Chapter 8: Always
"What would happen if I added a pinch of Schifells Dragon claw powder to a Shrinking solution right after the lace wing flies were added?" Lily asked. She was sitting behind the teacher's desk with a propped-up Potions book and several of her graded quizzes in front of her.
"The Shrinking solutions Ph level would go up- um changing it to be an enlarging tonic instead?" Mary answered quickly. She was sitting cress crossed on a top of desk idly waving her wand and making mini tornadoes around the room.
Lily nodded. "Good. And where would you look if I asked you to find the basic concentrations of Eilwers Salinity for every potion in the world?"
"In the back of the potions textbook."
"And if you didn't have that on you what would be the formula you would use to deduce that information?"
"Y minus the Salinity of Pepperup plus the amount of carbonation in the potion times 3." Mary sighed. "Lily! I think I'm perfectly prepared for the test tomorrow!"
"Just one more question." Lily grinned flipping through the study guide Severus had made her. "Oh here's a good one, what would you need to add to a Hiccoughing potion instead, if the drinker was allergic to Sacamander blood?"
"Oh wait-" Mary shut her eyes in concentration. "I know this. Pilly something eyes?"
"Plimpy eyes and bowtruckle wings." Lily corrected and put down the study guide "See, you still need to study."
"That's what I meant." Mary sighed. "Okay fine. I'll study after lunch? Lily?"
"Oh,where is he?" Lily asked suddenly before turning to look at the door nervously. "He should have been here by now! What's taken him so long?"
Mary sighed. "Lily you're being paranoid. He's either busy or he forgot- either way I'm doing so much better! I even got an 'A' on that potion project last week!"
Lily smiled. "I'm glad for you Mary- but I'm worried about Sev. He usually lets me know if he can't make it...oh I'm going to find him! Sorry Mary!" She didn't hear the girl's hmph in response before setting out determinedly to find her best friend. She paused at the dungeons- but shook her head and marched down. She would check that place last. If the rest of Slytherin's were anything like the two girls she had met last time she was content with living seven years without having the need to go down there ever.
She checked the library first- where she and Severus always studied for exams. Perhaps he was finishing last night's homework or had become so engrossed in his book he had forgotten that he was to meet them in the old potions room. She checked the charms classroom next where she and Severus sometimes practiced spells. They were both empty and so Lily headed for the last place he could be. The Great Hall.
She could hear sounds of laughter and the tinkling of metal that came from the Great Hall nearby. Severus just had to be here- she might as well get a bite to eat before they both headed back up.
"Come on Snivellus you should be thanking us at least."
"We gave you a lovely Valentine's day gift- don't you think?"
"Your hairs been begging for a shower. It's about time someone gave it one."
Lily turned the corner not expecting what she saw. Severus was crouched in the middle of the hall soaking wet, while James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew stood around him, wands out and roaring with laughter.
Severus was looking down, water dripping from his hair- his eyes dead. His book-bag had been strewn across the floor its contents spilling onto the ground. Lily's eyes caught a small daisy that had been preserved into a jar. She remembered that daisy. It was the one thing she she had shown Petunia she could do with her magic. When Petunia had called her a freak, when Severus had showed up and told her she was special...
"Severus!" She yelled running up to him. He looked up alarmed at the sound of her voice. "Lily! Go away!"
She felt bad hearing those words from his mouth but paid no heed and stomped forward pushing past the boys and helping Severus up.
"What were you guys doing to him?" Lily demanded to know looking up at the boys. The one with dark curly hair, and dark obsidian eyes laughed. "We were just giving him a bath Evans- we're not the bad guys here."
Sirius Black made her mad. "And you think that's funny enough to make me forget that whatever you guys were doing was plain mean?"
"Hey you should have heard what he was saying about the Gryffindors-" This was provided by James. Peter didn't say much but stood to the side now letting his friends speak for him.
She truly wished she knew a spell to dry Severus up but none came to mind. "We're going. NOW!" she told him, forcing him to stand and helping him. He pushed her away and mumbled. "I'm fine Lily. I don't need help."
"No, you're not Sev." She told him back quickly. "Come on. We don't need to be here."
"Aww come on Evan's it was just a laugh. We were just making sure his hair got washed."
Lily turned around to face James Potter. "I can't believe you. This is your idea of fun? This?" She shook her head and looked at Severus. "We're going Sev."
"I got this Lily. I already told you I don't need your help." Severus said picking up his bags and stomping out the Great Hall leaving her and the boys alone for a humiliating second.
"Don't mind him. He's just embarrassed about his public shower." Sirius grinned making a joke he thought was funny. "At least now I can stand to be within 5 feet from him."
Lily's fist curled, her body shaking with anger and humiliation at the same time. Furious she stomped away. She didn't want to stay here any longer. She had to find Severus- he couldn't have gotten too far.
"Evans?"
Lily turned to look at James who had followed her out. He stood up proudly. "Happy Valentines day! I thought maybe we could-"
Lily ignored him running as far as she could from his stupid face. James Potter was an idiot and she hated him.
