A/N: Holy shit boys! Ferrari 1-2 in Monaco incoming? My namesake Mr Leclerc and the Chili himself going 1-2(albeit just in FP2) is the best F1 news I've received in a long time. Now if only Seb will get some good points on Sunday, my week shall be made. Anyhow, I just had to get this chapter out, such was my mood in lieu of such a great result for the Scuderia. Hope this chapter is enjoyable!
Oh and to the anonymous reviewer, would you consider 13 year old Hitler a genocidal maniac who wanted to eradicate an entire race of people? No? Didn't think so. So why should thirteen year old Severus be held accountable for crimes his adult self committed? Also, Severus never cursed Mary, that was Mulciber. He wasn't even there and only heard about the incident afterwards lol. If he really did curse Muggleborns like you said he did then wouldn't Lily have called him out on it? Need I remind you that if you don't want to read this story you don't have to? It's simple, don't like, don't read. You wouldn't catch me talking shit on Jily stories after all. That's all I have to say to you, friend.
Chapter 2 The Last Night of an Old Life
Five days after being committed to the infirmary, and five days after Lily sent that letter off to her parents, Severus was released from Poppy's care. To his relief, the Marauders seemed to be laying off him and keeping their distance for the time being. Good he thought. He didn't care about them, all he cared for was that they leave him alone and just go on their merry way. Rumor had it, Potter and Black had been caught on the end of a nasty boiling hex. It gave the victim, boils down there and was rumored to be very tricky to remove. Funnily enough he remembered joking with Lily about it this very hex when they discovered it back in second year during one of their library study sessions. Lily and he had had a good laugh at what the hex was capable of but never referenced it again after that day. So was this Lily's doing? Maybe, Severus mused. Scratch that, most likely.
When Potter and Black showed up in the infirmary after Severus had been discharged, Poppy had promptly healed them, but only after chewing them out in regard to their treatment of her most frequent visitor. When Severus asked Lily about the rumors of what had befallen the Marauders the next day, she feigned ignorance of course. Naturally, Lily Evans was a goody two-shoes if there ever was one and being caught using a nasty hex that, while still light, was darker than most hexes in a third year's arsenal, would soil her reputation of course. Very few people knew of the devious, cunning side of Lily Evans and Severus was one of the few that did. So of course he knew deep down that Lily had indeed remembered that hex from second year and had been the one to curse the Marauders co-leaders' genitalia.
After Lily's counterattack, Severus felt a reprieve for the first time in a while. The Marauders had been giving him a wide berth and even his roommates had stopped pestering him to teach them dark hexes. Secretly, he coveted his knowledge, his aptitude for the dark arts was a path to power, but at times he viewed his knowledge as a curse. His roommates could be utter leeches at times and try to drain Severus of every scrap of knowledge he held concerning the hexes and curses he'd learned before going to school. To Lily's relief, his roommates too seemed to have given him some space in lieu of his visit to the hospital wing. For once, she was grateful for Vincent Mulciber, Samuel Avery and Evan Rosier, although she wouldn't be caught dead admitting that to anyone, even Severus.
The month following his stay in the wing passed by without much fanfare. They spent most of their free time in the library and in all of their shared class, they even sat next to one another despite usually only doing so in Potions. With the exception of Potions, Severus usually sat with his roommates and Lily, the same. It was during one of those lessons that Lily eyed Potter and Black raising their wands behind their back to have a go at Severus when she abruptly asked their Professor a question to curtail their attack. After class, she pulled both Potter and Black aside, much to the former's joy and reiterated how much of a shame it would be if someone were to hex their loins again. They paled instantly and Lily didn't spare them another glance, giving them a sickly sweet smile before turning on her heel to find Severus. Other than that one near miss of an incident, Severus was more than happy to find his month "Marauder Free" for the most part.
So as term wound down and with Severus feeling at an all-time high, relishing the fact that the Marauders had done absolutely nothing more than glare menacingly at him, Lily pulled him aside one day as they made their way from Charms to the Great Hall.
