Chapter 29: The Game and the Unity Plans
(Rubbish title, I know.)
The month of November brought much more chill and the leaves of the Forbidden Forest had all fallen. Though it was only 5pm, the blue sky had fully given way to black, and the moon, only half full was risen and shedding some feeble light across the lawns.
James and Sirius had both just finished Quidditch practice, and though they were confident of their skills, they were both keen to get back inside and warm their toes before the common room fire.
Severus and Lily were in the common room already. Quincey and Mary had gone to the Great Hall for an early dinner, and they planned to follow once the two Marauders returned to warm up before they went back down for their meals. Although they were all friends, they did sometimes feel the need to have some private times, particularly Severus and Lily. They both found that if Quincey had a second-best friend, it was surely Mary MacDonald. Marlene and Rebecca were besties too but were both drifting to get attention from James and Sirius respectively.
Remus and Peter were also in the common room, working on a piece of parchment together, which seemed blank. Or at least, Remus was working on it and Peter was just nodding and making seemingly worthless pointers now and then. Severus knew Peter still lacked some academic genius compared to his best friends, but he was still more happy and content. He was an excellent Gobstones player and had gained much more respect after his conflict with Lucius Malfoy.
The four friends greeted James and Sirius who immediately began boasting of their successful training session, and as Peter provided a more than captivated audience, Severus and Lily made their getaway to the Great Hall.
Dinner was luscious and to both friends' joy, the time in the Hall went without a blemish. Regulus and Melody were at the Slytherin table, and the latter gave Lily a hearty wave. Lily waved back but looked around the Slytherin table in concern, but luckily, no Death Eater wannabes were present, and those who noticed the wave looked more surprised than appalled. Lily herself wondered if these Slytherin students would be open to joining the group of House Unity.
Lily and Mary insisted on the group having an official name, and they wondered if they should publicise the group to expand it somehow. The name was given as 'House Union' and they decided, for the time being, not to count their chickens. They were making progress with Regulus and Melody, but things were only beginning to work out. There also wasn't a single Hufflepuff in the group, which could give the wrong idea to the less respected House. And so, they all decided to delay publicising the group until next term, at the very least.
"I wonder who in Hufflepuff could join our group." wondered Lily. "We haven't really connected to many of them."
"Any of them, more like." concurred Severus in agreement.
"We'll have to remedy that issue before Christmas." said Lily.
Severus nodded, wondering which Hufflepuff they could possibly approach.
Mid-November came, and the first Quidditch match of the season was incoming. James and Sirius were more than confident and couldn't wait to mop the floor with Slytherin. Avery and Mulciber had managed to secure positions on the Slytherin team as Beaters, and judging from history in the previous world, Severus recalled that neither showed any mercy or hesitation when it came to harming the opposition.
Severus joined Lily, Mary and Quincey to watch their two friends from the stands. Although indifferent to Quidditch itself, and the idea of Gryffindor winning, Severus was keen to watch Avery, Mulciber, and the Slytherin team captain, Evan Rosier lose.
All the teachers, bar Dumbledore were also present. Slughorn was wiping his brow after climbing up the stairs, McGonagall looked stiff-lipped, clearly hoping that Gryffindor wouldn't lose, and Professor Millburn, a Ravenclaw looked down to the players as indifferently as Severus was. Sports weren't her speciality and she only showed up out of courtesy.
Severus saw a much younger, but still strict Madam Hooch appear to watch the captains shake hands. Rosier seemed gleeful to ominously grip the Gryffindor captain, Thomas Young's hand more tightly than necessary, and then the teams mounted their brooms, took their positions and the game began at Hooch's whistle and release of the Quaffle.
The crowd roared as the game began and Severus found that he didn't like it. He hadn't bothered to attend Quidditch last year but insisted that Lily go and see the sport for herself. He was dismayed to find that she loved it, but likely only because it was the first Wizarding sport she had ever seen.
Slytherin took the lead fast, thanks to some underhand kicks and some well-aimed Bludger shots from Avery and Mulciber. However, after getting used to the fact that Slytherin weren't going to play fair, James and Sirius predicted their tricks and used them against the two cheating Beaters, evening the score with their skilled Quaffle shots. The score became 50 points apiece, but the two Seekers had made no movement. Neither had seen the Quaffle yet.
