Chapter 37
"Right then, class, you may begin your Wiggenweld potions in your pairs" Professor Slughorn instructed the group.
"I'll gather the ingredients, Sev, you get the cauldron started" Lily told him, standing and making her way over to the supply cupboard. Severus got the base ready, lighting the fire beneath the cauldron, ready for Lily to return with the extra things they needed. Severus already had the book open at the relevant page, though he was already familiar with the potion they were creating today, Lily and himself had brewed this before.
"Salamander blood for you, Sev" she said, handing him the small vial. Severus added the blood, waiting for the potion to turn red, before stirring the potion until it changed to a vivid orange. Severus repeated the process again as it changed to yellow, then green, adding more blood until they reached turquoise. Severus left the potion to heat then, waiting for the potion to change colour again.
"Is everything ok, Sev?" she asked as they watched the cauldron.
"Hmm. I don't know, Lily" he admitted. He'd felt on edge for the last week, since the last memory. On the one hand, it was reassuring that the memories were continuing, that he was still getting information about Voldemort that could help Dumbledore. But on the other hand, it was frustrating, for all the clues they were getting, it was still a waiting game. They still didn't have all the information, and they didn't have a timeframe for actually searching for the hidden bits of Voldemort's soul and destroying them. And during the waiting, Voldemort was growing stronger, gathering forces, drawing those on the fringes of the War to his side, swaying them with his promises of power. Severus worried that it was only a matter of time before Avery and his little group targeted him again, he was aware of the looks they shot his way. Something was coming. Soon. He just wished he knew what it was.
And he hadn't heard from his mother since he came back to school at the beginning of January. He'd written to her several times, using Apollo to take the letters, but every time he'd returned with nothing.
"Sev?" she probed gently as he'd got lost in his thoughts.
"Sorry. Just thinking" he told her. Moving on to the next step of the potion as they saw it change colour. Severus once again added Salamander blood till it changed to a delicate pink, leaving it on the heat again, watching for yet another colour change. He could see Lily out of the corner of his eye, counting out the lionfish spines, ready for the next steps of the brewing process. Severus looked quickly around the room, seeing that Professor Slughorn on the other side of the room, fussing over Avery's poor excuse for a potion. Severus cast a Muffliato before speaking, but keeping his eyes firmly on their cauldron.
"I still haven't heard anything from my mother" he said quietly.
"Oh? Did Apollo come back with nothing again?" she asked. Severus nodded.
"Hmm. He came back this morning"
"Do you think she's ok?" Lily asked.
"I hope so. But I've got no way of knowing. She didn't want me at the house before I came back to school, she's not replying to my letters" he explained, pausing as the potion turned bright red, taking the lionfish spines from Lily and adding them to the cauldron, leaving it to heat again. "I just hoped that with him out the way, she'd behave differently towards me" he said sadly. With his mother behaving the way she did, he couldn't help but feel his mother cared as little for him as his father had done.
"Do you think it's because she's grieving?" Lily asked. Of course she would see things differently, "She could just be struggling to adjust" she added. Severus shrugged.
"I really don't know. I wish I did. I'd asked her about coming home at Easter this year, but with no reply I don't know what to think" he told her, pausing once again to add the next portion of lionfish spines, and picking up the flobberworm mucus, beginning the next stage of additions and colour changes, stirring and adding until he finally had a lovely orange. Severus turned to Lily, stepping aside so she could add the honeywater, once it became a vibrant turquoise, Severus began heating it again, sitting back down to watch for the next change in colour.
"You know you can come home with me, Sev. That way you can go and visit her in person, see if that helps" Lily told him gently.
"Thanks, Lily. I'll think about it" he told her.
"You know you're always welcome. You're part of the family" she smiled.
"It's funny, being with you over Christmas, it's the first time I felt part of a family" he smiled sadly, reaching for the Salamander blood again as the potion had changed colour. Severus removed the heat now the final step was complete. He turned to face Lily now, finding her smiling warmly at him.
