People!

Thank you for the comments and kudos on the last chapters.

Hope you enjoy these too.

IT'S CHANGED! (SNILY)

CHAPTER 46 Ghost!

All three of them, Lily, James and Sirius kept staring at him, unblinking. They didn't know what to say first as all their heads were filled with plenty of questions that they wished to ask. Severus sat with a sour but thoughtful expression gracing his face. He was taking all of his frustration on a torn centimeter of skin from the side of his thumb. It was paining but he wished more for it. He grabbed it pulled it at once, hissing at the stinging pain that laced his thumb.

Lily jumped towards him immediately, looking for the reason that had caused him pain. She held his bleeding thumb, gently, that was missing a large chunk of skin because of the force Severus used. She kept his thumb on her palm and curled her fingers around it tightly, keeping the blood from flowing out.

"All sorts of things you do…" she hissed at him, glaring.

He tried to take his hand back but she didn't allow him, glaring even more intensely than before. "Its not paining" he stated passively.

Her face changed into a cold one too. "I believe it was you hissed a moment ago"

"Leave my hand, Lily"

"I am not and stop being such a prat" she said in her growing frustration.

He answered in a thick voice. Getting sentimental for no reason this time. "Then why do you want to be with a prat?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "Because I love you, perhaps"

"Stop that" he kept staring at the grass beside his right thigh, not looking at her at all.

Lily frowned. "Stop what?"

"Simply leave me and go…" his lower lip trembled.

"Sev…" she sighed tiredly.

"What?" he asked in a pitiful whisper.

"I-" she began but was cut by people calling Severus' name from the back. They both turned to see Selene, Shane and Austin coming in their direction with faces etched with worry.

"You both are safe" Selene almost collapsed in relief after seeing their faces.

Lily shrugged and smiled innocently. "Well, yes, we are… thanks to Severus" she gave him a side-glance that he didn't catch as he was staring in his lap.

He turned sharply to Selene, startling everyone with his sudden movement. "There was an attack underwater, Selene. Just like the one that took place at Hogsmeade. Nothing explicit again. I am confident that it wasn't a part of the tournament… I believe the screen would have lost its visibility after the incident happened. It most probably was Raquel. And it is not just him, because there is one more student, from any house they could be, whom I saw from the common room's window. They ran just as I peeked in. There are more people in here who wants to cause harm, either to me… or to you all" he closed his mouth shut in such a rapid movement that it felt like he never opened it.

Selene blinked for a second, searching words. Though, Shane came out of the shock sooner.

"You, said that the student could be from any house, then why would they be in the Slytherin common room? I mean, they need to know the password"

Severus turned sharply to Shane and then to Sirius, whom he just realized was still sitting there. "Sirius, would you mind telling me what the Slytherins are obsessed with?"

Sirius looked at all of them one after the other, before keeping his face still at Severus. He shrugged. "Blood purity?"

"Very good. Now, what can the password of their common room be?"

"Purebloods?" Sirius frowned, not getting the point of the conversation.

Severus inclined his head and turned to Shane again. "Exactly, that is the password… anyone can guess it with no difficulty. And even easier, if a professor is mixed in the plan"

Shane blinked at him. "Yes. You are correct, then… could be from any house. And the screen did lose its visibility with a black hue… that is why there was quite the commotion here"

"The very same I escaped from" Severus inclined his head. "Where is Charm, by the way?"

"She is with Elias" Austin prompted. "I just came from visiting her. They are fine… just a little green"

"Understandable" he nodded. He had kept his voice so business like by the entire ordeal to keep his emotions in check. One slip and he would have lost control over them, with Lily sitting so close to him with his hand in hers.

"Hmm" Selene placed her hands on her hips. "What did you do, by the way, mister? Transparent? And so fast?"

Severus flushed red. "Nothing much… just a spell here and there. A disillusionment charm for becoming transparent. Then, a shielding charm on the eyes to see underwater… one for speed in my legs… and a… a-"

"You were a ghost" Selene stated confidently.

