A/N: Professor Evans' first day of classes at Hogwarts is upon us, and despite trying to convince Severus to be a slightly more mellowed out Professor, she's taken a few pages out of his book. Happy birthday to the legend SV5, hopefully we'll get some good points tomorrow, keep pushing Seb.
Chapter 31 Lily's First Day
The very next day, it wasn't the sun that woke Lily or Severus, instead it was the blaring of a loud bedside alarm cast mere moments before Severus drifted off to sleep the prior night. The loud clanging of the bell woke both twenty two year olds in a hurry, and upon spotting the light flittering in through the curtains they quickly leaped out of bed to their dresser. At Lily's insistence, Severus picked out a dark forest green robe, while Lily opted for a simple auburn red robe, of a shade that matched her hair. Quickly, they stepped into the bathroom one after the other with Lily hopping into the shower first whilst Severus used the sink and mirror. Ten minutes later, they switched around. Soon after, they were both out of the bathroom all dressed and well-presented for their day ahead of them. Lily chose to wear her hair down that day, her auburn locks blending in quite nicely with her chosen robe. Severus, as per usual, did the same, his lank strands obscuring his face for the most part.
Just twenty minutes after they woke, Severus and Lily left their quarters in record time. The duo walked through the corridors at a brisk pace, breezing past a few early risers—mostly overexcited first years. Any student that had the courage to approach the two young Professors was rewarded with a few kind words from Lily and a brusque nod from Severus. Soon after, they reached the Great Hall which was mostly empty, most staff and teachers would be making their way there soon enough though. They made their way up to the High Table, with the two of them claiming their seats on the left-hand side of the hall near the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins.
"Good morning you two," Horace greeted as Severus and Lily sat down in their chairs beside him. "Uneventful patrol last night I hope?"
"Not a soul in sight. Except for that imbecile Peeves that is," Lily chuckled, as she smoothed down her robes.
"So a restful evening then?" Horace pried, glancing between the two professors.
"You could say that," Severus replied swiftly.
Horace nodded in approval. "Very good then. Well I'll be right back, I've got to distribute these schedules here as you can see," he said, gesturing to a stack of parchment.
"Of course. Don't let us stop you," Severus said in kind.
Horace got to his feet and levitated the stack of parchments with a flick of his wand. He waddled away down from the elevated high table towards his students and began distributing the schedules to all the students under his charge. As Horace distributed the schedules to the ever-growing population of Slytherins at their table, Lily turned to Severus and asked; "you've got a Fifth Year Class first thing right?"
Severus, who had been lifting a porridge filled spoon to his lips, set the utensil down on the edge of his bowl and nodded. "Yes. Fifth Year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs—" his lip curled in distaste, "—a most…intriguing combination," he drawled.
"Severus remember your promise," Lily muttered quietly, yet warningly, taking care to not alert Horace who was now walking back to the table.
"I have every intention of following through on it," Severus replied solemnly. "You have a class of First Year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, have you not?" He asked.
Lily nodded, swallowing her bite of eggs, then stifling a burp with her palm. "Yeah…hopefully it'll go well, but I guess we'll see, won't we?"
"I guess so," Severus agreed, hesitating for a few moments before adding; "But it would be prudent to wish you good luck. First year classes can be…tricky, at times. Although I'm sure you'll manage." He then returned his attention to his porridge.
When Horace returned, the three junior Professors chatted amiably about their plans for the day ahead as well as what assignments they planned on assigning their students. Lily, in a controversial move that elicited raised eyebrows from both Horace and Severus decided to not set assignments at all during the first week of term. Both the Potions and DADA Professors glanced skeptically at one another and then at Lily, but decided not too question her on it. She'd just have to make up time later in the semester and move through the syllabus more quickly then. Severus was concerned with Lily's plan to say the least, he knew he'd have to talk to her about it once they were in private and try to talk her out of it. When the meal was over and Severus and Lily decided to depart the hall, Severus pulled her aside as soon as they stepped through the staff entrance.
"You really ought to consider handing out assignments this first week Lily," Severus said gravely. He was well aware of the dangers of falling behind one's syllabus and the catchup work that was required to ensure one's students were ready for their end of year exams.
