Chapter 4: People Will Say

The spring weather was starting to burn into summer heat by the time Severus could say that he was well and truly on the mend. He was still wearing a boot around his broken left ankle, but just the other day, he had placed his weight on that foot while getting out of bed, almost accidentally. He found that, whereas before a debilitating spasm would shoot up his thigh, now he only felt a slight twinge in his foot. Although he figured the boot wouldn't come off and the crutches wouldn't go away before he got on the Hogwarts Express for home, they'd be relegated to the ashbin of history not long after his return to Spinner's End. That almost surely meant an injury-free and carefree summer with Lily.

As for Potter and his band of renegades, their presence in his life was noticeably absent. He saw them in the halls, but there were no hexes, no attempts to run him down (although he supposed that had more to do with the potentially bad optics of knocking a boy down while he was on crutches). Severus knew better than to suspect that this was based on pure goodwill on Potter or Black's part. And call him paranoid, but if they weren't bothering him, he figured that meant there was something else on all their minds.

"They're up to something, Lily," Severus hissed to her, as the pair met at the door to the dungeons to walk to breakfast together.

Lily shrugged, looping her arm through Severus's. "Don't let them get to you, Sev. They're probably just preparing for exams."

"Do you really believe Potter or Black are spending their time studying?" Severus frowned.

"As long as Remus is making them, probably," Lily shrugged. "It's time to start buckling down for OWLS next year."

The pair slowed to a stop outside the Great Hall, where a group of their classmates were gathering around the oaken doors. Nudging their way into the throng, Severus scanned the words on the parchment nailed to the wood, and his eyes lit up. Before he could tell his friend, however, Mary MacDonald came dashing up to Lily.

"Lily! One last Hogsmeade trip for the year! It's next Saturday week!" The excitement in her storm-cloud grey eyes dimmed as she drew herself up to her full height, giving Severus a formal, but polite nod. "Oh. Hello, Snape."

"MacDonald," Severus greeted back. He had learned in first year that it was best to share Lily with the Irish-born Mary – his best friend's fellow Gryffindor was probably the closest person to Lily, other than he. As for Severus and Mary themselves, they would probably never totally see eye-to-eye, but he could never claim the girl had been openly rude to him; it was more than Severus could say for Potter and his lot.

Besides, Severus had to concede, MacDonald was quite a pretty girl – long and flowing chestnut tress, usually loose from all ties so that it tumbled down to her shoulders. An oval-shaped face, smooth and unblemished, capped off by a high forehead. Her lips were full, creating the impression that there was something doe-like and innocent about her. Only if you got close enough could you tell that Mary carried herself practically, with no-nonsense; she was quite assertive when she wanted to be. The beaming smile now reappearing back on her face – a smile she usually reserved just for Lily – was a rare sight indeed.

"Are you going?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't I?" Lily chittered.

"Two of us touring the shops, right?" Mary beamed.

"Actually, Lily," Severus blurted out before he fully realized what he was doing. "I was wondering if you would want to go to Hogsmeade with me?"

Lily turned to her best friend, cocking an eyebrow at him in surprise, almost amused. She and Severus had gone together into the Village a time or two since they'd started third year, but he had never before felt compelled to… ask her…. Between them, Mary was glancing back and forth between the Slytherin and her fellow Gryffindor, grey eyes huge, mouth hanging open a little, upturning ever-so-slightly into something curious. Well, well, well…. what do we have here?

Lily cocked her head as she studied Severus, her cheeks flushing pink, a little. Caught between her best friend and her best girlfriend, she decided to punt. "I have a better idea:" and she linked her free arm through that of Mary. "How about the three of us go together?"

Glancing to each other over Lily's excited and bouncing red curls, Severus and Mary both gamely nodded. Mutually assured tolerance had been their strategy up until now – for Lily's sake, they would bear each other's company.

Although, Severus silently bummed as Lily practically skipped into the Great Hall with them both, he would have much preferred to take Lily into Hogsmeade alone.

The two Gryffindor girls and their silent Slytherin male counterpart commandeered a threstral carriage the day after exams ended. Severus was pleased to see Potter and his mates were cut off from any attempts at joining them by the rest of the shouting and laughing third through seventh years.

Upon arrival in the Village, a beaming Lily looped her arms with Severus and Mary and dragged them everywhere. Honeydukes, Dervish and Banges, and Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop all received visits. At Gladrags' Wizard Wear, Severus noticed how a pendant caught Lily's eye, only for her frown to dip considerably at the price. Severus checked his pockets. He'd received a boon of a payout from a bet he'd wagered with Lucius Malfoy – the outcome of a Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff – about two weeks before. He had meant to carry it home and save it, but…. For Lily, he would splurge.

Taking the pendant off the rack where Lily had sadly replaced it, Severus marched with her up to the counter and laid the money down. Green eyes bulging, Lily tried to splutter, "Oh, Sev, you don't have to…."