Severus and Lily couldn't help but join the cheering, though the former still could abide the noise and the fuss. Things didn't improve when Mary shrieked, "HEY! OUR SEEKER'S SEEN THE SNITCH!"
She was right.
The Gryffindor Seeker, Miss Isabella Openshaw was speeding towards the ground with her hand outstretched, but then she was struck, not with a Bludger, but with Avery's body, deliberately slamming himself into her as she descended.
There was uproar from the stands, and although Isabella Openshaw crashed and was winded, she insisted on continuing the game, and to much luck, the Slytherin Seeker hadn't even noticed that she had seen the Snitch until she was hit, and now the Snitch was gone, and the Slytherin Seeker was being shouted at by Rosier.
The game soon resumed, and James and Sirius helped substantially in taking the lead, and the score was 120 – 70 to Gryffindor by the time action took place again between the Seekers, only this time, the Slytherin Seeker noticed the Snitch first and was taking no chances to catch it first, but Isabella Openshaw had the faster broom and was catching up.
The crowd roared encouragingly, and even Sirius stopped as James put the Quaffle past the Slytherin Keeper once again to watch.
Just as the Slytherin Seeker was about to grasp the Snitch, it whizzed out of his reach and zoomed to the right, right into the direction of Isabella, whom quickly reached out and clutched the tiny golden ball to her chest to prevent it slipping through her fingers.
The Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws cheered in delight, McGonagall grinned happily and shook hands with a disappointed but far from bitter Slughorn. Millburn, Flitwick and Sprout rose from their seats almost instantly, not too interested in the event, aside from their indignance at Avery's cheating and foul play.
James and Sirius looked the happiest of all, hugging each other and then their teammates, especially Isabella.
Severus, however, looked across to where the Slytherins were watching their team's defeat, and he paid particular attention to the younger years. They looked disappointed but upon seeing just how happy every other person outside of Slytherin was at their defeat, the younger and more vulnerable students looked fit to tears.
Severus knew that feeling too well from his past. He was sure that aside from the suffering he endured from the Marauders, he suffered most in Slytherin because of almost everyone automatically prejudicing them for being in such a notorious House. Nobody gave him or his fellow Slytherins a chance, and it was therefore little wonder that they turned to a powerful Slytherin source that they didn't fully understand. They only wanted respect and power, to show the judgmental people from other Houses that they were more than what they were assumed to be, only to find that Voldemort cared even less for them.
Severus decided that once the Quidditch fever died down, he would discuss this sense of automated isolation to the House Union.
That evening, Severus and Quincey were allowed into the Gryffindor common room again to celebrate James and Sirius' first Quidditch victory. They and Isabella were being celebrated as the heroes of the match. Isabella for her winning catch despite her injured state, and James and Sirius for their natural talent displayed in their very first game.
Severus still felt a twinge of jealousy at their popularity, but he cheered up when he saw Lily looking over at him with the happiest smile. He loved that smile and he would cherish it for as long as he lived, and beyond.
He and Lily chatted as the celebration toned down and when they looked up, they found that the majority of the students had gone to bed, except for the four Marauders, who seemed to be gathered round the piece of parchment.
Severus had a feeling that they were working on the Marauder's Map, and was for once, glad for it.
"I'm off to bed, Lils." he said at last, giving a genuine yawn.
"Good idea, Sev." replied Lily. "I could do with some rest too." She restrained her yawn but stretched exhaustedly.
"Anyone would've thought we had just played Quidditch." chuckled Severus.
"Yeah, right!" laughed Lily sarcastically.
The two best friends hugged, and Severus felt a warm sensation in that hug. He still loved Lily deeply and now his body was slowly beginning to appreciate her again too. He was not far off from turning thirteen after all. Little did he know that Lily was feeling just the same way. If he had, he may not have stopped the embrace and climbed out of the portrait hole back to his own common room so easily.