"I think they should be eased back into it Severus, let them enjoy their first week back and get up to speed on their classwork and then—"
"You'll have to teach awfully quickly as the term goes on then," Severus interjected, his tone one of warning and the look in his eyes spoke much the same. He sighed and took a step back from Lily, "it's your choice Lily…obviously, but I'm just saying from experience that it may not be the best choice. Still…if you are set on doing this then I wish you the best of luck with it. I for one will be setting assignments from my first class."
"Of course you will, I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Professor Snape," Lily replied, quirking her lips into a teasing smirk.
"You would do well to learn from my example, Professor Evans," Severus replied, smirking right back at her.
"Professor Evans…I like the sound of that. Has a nice ring to it doesn't it?" Lily pondered, giving him a thoughtful look.
"Indeed it does," Severus stepped closer, his fingers gently cupping Lily's chin, then tilting her head up so her eyes were on his. "But Professor Snape has a better ring to it."
"Well I won't have to wait long to be called that…will I?" She asked, staring up into his eyes unflinchingly.
"Soon, my love. Very soon," he replied, the distance between them lessening by the second. Leaning forward just that bit more, he kissed her gently, his hand still tilting her chin upwards but moving along her neck to brush some hair off her cheek.
Just as their lips touched, the door to the staff room squeaked open and a gasp from Francine May the Divination Professor, caused the two professors to spring apart faster than a Kneazle from water.
"Oh goodness me! I'm sorry!" May squeaked out, covering her eyes and glancing away from their brief moment of intimacy.
"You know what? I'll just…I'll just go use the main entrance, carry on," May rambled, flustered and flushed red as she quickly swept back through the door she'd appeared in just seconds prior.
Lily didn't even have a chance to mutter an apology to the surprised professor before the woman had disappeared from sight. "Shit," she muttered quietly, adding several more profanities in her head. "Now the entire staff are going to start having a go at us aren't they?"
"She'd better not, unless she's a heartless prude," Severus scowled, glaring holes at the door she'd appeared in almost as if the piece of wood itself was what was offending him.
Lily giggled, causing the angry DADA Professor to look back over to his fiancee, she was laughing without abandon as if she'd just been hit by a Rictusempra.
"What do you find so amusing?"
"I can't believe you said that!" Lily exclaimed loudly, once she'd gained some semblance of control back as her laughter died down. "You! You're the prude Sev, I saw you at the Yule Ball in '94 dashing about the grounds catching students snogging in the carriages or in the bushes, you were like a…a living contraception device!" She laughed.
"Ah yes, yes I recall that evening quite vividly," Severus remarked softly, amusement in his tone. "Why, I believe I was arguing with Igor quite intensely that night…and performing the most daring of missions in preventing teenage pregnancy. Quite a noble deed I must say."
"Indeed it was noble Severus, and boy was it fun to watch!" Lily chortled, her ever broadening smile causing Severus' lips to quirk upward in turn. "Honestly, you dashing about from carriage to bush, to alcove, back to carriage again, busting students left, right and center was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen! I mean…who needs condoms and contraceptive charms when Severus Snape is on the prowl!"
"I do try. And Poppy was most grateful for my efforts I assure you, it spares her a lot of trouble," Severus sniped back.
"I'm sure it does Sev," Lily replied, smiling up at him. Sighing she took a few steps away from him, glancing at the door, then back to Severus. "We'd better go now, class is starting in twenty minutes or so. Will I see you at lunch?"
"I'll be in the Great Hall. I trust you will be there too?"
"I will," she turned, and began to walk away down the corridor that would take her to her charms class and office. "Have a good first day of classes Severus, do try to be nice," she called out over her shoulder, her gait not slowing as she spoke.
"I can't make any promises," he replied, allowing himself a smirk that she couldn't see. While she couldn't see it, she most definitely heard the smirk in his voice, and he had no trouble hearing the slight chortle she gave in response to his words.
"But I will try. Have a good day of classes as well, Lily."
She'd reached the end of the corridor and was a good fifteen meters away from him before she finally turned, standing by a stained-glass window, the light flittering in caught her auburn curls and it lit it up like the sun. The ghost of a grin she gave him made his heart skip a beat. "That's Professor Evans to you, Snape." Without giving him time to respond, she disappeared around the corner.
