Chapter 56

The Half Blood Prince?

Note from the authors: You'll notice the chapter title, and there are some changes happening, including this title coming in early. We hope you enjoy this chapter, and the upcoming changes.

With term having a darker start than she had hoped for, Lily put her focus on her schoolwork. She knew Voldemort was out there, but in Hogwarts, she would be safe, she hoped. She quickly learnt how many people were buying into the crap of the Daily Prophet, especially with the number of people who refused to even meet her gaze, including some of the people who had changed their way of thinking when they thought Lily had entered herself into the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

Some of her lessons went on as normal, especially Transfiguration, although Aunt Minnie made sure to emphasize how important this year was, since they were taking their owls.

Care of Magical Creatures felt different without Hagrid, although Lily had to admit, it was nice to deal with creatures who weren't trying to kill them all the time. She still hadn't forgiven Hagrid for the Skrewts, although the look on Malfoy's face the previous year when Hagrid had threatened to turn him into a Ferret had been brilliant.

Potions was, as usual, a subject Lily didn't enjoy, but she was paying a lot more attention, and she intended to show Professor Snape that she was worth the trouble of helping. She didn't know why she wanted to prove herself to Snape, but a part of her did. Maybe it was some part of knowing her mother had cared for Snape that made her think he could be a good ally in the right circumstances.

The first weekend had been her first 'remedial potions' lesson with Snape, and as she sat down in the classroom with Snape, she kept eye contact, and wanted to ensure she wouldn't mess this up.

"Now, Potter, we're going to go over some important potions. This year is going to be a very important year, and I will be very disappointed if you do not get an Outstanding in your exam," Snape said calmly, his usual tone of disdain present. Lily ignored it.

"Yes, Professor," Lily said politely.

"I will admit you chose wisely when you opted to listen to my instructions for a potion's cabinet and ingredients. Now, what I am about to give you is a list of new potions instructions. You may share these with Granger and Ron Weasley, although Weasley may need them more than you," Snape said.

Lily accepted the new potions book and opened it. Inside was a list of advanced potions, but as Lily turned to the first one, she noticed that some of the instructions had been crossed out, with new instructions written in.

"You will note that these potions have been altered. You will follow the replacement instructions, since I find the official instructions to be… lacking in precision and perfection," Snape said, as Lily studied the first potion, Draught of Living Death.

"Can I ask a question, sir?" Lily asked. Snape nodded, so Lily continued. "Why not teach us these instructions in class?"

"In a standard class, Miss Potter, the board of governors, and the ministry, insist that only the official instructions be followed, despite the fact that they are… not entirely accurate," Snape replied. Lily nodded. "Any more questions, Potter?"

"No, sir," Lily replied.

"Now, the first potion as you can see if the Draught of Living Death. If brewed correctly, it will work as a sleeping potion that mimics death when drunk, although if the antidote is not given within three days, the subject will die. It is a very dangerous potion, and if brewed incorrectly, will kill the drinker immediately. However, you will follow these instructions and if you have any skill at all, I will expect a perfect replica. Now, begin," Snape ordered.

Lily saw the clear list of ingredients, and took all of them from her new cabinet, which looked like a simple small carry case, but when Lily opened it using her wand, it revealed a storage cabinet full of ingredients. Lily found the ingredients quickly, with Snape watching her. For once, he didn't say anything negative.

Lily put all her attention into making the potion, and after ten minutes, the potion was already a black, currant coloured liquid, as the instructions said.

She then noticed the next instruction was to cut a sopophorous bean, but Snape's instruction deviated, telling her to crush the bean with a silver dagger. Lily removed her silver dagger from the case and did so. The bean immediately exuded more juice than Lily thought the bean could contain.

Scooping it into the potion, she watched the potion turn the exact shade of lilac that the book said it should.

Lily continued with the new instructions under Snape's gaze, including adding a clockwise stir when stirring the potion, and when she was finished, she looked up at Snape, who took a leaf and dropped it into the cauldron. Lily watched in amazement as the leaf shrivelled and died instantly.

"It seems you can follow instructions, Potter," Snape said. Lily was surprised to hear a trace of admiration in his voice. "As you can see, my instructions give a better example than the official book, which is one thing you will learn in these lessons with me. Now, this is not a potion you will teach others, but this is for your own defence," Snape told her.

"Of course, Professor," Lily said, nodding.

"Since you can clearly follow my instructions; I will be expecting better from you in my classes. You will follow the new instructions for all the potions, and I will expect you to follow them. If you are to prove that these remedial potions lessons are working, you will need to ensure you do improve," Snape told her. "Some of the potions I teach you will be useful for your group, but only once I give you permission will you teach them, and even then, only under my direct supervision."

"Yes, sir," Lily promised. Lily thought for a moment. "Sir, may I ask you a question?"

"You may," Snape agreed.

"I'm grateful to you for helping me, but… I must admit, I'm confused. I thought you didn't like me," Lily said. Snape stared at her for what felt like an eternity.

"When you first arrived, Miss Potter, I confess I was… curious as to whether you had any skills. I was not impressed by your attitude, your lack of attention to detail… and the way you acted at times, believing yourself better than others," Snape admitted. "Since you began your… transition, I believe the term is, you have started to show an improvement in your skills, and studies. I attribute that to L… your mother's gene's."

"Uncle Sirius told me… that she always regretted not being able to apologise to you, as did my dad," Lily said softly. "He even said that had you been in Gryffindor, then it was likely that you and she would have gotten together."

For the first time since she had met the man, Snape was speechless, and didn't even try to hide that fact. His mouth was pursed as he stared at Lily, and for a brief moment, she could feel his presence in her mind. Was he trying to read her mind? She didn't know, but before she could react, Snape blinked and looked at her.

