Black told him.
"First night back, Snivellus was dragged off to the Headmaster's office. What was that about?" Potter asked.
"Yeah, and all those meetings he had at the end of last term?" Black continued.
"Dumbledore knows Snivellus is dark, he's trying to stop him from going too far!" Potter finished.
"Then why isn't he doing the same with Mulciber? He was the one that was going to attack Mary, he was the one who hurt Lily" Lupin reasoned.
"Yeah, with Snape's spell! And he probably brewed the potion" Potter snapped. Lily heard Lupin sigh, it sounded like he was at least attempting to be reasonable, giving Severus the benefit of the doubt. But he was fighting a losing battle. Potter and Black were fairly cemented in their hatred of Severus. Pettigrew just went along with whatever they said.
"Look, maybe Lily's right. Whatever you think you know about Snape is wrong. Do you think she'd be with him, if he really was dark? She must know him better than anyone" Lupin told them. Lily nodded to herself, damn right she knew him, and she would keep on defending him too.
"Well, look at this though, Moony. It's after curfew now, and he's not in the Slytherin dorms" she heard Black tell them. How did they know that from here?
"Yeah, see, he's on the third floor again. Same as the last two nights" Potter continued. Third floor? They knew where Severus' room was? That couldn't be good. She heard Lupin sigh again. Frustration? Resignation? She didn't know.
"Just put that away, James. He's not in his dorms. Fine. Maybe there's a perfectly good explanation, but it's none of our business" he said, lowering his voice.
"Fine" Potter snapped, "Mischief managed" she heard him mutter, followed by the rustling of parchment. Lily fought the urge to turn and look over the back of the chair. So far they hadn't noticed she was there and she didn't want to change that now. A few minutes later, she heard movement as she assumed the four boys were heading towards the dorms. Finally, she chanced a glance, seeing their backs retreating.
Lily let out a deep sigh. This was not good, they obviously had some way of spying on Severus from a distance. Which would make sense. Last year they always seemed to be nearby, sneaking up on him, on both of them when they least expected it. She would have to wait until tomorrow to tell him what she'd heard, she knew he wouldn't take it well, but at least they would know something was going on. Perhaps she should talk to Professor McGonagall, or even the Headmaster. Perhaps she should leave that to Severus.
Frowning, she heaved herself out the chair, making her way towards her own bed, hoping she would get some sleep now, and not be kept awake by her swirling thoughts.