"I was a ghost" he repeated, agreeing. She knew it, no need to hide it now, anyways. Eyes of others widened with a gasp that left their lips. He was a ghost! How?

"I so damn knew it!" her voice showed anger more than satisfaction. "And how did you manage to do that?"

"Myrtle" he shrugged nervously.

Selene rubbed her face, tiredly… before her outburst. "You were a ghost! With the help of Myrtle! She herself is a teenage ghost! What if something had gone wrong?! Do you have any idea that you could have gotten stuck between your life and a ghost?! No! Because, Severus Snape has to do everything in a way that frightens everyone till core! Isn't that true?!"

He had his head bowed with the shame of his foolishness. Now, when he thought about it, he realized that the idea was a dangerous one. "I-" he tried beginning, but was cut.

"Have you lost all sorts of self-preservation behind, Severus?! Dating a Gryffindor, doesn't mean you have to act like one! Stop being such a fool!"

Nobody could muster enough courage to protest on her Gryffindor comment. James and Sirius kept sitting at the back very quietly, as if they weren't even there… while Lily was very attentively listening to her and agreeing most of them time, except for the comment on them dating. That didn't make sense to her, but she kept quiet. Severus was acting foolish.

Severus raised his head a little before lowering it with a jerk again after looking at Selene blazing eyes and listening to her raged pants after her outburst.

"I am sorry" he offered weakly.

"Apology not accepted" she said coldly, folding her arms on her chest.

"I am sorry, Selene. I was perhaps, too desperate to get a means that I didn't think about the consequences"

"At least, you realize that you are wrong" she huffed in annoyance and left without another word.

Severus looked up, disappointed that she left. He turned to Shane, who swallowed as if had been caged his breathe throughout her wrath.

"She'll be fine after… a bar of chocolate, perhaps. And Severus, do things after using that very smart brain of yours. She is a Slytherin too and senior to you, she knows about dark arts" Shane whispered the last two words, before giving pats on his shoulder and leaving after saying. "Good luck, the scores would be announced soon… you did well, though a little indiscreet"

"I am sorry" Severus whispered as he left before turning to Austin, who seemed pale.

"She had that outburst, after a long time, didn't she?" Austin laughed nervously and ran a hand through his hair. "Well, good luck with the scores, Severus… I have to go now, because to come here… we kind of stupefied a ministry official"

"A ministry official?!" James shrieked.

Austin cupped his hand around one side of his mouth and bent down to James' ear to whisper. "Slytherins are crazy, telling you. Selene herself did that and now, was scolding Severus for not counting the consequences… they never see their own mistakes"

"I totally believe that, mate" James gave him a light punch on his shoulder before he straightened again and left.

Sirius' jaw was hanging down, since Selene had left. He looked at everyone's faces and said in a bemused voice. "I think I am falling in love with her… Selene's wrath is so seductive. I wouldn't doubt if Shane goes and fucks her now"

All the heads turned to him, scrunching their noses… including of a new person that had just arrived.

"Remus" Lily breathed, flinching, who was blankly looking at Sirius.

"Moony" James gulped… Sirius must know when to crack jokes.

"I just wanted to see you were alive… thank Merlin, you are" Remus said in a straight voice, devoid of any emotion and ran away.

"Sirius!" James slapped Sirius' back sharply that it might have stung badly.

"What?!" he shrieked, rubbing his back.

"You said you are in love with… Selene!"

"Oh… that" Sirius waved a hand and rolling his eyes. "Oh, so, Moony got offended by that?"

"Obviously!" All three, Severus, Lily and James said in the same distasteful voice.

"He can be so sensitive sometimes" Sirius sighed.

"Then go! Talk to him!" Lily hit his knee, from the side. "I swear, if you upset him, Sirius…"

"Okay, okay… I am going" Sirius stood up instantly. "Why are there so many protectors of him and not me?"

"Because he is sensible" she glared at him. "And you wouldn't upset him!"

