You guys all make me so happy!
Seriously, the feedback, the reviews, the advice, and the theories on what's to come are all amazing and so encouraging. You really make it all worth while.
This chapter features a treat for you all, a look into the life of one of our heroes (not Lily or Severus since you've already seen theirs).
On with the show!
If Someone Cared Enough
Chapter Forty-Six: Home Again, Home Again
The Hogwarts Express chugged steadily down the tracks along the countryside. The clacking of its wheels formed a reliable and monotonous rhythm for its occupants to be soothed by, dozens of happy students crammed into compartments in various states of anxiety and anticipation.
"We're almost to the station," Lily exclaimed from her seat by the window, watching as the houses scattered along the countryside got closer and closer together, forming into actual towns rather than isolated residences.
"So what?" Marlene grumbled, "It just means having to get up sooner." The elder girl was currently tucked into a corner with her arms wrapped around her middle, her cloak pulled up to her neck like a blanket, "Let me sleep…"
"If you hadn't spent the last few days partying, you wouldn't feel so awful now," Mary pointed out with little sympathy. She finished tying off the needlepoint she had been working on, an image of several flowers and a rabbit, "You drank like a fish."
"And blew chunks like a dragon breathing fire, so I hear," Nesme added.
"Worth it," came the muffled reply from underneath Marlene's cloak, "Had more fun than I knew what to do with. And!...I avoided the dreaded 'anonymous hookup'."
"Not for lack of trying," Mary informed the other's, "I had to spend the evenings chasing her around and pulling her off of any unsuspecting bloke she came upon."
"Got handsy with one fella, though," Marlene declared triumphantly, "Not sure who it was; chubby little guy…cute though. Didn't have a clue what he was doing. You let your guard down Mary."
"I had to use the bathroom sometime!" Mary said ruefully.
"Did you see who it was, Mary?" Lily asked curiously.
Mary shook her head, "Nope. He was already gone when I returned from the loo. When I got back, all I saw was this lush," she pointed at Marlene, "With the most ridiculous, sappy grin on her face."
"He's my mystery man!" Marlene hiccupped from under her cloak.
"Either she's still drunk, or she working on getting there again," Davis stated, eyeing the cloaked form suspiciously.
Severus shared a look with Lily, grinning mischievously. Leaning forward as quietly as possible, he reached out for the edge of the cloak…
Only to withdraw his hand as a rather convincing growl came from beneath the cloak, the fabric shaking slightly.
"Hands offs, Snapey," Marlene growled.
Severus grimaced at the nickname.
"Hey for all we know, you've got a flask hidden under there," Severus protested, "Might as well share."
"Well 'm not drunk," Marlene said moodily, "just hungover. There's a difference!"
"Yeah, one of them comes with all the dizziness, nauseous, and lack of coordination of alcohol with none of the fun of alcohol," Severus said sardonically.
"I'll have you know that holding one's liquor is a thing of pride in my family," Marlene stated proudly.
Severus wrinkled his nose, "Forgive me for failing to see the honor in passing out in one's own filth. I prefer not to dullen my sense with piss water, thank you very much."
Marlene snorted, "You don't know what're missing out on."
"I'm willing to live in ignorance," Severus replied.
Lily rolled her eyes at her friends' antics. It was good to see them getting along. True, Marlene had never been one of the people in her House who held any real suspicion or dislike of Snape.
It was understandable that some distrusted Severus; Mary's fear of his former Housemate Mulciber being a prime example of how it shaped her viewpoints on Slytherins, but some judged Severus purely on outward appearance. Jess and her little group tended to look down on anyone who didn't meet their standards of attractiveness and popularity and it didn't help that they clung to James's every word.
Of all Lily's friends, Alice and Marlene never formed a strong opinion one way or another about Severus, mainly because they had never spoken to him and felt it silly to dislike someone they hardly knew.
