A disclaimer: I don't own any characters from the Harry Potter Series, just the ones I make up.

Harry Potter

Saving Lily

Chapter 3

***Severus POV***

As I walk back to the corridor from my final class of the day, my shoulders are tense. The persistent lack of effort from my students is infuriating. Perhaps if I give them a little more time, they will warm up to the class, but I know better. Who could warm up to something I taught? Lily had. She and I studied together in the library often. I only began to study in Slytherin house after what happened. If she didn't want to see me, I didn't want to force her to see me more than necessary.

When I get to my office, I begin making a list of all the ingredients I have in my private collection. I had not replenished my stores before Dumbledore had come to see me at Spinner's End. Of course, I had no intention of still being alive at the time of my departure, so I did not need to collect new ingredients. A part of me is still bitter about Dumbledore's interference.

I spend hours going through what I have and what I need. Dumbledore asked me to make a potion for him that could help with particularly stubborn open wounds. When I asked him why, he, of course, didn't give me a direct answer. There are several things that no longer exist in my arsenal of potion ingredients. Things I will need to complete the task that I was given. I will go to the shops tomorrow for the items I require.

When I finish making a complete list of everything that is missing, I open the door to my office, nearly stumbling over a wooden box that has been placed directly in front of my doorway. I eye the box suspiciously. I gently pick it up, fully prepared for it to explode, or for something to leap out of it and attack me. This wouldn't be the first time something like that had happened in my life. I place the box on my desk and pull my wand from my pocket, gripping it tightly in my right hand. Gingerly, I raise the lid off the top with my left. As I flip the box open, surprise floods through me. Ingredients? I grab my completed list and begin checking things off as I pull the items out of the box. It's all here, everything on my list is present and accounted for. I stare at it briefly before I get to work on creating the requested elixir.

*** Dumbledore POV***

"I don't know what else I can do for her, Sir. My healing charms and potions only temporarily solve the problem. Even the spells and concoctions I received from my acquaintances, from the other schools, they too produce the same results. They temporarily improve before the wounds once again begin to fester. The speed at which this occurs is quite alarming."

I nod. "I agree, Poppy. That's why I have instructed a trusted source to collect everything we need."

"Which is?" Her brows come together as she asks.

"Hello, Alistor."

"Headmaster."

"Ah," Poppy says as I turn to face one of my good friends.

I move closer as he walks over to the only occupied bed. He pulls the curtain back and peers at his friend.

"Did you manage to get everything I requested?"

Alistor nods and drops the curtain. His tone bitter, "Aye, I did. I left everything in a box in front of his door. Hopefully, he knows what to do with them."

"I am sure he does," I reassure him. "If anyone knows what to do with them, Severus does."

"He better not fail her a second time!"

"I don't believe he will. Come Alistor, let's have some tea and dinner before you go."

With reluctance he agrees, following me out of the infirmary and up to my office.

***Severus POV***

I stir the potion, slowly, as the fragrance tickles my nose. After hours of work, the elixir is almost ready. A few more minutes should do it. I reach over and grab one of the ingredients that I crushed into a powder. I sprinkle it into the soft green liquid. When the brew is to my liking, I siphon out some of the more solid ingredients; before I spoon some out of my cauldron, and into a vial. Once the lid is secure I place it into the pocket of my robe. I clean up my cauldron, ingredients and utensils. Once completed, I make my way down the corridor, and I enter the Great Hall, where the teachers were already sitting.

Dumbledore gives his speech as he does at every welcome feast and to my surprise, Alistor Moody is also present at the dinner table. I look at him suspiciously before I turn my attention to the food that appears in front of me. As I eat, I try to ignore the conversation going on around me, but one discussion seizes my attention.

"Have you heard about how she is doing?" Sybill Trelawney inquires softly of the Charms Professor, Filius Flitwick.

"There hasn't been any news yet," Flitwick replies, picking at his food.

"It's not your fault," McGonagall reassures her colleague as she reaches over and pats Trelawney's trembling hand.

"Aye, it's not your fault. That fault belongs to someone else." Alistor ensures that his declaration is loud enough for me to hear him clearly. I can feel the ire in his eyes burning against my flesh.

I try to dismiss the conversation to background noise, but I can't. Mad-Eye's glare seeps into my skin until it begins to crawl. I never let my emotions show themselves outwardly. Every fiber of my existence hums with engulfing guilt as Lily flashes across my mind. I am at fault. My soul shrivels, at its edges, with every word of remorse that Trelawney utters.

The divination's professor shakes her head, slowly, sadly. "But it is. I made that prophecy, and because of that, she..."

My heart tightens in my chest as realization dawns on me. I don't want to hear this! I want to clap my hands over my ears; demand that they shut the hell up, at the top of my lungs, but I don't. I try to focus on eating to keep myself distracted.

