Chapter 13: Dracula
A week passed without any other sort of contact or update from Iris about his costume. It almost made Severus forget about the whole party as well. On the day of Halloween and the said party later that evening. Severus was having breakfast when Lily sat in front of him, getting a plate for herself. After a month of all the different houses sitting in various tables, students have begun to care less and less for house biases. But not all of them were as welcoming as the rest.
Severus almost choked on his orange juice as soon as he realized Lily was seated right in front of him.
"So… I heard that you were going to Slughorn's Halloween party too." Lily piped up, swallowing a piece of her pancake.
"Ye-yes." Severus stumbled just to say one word. "How did you know?"
"Iris has been staying up late and locking herself in her walk-in closet. Various cloths been strewn around the whole place when Alice tried to convince her to sleep. We could hear her muttering your name, so we kind of figured it out ourselves." Lily giggled as she tried to explain. "It's surprising, you never really liked going to any of Slughorn's parties." Lily added.
"What changed your mind?" Lily asked, her green emerald eyes staring into his soul.
"Iris… managed to convince me." Severus said, turning red at what Iris previously mentioned to get him to agree.
Lily saw Severus' reaction and suddenly felt downcast.
"I see…" Lily replied solemnly, avoiding Severus' gaze. "She must be something else, if she even managed to convince you to go to Slughorn's party. I couldn't even convince you before much less even think about it long enough."
Severus noticed the sudden change in Lily's tone as he watched her began to pick on the mushrooms of her sunny side up.
"It's not that you couldn't convince me…" Severus said, reaching over Lily's plate with his fork. "I just either didn't have or know what to wear." Severus began to take the mushrooms off of Lily's plate and ate them himself.
This small gesture was enough to make Lily's heart flutter, even though he's already done this thousands of times when they were kids. Only now did it feel different seeing him do it again.
"Sorry, I must have sound really insensitive." Lily said, looking down. Ashamed that she didn't realize.
"No worries. At least this time I get to come." Severus said, trying to lift the mood. "Say ummm… What are you planning to go as?" Severus asked, pretending not to know.
"That's a secret. You'll have to be there to see it." Lily giggled at Severus.
Severus sighed at her attempt of trying to keep her costume a secret, even though he already has an idea of what it was thanks to Iris.
"Alright, then I'll definitely come. If it means seeing you." Severus said, earning a blush from Lily with the way he played his words.
"Since when did you get so smooth with your words?" Lily teased him.
"What are you talking about? I've always been very smooth with my words." Severus said, wiggling his eyebrows.
This made Lily begin to laugh uncontrollably, causing her to choke on spit. Severus laughed at her attempts of trying to playfully hit him as she chugged her juice to stop coughing.
Suddenly Lily was called by her other companions.
"Sorry, gotta go. Class is starting soon." Lily said, excusing herself from the table.
"Good luck, I'll see you tonight then?" Severus asked. Lily fervently nodded at him.
"Wouldn't miss it." Lily said, a cheeky smile forming on her lips. "By the way, if it's not much of a bother to you… Would you like to hang out? Just the two of us again, like back then? Steal a couple of butterbeers from Slughorn and head to the astronomy tower? Just for an hour or half." Lily asked, a small glint in her eyes waiting for Severus' response.
"Wouldn't miss it." Severus repeated Lily's previous answer. This made the fiery red-head exceptionally happy and ever more so excited for tonight's events.
'Arianrhod don't fail me now.' Severus thought inwardly as he waved good bye to Lily who also waved back at him while walking backwards, almost bumping into a Ravenclaw.
Once Lily left the great hall, Severus went back to continue eating what was left on his plate. Only to notice Potter staring daggers at him. Severus only smirked at James as he picked up one of the mushrooms he had gotten from Lily's plate and chewed them with his chin up high. Causing James' gaze to darken at Severus.
"Wow! If looks could kill he'd have mauled you silly." Iris said, popping out of nowhere as she sat down where Lily previously sat in.
"He's welcome to actually try." Severus said, after swallowing his food.
Iris smirked at Severus' boisterous attitude.
'He's in a real good mood.' Iris thought to herself, smiling.
"Your costume is ready." Iris said, while chewing a mouth full of an egg sandwich she picked up.
