Chapter Thirty-Nine

Severus stalked down the street, with Malachi close on his heels.

It was not even noon and already he wished the day was over.

Having been up for most of the night brewing – or, rather, wasting his time – and dealing with the final stages of the Amortentia potion that was required for next term's NEWTs class, he had found himself distracted, unfocused, careless due to a very familiar scent that began to emit from the brew as it neared completion.

Earth after the rain. Old books. An odd mix of talcum powder and spiced apple.

It was the last which distracted him the most. He had always smelt it, ever since the first time he had been introduced to the potion. Always been able to identify it as that irritating muggle substance his mother had often had in the bathroom as a child. And he had always associated it with a certain red-headed girl across the playpark.

Why it should have bothered him so much the night before was beyond him, especially in light of recent events. He didn't need a potion to tell him what it was he was feeling.

Regardless, it had thrown him. And, as a result, he had ending up destroying, not that batch of blasted Amortentia, no – instead, when he had gone to add an ingredient to another potion, the Felix Felicis that he had left carefully simmering for the past four months, he had misjudged the precise moment to add the armadillo bile and that was that.

Four months of brewing down the drain.

And the ingredients were so rare, some of them available only in certain seasons, and so expensive, that it would now be almost half a year before he would be able to procure them to begin the whole process again.

In the five years since he had started attempting to brew it, he had only ever come up with one successful batch. And they needed it now, more than ever. One year from now would be too late.

Severus was livid.

He was stopped suddenly in his steps by a small hand grasping the back of his robes. Malachi was almost gasping for breath when he looked down at him over his shoulder.

"Are we…almost there?" the little boy wheezed.

Severus pursed his lips together at the sight, realising that the boy had been struggling to keep up with his long strides and, as ever, was unwilling to admit to any distress. Severus pointed at the house on the end of the street.

Malachi, judging by the way he tilted to one side, was trying to conceal a stitch in his side and the fact that he could barely breathe. He glanced at the house with excitement and his eyes lit up when he saw some balloons and banners decorating the outside of the structure.

The boy drew in a deeper breath and straightened up, hoisting up the wrapped parcel he had under one arm, once again eager to get moving.

Severus did not share the child's excitement.

This was another reason for his annoyance.

Severus, after throwing in the towel and heading to bed after three, had awoken the next morning to find a slip of parchment had been slid under his door in the night.

Sev. Dumbledore has called for me. Do you mind keeping an eye on Malachi for a few hours? Reg.

The request in itself was irritating enough. He did not appreciate being considered by Regulus to be a guardian or, worse, co-parent of the boy. This was not what he had signed up to.

But, he rationalised to himself in his mind, it was not as if Regulus had any other choice. He could not deliver Malachi to Andromeda or Narcissa in the middle of the night without rousing suspicion. And neither could know he had any association with Dumbledore.

So, Severus had pushed aside his annoyance and set off downstairs, only to be met with Malachi waiting in the kitchen, fully-dressed with bright-eyed excitement in his expression as he greeted him. The tell-tale wrapped package sitting in the middle of the kitchen table.

"What is this?" Severus had eyed it, warily.

Malachi looked up from his bowl of cereal, saying as if it was completely obvious; "It's Harry's birthday present."

Severus had stared back at him.

"And why is it here?"

Malachi's brow had furrowed; "I have to take it with us. For his birthday party."

And, so, Severus had then been left with two options.

Either tell the boy that he would not, under any circumstances, be going to that party as Severus was adamantly against participating in any endeavour that should put him face-to-face with Sirius Black – as if his weekend wasn't going badly enough, without having to deal with that imbecile! – and thereby consigning himself to a day of the child's sulking and downgrading himself from the dull, silent, uninterested Godfather the child already saw him as to evil, killer-of-fun, dull, silent, uninterested Godfather he would then become.

The other option; drop the boy off at the party and leave.

He had opted for the second.

And so here they were, mere steps away from the home of Sirius Black.

And Lily, his treacherous thoughts reminded him.

Severus could already see her as she walked by one of the windows, her friend Julia Bradbury following close behind, as they engaged in animated conversation. Lily shot the other woman a look; the other laughed. And then they disappeared from view.

Red-headed children's heads suddenly ran past the window. Some balloons suspended on strings followed.

