A/N: This chapter is taken off of JKR's chapter of Snape's Worst Memory in OotP. I did not use the book to write it though, just my memory of when I read it over a year ago. Please read and review!
Chapter Five: The O.W.L.s
Lily had just finished writing the last answer to the DADA written portion of the O.W.L.s. All the fifth years had been extremely busy that week, and she was glad to finally have it over with as this was the last one. The week had been hell, and she actually felt like
she had been breathing, eating, and sleeping all that she had learned in the last five years of her life.
...and with those distinct characteristics can one tell the difference between a werewolf and a wolf.
There. She was finished. She set down her quill and glanced at the clock in the Great Hall, which had been transformed into their test-taking area. Two minutes to spare. She breathed a soft sigh of relief as she began to realize that she had managed to survive the hardest exams she had ever had in her entire life. With those two remaining minutes, she looked over her exam, making sure she hadn't left out anything important.
"Time's up! Put your quills down and turn your exams over to be collected."
Lily glanced around, noticing the rest of the people around her. Her eyes rested on Severus. He was bent over where his nose almost touched the parchment in front of him. He was rapidly scribbling down a last couple of words before receiving a stern look from Flitwick. He then placed his quill down almost reluctantly and turned the parchment over. She wanted to talk to him as she had been unable to do so since they had that brief kiss. The O.W.L.s had kept them both too busy, and she had only seen him in passing and now during the exams. Her attention then was turned away when she heard laughter as Flitwick had fallen over while collecting the papers. She smiled sympathetically in Flitwick's direction and stood up to go and see if she could talk to Severus, but he was already gone. Sighing, she decided to go and search for him.
Severus had left as soon as he put down his quill. He needed to get out of there for a while and try not to think about which questions he was worried he hadn't written enough on. He just had to get O's in everything. His father insisted that he did. He passed by Potter, Lupin, Black, and Pettigrew. He caught hints of their conversation, but he didn't think too much about it, especially since he didn't want them to notice and bother him. He stayed close to the side of the stone wall as he walked by a group of girls chatting about the exam.
He was developing a slight headache from the stress of the exams, so he went outside, taking a deep breath. He walked over and sat down under a tree by the lake. He was slightly out of the way as a few other fifth years were coming outside as well. He began reading a book, trying desperately to relax. He didn't get much rest before his book suddenly flew out of his hand into Black's.
Sirius flipped through the book. "We just finished exams and you want to read, Snivellus. Tsk. Tsk." He tossed the book aside and pointed his wand toward Snape.
James, too, had his wand pointed at Snape as he used his other hand to ruffle up his hair a bit more. He had a very arrogant grin on his face as he was already planning what to do. He saw Snape moving for his wand. "Impedimenta!"
Severus' movements slowed down as he wasn't quick enough to get his wand out and perform a hex on the two of them.
"Expelliarmus!" Sirius called, causing Severus' wand to fall a few feet away from him. He smirked. "I think we should have some fun with you, Snivellus."
Severus was so furious that he felt like his head would explode in anger. "You will pay for this, Potter," he hissed as he moved slowly to get his wand.
James smirked casually. "Mobilicorpus!" he called out, causing Snape to hover in the air as if he was a puppet being held by strings. He laughed and began to raise him higher in the air. "What are you going to do now, Snivellus?" he taunted, knowing that Snape couldn't do a damn thing.
"PUT HIM DOWN, POTTER!" Lily ordered sharply. She had gone outside to look for Severus and then had seen him up in the air. She knew immediately who was doing this to him, and she wanted it to stop. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Her green eyes were blazing furiously.
James didn't move to do as Lily said. He looked at her. "I'll put him down if you go out with me."
She stared back in complete disgust. I wouldn't go out with you if you were the last people alive, James Potter! Now put him down! He hasn't done anything to you."
Sirius laughed. "He was born. Doesn't that count, Evans?"
James laughed hard, almost snorting at Sirius' comment. "That is correct, Padfoot." He then looked at Lily. "But, if you want me to put him down, I will. Relashio!" he said, releasing Snape from the spell and causing him to fall back to the ground. He then looked at Lily. "I let him go. So, will you go out with me, Evans?"
Lily was still furious as her eyes narrowed at James. "I already told you my answer, Potter. You are just a bloody arrogant git. I can't stand you." She saw Severus moving towards his wand, and she almost smirked. "After all, Severus is so much better than you, Potter."
James caught sight of a slight movement out of the corner of his eyes. He couldn't react quickly enough as Snape had pointed his wand at him and cast a spell. He flinched as he felt his cheek cut and saw the blood splattered on his clothes. His own anger rose then as he cast a spell. "Mobilicorpus!" He used the spell and turned Snape completely upside down, causing him to lose his wand and reveal his gray underwear. "That was a mistake, Snivellus, and Evans is not going to help you down from this one."
Severus was furious. He was not only embarrassed, but it was even worse to seem like he couldn't take care of himself. "I don't need any help from a Mudblood!"
Lily's eyes widened when she heard Severus say that. She never expected it from him. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. "Fine. You can hang there for all I care." She turned to leave, not wanting him to see the tears that were close to forming in her eyes. She then paused though and looked at him. "And you might want to wash your underwear, Snivellus."
James was angry. "Don't call her that, Snape. Apologize to her!" He looked very ready to go over there and beat Snape up.
"Don't bother, Potter. You are just as bad as he is," she stated coldly.
"But...I...I am not! I would never call you that name," he stuttered as he looked at her.
She rolled her eyes and left quickly. She didn't even bother to look back. Sirius wanted to know if he could do something else to Severus, but she didn't quite catch what he said. She was still shocked and hurt that he had called her a Mudblood. She ran up into the castle and to the bathroom, closing one of the stalls behind her as she began to
cry. She had really liked him, and then he had to go and call her that horrible name. She would just ignore him from now on. He was a Slytherin and he probably thought she was a Mudblood all along. He was probably just using her to get a good grade on his Charms exam.
"Damn him," she muttered in her frustration as she hit the side of the stall and sobbed.
Severus knew what Sirius was going to do next, and he fought to release the spell. James had lost his interest and finally let him down before going on to his adoring fans who had cheered for what he was doing
to Severus. Severus quickly grabbed his wand and book and went off. He had never felt so pissed off and embarrassed in his life. He would make James Potter and his friends pay for what they had done to him. Then there was Lily. She had called him Snivellus. She didn't have to do that. It was even more embarrassing that she had come to his rescue like that. Bloody Gryffindors! He would just forget her. She was nothing to him anyways. Nothing!
A/N: Please review! They are greatly appreciated!