"What?" he queried.
"Family" she smiled. He nodded. They were a family, they always would be. Soft sod, his brain informed him. He didn't care.
Seeing Professor Slughorn making his way around the room, checking on the students progress now the lesson was almost over. Severus lifted his Muffliato as he approached their bench.
"Ah, Mr Snape, Miss Evans! Marvellous work, everything looking exactly as it should, not that I'd expect anything less from you two" he beamed happily.
"Thank you, Sir" Lily answered happily as Slughorn bustled away.
The two of them quickly cleaned up their bench, returning unused ingredients and bottling the potion for their Professor, Severus quickly cleaning his cauldron.
Students began filing out the class after handing their own potion samples to Slughorn. Severus and Lily left hand in hand, walking separately to the other students.
"Was there something else bothering you, Sev?" she asked quietly. Severus shrugged.
"Just the usual, going round my head. I hate the waiting around" he admitted quietly.
"I know" she told him, "Waiting is never fun"
"Patience is a virtue" the Headmaster told them, stepping from around the corner. Severus tightened his grip on Lily's hand.
"Yes, Sir" Severus replied.
"Could I borrow you for a short time, Mr Snape?" he asked.
"Of course, Sir" Severus answered, "I'll see you in the Great Hall soon, Lily" he said to her. Lily nodded as Severus squeezed her fingers before hurrying away with Dumbledore. He didn't really want to leave her right now, he wanted her company. It was the only thing that seemed to calm him in the slightest.
Soon, they were safely in Dumbledore's office, having ignored the suspicious glances of other students as he was, once again, wandering through the castle with the Headmaster.
"Is something troubling you, Severus?" Dumbledore asked him. Severus sighed.
"At the moment? Mostly my mother" he admitted, "I've still heard nothing from her since coming back to school, Sir"
"You've written to her?"
"I have, several times, but Apollo comes back with no reply every time. I'm just not sure what to make of it" he explained.
"I see. Well, that is worrying, Severus. I could have someone check up on her"
"I don't know if that would be wise, Sir" somehow he didn't think that his mother would appreciate strangers suddenly turning up to 'check' on her.
"It would be done very carefully. Covertly" Dumbledore assured him. Severus nodded slowly, he wanted to know something. Easter was still well over a month away, that would be the soonest he could go and visit in person, and that was only if Mr and Mrs Evans would allow him to stay with them again. He didn't see a reason they wouldn't let him, but he couldn't rely on that for certain. Dumbledore nodded.
"I thought I should let you have a little update on our own quest" Dumbledore told him, Severus met his eyes questioningly. "I believe I know where the ring may have been hidden"
"Really? Are we going to fetch it soon, then?" Severus found himself asking.
"In good time, Severus. Perhaps during the summer, when there is more time to allow a thorough investigation" he explained. Severus nodded, it still meant waiting, but at least he had more of an idea about how long. It was a start.
"And you won't go alone?" Severus checked.
"I hope you will be able to come with me. If that is not possible, I will take someone trustworthy"
"And don't put the ring on" Severus warned. Dumbledore chuckled.
"No. It is clear from your memories I will find it near impossible to resist if I attempt to retrieve it alone. I hope not to make the same mistake" he told him.
"And what about the Diary, Sir? Are you any closer to figuring out how we can retrieve that?" Severus knew that one was going to be the more difficult one to retrieve of the two items they knew about. Though, some of the others could be more difficult still, and they still had no idea what these items could be.
"Try not to worry, Severus. We still have time, the items are safe and secure, and we will find a way to collect all the pieces" he told him, quite cheerfully. "Now, why don't you head down to lunch, I'm sure Miss Evans will be waiting for you"
"Yes, Sir" Severus nodded, heading for the door.
"And I'll keep you informed, if I discover anything in any of our investigations"
"Thank you, Sir" Severus nodded again, leaving the office, taking his mirror out of a pocket inside his robes to contact Lily as he made his way down the winding staircase.