Severus almost rolled his eyes and stopped at the gate; the chaos inside the house could be heard all the way down the garden. Music; children's voices talking, laughing, screeching.

"Harry! No flying in the house!" Lily's voice.

"But Uncle Sirius –"

"Nope!"

"Harry said he was getting a new broom!" Malachi tugged on Severus' sleeve, eagerly; "Can we go in?"

Severus gave him a sharp nod; "Yes. Go. Your father or I shall meet you here, at this gate, at five o' clock."

Malachi's eyes turned from excitement to nervousness as he glanced from Severus, to the house, and then back again; "But…you aren't coming?"

Severus stared back at him.

"You're not?"

"Of course not. This is a children's party." He indicated with both his hands and glanced down at himself; "As you see, I am not a child."

"But –"

"Malachi. Go."

Malachi suddenly looked petrified. He looked at Severus and then at the house, suddenly becoming infuriatingly shy. Severus thought he saw Remus Lupin in another window now, looking like he was deep in conversation with someone.

When he glanced down Malachi was still standing there, looking up at him desperately.

"What is it?"

"I…I only know Harry."

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose; "Malachi. You are the one who insisted you attend this party."

"I…I still want to," Malachi said, and Severus could see that he desperately did, even if he did look like he had just been asked to climb up and performance a trapeze stunt at a Circus; "Can you just come to the door with me?"

Severus ground his teeth together, eyes going to the window once again. All he could see were little heads of hair running past.

He released an exasperated breath; "Very well." He placed a hand on Malachi's shoulder and urged him down the path.

The door was ajar but he wasn't going in.

He lifted his hand, giving it two sharp knocks.

"You have to talk to her, Moony. She won't listen to me. He's got her…he's got her brainwashed or something!"

Remus bit his lip to keep from showing his amusement at Sirius' ramblings. For weeks, this had been his default topic of conversation.

Lily and Snape.

As far as he could tell, Sirius had broached the conversation with Lily twice. First, when she had confirmed a friendship and, apparently, a trust in the other man and, later, when she had shut down Sirius' attempts at further discussion completely.

It seemed Lily was adamant that Severus Snape was…well, a friend.

Remus remembered Harry's questions from some months before, back when he had first been alerted to the growing relationship between the two of them. He had known, then, that Sirius would make issue of the whole thing when he found out about it.

Still, Remus wasn't entirely sure what his own feelings were on the matter.

However, he had noticed something that he knew couldn't be a mere coincidence; a change in Lily.

In recent years, she had been walking around under the weight of loss, sadness and desperation. Over the course of the past year, though, that cloud appeared to have dissipated; it was so gradual, he wondered if he would have even noticed it if he hadn't taken that time away from them some months before.

After Remus had kissed her.

That had only been months ago but even now she was a different person from how she had been then.

This girl, now, was different; the weight she carried before seeming to have lifted.

Her patience with Harry appeared to have strengthened. Even her patience with Sirius. From what the other man had been telling him, she no longer seemed to be inclined to engage in any of those fiery quarrels that had been so common between the two of them for the past few years.

It was difficult for Remus to put his finger on. She was more than just patient; she was light-hearted, more playful, especially with Harry, and there was a definite lightness to her step – even the way she walked and carried herself had changed.

Remus didn't know if Severus Snape had any role in that, if it was merely the purpose that the Fellowship had given her and the new connections and relationships she had built were what accounted for it. He didn't know what had made her finally begin to move on. To finally let go of the pain she had seemed so determined to carry with her.

Lily was almost the girl she had been back when Remus had known her at Hogwarts.

Before James.

And, wasn't that what he and Sirius had wanted?

Isn't that what the two of them had been insisting, even badgering her about for the past couple of years?

Let go. Move on. James is not coming back.

It was time. She still had plenty of it. Build a life. Find someone else…

Remus hesitated in this thoughts, them taking him to a territory he hadn't meant to consider.

Lily. Moving on. With Snape.

Uh.

Friendship was one thing…

Remus glanced across the room at Lily, with a contemplative frown, as he considered the idea further. He closed his eyes, the thought making him more than a little uncomfortable. He glanced at Sirius, who was looking at him expectantly.