A competitive girl, Marlene bought little into the idea that ones house indicated their moral alignment of good and evil, instead saving her ire for the all opposing houses' quidditch teams. This meant she was one of the few who antagonized or looked down upon Severus. She never bothered to show him a friendly face either. For years, Marlene and Snape had treated each other like two boats passing in the harbor. It was unfortunate, considering that Marlene's outgoing and welcoming personality could have done Severus a world of good in his early years, showing him that Lily wasn't the only Gryffindor worth associating with.
Her boldness and ferocity might have even benefited Severus in keeping the Marauders and their fan club at bay; Marlene wasn't someone you crossed when she declared something or someone off limits. She once dished out a very severe concussion to one of Slytherin's beaters during an intense game as retaliation for them failing to stop bullying Abigail after Marlene's warnings.
Now that Lily thought about it, ignoring Marlene's penchant for over indulgence and revelry, her protectiveness and loyalty were very much like Simone's and Severus seemed to get along with her quite well (despite his claims to the contrary).
Speaking of Simone…
"Simone told me before she left that she'll be at the platform with our parents when we get to the station," Lily informed Severus, "She's joining us for dinner out so that she can catch up with Tuney."
"Begs the question of why she bothered having Minks bring her home when she was just going to meet us when we got off the train," Severus mused, "I swear she does things like that just to appear superior."
Nesme shook her head, "That's not it at all. Simone has no problem riding the train with the rest of us."
Davis nodded, "Excluding the fact that the conductor doesn't want her on here anymore. Anyway, the only reason she goes home via house elf is for Thea's sake. Her parents don't like her taking the train."
"Why is that?" Lily questioned.
Davis shrugged, "Not a clue. Simone said something about Thea's folks not feeling comfortable with it, but we've never actually spoken much about them outside of that, so I know very little about them."
"We've never seen them either," Nesme brought up, "I'm honestly not sure I would know who they were if I bumped into them on the street. They never go with Thea for her school shopping, never hang around town for a bite to eat or to meet with friends. You'd almost think Thea had no parents by how rarely they are seen in public."
Severus leaned back into his seat, lost in thought, "Thea's family supposedly has that gift of uncovering other's secrets. Perhaps they do not wish to be hassled by people about what sort of things they have learned over the years?"
"Anything's possible, I suppose," Davis conceded.
"I'm just saying, it's weird how distant they are," Nesme said, "Thea hardly even speaks of them."
"She hardly speaks at all," Severus pointed out, "She's the quiet one, not that hard given how talkative the rest of you are…" A mitten hit him in the face.
"Flawless victory," Marlene said from her cloak cocoon, pumping her fist once.
"We can't all brood in the corner of the library," Davis joked, raising a brow at Severus, "Besides, I don't talk nearly as much as these chatterboxes."
That earned him a kick in the shin from Marlene.
"Play nice, you two," Mary teased, bringing to pick up her things, "We're pulling into the station."
It took as long as one would expect to unload a train of rowdy, unruly teenagers all eager for the holidays, all cramming through doorways at once in a very Three Stooges-eques fashion. By the time Lily and Severus managed to herd their group off the train and on to the platform, the train had been stopped for a good ten minutes.
"Someone help me with my bags," Marlene whined, still wrapped up in her cloak. She snagged a passerby by the collar of their shirt, "You. You'll do nicely."
"M-me?" the boy squeaked. It turned out she had grabbed hold of Peter Pettigrew, who was turning an alarming shed of red in Marlene's presence.
"Yeah, you," Marlene snapped, "Do you see me hanging onto to any other guy, here?" she squinted at him, "You look awfully familiar…"
Peter went pure crimson, "W-well, that's because we're classmates, of course," he stammered, "and Housemates. You see me every day in the common room."
"that must be it," Marlene accepted, still too tired from all the end of term festivities to dwell on the matter. She tugged on Peter's collar, "Be a gent and help me with my things. My da will be here any minute."
"B-but, but I," Peter protested lamely, already being dragged off by a persistent Marlene.
Remus, having been nearby, followed after his friend with a grin, figuring he could be of some help to prevent Marlene from eating Peter alive.
Mary sighed, "Let's give a moment of silence for poor Peter, eaten alive by the ferocious Marlene. May God have mercy upon his soul."