"Come on Sev! You have to come home with us you just have to! My parents really want to see you!" Lily insisted, tugging on Severus' robe sleeve as the boy in question remained apprehensive about the whole affair.
"No Lily," Severus said quietly, shaking his head. "I don't want to see my father unless it's absolutely necessary. Even if your parents allow me to stay part of the holiday at your place. I—I don't want to go back."
"But you see that's thing Sev," Lily said cheerily, flashing her best friend a toothy smile. She reached into her robe pocket and fisted around inside it for a moment before withdrawing a letter. Muggle by the looks of things since it was paper and not parchment. "Happy Christmas Sev. I hope you enjoy this. CPS finally got back and well…the results speak for themselves. Consider this your first Christmas present Sev," Lily said softly, stepping closer to him and passing him the letter.
He took the envelope from her fingers and spied the lettering on the front. Child Protective Services? What in the name of Salazar is…oh—his eyes glanced upwards from the still sealed letter and met the shining emeralds of his best friend for a brief moment. That one look was all he needed to be assured of the letter's contents and so he tore into the envelope with gusto. Ripping the envelope apart, he eagerly opened the letter and read it's contents. Lily took a step back, eyeing her best friend as numerous emotions flittered across his face. Shock came first, then disbelief shortly thereafter, and last of all, the emotion she just loved to see on her Sev's face was hope. A desperate hope that this was real, this wasn't some joke and he really had a chance to escape his home, to leave his father in his drunken stupor where he belonged.
"So it's official then?" Severus asked quietly, his tone even and measured as if anticipating disappointment yet again.
"It is," Lily said proudly, smiling indulgently at him. "I only just found out three days ago from my Mum and it turns out the CPS and the Police investigated your father and given my parents testimony… it was more than enough to take custody away from Tobias. Which is why I want you to come back this term, in fact I must insist that you come with me, my family really wants to see you Sev, they really do."
"They do?" Severus asked, his tone so hopeful and yearning that Lily's heart ached at the sound. "This is…well I wasn't expecting this Lily. I know we'd talked about it but never did I dare let myself believe that your parents would actually go through with this. I thought it was all just talk…what's the word—"
"Hypothetical?" Lily offered.
"Yeah. That." Severus replied, nodding.
"My parents love you Sev," Lily replied, silently imploring him to feel the sincerity in her tone. "They really love you. And we want you with us. Even Tuney's on board, begrudgingly, admittedly but in agreement nonetheless."
Severus held Lily's gaze for a moment, slowing his breathing and then glancing away from her in a bid to halt the tears that threatened to spill from his shimmering orfices. He allowed himself a small—almost invisible smile in response. Confident that he wouldn't cry—that he could indeed look into those kind eyes and keep his composure, he lifted his gaze from the stone floor beneath them and found the green.
"Thank you Lily. This is the best present anyone has ever given me. I—I don't know how I can repay you for this…words can't express how happy I am to be away from—"
Lily laughed lightly, the lilting sound seemed like music to Severus' ears. "There's no need to repay me for anything Sev. We're friends; best friends, and that's what friends do. We do things for each other and expect nothing in return, so I really want nothing," Lily replied sincerely, her eyes shining away like emeralds. "All I ask is that you let my parents in here, alright?" She stepped closer to him and laid her palm atop his chest, holding his gaze all the while. She took a steadying breath to calm her rampant nerves. Is her hand shaking? No…it can't be. "Please Sev, let my parents in and let them love you. Just as you've let me."
"Let you what?" Severus asked, he failed miserably at keeping the anticipation and eagerness from his tone. He really was hanging on her every word and while he loved her so much it hurt, it infuriated him to know that she really held his heart in the palm of her hand. He hated it when people had power over him, it reminded him of how weak and small he really was and that feeling made his blood boil. He was under his father's heel, the Marauders' too, and Lily as well, yet out of the three choices…it was a no-brainer whom he'd prefer. If he had to grant one person that much influence over him, it'd better be Lily than anyone else.
Why do I feel so strongly for her?
I'll tell you why you blithering idiot. It's because she's the only person in your shitty life that's bothered to understand you and grow to care for you.
