April 24, 1976 - Malfoy Manor

Regret it in the morning she did not, though the blush that coloured her face when she awoke - the memories of the night painfully clear in her head - was tremendous… as was the headache that pulsed painfully behind her eyes. Thanking the heavens that Severus was a heavy sleeper, she slipped out of bed, rummaging as quietly as she could through the bedside drawer to find her wand, while shielding her eyes from the morning light. She found it only moments later, but before that, a slip of parchment caught her eye, and she realised it was the same one she'd seen Severus messing with the night before.

A quick glance towards the bed confirmed that Severus had still not awoken, and her curiosity overwhelmed any reservations she might have. Quickly, she unfurled it, a small smile breaking out over her face as she took in its contents.

It did not relate to her, like she had thought at first, but was rather an apology note directed at Lucius, an expression of regret over his own obstinacy. At the bottom, an added note promised a second batch of the healing potion, supplied within the week.

Careful to leave no mark behind, she returned it to its place, closing her eyes once she did so, as though it would stop the throbbing pain in her head. She left Severus' room quietly, wondering if it would be worth it doing the same thing again.

April 25, 1976 - Hogwarts Express

"Would you darlings like anything off the train?"

Severus lifted his eyes from his book, glancing towards the two sleeping girls in the room. "We're alright, Madam."

The trolley lady smiled, giving him a wave as she took off to the next compartment. He returned to his book, but it was difficult to focus on the text, as Cassiopeia turned her head into his leg, her hair mussed and disheveled, and her lips parted slightly in sleep.

She looked uncomposed as ever, especially compared to Aurora - who had stumbled into their compartment only some minutes earlier, before declaring that she couldn't sleep with Augustus bothering her, and collapsed on the seat opposite them - who looked as though she were merely resting her eyes.

He frowned as a knock sounded on the door, and it deepened as he saw the person standing behind the glass. Deftly, he cast two silencing charms on the room's other occupants, before opening the door to Lily, his expression unamused.

"What do you want?" His tone came off perhaps a bit harsher than intended, and Lily's face dropped.

She glanced across the corridor nervously. "Could I come in?"

"No, of course not," he replied, mystified. "Lily, we're not - "

"It's really important," she interrupted him. "Please, Severus."

He considered for a moment, glancing down the corridor, before sighing. "Give me your wand."

"What?" she asked, outraged,

"…Don't you think I might have reason not to trust you?"

Lily's eyes slid to the floor, and she handed over her wand without further word. He let her inside, a warning glance informing her that she had better not disturb the others.

"What is it you want, then?"

Her fingers rose up to twirl her bracelet, and she kept her eyes trained on his feet. "I… I need a potion," she whispered.

Severus frowned. "Ask Slughorn, then. Or Madame Pomfrey."

"No - Severus, I can't. It's… it's a very private matter. I can't let anyone know."

For a second, his mind ran through the possibilities, before settling on one. His expression must have revealed his thoughts, for Lily flushed deeply red. "Lily, oh gods, please tell me you're not - "

"I am. And I need you to help me. Please, Severus."

He clenched his jaw. "Whose is it - Potter's? Black's?"

Her eyes flicked to his. "It's Sirius'."

For a second, Severus could not speak. In his wildest dreams, he would not have imagined such an event taking place; he knew not what to say, or what to offer, or even if he should simply turn her away like he wanted to, and leave her on her own like she had done with him.

"Does he know?" he asked finally.

"Yes, but - he doesn't want it. He's angry with me for… forgetting," Lily admitted shamefully.

So it's all your fault, then, he wanted to say. He imagined that a couple of years ago, when the anger was still fresh, he would have.

"I think it'd be best if you spoke with Madam Pomfrey, and not me."

"Severus, I can't. I'll be expelled, and Sirius will be too."

"If you keep it, the same thing will happen," he responded.

"So… you won't help me," she said quietly, and Severus hated the pang of pity in his heart that arose at the image.

"I'll have to think about it."

She looked about ready to argue, before sighing. "Thank you, Severus. You have… no idea… how much even the consideration means."

He shook his head. "Leave, Lily. Please."

Perhaps sleeping on the train had not been the best idea. At one in the morning, even after the eldest Slytherins had already retired to their dorms, Cassiopeia was still awake, lounging comfortably in front of the common room fire.

Severus - restless and conflicted - could not sleep; instead, he paced in front of her.

"She's sixteen, Cassie."