"Ugh… Could you please swallow first before talking? It's unbecoming." Severus said, cringing at the sight of food in her mouth. Iris rolled her eyes at him, but did as she was told. Swallowing her food, she tells him again.
"I said, your costume is ready. Could you at least show even a bit of excitement?" Iris said, pouting at Severus who rolled his eyes at her this time.
"You seem to twist my definition for what I find exciting to yours. I find excitement in staying in bed." Severus said.
"Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that after being so 'smooth' with your words just now." Iris said, her sarcasm was so thick it made Severus choke on his food.
"Shut up." Severus muttered, after chugging a goblet of water.
"Anyway, once classes are over meet me in the room of requirement. We'll change there and I have to fix your hair. I hope you washed it like I instructed you too." Iris said, eyeing Severus' head sharply as she stood up to leave for her class.
"Or risk you washing it in the fountain again? Please, that's the only time I'll probably admit was a lesson learned for me." Severus said, grunting at Iris who smirked cheekily at him as she turned to leave.
As soon as classes ended, all students who were part of the Slug club were bustling about in Hogwarts. Slughorn's Halloween party was the talk of the day and everyone who was invited flaunted while those who weren't could simply watch in envy, promising themselves to become more noticeable to Slughorn.
Severus waited patiently outside the room of requirement, until now he never knew how to get the damn thing to show itself to him either. While he waited, memories of watching Harry Potter and his students walk in and out of the room of requirement brought a small smile to his face as he recalls Umbridge's many attempts of trying to catch them. Although the boy never quite grew to him because he always reminded him of James and all of Severus' mistakes and shortcomings. Severus could admit that there was a part of himself that was very amused by the trio as he watched them from the shadows.
"Oh, you're already here. Good, that means we can start early." Iris said, as she rounded the corner.
"What do you mean by that? Does it take that long to wear the costumes you've made?" Severus asked, as he watched Iris approach the blank wall.
Rather than perform the normal steps in order for the Room of requirement to reveal itself, Iris simply cleared her throat as if she were annoyed and glared at the wall until the doors suddenly revealed themselves.
"How did you-" Severus tried to ask.
"Sorry it took a while, that essence of magic tends to be more stubborn than the rest." Iris said, walking inside. "Why? Do you 'not' know how to open it?" Iris asked. Severus shook his head side to side. "Dear me, it's quite simple. Just walk past that area three times thinking of what you want and it shall reveal itself. Now come, we must not waste more time." Iris said,
Severus entered to find that Iris had requested a room that looked almost too surreal. It was a dressing room that had marble floors, with curtains that sparkled like fine dusts of gold. White beams with ancient signs and sigils carved into its stone hold the curtains in place. A lush red couch sitting in the middle of the room, while a marble white coffee table lay in front of it. A large mirror with a golden frame floated around the room, following Iris around like a puppy.
"Where… are we?" Severus asked, while ogling at the whole room.
"In my realm this is exactly what my dressing room looks like. You like?" Iris said, turning back at him to grin at his dumbfounded face.
"Too white for my tastes." Severus quickly replied.
"If so, then you'll most certainly like what I've made for us." Iris said, approaching a rack with hanging black cloth. Grabbing it, she approaches Severus who was still inspecting the room. "I was thinking you'd make a lovely vampire-" Iris went on to say, but Severus abruptly stopped in his tracks, making Iris bump into his back. "-you know the least you could do is give a warning first." Iris grumpily said.
"A vampire?! Really?" Severus asked, looking sarcastically at her. Rolling his eyes at her suggestion.
"Correction! Not just any vampire, but Dracula himself!" Iris beamed, raising the costume she made for Severus up high like it was the greatest thing she's ever invented. Severus' eye began to twitch as he watched her extravagant and dramatic actions. "And anyway, you're the one who said I can decide on anything as long as it's not ridiculous." Iris retorted back at him. "You're called the dungeon bat for a reason, might as well live up to it in a 'smooth' way." Iris said, exaggerating the word smooth while simultaneously wiggling her eyebrows like how Severus did earlier that morning in front of Lily.
"This is ridiculous-" Severus began to say but Iris cut him off.
"Look, you can either take it or just go naked. Do I look like I care if you went in either of the two?" Iris said in finality.
Severus looked at her directly, she really didn't care. He sighed heavily, shaking his head side to side, he gives up.