"I insist," Severus smiled down at her. He could care less that Mary MacDonald was picking him apart with her eyes. If there was one thing his useless drunk of a father had taught him, it was how to treat a lady. Unlike Tobias Snape, however, his son at least had the monetary funds to back it up. "May I?"

Lily nodded quietly, turning about and casting her long and flowing auburn hair over her shoulder so that Severus could latch the pendant around her neck. He tried not to let his hands shake as they brushed the skin along the nape of her neck, setting the chain down so that the bauble to which it was attached came to rest just above Lily's tempting cleavage. Severus willed himself to not look down, lest anyone (most of all Mary) could accuse him of glancing down his best friend's shirt. Through the window, he froze as he watched Potter and his mates stumbling down the street, and his eyes happened to lock with those of Sirius Black. The mangy lout paused for just a moment at the edge of the window's frame, observing the almost intimate moment curiously before an arm – likely Potter's – reached back to drag him along.

Lily turned back, her expression grateful and positively radiant. "Thank you, Sev."

The way she smiled at him, Severus was sorely tempted to drag her into the nearest aisle, push her up against the shelf and snog her senseless. Only Mary's presence made him hold back, but then again, he couldn't decide one way or the other if he cared or not about Mary possibly witnessing him and Lily kissing.

In any case, Mary was watching them now – like a hawk, almost, as the trio emerged onto the main street.

"Lils? May I speak with you for a moment, please? Alone?" Mary eyed Severus pointedly, her expression just placid enough so as to not quite be a glare.

"Oh, erm…. Yes, all right," Lily flushed, allowing Mary to tug her around one corner and into an alley. Severus exhaled, folding his arms as he leaned his lanky frame against Gladrag's Wizard Wear.

Back in the alley, Mary rounded on Lily.

"Are you going out with Snape?"

"Wh…. What?" Lily stammered, her face turning positively scarlet. The smile that burst into full bloom on her face betrayed her. "No, of course not!"

"But you like the idea of it!" Mary pointed, an Ah-ha! expression coming across her own countenance. "You're pleased!"

"Wouldn't anyone be, if a guy bought them nice things?" Lily shrugged, trying to make it sound nonchalant. "Besides, Severus usually doesn't have so much money to spend…."

"That's another thing!" Mary pounced. "All that coin in his purse – where did he get it?"

At this, Lily frowned hard. "Mary…." In her voice was warning. "Severus is not a thief."

Mary backed down quickly. "I'm trying to look out for you," she said softly. "A Gryffindor fancying a Slytherin…."

"I never said I fancied him!" Lily cut across her, a little too sharply.

Mary's facial muscles churned for a moment in a disbelieving way.

"Mary: Severus is just my friend!" Lily insisted. Yet, even to her own ears, she had to wonder: why does my voice sound so weak?

"I've seen the way he looks at you," Mary murmured. "It's just like the way I've caught James Potter staring at you…."

At this, Lily scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Look, I like Potter about as little as you do," Mary insisted. "But at least he's a Gryffindor. A Slytherin like that …. Like Severus," she amended when Lily arched an eyebrow in her direction. "….is no good. I just think you should be careful. I want what's best for you, and that includes your choice of boyfriend."

"I have no intention of getting a boyfriend anytime soon, and if I ever do, I'll leave the decision up to myself, thanks." At the coolness in Lily's voice, Mary's face fell, hurt. Softening, Lily sighed, touching her arm. "I know you're leery of Severus, but he would never hurt me. Neither of you have to like each other, but as long as you keep it civil for my sake, I suppose I can't ask much more of you than that."

Mary brightened, smiling weakly, cheering up all the more when Lily gave her a hug.

Rounding the corner, the two girls pulled up short when they saw flashes of light from wands going off: Snape and three of Potter's gang were fully engaged in a reckless duel. Hovering along the edge of the skirmish was Remus Lupin, shouting futilely for a halt to the proceedings.

"Sirius, James, you right prats, lay off this instant!"

"Come on, Moony, it's just a bit of fun!" Peter Pettigrew chirped, windmilling his wand wildly as he flung out a Stunning Spell. The shot went wide, arching so that, with a yelp, Lily had to seize Mary and fling them both against the wall of Gladrag's Wizard Wear; the red bolt of light still missed them both by inches.

Wheeling about and seeing the near miss, Severus saw red. "Learn how to play with your bloody toys properly, Pettigrew! Impedimenta!"

An indigo flash went home, sending Peter sprawling, his lack of balance only made worse when he tripped over a carriage step, and fell back onto the cobblestones with a crash.

"OI!" James thundered, twirling his wand high like a lasso as he seethed with anger. Peter's dispatchment created a lull in the barrage, just long enough for Remus to literally dive between the dueling boys.

"Act your damn age, why don't you?!" The prudent boy threw out both his hands, noticing Professor McGonagall coming up the street to investigate. "There are ladies present!"