She walked down the familiar series of corridors that would take her towards a flight of stairs. Climbing the stairs, she got off on the third floor and proceeded down the hall towards her class which was located at the far end. Opening the door, Lily couldn't quite restrain the happy sigh she expelled as she entered what would come to be known as a second home of sorts to her over the coming twenty odd years. She walked past the rows of benches and desks to the front of the class. When Lily neared the front, she flicked her wand at the tall-paned windows, causing the heavy Silver and Green drapes to float upwards and tie themselves off to the sides, thus allowing a healthy dose of sunlight into the room. Lily directed her wand at the drawn drapes, she thought about changing the color from the Slytherin Green and Silver that Marjorie favored to her own preferred palate of Gold and Burgundy, but in the end decided to leave them be.
She then headed over to her desk and pulled open the topmost drawer on the left hand side of the table. She pursed her lips as her fingers picked through the numerous pieces of parchment the drawer held. After a few moments spent searching, she brought out a stack of parchment pieces and set the heavy stack down on the desk with a thud. Lily then lowered herself into her chair and glanced at the clock on the wall. Ten minutes…good. I guess I have some time for some interior redecoration then. After assuring that her entire stack of First year syllabus practical and theoretical notes was accounted for and ready for her to call upon, she stood from her chair and turned her attention from the stack of parchment to the desks arrayed before her. Biting her lip in consternation, several ideas shot through her mind pertaining to what she wanted to do with the desk layout before her.
Her green eyes sprang to and fro across the classroom before a lightbulb finally flickered and stayed on. She knew what she wanted to do at long last. Raising her wand, she set to work transfiguring the long desks before her into curved desks that when combined would form a U-shape. Traditionally, the desks had been straight, with benches for seating instead of far more comfortable chairs. She lifted her wand again and a row of curved benches levitated out over the center of the room from their initial location along the walls. She set the benches down in the middle of the class, the open side of the U facing the front where she could address, demonstrate, and lecture the students quite easily. She did the same for the second row of desks as well, in the end, there were two concentric Us in the middle of the classroom, each with chairs instead of benches for the students to sit on. With the two rows of desks now settled in the middle of the room, and the benches the chairs would have used not taking the form of chairs, Lily sat back down at her desk and expelled a huff of satisfaction at a job well done.
Not a moment later, the first of the nervous first years began filing into the warmly-lit classroom from their door in the back. Lily waved good morning to them from her desk at the front and encouraged the students to find their seats. Lily refrained from speaking to the students, as they filed into the class, but silently summoned her house elf, Nam, and requested the diminutive creature to deliver her the register for the class. Bowing, the elf popped away, and returned not five seconds later with a scroll of names in hand. When the clock on the wall chimed nine, meaning it was now time for the commencement of the class, Lily cleared her throat, causing the chatter of the assembled students to die down into hushed whispers, and then into silence.
The youngest Professor in Hogwarts' history stood from her desk, and began to speak; "Welcome, all of you to Hogwarts. It is wonderful to see most of you here on time, bright eyed and bushy tailed for the beginning of your magical education. I am Professor Lily Marie Evans, you may address me as Professor Evans, and I will be your Charms Professor for the next—"
The door to the classroom burst open with a bang, the thin wood of the door shaking on its hinges as two Gryffindor boys burst into the classroom in a hurry.
"We're here!" One boy exclaimed, panting from exertion, he had bright blonde hair, dark brown eyes and a large nose that looked a little like a young Sev's, now that Lily came to think about it. He and his roommate, a taller boy with tanned skin and dark brown hair, quickly scrambled to find a seat, apologizing to their professor who watched them with her hands on her hips.
"Sorry Professor," the brown-haired boy said quietly, finding a chair in the second row of the 'U' alongside his fellow tardy roommate.
"Apology accepted, Mister…"
"Livingston, ma'am. Archibald Livingston," the boy offered.
"Well Mister Livingston, as long as you and your roommate do not repeat this in the future, I will let it slide," she warned, staring pointedly at the boy. "Let it be known, class, that tardiness is unacceptable. I won't take points during this week or the next, since I am well aware of just how confusing and crazy this castle can be at times, but starting from the third week onwards, if any student is late to class they will suffer a points loss for their house. If you're later than ten minutes, you shall receive detention in addition to a points loss," Professor Evans said sternly, her eyes roving over the students who listened intently. "Is that understood?"