"Not sure Judaism is the proper way to send off a pureblood," Severus mused with a smirk, "but on the bright side, at least the last sight he see will be Marlene and not the ugly mug of—"
"Alright there, Evans?"
Severus scowled, "Speak of the devil…"
James sauntered his way up to their little group, Jess pressed tightly to his side. Sirius swagger besides them, chatting amicably with Meldonna while Abigail trailed behind them at a sedate pace.
"Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Christmas," James said, turning his head to take in Lily and her friends. He purposely avoided looking at Severus, "Got any plans for the holidays?"
Wanting to get it over with and send Potter on his way, Lily elected to respond, "Not that it really concerns you, but no, my folks and I don't have anything planned for Christmas. We're just happy to spend time together as a family," she thought about it for a moment, "Though I think Simone did invite me and Sev over with my sister—"
"Great, great," James cut her off dismissively. He turned a sappy grin to Jess, gazing down on her with exaggerated fondness, "I've invited Jess over to meet my family. We'll be taking a sled ride across the estate; the Potter's have one of the nicest estates, mind you," he added, "Yes, it's sure to be quite the romantic and memorable evening for us, won't it Jess?"
Jess giggled, snuggling into James's embrace, "Indeed it will, Jamie."
Behind them, Sirius made a gagging noise, but the couple paid him no mind.
"Well my mom says we're going to Ireland," Nesme announced, "My stepdad's parents live out that way and it's been years since we've seen them."
"Lovely," James said, not sounding the least bit interested.
"Not that you're really listening at this point, but my family is going to join my eldest brother and his wife's family for Christmas," Mary said with a frown of disapproval directed at James.
"I'm listening, luv," Sirius called out.
"Well I wasn't talking to you," Mary shouted back. She turned on her heel and stormed off to collect her trunk.
"I suppose you have plans, Black," Davis asked with weary politeness.
Sirius grinned, "As a matter of fact, my plan is to follow 'Jamie's' plan," he slung an arm over James's shoulder, "I've been staying with the Potters, you see. Sweet folks, they are; treat me like their own son. So I figure I'll hop in a sled myself, maybe invite some pretty little number to join me," he waggled his eyebrows at Meldonna, "How about you, gorgeous?"
Meldonna looked flattered, but she shook her head, "I'll be in Paris all winter break."
"Shame," Sirius said. He turned to Abigail, the timid girl unnoticed until now, "What about you, you busy?"
Abigail flushed scarlet, letting out an intelligible squeak.
"Guess not," Sirius shrugged, turning away from her. He hadn't seemed too impressed with her looks anyway.
Sirius's eyes landed on Severus and he smirked.
"And what are your holidays plans, Snivellous," he asked nastily, "Mummy going to give you a Christmas gift and let you take your first shower in years?"
James tried to remain stonefaced, but the hint of a grin was peeking out of his face.
Jess and Meldonna hid their grins behind their hands.
Severus bristled, a scathing reply on the tip of his tongue, when Lily intervened.
"Actually, Sev will be enjoying a peaceful holiday with me," she stated.
Any traces of mirth were wiped cleaned off James's face, "What?"
Even Sirius looked shocked by this admission. Jess and Meldonna were completely scandalized.
"Lily," Meldonna gasped in horror.
"Surely...Snape would rather spend time with his own family," Jess proposed disdainfully, "No need to burden your family."
Snape glowered, his lip curling back in a snarl.
Lily glared at her dormmate, "We're more than happy to have Sev join us. My parents invited him to spend all of winter break with us since his mother is away…visiting family."
"I didn't know he was staying with you," Mary admitted in genuine surprise.
Oops, Lily forgot that Mary wasn't aware of Severus current living arrangements. She honestly had no intention of telling any present company that Severus actually lived with her—James seemed to have moved on to a new girl, but that didn't mean he stopped hating Sev enough to forgo raining on any bit of happiness he had. Still, Sirius seemed so smug about his remark that Lily needed to say something to wipe that irritating smirk off his face. A slight stretching of the truth couldn't hurt.