"It's happened before, you know. At this school. She could be expelled, but I think it's much more likely that Dumbledore would accommodate her."

"Her life will be ruined."

"Severus… it's her choice, in the end. I won't judge if you help her. I just think the two of them need to take some responsibility for their actions."

Severus paused in his pacing. "They do, of course. And…I wish I didn't have to care, but - " he shrugged. "You know my family - Ma was pressured into having me young, and look how that turned out."

Cassiopeia sighed. "I know. Just… has she even learned a lesson? Changed at all from how she was?"

"We don't know her, anymore. Maybe she has."

The girl raised her brow. "And she's still sleeping with Black?"

Severus lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "Alright, maybe she hasn't. I'm still going to help her - weren't you the one telling me a week ago that we have to be more empathetic?"

She smiled slightly, and nodded. "Mmm-hmm. I just don't want to force you into doing something you otherwise wouldn't. So, if you're going to help her, go ahead. And if, along the way, you can show her how badly she messed up…" she trailed off. "Well, that'll be something to celebrate."

"Even if I don't have high hopes," she added.

April 29, 1976 - Hogwarts

"Cassiopeia!" Minerva exclaimed, her embrace warm and comforting. "It's so good to see you again, lass. How was your holiday?"

In an instant, her mouth went dry, and her body tensed. "… It went well, Minerva, but I'm glad to be back."

"I'm very glad, then," she responded, seemingly oblivious to her momentary distress. "I know you'll be very busy these next couple of months with the OWLs coming up, but we'll try to work around your schedule, alright?"

"Thank you," she smiled, perhaps more brightly than necessary. Her excitement over seeing her Master again had turned, in a moment, into simply dread.

"Are you worried at all?"

"Only a little," she answered, after a second of consideration. "The teachers here are good at their jobs, I think."

"You're a fan of Professor Sayre's teaching style, then?" Minerva asked.

"It's… different, definitely, to what we've had before, but I think it's pretty engaging. I think I'll be sad to see her go next year."

"I'm glad you've taken a liking to her," the older witch smiled. "I'll have to be honest it's been difficult to connect with her due to our cultural differences, but I'm glad you children aren't like that. Maybe you'll even decide to move to the states someday?"

"Oh, no," she shook her head, laughing. "I wouldn't fit in at all."

"You never know," Minerva smiled. "But tell me, will we see each other tomorrow?"

"I'll make the time," Cassiopeia nodded. "Seven?"

"That'd be perfect, darling. Oh, and tell me before you go, are you still alright to stay with me over the summer?"

"Yes, I'd be more than happy to, if you're still willing."

"Of course, Cassiopeia," Minerva said, giving her a parting hug as she led her out the door. "See you tomorrow."

"See you," she smiled.

May 2, 1976 - Hogwarts

Severus collapsed on the floor, panting and exhausted. Duelling practice with the older Slytherins took everything out of him, but he wouldn't trade it for the world - the amount of spells which he'd never known before, but could now use, was… absolutely overwhelming.

"Hey, Snape," Barty greeted, before asking, blunt as ever: "You're friends with Malfoy, Lestrange, the like, right?"

"To a certain extent, yes," Severus answered, already cautious over where this was going.

"Right. Well, I'm not a moron Snape, there's lots of talk about who they're involved with - someone behind all the attacks, y'know? Can you… mention me? Something like that? I know I don't have much of a family name behind myself, but… we're fairly ideologically aligned.

Goddamnit. Why did he always have to be reminded that those around him - people who he enjoyed talking to, and spending time with - were prejudiced idiots?

"You'd better be careful with what you're implying, Crouch. The Malfoys have a pristine record."

Barty laughed. "Cut it out, Snape. Everybody in this room knows the Ministry's classifications don't mean shit. Just tell one of them that I'd be happy to join, alright?"

"And be a murderer?" Severus asked. He knew it was a risk, in a room full of people who he knew shared Crouch's sentiments, but his curiosity overwhelmed him.

The boy shrugged. "It's a little distasteful, but I wouldn't mind getting my hands dirty for a worthy cause."

Severus resisted the urge to shake his head. "Alright, if there's an opportunity, I'll mention you."

"Thanks Snape. Want something in return?"

"I'll let you know if it crosses my mind."

May 5, 1976 - Hogwarts

"Five sprigs of rosemary," Severus asked, relieved that the intensive part of the brew was over.