Remus knew better than to voice where his thoughts had turned.

"She can take care of herself, Sirius."

"You know what Lily's like. She's too trusting." Sirius was looking at her; "It's our job to protect her."

"Say that to her; say goodbye to your nuts."

Sirius shot him a look; "This isn't a joke, Remus!" He rolled himself agitatedly back and forth in his chair; "How didn't you notice something was going on when I was away? Didn't Harry say anything to you?"

Remus averted his eyes. Sirius' movements ceased.

"Wait. You knew?"

"We both knew. You're the one who told me they were working together."

"We should have done something then."

Remus shook his head; "It's none of our business, Sirius."

"Like hell it isn't. We're family!"

Remus knew better than to point out the faults in the living situation he and Lily had gotten themselves into by living together so long.

In many ways, Sirius was much closer to Lily than Remus was. And not in a good way. He was too close to both of them, Lily and James, to see what he was doing. While there was nothing more than platonic feelings on both sides, Sirius had cast himself into James' role when they lost him; Lily's protector, Harry's father.

And, Remus knew, it was a role Lily hadn't particularly wanted him to take up.

But she had been lost back then. They all had been. They were young, devastated, they needed each other.

And now, here they were; Lily ready to move on and Sirius thinking he had the right to impose his opinion on her.

If Sirius wasn't careful, he was going to lose them both. Lily and Harry.

Remus was spared the need to voice his thoughts by the sound of two sharp knocks on the kitchen door.

"Hey, come on, this is a party! Get in here!" Julia called out, to the amusement of the children in the room that she was making balloon animals for.

Remus cast Lily a smile and headed through to the kitchen, the Weasley twins running through the doorframe and almost knocking him over as he went.

His mind was still on the conversation with Sirius when he pulled open the door.

He was startled out of his musings by the very face of the man they had just been discussing; Snape.

"Uh…"

Severus Snape cocked an eyebrow at him; "Lupin." He didn't look happy to be there.

"Snape. Wha…what are you –"

Remus noticed Snape's arm move and he glanced down, only then noticing the shy little boy at his side and a hand gently urged him forward; "I believe Mr Potter is expecting Malachi."

Remus' eyes softened, remembering Regulus' son from a few of his playdates with Harry; "Hey."

"Hi, Mr Lupin!" Malachi's shyness seemed to die away and he smiled brightly at him. He lifted up the parcel he was holding; "I brought this for Harry."

Remus couldn't help smiling at him, stepping back from the door; "Go ahead. He's in the living room."

Malachi hesitated, glancing back at Snape, who gave the boy a stiff nod and then he turned and went into the house.

Leaving them in awkward silence.

"Someone shall be back to collect him. I trust the boy will be safe in the meantime." There was more than a hint of a threat in Snape's tone and Remus felt his previously-held dislike for the man stir.

He was left wondering what on Earth Lily could possibly find within this man to trust, much less to like.

And then, as if his mind had somehow asked the question and the universe decided to grant him an answer, Lily's voice sounded out behind him; "Severus?"

Her tone was surprised, confused and, Remus noticed, very pleased.

Remus stepped away, allowing Lily to step into the doorframe, as he went over to muddle around with some of the presents that children had left on the kitchen table.

It was rude to eavesdrop but it seemed as if the two of them didn't care, or notice, that he was even there.

"Hi."

"Hello."

Remus glanced out the corner of his eye; Severus' tone seemed to have changed. It was softer. And, upon inspection, his expression had softened also.

"I was just dropping off Malachi. His father was otherwise engaged."

"Ah." Lily was smiling, brightly, and Remus was reminded of Harry's innocent words.

Mum looked really happy when I saw her with him.

So she did, Remus noted with a little discomfort.

"Come in."

"No. Thank you."

A little laugh escaped her; "Are you sure? Julia's making balloon animals; seems right up your street."

"Tempting. But no."

"Tea, then?"

"I…have work to do."

"On a Sunday?"

"Mm. Yes. There…is always work to be done."

Remus turned his head more fully this time, taking in the two of them in the doorway. Lily was still smiling, a cheekiness to it now, and her eyes were bright and twinkling with mischief. She was very happy to see him, that much was obvious.