"Yeah," Lily said to Mary, "His mum is out so my parents thought it would be nice to have Sev over for Christmas. It's better than being home without his mum."
"Oh," Mary said seeming to accept Lily's fib, "That was sweet of them."
"Well, you know how much they adore Sev," Lily remarked, leveling a challenging stare at Sirius and James, "They think he is a total delight."
James stood there stunned, at a complete lost for words.
"I think she broke him..." Davis whispered to Nesme.
"So he's..." James began pointing a slightly shaking finger at Severus, "Going to be with you," he pointed at Lily, "all break?"
Lily nodded, "He's slept over before; we've been friends since we were kids."
"Tough break, mate," Sirius muttered.
Jess shot Sirius a questioning glare.
"Well," Jess said, turning back to the group. She was looking at Lily a little differently, glancing distrustfully between her and then to James's gobsmacked expression, "I hope you have...fun, Lily." Come along Jamie, you can help me gather my things."
Still in shock, James mindlessly allowed himself to be dragged away from Lily and Severus.
Sirius shot Severus one last nasty look before following.
"I should probably go find my mom and dad," Mary said once James's troupe were gone. She pulled Lily into a hug, "Happy Christmas, Lily."
Lily smiled, "You too, Mary."
Mary turned to Severus expectantly, "Have a great Christmas, Severus."
"Same to you," Severus replied with a slight smile. He held out his hand to shake, only to drop it in surprise when Mary threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
After a moment, she pulled away, "Bye, you guys."
Mary waved to Nesme and Davis then disappeared through the crowd.
"There's my mom!" Nesme cried, pointing ahead of them, "I'll see you all after break."
"I'll come say hello," Davis offered, before looking at Lily and Severus, "Happy Holidays."
The pair set off in the direction of a plump, auburn haired woman in a burgundy cardigan. She had Nesme's same dimply smile and was standing next to a tall, olive skinned man with a short beard and traditional wizard robes.
The woman embraced Nesme when she drew near, her smiling nearly splitting her face. Davis nodded politely to the man besides them, receiving a cordial nod in return, before the man turned his attention to Nesme, sweeping her up into a hug of his own.
"Her stepfather is from the Middle East," Severus observed, "I never realized that."
"Me either," Lily agreed, "For the most part, she just refers to him as her dad, so I always assumed he was English like us."
Severus hummed, "So, do you think it was wise to tell Potter about my living arrangements?"
Lily grinned, "It's fine. I didn't tell them that you actually live with us now. As far as they're concerned, you're only visiting."
"Still..." Severus hesitated.
Lily pushed on "Look, I just couldn't stand how smug Black was acting. It's a holiday; a happy occasion. Who does he think he is trying to put a damper on our good mood I had to wipe the smirk off is face."
"He did look better gaping like an imbecile," Severus admitted with a smirk.
That made Lily smile brighter, "Come on, let's go find my folks."
She grabbed Severus's hand and began leading him along, unaware of Severus's muted shock and awe as he stared at their joined hands.
It didn't take them long to find Hank and Willow among the scattered families. They were standing together by a pillar with Petunia. Severus could see from where he was that Simone had already found them, the dark haired girl chatting animatedly with Lily's sister, their arms linked together as they chattered and laughed.
Willow spotted her youngest daughter first.
"Lily flower!" she cried, waving them over, "Over here, luv!" She didn't wait for Lily and Severus to reach her before rushing over and grabbing them both into a bone crushing hug.
"My baby's home," she said happily, kissing her daughter's head, "And it's so good to have you home too, Severus."
"Glad to be back, ma'am," Severus croaked out, his voice muffled into Willow's shoulder.
"Mum, we sort of need to breathe," Lily gasped, tapping her mother's arm.
"Oops," Willow released her vice-like grip on them, stepping back with her hands up, "Sorry."
"There's this new thing called air, that all the kids are talking about honey," Hank joked, walking up to the trio, "They're sort of keen on it."
