A/N: Hope everyone is continuing to stay well and safe during these uncertain times. Thanks to everyone for their support as I update my works here.

Chapter Seven: Of Sickness and Trouble

January 14

Lily rubbed her temple as she stood in the hallway.

"So, this says if we move it to the right, we can achieve the charm." Severus said and turned to Lily, who was not paying any attention.

Lily rolled her quill inattentively in her hand, her mind elsewhere and nerves shaken. She glanced out the window at the footprint laden snow and clicked her tongue anxiously.

"Lily?"

"Huh? Sorry, go on."

He sighed and turned the page.

"Can you not do that?" She huffed and pinched the top of her nose.

Severus raised an eyebrow, "Do what?"

"Turn the pages like that."

He blinked and raised his forehead, "What?"

"It's annoying." She put her hands on her hips and pressed her hands inwards into her abdomen as it cramped. "Just please."

"I just turned the page and closed the book. I don't get why you're mad-" he paused as she grimaced, pressing into her lower stomach. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Does your stomach hurt?"

Lily took a deep breath. "I'm fine-it's nothing. Just a little cramp."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She said through gritted teeth. "Please stop doing that already."

He stopped turning the pages of the book and just gave her a side-eye, "You sure you're okay? I mean, I'm just turning pages."

She paused as the cramping eased. "I said I'm fine,"

"I don't know. You just seem, dare I say it-kinda moody?"

"I am not moody!" She snapped.

Severus rolled his eyes.

Lily's breath caught. "I'm sorry I-" a lump caught in her throat and tears welled up in her eyes, "I'm sorry I'm grumpy. I'm just tired."

"Have you been sleeping well?"

"Yeah. Fine. And no, I'm not on my period, thanks."

He put his hands up, "I wasn't going to ask."

She shut her eyes a second and took a deep breath before opening them again. "Sev?"

"What?"

She nodded. "I'll be back."

"Where are you going?"

"Bathroom, if you must know." She sighed,

"Again? You sure you are feeling okay?"

"I'm fine, I just have to pee."

"As long as you are okay. I don't need the details."

She grinned slightly and walked to the bathroom. The bathroom was empty when she entered. She leaned over a sink and put her hands into her face. With her hands shaking, she splashed cold water onto it and ruined her makeup. The cold water was refreshing against her warm cheeks and helped her body become more alert. The cramping returned slightly in her abdomen and a slight wave of nausea suddenly hit her. She took a few heavy deep breaths with her eyes closed. This seemed to help ease both the mild cramps and nausea for a moment.

"Fuck," she whispered to herself as she ran her hand through her hair. Her eyes were heavy, and she just wanted to sleep. After another minute, she quickly fixed her makeup and returned to where Severus was waiting.

"All good?"

"Yeah, fine."

"Maybe you should see Pomfrey about it."

"About what?"

"Needing to use the bathroom so much."

She shook her head, "No, I'm fine. I think I just drank too much water today."

"Okay." A loud chime rang out. "Guess that means we have to get to our dorms."

She groaned. "I don't know why we still have to go to our dorms by 9 on a Saturday."

"Yeah, it sucks. Should be later during the weekends. Surely they know none of us are going to bed already."

"I actually might today. I'm exhausted." She stifled a yawn.

"Hope you don't have some type of infection."

"I'm fine," she waved him off, "Don't worry."

"Well, I mean, you keep having to use the bathroom, your stomach is cramping, and you are really tired. Sounds like an infection or something."

She sighed, "No, it's okay. They are different issues."

He shrugged, "Okay, if you are sure."

The chime rang again and they both groaned.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Sev. Have a good night." She threw her bag over her shoulder and smiled at him as she started to walk down the hallway.

"You too, Lily." He tossed his bag on his shoulder and started to walk the other direction. As he reached the stairs, he heard Avery call for him. He turned to him.

"Dude, what have you been doing?" Avery glared at him. "If Mulciber sees you, he's going to kill you." He whispered.