What was just as surprising, though, was Snape's expression. Despite his words, his eyes were warm, his expression was relaxed and, most shocking of all, the man appeared to be fighting a smile.

A smile!

Remus had never, in his entire time of knowing Severus Snape, seen the other man smile. Well, not genuinely anyway; he'd only ever seen a trademark smirk.

"We have apple dunking coming up. Blind man's bluff," Lily was saying, and Snape was just staring at her, seeming to drink in the nonsense she was talking with apparent amusement; "Oh! And a piñata." She nodded, raising an eyebrow; "How can you possibly resist?"

The fact that Lily with babbling on this nonsense, things Snape obviously would not be interested in, spoke volumes to him. The fact that Snape stayed and took it all did too.

These two were obviously keen to stay in one another's company.

Remus wondered if they were always so transparent.

No wonder Harry was asking questions.

What they were saying, the words coming out of their mouths suddenly seemed totally unimportant. They weren't speaking of anything of consequence anyway.

Body language told Remus all he needed to know.

Snape was very nearly smiling outright now.

Lily reached up, her hand touching the man's arm now as she spoke. Snape nodded, and Remus noticed his eyes darken slightly. Noticed a slight change in his expression when Lily stepped a little closer; how he seemed to instinctively move closer in turn.

Suddenly, Remus' earlier thoughts did not seem unlikely.

Lily moving on with Snape.

Remus wouldn't necessarily consider himself to be a man of remarkable intelligence; in fact, any dunderhead would be able to see what exactly was going on here.

The two of them were categorically, slap-in-the-face obvious.

"Hey, Lil'! Harry's looking for –"

It was as if someone had flicked a switch.

The lightness in the air dissipated.

Sirius froze in the doorway. Lily jumped back a step. Snape's smile was gone.

Remus' hands curled, as the tension coiled, awaiting the inevitable.

Sirius' eyes were on Snape, dark and full of the same hate Remus was familiar with from their childhood. There was a moment and then he ground out; "You're not welcome here."

"Sirius." Lily's tone was snappy. She shot Sirius a cautionary look; both furious and uneasy.

Snape, who had previously stated his desire to leave, straightened up more; making himself taller and almost squaring off with the other man.

"Get the fuck out of here."

Remus saw Lily step towards him, while Sirius kept his eyes firmly on his opponent, ignoring her completely.

"This is my house, too." She said, quietly, earning only a furious look from Sirius in return.

"Lily." Snape spoke up, and she looked back at him. "Do not waste your breath. I'm leaving." He made to turn but stopped when Sirius rolled forward quickly, using his wand to accelerate his speed.

"Damn right you're leaving you son of bitch!" Sirius went on, despite Lily's hissing at him to stop it; "Stay the hell away from my family, you hear me!"

Snape looked down his nose at him, regarding Sirius with undisguised disdain. And then he met Lily's eyes over Sirius'. His eyes narrowed a little and he appeared to be thinking. And then, for a second, Remus notice the darkness in them lift slightly, soften again just like before, and then, with a sharp turn on his heel Snape turned and left.

An uneasy silence settled over the three of them in his wake.

Remus saw Lily's jaw move with the grinding of her teeth, her hands clench and unclenching at her sides. She stepped forward, pushing the door shut, and spun around to face Sirius, her eyes flashing. Sirius met her look, evenly.

"You may be blinded by whatever it is he's told you, Lily. But that doesn't mean I have to put up with him in my house."

Lily drew in a breath, her anger coming off of her in waves; "Stay away from my family?" she repeated his words; "Sirius, you are way out of line."

"Mum!" Harry's voice called from the other room.

Lily kept furious eyes on Sirius for a second, before she eventually spoke; "We'll talk about this later."

She walked by him and, only then, did she seem to take notice that Remus was there at all. She paused on her way past, her voice quiet when she addressed him, disappointed eyes flicking up to meet his; "Thanks for the help."

And then she was gone.

Sirius turned to him then, raising an eyebrow.

Remus stared back at him.

"See what I mean?" Sirius eventually said.

Remus guessed it was probably best he not share with Sirius what it was he actually had just seen.

Because, after seeing the two of them together, Remus was wholly certain that Lily was pretty well on her way to falling in love with Severus Snape.

And, Remus guessed, the fallout of that was going to be pretty catastrophic.