November was now in its adolescence and Friday was approaching. Remus had transformed again but seemed no worse for wear than he usually did. He was much more perky despite his condition nowadays. However, Regulus still held his suspicions and Severus was hoping badly that he would not figure out the connection between Remus' illness and the full moon before the Marauder's Map was completed.
That morning, Severus and Lily received letters from Hagrid, inviting them to a cup of tea and some cake at his hut after lessons that afternoon.
"Do we have to go?" asked Severus. "I don't really fancy cracking a tooth today! Those cakes!"
"You know full well that Madam Pomfrey will fix your teeth right up if that does hap- Hey! I've an idea!"
"What?" Severus was slightly taken aback by Lily's sudden cut-off.
"Why don't we ask Hagrid if we can bring a friend with us, each?"
"Which ones?" asked Severus.
"Well, you can take Regulus, and I'll bring Mel."
"Do you really think Hagrid will take too kindly to be having two Slytherins in his hut?"
"If he doesn't, then we'll need to be clear with him about how we're aiming for House Unity. Just as you did when you noticed how isolated those first year Slytherins were after the Quidditch match." shrugged Lily.
"Hmm, okay." sighed Severus, unsure. "You're making great efforts to ensure those two get rotten and cracked teeth."
Lily slapped his arm playfully, and the two friends wrote a reply to Hagrid, accepting his invitation and requesting to bring a friend. After that, they went over to Regulus and Melody and invited them to the hut.
"Is he nice?" asked Melody. "He seemed very…big and fierce on that first night."
"He's lovely after that!" giggled Lily. "You'll see."
"I'm in then." smiled Melody. "You, Reg?"
Regulus nodded silently.
"Brill!" exclaimed Lily excitedly. "Meet us in the Entrance Hall after lessons end."
The two Slytherins nodded, one keenly, one dimly. Severus shared Regulus' sentiments.
As Severus went to Herbology with Quincey after lunch, Hagrid whistled from a distance to catch his attention and gave him two thumbs up. Severus took that as a yes to the requests and went on to explain Lily's plan to the puzzled Quincey.
"We can only hope Hagrid doesn't roar at them and chase them out of the hut." frowned Quincey.
"That was my mindset when Lily first ran the idea by me at breakfast." replied Severus ominously.
"Well, best of luck anyway." said Quincey.
"What do you plan to do this afternoon?" asked Severus.
"Gonna meet Mary, Elizabeth and Nora in the library. Need some help on that Astronomy homework."
"Okay. Good luck with that." chuckled Severus.
"They're not as bad as Lily is with her rotas on doing homework on time and straight away!" protested Quincey.
"Exactly my point, my friend." teased Severus, whom agreed with Lily's rotas. "Exactly my point."
Quincey frowned exaggeratedly, and they began to feed their slowly growing Mandrakes.
After Herbology and the following Double Potions class, Severus met Lily, Regulus and Melody in the Entrance Hall.
"After sitting with Slughorn in that dark and dim dungeon for two hours, I'd say it must feel good to walk through the grounds straight after." said Lily sympathetically.
"Never particularly minded the dimness." replied Severus. "The flames from the cauldrons and concentrating on the potions makes you barely notice."
Lily shrugged and led the way down to the hut.
"Is Hagrid expecting us specifically?" asked Regulus.
"Hm?"
"Well, does he know we're in Slytherin House?"
"Not yet, but I doubt he'll mind." said Lily. "Our aim is to make sure nobody will mind."
"Sure." replied Regulus dubiously and doubtfully.
Lily ignored this as she was secretly hoping Hagrid wouldn't react negatively as Regulus believed. Melody held her best friend's hand shyly.
They soon reached the hut, and Lily eagerly knocked on the door. Severus stood behind the two first-years, trying to hide their Slytherin emblems from view, until Lily could explain.
Hagrid opened the door. Without Fang existing yet, the hut seemed quiet except for his stomps across the floor.
"Ello, you two. And who are these two friends? One looks familiar." he said welcomingly, stepping aside to let them in.
The four friends slipped past him, and then Hagrid noticed the green and silver on their robes.