"Yes Professor Evans," the class chorused together.
"Good," Professor Evans said with a satisfied nod. "Now, back to what I was saying, I shall be your Professor for the next seven years here, and I want this classroom to be a place of learning and curiosity. Any question, no matter how complex or seemingly basic, is welcome, and any creative spark you ignite I ask that you share with the class. All of us are on this journey together so if we all get along, and you all follow the rules of the classroom then I am sure we will all have a splendid next seven years together."
"What are the rules Professor?" A raven-haired Hufflepuff girl asked.
"What's your name, Miss…"
"Taylor, ma'am," the girl replied.
"Well Miss Taylor," Professor Evans began with a smirk, "I was just getting to that."
The girl sheepishly flushed a dull shade of red in response.
"I have a few class rules, they are simple to follow, but if you can then I'm sure we shall have a lovely time. Rule Number One, no speaking out of turn, if you wish to speak, raise your hand and I will call upon you as soon as I am able to. Speaking out of turn, especially if it is to the detriment of the class may result in a points loss. Rule Number Two, any and all creativity is welcome in this class. If you wish to learn more, if you wish to expand your knowledge within the wonderful world of charms, all you have to do is approach me and ask, I'll always have my door open for all of you if you wish to get to know me or learn more about Charms. Rule Number Three, respect is paramount in my classroom, respect must be shown to your peers and me, that means that once those doors shut and class begins, there will be no messing about and all of you shall be required to follow my instructions, and to treat your fellow classmates with respect and dignity. Like Professor Dippet said last night, there will be no hexing, no bullying, no messing with one another. Am I clear?"
"Yes Professor," the class responded swiftly, yet with a tone of stiffness that Lily almost frowned at.
Giving a satisfied nod, Professor Evans soldiered on; "Very good. Now for Rule Number Four, if you need an extension on assignment, all you need to do is ask, naturally, I won't grant you an extension if you're asking for them too frequently, but if it's only once or twice a term, then I won't mind, provided you ask several days in advance. And for Rule Number Five, the most important rule of all in my opinion…" she let her voice trail off, savoring the look of apprehension and curiosity present on her students' faces before saying, "is that we all have fun. Just because these rules are in place doesn't mean that I want this class to stifle your learning and progression as charms casters. I want all of you to enjoy yourselves first and foremost, as long as all four of the prior rules are adhered to. If you have a question, if you have an idea, I want to hear it, as much as I wish for my class to be a place of learning, I want it to be a place of sharing as well. Can we all do that?"
This time, the "Yes Professor," the class answered was far brighter than the last, and it too gave the Charms Professor ample reason to smile.
"Brilliant," she beamed, eyes shining with pride as she looked over her class.
The class sat calmly in their chairs, as Evans withdrew her trusty willow-wand. Other than Severus, it was the only remnant of her old life that she'd brought to her new one, she shut her eyes, feeling her magic surge through her body and channel into the wand. With a pointed jab, and an incantation that wasn't necessary given her proficiency at wordless charm-casting, she exclaimed; "accio register!" The parchment piece that Nam had delivered just a few moments ago soared through the air and into her outstretched hand.
There were oohs and ahhs from the class behind her, probably the muggleborns, I was pretty amazed by Flitwick back in the day in my first charms class as well, she mused. The Register held firmly in her grasp, she turned her gaze upon the assembled students. "Before we start the lesson, we must first take attendance. So when I call your name, please raise your hand and say present."
Within five minutes—and with limited interruptions thank goodness—Professor Evans was able to take the class register with a small star scribbled in next to Livingston's and Murphy's names. With her labeled register banished back to her desk with a flick of her wand, she strode into the middle of the classroom and stood in the open area within the double U of desks.
"Now pay attention class, today we're going to be learning the levitation charm," Evans announced, another flick of her wand resulted in two Black boards being summoned from the back of the class and being brought to the foreground, more oohs and ahhs rang out from the Muggle-raised Halfbloods and Muggleborn students.
