Chapter 34: Emerald
Lily jumped up as her bedroom door slammed open and then shut in one quick motion, barely having time to register the near-frantic look on Severus's face before he grabbed her tightly by the arm and propelled her into her bedroom. Indignation warred with confusion inside her as she wondered what on Earth he was doing and he yanked out the clips holding her hair into place, sending it cascading down around her shoulders in thick amber waves.
In the next minute he had shoved her away from him and was surveying her critically, and she suddenly felt almost naked in the face of his penetrating gaze as he took in her knee-length black skirt and dark blouse.
"What are you looking at me like that for?" she blurted, unable to take it any longer. "Did you see Voldemort? What's going on Sev?"
But to her great annoyance he merely continued to look at her as though she were a potion he was getting ready to make before he barked, utterly ignoring her questions, "How's your Occlumency?"
She rolled her eyes, feeling almost offended by the questioning of her skill in something so elementary. "Never better," she retorted before arching her eyebrow teasingly. "How's yours?"
"This is hardly the time," he snapped before going to her closet and pawing through it, and for the first time she started to feel a small degree of concern that Voldemort might have done something to make him lose his mind, since he certainly wasn't acting like Severus-
"You have nothing that's not black?" he inquired shortly, and she shook her head in the negative, biting her lip nervously before venturing again, far more tentatively,
"What's going on, Severus?"
"The Dark Lord has requested our presence within the hour," Severus bit out shortly, and despite her best efforts Lily felt her legs give out from underneath her as she contemplated the various things this could mean and couldn't see it leading to anything good-
"Oh," she replied stupidly, allowing herself to sink onto the bed before biting her lip contemplatively. "What should I do?" she asked in a small voice after a long moment.
"Get out of those muggle clothes and into a robe. Not black. It has to look like you're my mistress and I'm supporting you in something resembling style. Something- green, probably, with gold jewelry. A hint of Slytherin, without overdoing it-"
She nodded, unable to remember the last time she had heard him speak so many words at once, and despite the gravity of the situation she had to bite back a small giggle a the fact that once he did, it was about clothing, of all things-
"Once we arrive, you will be differential. You will speak to the Dark Lord only if he speaks to you, which is unlikely. Do not meet his eyes. He will try to read your mind. It would be best if you could show him something supporting our story, but as that's probably an impossibility, occlumency will have to suffice. You will under no circumstances refer to him as Voldemort."
Despite the stress of the situation, Lily rolled her eyes. "Thank you, I'm not an idiot," she snapped with vehemence that, given the situation, surprised even herself, before pointing her wand at one of her black robes at random and watching it turn a brilliant shade of emerald.
Severus watched in amazement as Lily sent a door swooshing open almost casually, her robes flowing behind her and her arm resting comfortably in his as they approached Voldemort's inner chamber. Guards stared at them with undisguised curiosity, but no one questioned them as they drew closer to their goal.
To his further astonishment, she didn't look scared or uncomfortable in the slightest- in fact, if anything, this seemed to be the most confident she had looked since arriving at Hogwarts. Her chin was lifted, and a small smile played on her lips, as though she knew something that he didn't. For a moment he felt annoyance at the thought, but then, as he had so many times before, he forced himself to feel nothing at all as Lily sailed into Voldemort's chamber, looking for all the world as if she belonged there-
And for the first time, as her chin lifted almost imperceptibly higher and Voldemort's gaze ran over her with something almost resembling… approval, Severus allowed himself to contemplate the possibility, however small, that this might all turn out alright after all- or at least, that no one might die tonight-
"Lily Evans," Voldemort said, voice almost ponderous as his eyes ran over her again and she kept her gaze trailed studiously downwards. "How interesting to finally meet you."
Severus felt Lily stiffen slightly beside him and felt momentary panic as he wondered how she might react to the carefully chosen words- words clearly chosen to provoke a reaction, when everyone in the room knew they had 'met' less than two months ago on the night that had cost her husband and son their lives-
But to Severus's amazement, Lily said only, voice extremely low, and to his ears extremely sincere, "My lord is gracious."
Voldemort's expression twisted into an unkind smirk before he said, voice leaving no room for argument, "Look at me."
Serverus fought hard to suppress a wince as she did so without hesitation, and several minutes dragged on in silence before Voldemort suddenly, unexpectedly offered something that on another person might have passed for a smile. "I see you're even more skilled than your lover at the art of occlumency. My congratulations."
And again, Lily was speaking, in that same unnaturally calm, controlled, sincere voice, "My lord flatters me."
"I flatter no one, as you will quickly learn," Voldemort shot back sharply and without hesitation, and Lily merely inclined her head deferentially as his eyes narrowed and he continued sharply, "I'm sure you can understand that I harbor a decided- uncertainty as to your motivations and sincerity in wishing to join us-"
"As I do about your motivations and sincerity toward me," Lily retorted quickly, squaring her shoulders before smiling almost teasingly and shrugging. "And yet, here we both stand- at least for now."
Severus cringed, bracing himself for the curses and explosion he felt sure would follow her words, but to his amazement the Dark Lord merely looked slightly- amused before agreeing harshly,
"At least for now. But unlike you, I am in a position to demand some- convincing of your motivations and worth."
And to Severus's amazement, Lily didn't flinch away from his words, merely seemed to stand straighter before saying firmly, "I can't speak to my motivations, as that would require your trust, something I realize I have yet to earn. But my worth is without question."
"Cheeky for a mudblood," Voldemort snapped dangerously, and for a split second Severus worried that she would bristle at the word, but to his surprise she merely lifted an eyebrow, looking almost amused herself as she replied, once more inclining her head in something resembling deference,
"My bloodline, is, of course, pitiable, my lord, but my connections, perhaps, are not."
"You refer to your involvement in the order," Voldemort supplied, and to Severus's shock he looked almost eager as Lily offered something that might have passed for a smile were it not for the dark look on her face.
"I offer you another spy. I have connections that Severus could never dream of, and I can assure you that my magical talents, despite my bloodline, are not lacking."
"Of that I am aware," Voldemort replied, surveying her critically before saying, "And id I should require proof of your loyalty?"
"My lord's wish is my command," Lily replied without hesitation, smiling confidently and without fear.
"And should I tell you that my wish is that you kill Albus Dumbledore?"