Second Chances



Chapter 09: What secret does she hide?



Severus was brooding.

As Lily had told him to keep silent until she said otherwise, it was the only thing he could do.

He had long since gotten accustomed to the gray mare's gait. The first yards, when she had sped up from walk to trot, it had been hell. He was sure Lily could have heard his teeth rattle, so much had his mount shook him. But then the pace had somehow shifted to the smooth gait they had kept for hours now. It felt like gliding above the ground. Actually, it was a far more comfortable way of traveling than flying, for he had nothing to do but sit and relax. Saga was finding her path on her own, never straying more than two or three yards from her darker fellow. Every now and then, she seemed to take a larger step, and the forest blurred around them, leaving him feeling a bit light-headed. He couldn't ask Lily, but he guessed that was what she had meant by the mysterious remark about the horses having 'their way with distances'.



'Speaking of mysterious...'



He didn't know what to think of that woman. She had saved his life, treated his injuries, and was now helping him to get to Hogwarts safely despite the Dark Mark on his arm. She knew of the Dark Lord's rising and seemed to be informed about the rest of the Wizarding World as well, although she was no witch. She traveled the DarkWood on horseback and was friends with vampires, werewolves and Fire-Fays. She knew how to brew potions, even create new ones, and wielded a sword with the skill of many year's practice.



And she looked so much like Lily Potter that it made his heart ache. He had thought the sunlight would show him differences that the fire and the darkness had concealed, but it didn't. She could still pass as Lily's twin sister any time. After all he knew, or rather didn't know about her, she could well be.



'Lily. Who is she? Why won't she tell me her last name? What secret does she hide?'



Uneasiness woke in him. She hadn't told him why she had rescued him yet. She would block all personal questions. Could she be in league with Voldemort?



The thought made him freeze inwardly. Lucius had found out about his affection for the lovely red-head shortly before they had decided to part ways and Lily had returned to that damned Potter. They had been friends back then, but by now, Lucius had grown more and more power-hungry. He could well have told the Dark Lord. They might have found a way to make someone look like his lost love, to lure him into a trap and get hold of him again.



Thinking of Lucius he couldn't help but notice the vampire had seemed vaguely familiar to him. Now he realized why. She definitely had a malfoyish look about her. The hair, the eyes, the skin, the shape of her face,... He knew some branches of the family descended from vampires, though he was not sure which. DeLaCroix... It was entirely possible.



He shook his head to get it clearer. Why would Voldemort send a Lily-double after him, when the Dementors were looking for him at the same time? Or was it all an act? A game for the Dark Lord's amusement?

Going over the recent events in his mind once more, he became aware of what she had answered him when he had accused her of avoiding his questions.
'I had to make sure which side you are on before.' 'Which side you are on.' Not 'that you are on the right side'. Had that been intentionally? Had she let something slip? He truly didn't know.

Unbidden, a memory of the way her green eyes darkened when she became angry came into his mind. She hadn't been really furious about anything in his presence yet, but from what he had seen so far, he assumed they would be black if she was. He had seen eyes like this before. When Lord Voldemort had still been Tom Riddle. So could it be him? Would he go so far? To what avail?



Then it struck him and he felt like a bucket of ice-water had been emptied over his head. He was doing just what Voldemort had asked him to.

He was taking her to Hogwarts, to Albus Dumbledore!

Thinking she was a squib and therefore no threat to them. Anxious to learn her secrets. Yearning for the love he had never found again in his life.

'Is it possible? Or am I just paranoid? Oh Merlin, what shall I do?'



Lily chose just that particular moment to look back over her shoulder and smile at him reassuringly. He nodded at her and she turned again to watch the forest for any signs of danger. Their little guides had split up. While on was in the air, constantly checking their way for possible threats, the other had made itself comfortable in the dark mare's thick mane, thankfully not setting it on fire. Their flames would only be hot and able to lighten what they touched should the tiny creatures get wet. At least that was what Lily had told him.



Lily.



What should he do about her?

He certainly needed her to get out of this wood alive. And he had no proofs that she was on the dark side. Yet. So he best hid his suspicions from her.

He would try to get some answers from her as soon as they got the opportunity to talk and otherwise keep her at a distance. No need to let himself get hurt like 16 years ago, when Lily Evans had left him to become Lily Potter.

Not ever again.



*************

A/N: Sorry, not as long a chapter as I wanted to write. But I still lack some hours of sleep.

This may look like a filler, but I think it's important to know Severus' trains of thought in order to understand his behavior in the next chapters.



Will he find some answers then? Is Lily a servant of Voldemort? Or even the Dark Lord himself?

I will think about it... *grin*



Thanks for the reviews.

I'll try and read&review some of your stories as soon as possible, but it's a bit difficult since I can either continue to write this story or read others with that crowded schedule of mine... . But I'll manage... somehow. *smile*



Greetings,

Scheckie