"We shan't be needing our wands today, class so please put them away. Next week when I see you lot again I promise we'll be doing some wand work, but for now, wands down."
The class let out an audible groan at that, but listened to their Professor, wands either fell into their book bags, or into pockets, or onto their desks. With a silent display of the charm she'd be teaching them, she levitated two pieces of chalk into the air and held it aloft just in front of both blackboards. Enchanting both chalk pieces, they began to scribble away instructions to the class.
"Now class, if you would open your copy of The Standard Book of Spells to page four, begin reading until page ten and take notes as you read each page. At the end of the class I shall come around to all of your desks to ensure all of you took notes so do not skip out on this step. When you are finished reading, if you have any questions feel free to raise your hand and I shall do my best to help explain it to you," Professor Evans said calmly, letting her gaze sweep over the class.
"For the next thirty minutes, I want silence whilst you read and take notes. After the half-hour is up, those of you that do not have any questions for me or require my assistance will discuss with your partner your findings from the text. After that, I shall explain the basis of the levitation charm to fill in any gaps in your knowledge. If all goes according to plan…I expect we shall be able to practice the levitation charm next week for your next class."
A girl in the second row raised her hand once Professor Evans had finished speaking; she called on the girl. "Yes Miss Willoughby, you have a question?"
"Yes Professor. So we just need to read and take notes for the next half-hour and after that if we have any questions we can ask you?"
"Yes Miss Willoughby, although I shall be going through the basics of the charm myself once your reading has finished, addressing the lot of you as a class," Professor Evans confirmed, nodding. "If there are any questions that you or someone else may have after I explain the basics of the charm, the wand movement and the incantation, then feel free to approach me at my desk. But I will be adding on to what the text book says myself as soon as your reading time is up. Does that answer your question, dear?"
Miss Willoughby nodded swiftly, "it does. Thank you Professor."
"You're most welcome," Professor Evans replied, bearing a warm smile.
"Now are there any other questions or are we ready for your reading time to begin?"
She was met with silence and a sea of shaking heads. "Alright then, you may get your books out and begin reading now, I shall be checking to ensure you take notes so don't try to skip out on any alright?"
"Yes Professor," the class replied, reaching into their bags for their books.
Satisfied with their response, Professor Evans moved from the middle of the class back to her desk at the front. She casually flicked her wand at the bound drapes, partially unwinding them to reduce the light coming into the room slightly. As she lowered herself into her chair, she expelled a quiet sigh of contentment, looks like everything is going well so far…I just hope that I can keep this up. From the looks of things, everything seemed to be unfolding as good as could be for her first class of her teaching career. Unfortunately for Professor Evans her run of good luck would soon come to an end.
As the class wound down, Professor Evans supervised the students' discussion with each other. A Gryffindor girl, Miss Hawkins, and a Hufflepuff boy, Mister Montague sat in the front of the first U of desks seemed to be having an avid debate on the importance of the incantation versus the wand movement. Professor Evans decided to listen in on their little squabble, ensuring things didn't get out of hand and to chip in when needed. Unfortunately, the devotion of her attention to the debating girl and boy meant she'd failed to notice a Gryffindor boy in the back of the class withdraw his wand from his robe pocket, with the intention of attempting the charm.
The boy, snickering away with a Hufflepuff boy next to him pointed his wand at his textbook on his desk. The Hufflepuff boy who just so happened to be the tallest in the class glimpsed Professor Evans at the front explaining something to his roommate and a Gryffindor girl, and gave his friend the all-clear to try it. Grinning, the boy performed the swish and flick along with a muttered 'wingardium leviosa,' under his breath. Unfortunately for him, his wand movements were far to rigid and jerky, what was meant to be a smooth, flowing swish and flick turned into clunky jerks of his arm that ensured his spell didn't work. Worse still, an unknown curse shot from the boy's wand, impacting the book and blowing it to smithereens. The explosion of the heavy, several-hundred page textbook shook the desk and caused the boy to fall out of his chair.
"Prewett! What did I say at the beginning of class about not needing our wands today?" Professor Evans barked, whirling around from the spirited debate she'd been moderating to face the second row where Mister Prewett once sat. The boy in question was now laid flat on the ground on his back, a dazed look on his face as his friend, the tall Hufflepuff boy Jones helped him up.