"Yes, mother, I wouldn't" he rolled his eyes before bending down to Severus' ear. "By the way, I don't care what others think… I liked the ghost, it was cool"

A small grin appeared to Severus' face before vanishing again and changing into a glare. He simply lifted his fist that Sirius smashed with his own and leaving behind Remus.

"You both have a code?" James asked, surprised.

Severus smirked. "No, he simply did that when we met, looking for dragons…"

"He never made any such thing with me" James muttered, almost offended by his best friend. "He has more than one person to apologize to"

Lily and Severus shook their heads with amusement when their eyes met for a fraction of a second and he broke the contact, not able to muster to strength to that, now.

And before anyone of them could say anything, Ludo Bagman's magically magnified voice filled the air of the entire place, making everyone jump.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the judges have reached their decision after asking and analyzing about the achievements and the disturbances that were caused during the entire task by the Mer-chieftainess Murcus as well as by the screen that enabled to witness it. I am proud to say that all our champions completed the task. The scores will be awarded out of fifty for each of the champions, as follows…"

The whole audience as well as the champions went deafeningly silent, as they had their fingers crossed in anticipation.

"Miss Fidanka Ivet," Ludo bagman continued, "was the first to arrive with her hostage, before two minutes to an hour but you already got the ropes off the hostage open because of Mister Potter, though, very excellently demonstrating the use of the Bubble-Head Charm. We award her forty-five points."

A victorious scream was heard from the back followed by a loud roar of the crowd from the Durmstrang stands, where Severus, James and Lily were sitting, making them jump and turn their heads.

It was Fin, holding one of Peter's hands, who seemed hesitant and shy. She on the other hand, seemed in the seventh heaven. And well… Karkaroff couldn't have looked anymore smug than he was.

Ludo Bagman smiled at her enthusiasm. "I see you are happy Miss Ivet"

She nodded, grinning broadly and he took it as a sign to continue.

"Mr. Elias Amedee, was the second to arrive here with his hostage, though he returned twenty minutes out of time. The usage of Bubble-Head Charm again was brilliant, but again, Mr. Snape had the ropes off your hostage, making us decide to award you thirty-eight points."

The Beauxbatons students screamed and shouted in the appreciation of their champion. As James, Lily and Severus turned around, again out of nowhere they saw Elias and Charm too. Both of them seemed looked green but were smiling. They turned to each other and kissed before chuckling.

"I was almost scared that you'd get nothing for being so scared" Charm joked, that obviously heard by the other three's gossipy teenage ears.

"I have seen that" Severus huffed.

Elias blushed at both the comments. "Well, it took me a little while to realize zat you'd be ze one down zere"

Charm tip-toed to kiss him again. "Well, at least you got me…" she turned to Severus frowning. "Why did you take the ropes though?"

Severus rolled his eyes. "I was particularly sure that Amedee wouldn't come and would be sicking up somewhere, making you rot down in the lake… even though, now, I believe that thinking that is foolish"

"Obviously, it is" Charm rolled her eyes, and gave him a light hit on the head. "We wouldn't actually rot there… we were just hostages, not a part of the Triwizard Tournament"

Elias, though, seemed offended by Severus' statement. For Merlin knew why, he still thought that Severus had an eye on Charm. And this time he even tried to save her before him. "Why would I be sicking up?"

Severus looked at him and made a face that showed annoyance. "That is what I saw you doing in the last task… I perhaps, am a little more observant than you are, Amedee" he smirked, tauntingly.

Elias again took it something connected to Charm and looked ready to lash out, when Severus was hit by Lily herself. "Would you pay attention than trying to offend others?"

Severus looked at her before turning his attention to Ludo Bagman again, who had begun speaking once more.

"Now, after that we have some upsetting news, that the screen was blocked due to some unfortunate circumstances, making it unable to be seen at first hand accordance… for that we asked the Mer-Chieftainess for assistance. She says that there was a black hue spread in a particular area where Misters Potter and Snape were. It caused them to feel lethargic and were unable to use their magics. From that Mr. Snape, helped the way of Mr. Potter, Mr. Black and his own hostage Miss Evans' out."

