"Damn it Anthony," Lily Evans slowly sat up, rubbing her burning lower back and glared at the bored face hovering before the counter. Cheeks flushing slightly, she crouched and picked the scattered herbs, carefully placing her gaze at the floor as she hear the stifled giggles and low murmurs, a dawning that her fall had not gone unnoticed.
"I did warn you," gray-eyed, brown-haired Anthony Wilder, a very close friend of hers, pointed out coolly with the same detached expression. She sighed and stood up, glancing at the door behind her. "If you have stop criticizing like I asked you, I wouldn't have cursed you."
"You're lucky that Master Mans is still busy with his potion," She placed the wooden dish to its proper place. "Look," holding his gaze, "I'm not trying to pick a fight. I'm just implying the possibilities on why Megan Curtin would want to go out with you."
"What," he looked at her with hurt, incredulous eyes, "Are you telling me that I'm beneath her? I'm not in her league?", he jammed a fist on the counter, his voice becoming louder and louder. "Don't you think she liked me because of me? Can't you at least give me credit for getting the attention of the most beautiful, charming and bright student in Hogwarts?" She shifted her gaze back at him after assuring the startled customers who was now looking at the scandalizing person before her.
"Would you mind keeping a rein on your temper? You're going to get me fired of this job."
"You always criticize the girls who I'm currently with. You don't care about my happiness, my circumstances. I'm happy with her. Be glad for me. I don't want to think your jealous about my relationship. I refuse to believe it!"
"Refuse, because. I. am. not."
"Then why can't you just say, 'I'm happy for you?' or better else, 'When can I meet her?' You just don't give a damn about me at all!"
She frowned at him, leaning forward. "You know better than that," She whispered furiously, aware that the owner of the apothecary was soon to be out of his private laboratory. A stern faced customer was looking at them distastefully. "We'll talk about this later, alright?" She looked at his still violent face.
"Whatever," yanking his muggle cap on his head and strode outside.
She had searched the whole Withersmode Town but Anthony had already gone home. She sat down on a bench, stretching her back, eight hours on the dark and gloomy expanse of the potion shop, was boring after all; just like Anthony had insisted. She had thought that it would give her ideas, tips and techniques about potion-making or extra information about dragon hides, skewts dung or unicorn hair, for future references but apparently not. The Potions Master who was operating the business was a very secretive and suspicious person. He should have known better of suspecting me a spy for other Potions Masters and if ever I were, I would not be stepping foot on his cold stall. He was not that brilliant, Lily thought, frustrated.
She stared blankly at the setting sun. Potions Masters. The last letter she had from him was three months ago. Severus must be very busy, as he had mentioned the many projects he was about to partake. How fortunate of him to be able to pursue his chosen career. She looked at her hands, stared bleakly at the many scars it had attained over the years. 3 years or so months. With the still unsuppressed uprisings of Voldemort, of dark eaters and of still many vampire alliances, her life was becoming busier and demanding. She wanted to be a mediwitch, to heal, to restore. But fate had given her a different path, She had to scar, She had to destroy. Slayer was what she was. No more specifications, as a year before the anointing had revealed to her. The aurors were sparse, werewolves, dementors, giants and so on, on the same league with Voldemort. Every person who was capable, who was brave enough, had to help, had to do what he could. or she could but fortunately, her 'assignments' were usually vampire cases.
She contemplated on treating herself a big bowl of chocolate ice cream, watching the play-like interaction of the witches and wizards of this time. The ice cream parlor was 5 blocks away, and with its reputation, the 10 minutes walk would be nothing. She got up, walked and turned a corner, amused a bit by the relaxed and calm atmosphere of this town. Not suprising, really. With the many aurors and mediwitches in attendance here, all residents and outsiders here could hold a party with no thought about danger whatsoever. It was told that the first gathering of the first coven, erected for the protection of the wizard world, was held here. The aurors and mediwitches must be either consciously or unconsciously preserving the tradition.
The ice cream parlor was not crowded, a couple snuggling by the corner, a trio of aurors, judging by their strong, lean built and sharp, alert eyes, was the only customers for now. After ordering her minty double chocolate sundae, complete with nuts and a cherry, she ventured to the most private seat, the one behind a wooden wall, a seat reserved for those in badly need of seclusion. However...
How utterly wrong-timed! When just as she needed the relaxation, the peace, the momentary illusion of tranquility, they showed up! However coincidental their meeting was, it was still very much provoking...at least they did not notice her, a much needed bright side in this present crisis. By the time her sundae arrived, her anger had reduced itself to acceptance. There was nothing she could do about the situation; this was after all a public place. So then, she was able to relish the cold, sweet, creamy ice cream without much consternation although she did keep wary and alert.
