Chapter Three

"When will you be home?"

Lily glanced over at her son, who was looking at her with inquisitive eyes, and paused as she made to put on her cloak.

She felt a stab of guilt at the expression on his face, one she had seen often – that innocently lost look in his eyes – but that she had often pushed to the back of her mind.

She wondered - scarred by the loss of his father - if he ever thought she wasn't going to come home?

Sirius had struck a nerve with her during their argument the fortnight before now.

Lily wasn't willing to admit it to him, for obvious reasons, but she knew that Harry was beginning to question things.

She knew he wanted her home. That it hurt him when she wasn't there as much as Sirius was. But when she looked at her peers, almost all of them worked also. The few who didn't, their husbands worked, and they stayed at home with their children.

Not an option in her case.

All of the money she and James had – money mostly inherited from his parents – she had spent on the various treatments that had been offered in the healers' attempts to reverse James' injuries.

And when those didn't work, she'd looked elsewhere.

So many different remedies and methods, medical and holistic. None of them worked. But they had taken up most of their savings and the meagre wage she'd received during her Healers apprenticeship wasn't doing much to replenish what had been futilely invested.

In fact, she should count herself lucky that she had even been accepted onto the Fellowship Programme, for the money, alone, for she was certainly not going to be turning to Sirius for financial help on top of everything else.

"Mum?"

She was brought out of her thoughts by Harry's voice. She looked at him, noticing his uncertainty as he repeated his question.

"When will you be home?"

Lily forced a smile, "I won't be too late tonight, Sweetheart. I think the first meeting will just be a few hours."

Harry looked unconvinced but smiled and nodded.

"Okay. Can I have a story before bed, this time?"

Lily frowned.

"You always get a story before bed."

"Not with you."

The little boy's tone was almost accusing. Lily wondered if she was imagining it. After all, she had been more on edge than usual the past week.

"Yes, of course you can have a story with me," she assured him, before finally pulling her cloak on, "Come here." He stepped towards her, obediently, and she drew him into a hug and pressed a kiss to his forehead, "I love you, Sweetheart."

Harry wiggled out of her arms, smiling as he did so.

"Love you too, Mum."

"And be good for Uncle Remus today."

He broke into a wider smile.

"He's taking me to Diagon Alley."

"I know, he told me," she tucked her wand into her sleeve, "I don't want to hear that you've been up to mischief."

"I don't think Uncle Remus would tell you, anyway," he stated, with unabashed honesty.

Lily laughed.

Knowing Remus, he probably wouldn't. Harry had him wrapped round his finger.

"Just be good," she gave him another kiss on the cheek, "I'll see you later tonight."

"Bye, Mum."

A feeling of nervousness came over her, then, when she was finally out of the house and on her way there – to the Aurelius Foundation – where she was to spend the next two years of the Fellowship.

The organisation, itself, was an impressive one – spots on their programmes more than a little coveted – but Lily couldn't put her nerves entirely down to the fact she was about to step into a project in which she could, very well be, completely out of her depth.

She pushed aside that thought – the little whisper of doubt reminding her that she hadn't completed an Internship, while a number of other applicants surely must have – and, when she did, her nervousness quickly turned to the other thing that had been on her mind.

Severus Snape.

A name, until very recently, she never expected she'd ever hear again.

He hadn't much come to mind, not in the years since she'd left Hogwarts. And she'd done her best, even during those last couple of years at school, to just turn the other way when she heard anything that even mentioned him – usually indignant statements as to the group he ran with, in those final years – to the point that their friendship had simply become a memory.

But, apparently, their relationship – or, now, acquaintanceship – was to remain a memory no longer.

She'd known, even when she'd applied for the position on the Fellowship Programme, that Severus was one of the researchers – the senior researchers, in fact – named alongside the project she would be working on.

Lily had barely even given the name – the implications – a second thought. Nothing beyond the fact that the very field they were to be studying – Neurological Maladies due to Dark Magic – was precisely the magic that she needed to be looking at, to finding a cure for James.