Severus and James shared a look as Ludo Bagman passed them a smile.

"According to that, Mr. James Potter was the third to arrive with his hostage, thirty minutes out of time. And his outstanding transfiguration skills for becoming a full shark" Bagman paused and turned entirely to James from where ever he was. "A personal question, Mr. Potter, ever tried to become an animagus? I believe you'd do that beautifully"

Color rose to James' face as Severus smirked and passing a meaningful look in his direction.

"I-I, sir, never tried, but I believe why not, now?" he gave a nervous laugh, making Ludo Bagman chuckle too. "Anyways, it is never too late to mend"

"Of course, Mr. Potter. So, considering that Mr. Snape did help you up and your own qualities, we have decided to award you forty points"

A loud roar of screams rang up the place, almost deafening them all with the intensity, but it was a happy one. A joy that Hogwarts was at least above one school. James sat with his jaw dropped. He hadn't expected him to get a forty out of fifty. That was great.

"Close your mouth, Potter, or a fly would make its way" Severus said, rolling his eyes, making James clamp his mouth shut and grinning.

"James!" a voice was heard from the back of James. Before he could and see who, the person was, he got the answer by a pair of arms wrapping themselves around his shoulders, almost making him fall.

"Mary!" he grinned with excitement. He turned back and kissed her lips.

She retuned the kiss. "You are the second, out of the three!"

"I know"

Mary looked at Severus and smiled. "Thank you, Severus"

Severus blushed. "Ah, it was nothing… don't think about that"

She kept smiling but turned to James again. "I didn't know that the most precious to you is Sirius"

James flustered. "I mean… yeah… perhaps. But just in a platonic way, I promise"

Mary chuckled and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "I am aware, don't worry"

James laughed and shook his head. She always did that to scare him off shitless, but mostly she always would be joking.

They brought their attention back to Ludo Bagman as they realized that he was speaking again.

"Now, the about our fourth but the most talented champion, Mr. Severus Snape" he couldn't even complete the statement before which all Slytherins have begun to scream louder than anyone. They all were obviously using Sonorus. Severus flushed but smiled. His house was with him.

Ludo Bagman laughed. "Well, we have some really well-deserved fans of yours, Severus. And you haven't disappointed them. As we saw that he reached the hostages first and as the Mer-Chieftainess say, he also tried to retrieve them all…"

Another roar of appreciations rang from the Slytherins, even though, most of them were confused. Slytherins didn't help everyone. But then, Severus didn't help everyone or wished to retrieve them all. He simply wanted Charm and Lily to be out of that place. Well, though, who says 'No' to extra credit, so, he shrugged it off, not possessing the Gryffindor nobleness to correct anyone.

"… It shows the goodness of his heart" Ludo Bagman smiled in his direction, making him blush at the attention. "Even though, he came thirty-two minutes out of time, he did very incredibly turn into a temporary ghost to qualify the task. I am astonished, Severus, at how perspicacious and creative you are to come up with that idea"

Severus flustered and looked around at the hanging jaws of people. Everyone wondering that was characterized under the Dark Arts but as per the judges, faces he believed it didn't come under it.

"I-I… Thank you, sir" he said stuttering.

"It is your fore-sightedness, Severus, that helped you through the black fog -even though, not being a part of the task- without getting harmed or losing your abilities. We also know that you reached the hostages first… and then even helped Mr. Potter up, making us decide to award you forty-six points"

There was pin-drop silence for a while, nobody spoke a single word. But after that not only Slytherins but the entire Hogwarts screamed and cheered for him. He looked around, his mouth agape. He was first. He was first! Even after reaching the surface last!

He turned to Lily who was grinning do hard that her cheeks ought to hurt.

"I am first" he breathed.

