January 30, 1972 - Hogwarts

For Lily's birthday they snuck away to an abandoned classroom, determined to spend more time together. While they saw each other in classes, and sometimes in the library - a favorite place of theirs, but not Lily's – it had been quite some time before they had truly been together, only the three of them.

"Do you like it Lily?" Cassie asked shyly. She and Severus had spent the last couple of days practicing spells to be able to decorate the room. It seemed to have paid off because Lily yelped excited and nodded.

"I love it! Oh, you two are the best!" she exclaimed, bringing them both into a hug. It was a little uncomfortable but… nice, in a way.

As they broke apart, a house-elf appeared, carrying a tray with–

"Cake! How did you get that?" Lily asked, her eyes shining with excitement. It wasn't the largest cake, but big enough for the three of them to split, and had 'Happy Birthday Lily' written on the top in gold icing.

Pop! The elf disappeared, leaving the tray on a desk.

"Er… I may have told a Hufflepuff prefect that I'd been forced to skip dinner...and was very hungry."

"And she just told you?" Cassie asked. She had only known that Severus had secured a treat, not that he had found the entrance to the kitchens.

"Well, you know how Hufflepuffs are. The elves were ecstatic to help, so..." he shrugged. The prefect had taken one look at his sad expression and had immediately directed him to the entrance, with instructions on how to get in. Ticking a pear was… an interesting safeguard.

"Hmm, alright. Well, why don't we eat? Happy Birthday, Lily."

"Yeah," Severus added, blushing, "Happy Birthday."

"Aww, I'm so glad you two are my friends!"

They cut the cake in three, savoring the delicacy. While Hogwarts certainly served a variety of foods, cake was not an availability. It was probably for the best, seeing the eating habits of those like Gordian Goyle and Valedictus Crabbe. The two boys were a couple of years above them, and ate like pigs - shoveling horrifying amounts of food into their mouths at every opportunity.

"House-elves are amazing," Lily mused. "They make the best food."

"True," Severus agreed.

"Oh! Did you hear that Frank got in detention yesterday for spilling fertilizer all over Professor Sprout? She made him pick it up with his hands and add it to all the plants – the smell when he came in–" Lily wrinkled her nose.

"Frank?" Severus asked. He wasn't sure he knew who that was.

"Longbottom. Oh, you wouldn't know him. He's super quiet and stuff – likes to hang out in the library."

"Ah, I didn't know you had made more friends."

"Well, he's not too much of a friend, really. The other boys kind of are – I mean, James is kind of nice and Peter. Remus, of course–"

"Hmm." While they and Remus hung out together quite often, the brown-haired boy hadn't mentioned that he was spending much time with Lily.

"–but they're all somehow friends with Sirius. I don't understand, they're all such nice boys," Lily sighed, but shook her head. "But let's talk about something else. How are your experiments going, Severus?"

The two Slytherins exchanged a quick glance. While, yes, most of the experiments were Severus', Cassie was working on her own as well. "Quite well, Lily. Actually–"

He reached into his bag and held out a gift, Cassie doing the same. "These are for you."

"Oh! What is this?" she asked, first taking the vial in Severus' hand.

"Cassie and I – we wanted to brew you something cosmetic. This is a lotion for your skin – it smells like strawberries," he explained awkwardly.

"I love it! Thank you!"

"I made you this for your hair," Cassie said shyly, presenting the accessory to Lily. It was a red lily flower, with golden leaves, all attached on a brown clip.

"Aww, thank you, Cassie!"

Lily threw herself at them again, kissing Severus' and Cassie's cheeks in thanks.

"We're going to be friends forever!"

April 15, 1972 - Hogwarts Express

Severus,

Your father has been arrested for harassment. He is serving four months of time. Please come home for Easter.

Love,

Eileen

May 24, 1972 - Hogwarts Express

The seven of them sat in the compartment, one side squished together uncomfortably. Opposite them, Sirius, Peter, and James were engaged in a game of Exploding Snap, loud snaps filling the room.

Remus was reading a book on transfiguration, Cassie reading over his shoulder - chin resting against her folded hands. Every couple of minutes she made an impatient noise, slightly frustrated with Remus' reading speed.

Severus and Lily were talking quietly, discussing their plans for the Easter Holidays.

