Remus sat in his chair at six thirty in the morning, watching Lily pace in front of him. "What am I going to do? What am I going to say?" she kept mumbling. It was two weeks since her return from holidays and she was planning to break up with Lucius.
Remus had broken up with Margo the second full day after holidays after she asked him why he hadn't sent her a Christmas gift. She had run away from him crying, most likely looking for Elle, who was with James at the time. Remus felt bad for making her cry, but he no longer had to feel guilty when kissing Lily.
Remus continued to watch Lily pace and mumble to herself. He couldn't stand to watch he pace anymore. "Lily!" Lily jumped when Remus called her name and looked at him sheepishly. "Relax! Come sit by me. If you keep pacing I'm going to get anxious."
Lily nodded and took her seat on the floor and placed her head on Remus's knee. Remus looked at her as he ran his hand through her hair. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Remus voice a question that had been bothering him. "Lily, why do you always sit on the floor as if you're worth less than I am?"
Lily looked up at him surprised. "This is how the royal couples of old would sit. I find it romantic. Mother use to teach me to be as ladylike as possible and who better to follow then the royal ladies of old?"
Remus laughed softly as he pulled Lily up off the floor and into his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Lily, you are not, and never will be, one of the royal ladies of old. As for acting like them, you act enough like them when you don't have a vengeance to fulfill. Besides, I like you better up hear then on the cold floor."
"Alright."
They fell silent again, enjoying the company of the other. It was approaching seven before the silence was broken again by Remus. "Lils, earlier this year, where did you, James, Rini, and Sirius always sneak off to?"
Lily sat silently for a few moments before speaking. "We were working on something for you."
"Working on something and you didn't tell me?"
"Well, it was something for you. It is something to help you."
"So why didn't you tell me?"
"Because we wanted it to be a surprise and still do!"
Remus fell silent as he thought about what she had just said. "So I got upset over something you were doing for me?" he asked slowly.
"Yes."
Remus couldn't believe how selfish he had been. "Are you still working on it?"
"Well, James, Rini, and Sirius might be. I guess that Peter kid might be, too. I haven't really done anything for the potion since we, well, you know."
Remus nodded. "I'm sorry."
Lily looked at him in surprise. "You don't have to be. I was so secretive about it. If the situation would have been reversed and you had been so secretive about where you was going almost everyday I'd be a bit worried and perhaps jealous myself."
"I wasn't jealous!" Remus said defensively.
"Please, Moony! You were one of the most jealous male beings I ever saw!"
Remus made an indignant noise and turned his nose up to her. Lily laughed at this, which made Remus start laughing. When he calmed down he said, "Alright, maybe I was a little jealous at the thought you were off snogging some other guy."
"A little jealous?"
"Okay, a lot jealous. Look at you, though! You're beautiful and have a personality to die for!" Lily blushed and smiled.
Lily was dreading her walk to first class. Lucius always walked her to it and it was then that Lily was going to break up with him. She was waiting for him in the Entrance Hall. Lucius came up and made to kiss her on the lips but she turned her face aside and he wound up kissing her cheek. Giving her a concerned look he asked, "Is anything wrong?"
Lily nodded. "I don't think we she see each other any more," she said quickly.
Lucius's eyes widened and his mouth became slack from shock. Finally he managed to stutter out, "Why?"
Without looking him in the face she said, "Because I don't think we make a good couple," turned, and ran to her first class. She didn't see tears start to form in Lucius's eyes, nor did she want to.
Everyone in the hall saw this take place and started whispering. They watched as Lucius turn around and head for the Slytherin dungeons. After he had reached the dungeons he went to the fire and threw a powder from a satchel in one of his pockets into the fire and called, "Father!"
His father's face appeared in the fire and looked at his teary eyes. "Lucius, you foolish boy, what has that fiery mudblood done to you?"
"She's broken up with me," he said quietly.
"What!" Mr. Malfoy raged. "Now how are we going to carry out the plan?"
