A disclaimer: I don't own any characters, from the Harry Potter Series, just the ones I make up.

Harry Potter

Saving Lily

Chapter 7

***Severus Snape POV***

I wave my wand as the displaced objects in my quarters move to their proper positions in my living room. The carpet cleans itself and the old blankets that rest on the back of the couch and chair shake themselves out. Once all of the wrinkles are gone from the fabric, the blankets pristinely drape themselves onto the back of their respective locations.

Moving to the bedroom, I flick my wand again and everything out of place in the room transfers to its proper location. With an extension spell the drawers of my dressers deepen and the few clothes that reside in them refold and relocate to the now deeper bottom drawers, leaving the top three empty for Lily to use. I apply an extension charm on them as well so that the drawers that Lily will be using will also be deeper if she needs them to be.

With another silent spell, the tiny closet becomes a walk-in and the few robes that I own float over to hang on one side. The slytherin green sheet, comforter, and pillowcase jerk quickly into the air before returning to their proper places, crisp and clean. I flick my wand at my night stand where a cup and saucer popped back into the Hogwarts kitchens. Another wave pulls open the drawer and a book sitting on top of the nightstand floats inside as the drawer closes itself. The curtains on the window jerk upward before floating back down looking starched and freshly washed.

I extend the wards around my quarters to allow Lily easy entry. My accommodations are warded to keep all others out when I am not present. The exceptions being Albus Dumbledore and now Lily. With a sigh I lower my wand and gaze anxiously around the room for anything I might have missed. I want everything to look decent when I go to collect Lily and bring her back here.

Poppy will be releasing Lily from her care today, even though I feel it is still too soon to do so. But, Poppy assures me that she can get to Lily swiftly if she is in need of her. That as long as Lily remains on Hogwarts grounds, she can be taken care of easily.

I hurry to my desk to make sure everything is ready for Slughorn to take over my afternoon classes and the classes he will be covering while I try to help Lily get settled into her new surroundings. I really hope that he can follow the simple instructions that I have laid out for him, but my hopes are not high.

With a final exasperated sigh, I conclude that my quarters are not going to improve any more than they already have. I adjust my cloak nervously as I step over the threshold of my office. My legs feel stiff as they carry me across the floor and up from the dungeons to the hospital wing.

I stand outside of the doors for a long time, flexing my fingers anxiously. My heart thuds loudly within my chest as I close my eyes and inhale deeply to try to slow the beat and the blood that courses far too rapidly through my veins.

Just as I pluck up the courage to reach for the door, it bursts open and two first-year students, a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, come barreling through the entryway. I glare warningly at the two first-years, who shrink away from me. They make a better choice by walking down the corridor instead of running, which was their obvious intention until they saw me.

I watch the two students walk down the corridor until they are out of sight. I turn my attention back to the hospital wing's open door and I can see Lily's red hair sway as she turns to look at me from where she sits at the edge of her bed. My heart thuds in my chest as her green eyes meet my black ones. I watch the relief wash over her face at the sight of me.

I can't stop the smile that touches the corners of my mouth upon seeing her. She stands slowly as I cross the floor toward her; the smile that touches her mouth is a sad, desperate one.

"Hello, Sev."

"Hello Lily," I say as I stop in front of her, glancing around for any bags that have not already been taken up to my room. The untouched tray of food sitting on the nightstand catches my attention. I pry my eyes away from it to look back at Lily with a reassuring smile turning up the corners of my mouth.

She tugs uncomfortably at her shirt. It's the same one she had on when she was brought in. "I don't have any other clothes," she explains.

The Hogwarts' elves had of course washed the clothes she had on and patched any of the fabric that needed mending. They looked like new.

"It's fine, Lily." I reach forward to touch her hand in an attempt to give her some comfort, but she pulls away. I drop my hand and tuck it behind my back and into my other hand. "Albus had some of your things brought to Hogwarts. They should be in my chambers as we speak."

Lily nods silently as she tucks several strands of copper hair behind her ear. I watch as her hand returns to the Cauldron Cake box she is clutching against her stomach.

My voice falters when I realize that the box still remains unopened. "If there is something you require that you don't have we can go to Diagon Alley and purchase anything you need. When you feel up to it, of course."

She nods, noticing as my eyes fall back on the box she is holding. My gaze causes her to grip it a little tighter, as if I was going to reach over and take it from her.

"I thought we could share it," Lily says quickly as she clings the edges of the wrapping with both hands.

I nod as her fingers relax around the box. I didn't really care for sweets, but I would pretend to like it if it meant that I could encourage her to eat something.

"Are you ready?"

Lily nods slowly as Madam Pomfrey walks by carrying a stack of cleaned sheets to change the previously used bed a student had been using before I watched them run out.