Lily stood in front of the last place she ever wanted to be. Truth be told, Lily found it to be much scarier the second time around. Maybe because this time she didn't have Mary and she was completely alone. Or maybe she was scared of Severus and if he would even come out and see her...
"Back again?"
The girl with the hazel eyes didn't smile down at her. "I didn't think you would be back so soon."
"I just need to see Severus. Please." She added hoping the girl would take pity on her.
The girl just shook her head. "I told you not to come back here little cub. I'm only saying it because you'll get hurt otherwise."
She flipped her hair and looked at Lily pointedly. Lily covered her ears as the girl said the password but found she didn't have to. There was a faint buzzing emanating from somewhere and she didn't seem to hear much of anything. When she left Lily sighed and leaned against the wall. She would wait for Severus to come out. She didn't care what anyone said or who came out through that dungeon gate. She didn't care if they gave her odd looks or if they jeered or leered at her- she would wait right here for Severus.
"What is she doing here?" A 4th year girl whispered walking towards her with her friend. "Are there kind even allowed here?"
Honestly she was just a Gryffindor- she was still human! Why did everyone at Hogwarts take their houses so seriously...
-she might be spying on us for the trophy-" the other girl answered continuing the conversation in front of her. Seriously.
As if. If it was this creepy outside the common room Lily didn't want to imagine what the inside held...snakes slithering along the floor? Strange, dark noises creeping into the latest hour of the night? The darkness enfolding her- where she was never to see the light. No, she was perfectly fine not getting in the Slytherin common room.
"Or trying to get ideas for the Quidditch team- I've heard that Gryffindor hasn't won the past 17 years."
Lily had only just learned what Quidditch was...flying in the air on a broom? No thank you. Her fear of heights and her lack on interest in any sport except reading was an indication of that.
"Should we wait for someone to come out- I don't want her to go in."
"Hey!" Lily snapped. "I can hear you! And no actually I don't want to go in-"
"Excuse me, this is a Slytherin corridor- what's your business here?"
Lily looked up to see a tall blond looking down at her. His platinum hair was tied back by a green tie and if his new expensive Slytherin robes were any indication of his status the Prefect badge on his left was. So this was one of the prefect's Lily had heard so much about.
"I w-was looking for a-" Lily started. Something about the way he looked down at her made her feel vulnerable- like she was supposed to obey him.
"Lucius!"
Lily spun around to see the girl from earlier step out of common room, her black hair swinging behind her. "Bellatrix and Rodolphus are at it again."
"Not now Ayesha-" Lucius started still eying Lily.
"I said Bellatrix and Rodolphus are at it again- I need you in the common room now. Or do I need to remind you what happens when you don't listen? " She said her hazel eyes boring into his. He looked up at her, then at Lily before walking into the common room with a swing of his robes.
Lily stared at the girl open mouthed in awe. She had sent him away with just one word-Lily wished she had that kind of authority "Thank you-"
The girl didn't smile and without a word, she left behind Lucius. As soon as she disappeared behind the gate, it opened again and Severus stepped out.
"Sev!" Lily ran up to him."Are you okay? Did they do anything else to you? Oh Sev I'm so sorry-"
"Lily, I'm fine." He looked away. "I told you he was an arrogant prick head."
"He's mean." Lily said finally. "And I'm going to make sure he gets punished for it. I'm going to tell the house prefect about it and he'll make sure-"
"Lily." Severus said. "Even if a prefect told Potter- no even if the headmaster tried to straighten up Potter it wouldn't work. You heard him on the train Lily- he hate's Slytherins."
"But what does that matter?" Lily asked innocently. "I don't care if you're a Slytherin. It's just a house. Would you hate me if I was a Slytherin?"
"No." Severus said softly. "I would always be your friend."
"Always?" She asked teasingly as they walked past the charms classroom. "Even if I had blue hair?"
"Even then."
"What if I had a large nose and 6 toes?"
"Still."
"Okay what about if I had green skin and warts on my face like a real witch?"
Severus smiled on his rare smiles. "I told you those aren't what witches really look like."
"They do in fairytales." Lily pointed out. "Remember the story I read to you?"
"Hansel and Gretel?" Severus remembered.
"You remembered?" Lily cried. "You know I used to imagine witches like that all the time. Until I realized I was one."
"You're a pretty witch." Severus said. "I can't say the same for everyone else here though."
"That's mean Severus." Lily said.
"It's true." Severus said clearing his throat. "Happy Valentines Day, Lily."
He handed her a small chocolate frog. She took it with a smile. "Thanks Sev. I didn't think you celebrated it."
"I don't." Severus smiled as Lily opened the festive pink and red wrapper and gave half to him. "I just couldn't have Potter say it to you and not me."
"Well that's hardly a reason." Lily said. "But I accept. So you'll always be my friend," She clarified. "No matter what I look like?"
"Always."