Lucius looked up with hatred and determination in his eyes along side the tears. "Do not worry, Father. He shall have her by the end of the school year."
"He better, Lucius, or it's our necks!" Mr. Malfoy's face disappeared with a whirl of the fire.
Lucius walked out of the Common Room and to Potions, apologizing to Professor Cauldro who took five points from Slytherin for his tardiness.
Lucius told Severus about Lily later that day during lunch. Severus couldn't believe Lily didn't give him an explanation as to why she didn't want to go out with him anymore and decided he would have to find out for himself.
When Lily got to Transfiguration after breaking up with Lucius she was bombarded with questions. All Lily could do was nod or shake her head in answer. She kept wondering why she felt bad for breaking up with Lucius. Perhaps you really liked him said a voice in her head. Lily pushed that thought aside immediately and paid attention to what McGonnagal was saying and took her notes.
When lunchtime came Rini took Lily aside and to the Common Room. As soon as they had reached their dorm Rini asked, "So you broke up with him for good?"
Lily nodded. "Yeah, I broke up with him for good." She looked up at Rini with a sad expression. "He looked shocked and sad when I told him I didn't want to see him anymore."
Rini snickered. "He probably wasn't expecting you to break up with him. He probably expected to be the dumper not the dumpee. That's why he looked shocked."
Lily shook her head. "He looked an upset kind of shock. Plus, I think I saw tears forming in his eyes before I ran away to class."
"You imagined it, Lils. Why would he be upset over you breaking up with him? He couldn't possibly really like you!"
"Serena! When that Slytherin beater shot that bludger at me and nearly knocked me off my broom he berated the beater for shooting it at me! When I got ill over Halloween and I found out that my mother had died he comforted me! He can't be all bad, can he?"
"Lillian, he's a Slytherin. How much worse can you get? Just forget about it and come down to lunch, okay?"
"All right. And don't call me Lillian." Rini laughed as she grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her down to the Great Hall.
Just as they were about to enter a voice called Lily's name. Turning around they saw Severus walking towards them. "What do you want, Snape?" Rini spat.
Severus looked down at her. "I want to talk to Lily. Is there a problem with that?"
"Yeah, considering she and—" Rini never got the chance to finish.
"Serena Emrys Avalon! I can take care of myself! Go in and have lunch while I talk to Sev." Rini looked at Lily in horror. She had just used a nickname for Snape! "Go!"
Rini backed away in confusion as Lily and Severus walked towards the door of the castle. Severus made to put his hand on her back but Lily, Rini noted with satisfaction, snapped at him to keep his hands off of her person.
Lily and Severus walked to the lake in silence. Lily got the impression this would make Severus more comfortable. She sat on a rock near the lake and looked up at him expectantly. Lily heard him mutter, "I can't believe I'm doing this," as he sat down on another rock.
Severus looked up at Lily and sighed. "Why did you break up with Lucius?"
Lily had expected this question and turned her face away from him. She had never been good with telling half-truths and lies while looking someone in the face. "He and I just aren't right together," she murmured.
"Like hell you aren't! Do you know you actually caused tears to form in Lucius's eyes? His eyes were bloodshot when he came to class!"
Lily put her head in her hands. "I thought I had seen tears." She picked up her head and looked Severus in the eyes. "Sev, I don't like him that way. No matter how hard he tries to be gentle he's always rough. His kisses are bruising. I never meant for us to get this far!"
Severus eyed her carefully. "What do you mean you never meant you the two of you to get this far?"
Lily was slightly crying, which started to unnerve Severus. "I only wanted to make Remus jealous. To show him that a boyfriend doesn't have to know where their girlfriend is all hours of the day, every day of the week. In fact, if it hadn't been for spending time with you and Lucius I would still think all Slytherins were heartless. Then Remus found out about why I had originally gone to the Halloween Ball with Lucius and he decided to get himself a bimbo to play with. I saw them kiss and that's what was the last straw for my reserve."
"What do you mean?"
