Chapter 19: The Return Trip
New Year's Eve went swimmingly for Severus. His grandparents visited him and Eileen at their home in Spinner's End. Eileen did all the cooking, and nobody complained, including the welcomed guests in the form of Lily, Petunia and their parents.
They all watched what Septimus believed to be called the 'telefusion' to watch the Muggle countdown to the New Year, for the Evans' benefit, and the resultant fireworks display impressed Septimus and Desdemona, no end.
"Muggles seem fairly capable of their own special brand of magic in their own right." said Septimus. "Those fireworks look an awful lot like sparks we use with our wands to alert people of our location should we be in distress in principle, only these rockets look even better and more expansive in size."
The Evans looked proud that wizards were impressed by an invention of their people's heritage.
Rose and Trevor took the excited Lily and Petunia home not long after that, and Septimus and Desdemona grew tired and departed too, leaving Severus and Eileen to peacefully clean up and go to bed themselves. They were both so happy with the celebrations, that Severus quite forgot that Eileen still had something to divulge to him.
A few days later, Severus and Lily were on Platform Nine and Three Quarters, ready to start the second term of their first year at Hogwarts. They were excited for the next term and just as keen to reunite with their friends on board the Hogwarts Express.
After waving goodbye to Eileen, Rose and Trevor, the two best friends went to find a compartment that was either empty or containing their friends. On the second coach, they found Quincey, Mary and Marlene in the third compartment in, and entered themselves.
"Room for two more?" asked Lily.
"Definitely." replied Marlene, saving a spot for Lily, between her and Mary, whilst Severus sat with Quincey, opposite Lily.
"How was Christmas?" asked Quincey.
"Brilliant." said Lily.
"Oh, Severus." said Mary sympathetically. "We read about what happened to your grandfather. We're sorry."
Marlene and Quincey nodded in agreement.
"It's a load of rubbish." said Lily.
"My grandad is perfectly fine." said Severus bitterly. "Malfoy's dad and his Dark buddies made him out to be deteriorating in mental health, all because he had come round to accepting Muggles and Muggle-borns."
"And half-bloods." added Lily.
Mary, Marlene and Quincey were furious.
"Wish we were in fifth year." said Quincey. "We'd show Malfoy a thing or two."
"At least he'll be gone by the time we reach fourth year." said Mary.
"And don't wish fifth year upon yourself too hastily, Quincey." said Severus. "OWLs are meant to be so distressing."
"Ah, that's years off yet." said Marlene cheerfully. "Let's talk happy stuff."
"Like how gooey in the brain and heart you get whenever you see Sirius Black?" teased Mary.
That led to a lot of laughter, when Marlene decided to take the spotlight off of herself.
"Here's someone else who gets gooey or whatever you said." she pointed out. "You know Rebecca Castle? My best friend? She has big eyes for James Potter."
Everyone chuckled, and Severus had a genuine smile on his face. If Rebecca Castle played her cards right, perhaps she would become this reality's Mrs James Potter and he would still have hope of Lily becoming Lily Snape.
As the conversation went on, Lucius Malfoy came in, sporting his Prefect badge, but with a contrasting bullying smirk on his face.
"How's the old man enjoying his retirement, hm?" he asked Severus.
"He's taking it well." replied Severus. "This was a waste of your pathetic father's time, Malfoy. He will be back soon enough!"
"Don't call my father pathetic, little boy!" snarled Malfoy.
"No, you're right." said Severus. "He's a waste of space. You're the pathetic one, idolising such a worthless cause so blindly, just cos Daddy likes the Dark Arts."
Malfoy was about to settle things with his wand, until Professor Slughorn appeared. He was the only teacher on the train today.
"Now, now." he said cheerfully. "No conflict on the school train, Lucius."
"Yes, Professor." said Malfoy grudgingly before walking away.
"No cheekiness from any of you either." said Slughorn pleasantly before walking further along the train.
"What do you suppose Slughorn's doing on the train?" asked Lily.
"I hear he has a club on it." said Marlene. "He calls it the Slug Club. He invites elite students to attend it, and gain from them with his generosity and party invitations and praise."