Noticing Lily for the first time, James hastily stowed his wand back into his robes; his free hand jumping to his hair; Lily sneered at him. In the next instant, he face softened in concern as she dashed up to Severus, clutching at his hand.

"Are you all right? What happened?"

"Later…. Later," Severus waved her away, winded. Off to one side, they could hear Remus talking with McGonagall:

"I took care of it, Professor. My mates are right prats, the lot of them." He glared at James and Sirius, who had the decency to look shame-faced.

"Thank you, Mister Lupin. Might I suggest you carry Mr. Pettigrew back to the carriages?; we'll be due back to the castle soon."

"Yes, ma'am." It took both Remus and James to carry Peter's stout little body away. Lily was heartened to see Severus actually looking a little guilty.

"I maybe shouldn't have hit him so hard… Pettigrew's a waste of space, mostly, but when his aim went off…."

Squeezing his arm, a hand softly touching his face in almost a caress, Lily perched on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Never apologize for defending a lady's honor, Sev."

Severus practically glowed. "A wise lesson indeed, Miss Evans." And they strode off through the Village, Mary scampering to catch up with them. Turning in close to her best mate, Mary hissed:

"Don't fancy him, you say?"

"S-shut up!" Lily spluttered, cheeks staining rouge.

The following day, the students boarded the Hogwarts Express for home. Lily quickly found a compartment for herself, Mary and Severus, the threesome quickly flagging down the Trolley Lady once the locomotive was clear of the station. Mary quietly stuck her head in a book, only half-listening to the conversation Severus and Lily were having about what they'd do once they got home to Spinner's End.

A sudden knock on the panes made the two Gryffindors and Slytherin glance up. Sliding back the glass door to their compartment, Remus appeared, looking oddly contrite. If he had possessed a hat, it would have been in his hands.

"Um….. Severus… Lily…. I would like to apologize on behalf of my mates for their behavior yesterday. It was unbecoming of a Gryffindor."

Lily dipped her head politely. "Well, thank you, Remus, although I can't see why Potter and Black can't come down here and tell us that themselves."

At this, Remus winced. "They would, if the lot weren't too busy playing Exploding Snap."

Noticing how Mary had emerged from her book to study the exchange with interest, Lily glanced between her fellow Gryffindors. "Oh, um…. Remus, this is Mary MacDonald. Mary, Remus Lupin."

"How do you do, madam?" Remus dipped his own head in gentlemanly acknowledgement. Mary nodded back, clearing her throat.

"Thank you for breaking up the fight, Mr. Lupin. Your intervention showed great maturity."

Remus smiled softly, pleased. "A pleasure, Miss MacDonald, though the reason for my intercession was decidedly unpleasant. I suppose I should apologize for Peter too; he can be a little…. unwieldy?" There was an awkward pause, and then Remus cleared his own throat. "Good day to you." And he actually performed a sweeping bow before taking his leave.

A strange and unreadable expression had come over Mary's face. Lily could almost swear she ever so slightly smiled before ducking her head back into her book. Absently turning a page, the brunette remarked:

"That Peter Pettigrew – are we sure he isn't a Squib?" Severus nearly choked on his pumpkin juice from laughter.

The Hogwarts Express pulled into King's Cross Station right on time, and Lily and her friends disembarked. Passing through the barrier, Mary and Lily clung to each other in a hug.

"I'll owl you!" Lily promised.

"You'd better!" Turning to Snape, the Irish brunette shook his hand. "Cheerio, Snape."

"Good luck on the flight back to Ireland… Mary." Blinking at the referral by her first name, Mary nodded and dashed into the crowd.

"Oooh! There's my mum!" Lily tugged on Severus's arm as they weaved their way towards her family. "Mum! Dad! Tuney!"

As Severus could have predicted, Lily's older sister, Petunia, hardly gave her the time of day. Kiefer Evans, Lily's father, was more effusive, as was his wife, Cherie.

"Hello, Severus!" Mrs. Evans actually hugged him. "How was term? Ready for the off?"

"Absolutely, ma'am," Severus grinned, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"Your mother wrote and asked if we could drive you home," Cherie explained.

Severus suppressed a sigh, and nodded gratefully. Figures. He just hoped his father was nowhere in sight once he arrived home.

The drive back to Spinner's End was cramped, with Petunia positioned in the middle so that Lily and Severus had to talk around her. Still, Severus thought it delicious when he had to practically climb over his best mate's shrewish sister to give Lily a parting hug once Kiefer's car pulled up to a stop at his curb.

"Write to me?"

Biting her lip, Lily nodded, before she couldn't contain the giggle anymore. "Sev, I live two blocks away from you."

"Make an effort, then," Severus smirked. He released Lily from his embrace, nearly chortling at how Petunia seemed to shudder with relief, before stepping out of the car and hefting his trunk. "Bye, all! Thanks!"

Mr. Evans gave him an awkwardly adorable salute and puttered away. Turning away to face his ramshackle house, Severus now finally allowed that sigh and proceeded up the walk.