Disclaimer: How many times do I have to say it isn't mine before they believe me? cheeky wink
A/N: Chapter three is here folks. Tiny spoiler alert For those of you hoping this won't be Lily/Severus..I apologize for the hints of that. Also...my Lily looks like Julianne Moore in Evolution.
Later, when all the gifts had been opened and everyone had left, Harry sat with his mother and Severus looking through the school list. Lily sighed happily. It was moments like this that she felt most content. She smiled brightly as Harry smiled up at her. "Did you hear that mum?" he asked.
"I'm sorry darling, I wasn't listening."
Harry scowled playfully at his mother. "Severus said he would take me to get all my potions things, so that I would have sturdy stuff. That way we wouldn't have to replace the cauldron and things every year. He said it would be a birthday gift."
Lily scowled lightly at Severus. "Harry," she said, "I think it's time you washed your face and got ready for bed."
"Aww mum, do I have to?"
"Yes dear. You've had a long day, and we have to be up early tomorrow. Have you forgotten that football camp starts tomorrow?"
Harry sighed, shaking his head and made his way up the stairs to get ready for bed.
The moment he was out of sight, Lily stood, putting her hands on her hips and levelling Severus with a full out glare. Severus, for his part, tried to look as unaffected as possible which was rather difficult as he was certain that Lily was able to wilt plants with her glare. "Honestly Severus, another present? You already bought him a broom, and that full set of Puddlemere quidditch robes. You're going to set expectations I can't possibly meet."
Severus winced at her tone. Angry, screaming, murderous Lily he could deal with, but icy, disdainful, disappointed Lily was another thing entirely. Severus stood and took Lily's hands in his. "That isn't what I intend to do at all. I love that boy like a son; I just want him to have the very best. It isn't like I don't have money to spare."
Lily sighed "I know that Sev, but I don't."
"Have you given any more thought to Albus's offer?"
Lily sat back down on the couch, giving Severus a moment to sit beside her before continuing. "I'd love to teach Charms Severus, you know that. Lord knows it would probably pay better than secretarial work, but I don't want to crowd Harry. I think it would be uncomfortable for him to go to school and have to see me every day. Children would treat him unfairly if I was there. They would try to use him to sway me into giving good grades, and they'd accuse him of favouritism. I couldn't do that to him."
"I think it would be better for you to be there for him. If you don't want to teach Charms, take the assistant position with Trelawny. Harry won't have that class for three years."
"I don't think that's a good idea Sev."
"Potter is teaching flying with Hooch."
Severus watched Lily's face turn a curious shade of purple before she roared "I am not leaving my son in the hands of that monster! I'll take the position with Sybil."
"I though you might. I'll tell Dumbledore as soon as I get back to Hogwarts."
Severus wrapped his arms around Lily, pulling her into a tight hug. He felt her relax and smiled. He was glad she had decided to come to Hogwarts, but he feared that she might fall for Potter all over again and he would lose any chance he had of making a real family with her and Harry. Stepping back, he smiled sadly at her. "I'll be by on Thursday afternoon to take Harry to Diagon Alley. He hasn't got football camp that day does he?"
Lily shook her head. "I don't work that day, so perhaps I'll come with you and we can get all of his shopping done in one day. I'll owl Sybil and see if there's anything I need to get for class, and find out what kind of things she's got planned for the students."
Severus nodded and walked to the hall closet. He withdrew his coat and put it on. Lily opened the door for him and he stepped out. A few steps down the walk, he turned to her and said "For what it's worth, I'll be glad to have you there." Then he apparated away with a pop.
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