She nodded vigorously. "Yes, Sev, you are!" she instantly threw her arms around him, startling him. He didn't know what to do with his hands, so, he simply placed them around her… hugging her, after a long time. How did he get so lucky all of a sudden?

"Well, Severus, I believe we have a new Hogwarts Champion" James spoke, smiling at him.

"I believe so" Severus pulled away from Lily, smiling at James.

"I knew you'd do that, Severus" Charm kissed her on the cheek from behind.

"Thank you" he whispered.

Though, Elias didn't seem happy at all. First, he was last in the count and second Charm had just kissed Severus. He was almost boiling.

Fin didn't seem that put down, though. She possessed a good sportsmanship. But she did pout mockingly and hitting Severus on the head. "You took my place, Severus"

He laughed. "Do you think you would be able to escape the ghost?"

She laughed too. "I wouldn't dream of"

Ludo Bagman began speaking again. "Attention, please! The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June. The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely one month beforehand" he smiled at the audience. "Thank you all for the support you gave to the champions."

And suddenly Madam Pomfrey snatched the wand from his hand, glaring at him. She brought her own wand to the side of her neck.

"Now, all the champions with their hostages will meet me in the Hospital Wing. Anyone who fails to reach would be getting a month's worth detention with… Mr. Filch. Yes, even if the champion belongs to another school. So, quick!" she brought her wand down and handed Bagman's wand back to him.

"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey" Bagman said submissively.

"Hmm" she held her chin high and left as also the crowd began scattering.

"We need to get going, perhaps" James sighed and got up. "Now, where the fuck Sirius is?!"

Mary shrugged. "With Remus, most probably… they had a fight?"

James rolled his eyes. "They did… but for now, if you find him, please ask him to get to the Hospital Wing or he'd be getting detention with Filch"

Mary nodded, agreeing, and then leaving the place with James.

Elias, Charm, Fin and Peter walked to the Hospital Wing too, leaving Lily and Severus sitting there. And that was the most awkward situation for them now. Neither knew what to say, so both of them got up and began walking in silence, holding their blankets in their hands.

Severus was still not wearing anything other than the swimming trunks and Lily's clothes were wet too, making both of them shiver in the cold breezes of end February. They increased their speed to get in the warmer confines of the castle faster, almost racing to get to the Hospital Wing first.

They didn't even realize when the reached the place. They were perhaps, getting used to the silence between them… but then, they could just hope for it not to remain for long. None wanted it but like always none even wished to speak, expecting the other to start.

"Ah, Mr. Snape and Miss Evans" Madam Pomfrey noticed them and pointed towards the last two empty beds in the corner. "Wait for me there"

They obliged and went, sitting on the warm beds, wrapping themselves into blankets again, blowing on their hands. It was soon after when Madam Pomfrey arrived.

She huffed at Lily. "You are witch or not, Miss Evans?!" she waved a wand on Lily that dry her completely, and the second wave made her look clean.

Lily looked at sheepishly. "Sorry and thank you, Madam Pomfrey"

"Hmm" Madam Pomfrey huffed and turned to Severus. "Ghost?! Seriously, Severus! I thought being a Slytherin would be based on some conscience but I believe you have lost it, now!"

Severus looked in his lap. Another wrath for his nonsense. All sorts of women and barge on his head now… all trying to fulfil the empty place of his mother.

"I am sorry, Madam Pomfrey" he said automatically, in a very slow tone.

She huffed again. "At least you realize you are wrong"

He frowned. Why did everyone insisted on saying that?

"Now, remove that blanket" she ordered.

He looked at Lily for a second before removing it and blushing, suddenly feeling too self-conscious of his body. Damn! Was Lily looking? He tried to cover his body with his hands but failed immensely. He groaned. Shirtless in front of two women! Embarrassing! He simply kept his head bowed then, trying to block himself from all the anxious thoughts that were needlessly filling his brain.