"Alright, alright. I'll wear it, Slughorn's buffet must sound really damn exciting for you if you're going this far for a small party." Severus said, while grumbling as he took the costume from Iris hands and walked towards the two white pillars, pulling the curtains back to change into the costume.
While Severus was busy trying to put on his costume, Iris snapped her fingers and she was able to instantly change her attire. She wore a grey tattered gown, with a matching veil over her head. Changing the skin of her mortal flesh she was able to make herself even paler than she already was. Her skin greyish blue and cold to the touch, almost as if she were really dead.
"Those mortals will have a run for their money on this costume." Iris muttered, as she began to admire herself in front of the floating mirror.
"What was that?" Severus piped up, Iris had been so focused in changing her appearance she did not notice the tall boy had already finished.
"I said you look like a much more dashing version of Dracula!" Iris joyfully said, as she turned around to face Severus.
Severus wore a white 18th century undercoat with matching ascot and ruffled wrist cuffs, topped with a button maroon vest.
"Isn't this a bit 'modern' to be Dracula?" Severus asked, while turning and twisting around in front of the floating mirror and raising the matching cloak.
"Oh please, did you really think I'd allow you to waltz in there in just a dark coat? No! Absolutely not!" Iris said, raising her fists into the air nearly hitting the floating mirror had it not swerved away from her in time. "I am a woman of fashion in both the mortal AND immortal realms. To allow you to wear unstylish clothing in front me would be a blasphemy." Iris said, putting her hand unto her forehead dramatically as if she were about to faint.
Severus felt like a vein on his neck would pop any time soon if he didn't stop Iris' nagging.
"Alright alright! For-" Severus said, but was cut off by Iris.
"Don't use my name in vain." Iris warned, on beat before Severus could finish his sentence.
"-Merlin's balls, can we just please get this over with and head to the party already." Severus finished. Earning a proud smirk on Iris' lips.
"Alright then, just wear your cloak and I'll do your hair – oblivion's despair, is it that hard to wear a damn cloak?" Iris said, squinting her eyes in disappointment at Severus as she watched him struggle to wear the cloak.
"I don't know how to wear this, it's not like the usual cloaks in school that we can just slip on… and what's this chain even for!?" Severus complained, as he struggled with the cloak even more.
Iris tsked and approached Severus, grabbing the cloak from him.
"Give it here… dear me, are you a handful. Can't even wear a damn cloak right, you're like a child." Iris muttered, under her breath as she scolded Severus.
"There! That's how you're supposed to wear it. You were confused because you thought this cloak had sleeves like your normal school cloak but it's not supposed to have any." Iris said, as she took a step back to take a good look at Severus. She beamed with pride over her work and talents.
(For reference to Severus' costume, check out Dracula Tepes from Castlevania.)
"Now come, sit. I need to work on your hair." Iris said, snapping her fingers to conjure a chair, the floating mirror positioning itself in front of it. Severus sat in front of the mirror as Iris began to walk back and forth wondering how she should style his shoulder length hair.
"By the way, I've been meaning to tell you-" Severus began to say, while Iris tapped his hair and it turned into a sleek back. Unsatisfied she turned it back. "-you should consider conjuring a wand for yourself, even it wasn't real." Severus finished.
"Why should I? It's a hassle to keep and it pokes your sides from within your pockets when you sit." Iris calmly responded, tapping Severus hair again changing it into various colors.
"Like I said, just 'conjure' one then make it disappear afterwards. People are becoming too suspicious of you for not owning one and it's even more suspicious that none of the professors have called your attention for it. They might figure out you've muddled their minds." Severus responded, while shaking his head side to side after Iris turned his hair white.
"Ughhhhhh… fine. Wait, I got it!" Iris beamed, after finally figuring out what to do with Severus' hair. Tapping it, what once was straight licks of hair turned lush wavy dark locks.
"Then we'll put it up!" Iris whisked a finger and Severus' hair was done in a low loose ponytail. "And finally…" Severus's sideburns turned as white as Iris' hair. "Voila!"
Severus turned his head slowly from one side to the other.
"I'll admit, I like this look." Severus said, feeling satisfied.
"It's not over yet, go ahead, give us a smile." Iris said, while simultaneously showing her pearly whites too.