"What're you going to be doing?"

"Oh," Lily smiled fondly. "Mum's gonna make a feast, definitely. Me and 'Tuney will go pick flowers…" she trailed off. "I hope Tuney won't be mad at me."

"I think… maybe if you show her that she's no less special, just because she's not a witch? Maybe, not talk about magic so much in front of her?"

Lily frowned for a fraction of a second, her auburn eyebrows furrowing. "But–how do I do that? I am specia–" Lily stopped, blushing. "I hate how that sounds, but it's true. We have magic, we are special."

"Lily...think about what it would be like to be Petunia. How would you feel if you were a Muggle and you found out your sister is a witch?"

Lily gasped. "That'd be horrible. I can't live without magic!"

"But– you lived without it for so many years."

"That was different! I–I couldn't go back to how it was before. I'd miss this world so much."

"I'd miss it too," Severus replied, glancing fondly at each of his friends in turn.

"Magic is amazing," Lily sighed happily. "And I don't like Petunia. But I'll try Severus. For you, I'll try."

April 5, 1972 - Spinner's End

Cassiopeia and Severus were hanging out at Spinner's End, currently situated in Severus' bed. It had taken another dose of 'Confundo' on her father, but she had thankfully been allowed to stay with Eileen for the entire holidays.

"What do you think about this, Sev'rus?" Cassie asked, her speech more relaxed away from Hogwarts. Severus' birthday present – a simple, silver bracelet – dangled from her wrist, as she pointed out a small paragraph near the bottom of the page.

He peered at the book in her hands, one snitched from Cassie's late mother's library. "I think… it might work."

They were trying to figure out the new ingredient that would need to be added to the Antidote to Common Poisons, to reduce the brewing time, and increase the potency. As of now, they had discovered that the addition of honeywater and mint sprigs allowed the brewing time to be cut down in half – from thirty minutes to fifteen – an achievement they were quite proud of.

Now, Cassiopeia was pointing to the Mandrake plant in 'Ingredients for the Advanced', specifically, it's description: Increases the potency of several brews, but can be volatile if Mistletoe Berries are included. To counteract this, a floral essence must be used, the variation depending on the type of brew.

"We'll have to check when we get back," Cassie answered, an uncomfortable look passing over her face. She shifted, a tiny gasp escaping her.

"Cassie?"

"I'll be back, Severus," she replied, her tone urgent. She stood from the bed, and hurried from his room. He frowned, worried that there was something wrong.

"Eileen?" Cassie's voice called out quietly, her voice scared. Severus stood quickly, walking down the hallway to knock on the bathroom door.

"Cassie? Is something wrong?" he asked, his face furiously red.

"Severus?" Cassiopeia asked, her voice hitching as if she were about to cry. "Can you get your ma, please?"

"O–Of course," he reassured her, racing downstairs. His mother was sitting on an armchair, and reading the newspaper – her face much less tense, now that her husband wasn't home.

"Ma?"

"Yes, dear?" Eileen asked, observing her son's flushed and worried face. "What's wrong?"

Severus blushed even redder. "Er… Cassie's in the bathroom… she wanted me to get you."

"Oh," Eileen answered, her face softening. "Don't worry, Severus. She's okay. I'll go to her right now – why don't you go to your room?"

"O–Okay," Severus replied, rushing back upstairs - unsure why he was so embarrassed. "Cassie, mum'll be up in a second."

"Thanks," Cassie answered, her voice barely visible through the door.

Severus shut himself in his room, calmer now that his ma had reassured him. Eileen never lied to him, no matter how much the truth hurt. It was a refreshing quality, compared to the people at Hogwarts.

He returned to the book, losing himself in thoughts of what he would get to experiment on back at school.

"Severus?" Cassie asked, opening the door. Severus' head slammed up, startled from his reading. His friend looked tense, and one of her hands came up to rub her belly.

"Cassie? You're alright?" he asked, trying not to make her uncomfortable.

"Yeah. Eileen fixed it. I'm fine now," Cassie answered quietly. "Have you figured out what essence we'd have to use?"

He noticed the obvious change in subject – who wouldn't have? – but chose to ignore it, instead starting to explain his theories to her.

"So you see…"