"You sound jealous." teased Mary.
"Nah, first years never make the cut." said Marlene. "Frank told us at dinner once. It's like how first years never make house teams in Quidditch."
Soon, the train was driving by night, and as the girls changed, Severus and Quincey waited outside, and then James and Sirius approached them, with the reluctant Peter Pettigrew bringing up the rear.
"Hi, Severus. Quincey." greeted James.
"Hi." said Quincey.
Severus didn't answer. He gave a curt but civil nod.
"Did you reflect on the idea of being friends?" asked Sirius.
"I have." said Severus, whilst internally adding, 'Albeit briefly.'
"And?" asked James.
"And I don't see it happening." replied Severus honestly. "You can be friends with my friends if you must, but I just can't bring myself to be friends with those who judged me for who my family were. You weren't just insulting me, you were insulting my family."
He omitted the fact that he had a deeper grudge with their alternate beings.
James and Sirius looked crestfallen.
"We are sorry about that." said James. "But it was mostly me. Sirius dropped it after that first day."
Severus knew that to their minds, Sirius was less justified to be cut off as a potential friend to him, but he didn't know how to reply to that. He couldn't tell them the truth. So, he remained silent.
"We'll take up your offer to be friends with Quincey and Lily and the others." continued James.
"But please, keep thinking on it." said Sirius. "You saved our lives. We just want to return the favour and be friends with you."
"I don't need your friendship to survive at Hogwarts." retorted Severus.
James and Sirius sighed in unison. They couldn't understand why, but they both had the feeling that Severus' hatred of them seemed to be deeper than was necessary. It wasn't like they had tormented him for years on end. Quincey noticed how deep Severus' hate seemed to be and was showing a strong concern for his friend.
After James and Sirius left, Severus and Quincey took over the compartment while the girls waited outside so they could change into robes too.
"Are you alright, Severus?" asked Quincey concernedly.
"Yes." replied Severus dismissively.
"I know Potter tried to make your life Hell last term, but he has apologised a lot now, and Black only upset you for one day, and almost immediately came to regret it. But you look at them as though they ruined your entire life or something."
Severus turned silent. He was now worried. Quincey could tell something was off. He could sense that there was more to Severus' hatred for James and Sirius than he was willing to let on.
Then he heard chuckling coming from outside. James and Sirius had returned, and they were talking pleasantly to the girls.
Severus' blood ran cold.
What if his hate for James made Lily feel distant towards him for not letting things go? What if her friendship with James strengthened even more now that they were on amicable terms in first year instead of sixth year? What if this meant that James had a stronger chance of winning Lily's heart than ever?
Severus changed into his robes more quickly, and then spoke to Quincey.
"I guess you're right…will you come with me though?" He gestured towards James and Sirius.
"Sure thing, buddy." said Quincey with a smile.
Severus was cringing and even going slightly pale at what he was about to do, but Quincey just passed it off as nerves. His suspicions were fading.
The two of them came out to greet the party. Lily was chatting cheerily with Sirius, and Marlene was chatting with James, though never taking her eyes from Sirius. Mary noticed their arrival first.
"That was quick." she remarked.
"Just excited to be getting back." said Quincey cheerfully.
Severus stepped up to James and Sirius. Pettigrew, fortunately, wasn't there. At least there was one small mercy, he thought.
"I can't promise it'll be easy." he said with an edge to his voice. "But Quincey has convinced me that I should give you two a chance. So…yes, I will try to be friends."
With the most well disguised reluctance and revolt, Severus extended a hand to the two of them. Sirius and James smiled and shook his hand in turn.
"Thanks, Severus." said James.
"You won't regret it." added Sirius.
Severus nodded silently, then turned to his friends. Mary looked surprised. Marlene looked pleased. Quincey nodded proudly, and Lily was positively delighted that her best friend was finally willing to let bygones be bygones.
That smile of delight was good enough to encourage Severus to see these new 'friendships' out. With any luck, the two Marauders would screw up again and give both Severus and Lily reason to cut all ties with them altogether.
