No Good Deed
" Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
He could be that boy
But I'm not that girl."
I'm Not That Girl - Wicked
CHAPTER 6
As Lily's eyes filled with tears, she ran out of the hall up towards the Gryffindor Common room. Gertrude on the other hand went in the opposite direction, out onto the grounds, where it had began raining. The professors stood for a moment stunned, but Dumbledore motioned for the band to start back up. Most of the students went back to dancing, while Severus went after Gertrude.
"Gertie, Gertie, wait!" Severus yelled as he ran after her. She kept running, ignoring him. She was completely embarrassed not only at what she had said, but that Severus was now chasing after her.
Gertie ran until she could not run any further, and she dropped to the ground. Severus caught up to her, and looked down at her.
"Gertie, what just happened?" Severus asked out of breath and somewhat confused.
"I couldn't keep my mouth shut, in case you didn't notice." She said in between sobs.
"Is Lily, is she really a mud... muggleborn?" Severus asked slowly.
"Yes, that was true, but she didn't want anyone to know, and I don't know, I wasn't going to tell anyone, but then when I saw her, what she does to you, what you do to me when your with her. I wanted her to hurt, to really hurt." She said loathingly.
"What do you mean, what I do to you?" Severus asked still confused. Boys are so clueless.
"Never mind." Gertie said as she scratched at her skin. She had always been allergic to water, and she should have known better than to come out when it was raining, but she no longer cared. The rain made her skin burn. Severus watched as she subconsciously rubbed her arms.
"You're hurt." He said similarly to what she had told him when she had rescued him from Potter's gang in his second year.
"It's nothing."
"Here." Severus took off his overcoat and put it around her shoulders. As he did this, his hand brushed her neck. She shuttered at his touch.
"Thanks." She said softly.
"I am a Half blood, just so you know." He said after a few moments of silence.
"I know, it is written all over your Potions book, that stupid nickname you have for yourself, Half Blood Prince." He winced as she said this. She hurt him. 'Good' she thought.
"So am I." Gertie said in return after a few minutes.
"But your parents are both magical." Severus said, knowing who and what the Carrows meant to Wizarding History.
"I am not really my father's daughter." She said quietly. Severus's eyes widened but said nothing. As the two sat together in silence, it seemed that the two understood each other.
ooo
"Miss Carrow!" Professor McGonagall said shrilly. Severus and Gertie jumped. Severus quickly stood, leaving Gertrude on the grass.
"The Headmaster would like to see you in his office, immediately." She said unhappily.
"Yes, Professor." She said. Gertie got up and began to take off Severus's coat.
"Keep it, see you later." He said. Severus would never know but something in side of Gertie changed that night. Because of him, she was stronger.
Gertie made her way past the two Griffins that guarded the Headmaster's office, hoping that he had not called Lily to join them. Much to her relief, Gertie was only subjected to the Headmaster's twinkling eyes.
"Miss Carrow, have a seat please." Albus motioned.
"Yes sir." Gertie sat on the red suede couch that was across from the Headmaster's desk.
"Do you know why you are here Miss Carrow?" Albus asked.
"Yes, it was because I called Miss Evans a mudblood." She stated.
"Well, at least we both agree on that. You must understand that the word "mudblood" is not appropriate here at Hogwarts." Albus said.
"Yes sir." She said hanging her head.
"I thought that you and Miss Evans were friends, what made you act out tonight?" Albus asked.
"I don't know." She lied.
"Miss Carrow, I think that there is a reason you shouted, and it would be best if you discussed it with me." Albus persuaded.
"Well frankly, I don't think that it is any of your business. What would you know about my life!" She said in rebellion. Albus was surprised at her outburst, but could see that the incident in the Great Hall was about something much bigger than a prejudice.
"Miss Carrow, I realize that with your... condition, it does not make adolescence easy, but if you talked about it, maybe you would feel better." Albus offered.
"You think it would make me feel better if I talked about it do you. Well, I am sorry to say but you don't know what it is like to be almost 16 and never had a first kiss, or a boyfriend. You don't know what it is like when everyone else can go out in the rain, while I am forced to stay inside. You don't know what it is like to be hated by your own father! You don't know what it is like having a sister who is tragically disabled, and your father constantly blaming you as the reason! You don't know what it is like being hated because of something you can't help! YOU.. DON'T.. KNOW! AND THER IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT!" She said shouting.
For the first time, Albus was speechless. She was right, he did not know. He sympathized, but did not truly understand what it was like. Then, as hit with an epiphany, Albus did think of someone whom was standing next to Lily who did understand, who knew what it was like to be singled out, to be bullied, to be different. Gertrude didn't want to hurt Lily Evans tonight, but Severus Snape. She was in love with the boy, but he was in love with someone else, who if he knew was a muggleborn may stop caring about and start caring about her.
"You may go, Miss Carrow. Perhaps you should see Madame Pomfrey about those burns." Albus said tiredly. Gertie was surprised that he was letting her go. She had just shouted at the Headmaster, called another student a mudblood, and he was just letting her go? She did not understand.