"Potter… what has been spoken here…" Snape started.

"Will never be repeated, ever," Lily swore. Snape nodded.

"Another lesson you need is to improve on your Occlumency shields," Snape said. Lily was right; he had been reading her mind! A part of her was offended, but at the same time, she had seen a side to Snape no one else ever had, except for her mother. "As an experienced Legilimen's, I will teach you. The Dark Lord is very skilled at mind reading, and you will be useless if he can break your defences so quickly."

"Thank you, sir," Lily said. She had a lot to tell the others already, and the entire experience with Snape… was this really happening? How had this happened? Already, she knew this year was going to be a curious one.

"I suggest you read through that book and treat it with the utmost respect. There are spells written in there that you will want to learn. You do not use them on any person, unless it is a Death Eater," Snape commanded, as Lily looked at the book, reading the front page.

"This book is the property of the half-blood prince," Lily read out. Snape looked at her.

"That title is one that belonged to… a foolish child," Snape stated. "Now go, Potter, and remember all I have said."


"I gotta say, I'm still not entirely sure why Snape's helping you," Ron frowned as he looked at Lily. Lily, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting in the Room of Requirement, which was currently in the form of the Gryffindor Common Room. They had made sure to use the Marauder's Map to ensure they weren't followed or seen, especially by Umbridge. They needed privacy for their conversation.

Lily wanted to tell them what Snape had admitted to her, but she had given her word, and no matter how much of a pain Snape had been, Sirius had taught her that a promise had to be kept, no matter what.

"You don't think it's because of what Sirius said, because he knew my mum?" Lily asked.

"No, I believe it, sadly. What I don't get is why he's changing how he acts. No one changes their nature like that," Ron sighed as he spoke. "He treated all of us, you especially, like crap in our first year, and our second year. Third year, maybe not so much because of Sirius, but still."

"Ron's right. There must be more to this story than he's telling us," Hermione agreed. Lily nodded.

"Oh, I know there is, and I want to know the story too. There's so much more we need to know, and we need to start seeking answers," Lily concurred. "I've got questions that I'm almost scared to ask about."

"Like what?" Ginny asked, holding onto Lily.

"For one thing, how did Voldemort return?" Lily asked. "Professor Dumbledore always knew he would return but didn't know how. Pettigrew would go to find him, so he knew that there was always a part of Voldemort out there, and that same part helped Pettigrew find the power to perform the spells he did."

"Okay, more questions than answers now, but what magic? He took your blood specifically so he could get past your mum's sacrifice, you said, and blood of the servant and of his father. How do we even begin to find the answers?" Hermione asked.

"No idea, which is why I'm left with the questions," Lily replied.

"No, it's why we're left with the questions. You're not alone in this Lily, and you'll never be alone," Ginny insisted. "You'll remember that one day."

Lily laughed softly. "Thank you, Ginny," she said, kissing her tenderly. "I'm just… scared, I guess."

"I don't blame you," Ginny smiled softly at her. "What else are you thinking about?"

"How do you know I'm thinking about something?" Lily raised her eyebrow. Ginny laughed.

"Because I know you, Lily," Ginny told her. "So, what's on your mind?"

"I've been thinking about something which could give us an… advantage," Lily said, looking at the group. "There's one thing we haven't taken into account."

"About You-Know-Who?" Hermione asked. "What kind of advantage could we have?"

"Here's the thing; his followers all rely on magic. One of the reasons I was able to escape from the graveyard was because I was… well, more agile, I guess. None of his people were expecting me to anticipate and leap out of the way, right?" Lily asked.

"Situational awareness?" Ron asked, confused. "We know that already, and we're okay at that."

"No, there's more than that. There is a weakness I've figured out. They rely too much on magic, and not on self-defence," Lily pointed out.

"You're on about muggle martial arts, aren't you?" Hermione asked. "Hand to hand combat, not relying in magic."

"Exactly," Lily confirmed. "Ron, you've seen some of the muggle movies, and there might be a way to use magic to help us learn quickly."

"It's possible, I guess," Hermione mused. "Who do we talk to about it?"

"Professor Dumbledore would be our best bet," Ginny suggested, as a bookcase appeared near to them. Hermione raised an eyebrow as she stood up and went to it.

"And the room's given us a series of books about muggle martial arts," Hermione said, as she looked at one of the books.

"Thanks… err, room," Ron said, surprised. "Honestly, I think this room, and the castle, are alive."

"I wouldn't be surprised anymore when it comes to this castle," Lily said, joining Hermione at the bookcase, looking through some of the pages of a book. "Wow, this is… not going to be easy."

"No, but it'll be worth it," Hermione said, pulling out a book on Kick Boxing. "This might be a good one; I took a few lessons when I was younger."

"Only a few?" Ginny asked, as she and Ron started looking through the books.

"I didn't like it. I thought it was too violent, but then, back then, I wasn't going to be helping fight in a war," Hermione explained.

"How do we learn Kick Boxing? I doubt we can read a book and just click our fingers or something?" Ron asked.

"Again, we'll speak to Professor Dumbledore. Maybe he can give us a suggestion?" Lily asked.

"In the meantime, we've got our first DA meeting on Sunday, so we should make sure we're ready for it," Hermione suggested. "What are we going to study first?"

"I'm thinking Shield Charms as a refresher. It's basic, but important," Lily said. "We should get back to the common room, it's getting late."

As the group carefully left the room, Lily had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that her first lesson with Umbridge in the morning was going to go badly, and that the DA was going to be needed more than ever. She hoped she was wrong, but somehow, she knew she would be proven right.