Lily was looking at him with the corner of an eye, and she had to restrain herself from gasping at his… well, bare chest. She blushed and looked away. This was the first time she had actually seen him without the blanket and taken notice of him, otherwise earlier they were so targeted at getting to the Hospital Wing and escape the cold that they hadn't even paid any attention to each other.

Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat, making both the teenagers before her jump. "At least you have gained some muscle, Severus. That's good."

Severus blushed further more. Damn the comments that he was about the get by Madam Pomfrey. "Well… I did eat properly"

She nodded and held his wrist. "Hmm, seems so. Though, being a ghost got you with some perks. No bruises or cuts like the other champions. Your lungs would have been fine too, if not for the ending when you came back in the human form. No need to worry, they are absolutely fine, other than some excessive pressure on them due to water" she completed in a very business-like voice, taking a potion out from her pocket and pouring a quarter of it in one of the glasses before mixing water in it. "Drink it" she handed it over to Severus.

He blanched at the taste. "Yuck" he whipped his mouth.

Madam Pomfrey raised her eyebrow, scornfully. "Yes, Mister, it wouldn't taste like pumpkin juice, now, would it?"

"I don't like that either" he said distastefully.

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever you like then" she said before turning to Lily. "Now, Miss Evans… first off, do you require a potion to re-realize that you are a witch?" she asked sarcastically, giving an exaggerated smile.

Lily flushed and looked down. "No, Madam Pomfrey"

"Good, because I would have given one to help with forgetfulness. Anyways, you have caught a cold… or will, judging by the fact that like other of those stupid kids you didn't think of drying yourself, either. So, take these…" she took out a clear-potion from her pocket and thrusted it in Lily's hands.

"Pepper-up potion…" Lily sighed and opened the cap, gulping it down in one go. Just after a few seconds, warmth spread in her body and steam shot out of her ears. She closed her eyes tightly shut to not groan at the pressure coming out of her ears that feels like her brain is melting out.

"Done" Madam Pomfrey said. "Now, did the Grindylows touch you again, Severus?"

He shook his head. "No, ma'am, though, yes, in the ghost form"

"That's quite alright… in the ghost form, nothing would have harmed you" she said before rolling her eyes and flicking her wand, making Severus' robes appear on himself. He blinked at the suddenness of the act.

"How did you do that?" he asked, bewildered.

Madam Pomfrey smirked. "There is a reason we are above you, Mr. Snape"

He touched his Slytherin crest on the left chest pocket. Indeed, his clothes. She was brilliant.

"So, can we leave? Ma'am?" Lily looked up hopefully.

Madam Pomfrey gave her a mild glare before nodding. "Yes, leave… and if you notice anything unusual in yourselves, come directly to me… DIRECTLY!"

They both nodded meekly. "Sure, Madam Pomfrey"

"Hmm, now, go!"

They both got up from their beds and ran to the door, sighing just after they were one step out. No one liked to stay in the Hospital Wing. Lily hesitated, but mustered courage to place a light hand on Severus' fore arm, from which he still flinched.

"I am sorry" she whispered hastily. "Sev, I-I wish to talk with you"

He inclined his head in affirmation, but didn't look at her.

She seemed miserable at the gesture. "Can we go to an empty classroom? Please?"

He inclined his head again.

That made her desperate to listen his voice. Why wasn't he speaking anything? "Speak something, Sev!"

He looked down and scoffed with more bitterness than intended. "I don't know what would I do wrong that would again make you question yourself. Better keep my mouth shut"

"Sev!" she held her arm, tightly this time, pausing his footsteps. "You still misunderstand me!"

"I am aware, because perfect Lily Evans can't do anything wrong" he again let his emotions out with the worst words he could use.

"Sev! Please don't say that! You know that isn't true" she began yelling but until the end her voice was barely audible. She tried to make him look in her eyes, but he just didn't bend.

"Empty classroom?"

"Fine" she stood aside, leaving his hand. "There is one on the third floor"

He inclined his head again, walking towards the classroom. Lily sighed and began walking beside him.