Severus shook his head and blinked, "What are you talking about?"

"You, hanging out again with that mudblood."

He huffed, "I asked you not to call her that."

Avery glowered, "That's what she is, Severus. A Gryffindor one at that. Look, Severus, I like you, you are my friend. But you can't be hanging out with mudbloods. I know you've always had a thing for that Evans girl, but c'mon man, there's a lot of other girls in the school to consider. Ones who aren't a threat to you. I won't deny that she's pretty, okay. But what about that Monroe girl in Ravenclaw? Or the Young girl who's a fourth year Slytherin? There's plenty of non-Mudbloods who are really hot to go for instead."

"I don't need your help with my friendships, Avery."

"I'm just trying to help you, Severus. If Rosier or Mulciber find out that you are hanging out with the Evans girl again, man, they'll be pissed. We are supposed to be joining the Dark Lord's army this summer. You can't have your cake and eat it too with her. There's no way in hell he'll let you join and let you be buddy-buddy with a mudblood girl."

Severus glowered at him, "I can handle myself. Thanks for the tips."

"Just be careful, Severus. I won't say anything to them, but I can't promise they won't find out some other way or see you two hanging out. You have to choose where you want your loyalties to lie." Avery walked on down ahead of him.

Severus just stood there as some younger Slytherins passed by him. He gulped. Avery was right. They would be ticked off if they caught him with Lily, but he also did not want to give up his rekindled friendship with Lily. He wanted to be a Death Eater and have that power, yet if it was going to cost him Lily again, he did not think he could do that.

He huffed and headed on down to his dorm.

The next morning

Lily dragged herself to the dining hall, still completely exhausted. Sleep had not helped her feel any better. She saw Severus waiting for her.

"Hey, you feeling better?"

She shrugged.

"Still not? You sure you don't want to see Madam Pomfrey?"

She shook her head, "It's probably just a bug or something. Am sure I'm fine." She gulped as they entered the dining hall.

"Looks like they have a feast."

She moaned, her appetite disappearing as she smelled the sulfur of the eggs. A wave of nausea hit her, and she put her finger to her nose. The scent of bacon also did not help. She shut her eyes.

He stopped before heading to the Slytherin table and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Lily?"

She took a deep breath, but the smells of the breakfast just penetrated her nostrils and caused her pinch her nose again. "The smell."

"What smell? The breakfast? I just smell eggs and bacon and toast."

"Don't-don't talk about it."

He raised his forehead, "Lily, are you okay? You look kinda sick."

She shook her head, "I don't feel so well." At that moment she saw someone at the Hufflepuff table put their fork into egg and the yolk started to run out. Her stomach churned and heaved and bile started to rise in her throat. "I think I'm going to be sick." She turned and bolted from the dining hall.

He gulped and turned to follow her, "Lily? Wait." He followed her until she ran into the girl's bathroom.

Lily gagged as she started to enter the bathroom and willed herself to not vomit. She made it to the toilet and started dry heaving as nothing was in her stomach yet. She dry heaved until she finally vomited a couple minutes later. She slid down the stall wall by the toilet and put her hand on her forehead. The nausea continued in waves. She vomited again a few minutes later and then the nausea seemed to ease a little.

Severus could hear her vomiting from the door. His eyes grew wide and mentally cursed. She really needed to consider going to the infirmary. He paced outside of the bathroom until she finally came out about 10 minutes later.

"Lily, I think you should see the nurse."

She waved him off, "I think I just need something to drink. Maybe some crackers and ginger ale or something."

As they returned to the dining hall, she stepped back as the smells started to hit her again. "I think I will stay out here. Maybe go sit down."

"That's a good idea. I'll go ask about something small for you." Severus went into the dining hall and walked to the first Professor he saw, Flitwick.

"Professor Flitwick?"

He turned to him, "Ah, Mr. Snape, what can I do for you?"

