Story title/link: Planting Seeds of Doubt

School and Theme: Mahoutokoro- Write about an underhanded plan

Mandatory Prompt: [Plot point] Muggle AU

Additional Prompt: [Setting] Beach

Year: 3

Word count: 1030

Additional Information: Muggle AU!

It wasn't the most honest thing that Severus had ever done, nor was he particularly proud of the plan circulating in his head. However, it was by far the plan with the best shot at succeeding, while he knew the others would fail. Why Lily Evans was still dating that idiot jock James Potter he would never know, but if his plan went just right, Potter would be a thing of the past. An unpleasant memory for the beautiful redhead that deserved so much more than some idiot whose grades were in the toilet.

Calling Severus Snape anything less than intelligent would be a slanderous lie. He was the top biochemistry prodigy at their prestigious school, Hogwarts Academy for Gifted Youths, so mimicking the god-awful cologne the James Potter wore had been child's play for him. Writing the invitation to sound like Potter, that had physically hurt him in ways he couldn't begin to put into words. Potter was an uncouth, loud, egotistic animal who spoke as well as a tormented toddler, yet he somehow was granted access to the school. Had stolen his Lily from him and paraded her around like a carnival prize in front of him. That was not something he would ever forgive the braggard for.

Lily, however, he could forgive for being fooled by the brawny idiot. She saw the public face that everyone fawned over. She hadn't seen just how cruel a person James Potter really was. She hadn't seen how the members of the school Potter despised and loathed were left nervous wrecks after the brute was done with them during his 'pranking' sprees. She never saw how it seemed to give him a sick sense of pleasure to see his victims cower at the hands of him and his little flunky group of 'friends'.

She would see though, that he was certain of. He would make her see just how much of a monst James Potter really was. He would make her realize that she was throwing herself in with a demon seeking only to corrupt her and break her halo.

"James? James, are you here?"

Severus straightened up in the seat of his car as he saw Lily approaching the sand dunes from his left. The location was not random, this beach had once been their spot as kids when they played to escape the tedium of their daily lives. It was a spot ruined by James Potter when he wooed Lily into believing that he was a decent human being worthy of her affection. It would be the spot where he made things right with the universe by making Lily see reason.

A quick glance at the radio confirmed that it was 5:45pm on the dot. It was one of the things he really liked about Lily, she was always punctual unlike Potter who was late to everything and never seemed to get in trouble for it because his athletic presences made the school look good so they let it slide for the most part.

"James, this isn't funny. Your note said you had something important you wanted to show me."

The sound of ocean waves lapping at the shore filled Severus with confidence as he got out of his car and slammed it shut. It was a deliberate action that would catch Lily's attention without fail.

Red hair and emerald green eyes snapped over to the source of the sound. Disappointment reflected in the soulful gaze when their owner realized that the person who had exited their car was not her boyfriend but her estranged friend. "Sev.. It's been a while since I saw you here." It was obvious that Lily was at a loss for words. Their friendship had been strained after less than kind words had been exchanged between them.

"Potter isn't coming, Lily. He isn't the one who sent you the note" Severus said as he adjusted the windbreaker around his form.

Lily frowned as she felt the wind wrap around her and send a chill down her spine. She despised the November air, it was always cold and unforgiving in the worst ways. "How do you know that I got a note from James?" she asked.

"You didn't get a note from that neanderthal, it was from me. Lily, despite harsh words having been exchanged between us in the past, I do have your best interests in mind by asking you here. If not for the sake of our friendship before Potter bulldozed his way into our lives and made a mess of what we had, for your own sake, hear me out, will you?" Severus asked. Noticing Lily shiver slightly, he removed his windbreaker and offered it to her.

Lily's frown deepened for a moment. She could say no, but that would only make this already awkward moment even more so. A part of her was curious though. What did Severus have to say to her that would warrant forging James' writing so precisely and using his cologne to ensure that she would come out to this beach? Before she had gotten together with James, this beach had been their spot; a place to escape the fighting of his parents for Severus and a sanctuary for her to sort out her troubled feelings. After becoming friends as young children it was their shared hideaway. She was overwhelmed for a moment with memories of laughter and play as they ran in the surf, how they had collected shells and played like they were the richest people in the world; memories of simpler, happier days.

Severus kept the jacket out until, with visible reluctance, Lily finally took it. "Five minutes, that's all I'm asking for and I'll leave you be to think about what I said" he said with a look that was as stubborn as she was yet wholly sincere. He could be a petty little bastard and spiteful as all get out but he was a practical man of his word, a byproduct of his time as a member of Slytherin House.

"Five minutes Severus, that's it" Lily said as she pulled the light jacket on.

"Five minutes is more than enough time."