MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
by The Goblet
Chapter 6
"Did you see Regulus or Rabastan at lunch?" Minerva asked her sister, as she magically strung fairy lights around the ballroom.
"I haven't seen them at all. If you hadn't told me that they were in the castle, I would have never known they were even around."
"Count yourself lucky. Regulus always looks sour and unpleasant, the thought of looking at his bitter face puts me off my food," retorted Lily as she helped Severus fill glass globes with Weightlessness Water. The globes would float around the top of the room as decorations, much like Muggle helium balloons.
"He's always been very melancholy," Severus replied, sending another globe to the ceiling.
"I think", continued Lily, waving her wand about, "that the ideal man is one who is halfway between Regulus and James. One is devilishly handsome, but doesn't say a word, and the other is a motor mouth."
"Sounds like you are describing Severus," remarked Arabella.
Lily laughed as Severus' brow furrowed. "Aye, Severus is the perfect man, pity that he bats for the other team," she teased, poking him in the ribs.
"Oh, shut up," he whispered, embarrassed that Lily was talking so candidly about his sexuality.
"If you were to put half James' tongue in Regulus' mouth, and half of Regulus' melancholy in James' face –" continued Minerva.
"With a good head on his shoulders, and a few galleons in Gringotts, then such a man could have any woman he wants, provided that she was amiable," Lily completed.
Minerva chuckled, "Provided that he didn't want you, you mean. You know, Lily, if you don't watch that tongue of yours you will never marry."
"For which I thank Merlin every day," replied Lily. "I have decided that I would not like a husband with a beard on his face."
"Well, get a husband who has no beard," countered Arabella.
"What would I do with him? Dress him up in my clothes and pass him off as my sister? He who can grow a beard is more than a youth, while he who can not is less than a man. He who is more than a youth is not for me, and I am not for those who are less than men."
"Hell's bells," moaned Severus, shaking his head.
"Nope! I will only get to the gates of hell, where the devil will meet me, and say 'Get to heaven, Lily, get to heaven! This is no place for the likes of you.' And I'll head up to heaven, where I will be shown where the bachelors sit, and I'll live – make that die – happily ever after," she grinned.
"Speaking about bachelors," Lily turned to Severus. "I hear Sirius is going to proposition you tonight."
Severus grumbled something under his breath. "You make it sound as though he is going to try to lure me into his bed."
Lily gave him a rather pointed look.
"Well I'd rather dress up in one of your dresses and pretend to be your sister," he retorted.
"You've never met my sister: neck like a stalk, very nosey, very Muggle."
Lily looked over towards Minerva and Arabella, watching as they argued over which form the ice-statue would take this year. She leant over and whispered in his ear. "You wouldn't be saying that if it was Remus who was going to seduce you."
Severus flushed crimson. He had not told Lily about the Fight. Nor that he had ended their relationship.
"I called it off," he whispered, his voice barely loud enough to hear.
"But you love him!" Lily's voice was soft and gentle.
"He doesn't love me."
Severus voice was downcast, almost cracking. Lily could see him struggling not to cry. She had no response. She couldn't refute his statement.
"Oh, Sev," she exclaimed, pulling him into a strong embrace. Lily held the rigid Slytherin tight, comforting him. "It'll be alright. I promise you. It'll be alright."
I'll kill him.
tbc...
Feedback very welcome!
