May 10, 1976 - Hogwarts

Severus frowned, his eyes seeking out the tail of a red-lined robe, just vanishing on the stairs to the Headmaster's office. It wouldn't have aroused his suspicions any other time, but throughout the week he'd happened upon similar scenes - a Gryffindor milling about the corridor, when usually they would do their best to stay away.

After a moment of consideration, he disillusioned himself, moving to stand against the wall opposite the gargoyle, which seemed almost to watch him suspiciously - as though, even invisible, it could see where he stood.

He shook the feeling off, resolving to stay and wait for the student's return. If this was all some paranoia… Charms would be worth missing.

The minutes ticked by, almost unbearably long as he furtively watched the entrance to the office. As the students moved to their next class, the halls grew silent; so quiet he could almost make out his own heart, beating in his ears.

Footsteps. Quick, and getting closer. Any second now -

Lily.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, a little smile curling around her lips, before she took off. He wanted to follow her, to ask why she'd been visiting Dumbledore of all people but, well he was more than a little certain his inquiries would be unwelcome.

Another way, then.

"It'll be a wonderful opportunity, James. Dumbledore's a great man - we could be there, with him. Can you not see how special we must be to him, that he's offering us such a position while we're so young?" Lily asked, her voice insistent.

"I just don't see, Lils - how could he not want Sirius? Or Peter? Or Remus?"

"James, I'm sure he does, but he's asked us - us first. Once we accept, don't you think we could ask him to get the others involved?"

James sighed. "I'm just worried about what Sirius' going to think. You know how he gets."

"If he won't want to get involved because he's jealous, then it'll be his choice. Besides, I don't care what Sirius thinks," Lily proclaimed angrily, then sniffed. "I thought he's be kind, at least, but - "

"…Oh, don't cry, Lils. He's being an arse now, but he'll get over himself, I promise you. And next time you see the old man, tell him I'd be happy to join, alright? Shhh. Shhh. No need to be upset. No need to cry."

Severus cut the spell. He'd heard enough.

May 11, 1976 - Hogwarts

"He's recruiting them, Cassiopeia."

She stretched out on her bed. "Hmm. Why do you care?" she asked curiously.

"Why do I - what? Because of course I care."

"He'll recruit them to… whatever it is, maybe give them some little assignments to keep them occupied. But outside that, what use are they when they're still in school?"

"I don't know. That's why it makes no sense that he's asked them to join."

She pursed her lips, tapping her fingers on the wooden posts. "He hasn't called you up for tea anytime during the past few months?"

"No, why? - oh. So, you think he's given up on me as a lost cause for something - "

"Information?"

"Yes, maybe, so… now he's going after them."

She shrugged. "It's just a theory, but that's what came into my mind. Potter's probably the most useful of them, at the moment. The money, the family name… Sirius, probably the same, if he's ever accepted back, but… Lily?"

"Favouritism?"

She grimaced. "Not in that way, I hope, but yes, perhaps. She also could be the weakest link - you know, get one of them, get them all… Does he know about the… child?"

"I couldn't tell you, but if he's still anything like he was with me then yes, Legilimency will inform him of everything."

"He'll know, then, what she asked of you."

"Most certainly, but - ah, no, he could expel me for brewing a highly dangerous, controlled substance. Hmm. Even more so if I were to actually give it to her."

She hummed. "Do you reckon he'll want her to keep the child, then?"

"Hard to say, but… no I think it'd be too big of a scandal. I can't give her the potion now, though, it's too risky with her mind being as open as it is. And unless she - well, actually, I could attempt to brew the potion again, and if I succeed, give it to her before obliviating her of the memory. She'll miscarry some time afterwards."

"And if you don't?"

Severus tilted his head back, laying it against the wall. "Three options. One, she has the child, with all that entails. Two, she miscarries naturally. Three, someone else gives her a substance of a similar nature."

"You don't want to see how things play out, though, do you?You're worried."

Severus met her gaze. "I'd prefer to have some control over the situation, yes."

She shook her head. "You want to do it in a fashion which hurts her least. I looked up the potion you were brewing, I know it it's standard. It eases the pain - the emotional pain."

Severus exhaled. "She wants to get rid of it, but - you've seen how it's hurt Narcissa. It can be a… traumatic event."

"Of course."

"It would be cruel not to help her, if I knew it was possible."

"Of course."

He sighed. "I'm glad we're in agreement, then."

May 16, 1976 - Hogwarts

"Lily," he whispered, catching the girl's attention just as she entered Gryffindor Tower.

"What - Severus? What is it?"

A quick glance around informed him that they were alone, and he extracted the small, glowing vial from his pocket, carefully placing it into Lily's hands.

She gasped, and he held a finger to his lips. "It's delayed-action," he murmured. "You'll have some cramps in about a half-hour, but they shouldn't be bad. Due to how far along you are, it won't be more than a little bleeding. Once that passes, it'll be all over."

"Severus - "

He hushed her. "I don't want us to be overheard."

Lily opened her mouth, as though she wanted to say something, but no words emerged. "… I - thank you. Oh gods, thank you."

He nodded. "Just - this isn't anything more than the help I'd give to anyone, alright? It changes nothing."

"Y-Yes, alright," she replied shakily, then glanced down to the vial.

"If you've made up your mind, I'd prefer you drink it now, so I can make sure there are no adverse effects."

Lily glanced down to her stomach, her hand rising up almost subconsciously to touch it. She stood like that, silently, for a moment. "…It's for the best," she said finally, but he noticed her hand shaking as she reached to unstopper the vial.