What happened is all my fault. I murdered them. Me! Place all the blame on me. I took the Dark Lord by the hand and led him to her doorstep. Let it eat away at me. I deserve it. I am their murderer. I murdered her husband. Her child. I murdered my only friend. It was me! I did it! Blame me!

Slowly, I'm beginning to suffocate in the lack of oxygen in the room. My lungs refuse to take any oxygen in, and my chest burns in desperation for the air that no longer exists around me. My heart feels as though it is thrumming in such an inexplicable pattern beneath my ribs. I thought it was going to erupt from my chest, catapulting pieces of my body and soul, strewing me across the Great Hall.

"He-who-shall- not- be- named," Flitwick interrupts comfortingly. "Is the one who killed the Potters. Not you. Sybill, James, and Lily's deaths are not your fault."

"She's not dead," McGonagall whispers to Flitwick just loud enough for me to hear. Her eyes flick up to me knowingly before looking back at the other professor. "But, she is severely wounded."

"What!?" Flitwick's surprise nearly makes him drop his fork. "Lily Potter is alive!?"

Trelawney slowly nods, looking sadly up at him, "Just barely, she is in the infirmary as we speak."

"She's here?" Flitwick proclaims in shock.

Before my brain can register the information, I am on my feet, and out the side door, no longer in the Great Hall. My trembling fingers coil and cling desperately to the small vial in my pocket.

My robe billows behind me as my feet echo through the halls. It wasn't true! It had to be a mistake. This must be a gruesome trick! How could Minerva be in on it? Why would she participate in something so vile?

My strides lengthen, with every thunderous step, as my legs propel me at full speed toward the infirmary. My heart thrums and my blood pulsates in my ears. My unsteady fingers grip tighter to the small glass vial as the edges of my vision blur with unwelcome salty liquid. I didn't have time for this, I need to see the truth for myself. My chest burns and my brain grows foggy, but I push forward without slowing down.

By the time I reach the door of the infirmary my lungs are aflame. My footsteps feel like lead as I cross the floor to the only occupied bed in the room. It feels as though it has taken me a century to walk those few feet. I open and close my clammy fists as I stare at the white curtain before me.

Even if it was…. Oh, Merlin. Have I left her here in the infirmary by herself this whole time? Do I even deserve to be in her presence? I can't abandon her here. I can't leave her all alone. Not now. My hand trembles as I reach up and touch the cool curtain with long trembling fingers. I hold my breath as my fingers coil around the fabric. I take a startled step back when Madam Pomfrey pulls the curtain from the other side as she steps out from the enclosed space.

Lily. I stand frozen. My lungs refuse to release the little oxygen they've manage to obtain and my heart falters.

Pomfrey gazes at me with concern, when she asks me if I am alright and my response is to stagger past her. She, of course, hurries to put the tray she's carrying away and I hear her leave the infirmary to possibly tell Dumbledore of my discovery. I pull the curtain closed behind me separating myself and Lily from the world around us. I slowly reach out to touch her but stop. My trembling hand hovers over the gashes that are visible on her arms and face.

They looked red, inflamed, and oh so angry. They were on the verge of infection. Pomfrey has been the only thing keeping the infection at bay, but it is still spreading. That's why it went from one difficult to heal wound, to the others starting to seep and reopen. This was a very powerful curse… one that was a lot stronger than the elixir that I held in my pocket. But it would help, especially with the pain. I curse myself for not brewing the correct elixir the first time around. I will get the correct elixir made immediately, but it would take several days,and this brew would at least help some.

However, at this very moment I am unable to leave her side. I sit on the edge of the bed and lift the top half of her body into my arms. I must set her up a little higher to give her the elixir, it's thick. She would choke otherwise. A moan of pain escaped her lips. Moving her hurt, but what choice did I have? I brush her bright red hair out of her face gently as I try to comfort her.

"I know. Hold on, Lily." My voice is soft, reassuring, and soothing. "Don't be afraid. You're safe. I'm here, I'm right here."

"I need you to wake up a little more for me alright. I am going to give you something that will help with the pain. I need you to swallow as much of this as you can. It's going to be bitter, but I promise it will help."

Slowly, very slowly, I pour the contents of the vial into her mouth. My concern deepens when the liquid drips from the corners of her mouth, she doesn't seem to be ingesting any of it. After a few seconds, I notice she is beginning to swallow.

"That's it," I murmured, softly, in relief. Once the vial is drained, I gently place her back onto her bed.

I stroke her red hair with my long fingers, "I am going to take care of this, alright. Trust me, just hang on a little longer. Please. I'll take care of you, I promise."

A/N: Here's another chapter guys! I hope you like it! Please review and have a great day!