Severus hesitantly did the same, but soon came to realize that his teeth suddenly had fangs. But strangely enough he couldn't feel them in his mouth whenever he opened or closed his mouth.
"I made it so that it wouldn't hurt you when you talked or ate. But you'll feel its sharpness when you touch it with your fingers." Iris said. "But it feels like it's missing something though…" Iris thought to herself until she conjured a ruby pendant unto Severus' ascot. "There! Now it's perfect, after the party is over keep the pendant. It has a portion of my essence so I immediately know where you are, whenever and wherever." Iris said.
'While protecting you of course.' Iris inwardly said to herself.
Severus tsked, as he looked at the pendant through the mirror while lightly touching it.
"Stalker." Severus mumbles to himself, but inwardly thinks that the pendant looks really good on him.
Feeling overly satisfied with her work, Iris began to float towards the exit. "Now let's go and steal the spotlight."
Slughorn's party had already been brimming with students when Iris and Severus finally arrived. But nevertheless, they were yet again fashionably late. Slughorn's party was truly decorated with the spirit of Halloween. Thunder and lightning clouded the ceiling, a smaller version of the ceiling in the great hall. While bats swooped around the place from here and there. Enchanted skeletons were serving food and drinks.
"Wow, Slughorn went all out." Severus mumbled under his breath.
But Iris was not kidding when she said that they would steal the spotlight, especially now that all eyes were on them as they walked. Slughorn, who was initially having a conversation with a senior from Hufflepuff, immediately strode to the two with a wide grin on his face. Slughorn was dressed in a suit but he wore a jack-o lantern on his head, while little kindles of fire circled him.
"My word! I must say, you two have absolutely out-bested every costume here. I can forgive you both for coming in later than usual." Slughorn said, whispering the last sentence to them. Iris giggled.
"Thank you, Professor." Both Severus and Iris thanked simultaneously.
"Tell me though Miss Alarie, how did you make it seem as though you are floating?" Slughorn asks.
"I enchanted the lower cloth with a disillusionment charm. Works wonders to the costume." Iris lied, her words felt full of pride in her work.
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! And you, my boy? How did you get your teeth to become so sharp? Is it not a hassle for yourself?" Professor Slughorn added, turning his attention towards Severus.
"No, Professor they're just fakes but I can eat just fine." Severus said, trying to limit as much information about his fangs as he could. But luckily, it was already enough to satisfy Slughorn.
Slughorn chuckled, bringing a hand to his large belly.
"You two are absolutely amazing. Talented and intelligent nonetheless. Now I'm sure the two of you must be famished, drinks and food are on that side of the room. Now I won't be taking much of your time, seeing as though you must be impatient to enjoy your time with your schoolmates." Slughorn said, glancing at Severus while saying the last sentence.
But Severus didn't notice as his eyes were too busy searching the room for Lily.
Iris giggled at Severus' aloofness.
"Thank you, Professor. We'll be sure to enjoy the party." Iris said, dragging Severus away from the Professor who waved them goodbye to leave them to their own devices.
"How hard is it to spot a huge red cloak?" Severus muttered to himself, his eyes still busy searching for Lily. "I thought you said she would be dressed as little red riding hood?" Severus asked Iris, who began to stuff her mouth with food. Iris had dragged them both to the buffet table.
"Don't worry your little pale head." Iris chimed, while happily eating. "She's here alright, although I might have 'slightly' misinformed you." Iris said, with a grin on her face as she noticed someone walking towards them.
"Wait, what?" Severus swerved his head towards Iris who began to walk away from him.
"Viper, I will be joining a different group of people, have as much fun as you want. Bye~" Iris said, without so much as turning back to him, wiggling her fingers good bye.
"What do you mean you've slightly misinformed me about Lily?" Severus called out to Iris.
"You called?" Lily spoke from behind Severus, who immediately turned to look behind him as soon as he heard her voice.
"Lily!" Severus gasped, as soon as he saw Lily's costume.
Lily was wearing a beautiful long white flowy dress that hugged her figure. But what was most noticeable was the splashes of red liquid on the chest of her dress flowing downwards. Her mouth had fake blood smeared on her lips, as if they were dripping from the side of her lips. She had long acrylic nails that looked like claws. When she smiled, fake fangs protruded slightly awkward from her teeth. Lily was dressed as a vampire too.