He couldn't help but pity her in that moment - a girl, who rarely faced the consequences of her actions, having to do so now, in this way.

She downed it quickly, before handing the glass to him, and turning away. "Thank you, Severus," she said quietly. "I'm… I'm glad you found it in your heart to help me. I - Goodnight."

"… Goodnight, Lily. Obliviate."

May 17, 1976 - Hogwarts

Severus sat motionless in the Common Room, his head resting against his fingertips. Yesterday had gone by in a blur, as though muddled by sleep or alcohol, and he still couldn't shake the sensation from his mind.

It was an awful sort of numbness, one that made his body heavy, and his thoughts slow. Why, why did he always have to get himself involved?

"Are you certain you're alright, Severus?"

"You've asked me that same question fifteen times in the past twenty-four hours. The answer is yes."

"It's a pity that I don't believe you, then," Cassiopeia responded flatly, placing her essay on the coffee table. "What about your burns?" she asked, after a moment.

"Burns? What burns - " he blinked away the fog from his mind. "Oh, those. They're healing. And as long as I keep a layer of cooling paste on them too, they barely bother me."

She pursed her lips. "That's not a good sign. Show me."

He looked at her. "Are you insane? In a room full of people?"

She rolled her eyes, sticking her chin out at Slytherin couple, currently cuddling much too closely for it to be appropriate.

"My room, then," she suggested.

"No."

"Severus…"

"I don't want you looking at my - " he looked away, flushing.

"Your shoulder, Severus? Don't be an idiot. Come on."

He was dragged to the fifth-year girls' dorms, uncertain, really, why he was letting Cassiopeia commander him. As they entered inside, Aurora stood from her bed, giving them a smile.

"I'll leave you two to be," she smirked, before closing the door behind her. He opened his mouth to correct her assumption, but Cassiopeia had lightly pushed him into the bed, and began to unbutton his shirt.

"You really need to be more careful, Severus," she said, her face a grimace of sympathy as she surveyed the dark pattern of splashes that now adorned his skin. "I'm glad, at least, that they don't seem to be getting infected."

"Yes, that's good," he frowned. "Cassiopeia - "

"Yes?" she asked innocently.

"You're acting strange."

"Am I?"

"Has someone drugged you? Alcohol?" he asked, concerned.

"What - no, Severus."

"You're being very… bossy."

"Am I?" she laughed. "Strange."

"…One of the few occasions I've seen it happen is when you were drunk."

"I haven't been drinking, though."

"No?"

"No, unless - " she buried her head in her arms, and groaned, "Oh gods, the older Slytherins were passing out some cups of tea, why on earth did I trust them to be clean?"

"Or more likely, why didn't you think of the possibility they may try to spike the drinks?"

"Yes, yes that too. I haven't made a fool of myself, though, have I?It couldn't have been a great amount."

"Not exceptionally so, but enough that I'm sure some people would be able to tell. You should probably sleep it off."

"I will, then," she said, buttoning up his oxford, her breath warm against his skin. "You still haven't told me, though, truthfully, if you're alright."

"You won't leave it, will you?"

She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips.

"I feel… strange. Obliviation is not magic to be used lightly, and the potion - I can't put it into words."

"I understand."

"Severus."

"Lily? What are you doing here?" he asked, emerging from the stairs to the dungeons.

"I just - I needed to tell you that I don't need it anymore - the potion."

"…That's good to hear."

"Yes. So, if we could put this behind us? Pretend I never asked?"

"Very well."

She gave a small, grateful smile before turning away. He didn't know what compelled him, but -

"Lily?"

"Yes?"

"… I wouldn't be quick to forgive B - Sirius, if I were you."

She seemed to mull over his words for a moment, before giving him a nod, and walking away.

May 19, 1976 - Hogwarts

Cassiopeia set the newspaper down, her throat tight. "Every time, Severus. Why does it hurt every time?"

Her friend tucked the paper back into his bag - grimacing at the grisly image on its front - before laying out his hands. "I don't know."

"He's never going to change, is he? I thought…" she trailed off. "Gods, I was - am so stupid."

"You were hopeful."

"Yes, like I said: stupid. And we're in too deep now," she said. "The others have it easy, don't they? Just pick a side, do as you're told, and that'll be it. But we - what if he asks you to join? To take the mark?"

"It will be two years, at least, until that happens. For all we know, it could all end before then."

"But what if it doesn't? Would you join, if he asked?"

Severus paused, contemplating. "If I saw it as a way to help, to keep everyone safe… yes."

"Do you think you could? They're getting more open about themselves, more aggressive. Tracking down those who oppose them."

"They don't always win, though. How many years has it been, since my grandparents went on the run?"

"But they had access to money, resources. Once they move from the important ones - the officials and blood-traitors - you know who they'll go after, next. Not every muggleborn can go into hiding."

"You paint a bleak image," he frowned.

"I'm worried."

"I can see it. We were never supposed to be involved."

"I know… I think about it, sometimes, about how our lives could have turned out, without him."

"I do too," he admitted.

She nodded. "And knowing everything, knowing how bad things could get, it makes me feel so foolish worrying about silly things - you know, exams and the like."

"Hey, you can worry about those things. It's fine," he smiled. "But you really have no reason to, Cassie, because everyone knows your OWLs will go wonderfully."

She laughed lightly. "Thanks, Severus, but I didn't say it so you could shower me with praise."

"It's only the truth."

She lay her head against his shoulder. "It's not, but - thank you."

"Of course."

He threaded his fingers through her hair, and she relaxed into his embrace.

"Anything," he murmured, the word barely louder than a breath.