Soon, everyone was back in their own compartments, and Lily hugged Severus happily.
"Well done for accepting their friendship." she said.
"It wasn't easy." said Severus.
"What made you change your mind?" asked Mary.
"Quincey is very persuasive." said Severus half truthfully.
The others praised Quincey, whom blushed a little, and Severus chatted cheerfully with Lily as the train continued until at last they returned to the school and went this time, to the seemingly horseless carriages.
Severus was surprised to see that he couldn't see the Thestrals. Death witnessed in the other universe seemed to have no effect in this one, plus he hadn't seen Septimus kill Tobias on that night.
This once again emphasised to Severus just how lucky he was to have a second chance. His soul was being given a symbol of the fact that he was no longer tainted by his previous lifetime's choices.
Soon enough, the students arrived at Hogwarts itself and the friends rushed up to the Entrance Hall, led by Professor Slughorn.
The snow still lay thick across the grounds. Then as they made their way, Severus noticed the Whomping Willow and remembered that Remus was waiting for them all inside. Severus felt a pang of guilt. There they had been on New Year's Eve, enjoying themselves, whilst Remus laid silent and alone in the Shrieking Shack, his human mind trapped in the body of an infectious werewolf.
James and Sirius were thinking along the same lines, but maintained some hope that Remus would forgive them now that more time had passed.
The group of students filed into the Entrance Hall, and then into the Great Hall, where a small number of students were already seated, having stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas.
Amongst them was Remus, looking pale and apprehensive.
Severus looked to him with sympathy, as did Sirius and James. He avoided eye contact again and then Severus looked on as Slughorn went to join the rest of the staff at the High Table. Then he saw Dumbledore, whom seemed to be looking in his direction. Severus immediately lowered his head as he went to sit at the Ravenclaw table with Quincey, pretending to be excited for the feast and deliberately began a conversation with him about completing homework over the holidays.
Dumbledore had about a second of eye contact with Severus, and all he managed to see inside Severus' mind was that he was desperate to hide something from the Headmaster. For a brief moment, Dumbledore considered that Severus might have been hiding the desire to become a Death Eater, but the boy's personal friendship with Lily Evans proved otherwise, plus a lot of the Slytherins showed no hint of fear of being known as wannabe Death Eaters. Severus Snape was clearly hiding something else, but why from Dumbledore? Dumbledore decided that a whole term was quite long enough. He would learn the truth tonight.
The feast went by cheerfully and too quickly for most students' liking. This would be their last feast until the Easter holidays where they weren't feeling weighed down by timetables and homework.
Not long after, Dumbledore wished them all a pleasant night's sleep. But as the students began to move, Dumbledore asked quickly addressed Flitwick.
"Filius, could you please send Master Snape to my office post haste?"
"Of course, Albus. But why do you need him?" asked Flitwick.
"That is a matter between Master Snape and myself, Filius."
Flitwick was astonished to say the least. He had shown mysterious motives before, but never did they concern a student, least of all, a student from his House.
Flitwick pursued Severus and luckily enough, saw him delaying the trip back to Ravenclaw Tower, as he was saying farewell to Lily for the night.
"See you tomorrow, Lils. And um, say hello to Remus for me, if you can." he said.
"I will, Sev. See you in the morning." said Lily.
As Lily went up to the seventh floor, Flitwick approached Severus, whom was about to catch up with Quincey.
"Mr Snape, Professor Dumbledore requests your presence in his office. I shall escort you there at once, and wait for you afterwards to take you back." said Flitwick authoritatively.
Severus tried his best not to pale or look panicked. If he was going to be in Dumbledore's office alone, he would have next to no hope of hiding his past from the Headmaster. This could be the end of his second chance at life. This meeting with Dumbledore was going to decide his new destiny, and he was beyond terrified to find out.
(So, here's Chapter 19. Sorry it's considerably shorter than the last ones, but I promise that the next chapter will be longer, and failing that, more exciting! I hope you like this one all the same. Chapter 20 will up soon. Please review your opinions! Thank you!)