Wow, it's been forever and a day since I posted, hasn't it?
Due to the numerous amount of reviews that I have received, I have come to the conclusion that many readers believe that they are more capable then I in telling the story. If anyone believes that they can do a better job of portraying the characters so generously loaned by their original creator, please feel free to use the story line and write your own damn story.
Now onto the chapter.
Chapter 37:
Lily Potter rubbed the bridge of her nose as she listened to the party that was going on in Hagrid's hut. The quidditch game had finished earlier, she and Ariadne had stayed to attend a party at Hagrid's. She wanted to speak with Professor Dumbledore, but had been unable to get his attention before he'd disappeared into the castle. She glanced outside and noticed Severus pacing in front of the hut. She glanced at her children, both Harry and Ariadne were playing with something that Fred or George had conjured up. She ducked out and closed the door softly behind her.
"Sev!" She only called to him when he was within earshot. "Where's Professor Dumbledore? I need to speak with him."
"He has asked that you come to his office." Sev actually seemed nervous.
"What's going on?" Lily's head tilted to the side as she looked up at Sev.
Sev shook his head. "I'm not sure, I'll come in with you."
Lily nodded, "all right." She turned to Hagrid's, "I'm going to tell my children that I'm going up to the castle, so they don't worry."
"I'll wait for you."
Lily went back to Hagrid's and pulled both Harry and Ariadne aside. "I need to go to the castle for a few minutes. Ariadne, you stay here, that way I know where to find you when I'm done."
"Okay Mum." Harry said, Ariadne nodded as well.
"Okay."
Lily left then, and was nearly back to Sev when Hagrid's door opened and Ariadne darted out. "Uncle Sev!" the 9 year old ran from Hagird's and knocked into Sev, sending him back a few steps. "Sorry if I was so mean earlier." She said. Sev's brow furrowed, he was probably wondering when Ariadne had been mean.
"That's all right." Severus said, he went down on one knee so he was more at eye level with Ariadne. "I don't think you were too mean."
Lily had started to step back to give her daughter some privacy with her godfather but stopped as she noticed that Severus was looking Ariadne in the eyes.
"Uncle Sev?"
"Yes Ariadne?" Part of Lily felt she must be seeing things, she pinched herself to make sure she was actually awake. She flinched slightly as she felt the skin pinch between her fingernails. Yes, she was awake. Was this the first time Severus had done this? She quickly thought back, she didn't remember Sev doing this before. At the very least this was the first time he'd looked Ariadne in the eyes in front of her.
"Mummy says that you're fun to make potions with, could you come over sometime to make potions with me?"
"I'd be happy to, I'll talk with your mother about what days work best for your family. It'll have to be a Saturday or Sunday."
Ariadne nodded. "Okay." She grinned and then ran back to Hagrid's.
Severus got up and turned to go back to the castle. He walked for a moment before realizing Lily wasn't following him. He stopped and Lily quickly caught up to him and they began walking in tandem.
"I was honest with Ariadne, I would like to spend some time with her." Severus said. "I've actually been meaning to spend more time with her."
"I'll check the schedule at home, and get back to you on days that work for us to have you come over." Lily said, "Ariadne really is quite good at potions, I anticipate that she'll excel at it like I do."
"I hope she does, it will be nice to have a student who is actually decent at the subject, rather then the dunderheads I usually have to teach." They walked in silence before Lily spoke up again.
"Sev?"
"Yes?" they slowed now, as they got closer to the castle.
"I - " Lily started. She paused, would she look like an idiot for bringing it up?
"What?" Severus slowed even further and they finally came to a stop. "What is it Lily?"
"I- I feel stupid bringing this up." Lily admitted, laughing awkwardly. "But I noticed that you -" she paused, Merlin this sounded stupid, what if Sev had looked Ariadne in the eyes before and she simply hadn't noticed it? She would look so stupid bringing it up now. "I noticed you were looking Ariadne in the eyes," the words burst out, she knew she was rambling, "and I just hadn't seen you do that before and I thought, well wondered really…."
Sev actually smiled. "That's the first time I've looked directly in her eyes in a long time. With Harry coming here to school, I've realized how long it's been since we were in school and how long it's been since James and I had the opportunity to torment each other." He shook his head. "It's stupid, really. I shouldn't let an old grudge affect our friendship and I shouldn't take their father's actions out on your children." Lily's heart skipped a beat when she heard Severus say that.
"I think that's wonderful Sev." Lily said, they started walking again, this time much slower then before. Lily glanced over at Severus, and noticed his cheeks were slightly pink. Was he blushing? Lily looked down, feeling her own cheeks grow warm.
Severus cleared his throat. "I realized how childish I was acting." He said, "I'm sorry."
