Anger
It was his sixth year. Severus was taking NEWT level Potions, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Runes and Arithmancy. That last seemed odd without Florence, but at least the reason she was gone was because her family had moved. Hers was the only Muggle-born family in the August attacks that had suffered no casualties at all.
Petunia, who was 18, took a job as a sales clerk and moved in with a girl friend, with whom she split the rent for their one bedroom flat. Lily moved into her dorm at Hogwarts a few days early.
Severus no longer belonged to Lucius Malfoy, so he no longer answered to the ranking Slytherin, Wilkes, except in the general way every Slytherin at Hogwarts did. And Rosier made sure Snape was no longer called upon for any "corrections." Frankly, Evan was worried about the effects casting the Cruciatus had had on Sev and thought it best to keep him away from any aggressive assignments.
James saw Lily in the Common Room. For once, his only thought was to sympathize with her about the attacks and offer his help, rather than to impress her.
"Lily, I'm sorry about the attacks on your mum and dad and sister," he said, his voice and his hazel eyes somber.
"You're sorry!" she spat. He couldn't believe the rage and disdain he read in her eyes. "What does it have to do with you, pure-blood?" She pronounced the last word as if it were an epithet every bit as crude as Mudblood.
"Come on, Lily, you know I don't care about that pure-blood stuff -"
"Wonderful," she interrupted. "D'you want a medal?"
"Look, you know I hate those -"
"Right. So glad to know you hate the right people. Doesn't actually do anything about the problem, but hey, you hate them. That's so helpful."
She stalked out of the Common Room.
"Sev, what's your security like at home?" Now that Snape was in his camp, Rosier was responsible for him and it was clear his Muggle father could easily become a target.
"Ordinary wards. The Headmaster sends a Hogwarts house-elf once a week to keep the spells up - she's the only magic user there when I'm at Hogwarts."
"And you think that's enough?" Evan asked.
"No."
"You need a magic user in that house at all times. Would you rather have the Hogwarts house-elf or one from our estate? I can arrange either one."
"Dad is accustomed to Sissy. If that's possible."
"Done. What about other Muggle relatives? Your dad's brother has rather a large family, hasn't he?"
"Yes."
"They're less direct targets than your dad. Sissy can set wards on his house as well - discreetly of course. But it would be best if every member of the family had a way to call for help ..."
"What about the monitors set up to detect the use of underage magic? Any magic use in that house should bring someone from the Ministry. If there's a way to allow for Sissy's magic."
"Done. I have a contact in the Ministry."
"I appreciate this, Evan. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Oh, I'll keep you busy enough," the pure-blood said, with a predatory but friendly smile. "Still wouldn't mind a vial of Felix, you understand. For some plans of my own."
"I'll see what I can do," Severus answered, vowing to himself he'd find a way to get some, one way or another.
"That's all I have for now."
Severus, taking that for a dismissal, rose to leave.
"Oh, and Sev? I'm sorry about Florence."
"At least she's not dead. Just in the States." The attempt at dry humor failed.
"Of course. No reason you can't see each other - " Evan's words faded away as they both thought of all the reasons they couldn't or shouldn't see each other.
"One last thing," he added, after an awkward pause. "If Lily's family needs anything -"
"Thanks, Evan. I'll let her know. But she's not too keen on pure-bloods just now."
"Or Slytherins either, I imagine?" he said with a wry grin.
Severus looked thoughtful for a moment at that. Then he answered, "No, I don't think that would matter to her at all, actually."
"That wasn't fair, mate." Sirius, who like everyone else in the Common Room had heard the whole thing, tried to reassure his friend.
"Lots of things aren't fair," James said, rounding on him. "She is right, you know. It's not like I'm doing anything about the problem."
Remus was standing by the window of the Common Room, looking at the three-quarter waxing moon that was already visible well before nightfall, and playing with a rat that seemed to have "adopted" him. He put Wormtail on his shoulder and turned towards James and Sirius.
"What can you do?" the sandy haired boy asked, fatalistically. He had given up on asking life to be fair when he was eight years old.