Willow smacked Hank's arm, "Hush you."
Hank chuckled. Turning to his daughter and her friend, he smiled, "Welcome home, you two."
"Hi, daddy," Lily greeted, hugging her father around the middle.
"I've missed you, Lilypad," Hank said with fondness. Pulling back he gave Severus a one armed hug, patting the teen's back, "How are you doing, Sev?"
"I'm doing well," Severus replied.
"As usual, you took your time," Simone said as she sauntered forward, arm and arm with Petunia, "You seem to have a knack for tardiness."
"We got delayed," Severus drawled, rolling his eyes, "By Potter."
Simone sneered at the mention of his name.
"Potter?" Petunia asked, wrinkling her nose, "He's that one who was rude to us before you both got on train earlier this year right? The one who won't stop bothering Lily."
"The very same, unfortunately," Simone said with a sigh, "What did he want this time?"
"Just to flaunt his new relationship with Jessica and brag about how great his Christmas will be," Lily said, "He barely cared what any of us were doing during holidays, yet he's the one who asked in the first place. He just wanted to open the conversation up so he could gloat."
"He wasn't gloating much when he heard I was 'visiting' with your family all break," Severus pointed out.
Simone actually cackled, "Ooh, I bet that just killed him."
Lily thought about it. She'd been more focused on getting back at Black, "Well, yes James seemed a little shocked, but then again, he's always hated Severus. It probably bothers him that Sev won't be miserable at home."
Severus and Simone shared a look. Did Lily honestly believe Potter's animosity towards Severus was no longer about Lily simply because the prat got Jess for a girlfriend?
"Evans, you're far too trusting," Simone said.
Lily frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that you need to stay on your guard," Simone said simply, "Don't assume that your problems with Potter are done now that he's got a girl on his arm."
"He seems really smitten with her," Lily insisted, "Maybe he's truly moved on. Shouldn't we be glad?"
Simone shrugged, "I hear old habits are hard to break. But enough of that; I've beenn promised dinner at a muggle restaurant. I'm interested in trying this 'fish and chips' all the muggles are talking about. I've only ever had my fish sauteed."
"And she's never had chips, Lily," Petunia said, amazement written all over her face, "Isn't that weird?"
"Chips are sort of a cheap food," Severus pointed out, "Purebloods tend not to eat much of that; most believe it puts them on level with us commoners. I bet Serapeum has never has a mozzarella stick either."
"I've had potatoes sauteed, baked, and broiled, but I can't say I've ever had them deep fried," Simone admitted, "Not for any imperialist reason; mum just prefers to avoid fried foods. They're bad for the skin."
She grinned, "But what mum doesn't know won't hurt her."
"I'm surprised you didn't drag Thea along for such a momentous occasion," Severus observed.
Simone's smiled faded, quickly replaced by a petulant scowl.
"Her parents insisted she come straight home," Simone said sourly, "Who knows when I'm actually going to see her this break."
"Not a fan of her folks," Lily inquired.
Simone looked away; besides her Petunia shifted guiltily, like she knew something she wasn't sharing.
"Let's just say they and I do not get along," Simone said and left it at that. She turned around, walking away, "Let's get your bags into the car. I'm starving, anyways."
{page break}
"Miss Thea?" an aging, timid house elf stood in the doorway of Thea's room, "You is being requested for dinner."
"Thank you, Heeby," Thea said kindly, "I'll be down shortly."
Heeby bowed low, his ears sweeping the floor. He disappeared with a pop.
Thea sighed, setting her hair brush down and looking into her vanity mirror.
As per her mother's preferences, her typical braids had been removed, the curls and waves that pulled her bangs away from her face gone. Instead, she had used magic to tame her hair rigid straight, her bangs a neat line across her forehead that came just over her brows and cast a shadow over her eyes. Her mother said it added regal mystique, created a poise reservedness perfect of a pureblood.