Lily chuckled unkindly. "Didn't you know that I refused to let Lucius snog me? That is, until I saw Remus snogging that Ravenclaw. Remus knew I hadn't let Lucius snog me either so I set it up where he would see Lucius snogging me. Only, it wasn't as nice as I experienced with Remus. It wasn't gentle. I told him this and he said he'd work on making it more gentle, but he didn't. It only got rougher and more forceful, as if I was a drug he craved. It scared me."
Severus looked at the Gryffindor in front of him. She didn't like the actions she had made, he could tell this. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked uncomfortably.
Lily sniffed and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "James, Remus, Rini, and Sirius would never believe a word of Lucius truly liking me. The moment they found out he had asked me to the ball they thought he was up to something. He was so sweet to me. He even made an effort to like my friends, as I did his. Sev, you're the only one who would believe me! I would still like to be friends with Lucius, I just don't want to date him anymore. Please, Sev, don't tell him what I've told you. It started as revenge, but grew to something greater. A connection between two rival Houses. Disputes between us lessened because they knew what we could do."
Severus's head was in a battle. Do the honorable thing and keep Lily's confession a secret to carry to the grave or be a Slytherin and promise not to tell and then tell Lucius later. Seeing the pleading Gryffindor made his honorable side take control. "I promise, Lily. I won't tell a soul, my word as a gentleman."
Lily gave a small smile. "Thanks, Sev."
Severus gave Lily's hand a gentle squeeze as she got up and headed back to the castle for lunch. When Lucius asked where he had been he would say he had talked to Lily. If he asked what she say about the break up he'd say that she likes him as a friend, but is afraid it's nothing more.
Lily, Remus, and James were all in the Common Room working on homework. To be more precise, Lily and Remus were trying to get their homework done while James tried to coax them into playing a prank on the Slytherins.
James stood behind Lily and was messaging her shoulders, trying to make her say yes. "Come on, Lily! The Marauders haven't done anything together in ages!"
Without looking up from her work Lily answered, "First of all, I have homework, and so do you. Secondly, I am not a Marauder. Lastly, if you want the Marauders to pull a prank then why aren't you bugging Sirius?"
"He's being all cuddly with Rini," James replied with disgust.
Lily and Remus shared a look and then shook their heads. "James," Remus tried, "you really should be working on your homework like Lils and me. It might actually improve your grades."
"I don't want to do homework! I want to have fun with my friends! Besides, I can do all that before I go to bed."
Lily finally moved James's hands from her shoulders after he had been massaging them for nearly five minutes and turned toward him. "James, as much as I enjoy the message, I have work to do, as do you. So, the way I see it, you can either sit your bum down on that chair there and get your work done with Remus and me here to help you if you need it or go try to pull a prank on your own. Either way, it matters less to us as long as you quite pestering us to play some spur-of-the-moment prank." James sat down grumpily and did his homework in defeat.
It was now almost March and Lily and Remus had announced they were back together at the beginning of February. James was still keeping a close eye on Lily to make sure Lucius or any other Slytherin didn't try anything with her. He knew she could handle herself but he also knew that the Slytherins had corrupted minds. The first time James had seen Severus approach Lily he had immediately been put on defensive, but Lily had laid a gentle hand on his arm and told him through her eyes that it was alright. He was skeptical, but lowered his hackles and backed a few steps away.
Remus had made an effort to become more relaxed about whom Lily was with and where she was. He was not happy that she had befriended Severus, but said nothing lest she felt overcrowded again. He had asked Rini when that had happened and she just shrugged and said she wasn't sure.
Lily began working on the animagi potion again. She was very unhappy that the first meeting she went back she had to see Peter Pettigrew. It seemed to Lily that he was clingy, and was clinging to James and Sirius because of their popularity and not for their friendship. She thought it better to not say a word, though, and just set to the task at hand. There were still many ingredients she needed to get and some that she would have to ask Professor Cauldro for.
Rini and Sirius had become the couple best known at Hogwarts besides Lily and Remus. Sirius would make a big display over the littlest thing and them Rini would playfully hit him. Sirius would pretend to be hurt and then demand a kiss to make it all better, which Rini would give only on the cheek.