"Sev I…this is difficult for me. I—"
"Then don't say anything," Severus interrupted. "If you ask it of me, then yes…I'll do my best to open to your parents, Lily. It's just…it's a new thing for me, really. I've never allowed myself to be…just me, I guess. 'Cept around you of course."
"I know Sev. But I want you to let them in and just…be you. They love you already so don't hide from them alright?"
Severus sighed and let his tight-lipped smile broaden for a moment. "For you Lily, I'll try."
"That's all I can ask for Sev. Thank you," she said softly, reaching her arms around his waist to hug him. It seemed a blue moon was on track to make a rare appearance tonight, since for the first time in over a month, Lily felt his arms snake around her back in return. He actually returned my hug…well, this is nice isn't it? He couldn't see it, owing to the fact that he was about three inches taller than his friend, but bellow his chin, Lily was smiling.
"Actually Severus, there's something else I have to show you as well. Also good news, but…I think it should wait until after dinner. Meet me in our spot once we finish eating?"
Severus readily agreed, nodding his head. "Sure, Lily. Is this other bit of good news related to this? Has Petunia decided to pack it in and run away from home?"
Lily let out a short spurt of laughter at that, as her hands flew to her mouth in a desperate bid to quieten herself down. "No Sev, Petunia is still there and is still very much my sister!" She giggled.
Severus snorted and rolled his eyes. "A pity," he drawled. "And here I was hoping for an even better Christmas present."
"Oh this is better don't you worry. Much, much better if you ask me. I shan't say what it is just yet but rest assured that the better part of your gift will be yours after dinner Sev. You just have to wait a little while!"
Severus allowed himself a small smirk as he stepped back from Lily, head hanging forward to hold her gaze through a curtain of black. "I'll hold you to that Lily. I'll see you in our spot after dinner."
Lily smiled and nodded. "See you in a while Severus."
She watched him go, waiting a few moments for him to get out of sight before she made her way to the hall herself. She didn't want to attract any undue attention onto him or herself after all. After a while, she followed him and headed towards the Great Hall, ready for her end of term feast that would also represent the second to last meal she'd eat within Hogwarts. As she walked through the corridors towards the Great Hall, her mind wandered to her life so far within the halls of Hogwarts, the friends she'd made, the bonds she'd forged, and the good times she'd had. All in all, Hogwarts had been nothing less than a dream for her. Popular, kind, smart, and beautiful Lily Evans had many friends and was amongst the most popular in her year, with no shortage of admirers and suitors. She loved her life in school if she was being honest. She had Severus, she had her other friends, and her teachers all loved her dearly, so life was pretty good all things considered.
The same could not be said of Severus, and with a heavy heart she recounted the fact that Severus' life at Hogwarts had not lived up to her own. They had both been outcasts growing up, but while she was loved and adored by her friends and social circle here, Sev had drawn the short straw and his misery had accompanied him from Cokeworth to Scotland. From day one, before sorting even, Potter and Black had had it out for her best friend simply because he stated he wanted to be in Slytherin. As she walked, her mind wandered further into her past, drawing up fond memories of her and Sev in their glade on the banks of the Cokeworth river. They had dreamed, laughed, and envisioned a future where the both of them would be accepted, be loved for who they were; not the outcasts they had been known by for much of their youth. Severus and Lily were not at all popular in Cokeworth. The former for being a Snape, son of Tobias, the most prominent of the neighborhood drunks and wife-beaters. Lily for being a freak of nature and a nerdy kid of too-rich parents that didn't belong.
She entered the hall, and calmly slid into her spot at the Gryffindor table quietly greeting her roommates with a smile and a few mumbled words. Some noticed that Lily's smile didn't reach her eyes and so they asked what was wrong, Dorcas Meadowes was one of them. Lily reassured her friends that all was well and gave them a kind smile. She definitely planned on staying in contact with Dorcas, maybe Eve and Marlene as well, but beyond that…she was more than ready to leave her life behind here with Sev. Truth be told she didn't want to do this, she didn't want to leave, she loved her life, and her friends, and her teachers. She had no good reason to leave because this was her escape from Cokeworth, and what an escape it was. She had lived her dream, no, she was actively living her dream; Sev on the other hand…could not say the same.