"Sir. I am sorry." She whispered as she left.
"I am sorry too, Gertrude." Albus sighed as she shut the door behind her.
ooo
Gertie stuffed the toy wand as well as the tiara into her rucksack and followed Severus outside. The pair was covered in ash and soot.
"What if we just walk into Hogwarts?" Gertrude asked, as they stood outside the rubble of her house.
"It could work, but we do not know who is at Hogwarts right now. If Hagrid sees us first, we can't be sure he will take us to Minerva. We also have no idea if Ministry guards or Dementors are stationed at the gate." Severus stated.
"The Ministry can do nothing to stop us. Distitera allows us some freedom." Gertrude said.
"Very well, I suppose if we have no other choice." Severus said conceding. Something about her made him feel safe, when they were together, he did not feel as if he had to act, because she knew him, she knew what had happened.
"What are we going to tell her?" Severus asked.
"I told you, the truth." She said.
"Gertie..." He said cautiously.
"Severus, yes we must." She said looking him in the eye.
As the pair continued to walked the two miles up to the castle, they began talking of the past and of things that they regretted most. Eventually the topic of Harry Potter came up.
"Severus, do you really hate the boy? Albus has told me that you treat him no better than his father treated you." She asked.
"I wouldn't go that far." Severus said.
"Severus, why do you hate the boy, it can't be all about James Potter."
"I don't know why, I just look at him and words come spewing out of his uncultured mouth and I just want to smack him upside the head. He is a 17 year old boy who thinks he knows everything because he is the 'savior' of the wizarding world." Severus said annoyed.
"He has a heavy burden on his shoulders." She replied.
"Yes, well so did we, but you don't see us lashing out and breaking rules and cursing people left and right." Severus said waving his hands around.
"Severus, we are wanted criminals, I don't think either one of us are in a position to judge at the moment." She said cracking a smile.
"Sometimes there are people that we naturally dislike, and Harry Potter will always be one of those people to me." Severus said smirking.
"Very well." Gertie dropped the subject at the two approached the gate. Gertie walked up and placed her wand in the keyhole and began chanting in a sing-song manner, and the gate opened.
"Dumbledore told you the password?" Severus asked.
"Yes, in case the castle was ever taken by force, he thought that perhaps I could bring reinforcements." She said softly.
"Where were you last month?" Severus asked referring to the Death Eater attack.
"I was on assignment." She said simply.
"For who? The Dark Lord or Dumbledore?" Severus asked.
"For myself." She said shortly.
"Fine." Severus conceded.
"Who goes there?" Horace Slughorn asked as he approached the couple. The two continued their stride towards the castle.
"Sir, we need to speak to the Headmistress." Gertie spoke up first.
"Miss Carrow? Snape!" He said surprised.
"You must understand, we must pass." She said as he stood his ground.
"You! You don't deserve to be alive, you scum." He said poking his fat finger in Severus's face.
"I assure you, that I have not been truly alive for quite some time, for I have lost all feeling long ago. You, Horace are a fine one to talk. You would no less use people for your own glory than do anything for anyone else." He replied angered.
"Snape, Carrow, if you wish to speak to me then you must give Horace your wands." Minerva said rushing down the stairs towards them.
"They can't be trusted Minerva, this is not a good idea." Horace grumbled, but was ignored.
"And how can we be sure that we can trust you." Severus growled.
"You, Mister Snape are in no position to be 'asking' for anything." She snapped back.
"Fine, we will leave our wands, on one condition." Gertrude interrupted.
"What?" Minvera said as her eyes narrowed.
"You will agree to listen to us, fully, and without question until we are through?" She said giving Severus a sideward glance.
"If it wasn't for this letter from Dumbledore, I would have sent the Dementors after you, but I suppose I must comply with your request." She said disgusted waving a letter around in her hand.
Severus and Gertrude slowly handed over their wands to their old Potions professor, and were escorted up to the Headmistress's office. Minerva motioned for them to sit, then promptly locked the door.
"Minerva, I do not think that necessary." A portrait which the three recognized as Albus Dumbledore spoke.
"I do not trust them Albus. Albeit you do, I however, still have my doubts." She replied.
"Look, I don't intend to be rude, but can we begin, Severus and I are running out of time, and we need all the aid we can get." She said tersely.
"Very well." Minerva said impatiently.
"I know that you have reservations because of recent events involving Severus and the Headmaster, however before he explains his actions, I believe that is important that we start from the beginning." Gertrude stated and began telling her tale.
A/N: Thank you to my reviewers especially Dave the L's gal. You are correct that one scene was a twist on the letter that they sent to Elphaba in the novel. I have used both aspects of the musical and the book in this story. I hope everyone likes it. I know Severus and others might seem out of "character" but I am molding them to fit into this story, and I think it is interesting to portray Lily as a popular people person, who's caring is mainly because of her own selfish wants and desires. I would really love some more reviews so if you have time, hit the button and send me a note. I may not be great at "setting" the scene but I really think my story very creative. Have a happily ever after day!