Lily was walking down the hall with Remus to her special class with Synthia. Lily was glad Professor Cauldro had decided to give her these classes last year. Without her help Lily would probably still be uncontrollable with her powers. They reached the dungeon where Potions was held and Remus gave her a kiss before leaving. Lily walked into the dungeon with a smile.
Professor Cauldro was sitting behind her desk looking over some essays that had been handed in by some fifth years. "Synthia?" Lily called.
The professor looked up, blowing a stray strand of hair away from her face, and smile. "Hello, Lily. I guess I forgot about our practice today. I've been a bit caught up with all these papers and essays to grade."
Lily laughed lightly. "It's okay, Synthia. We all get busy sometime and forget things. Should I leave and let you finish or should I stay?"
"Stay!" Professor Cauldro nearly shouted. She chuckled. "That is, I need a break from these papers. I'm glad we have a lesson today."
Lily sat down at the front desk. "So what are we doing today?"
Her professor put down her quill and took her glasses off, making her eyes move visible. "I think today we shall see how you are coming on controlling your powers. After all, that is one of the most important things, you controlling your powers. So, how about we see what you have accomplished over the summer and over the past year and a half that you've had these powers."
"Sounds good to me," Lily said as she stood up. She rubbed her hands together and then slowly brought them apart. An electric blue energy orb formed. Professor Cauldro could see the energy moving through the orb and was pleased. She knew how to do that. Then Lily put her hands back together and the energy went back into her. What remained of the energy was a small, blue orb the size of a marble in the palm of Lily's hand. "Do you have a plate anywhere, Professor?"
Professor Cauldro conjured a porcelain plate on the desk. Lily then let the marble sized energy ball fall on the plate. The plate broke into five different sized pieces. "Impressive," the professor commented.
Lily smiled. Then she moved closer to a window. Thinking about Remus kissing Margo still upset her greatly so she thought about it and then released the energy into the sky. Professor Cauldro watched in awe as storm clouds gathered overhead and it began to rain. Then Lily thought about being with Remus and the energy in that was let into the sky made the rain clouds disappear and the sun to shine.
Lily turned back to her professor who was looking from Lily to the sky and then back to Lily. "That was unbelievable!"
"I'm doing well, then?" Lily asked cautiously.
Professor Cauldro pulled Lily into a motherly hug. "You are doing more then well, my dear. You are doing spectacular! I never would have imagined that you would be able to do that in such a short amount of time!"
"I think I've also learned how to block attacks, too."
"I think we shall try it, then." Professor Cauldro stepped back from Lily and stood in the aisle right in front of the door. Lily stood on the other side of the aisle, in font of the teacher's desk. "Now, remember, Lily. I already know how to attack and to block and absorb attacks, so don't worry about hurting me." Lily nodded.
Lily started slowly. She made an energy ball threw it at Professor Cauldro. She watched as the professor made an 'X' with her forearms and a white barrier formed in front of them. Then the energy orb hit the barrier and went to the floor. Lily was watching the professor's moves carefully.
The Professor Cauldro formed an energy ball in one hand and threw it at Lily. Lily thought to mimic Professor Cauldro's earlier block, but then changed her mind. Instead she spun around twice, forming a light red shield completely surrounding her. Lily felt the impact of the energy orb and smiled.
"Impressive." Another energy orb hit Lily's shield and bounced off it again before Lily took the shield off.
Lily formed another energy orb and threw it as hard and fast as she could at her Potions Mistress. Professor Cauldro caught the orb and threw it back at Lily as she put her shields up again. Lily caught the orb, swung around, and forced the orb back the Professor Cauldro with an even greater force. The orb shattered the shields and Professor Cauldro was thrown against the door before falling to the ground.
Lily ran to Professor Cauldro as she pushed herself off the ground and stood. "Synthia, are you all right?"