She quietly shoveled food into her mouth, ignoring the inane chatter of her friends as her eyes sought out Severus at the Slytherin table. In years past Severus at least had the company of his two protectors, Narcissa Black and Lucius Malfoy. They stood by his side and due to their power and influence in the house of Snakes as upperclassmen of pureblood, they kept the vultures that sought to prey on Severus' inferior blood status at bay. They had ensured Severus stayed safe within Slytherin, and that he'd always have someone to talk to. She didn't like them, they were pompous, they were condescending, and they most certainly were manipulative and conniving arseholes at times, but she couldn't fault them for looking out for Severus. With Black's graduation last year, and Malfoy's the year before, Severus sat on his own as he had been doing since the start of Third Year. She met his gaze and gave him a small smile before tucking back into her food. She didn't see his smile in return that earned him an elbow to the ribs from Mulciber.
She ate her meal in relative silence, ignoring her roommates and counting down the minutes until she could leave and find Sev at their alcove. She watched him push back form the bench and shoulder his bag before getting to his feet. She also scowled as she saw that idiot prat Mulciber attempt to trip him up as he stuck out a leg. Severus stumbled, lost his footing and for a brief moment Lily thought he would fall, but to her relief he did not and kept on going right ahead. Not even sparing that clown a glance. She watched him leave and then refocused back on her desert, intent on plowing through the last few scoops of Hogwarts house-elf prepared mint-chip and vanilla ice cream she would ever have. What she didn't see however was the Marauders push back from the bench as well and stealthily creep out of the hall in Severus' wake. That would prove to be a big mistake. She eventually left the table, but didn't follow Severus just yet, she had to talk to Slughorn after all to get Severus' name taken off the registry of students staying on over the break.
A few corridors away and leaning against a wall right by a tapestry, Severus was waiting for Lily to arrive. Little did he know that the footsteps approaching weren't hers, but heralded the imminent arrival of the people he hated most aside from his father.
"Hello?"
Only the haunting sound of eerie footsteps growing louder reached his ears, but no one could be seen. As far as Severus was aware, this could very well be Peeves up to his usual shenanigans, but the Poltergeist rarely came by this way so he really wasn't too sure.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
The sound of footsteps, multiple pairs…wait—grew louder, but then, a sudden whooshing of fabric was heard and was promptly accompanied by a cry of Expelliarmus! Severus' wand shot out of his tattered robe pocket into the outstretched hand of Sirius Black, but he wasn't the only person standing in the corridor. Not at all. For he was standing shoulder to shoulder with James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew. Three fourths of the loathsome Marauders stood before him. One, the leader, Potter wore a cheshire cat like grin on his face at the sight of his disarmed and helpless target. Black wore a cocky smirk and an arrogant expression as he fiddled with Severus' wand. And Pettigrew, ever the helpless sycophant instead bore an expression of abject glee and excitement. Severus wouldn't have been surprised if he'd peed himself.
"Well look at what we have here boys!" Potter sneered, stepping closer to Severus ahead of his two lackeys. "Looks like we've found a wild Snivellus far from home. Why are you so far away from the Dungeons, your natural habitat Snivelly?"
"Leave me alone Potter," Severus growled, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white while he fixed a glare at the bespectacled menace. He already felt the oh so familiar feeling of rage and anger boiling up within his veins at the sight of his tormentors. Cool it Severus, perhaps if you calm down they'll just leave you be and go off on their own.
Potter was undeterred, sauntering closer with his wand outstretched and pointed right at Severus' chest. Severus found the wall to his back but he refused to run, doing that against his father had not worked at all and it had never worked against these bastards either. He held his head high and glared at him, holding his steady nerve.
"The dungeons? Are you serious James?" Asked Black, also striding forward to join his brother in arms with his wand outstretched. Black stepped past Potter and came within a few feet of Severus. "This slime ball's home isn't the dungeons you idiot. It's the grease pit of course!"