To say that Severus was shocked would be an understatement, he was completely mesmerized by her.
"You're a vampire too? What a coincidence." Severus said, after fumbling from within his brain for a few seconds what to say to her.
"Actually, Marlene, Alice and I were supposed to dress up as Dracula's brides. But Marlene decided to change her costume last minute after Iris gave her a suggestion to dress up as a cat and Frank said that he wanted to talk to Alice… So, here I am!" Lily said, while nervously chuckling trying to explain the situation for her costume without going beet red after realizing that Severus arrived dressed dashingly as Dracula.
'Arianrhod, I'll build you a shrine and offer it fruit after tonight.' Severus thought inwardly as he tried his best not to stupidly smile at the opportunity that Iris had given to him.
'Ditch the shrine, just offer the fruit.' Iris replied to him telepathically, making Severus flinch recalling that Iris can hear his thoughts. Severus cleared his throat to hide his blush and excitement.
"What a coincidence then…" Severus offered an arm to Lily. "As my bride, I should not be leaving you to your own devices lest you try to charm an innocent passerby and feed on them. The poor things wouldn't be able to stand a chance against a beast like you." Severus said, causing Lily to ridiculously blush at the words 'my bride'. While simultaneously slapping his shoulder for teasing her.
Iris watched the two have fun, a sense of pride filled her heart seeing the genuine smile and laughter coming out of Severus' mouth. But just as she was about to indulge herself with more of the delicious dishes that Slughorn had laid out, she felt a sudden itch.
"They're here." Iris tsked, immediately sensing the three Gryffindors who were trying to cramp themselves into James' invisibility cloak without being noticed until they were safe to put down the cloak and frolic the room in costumes.
Through mortal eyes, the work of James' invisibility cloak given by death himself to his forefathers, was the most perfect of all invisibility cloaks without a shroud of imperfection to its creation. If one truly wanted to disappear, using this cloak would be a sure-fire way of never being seen ever again.
But through a Deity's eyes, Arianrhod's eyes, she could see both the essence of the cloak and the three boys as clear as daylight. It almost made her spit out the roasted lamb she was chewing on seeing the three boys in such an odd position just so that all three of them could fit inside the cloak while walking. James was giving Peter a piggy back ride, while Sirius was crouching underneath James in between his legs trying to duck walk simultaneously with James' steps. The longer Iris watched them the harder it was to contain her laughter. She must have looked crazy in the eyes of the rest as it took all of her willpower not to laugh, so heavy and labored air kept coming out of her nostrils.
'I can't let them know I can see them or it'll ruin my plans, but heaven's light I am dying here.' Iris thought inwardly, gasping for air. After composing herself, she went to sit on one of Slughorn's couches so that she can peacefully listen in on everyone's thoughts and conversations, especially the three boys.
"Can you see where he is Wormtail?" James said, as he struggled to keep giving Peter a piggy back ride.
"Still looking." Peter replied, searching the room for Severus.
"Well can you look faster? I'm getting a cramp down here and this costume is itchy." Sirius complained, but James shushed him.
"Keep it down Padfoot. If I can hear you, I bet everyone else can." James said.
"This is stupid, we look stupid. Prongs, I don't think it's even worth it at this point." Sirius said, but James shushed him louder. Sirius' words falling on deaf ears.
"There, I see him!" Peter whisper yelled. "He's with Lily. They're both dressed as vampires. Huh, I like his coat though." Peter said, fascinated by Severus' costume.
"Focus Wormtail, now we've got to find a place where we can take the cloak off safely." James said, as he began to walk towards a more hidden part of the room.
"Finally!" Whisper cried Sirius, who duck walked the whole way.
'Almost there.' Iris smirked to herself.
Only two of the boys emerged from the cloak, namely James and Sirius. Peter remained within the cloak. If Iris remembered it right, the boys planned that Sirius will enchant the punch bowl to float right on top of Severus. Then, Peter would approach Severus with the use of the invisibility cloak and forcefully pull unto his cloak to make the poor boy trip. Once Severus ungracefully falls backwards down unto the floor, they'll pour the punch all over him. Then James will emerge to swoop Lily in his arms.
Iris rolled her eyes at the last part.
But she was very prepared for this moment, now all she needed to do was sit tight and watch as everything unfolds before her.