Like a fiery tornado, the angry Professor Evans left the debate between behind between Montague and Hawkins and reached the back of the second U. "P—professor Evans, it isn't what it looks like! Honest! I didn't mean to do that, I was just practicing the wand motion!" Prewett lied as he slouched in his chair.
"No you were not just practicing the wand motion, Mister Prewett," Professor Evans said sternly, seeing right through his fib. "You were practicing the spell, what just occurred is a common result of one trying the wand motion whilst muttering the incantation, only if your wand motion is too jerky and rigid. Minus five points from Gryffindor for disobeying my instruction, and another five for lying to me. None of this would have happened if you had just listened to my instruction," Professor Evans reprimanded.
"Yes Professor," the boy said quietly, averting his gaze from Professor Evans' reproachful green eyes.
Giving a satisfied nod, she moved back to the middle of the U. "Let this be a warning to all of you. Today, Mister Prewett only lost a text book, but as we learn charms of a more advanced nature as time goes on, you could lose a lot more than that. This time, Mister Prewett will only receive a points loss, but in the future if anyone is caught deliberately breaking rules again that I explicitly put in place then detention in addition to a points loss shall be awarded. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Professor Evans," the class responded, although the tone from the two boys in the back was rather despondent sounding.
"Good," Professor Evans replied. "Oh and Mister Prewett, Mister Jones, for our next class I expect you both to sit in the first U, right where I can see you. You've forfeited your privileges of sitting in the back," she added, addressing the two boys.
They both gave resigned-looking nods. Satisfied, Evans moved back to her desk. If this was the sort of behavior she'd have to expect going forward, then this would be a much longer day than she'd expected…
When Lily returned to their quarters that evening, she was greeted with a warm hug from Severus, the feeling of his arms around her soaked up and vanished away the tension from her body. Sighing, she eventually returned the hug and let herself slump in his arms. The three classes that day had taken a toll on her, but thankfully she'd only had to assign one detention, to an unruly 5th Year Slytherin Boy in her second class of the day after he'd called a Muggleborn Gryffindor Boy a 'stupid mudblood'. Lily had snapped on him ferociously, chastising him in front of the class and handed him a twenty point loss as well as detention that very evening. She'd just returned to her shared quarters with Severus after administering the detention and she was tired. Supervising the boy as he wrote lines for two hours was not a pleasant way to spend one's evening and she was more than happy to be back home with her fiancee.
"How was the detention?" Severus asked softly, as his calloused fingers gently stroked her messy auburn curls.
"Tiring. But I think I got through to him," she muttered, sighing. "I talked with him about his beliefs…his ideals, and well…I think that he may be amenable to changing his ways. He at least felt guilty about what he did afterwards." She paused, humming quietly before adding; "although he might have been lying. I don't know. Either way, he won't be using that word in my class again any time soon unless he wants a weeks worth of detention spent scrubbing my classroom from top to bottom," she chuckled.
"So you assigned your first detention then. Well this should be a reason to celebrate shouldn't it?" Severus chuckled, grinning down at her in such a boyish manner she couldn't help but grin back.
"Not my first Sev. My first since I was head girl, you mean," she sniped back.
"Ah yes…I'd forgotten about that," Severus drawled. "But you only assigned one detention today, yes?" he asked, his tone curious.
"That's right, just the one," Lily replied. She unwound herself from his arms and slowly began to pull her robes over her head. "But I did take some points…and award some too, all in all I'd say my second years were the best behaved of the lot. The First years were okay but funnily enough it was the 5th Years, that one boy in particular that caused the most trouble," Lily frowned, her knitted brow and terse tone giving Severus cause for concern.
"Come with me Lily. I think I have an idea that might cheer you up a bit," Severus said, tilting his head to the bathroom. Frowning in confusion, she followed him.
Severus quickly drew a bath, using a warming charm to bring the water up to a comfortable temperature quickly, he then stripped off his clothes and extended a hand for Lily. Eyeing the bath with an amused look, Lily quickly shed her under garments and joined him in the bath. Sighing happily at the sensation of the warm, soapy water on her skin, she leaned back against Severus and smiled.