Professor Cauldro smiled. "I'm quite fine, Lily. I must say I am very pleased and impressed with your abilities. I myself was never able to accomplish such things only a year and a half after discovering them. I congratulate you."
Lily blushed. "Thank you, Synthia. Are you sure you are all right?"
"I'm positive. Now, why don't you go and enjoy yourself. Perhaps we should meet less often."
Lily looked at her surprised. "If you think I don't need as many lessons, Synthia, I would greatly appreciate it."
"Then we shall meet once a month, instead of once every other week. Good day, Lily." Professor Cauldro walked back to her desk smiling as she went back to grading papers.
Lily walked out of the dungeon and back up to the Common Room. James was sitting in a chair by the fire, Sirius and Rini were cuddling on a couch, and Remus was no where in sight. She walked over to James and sat on the floor in front of him, placing her head on his knee. He jumped, startled out of his sleep.
Lily looked at him and laughed. "Rise and shine, sleepy head."
James yawned and stretched. "No thanks. I'd rather not." Lily laughed again and laid her head back onto his knee. "Why are you up here from your lessons with Cauldro so early?"
"I overdid myself during our lesson today and she thought that I didn't need as many lessons and said I could leave early."
"That's great, Lils!" James ran his hand through her hair, surprised at the softness of it.
"James, where's Remus?"
"Oh, he's ill, remember?"
Lily sat up abruptly. "I can't believe I forgot! Oh my goodness, he isn't upset that I didn't say goodbye to him, is he?"
James chuckled. "Relax, he's not upset. He understands that he's not the most important thing at times. Don't worry, okay?"
Lily took a deep breath and yawned. "I guess I'm a bit more tired than I thought," she said while laughing.
"Then go to bed. You have been studying too much."
"The fire is so warm, though, and I'm content right here."
Lily and James talked for an hour. James was in the middle of a speech about Quidditch when he realized that Lily was asleep. Smiling, James called Sirius away from Rini to help carry her up to her bed. Sirius left as soon as he and James had set Lily down. James pulled the covers over her before whispering good night in her ear.
Lily, who spoke from a dream state, answered James. "Good night, James. Love you."
James smiled once more before bending down and kissing Lily on her forehead. "Love you, too."
Lily was still friends with Lucius, as well Severus. Lucius had trouble talking to her, but hid it to the best of his abilities. Severus and Lily grew closer as the year drew closer to an end. People were surprised to see Lily and Severus talking civilly to each other.
Remus was uncomfortable with Lily talking to Lucius, but understood that she wouldn't stop talking to him for no reason except he was uncomfortable. He knew that if ever intended to keep Lily as his girlfriend that he'd need to trust her with whoever she wanted to be her friend.
There was only two months left of school when Lucius found himself once again alone in his Common Room, talking to his father via the fireplace. "There are only two months left of school, Lucius," Mr. Malfoy hissed at his son. "I thought you said that you'd deliver the mud blood by the end of this school year!"
Lucius managed to keep his face calm. "I'm almost ready to complete my plan. She and Severus are friends. With the polyjuice potion you sent me and one of his hairs she'll never suspect me of betraying her. She'll think it was him."
"Lucius, you are a Malfoy." Mr. Malfoy had a hint of pride in his voice. "You better hope this works or it will be your neck as well as mine, boy." With that, Mr. Malfoy's head disappeared from the fire.
Lucius scowled. He couldn't believe he was going to do this to his friend and to a girl he really cared for. Lucius stopped suddenly at the thought. Did he really care for Lily? Lucius scowled even further. He had let Lily get to him and he knew he shouldn't have. He had a job to do with her and his emotions couldn't get in the way.
Lucius went up to his dorm room and pulled out a padded wooden box from his trunk. Inside, laying on the soft forest green velvet, was the vile of polyjuice potion that he was planning to take with Severus's hair in it. He would get the hair tonight and then do what he had to do tomorrow night, Friday night.
Severus knew Lucius was up to something. He knew what Lucius was suppose to do with Lily when they had been going out, but now that they weren't Lucius would have to play from a different angle to get to her. The only way he could think of getting to her was through her friends.