She pursed her lips, her gaze boring at the wooden table, reminiscing. Their presence had opened a rabid bear, however old, had not yet given up. A beast, somehow slightly docile through time, but not entirely, and by the sight of them it had risen, alert and waiting, for any attacks, ready, without any vulnerability. Past offenses still had not been forgotten, bruises, wounds reopened, but contained.
James Potter, with his easy smile, and charming wit, she could see through those warm hazel eyes. There lay a monster, contained and under control, but cold cruelty could easily escape, seeping through the small openings of its cell, and only some picked companions could prevent him from unleashing his inner demon. With his pureblood ancestry and family galleons, he was a born wizard-aristocrat, arrogant and imperious; demanding attention, service and submission. And in the many years that he ruled, she was one of the few who dared question his attitude, his principles, his code, his very self. And she paid dearly for it.
He was the one who made her reveal all my secrets. He, the almighty Potter, had made her make a complete fool of myself. The mastermind, the ingenious one who had produced the idea of coercing her into drinking the veritaserum. If his goal was to ruin her Hogwarts' life, he had succeeded very much. Her silent opinions, her restrained criticisms, her inner being, revealed to the whole school population. Her whole life revealed and exposed. Sneers and murmurs met her forced confession. Her friends then left her in fear of the probability of their groups' next target. They also left due to embarrassment... But, she supposed, smiling ruefully, jamming a mouthful of cold ice cream into my mouth, it was all for the best. The job she had acquired on that same day did not actually leave any room for socializing and friendship. It would be dangerous for them to be with friends with her again, if ever...
She scanned the parlor and saw an owl tapping through the parlor's clean, transparent windows, eyeing her.
A letter from Severus Snape! the greasy, arrogant asshole, she thought affectionately.
Evans, it said, (Old habits die hard) she grinned.
The reason I'm still writing to you is still beyond me. I suppose, it is to stop the daily five feather friends of yours from barricading my window. You owe me ten galleons worth of ingredients, as you can't pick smooth-flying and quiet ones. Burnt two cauldrons the last one they visited me.
Here's my report. I've formulated four kinds of poisons. The most venomous one had killed a baby elephant in a matter of 2.7 seconds. Fascinating, isn't it? Right now, I'm working on the antidotes fast enough to counteract the ones I've made without allowing some severe damages (i.e. bone dissolvement, skin bleeding, cell destruction). So far I can counteract the boils but the specimen can't survive the brain swelling.
You can stop gagging now. You did insist on giving, at least (as you so irritatingly specified), a monthly report.
Anyway, what is this I hear? Muggleborn Evans had earned two months detention. It was rather foolish of you to be caught for the 33th time and at the last night of your sixth year sneaking into school grounds from somewhere. Really notched your usual level of stupidity. You must be really looking forward on your coming 7th year.
That's it then. Don't bother me until I finish my project.
Severus Snape
She folded the letter when somebody accidentally bumped her shoulder, making her hands jerk and almost pitching her ice cream to waste. She looked up and met a pair of cold, calculating aqua green eyes. The staggeringly beautiful brunette haughtily went on her way, followed by two other thinly clad women whose hips swayed seductively. She raised an eyebrow at their display of snobbishness and continued to eat her fattener. She supposed, every society has its own…demented persons.
Both her eyebrows rose however, when they entered the secluded area. My, my, my, what a delightful company, she thought wonderingly, amused and horrified. Snooty princesses with arrogant princes.. She shook my head and spooned the remains of her snack, excitement bubbling suddenly at the thought at writing back to Severus…but then he told her not to write back…what the hell!
A panicky, haggard man slammed open the salon. Everybody stopped eating and looked at him in shock. He was clutching his neck, blood dripping from the same hand. He staggered towards the three aurors she had seen earlier.
"What happened?", she heard one of them asked the pale man, as they offered him a seat. The man was obviously ready to faint away.
"…vampires…by the" he coughed. "by the Lipers cave…" he gasped and collapsed. He was dead. At least for the time being. He would soon be joining the undead.
"Lupin, Potter, Black!" another shouted. The three sadists that Lily knew so well appeared immediately.
"What the hell happened," Potter asked, striding towards the crowd.
"There's a coven in the Lipers cave. Come on," obviously the leader of their group. "We can perform the Undoing ritual later." There was a need to hurry as Lipers cave was part of the beautiful plaza, a well-known place for tourists.
And in a second, they were gone.
Much of the crowd got out of the room immediately when the aurors disappeared. They were afraid that the dead man would attack them. But it would take two hours for one to turn into an undead.
Lily strode towards the undead man and put him on her arms gently. Even the dead man still had some dignity. They still needed to be respected.
"What do you think you're doing?" the parlor owner shrieked at her.
She glanced back at her, not even stopping her pace, "I'll perform the Undoing ritual." Then I'll join them later, she thought grimly.