"Ah, that's where I've noticed yer face." he said grimly to Regulus. "Yer brother's a Gryffindor, in' he?"
"Yes, sir." said Regulus respectfully, but with defensiveness in his tone.
"Hm, I believe he 'oped for you to join 'im there. Can't 'ave everything we want though, can we?"
"No, sir." snarled Regulus. Melody gripped his hand to soothe him, but she was losing colour too, looking at Hagrid's dimmer and less cheerful face.
"Hagrid, um, these two are our friends." said Lily quickly.
"Are they indeed?" said Hagrid, his spirits slightly lifting again. "Never heard of a Gryffindor being friends with a Slytherin, let alone two of each. Not since the days of Hogwarts' beginnings. The founders and all, before their fallout."
He began to brew tea.
"Help yourselves to some cake."
Melody was more than ready to indulge herself, but Severus and Lily made her pause to feel the texture of the rocky rock cakes. She sucked on it for a while, like a gobstopper, before daring to take a bite. By the time she managed this, Hagrid was facing them, pouring the tea, and looking quite pleased that a Slytherin girl was enjoying his cakes. Admittedly, once they softened in the mouth, Severus and Lily found them quite tasty.
"Makes them last longer." Lily often said.
After proper introductions were made, Severus and Lily explained to Hagrid all about how they all came to meet and be friends, and of how they were planning to make their group a public one that promoted unity in the four Houses.
Hagrid was surprised.
"A pack of eleven and twelve-year olds tryin' ter bring peace to a millennium-old rivalry? Ye have yer work cut out for yer, kids." he said reflectively.
"I know, Hagrid." said Lily. "But I just want us to try. This rivalry makes Slytherins in particular feel isolated before they even have a chance to choose whether they want to side with Voldemort. This prejudice is likely what pushed innocent Slytherin kids over the edge and into Voldemort's preying hands."
Hagrid winced. He was very surprised that Lily showed no fear at using Voldemort's name. He wasn't the only one. Regulus and Melody were surprised too when they first joined the group, though they were by now used to it, but still twitched nervously.
"I guess yer have a point, Lily." Hagrid murmured. "Ne-er put it that way in me head before."
"And it's not just Slytherins." added Severus. "Hufflepuffs are always looked down upon as the lesser House, because their qualities don't seem as efficient as the other Houses require. We need to help them feel worthier too."
Regulus scoffed, earning a scowl of disapproval from Severus and Hagrid respectively.
"What?" asked Severus calmly.
"Well, you say that about helping Hufflepuff." explained Regulus mockingly. "And yet your little group hasn't a single Hufflepuff student in it."
"As it happens, you cheeky little-"
"Sev!" warned Lily. Then she turned to Regulus sternly. "As it happens, Regulus, we are thinking of branching out the group, if you recall. Hopefully through that idea, we will have many Hufflepuffs joining the Union."
"And on that note, boy." cut in Hagrid coldly. "I'd think twice about how ye treat these two. They took you in as a friend, something that's likely not bin 'eard of in centuries. I'd count yer blessings and show them some ruddy respect!"
Regulus flinched, nodded frantically and shrunk back. Melody held his hand. She was positively scared now.
Hagrid sighed.
"Sorry, you two. I…got a bit carried away there. Have yer tea, and we'll start over, eh?"
After that, both Regulus and Hagrid were on their best behaviour, and after chatting about his hobbies, Melody took to Hagrid slightly more, coming out of her shell once more. Severus was also calmed after Lily held his hand too. They both felt the spark of physical contact again, though neither admitted it.
But on the walk back to get dinner in the Great Hall, Melody's pockets filled with rock cakes, Severus felt that he was certainly falling for this Lily hook, line and sinker…it was only now he fully comprehended his feelings shifting from Lily Potter to Lily Evans. He could truly move on from his first love now, in a weird way. And it could have been wishful thinking, or his imagination, but Severus was wondering if the redness on Lily's cheeks was not entirely due to the cold Autumn air.
(Here's Chapter 29! Hope you all like it! Please review! Any criticism welcome, positive and negative. Just no vitriol and taboo language! Thank you!)