"Why you son of a—"
"A bitch?" Black interrupted, plastering a faux expression of contemplation on his face for a brief moment. "Why yes you're quite right Snivelly! Seems you're not as stupid as you look after all. My mother is a bitch! An even bigger bitch than you are!"
"Says the coward that sneaks up on people under a bloody invisibility cloak. You're the bitch Black. Scratch that, all of you are cowardly bitches! Three of you to take on little old me? Ha! You're pathetic, spineless—"
"Silencio," Potter growled, drowning out Severus' words.
"Hey Pete! Catch!"
Black withdrew Severus' wand from his pocket and tossed it high into the air, hopelessly above Pettigrew's outstretched hands and down the corridor well beyond the pudgy boy. Potter watched with an amused expression as Pettigrew waddled off down the hall as fast as his fat arse could carry him to retrieve the wand before gleefully tucking it into his pocket.
"Attaboy Pete. Good work," Black said condescendingly, giving his friend a grin.
Severus, despite the silence imposed on him against his will, glared defiantly at Potter, unspoken words passing between them that said: do your worst you shit bag. I can take it. I've taken far worse punishment than you can even dream of dishing out.
"Furnunculus!" Potter shouted, and all of a sudden, Boils sprouted up on Severus' face at an alarming rate. His pale skin was coated now in the large orange blobs that began inflating his sallow cheeks to an enormous size. The large orange blobs began puffing up his eyes, obscuring his vision
"Nice one James!" Black cheered on, high giving his best friend before pointing his own wand at the boil-laden Slytherin. "Engorgio Skullus!" he yelled, the jet of greenish-blue light leaving his wand impacted Severus' head, growing it to more than twice its normal size. Severus gurgled pitifully, the effect of the spell bursting several of the boils that littered his face, causing their discharge to flow into his mouth. It was disgusting.
Severus tried in vain to summon his wand wandlessly with an outstretched hand and a shout of; "accio my wand!" But the piece of wood only twitched within Pettigrew's robe pocket. Black and Potter roared with laughter, the sound booming across the empty corridor, with the ear-drum destroying symphony being completed by the high pitched titters of Pettigrew. Severus glared hatefully at the two popular Gryffindors with disgust and then beyond them at their tubby cheerleader.
That's it! Fuck you Potter! Severus reared back, and with all his might released a right cross straight to Potter's jaw, decking the pureblood and sending him to his knees with a mighty strike. Severus was stunned, he'd actually done it. He'd actually struck Potter. He shoved the slumping boy off of him and turned away and ran. He ran down the corridor but a shout of "Stupefy!" from Black caused him to keel over as stiff as a board and fall flat on his face mid-stride.
"You're going to pay for that one Snivelly," Black spat. "We were just gonna have a little fun. Throw in a few hexes you might find funny and improve your disgusting looks a little." He paused, smirking slightly as he added, "we're helpful like that. Always looking out for you and trying to help you score some birds. Merlin knows you're head over heels for Evans like James is but unlike him, you're just a spineless coward without the balls to ask her out."
Severus could only glare hatefully up at him, the silencing spell Potter had cast was still in effect and he couldn't voice his murderous thoughts just yet. Just wait a moment Severus…the spell is weakening.
"Expelliarmus!"
Black's wand flew out of his hand and soared through the air into the outstretched palm of Lily. And there she stood, emerald eyes smoldering like a roaring floo, her hair unkempt and flaring out like an burning halo. And her face, it wasn't contorted with anger or displeasure, but rage. Pure, unadulterated, rage.
"Evans!" Black greeted jovially with a mirthful tone, although his eyes betrayed his nerves as he asked; "What brings you here?"
"Shut your goddamned mouth Black or I'll hex your bollocks off."
Black's eyes bulged in surprise. "It was you?" He asked incredulously.
"Yes it was me," Lily sneered in an eerily calm tone of voice. "And I won't hesitate to use that curse's more…damaging variant if you don't give Sev his wand back right now. You have ten seconds. Ten, nine, eight—"
"Pete has it!" Black blurted out, his eyes traveling up the corridor to find his friend bound in thick robes and gagged for good measure.