"It's all right Sev, I know that James and Sirius put you through a lot. I feel like I should have tried harder to make them stop."
Severus waved his hand impatiently. "It wasn't your responsibility." He said shortly. They walked up the steps of the castle and Severus abruptly changed the subject. "I'm not sure what exactly Professor Dumbledore wants to talk to you about, are you sure that you want me there?"
"Yes." Lily said. "I want you there, I have a feeling that he wants to talk about what happened at the quidditch game."
"Probably, although with Dumbledore, it can be hard to tell." Severus allowed.
They continued to walk up the stairs to the castle. They entered the castle and silently walked up the stairwell up to Dumbledore's office. Severus stared at the gargoyle for a moment before clearing his throat and speaking "Chocolate Buttons." Lily couldn't help but giggle the sound of Severus' deep Baritone saying the name of the common sweet.
They went up the stairwell and knocked on the door. The door opened and both Severus and Lily stepped through.
"You wanted to speak with me Professor?" Lily asked.
Professor Dumbledore looked up from his desk. He looked momentarily surprised to see Severus accompanying Lily but motioned them both in. Lily sat down in the chair in front of his desk and Severus stood behind her, hands on the back of her chair. "Thank you Lily," Dumbledore spoke, "I appreciate you coming in."
"I CAN NOT believe that Professor Dumbledore did that!" Lily fumed as they walked down the front lawn. It was less then half an hour later and Lily was furious. "Banning Ariadne from the rest of the games this year just because she attacked Quirell. But she attacked him for a damn good reason! He was trying to kill my son!"
"Professor Dumbledore must have a good reason for…." Severus started.
Lily turned to him, hair flying as she spun around. "You're not defending him?!"
"No!" Severus denied shortly. "All I'm saying is that he must have a good reason for acting the way he is." He lowered his voice and leaned closer to Lily. "I'll try and figure out what his reasoning is and tell you."
Lily let out a breath, her brow furrowed. "This makes no sense!"
"We will figure it out, Lily." Severus said, Lily stuck her hands in her pockets and walked off in the opposite direction of Hagrid's hut. Severus set off after her, trailing a few feet behind her. She walked towards the greenhouses, slowing only when she reached the gardens. Severus didn't say anything, simply followed Lily quietly. Lily walked through the gardens slowly, occasionally reaching out and touching a flower.
"Lily?" Severus finally spoke. Lily turned and Severus' heart clenched as he saw the tears in Lily's eyes. Curse Dumbledore for making Lily cry. He could feel his anger at the older man rise.
"Yeah Sev?" Her anger had dissipated, it seemed to be replaced now, with sadness. Over 20 years of friendship meant that Severus knew Lily, she was still furious. He could feel the fury, but right now, worry and desperation for her oldest child was paramount.
"We will figure this out. Protecting Harry from whatever is going on is my main concern right now. Teaching, Dumbledore's requests, anything else is secondary to protecting your son."
Lily smiled. "Thank you Sev." Without warning, she stepped forward and wrapped Severus in a hug. Severus stood there in shock for a moment before wrapping his arms around Lily. There was a good six inches in height difference and Lily was somewhat swallowed in Severus' return embrace. The hug was long, but Lily finally stepped back. Her eyes were still wet but she was smiling a little now.
"Thank you." she said quietly.
Severus smiled at the sight of Lily's smile. "You're welcome." He said quietly.
Lily took her wand out and cast a warming spell over the two of them. "I should get back to the children." she said, but made no move to leave the gardens.
"Hagrid will take care of Ariadne." Severus said, his voice still low.
Lily nodded and started walking among the garden again. "My child nearly died today Sev."
"I know," Severus said. "I'll start my own investigation into what happened, I won't let this drop Lily."
"I know Sev, I know I can count on you."
An hour later, Lily and Severus walked up to Hagrid's hut. It was much quieter then before. Hagrid opened the door just before Lily knocked. "She just fell asleep." he kept his voice low. Fang raised his head from the bed. He was sleeping at the foot of it, and Ariadne was at the head of the bed.
"Great," Lily muttered. "I'll have to wake her up to Side-Along her."
"No need." Severus said. He walked to Hagrid's bed where Ariadne had fallen asleep. "I can carry her." He bent and picked her up. "She's still small enough."
"Sev…." Severus could tell Lily was gearing up to try and convince him not to, so he stood and spoke.
"I insist. She's had a rough day, she's probably exhausted and needs the extra sleep."
Lily nodded in agreement. "Fine." she acquiesced.
Hagrid gave Lily Ariadne's things and after thanking him, she and Severus left Hagrid's.