"How about you tell me about the rest of your day then?" Severus offered, his arms holding her gently as she reclined onto his chest.
"Mmm alright," Lily sighed languidly, snuggling further back into his chest—her soft auburn curls tickled Severus as she leant against him. "Only as long as you tell me about your day afterwards we have a deal then."
"Deal."
Without further delay, Lily launched into her recollection of the day's events, recounting the first class she taught, and the basic theory behind the levitation charm she instilled within her students, she briefly elaborated on the incident with Jones and Prewett but didn't spend long on her first class, she'd already told Severus about it at lunch after all. She then told him about her troubled second period class, Slytherin and Gryffindor 5th Years and how she handled the incident with the 5th Year Boy, Wilkes, who had insulted the Muggleborn Gryffindor, Parker. Severus approved of the detention, but disagreed with Lily on her point taking, insisting that fifty points needed to be taken for his insult as opposed to the fairly lenient thirty she had deducted from him. She then spent more time discussing the last class of her day, her fourth period 2nd Year Gryffindor and Slytherin class where she began teaching the class the basics of one of her all-time favorite charms, Tarantallegra, otherwise known as the dancing leg charm. The class got a kick out of it when she charmed her desk chair to perform a solo waltz across the classroom, her high-backed plush chair moving with boundless skill across the class that had the children in hysterics. Starting the lesson on a high proved to be a good idea since after letting them have their fun, when Lily told them to buckle down and focus on the lesson, they listened closely knowing just how much fun they'd have if they managed to follow her teachings. Her Second Year class was the best of the day by far in her view.
Severus listened to her intently as she spoke about her day, he interjected on occasion, assuring her that it could have gone a lot worse and the fact that she'd only had to assign one detention as opposed to his four was rather impressive. Severus himself had dealt with an unruly bunch for his first day and whilst he'd overseen one detention, a 3rd Year Gryffindor Boy personally, the other three miscreants he'd assigned detentions had been handed to Julius Gurge, the Caretaker, for the evening and had been tasked with scrubbing down the trophy room. Lily couldn't quite hide her amusement at the fact that Severus had already assigned four detentions within his first day of teaching, when she asked him to elaborate, he obliged and in the end she ended up agreeing that all four of the perps deserved it. With the exception of the detention assigning, Severus revealed that his classes went rather smoothly and that he'd decided to take a page from Lily's book and forgo assigning homework just for the first day. Tomorrow he'd start the assignments in earnest but just for today, he was feeling a bit lenient for once.
When the water began to cool and grow unpleasant, Severus and Lily stood up from the bath and quickly toweled each other dry. They performed their nightly rituals diligently and swiftly, before redressing in their night clothes and heading back into their bedroom.
When Severus, all dressed in his grey pyjamas looked set to head out into his office to get some marking done, Lily grabbed his wrist, causing the man to whirl around in surprise. "Come to bed with me?" Lily asked, inclining her head towards the welcoming bed just a few paces away.
"Come on Sev, you're tired, I can see it in your eyes, I'm tired too. I don't think marking when we're sleepy is the best idea," she insisted.
"That's nothing a vial of Pepper-up potion can't solve," Severus replied.
He was about to yank his wrist from her grasp, but the pleading look in her eyes gave him pause. He'd put off marking in the past, although it wasn't a common practice for the former Potions Professor and Head of Slytherin House, he eventually gave in to Lily's demands and followed her over to the bed, sinking into the covers without protest. Lily sighed happily as she draped his arm over her stomach, enjoying the feeling of curling up against his chest and feeling all the warmth he had to give her. She waved her hand at the wall and the lights began to dim, before fizzling out entirely and blanketing the room in darkness, just like how she and Severus liked it. She could hear the steady beat of his heart against her back, and the low, rasping breaths Severus inhaled, as well as the soft exhales on the nape of her neck. The rhythmic beating of his heart and his exhales that tickled her neck made the prospect of sleep all that more enticing.
Seconds before drifting off to sleep, when her eye-lids began feeling heavy, she whispered; "I love you Sev. Sweet dreams."
The last thing she heard before losing consciousness was a low, tired, and grumbling reply of; "I love you too Lily, rest easy, my love," his breath tickling the back of her neck as she fell into a world of dreams.