"That's what makes it so funny, isn't it?" said James with a twisted smile. "I'm pure-blood and I'm rich so I'm supposed to have all the power. But what can I do! ?" With the final word he slammed his fist down on a table so hard it stopped all other conversation and turned every head that wasn't already turned in their direction. The sudden loud noise also startled the rat into running down from Remus' shoulder down his body to the floor, where he hid under the sofa.
Remus looked around a bit, spotted Wormtail under the sofa, and bent down to pick him up and put him back on his shoulder. Then he sprawled on the sofa, against the arm on the opposite side from Sirius.
"We're the Marauders. We'll think of something, yeah?" said the Gryffindor Black.
And something about his grin made the other three believe they would.
Lucius was terrified when he entered the Dark Lord's presence. The others were already there.
It had been audacious to arrange the raids without the Dark Lord's prior approval. But it had not, strictly speaking, been disobedient. They had been encouraged to terrorize and kill Muggles - Lucius had merely provided "focus" and "organization" to the operation. They had lost only one Death Eater - the one caught at the Evanses. The Dark Lord had had to kill her long distance through her Mark before she could be interrogated. That was a bit embarrassing - Snape had actually helped the Mudblood witch capture her. That friendship would obviously have to be cut off. But overall, he thought it had gone quite well and hoped the Dark Lord would be pleased.
Voldemort looked up from his throne-like chair at the impudent young man who had entered his presence, eyes and head lowered respectfully. He pointed his wand. "Crucio," he hissed.
Lucius collapsed on the floor as if he were a marionette whose strings had been cut, screaming.
The curse was prolonged for only a few seconds. The effects of the raids had actually been quite gratifying. But a point had to be made. The last thing he wished to encourage in his Death Eaters was independent action.
He waited for the cocky Malfoy heir to recover, gasping for breath, pulling himself up first to all fours. In that position Lucius paused, suddenly thinking it might be better to wait for permission to rise. He had obviously displeased the Dark Lord.
"You will not organize such operations in future unless I command it."
"Yes, my Lord," said Lucius, still on all fours, still not daring to lift his eyes or to rise, every nerve still aching.
"Rise, then. You are fortunate that the operation does not completely displease me or you would be dead right now."
"You are merciful, my Lord," Lucius answered, now standing, but eyes still downcast. And you still need my money and these accommodations, he thought.
Voldemort read the lordling's thoughts, but they didn't anger him - they just amused him. He knew very well that Lucius fancied himself the Dark Lord's highest ranking follower and even expected to take his place some day. But the young man was right on one thing - he did still need access to the Malfoy fortune.
"You are headstrong, but loyal and useful. Come. Sit." Time for a bit of the carrot now, following the stick. He waved him to a chair down a step from his and to the left.
Lucius bowed and took his seat. He was greatly shaken by the Cruciatus Curse, even though he had anticipated it might happen, but all in all, the results had been as he had hoped. He had retained the Dark Lord's favor and reinforced his status with the other Death Eaters. But he would not forget being made to scream and grovel in front of the other Death Eaters.
Severus returned from Hogsmeade visibly shaken and went to his dorm. Apparently, he and Lily had attacked a Death Eater. Lucius and Evan had locked horns. Lucius had wanted Snape expelled from Hogwarts, but had settled for having him break off all contact with Lily. It was embarrassing for a follower of one of Malfoy's allies to be associating with Mudbloods.
"Well, I'll just be a monk then, shall I?" he ranted, throwing himself down on the bed. His other dorm-mates were all still in Hogsmeade. "No Mudbloods, no low-bloods. I'll just have my pick of the pure-bloods lining up to be with me, that's it!"
Evan came quietly into the room.
"I've arranged with Sluggie for you to partner with Evans in Potions," the pure-blood said. "That was the best I could do. You can't be seen with her anywhere else."
"We've got to do something about him, Sev," Rosier added, with a strange fierceness in his eyes.
Severus' eyes met that fierceness. "Yes," he answered simply.