Chapter 16: Splinching

Severus stood in the Great Hall, impatient with the slowness of the gathering coming to order, but still mildly interested in the unusual sight of all the house tables pushed back against the far walls. In their place were dozens of white circles lined in chalk along the floor. Nearly all of the sixth years of Hogwarts were here, as well as much of the staff.

The Apparition Trials were one of the most important steps in a Hogwarts student's education and preparation for professional life out in the broader wizarding world. All sixth years were expected to demonstrate mastery of the skill before the end of term, and before they began studying to take their NEWTS in their final year.

Behind him, Severus felt the nudging and ribbing that had become the standard greeting from his friends Avery and Mulciber. He only acknowledged it with a half-hearted smile, sweeping his eyes over the heads of the assembled Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws, all the way down to the sixth-year Gryffindors at the opposite end of the hall.

He quickly spotted MacDonald and Lupin, holding each other and making out like they didn't give a damn who was watching. Just beyond the statuesque Irish girl getting her face sucked off, Severus caught the glimpse of an auburn curtain, the strands of bewitching curls shielding her lovely face. Silently, he willed her to turn her head so he could look upon her, if only from a distance, but she did not.

He allowed himself a sigh. Lily had still not spoken to him since the previous spring; they were now well into fall, with Halloween approaching.

Since triumphing in the Triwizard Tournament, Severus had not heard any word from the Dark Lord about taking on assignments that might pad his resume and gain him entrance into the Death Eaters' ranks. Mulciber and Avery had begun to begin their own reign of terror that made Potter and his so-called Marauders look like tame Pygmy Puffs – this, despite the fact that Avery was technically Head Boy. Yet this status seemed to embolden Avery to act with impunity; as also a favored student of Head of House Horace Slughorn, the man was hardly disciplined.

The one thing that Severus did approve of was Avery and Mulciber's frequenting encounters with Potter and his mates. He'd heard rumors of a duel erupting somewhere in the castle last Saturday week, when many of the younger students had been on a trip to Hogsmeade. Avery and Mulciber were keeping mum about it, which indicated to Severus that it might not have gone entirely well – at the most, a draw. He'd noted Pettigrew had been walking with a limp, and Potter even had a gash on his cheek that did wonders to mar his arrogant, pretty face. By the same token, Mulciber seemed sore, both physically and emotionally speaking. Avery said not a word. If the Gryffindors knew anything about it, they weren't telling.

Lost in his thoughts, Severus realized he had been staring at Lily too long, for she now moved as if sensing someone was watching her. When their eyes met, the bright green of her irises cooled and she turned sadly away. Severus hung his head, tears threatening to invade, grateful that McGonagall was finally calling for order.

The Gryffindors would be up first to demonstrate their mastery over Splinching, the order determined by who was ahead with the most House points. Slytherin would thus be dead last. It figured.

Trying to ignore the ache in his chest regarding Lily, Severus watched the Gryffindors take to the chalked circles, several at a time. At this point, he was watching and waiting to see who would fail first and leave part of themselves behind, in a phenomenon known as 'Splinching.' His Galleons were on Pettigrew, especially since that limp of his would surely not help.

Of the four Marauders, James Potter was up first. The gash in his cheek had faded to a tiny scar; perhaps it couldn't be done away with by magic, for Merlin knows a toerag like that would have tried to cover it up.

"Remember the three D's!," McGonagall reminded her charges. "Destination, Determination and Deliberation."

Severus had read up on this technique, and understood roughly what it meant: picture your desired destination in your mind, focus on it, and then act on willing yourself to get there. It was all a matter of will, it was said.

Closing his eyes, Potter turned on the spot and Disapparated, reappearing in another circle a moment and several yards away. He smirked in smug pleasure; Severus gnashed his teeth.

Sirius Black was much the same way, whooping and hollering and making the usual ass of himself when he Apparated perfectly, running to James and the mates ribbed each other. Remus Lupin at least didn't make such a show about it, though he did earn a kiss of pride from his girlfriend that elicited more than a few wolf-whistles.

Now, it was Peter Pettigrew's turn. The fat, stout boy nervously stepped into the first circle, closed his eyes and turned on the spot much too fast.

CRACK!

Pettigrew did reappear in the appointed second circle, but was now wobbling dangerously back and forth and that quickly turned into desperate hopping; one of his legs had been left behind. He had Splinched.

Smirking, Severus turned back to Avery. "Pay up."

Avery forced over a Galleon and several Sickles with a scowl before dealing out the same to Mulciber.

McGonagall quickly returned Peter's leg to him and instructed him to return to the back of the line and try again.

"Lily Evans!"

Severus quieted, but pretended that he wasn't paying attention as much as it was when Lily took the floor. Even in profile, she looked stunningly beautiful, and he had to bite back a groan of love and lust. She turned on the spot and Disapparated with the greatest of ease.

Or so he thought.