...
Lily felt the mirror humming in her pocket and stopped in her tracks to take it out.
"Sev, are you done already?" she asked, smiling at his face in the mirror.
"Yes, all done. Where are you?" he asked.
"Just leaving the library, going to lunch. You?"
"Just leaving Dumbledore's office" he answered. Lily nodded. She started walking again as she heard voices coming from behind her. Avery and one of his friends, she couldn't tell who.
"Sev, someone's following me" she whispered as quietly as she could, frowning, panicking as she increased the speed of her footsteps, desperate to get to the Great Hall where she would be surrounded by others.
"Who is it? Is it them?" he whispered back, clearly worried too.
"Avery and someone else" she whispered. Suddenly, Evan Rosier was in front of her as she reached a corner, suppressing a yelp of fear at the expression on his face. She took a step back, attempting to return the way she had come from.
"Alright, Mudblood? Just the girl I'm looking for" Rosier smirked cruelly. Lily swallowed nervously, keeping the mirror up, she could see Severus' face out the corner of her eye, her only comfort at this moment being the fact that Severus could hear what was being said to her.
"What do you want?" she asked them cautiously.
"Just a little word. There's a couple of things you're going to do for us" Avery said, now standing behind her. Lily didn't look at him, merely wondered if she could make any sort of escape, though she doubted it. She hoped Severus was fetching Dumbledore, or anyone, or just coming to her himself. She didn't mind which option he chose, all she knew was that she was outnumbered. Surrounded by three particularly cruel boys.
"I'm not doing anything for you lot" she informed them, though not sounding entirely confident in that statement.
"Oh, I think you'll find we can be very... persuasive" Rosier smirked at her. "Imperio" her muttered menacingly, aiming his wand at her.
Lily felt her eyes widen in surprise as his spell hit her.
"Now, put your mirror away, now is not the time for admiring yourself" Rosier grinned. Lily put the mirror back in her pocket, barely aware of the boys standing behind her. Only the voice from the boy in front, waiting. She didn't know what she was waiting for, must be something though. It didn't really matter. "Now come with us" Rosier's voice instructed. Lily nodded, obediently following as he turned and started to walk away. She had to follow the voice.
They walked in silence, down the corridor and stairs, stopping in the entrance hall.
"Now then. You need to ditch Snape, dump him and make it good. And you need to make a move on Potter, give him a good snog or something. Everyone should be in the Great Hall now, perfectly good audience, so let's get to it. Understand?" he hissed at her. Lily nodded, smiling. Of course she understood, she wasn't stupid. Dump Snape, Snog Potter. Easy, her mind added. Rosier nodded back, pushing her forwards, his wand prodding her in the back, urging her on.
Lily stepped into the Great Hall, scanning around for the boys she needed. Dump SnapeΒΈ the voice echoed in her head. She couldn't see him anywhere though. Why was that? He was supposed to be here, wasn't he? The voice said.
Lily continued her search, looking for the other boy she'd been told about, Snog Potter, the voice in her head echoed, Snog Potter. She spotted him then, sat at the Gryffindor table, surrounded by other boys. They didn't matter, she only needed Potter. Lily walked up behind Potter, nobody even noticed her silent approach. She draped her arms around Potter's shoulders, whispering in his ear
"Hello, Potter" Potter jumped in his seat.
"Evans! What the Hell are you doing?" he asked her, looking confused, jumping off the bench to stand in front of her.
"Don't you want to snog me, Potter?" she asked him, vacant eyes staring at him. Snog Potter the voice reminded her again.
"What? What's going on? Is this one of Snivelly's pranks because it's not funny" Potter hissed at her.
"I need to Snog you" she told him, matter of fact. That was what the voice said. Why? another part of her brain asked her.
"You have a boyfriend - Snape" Potter reminded her. Dump Snape the voice echoed.