And if that meant working with Severus Snape – if that meant going to his office and begging him for a spot on his Fellowship programme – well, that was just something she was going to have to do.

Thankfully, it hadn't come to that.

She had been accepted, entirely on her own merit – or Dumbledore's testimony, she supposed – and, thus, spared the indignity of actually having to beg Severus for anything. And, so, she could face him once more with her dignity intact – not to mention avoid having to endure what she was sure would be a rather awkward conversation as to the identity of her husband – but that in no way decreased her nerves.

Their final years at Hogwarts had been anything but friendly.

She could still remember the hostility that had suddenly presented itself from him, when she and James had finally gone public. Prior to that, he had simply ignored her.

But would he still be hostile now?

Would he even care that she was on the project?

Perhaps he would. She was, after all, underqualified, and, if he were anything like she remembered from when she had known him, Severus always looked for the best results.

Sky-high expectations of his working partners when it came to the pursuit of knowledge – he always hated the fact that he even had to have a potions partner – and to be lumbered with some underqualified ex-best-friend with all the potential baggage that came with, well.

It probably wouldn't go down well with him.

Lily closed her eyes, willing herself to steel her nerves and just get on with this.

She had certainly faced far worse than Severus Snape's ire, after all.

And, once she reached the end of the garden, she did as she must – steeled her nerves – and disapparated to the Foundation.

"Nervous?"

Regulus grinned at Severus, as he stormed around the house gathering his paperwork and necessities for the upcoming meeting.

Severus glared at him as irritated as he always was – especially today – at Regulus' faux-ever-cheerful demeanour and carried on with his preparations for the introductory meeting, gathering up scrolls and lining them up in his briefcase.

Severus glanced up as he finished, eyes finding Regulus once more and, in the time it had taken him to carry out that single task, his friend was away again.

Eyes gazing out the window, seeing nothing, with that familiar, distant expression.

For the first time that day, Severus' thoughts wandered away from concern about his first meeting with Lily in eight years, to concern for the man before him.

He couldn't deny that Regulus was good-humoured. That he was cheeky, cheerful and overly optimistic, to the point of extremely irritating.

Anyone who ever met him could tell you that.

Well. Without the extremely irritating part, that is, for people just seemed to enjoy the company of those who presented themselves in such a way. A fact that Regulus had utilised. Amplifying that particular side of himself in order to conceal the truth of what lay beneath. A side that, as far as he were aware, only Severus had ever seen. And even that had been entirely circumstantial.

Severus had not known Regulus well when he had first joined the ranks, pledging himself to the Dark Lord's cause.

Regulus had taken his place alongside him the year of his graduation – despite the fact he had been Marked a full year before Severus and left within the walls of Hogwarts with it – but Severus had known enough to be certain that this boy did not have what it took to be a Death Eater.

Even as a teenager, at Hogwarts, he was compassionate, entirely eagerly to please and without any hint of malice whatsoever.

Regulus Black may have carried the long-held pureblood prejudices that the family were known for. But it was not to the point that he wanted to eradicate anyone who didn't meet the standards.

It wasn't until a few months after the war came to an end that Severus realised the true extent to which he had been affected.

Over the Christmas period of 1981, following the conclusion of Regulus' trial, Severus had spent the time staying with him at Grimmauld Place. He had heard – been woken, even – by the whimpers and cries and creaking of the bed frame in the dead of night in the other room. Plagued with nightmares that he'd awaken from, screaming.

Severus had been concerned for him then.

A concern that only increased tenfold the following month when Regulus had come to him, January 1982, announcing his intention to begin a Foundation.

A Foundation created with the intention of supporting families who had been affected and were struggling to return to the normal lives following the war. From what Severus could remember, Regulus was willing to put every last penny he had inherited into the project.

Well. As the sole Black heir, that was rather a lot.

Severus had been aghast at the idea.