They were quiet as they walked down the path to the front gates of the castle where Lily would be able to Apperate home. "Side-Alonging someone who's asleep can be difficult, Sev, are you sure?"
"Yes." Severus said. "I've done it before."
They got to the Apperation point and got into line.
"I'll show you where her room is, we can put her to bed after we get home." Lily said quietly. "Sleeping in her robes for one night won't kill her."
Severus nodded. "I'll have to get back after that, I shouldn't be leaving my house alone too long after a defeat."
They were next in line and Severus motioned for Lily to go ahead of him. She stepped onto the platform. Severus saw she was shaking and wondered if he shouldn't offer to side along both of them, but before he could suggest it, she spun and disapperated.
He stepped up next, quickly leaving Hogsmead and apperating to the Potter's house. Unsurprisingly, Lily wasn't there but Severus took Ariadne upstairs, a little surprised that the girl had slept through the apperation.
She woke when Severus lay her down in what he guessed was her room, the walls were pink and the curtains were lacy with Red and Gold posters on the walls. "Uncle Sev." Ariadne said sleepily. "Where's mum?" Just then, Severus heard the front door open and he answered.
"Downstairs," Severus said. He stood and brought the covers up to Ariadne's chin. "Night, Ariadne."
"Night Uncle Sev." Ariadne was asleep again before he closed the door.
"I just put her in bed." Severus said as he came downstairs and saw Lily turning the heater on.
"Thank you." Lily said quietly.
"Where did you end up?"
"3 doors down." Lily shrugged, "I haven't messed up apperating since Ariadne was a baby."
"Go easy on yourself, you've had a rough day," Severus said. "Besides, I should have thought about that and suggested that you side along with me."
"Would you have been able to side along with 2 people?" Lily asked. "I could never do that with Harry and Ariadne."
"I know how." Severus said. "Or I could have delivered Ariadne and then gone back for you. She would have slept through us being gone." Lily nodded as he kept speaking. "I'm surprised she slept through apperating."
Lily smiled at that. "I'm not, she sleeps like the dead. Always has."
"Gee, I wonder where she gets that from." Severus teased.
Lily actually laughed at that, and Sev stepped towards the fireplace. "I've gotta get back to school, I'll see you later, Lily."
Lily stepped forward for a quick hug. "Thanks Sev."
Severus stepped through the floo and Lily sat on the couch, staring into the fireplace for a long moment. She couldn't stop thinking about how wonderful it had felt to hug Severus. Their hug in the Hogwarts gardens had been much longer then she'd anticipated. She'd meant to give him a quick hug and step back. But then he'd wrapped his arms around her and she had let the hug go on much longer then she'd originally planned.
"Merlin." Lily muttered, she glance upstairs, listening carefully. It was silent and Lily grabbed some floo powder, threw it into the fire place and stuck her head through. "The Tonks'!"
"Hey, Dora!" Lily called as she saw the young woman walk past the sitting room. Dora stopped and walked backwards a couple of steps to peer into the living room. "Oh Hi Aunt Lily." she greeted when she saw Lily was making a floo call. "How are you?"
"Pretty good." Lily said, "Is your mother in? I need to speak with her."
Dora shook her head, "Sorry, Mum and Dad went on a weekend trip, I'm here watching Fantasia. They'll be back tomorrow."
"Drat." Lily said quietly. "Well, could you take a note for her?"
"Sure," Dora said, she grabbed some parchment and a quill, "What did you want to talk with my mother about?" Dora asked.
Lily took in a breath. She knew if Fantasia overheard the message or read what Dora wrote down then she'd tell Ariadne. And Lily did not want her daughter to know much about her love life. "This is going to sound really weird, but your mother will understand." Dora nodded, quill poised. "Write down: Lily needs to talk to you, she's 16, and James is dating Mary,who fancies Jackson, who is dating me but I fancy Frank who is dating Alice. I'm free to meet up at the Three Broomsticks whenever you are."
Dora quickly took down the message. "Oooooookay." she drew the word out. "Lemme make sure that I got this though, Lily needs to talk to you, she's 16, and James is dating Mary,who fancies Jackson, who is dating me but I fancy Frank who is dating Alice. I'm free to meet up at the Three Broomsticks whenever you are."
Lily nodded. "Yep, that's it."
"Okay then." Dora said, obviously thinking Lily was nuts. "I will give this to her as soon as she and dad get home."
"Perfect." Lily said, and with that, she ended the floo call.
Lily replaced the grate and sat back onto the couch. She sat there for a few moments, thinking deeply, then got up and went to the kitchen. She flicked her wand and the wine cupboard unlocked and opened. After pouring herself a large glass, she put the bottle back and locked the cupboard again.
She went back to the sitting room and curled up with a blanket, a book, and the glass of wine.
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