Snape took his seat beside Lily in Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore sat in his usual chair behind his desk and looked very pleased at the sight of the two of them in the same room.
"Lily, are you excited for your father to arrive today?" Dumbledore asked pleasantly.
Lily's brown eyes lit up instantly at Dumbledore's words. "Yes, I'm excited! But have you noticed that he only arrives in the first week of school whenever one of his kids starts their first year? I think my mum is the one pushing him to do it to check up on us and make sure we're not crying our eyes out every night over leaving home. It's a bit annoying, but I guess I don't mind that much."
Dumbledore seemed amused by this. "Really, Lily? I think they are both just a bit concerned, that's all."
"I would say the staff appreciates his pending arrival, but that is no longer the case, since your father has proven that he fails to instill the appropriate amount of fear in your oldest brother. That boy keeps carrying on with his schemes no matter who is in the castle," said Snape with a sneer.
"Tell me about it! I've seen all those letters that got sent home every five seconds last year about James's behavior. Maybe - Sir, maybe I can help you put a stop to his behavior!" She smiled brightly at Snape, who was taken aback by this suggestion.
He highly doubted that Lily Luna, who had both Weasley and marauder genes within her, was doing anything other than mocking him by saying such a thing. But when he looked at the expression on her face, he felt a stir of recognition. It was the same kind expression that Lily Evans often wore whenever she wanted to help someone.
"And? How exactly do you plan on helping, Ms. Potter?"
"I don't know." When Snape raised his eyebrows at her and Dumbledore looked curious, she laughed and added, "What I mean is, I'll make up my strategies as I go along. I don't have a specific idea in mind…yet." Her eyes glittered mischievously.
Then the floo activated and Harry stepped out, brushing off his robes.
"Hello, Harry!" Dumbledore said ecstatically. "It's very nice to see you again, my boy!"
"It's nice to see you again, too…" Harry suddenly seemed to realize the other two occupants in the room and looked curiously at Lily and Snape. "So, this is what the Potter tea sessions are like." He grinned, but his eyes kept darting from Lily to Snape as though he found it hard to group the two of them together in his mind.
Harry nodded as a greeting to Snape, who nodded back, and Lily jumped out of her seat and ran into Harry's open arms with such a great deal of force that Snape thought it looked painful. Harry had to catch his balance after nearly falling into the side of Dumbledore's desk. Snape could see Dumbledore's eyes twinkle at this.
"Lily, did you miss me? You doing alright? James didn't put gum in your hair again, did he?" At Harry's words, Lily, who was positioned in a way that prevented Harry from seeing her expression, rolled her eyes briefly and shot a look to both Snape and Dumbledore that clearly read, "See what I was talking about?"
"Daddy. I saw you yesterday at King's Cross. I have a whole family and friends here at school to keep me company, and some of the staff are family friends. I'm just fine," she said firmly after looking him straight in the face.
Harry blinked and sense seemed to wash over him, and he said, "You're right. It's your grandmother who's been worrying nonstop about you and Hugo, so some of that has kinda rubbed off on me. You're the youngest in the family, but we've all got to remember you've also got a good head on your shoulders."
She gave a smug smirk. "Now that's what I like to hear. Oh, and guess what? Me and Professor Snape are going to try and stop James from bringing the school down with pranks! But you've got to promise not to tell James."
Harry looked at Snape in surprise. "You and Lily are teaming up? You and a Potter actually have a common goal?" Harry grinned wholeheartedly. "That's -"
"Enough to make Grandpa James roll in his grave? I agree," said Lily, and Harry and Dumbledore laughed, while Snape smirked.
Then a knock came from the door amidst the laughing. "Come in," Dumbledore responded merrily.
It was James, who looked very pleased indeed. "Hold your horses there, everyone. I've been eavesdropping for a while and heard about this deal Lily has made with Professor Snape. And now that I know what's going on, I'm afraid Lily's little plan is down the drain. Now I can continue with being the most spectacular pranking marauder the world has ever seen -"
" Oh brother -" Harry muttered.
"And no one will be able to bring me down!" He made to close the door on his way out, but he suddenly opened the door to briefly say, "Oh, hi, Dad," before actually leaving.
"Lily, don't retaliate, he just wants to get a reaction out of…you…" Harry finished lamely as Lily ran out the door shouting, "James! You don't want to know what I'm going to do to you for eavesdropping on my tea session!"