Chapter – 6

Severus P.O.V

The suppressed rage on Lily's face was amusing to watch. She was fuming, and in normal circumstances, Severus might have been terrified for his life. As it was, this entire situation was the fault of one Marlene McKinnon.

It all started a week ago, when Lily refused to go to Rola's party when McKinnon asked her. Her excuse was that she was spending time with him, which wasn't actually true. Either ways, McKinnon decided to put her foot down and get Lily to the party, one way or the other. A day of scouting, and she cornered Severus to 'convince' him to go to the party.

And now, Lily was fuming. Because not only had McKinnon invited Severus, but she had also invited the entirety of the older years at Hogwarts and taken McGonagall's permission to get them all to the party. McKinnon had also managed to get Lily's parents to send her a dress, so now Lily couldn't back out.

"How dare she do something like this?" Lily snarled, stomping around the room. "I will bury her alive! I didn't want to go for this party!"

Severus was tempted to allow her to rage. Except the party started in less than an hour and Lily had yet to go dress. And Severus despised being late to anything without valid reason. And Lily throwing a tantrum did not fall under 'valid' reasons.

"Now, Lils. You might as well get dressed!" Lupin's voice called out from outside the door. Evidently, her shouts could be heard all the way out of the almost sound-proofed walls.

"I. Will. Do. No. Such. Thing!" Her voice was just getting louder and louder.

Severus sighed. He wanted to watch this, honestly, he did! He hadn't had much amusement in the Slytherin common room this year, yet. And most of the drama from the marauders and Lily fighting was tamped down due to the stupid alliance that they had! This was the most entertaining thing he had seen since forever.

"Lily Josette Evans!" He said, in his best impression of Mr. Evans. It wasn't very good, but the use of her full name automatically got Lily to change gears. "You know that you need to go for this party. Just go get dressed, and we'll leave early from the party."

"And what will we do after that?" She asked, anger still very visible on her face. But now, there was also a small amount of curiosity.

Good. Severus was getting through to her.

"Discuss the books that Sirius managed to buy in Knockturn Alley." Lupin's voice called out, abruptly bringing him back into the conversation.

Lily turned to him in consideration, and Severus scowled. Just like Black, the older, to do something and refuse to tell the rest of them about it. Lily probably wouldn't notice, what with the rage she was in.

"And when did he get these books?" Lily asked. Huh, so she was on the same page as Severus.

Lupin simply rolled his eyes. "Sirius bought the books two weeks ago. But," Lupin continued over Lily's furious screech. "But we have not retrieved the books yet. We needed an opportunity to get out of the castle for a longer while."

And so, Lupin and Black would have undoubtedly taken this event as their opportunity.

"And why did you involve us?" Severus asked, curious despite himself. It was clear now that McKinnon hadn't come up with the entire plot and plan by herself. Lupin hadn't been too shocked, and Potter had been looking awfully smug three days ago.

"Ah, Severus." The taller boy smiled serenely, completely at ease. "We need a few extra people to help us with our honorable and sneaky mission."

Lily snorted. A glance at the fiery red-head, and Severus knew that she was more fascinated than murderous now. Wonderful!

"Those two words don't go together in the same sentence, Remus. You should know that better than anyone." She said, smirking. "Who is incapable of doing their part? Peter?"

Severus almost lost his self-control with that one question, if it could be called a question. Pettigrew was confused at best and complete incompetent. But the marauders always planned with that in mind. No, Lupin wanted the two of them to replace someone, from the trio.

"Potter, Black or you?" Severus asked, instead of waiting for Lupin to answer Lily's useless question.

Lupin winced. "Sirius will be slightly busy tonight, and Jamie has a detention with Flitwick."

Lily burst out laughing and Severus snorted. Lupin would be the only one of the marauders available tonight, it was brilliant.

"What did he get caught for?" Lily asked, off-point again. Lupin seemed glad of the topic change, but unwilling to continue on this vein either, by his blatant ignorance of her question.

"You should get ready, Lils." He said instead. "The party starts in half an hour."


They were ten minutes late to the party, and Severus completely blamed Lily. Their arrival was punctuated by McKinnon and Black making out right next to the fireplace. The first thing one would witness when appearing at Rola's mansion, whoever Rola was.

"Hey," the devil incarnate waved her hand in front his face. "Time for action, sleepy head!"

Severus blinked at Lily and nodded in acknowledgement. "You go first, I'll follow."

She grinned eagerly and turned.

"Is Lupin in position?" He asked. This entire thing better not go wrong!

"I think so." Lily shrugged and skipped through the crowd. It was a complete change of pace from her fuming and yelling, and Severus wasn't entirely sure if this was better.

Pushing that to the back of his mind, he walked towards the back exit into the garden. Taking the scenic route, he followed the path that lined the absolute edges of the mansion.

"Hey, Sevvy!" Lupin voice popped out cheerfully.

Severus groaned. "Get lost, Lupin!" He snapped, turning to the other boy. "Where is Black?"

Lupin shrugged, cheerful grin still on his face. "We're taking the portkey together instead. Sirius is slightly busy as you might have seen!"

"Busy sticking his tongue down McKinnon's throat," Severus muttered, much too bothered by Lupin and the entire situation to control his tongue.

Lupin simply laughed, a sharp, delighted sound. "Not just McKinnon's, Sevvy!"

Severus almost snapped at Lupin again, but before he could open his mouth, Lupin's hand grabbed his shoulder, and they were whisked away.

They landed hard on the ground in an alcove near Diagon Alley. This was 'the most abandoned place' according to Potter, who had apparently played a wizarding version of 'hide and seek' in Diagon Alley, and as a result found out the most absurd hiding places. Severus hadn't wanted this information, yet Lily was delighted with the 'blackmail' material, as she called it.

Severus didn't deign to speak to Lupin, turning towards Knockturn to complete his own task – impersonating Black. A little make-up and some glamour made it almost child's play to achieve that. Lupin, at his back, disappeared completely, walking with inhuman silence as Severus' personal body guard.

At the other side of Knockturn Alley, Lily Evans smirked darkly as she stalked through the street. All those who looked at her wished for an escape, and in seconds the street was devoid of any who would question them.