"Well I suggest you go get it then," Lily said icily, now letting the venom course freely through her voice. She held her trusty willow wand aloft pointed right at his chest as Black sprang away from Severus.
Black dashed off down the corridor and grabbed the wand from Pettigrew's pocket and tossed it at Severus. Severus caught the wand, and raised it to point at Black. For a moment, the Black scion's always cocky and amused grey eyes widened in fear. He was well aware of all the curses that Severus knew and now that he was on the end of his wand. To his relief, Lily's hand grabbed Severus' stilling his movement as she leaned closer and whispered a few words in his ear. Whatever it was that she'd said, it caused him to lower his wand ever so slightly. He breathed a silent sigh of relief as Lily tossed him his wand and raised her own in turn. For once in his life, he was grateful for Lily Evans, for it seemed her intervention spared him a nasty hex from his nemesis.
"Free your friends and get out of here," she ordered, glaring harshly at him.
"What spells did you use to—"
"Get out Black before I change my mind!" Severus roared, raising his wand again.
Black flinched and sprinted off down the corridor, dragging the groggy looking Potter to his feet and freeing Pettigrew from his bindings. Three out of the four Marauders limped off into the distance together. Lily sighed and took one look at Severus' face spotting the numerous boils and his enlarged skull, she briefly contemplated bringing him to the hospital wing for Madam Pomfrey to take a look at him…but a much better idea soon popped into her head.
"You're coming with me Sev," Lily snarled, harshly grabbing for his wrist.
"Wha—hey! Lily! We were supposed to go to our Alcove! What the hell?"
"We're not going to the alcove," Lily muttered, her tone dark and her eyes narrowed. "We're going to see the Headmaster."
Severus sighed, slumping on his feet slightly as he let his fiery best friend pull him along through the empty halls towards Dumbledore's office. Thankfully, almost everyone was still in the Great Hall eating so the risk of someone seeing him in this state was drastically reduced.
"Can I at least do the counter curses for—"
"No! The headmaster has to see the proof! Has to see what those evil boys have done to you Sev!" Lily insisted.
At her words, Severus smiled, then laughed a short hollow laugh that was devoid of humor. "I do appreciate the sentiment Lily. I really do. But he won't care. He'll probably assume I started the fight as he usually does and then award points to them for putting a stop to my violence Lily. You know how this goes."
"Oh yeah?" Lily asked, rounding on her friend as she fixed him with a glare. "Well not this time Sev. I for one think it's a much better idea for me to give you your second present right in front of the Headmaster!"
Severus muttered something unintelligible under his breath and followed Lily down the corridor. A short while later after climbing some stairs, they arrived at the door to the Headmaster's office with Lily raising a hand to knock.
Before her fingers could even reach the knocker, a sonorous voice rang out from behind the door, saying; "come in."
The door swung open and there at his desk in front of the two third years was Albus Dumbledore himself. Sitting in his chair with a cup of tea on his desk and his familiar Fawkes crooning as Dumbledore stroked his plumage.
"Ah. Miss Evans, Mister Snape. To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you this evening?" Dumbledore said serenely, gazing at them over the top of his half-moon spectacles. His gaze grew concerned for a brief moment as he saw Severus' enlarged head and the numerous boils that were smattered across his face but his tone remained level and cool.
"Good evening Headmaster. I shan't take up much of your time, but first, I want you to take a good look at my friend," Lily said coolly, her eyes narrowed but her tone even. "Potter and Black did this to him just now! Look at him sir, this isn't even the worse they've done!"
"Now I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation for—"
"There was not!" Severus shouted, his anger erupting like a volcano. His onyx eyes, partially obscured by his puffed up eyelids, burned with anger and hatred. "There never is! They attacked me!"
Dumbledore sighed as he grabbed at his wand on the desk. "Come here Mister Snape, and sit down," he said sternly.
Severus held his chin high, glaring at the man but did as he was told without voicing any complaint.