"Yeah, I'm dumping Snape" she informed him. Dump Snape the voice reminded. But why? the other voice in her brain asked her again. Her voice.
"That doesn't sound right, you were all cosy in potions this morning. Why are you dumping him?" Potter asked suspiciously.
"I need to dump Snape" she answered blankly. Do I really? Lily frowned. Something didn't make sense, she just wished she knew what. She stepped closer to Potter, trying to do what the voice said, but he stepped away again. Lily frowned. Something wasn't right. She caught Potter looking over her shoulder at something. Lily turned. Snape. Dump Snape the voice shouted louder. I don't think I want to, her own voice argued. Lily's head hurt. Why did nothing make sense anymore?
"Lily, are you ok?" Snape asked her quietly.
"I need to dump you, Snape" she said, though she felt more confused as she said the words out loud. Why do I need to do that?
"Who said you do?" Snape asked her. Lily frowned, don't tell him, you can't tell him.
"The voice says so" she said, biting her lip. Snape nodded.
"You don't have to listen to the voice, Lily. Only your voice" he said softly. Lily took a step back towards Potter, reaching out for him. "What else did the voice tell you to do?" Snape asked. Lily didn't answer, Dump Snape, Snog Potter she heard the voice again. I don't want to do that! her own voice argued. Lily heard a sob escape her as she argued in her head with the voice.
"Finite Incantatum" a strong voice came from somewhere. The Headmaster. The Imperius curse had been lifted. Lily stared at Severus, feeling her eyes filling with tears. What had happened? What had almost happened?
"Are you ok, Lily" Severus asked, stepping towards her, gently touching her arm.
"I don't know" she answered, biting her lip nervously.
"Miss Evans?" Dumbledore's voice came in. Lily met his eyes. "Mr Snape tells me he heard someone placing an Imperius Curse on you, is this true?" he asked. Lily nodded.
"Yes, Sir. Evan Rosier" she whispered quietly.
"He gave you instructions?" Dumbledore asked. Lily nodded.
"To break up with Severus. And kiss Potter in front of everyone" she said, looking at the floor. How could Severus look at her now?
"Did you do either of those things?"
"No," she said, shaking her head "I tried to, but I could hear my own voice too. Nothing made sense in my head" she told them. Severus stroked her arm gently.
"I will see to Mr Rosier's removal, Miss Evans. I'm sure I can leave you in Mr Snape's capable hands, do visit the Hospital Wing if you feel you need to" Dumbledore told them, moving away, back to Evan Rosier who was being held in the doorway by Filch.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Severus asked her. Lily looked at him nervously, not sure what to expect. Would he be mad at her for what she'd tried to do? When she didn't answer, Severus pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, gently kissing her on the forehead. She cried then. The gentle reassurance from him enough to tip her over the edge. And she cried. She sobbed into his robes as he stroked her hair, making soft 'shushing' sounds.
"I'm so sorry, Sev" she whispered hoarsely
"It's ok, Lily. I heard him place the curse over the mirror. I was still on the steps to Dumbledore's office, so I got him and got down here as quickly as I could. I was so worried about you" he told her, clearly fighting back tears of his own.
"I'd never want to break up with you, Sev. Or kiss anyone else" she told him, pulling back to look up at his face.
"I know" he whispered, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"I knew something wasn't right" Potter's voice suddenly interrupted. Lily had forgotten they were stood with the Marauders. "Are you all right?"
"I will be" she nodded "And thanks, for not, you know" she said quietly.
"Like I said, something wasn't right. And I'm not that much of a jerk" he told her. Lily almost smiled, but not quite. Perhaps in the grand scheme of things he wasn't that bad.
"I need some fresh air, I think" Lily said, looking up at Severus. He nodded, kissing her lightly on the lips, before taking her hand, leading her away from the Hall. She wanted to run away somewhere, escape from what had happened. Even if only for a short time. Lunch didn't seem to matter at the moment. And Severus would follow, wherever she went. She knew that. And she knew they would be ok. She would be ok.