Once A Marauder
Chapter Twenty-Five
Finley walked into the Leaky Cauldron the next night and looked around hoping to see Snape. She had written to him that morning asking him to meet her there, but hadn't signed her name. She was afraid that if he knew who was writing to him, he wouldn't show. She finally noticed a head of black, greasy hair sitting in a dark corner in the back, nursing a firewhiskey, and she couldn't help but smile a bit. She signaled to Tom the Barman asking for a firewhiskey of her own before she made her way to the table.
"Hello, Severus." She said, pulling up a chair.
"I don't know what you want, Ryan, but I'm waiting for someone." Snape drawled.
"And here I am. Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it." Tom brought Finley's drink and she thanked him for it.
"You're the one who wrote me? I knew I shouldn't have came." Snape took a sip of his firewhiskey and grimaced.
"I'm glad you did. I do need your help. It's about Lily." Finley took a gulp of her own drink and smiled. By the look on Snape's face, she knew she had him. His eyes were wide and his mouth didn't know whether to frown or do something completely different.
"What- What about Lily?" He stuttered.
"Look. I'm going to be completely blunt here. I know you eavesdropped on a private conversation and heard a Prophecy about the one who would defeat Voldemort. And I know you told Him about it."
"How do you know that?" Snape said slowly, furrowing his brow.
"Don't you remember? I know everything about everyone, Snivellus. It's why my hair's so big. It's full of secrets." Finley whispered the last sentence and laughed.
Snape rolled his eyes. "If you're just going to berate me and patronize me, I'm going to leave. What does me hearing a blasted Prophecy have to do with Lily?"
"Because the Prophecy could have applied to two different children born at the end of July last year. Voldemort is going to decide that her son is who it is talking about. He's going to kill all of them. And I need your help preventing that."
"Her son? He's going to kill Lily?" Snape downed what was left in his glass and signaled for another one. "Why do you need my help? Or want it, for that matter?"
"Voldemort has Horcruxes. Five of them. I already have one, but I need your help with two of them. They're in the possession of two Death Eaters, and I can't go near them because if I do, I'll kill them."
"Who has them?"
"Malfoy has a diary, Lestrange has a cup that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff." Finley finished off her firewhiskey and nodded to Tom to bring her another. "So, will you help me?"
"Why can't you get the Horcruxes from Malfoy and Lestrange yourself?"
"They killed my parents. And I'm not one to pass up revenge if it comes my way. Besides, you're closer to them than I am."
"And how am I supposed to pull all of this off exactly?" Snape drew his sentence out again.
"When Moldy Ass confirms that he's decided on Harry, you go to Dumbledore. Ask for his help. You become a double agent. I believe they'll need a new Potions Master at school next year."
"Why did you come to me?"
"Because you would have gone to Dumbledore and pulled the double agent bullshit, anyways. If you're up to changing the future with me, in the future I'm planning James and Lily don't die." Snape sneered at the mention of James. "Make that face all you want, James and Lily are a package deal. Besides, you owe James for saving your life."
"I wouldn't have needed saving if Black hadn't tricked me!" Snape shouted, pounding his fist on the table.
"Hold a grudge against Sirius, I don't care. Do you want to keep Lily alive or not?"
"Of course I do. What do you need me to do?"
"Right now, I just need those Horcruxes. You do that and I'll be your best friend." She raised her glass to Snape and motioned for him to do the same. "Cheers." She clinked their glasses and they downed what was left. Finley fished a few Galleons out of her pocket, tossed them on the table, and stood up. "I'll be in touch. Thank you, Severus. I appreciate the help."
"Don't mention it." Snape nodded his head and Finley smiled and left.
When Finley entered the flat, she felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She walked to her bedroom and crawled in next to Sirius, who was dozing with a book on his chest. She kissed his cheek and grinned when it caused him to stir.
"Jesus, you smell like booze."
"Whatever. I only had two glasses. I need more than that to convince myself to sleep with you."
Sirius rolled his eyes and sat up, before setting his book on the nightstand and running his hands through his dark, shoulder-length hair. "Ha. Ha. Ha. So, how'd it go? Were you okay without me?"
"Sirius, I'm a big girl. I can do-"
Sirius interrupted. "You may be a big girl, but he's a certified slimeball and I don't like the idea of you being alone with him. In public or not."
"I understand, Pads, but I can take care of myself. He agreed to help."
"Oh, fan-fucking-tastic. That's just bloody peachy."
"It's one more person to ensure that James and Lily stay alive. Just remember that."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Can we have sex now, so I can go to sleep?"
"Wow. That was about as romantic as your proposal." Finley rolled her eyes and leaned in to kiss Sirius anyways.
"What can I say? I'm a regular Casanova and whatnot." Sirius grinned into the kiss. "Just promise me that you'll let me go with you next time you see Snivellus."
"If it will make you feel any better, you can go. Now, kiss me again, please."
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