So it was Thursday night. Lucius waited till it was one in the morning before sneaking out of his dorm and down to the third year boys' dorm. The door creaked as he opened it, but a quick look around told him that everyone was still asleep. He tiptoed over to Severus's bed, and taking out a small dagger, cut a strand of his hair.
Severus opened his eyes as he heard the door creak open. He saw Lucius creep in through barely opened eyes and saw him walk over to his bed. Making sure Lucius couldn't tell he was awake, he saw Lucius take a dagger and felt him cut his hair.
Severus was hit by realization as he watched Lucius creep out of the room with a sneer on his face. He had seen the potion in Malfoy's padded box and knew it was polyjuice potion. Now he knew what Lucius's plan was. He was planning to transform himself into Severus's likeness and capture Lily by posing as him. He had to find a way to warn Lily before Lucius had his chance to carry out his plan.
On Friday morning Lily received a note. She read the note and then reread it to make sure it said what she thought it said.
Dear Lily,
I know this may sound weird, but I would like you to meet me by the lake this evening at 8:00. I would appreciate it if you came alone, for it is a matter of great personal importance.
Your friend,
Severus
Lily frowned. Why would Severus want to talk to her about something of personal importance? Lily shrugged as she put the letter into her pocket and finished breakfast.
Severus didn't get a chance to talk to Lily all day as every time he saw he she was surrounded by her Gryffindor friends. He cursed as he watched her walk out of the Great Hall after dinner, knowing that his hopes of warning her were all but hopeless now.
Lily sat in the Common Room a 7:30, rereading the note she had received from Severus that morning. What could he possibly have to tell her? Not to mention why tell her. Why was it so important she knew?
Lily continued to think about it for fifteen minutes before grabbing her cloak and walking out of the Common Room and out of the castle to the lake.
Lucius was at the lakeside fifteen minutes early. He had already added Severus's hair to the vial of polyjuice potion. Glancing at his watch one more time, he drank the potion. The effects made him double over in pain, but by the time the pain had worn off he knew he had assumed Severus's form. A quick look in the lake assured him of this. He looked at his watch again. There were twelve minutes till Lily arrived and then forty-eight minutes to get her to Hogsmeade where his father was waiting for them.
Severus had seen Lucius leave the Common Room and followed him. He saw him leave the castle and go to the lake, he assumed where Lucius was to meet Lily while in Severus's form. He decided he would search the castle for any trace of Lily, his last attempt to warn her from any trouble that Lucius had planned.
Lily walked outside the castle and glanced at her watch. It was nearly eight. Walking as quickly as she could, she threw her cloak over her shoulders.
Lily smiled as she saw Severus pacing the lakeside. She was surprised at how much of a friend he could be. She saw Severus stop pacing as he spotted her. "Hello, Severus."
Severus nodded. "Hello, Lily. You look as lovely as ever."
"Um…thank you," a surprised Lily answered. "What did you have to tell me?"
Lucius couldn't have been happier that Lily was playing so easily into his plan. Now he just had to act like Severus would and nothing could go wrong. "I…I wanted to tell you…that I like you…a lot."
Lily looked at Severus sadly. "Oh, Severus, really, you can't be serious!" Lily looked into Severus's eyes. "You are serious, aren't you," she said slowly.
Lily watched as Severus nodded. "I want you, Lily. I want you to be mine." Lily could only stand still as Severus swooped down on her and caught her mouth in a kiss.
Coming to her senses, Lily pushed Severus away. "Severus, you're just a friend. I could never be with you, especially when I'm with Remus."
This only seemed to make Severus angry. Grabbing her arm he growled, "Do you think I care about what you have with Lupin? I could care less! What I care about is you coming and being with me. What I care about is you coming with me to meet my master!" He swooped down again and kissed her.
Lily didn't want to hurt him, so she only used a small amount of energy to throw him off her. "I will never go and be with you, Severus!" she screamed. "Nor will I go with you to meet this master!" She turned and started to run back to the castle when he grabbed her arm and turned her to face him.