Cassiopeia dutifully passed him what he needed, before returning to her perch on the lab table, where she settled her head against her hands, and continued to observe him. Untimely, he was reminded of her alcohol-induced confession, and - carefully hiding his slight flush - turned so she could better see his hands.

He saw her lean forward slightly, the movement unconscious, and revelled in the feeling of power it had brought.

"You know, Severus… Slughorn's asked us to come to the Club meeting this month. He wants to make us official members."

I swear, that man has no self-control. "Do you think we should go?"

"If we didn't have to go to the awful suppers I'd say yes, but gods… I really don't want to."

"If you go, I'll go, but really I couldn't care less. You know it doesn't mean anything - it's just favouritism," he replied, stirring the potion carefully.

"Yes, but others don't see it that way, so it might be useful… I don't know - I don't like thinking about my future job."

"Mmm," Severus replied vaguely, concentrating. "Sorry, Cassie - I need to be careful now."

He thought she might have nodded, but his eyes were only for the potion now -

"Fuck!"

He had only a second's warning to throw himself and Cassiopeia as far away from the cauldron before it exploded with a noise like gunshots. The room shook for a moment, smoke and debris filling the air around them.

"Are you alright?" he asked breathlessly, after the noise had settled. He barely registered the burning pain on his skin. "Cassiopeia?"

She didn't respond to his question, and as he twisted around to see her - arms and chest protesting the movement - he saw that she'd been knocked unconscious, if not worse.

He searched desperately for his wand, too panicked even for relief when he found it lying, undamaged near him. He threw up a quick diagnostic over her, almost collapsing to the floor when it proclaimed that she had not been badly hurt.

He moved back to her, crawling over the broken remnants of the lab chairs. As he reached her, he saw her blink open her eyes, her expression scared and confused for a moment, before she seemed to remember what happened.

"Severus - is everything alright? Why did that happen?" She asked, attempting to sit up. Lightly he pushed her down onto the floor.

"I'm alright, and it's not important now. Lie down for a moment. I don't want you to faint again."

He saw her take a deep breath. "Okay. I'm glad everything's alright."

She closed her eyes once more, and in that moment, the burning pain of his skin began to register once more. Suppressing his cry of pain with great difficulty, he peeled back his shirt, wincing at the splatter of minuscule burn marks dotting his skin.

"Severus!" It would have been too much of a blessing for her not to notice.

Cassiopeia sat up immediately, hands coming up to his chest, even as he saw her blink her eyes to shake away her dizziness.

"You said you weren't hurt," she said, pulling back the top of his shirt even further. "Severus, you need to see someone, these are serious burns."

"I'll be fine, Cassiopeia," he dismissed her concerns.

"No, you won't be," she insisted. "Severus, this isn't a game, you need to go see Madam Pomfrey, now."

"And what will I tell her when she asks what potion these are from? I can't," he explained through gritted teeth, his muscles tensing as the pain began to sting even worse. "Can you just get me some cooling cream?"

He wanted to apologise when he saw the guilt flash across her face, but she had already left to retrieve it, letting out a cry of dismay as she took in the damage to the room.

"Here," she said a few moments later, kneeling down next to him, and unscrewing the jar. He attempted to apply it himself, but could barely move his arm without lightning-hot pinpricks of pain exploding over his skin.

Instead, it was her who dipped the fingers into the cream, spreading it over the top of his chest, and his shoulder silently, bringing him immediate, cool relief but with a worried frown on her face.

"Are you sure, Severus?"

"I am. I know the potion - it only caused burns because of its temperature, not because of any chemicals."

She exhaled, closing the jar. "If the pain gets worse, we're going to the Infirmary."

"Alright."

They were silent for a moment, as they truly took in their surroundings. Most of the more expensive lab equipment stood undamaged - thank the gods - but the desks, chairs, and some shelves, all made out of wood, has been either shattered, or scorched almost beyond recognition.

They would need to repair it all, and get it done before Slughorn noticed. Wonderful.

Severus' gaze returned to Cassiopeia, and he noticed that hers had wandered once more to his chest.

"I'm alright, Cassie. I really am."

She shook her head. "You're going to scar," she remarked, dismayed, and he winced.

"Does it really look that bad?"

"What?" she asked. "No. It's just a reminder that you were hurt."

He gave a murmur of understanding, before standing, painfully, from the floor. They needed to start working - now.

•••

A bit unexpected, I know, but I hoped you liked the chapter. Thank you to SilentMayhem, and Stephanie MRV, and I hope all of you have a pleasant week.