Iris watched as Peter began to swiftly approach Severus and Lily. From the corner of her eyes the punch bowl began to subtly float in the air, slowly but surely trying to position itself on top of Severus without anyone ever noticing anything. While James prowled the area, slowly closing in on the two while trying to remain unnoticeable as he can.
As soon as the punch bowl had positioned itself above Severus, Peter was about to yank Severus' cloak.
Just then the pendant gleamed.
Peter was suddenly knocked over sideways by one of the Skeleton servants rather hard. Bumping into a Gryffindor senior from behind who ended up accidentally pouring his glass of punch all over his date's costume. Infuriated, he swerves to look behind him but rather than seeing Peter he spots a Ravenclaw from the same batch as him. A heated argument ensues as the Gryffindor begins to accuse the Ravenclaw. Peter tries to get away from the area by crawling on the floor in a panic. Without realizing that he was crawling towards James, who lost sight of him after the seniors began to argue. The Gryffindor then grabs a candied apple from a passing skeleton servant and throws it towards the Ravenclaw in anger, but the Ravenclaw ducks in time. The candied apple ends up landing hard unto Sirius who was flirting with a girl dressed as a devil. This causes the punch bowl to abruptly change its position, rather than being on top of Severus it was now on top of James.
James who was completely unaware of where Peter was, ended up tripping over the said boy, falling hard unto the ground. Sirius, who was still winded after a candied apple was thrown at him, dropped the contents of the punch bowl as soon as he saw a figure lay flat on the floor not realizing it was James. Both James and Peter were soaked, catching the attention of everyone in the room even the two seniors who were initially arguing.
Slughorn immediately approached the two boys. After realizing who he had dropped punch unto, Sirius tried to make a break for it until his collar was pulled back, looking behind him Sirius saw Remus who was starring daggers at him.
"Moonyyyy… Hiiii… Didn't think I'd see you here mate." Sirius tried to play it off, but Remus dragged him towards a fuming Slughorn without a word.
Iris slumped further into the lush couch sighing in satisfaction as she continued to listen to Slughorn chew out the three boys.
'Arianrhod, you've done it again.' Iris thought inwardly, chucking a grape into her mouth.
"Huh, I wonder what's going on over there." Lily wondered, trying to look over the shoulders of the many students who have gathered to watch Slughorn scold some students.
"I don't think we should pry. They seem to be getting an earful from the Professor." Severus replied, ushering Lily away from the scene. "Merlin's beard I forgot how taxing events like these are." Severus mumbled, looking a bit pale after her social meter had been completely diminished.
Lily then pulled on his sleeve, causing Severus to look back towards her as she pointed towards the exit.
"Want to ditch it then? Head to the astronomy tower a bit earlier?" Lily whispered her suggestion to Severus, standing on her tippy toes in order for her to reach him. Severus immediately agreed knowing that being in the quiet of the astronomy tower with Lily was far better than being in this crowd.
The two teens giggled like children as the snuck out of the room.
"Oh dung balls, we forgot to nick a few butter beers for ourselves." Lily said, slapping her forehead for forgetting.
"It's alright, I can go in myself and get them for us. Wait for me here." Severus said, going back to the party.
Lily nodded her head in excitement, but as soon as Severus entered the room nature suddenly called for her. Lily decided a quick stop to the loo would be fine.
"Not only are you boys uninvited, but you have also crashed this private party and have made a mockery of yourselves. Five points will be taken from each of you." Slughorn scolded, causing the other Gryffindors in the party to groan after another set of points have been taken from them. "Lupin, dear boy, please escort these gentlemen out of the party at once." Slughorn instructed. "Now now, everyone! The party isn't over yet! Please continue the festivities and don't mind these ruffians." Slughorn yelled out trying to keep the peace and the party going. While Remus stared at the three menacingly.
"Moony we can explain-" James tried to say, but Remus began to usher them towards the exit.
"I can't believe you three, I have a strong feeling that this little stunt you guys did wasn't for yourselves but for another in this party." Remus grumbled under his breath, then shown a fake smile at other students who were staring at them. "After I told you guys to leave him alone, this is what you do behind my back? It's insulting!" Remus said with clenched teeth, throwing them out of the room. "I'll deal with you three after the party, see you in the dorms." Remus said, in a grave voice.
"Now we've done it." Sirius said.