"Take care of yourself dear. If anything feels wrong, call for me or come and see me. Please do not hesitate."

Madam Pomfrey's eyes meet mine. "You keep a close eye on her Severus. Let me know if either of you have any concerns."

I nod. "Of course, Poppy. Let's go get you settled Lily."

Lily nods and moves closer to me as she gives Madam Pomfrey a sad smile. "Thank you for taking care of me."

She smiles at Lily comfortingly. " Of course. Remember to eat, dear."

Lily only nods as she turns to face me yet again.

I nod reassuringly at the matron, who frowns at Lily's response to the reference to food. I gesture to the open doors with one hand. "Let's go get you settled, Lily."

She nods a final time as she waves at Poppy. I follow her across the room and extend my arm toward the door to encourage Lily to go first. She does.

"My quarters are in the dungeons," I say slowly as I walk beside her, my hands clasped behind my back. "You will get a good view of the lake and, when you are ready for some sun, we can take a stroll around the grounds whenever you like."

She nods. She doesn't flinch away from my touch this time when I gently place my hand on her lower back and guide her around a corner. "It's this way."

She follows me without a word as we descend a flight of stairs, stopping on a platform as we wait for a staircase to finish shifting direction. A frown crosses my lips as Nearly Headless Nick floats through the wall, causing Lily to jump and pulling her from her thoughts. Nick stops when he notices us, much to my frustration.

The ghost looks at her with utter sympathy. "Welcome back to Hogwarts Mrs. Potter."

Lily goes rigid at the sound of her last name, causing me to step closer and place a comforting hand on her shoulder. Nick doesn't seem to notice as he continues speaking.

"I am truly sorry about what happened. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose a child, and the world lost a great wizard when James died"

After a long moment Lily finally opens her mouth to speak, "Thank you, Sir Nicholas."

With that I tried to hurry Lily down to the dungeons but all of the portraits keep stopping us to offer Lily their sympathies. I can see the distance growing in her eyes; it is all becoming too much for her. All of the other ghosts don't really help, they too showed up to give their condolences as well. It feels as though everyone in the castle was on the hunt for us. Luckily Peeves has not shown himself yet, but that good fortune runs out the moment we step into the stairwell that will lead us down the dungeon corridor to where my room is, Peeves floating down from the ceiling above.

"Hello."

Peeves startles Lily so severely that she begins to fall backward as the cauldron cake box drops from her hands. I move forward quickly, placing myself directly behind Lily. I carefully coil my fingers around her waist and support her weight with ease as I keep her from toppling over. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Lily murmurs softly as she gazes up into my concerned face. "I dropped your present."

"Don't worry about that." I say gently, "It'll be alright."

I look up at Peeves and snarl at him.

"Not now Peeves!" My voice is harsher than I intend as I help Lily regain her balance.

"Don't be rude," Peeve sneered, "I'm not the reason her family is dead."

My heart restricts violently at Peeves words but my focus returns to Lily when I feel her stiffening between my fingers as her breath hitches in her chest. Her eyes grow even more distant as tears form within them. Any concern I might have had about the Cauldron Cake forgotten.

"I didn't let my family die." Lily murmurs softly, "I tried to protect them. I tried. James… James told me to go get Harry… Harry…"

The tears drip from her lashes as the words die on her lips. Panic bursts through my chest as I gently grab her by the shoulders. She doesn't move. My panic intensifies as I move to stand in front of her and look into her eyes. "Lily, that wasn't your fault! Lily?"

When she doesn't respond, I seize her hand and lead her the final few feet into the dungeon corridor. I wave my arm angrily at Peeves as I gently pull her further down toward the dungeon. "Go away, Peeves."

I am quite relieved to see the Bloody Baron float through one of the walls toward us. The Baron opens his mouth to speak but closes it at the sight of Lily's tearful expression. He gives me a sharp nod before turning his attention to Peeves.

"Peeves!" he bellows angrily, "Leave them alone."

The poltergeist nods fearfully and disappears through the ceiling to my relief. I can feel the Baron watching as I lead the distraught young woman down the passageway until we disappear through one of the doors along the stone wall.

I close my office door behind us with a relieved sigh. I should have gone up to collect Lily after most people were in bed. Perhaps then it would have gone more smoothly. A breath catches in my throat as the sound of her tearful whimpers float to my ears. I, Severus Snape, grip her trembling fingers a little more tightly as I slowly turn to face her with absolutely no knowledge of what I can say to make any of this better. I am entirely at a loss...

A/N: I hope you enjoyed chapter 7 everyone! I would like to think my beta WrathofMacy for her hard work on this chapter! I greatly appreciate it! Until next time everyone, please review and have a great day!