A sudden cry of pain made him snap his head up in concern. Lily was holding empty air where her arm used to be and now there was just a stump. Worse still, and unlike Pettigrew, Lily was bleeding, staring in horror and in tears at her right forearm left behind in the first circle. She had Splinched badly, and Severus turned pale. That wasn't like Lily, to struggle with something on the first try.

McGonagall was quickly trying to restore Lily's complete body, but the Splinched arm would not obey.

Before he could think through what he was doing, Severus was out of line amongst the Slytherins and dashing for his once best friend.

"Lily!"

She was horribly white as a sheet now, and swooning, she fell, pitching to the floor. Severus dove and caught her in time, scooping her up, bridal-style. His eyes were darting about in a panic; in the interim, with assistance from Professor Grubby-Plank, McGonagall managed to reattach Lily's arm.

"Hospital Wing! I have to get her to the Hospital Wing!" Severus began pushing people out of the way to exit the Great Hall, only for several concerned Gryffindors to get into his path. Potter was at the head of them, reaching for Lily in fear; snarling, Severus twisted a way.

"I don't need your help, Potter!"

James frowned hard. "There's no need to be snippy about it, Snape," he drawled coolly. "We want what's best for Lily too."

Looking over his shoulder, Severus could see Remus and Mary behind his nemesis, the latter biting her lip. Lily would want Mary there when she woke up.

"Fine. MacDonald, Lupin, come with me." When Potter looked like he was going to follow, Severus rounded on him explicitly. "I said Mary and Remus, not you – you stay."

"Who died and made you Headmaster?" James sneered.

"James," Remus's gentle and practical voice rang through, melancholy eyes imploring his friend to stand down. It was a notable moment indeed; Remus rarely did anything to discipline Potter and his lackeys acting like hooligans and butting in where they weren't wanted.

Severus was able to exit the Great Hall, Mary dithering after him. Glancing back, he spotted Remus talking passionately with Potter. Waiting at the Grand Staircase, the werewolf rejoined them a moment later, and they raced for Madame Pomfrey.

It was nearing sunset and the close of visiting hours when Lily stirred into the conscious world. She felt someone holding her hand, while another palm brushed her auburn bangs out of her eyes. Lashes fluttering as forms began to take shape, she turned her head to see Mary seated and smiling wetly down at her; it was her hand she was holding.

As for the hand stroking her hair…. Her jaw dropped when she saw who it was.

"Sev….Severus?"

He gave her an awkward smile, filled with relief. Unsure what to say to him, Lily opted to say nothing. At the foot of the bed perched Remus, unable to mask his own relief.

"You gave us a scare there! If the most brilliant girl in all of Gryffindor House can't get through Apparition without getting Splinched, then there's no hope for the rest of us!"

Lily smiled weakly, embarrassed, flushing pink at the praise.

"Severus carried you up here," Mary felt the need to point out. "He was really worried."

Lily and Severus gazed at each other, the former's expression unreadable. Gratitude finally won out as she murmured softly, "Thank you…."

Severus cleared his throat rather loudly. "You're welcome."

Just then, the double doors banged open and Potter strode in, Sirius and Peter nipping at his heels.

"That's it; I've waited long enough…"

"I told you lot to wait until she was awake…." Remus admonished.

"And now she is, thank Merlin," James finished simply. "We've been pacing that bloody hallway all afternoon." Perching on her bed as well, Potter ran his fingers over Lily's knuckles. "How are you feeling?" From the tone of it, it almost sounded like he actually cared. Severus barely held in a disgusted snort.

Lily grinned softly. "I'm fine. Thank you."

Madame Pomfrey suddenly bustled in. "Oh, good, Miss Evans, you're awake. Although, gentlemen, Miss MacDonald, I'll have to ask some of you to leave – patients can only have four visitors at a time!"

"We just got here!" Sirius whined, pointing between himself and Peter while James nodded fervently.

"Yeah, Toddle off, will ya, Snape? You've had your turn," James shooed. Severus's eyes narrowed into slits; he was lightened only slightly by the frown Lily was sporting.

"I can stay if I want to…."

"We'll go!" Mary called out quite loudly, perhaps fearing a fight, and she tugged at Remus's hand. "Come on, love…"

James looked disappointed that Severus would be the fourth man in, sending a subtle glare in his rival's direction. "Haven't you been here long enough….?"

Severus made a furious move towards the blighter, but Lily got between them. "Stop it, both of you! Please! No fighting…"

On their way out the door, Remus paused to also intervene. "Severus…. maybe it would be best if you come with us? Fancy a cuppa in the library?"

He almost stubbornly declined, just to spite Potter, but one look at the imploring gazes of both Lily and Mary, and Severus knew he might have to cede the battle.

But, as he gave Lily's hand a squeeze in goodbye and slouched off behind his two Gryffindor sort-of-friends, that didn't mean Severus was about to surrender the war….