Severus looked at his watch. It was nearly 8:45. He was passing a window on the first floor, not quite sure what he was going to do when he saw two figures out by the lake. It didn't look like a happy exchange. He remembered seeing Lucius go down to the lake when he had followed him. He realized the other person down there must be Lily. Cursing at himself, Severus ran to the front door and out into the night air, calling Lily's name.
Lily had just hit Severus with another blast, stronger than the last one, in hopes to stop him, but still not wanting to hurt him. Severus had almost gotten her to the gates of the school grounds in the midst of trying to assault her. She heard her name being called from behind her and turned, only to see Severus running down from the castle. Her mind started going into overdrive. 'Wait a minute! That can't be Severus! He's right in front of me, trying to take me away. What in the world is going on?' She heard him saying something about an imposter. Turning back around, she saw the first Severus standing up with rage in his eyes.
Lucius expected her to try and run towards the castle again. He tried to grab her arm again, but missed as she had run to the side of the grounds, not towards the castle. Cursing, he ran after her, once again grabbing her arm and pulling her towards him. "You will come with me to meet my master if it's the last thing I do, Lily!" he growled. He forcefully pulled her to him again and kissed her, pulling her towards the gates at the same time.
Lily frantically tried to think of what her father had taught her on how to escape a male attacker. Finally, it came to her and she kneed the first Severus in the groin. He let go of her, growling in pain.
Lily took this chance to run to towards the castle again. On her way she ran into the second Severus. He, too, grabbed her arms, but it was in a softer and more concerned manor. "Lily, it's me, Severus. Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you. Look! Look at him!"
Severus turned Lily around and she saw the figure on the ground start to change as he stood up. His hair became longer and platinum blonde. He also grew a few inches taller. Then his muscles became more full. Lily gasped and went weak, supported only by Severus's grasp on her arms. "Lucius!"
"That's right," she heard Severus mutter into her ear. "Come on! We need to get away from him before he tries to kidnap you again, or worse."
Severus started to pull her along when he felt Lily stand still. He watched as Lily went down on one knee with her hands to the earth. A few seconds later a green light surrounded them. Severus tried to move Lily from her spot on the ground but it was almost as if her feet and hands were buried in the ground.
Lily kept her eyes closed, still seeing Lucius in her mind's eye, keeping her concentration on drawing energy from the earth to protect Severus and her. Lucius tried to get past the barrier but was thrown back immediately as he touched it. Knowing Lily, he knew he wouldn't be able to get past the barrier to her, and that his plan had failed. He ran into the castle and to the Slytherin Common Room before a teacher came and saw him.
Severus was still trying to get Lily to break the barrier and to come back into the castle. He couldn't get Lily to budge. He didn't know how long it was, but finally there were voices coming from the direction of the castle. Severus heard bits of the conversation.
"Why are they out here?"
"I don't know…must have agreed to meet…"
"Yes, but why? What could be so important…"
Severus turned and saw Professor Dumbledore and Professor Cauldro standing beside the barrier and looked past it. Cauldro placed her hand up to the barrier and closed her eyes. She removed her hand, opening her eyes, and said, "She's using energy from the earth itself to protect them. She's stronger than I thought, even from our last lesson!"
"Do you know how to break the barrier, as neither she or Severus appear to be able to?" Dumbledore asked worriedly.
"Yes, fortunately I do." Severus watched Professor Cauldro place her hand against the barrier again. The green barrier appeared to be absorbed into her hand till it was gone.
Lily fell onto her side, no longer being held in place by the force of the magic. Cauldro rushed to her side. Checking to make sure Lily's vitals were okay, she looked at Severus. "Mr. Snape, I ask your assistance to carry her to the infirmary. As she was protecting you from something I suggest you do it." It appeared that Dumbledore and Cauldro were so worried they didn't even think to conjure a stretcher to carry her so Severus nodded and, picking Lily up, he followed the Headmaster and Potions Mistress to the hospital wing.