It was at this very time that said families were crying out for Regulus to be sent to Azkaban for being a Death Eater.

It didn't matter that no one put forward evidence. Or that Dumbledore had vouched for him. Although, Severus supposed, that wasn't common knowledge.

Either way, despite being acquitted, Regulus was still targeted by those seeking justice. Even now, five years later, there were still people calling for his head.

And here Regulus was, willing to give up everything to help them?

But his friend had been determined – he was not asking Severus' permission, after all – and when Severus had been unable to take a large role in the organisation due to his employment at Hogwarts – as well as his initial objections – Regulus had gone to his cousin, Andromeda Tonks, for assistance.

And, together, they made it.

The Aurelius Foundation was born.

And so, Regulus devoted his earnings, his career and his life to serve those who had been broken, damaged and destroyed by the war.

Certainly, Regulus was cursed with the affliction of being far too generous, too compassionate, feeling the pain of others far to keenly but Severus knew the way of it.

It was none of those things that had driven Regulus to devote himself to this cause so emphatically.

No

Regulus Black was seeking absolution.

A knock at the door startled them both.

Regulus headed on by him to answer, while Severus flicked his wand, securing the briefcase, and followed him. If he didn't hurry, he would be late.

Severus was behind Regulus when the door was pulled open, revealing one of the people he most hated in the world.

"Black," Severus all but spat the name out.

Sirius Black's expression quickly changed to one of such disgust, it almost rivalled his own, as he realised who stood behind his younger brother.

"Snape."

The three of them stood silently, seeming suspended in time.

Severus glaring at Black. Black glaring back at him. Regulus between them both, looking confused.

"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Regulus' voice was surprising strong.

And incredibly hostile.

Far more so that it had been, the last time Black had turned up.

"I came to talk to my brother," Black stated, eyes finally leaving Severus' to look at Regulus, "Didn't know you'd have such unpleasant company."

Severus couldn't see Regulus' face, but he could tell from the slight diminish in his brother's confidence that he wasn't regarding Black with any brotherly love.

"You're not welcome here," Regulus said, bluntly, before attempting to close the door.

"Wow, hey! Wait a minute!" Black laughed, nervously, without humour, quickly slamming an arm against the door to keep it open; "Come on, Reg, I just want to talk –"

"I don't believe your brother feels like talking –"

"Mind your own business, Snivellus!"

"Oh, fuck off, Sirius!" Regulus snapped, "Whatever you have to say I don't want to hear it."

"Prefer Death Eater company do you?"

Severus noticed Regulus flinch, almost imperceptibly, and, with a sudden protectiveness that almost overwhelmed him, he drew his wand and shoved it in Black's face.

"Get out of here, Black."

Severus' voice was low.

He noticed that Black had also drawn his wand and that Regulus had then drawn his in response.

They stood like that a moment.

Black's eyes were on Severus, filled with so much loathing that he would have looked away had he not felt the exact same way towards him.

Black's eyes shifted to Regulus – his expression softening, when it did – before he took a step back, stowing away his wand.

He held up his hands, as if in defeat, as he walked away, backwards.

"I just wanted to talk, Reg."

When Regulus said nothing to call him back, Black turned and headed back up the pavement.

Severus and Regulus watched him until he left the garden before the latter shut the door. Regulus' eyes lingered upon it, with a look that belied a mix of bewilderment and - Severus noticed - regret.

Severus cleared his throat, causing Regulus to look over at him, and he raised an eyebrow when the grey eyes met his.

Regulus waved a dismissive hand.

"Sirius is a dick. Don't let him get to you."

Regulus walked away.

Severus watched after him in disbelief.

Get to him? For Merlin's sake, this isn't Hogwarts! He found his mind snapping back. He liked to think he had matured somewhat since they'd been at school.

But he reigned himself in because, concerned as he was about Regulus, he really was going to be late.

"I shall stop by your office; keep you up to date with this Project Dorado meeting."

"Do me proud, Sev," Regulus grinned over his shoulder at him, "I only employ the best, you know."