Standing up from her vanity, Thea began the long, silent walk downstairs. The sun now set, only candle sconces lit the manor, casting eerie shadows on the walls and bringing up lingering nostalgia of Thea's childhood. Traversing endless ancestral halls, she passed ancient relics behind glass cases, golden framed portrait after portrait of generations passed, stone faced and blank eyed as they watched her, only their eyes moving as they determinedly held poses of stiff elegance.
Finally, Thea stood outside the dinner room, the doors a grand dark oak, heavy and foreboding. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked twice on the door. No more, no less.
"Enter," came a high voice from within.
The doors opened of their own accord and Thea entered, head down, hands clasped in front of her.
"Theadosia," came the voice again, "You may speak."
"Thank you mother," Thea said softy, "It is lovely to be home." Slowly she raised her head and set eyes upon the family matriarch.
Apollonia Mnemosyne was a brittly thin woman, somehow an imposing figure at barely over five feet. Bony and wraith like, her features were sharp as if chiseled from stone that someone forgot to smooth and polish the edged of, with a pointed chin and high protruding cheekbones. Her eyes were small and hawklike, holding no warmth in them, the cold hazel orbs dull like frozen dirt. Her hair pulled impossibly tight to her scalp, it was gathered into a bun at the base of her neck, not a single grey streaked strand out of place.
She wore a dark blue dress that button up right under her chin, the corset pulled so tight on her waist it was a wonder she could even breathe.
Apollonia nodded to her daughter, "You may sit, Theadosia."
Worded as a requested; clearly a command. Thea sat down at the seat pulled out for her by their servants.
"Tell me, my dear," her mother began benignly, "How are your studies?"
"They're good, mother," Thea replied, "I'm among the top in my class again."
Apollonia hummed.
"But not the top, hm?" she asked innocently, delicately sipping from a glass of wine.
Thea felt her face heat, "...No mother."
A man at the head of the table put down his newspaper, brow raised imperiously high.
"Clearly you are not applying yourself enough," said Thea's father.
Roman Mnemosyne stood just under six feet, with thin limbs and spidery hands. His hair was slicked back and cut militant short, a pointed goatee oiled into a point reminiscent of muggle cartoon villains. He wore wire frame glasses over his grey eyes with which he stared over the rim of to regard his daughter.
"We were wise to call you home for Solstice," he remarked, "You can work on your studies until you return to school."
"Yes father," Thea said obediantly, "I will work harder to improve my grades."
"As you should," Roman said, folding his newspaper and tucking it away.
Dinner was served in silence, the house elves who served them quickly vanishing just as fast as they appeared.
Thea dared not look at either of her parents as they ate, keeping her eyes on her own plate, being carefu ot to scrape the china with her silverware.
"You're lucky to be home," Apollonia informed her daughter near the end of the meal.
"Am I?" Thea asked without thinking. She quickly shut her mouth.
Apollonia seemed not to mind her indiscretion, "Yes, we've been invited for dinner at the end of the week. You'll need to be on your best behavior."
"Indeed," Roman added, "We can't have you disgracing our family in front of them, so do mind your manners."
"Who invited us?" Thea asked warily.
Her mother took another long sip of wine before answering, wiping her mouth daintly on her napkin.
Apollonia turned to her daughter, a smile gracing her crimson lips.
"The Malfoys."
Bum, bum, bum!
What do you guys think of Thea's parents? Did they make a good first impression? XD
For the record Marlene is not a 'slut'. Personally I do not like that term to begin with. Sleeping around doesn't make a woman a slut. If she is safe, finds consenting partners, and takes necessary precautions, she may do as she pleases, as may any man or woman.
However, if she leads a person on or isn't up front with her intentions about it being a one night thing or casual she is...not a slut...but an asshole.
Marlene doesn't sleep around per say, but she is very sexually open to snogging and such with others for the fun. She isn't a virgin, but she also doesn't wish to break any hearts so typically she avoids getting too involved with others. However, she is less rational about her principals when drunk so she tends to get affectionate with any guy who seems interested. Mary refers to them as poor blokes, but Marlene wasn't actually targeting anyone who didn't reciprocate.
That's all for now. Love ya guys!
Read and review