Dumbledore waved his wand over Severus' face, making no noise as he did so and the boils began receding, and his head shrank back to its original size. Internally, Severus couldn't help but be slightly impressed at the casual display of silent magic, and for once, he had reason to thank the Headmaster. Dumbledore sighed and sank back into his chair, gesturing for his two guests to sit down.
"Now. I am well aware of the rivalry that you and Mister Potter have, Mister Snape. But they mean you no real harm, they're just boys, just like you. And while they do get carried away sometimes, like that incident a month ago, they are punished accordingly for such transgressions."
"You're wrong."
Dumbledore's sapphire gaze shifted from the silent, and sullen young man to the smoldering Gryffindor in the other chair. "I beg your pardon?" he asked.
"I said you're wrong, sir," Lily repeated. "Sev was in the hospital wing for a week, this last time around. He's been bullied relentlessly ever since he's set foot in this bloody castle! You and everyone else have done nothing to help him!"
"Now, now Miss Evans," Dumbledore said in an infuriatingly calm town of voice. "Please do calm down and—"
"No I will not calm down!" Lily shouted, jumping to her feet in a blaze of anger. "Severus has had it rough his entire life sir! And here—here it just gets worse! This school has done nothing for him! It's just as much of a hell for him here as it is back home! Severus has suffered since the day he was born and this was supposed to be an escape for him!"
"Lily," Severus started with wide eyes. "Please don't tell him about—"
"I don't care anymore!" Lily cried angrily. "He has to know Sev! Otherwise he'll never change!"
She round on the Headmaster, tears brimming in her eyes as she stared him down with the harshest glare she'd ever mustered. "We are leaving. This school has done nothing for Severus, and nothing for our friendship. We are leaving, Headmaster. Tomorrow will be the last time you ever set eyes on us."
For a brief moment, surprise and shock was seen as clear as day on Dumbledore's face, but the old man quickly recovered, blinking once, he asked, "and what do you mean you are leaving?"
Lily reached into her pocket and thrust a letter into his hands. "I meant exactly what I said," she muttered. "Come next term, Severus and I won't be amongst your students Dumbledore. We're leaving because this school has done nothing to help him. His bullies have sent him to the hospital wing countless times over the past two and a half years and it's done nothing for him! His life here is almost as bad as the one he's desperately been trying to escape back home!"
Dumbledore winced at the fiery redhead's tone as his sapphire eyes flickered across the letter, taking in its contents. When he finished reading the letter he folded it neatly and put it back in the envelope.
"Very well then," he said softly, still in that calm tone of voice. "I accept your terms of withdrawal as students from Hogwarts, Miss Evans. However…something tells me you haven't informed Mister Snape here of your unilateral decision."
She turned to face Severus who was wearing and absolutely gobsmacked look on his face, his jaw hanging loose as he turned to face her, his eyes uncertain as one question danced about within them. Why? "Sev I meant to tell you but—"
"What do you mean we're leaving?" Severus blurted out in a single breath. "Where are we going to learn magic Lily? How can we leave with over four years to go?"
Lily passed the letter to Severus, "the letter will explain everything Sev. We're going to get our education. Just not here. I refuse to play party to this house rivalry any longer, it's stupid." That last sentence was directed more so at the man across from her, rather than her friend. At least he had the good grace to appear somewhat ashamed at her words.
As Severus' eyes widened more and more as he read through the letter. Lily turned her attention back to the Headmaster for the time being. Her glare was back in place, but this time, the tears that nearly fell had dried, unleashing the full force of her emerald wrath on the Headmaster.
"Severus and I were good friends before we arrived at this school, sir," she said in a deceptively calm tone of voice, eerily reminiscent of Dumbledore's own actually. "We found each other when we were nine, and Sev told me all about Magic, and Hogwarts, and many other things. He was the boy who lead me into this fantastical world, who held the door for me and made me feel accepted, and loved. He was the one who taught me so much about wizarding customs, and all that this world had to offer. I have enjoyed my time at this school, sir. Despite leaving under acrimonious circumstances my time here has been good. Not terrible, not great, but good."