"Moony's mad at us." Peter sadly said.
"I told you we should have backed out of it Prongs. You know what? After what happened back at the lake, lately you haven't been listening to anything we say-" Sirius began to scold James, but his words fell on deaf ears when James saw Lily walking the corridor and began to jog to catch up to her.
"-I know you wanna get back at the git, I do too. But I think we should lay low for a while, Moony looks really mad- Prongs? Prongs! Annnddd… He's gone." Sirius sighed in defeat, as he watched his lovesick friend catch up to a girl he knows is way out of James' league.
"Maybe we can tell him later? In the dorms?" Peter suggested. Sirius heaved another heavy sigh and turned the opposite direction towards the Gryffindor dorms.
"That is if we'll be able to survive Moony's wrath later. Come on Wormtail, my balls are practically freezing here." Sirius said, while Peter immediately got up to follow him.
As soon as Lily finished answering nature's call, she immediately went out to try to head back before Severus could notice we was gone. But James was waiting for her outside.
"Hey there Evans." James greeted, trying to be casual despite the syrupy liquid practically all over him and his glasses crooked from the fall he took.
Lily was initially perplexed as to why James looked the way he did until she realized that he must have been the reason for the fiasco at the party.
"I should have known it was you who crashed the party, Potter." Lily rolled her eyes at him, side stepping James to head back to Severus.
"Why the rush Evans? Got somewhere you need to be?" James said, grabbing a hold of Lily by the wrist to stop her from walking away.
"First of all, it's none of your business where I want or need to be. And second of all, let me go your hand is sticky it's disgusting." Lily said, trying to pry her hand away from James without trying to touch him as much as possible.
"Are you going to go see Snivelly? You know he's still into the Dark Arts right? So why are you still hanging out with him? It's not good for your image to hang around him Evans, I know you want to be Head girl in our seventh year. My father's been meaning to have a word with Dumbledore, he wants to make me Head boy. I can pull a few strings to make it happen. I can help you." James pestered Lily, with each sentence he was pulling her closer and closer to him.
Lily felt extremely uncomfortable with the situation and insulted for both Severus and herself for all the things that James had said to her and her wrist was beginning to feel painful. But just as she was about to retaliate, someone had pushed James away from Lily and pulled her closer to them, it was Severus. In Lily's eyes, it felt like time had slowed for her as the soft light of the torches made Severus' black dark orbs gleam bright in the dark, she could practically see herself in them. His cloak floated in the air as he pushed James away from her, making him look like one of those caped heroes in the movies she watched on TV as a child with her father. He held unto her shoulder tightly, pulling her closer into him. It wasn't the kind of tightness that felt painful, but the kind that felt warm and assured. As soon as she came back to reality, she realized that Severus was hugging her protectively and his cloak had shielded her away from James' sight.
"You're wrong." Severus said to James.
"What?" James questioned.
"I said, you're wrong." Severus repeated, his words were firmer and held finality in his voice. "You're wrong for thinking that Lily needs your help to become whatever she wants to be or achieve. She is perfectly capable of doing all those by herself without any assistance from anyone. Not from me, not from your father, and most especially not from you. Lily is extraordinary, brave, and wonderful. It's what brings fire into her eyes and your shallow attraction for her will never be able to see that." Severus said, without ever breaking eye contact with James.
Lily could only stare at Severus in awe of all the words he said about her. Being so close to him hidden within his cloak and feeling his heart beating made her heart beat just as fast or even faster. Severus next words brought Lily out of her stupor.
"Hold your breath." Severus whispered to Lily, throwing a dungbomb at James.
Using the opportunity to escape, Severus grabs Lily's hand and runs towards the Astronomy tower while laughing heartily on the thought that he had just set off a dungbomb at James Potter, whom he could hear was belching behind them. Lily on the other hand, was still entranced with Severus as she was just moments ago. She didn't know whether it was because of the shrimp cocktail she had from the party or the way the soft torch light combined with the streaming moonlight from the windows made Severus seem so much more dashing while they were running through the dim lit halls. But she felt as if someone had charmed her stomach with butterflies rather than slugs, and she could feel them crawling into her heart and never wanting to leave.
Author's note: I made this slightly longer, hope you all like it. I'm gonna pass out now good niggghhtt~
Time check 4:24 AM