Severus released a gasp of indignant laughter before heading out the house.

Severus was late.

Lily shifted awkwardly as she and the rest of the witches and wizards awaited his arrival. The head of the project, Healer Eugene Hopkins, had insisted that it was rare for Professor Snape – it sounded so unusual on her ears – to be late, to which most of the others in the room had nodded in agreement, before he said that they would give him a few minutes to allow him the chance to arrive.

Most of the people in the room were older witches and wizards.

Lily was seated next to the youngest looking in the room. She guessed from his lack of familiarity with the others – who were talking in hushed tones – that he was the other Fellow on the project. She cleared her throat before addressing him.

"Hey."

He looked over at her and smiled.

"Hello, Miss," he regarded her a moment and – when she didn't speak right away – he offered his hand, "Conan Chesney."

"Lily Potter," she smiled, shaking his hand. He seemed to recognise the name but didn't mention it. Instead, he stuck with common ground.

"You're on the Healer's Fellowship?"

She nodded the affirmative.

"Apothecary one, me," Chesney told her, before nodding at the older man who was standing at the front of the room; "You'll be reporting to Hopkins then."

Lily frowned, voicing the question that immediately came to mind; "Don't we all report to Hopkins?"

"Hopkins specialises in Healing; I've to report to Severus Snape."

Lily felt an odd twinge at the name and swallowed, forcing herself to remain neutral; "Oh."

"You ever heard of him?"

Lily hesitated and only nodded in response.

"Good friend of the Founder," Chesney went on, "That's how he got the position. From what I've read up about him, he hasn't even completed a Fellowship himself. Just walked into the job when Regulus Black opened it up," he shrugged, Lily noticed a slight bitter jealousy in his expression; "All about connections, I suppose."

Lily felt the strange urge to defend her old friend but only offered; "I believe Severus Snape is...quite renowned for being a gifted potions master."

Before anything more could be said, the door to the room opened abruptly and Severus himself strode into the room.

She noticed him glance in her direction for the briefest of seconds before he averted his eyes and nodded to the other witches and wizards present. They smiled and nodded with obvious familiarity. He apologised quietly to Hopkins as he walked by him, clearly meaning to just sit down as quickly as possible.

"No harm done, no harm done!" Hopkins waved a hand, dismissively, before grabbing Severus by the shoulder, preventing him from hurrying away.

He looked in Lily and Chesney's direction, raising his voice, further.

"As you may already know, this –" he gave Severus a couple of slaps on the back, with a smile; " – is Severus Snape, Deputy Head of the Research Department –" Lily noticed Severus was avoiding eye contact with her, and his usually pale cheeks were turning pink " – should you have any enquiries and I am unavailable, this is the man to see."

"Thank you, Eugene," Severus said, looking mortified, as he pried himself free of the man.

Lily bit her bottom lip, looking down as she attempted to stifle a smile. She thought she saw him glance in her direction once again, but it was too quick for her to be sure, before he took a seat at the opposite side of the group.

She found herself looking at him, as he began riffling through papers and books, looking incredibly at ease and at home as he did so, now that he was sitting down and no longer the focus of the entire room.

A witch leaned over, speaking something close to his ear and he smiled, not widely, by any means, but it was a familiar smile. One of the genuine ones she hadn't seen in a very long time.

Severus said something in return, without looking up from his papers, and the witch and the wizard next to her both laughed in response.

Lily felt a smile tug at her lips.

He looked better than she had ever seen him. Better than she had ever imagined he would, she thought, as she remembered the awkward, insecure boy from her childhood.

"Well, let's get started, shall we!" Hopkins addressed the small group, drawing her attention away from her old friend.

Time to focus she told herself, turning her attention to the Healer who was speaking. However, she unconsciously glanced in Severus direction again, before smiling slightly to herself.

She hadn't even spoken to him yet but she had a feeling it wouldn't be as bad working with him as she had earlier feared.