She shifted her gaze to Severus for a brief moment, then back to Dumbledore, who at least seemed to be listening closely to what she had to say. "Severus has had a terrible life so far. We were both outcasts, we were both ostracized and bullied by our peers growing up, and while I found happiness and freedom here, amongst people like me. Sev never found those things, for him, everything stayed the same. He—he's been…his life—all his life…he's been—just been—" her voice cracked, emotion seeping into her cool tone as tears blurred her vision. "Thing's never changed for him!" She yelled, hurling her words at him like daggers, accusations for not having done good enough to help her friend in need. "If I could show you, I would sir. The way he would talk, the way he would sigh—wishfully, longingly—even, to escape h—his torment…he wanted this world to be better. And none of his dreams came true! Not one of them! He's received nothing since coming to this stupid school! And what's more—"
"I've put up with a lot of your tirade so far Miss Evans and let you voice your opinion thus far, but this has gone far enough. You will leave. Now."
Lily silenced herself, but her glare didn't lessen in the slightest, if anything, it intensified. She reached for Severus' hand but— "Not Mister Snape. I have a few things to discuss with him. I have indulged your outburst for long enough. You are excused."
She stood from her chair, shouldered her bag and gave her friend one more look before glaring one final time at the Headmaster and stomping from the room in a right state.
"Mister Snape. Do you feel your time here has been similar to what Miss Evans described it as?"
"Yes."
"Do you wish to withdraw from Hogwarts then?"
"The letter speaks for itself doesn't it?" Severus sneered.
Dumbledore sighed then, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I have one more thing to ask of you, Severus. And this shan't take long. Please stay seated."
"What do you want from me?" Severus said lowly, eyeing the man who refused his claims and shot down his statements about the Marauders over and over again. The man sitting across from him never believed him or put any semblance of stock in his word. But still he sat, not out of respect for who the man was, because he hated Dumbledore, but out of respect for his position in the school as Headmaster.
Dumbledore raised a hand to his chin in thought. "Think of five memories or occurrences of…the skirmishes you've had with the Marauders. Any five. I will view them myself with an unbiased eye. Can you do that?"
"I'll try," Severus muttered, scrunching up his face in concentration as he sifted through his numerous encounters with that loathsome group of boys for the five of the very worst incidents they'd bullied him. Including the time he was put in the hospital wing for a week just one month ago.
Dumbledore extracted the memories from him, five silvery-wispy strands being dumped into a small vial and stoppered with a bung when the fifth vial was added.
"Thank you, Mister Snape. You shall go now, and tell Miss Evans to watch her tone."
"Why do you care headmaster?" Severus sneered, shooting the old man a glare. "We're no longer students of this institution evidently so what business is it of yours how we speak?"
Dumbledore had the audacity to laugh, and that roiled Severus' temper, but before he could reply the old man cut across him. "Not for my sake, Mister Snape. But for hers. It is evident as you have seen from the letter that you've just read that you shall be attending Ilvermorny from next year onwards…their Headmaster, Madam Maxwell is far less lenient with such language than I. Miss Evans should consider revising her speech patterns if she wishes to avoid trouble when you and she begin there next year."
"I shall pass along your word of warning then," Severus muttered.
Dumbledore nodded and with a casual wave of his hand, the door to his office swung open. He gave the sullen third year a nod. "Goodbye then, Severus. I wish you good luck in your new school."
Severus held his head high and returned Dumbledore's gaze evenly. "Goodbye Headmaster."
A/N2: Lily is not to be messed with. Not unless you want to get your shit kicked in of course. So it's the end of an era and hopefully the next will herald better days for Severus. In my opinion, neither Severus, nor Lily should be held to blame for the destruction of their friendship in canon. The BS House rivalry and the incompetent teachers should shoulder the blame, not Severus or Lily, they're just kids after all who fell for party doctrine and believed the lies their housemates fed them. Goodbye Hogwarts, hello Ilvermorny! Next Chapter's back in Cokeworth.
Legrerg on Pole, Verstappen P2, Sainz P3 on Saturday, you heard it here first. Forza Ferrari.