Chapter Eleven – Bah Humbug
A/N – Was Voldemort even around when they were at school?
Disclaimer – Don't have a receipt for any of this... I think therefore I don't own any of it.
Lily lay in her bed, staring up at the canopy. It was Saturday morning and yet she couldn't summon up enough enthusiasm to get out of bed. Turning over to look at the red parcel on her bedside table she sighed deeply, remembering her task.
It didn't seem as good an idea in the morning as it had last night when she had sent for it.
Pulling on clothes, Lily dragged a hairbrush through her hair and grabbed the package, running to where the students departing for Christmas were gathered. She quickly picked Severus out in the crowd, slouched up against a wall. Lily hurried over to him, clutching the parcel behind her back.
"Have a good Christmas Severus," Lily said, not waiting for him to respond before shoving the parcel into his arms.
His eyebrow arched in surprise. Taking the parcel hesitantly he looked at it as if it were a bomb ready to go off.
"What's this?" Severus asked.
"A present," said Lily.
"I can see THAT, but why?"
Lily squirmed slightly. She didn't exactly know what had possessed her to buy a present for him.
"Because it's Christmas?" she half-asked.
Severus sighed deeply. He hadn't expected this.
"But I didn't get you anything," he said, slightly embarrassed.
"I know," Lily said simply. "Merry Christmas Severus."
And with that, Lily stood on her tiptoes and kissed Severus on the cheek. Then, turning swiftly on her heel, she strode out of the room.
Needless to say, they were both in a state of shock at Lily's actions.
On the train, Severus unwrapped Lily's present. It was book entitled Ancient Potions: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. He smiled. Lily knew him well.
A sharp tapping from the window of his compartment diverted Severus' attention. He took the letter from the owl at the window and sat back down to read it.
SeverusEverything is prepared for the initiation. Finally you will become what you were born to be.
It wasn't signed, but it didn't need to be. Severus could tell from the bold writing that it was from his father. It was only a short letter, but his father had never been one to elaborate.
The initiation... become what you were born to be...So it was finally going to happen. His Death Eater initiation, and apparently his father thought he was born to be an evil minion.
"It's the beginning of a Magical Revolution. With Lord Voldemort the driving force behind it. And the Snape family will be right there alongside him."
Severus could still remember his father's words the very first time he had talked of Voldemort. And now he was beginning to see the sense in it. Besides, who was he to go against his father's wishes? Severus would become a Death Eater. Nothing to it.
He was shoving the letter in his robe pocket when he caught sight of the book that Lily had given him.
Lily the Mudblood.
Lily his friend.
He would keep the book for now. As to their friendship, it was not looking good.
The days leading up to Christmas passed by in a blur of laughter, food and bright green wrapping paper for Lily. She was excited to see that James had stayed for the holidays and took every opportunity to talk to him. She laughed so much in his presence that talking with other people seemed boring in comparison.
Lily woke up on Christmas morning to find a neat little stack of presents at the base of her bed. After wishing Meg a 'Merry Christmas', she got down to unwrapping presents. She received presents from her family (none from her sister Petunia, but what did she expect?) and from her friends but there was one present that intrigued her. It was from an anonymous sender and when Lily opened it she found a gold necklace inside. It was a long, fine, gold chain with a red and gold lion pendant on the end.
Mesmerised, Lily put it on. She wondered who would send her such a gift. Perhaps that rich kid from Hufflepuff. He seemed the type to throw his money around and he was forever cracking onto girls.
It seemed like the most likely option.
Lily just hoped she would be able to get away date-free without having to give up the necklace.
"You coming down to breakfast, Lily?" Meg asked, already fully dressed.
"I'll meet you down there – I still have to change," said Lily, gesturing towards her pyjamas.
Lily took her time getting dressed, looking at the necklace as often as possible. Then after braiding her hair, Lily walked slowly out of her room. Then, seized by some unknown desire to join Broadway, she started tap dancing down the staircase, finally sliding down the banister and straight into...
"James!" Lily cried out in surprise, looking at the boy sprawled out in front of her.
"I am so sorry! I didn't see you coming!"
James laughed softly, pulling himself off the ground.
"It's ok Lil, I know you don't have a violent bone in your body!"
They stood next to each other in silence until James said softly,
"Look, mistletoe."
Lily turned to look at James, who was looking at her in turn. They drifted slowly towards one another, James leaning down slightly. Their lips were just about to touch when Sirius came bounding down the stairs and pushed them both out of the way. He wore a huge wreath around his neck and seemed oblivious to what had been about to happen.
"We should probably get down to breakfast then," Lily said softly, not looking at James.
He nodded slowly and they walked down to breakfast in silence.
Later that night after dinner as they walked towards Gryffindor Tower, James and Lily were laughing about some private joke he had told. They were so oblivious to their surroundings that it took the Fat Lady 5 minutes to get the password out of them. They continued talking until they reached the bottom of their respective staircases, where they had almost kissed that morning.
"Merry Christmas, James," Lily said, hugging him.
"Merry Christmas Lil," James replied, hugging her back.
He looked up as they broke away.
"Someone moved the mistletoe," he said, failing to hide the disappointment in his voice.
James looked down at Lily's face.
"Screw the mistletoe," he breathed.
And with that, he kissed her soundly on the mouth.
Lily, once she had recovered from her shock, was about to kiss him back when he drew back.
It had only been a short, innocent kiss but Lily could feel tingles throughout her body.
"Night Lily," James said, a stupid grin (and Lily's lipgloss) on his face.
"Night James," she replied, walking up the stairs to her room.
And in the morning, when she woke up, she could scarcely believe it had happened a second time.
A/N – Ok so obviously these last two chapters had to be serious(ish) but I can guarantee that the next chapter will be back to the stupid ranting that I usually come out with!!!