"My friend, she's not feeling well. I was wondering if it's possible to get some crackers and maybe some ginger ale for her instead."

"Oh, of course. Been a bit of a stomach bug going around the school it seems." Severus watched him leave and return a few moments later with the saltines and a glass of a fizzy drink. He thanked him and left to find Lily.

She was leaning against a window. He handed her the crackers and cup. "Thanks, Sev." She nibbled on the crackers and took a sip of the carbonated beverage. "I'm sure I'll be fine."
"I hope so."

Lily could not get up her courage. Some lion she was.

"What's wrong?"

"Sev? We-We need to talk."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Um, okay."

She darted her eyes back and forth down the corridor. "Not right now-not here."

"Okay, where?"

"Somewhere private. Astronomy tower?"

He raised his forehead with a slight side eye. "Sure. After breakfast?"

She held up the container, "Yeah, after breakfast. You should eat though."

"Later. Want to make sure you are okay first."

She let out a heavy sigh and took another bite of a saltine that was beginning to taste like sand in her mouth. Lily choked back tears as she stared at the cracker. She cleared her throat as her lip quivered and pulled herself together. She was not going to break down here.

She swallowed the cracker hard and took a sip of the drink. "Sev?"

"Yeah?"

"Let's go to the tower." She coughed and closed the cracker container.

"We can wait until you eat."

"I'm okay. I'll make sure this stays down first." She took another sip of the beverage and was starting to feel a little better.

"Or you'll have to use the bathroom again."

She nearly choked on her sip. A tiny smile pierced her lips and she let out a laugh though she had no idea why she was laughing. "It's not funny."

"No, so why are you laughing?"

She shook her head, "I don't know. Not sure how else to react I guess." She twisted the cup slightly and swallowed hard. "I think we should go up and talk now."

"Sure." He followed her up the tower.

Lily paced back and forth in the astronomy tower as Severus closed the door. He watched her for a moment.

"You know, you may just wear a hole in the floor."

She didn't smile as she looked up at him. Instead, she shook her head and he gulped. "Sev, we-we're in trouble."

His face fell, "Why? What happened?"

Her lower lip quivered.

"Lily?"

Her eyes swelled with tears and he choked. "We screwed up. We really screwed up."

He rubbed his temple, "With what?"

"What were thinking that night? We were so stupid."

He raised his forehead, "Lily, I'm not following you."

She looked at him for a moment and then burst into tears.

"What's wrong with you lately? You aren't acting like yourself." He moved closer to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"No-you don't understand. We really, really screwed up. We could lie about other things, but not this. We can't fix this."

"Did Peter say something? If he's threatening you-"

She shook her head, "No, it's not that. It's-I-Sev" She bit her lip hard.

"What-what is it? You can tell me."

She wiped her tears and sniffed and just shook her head, "I-I don't know how. I don't want to admit it to myself."

"Admit what? Just tell me."

She closed her eyes as more tears threatened to pour out and shook her head again, "I-I-Sev-I-I'm-I'm-I'm late. I don't know what to do."

Severus raised his forehead, "Late? Late for what?" His eyes grew wide. "Oh, fuck." Severus's throat clenched and he stopped himself short of punching the wall. "Maybe it's stress?"

"I don't know, I-my breasts have been so sore, and I've been so moody, and I've been so tired too." Lily tried to fight back tears and choked back a sob. "And I should have-my period-it's been over a week. I should have started last week. It hasn't come. And now today I threw up. Sev, I'm sorry."

His stomach churned and he took a deep breath. "No, I mean, I mean it's not on you."

"It's my fault. I seduced you-took you to my dorm."

Severus laughed despite the situation.

"It's not funny."

"Lily, we would have gone in the broom closet, the owlery, wherever we would have found that was private. Your dorm was the best option that night. We were under an aphrodisiac potion-we would have done it together no matter what-we were out of it. You didn't seduce me one bit, I wanted to sleep with you badly as well. We couldn't help ourselves in this case."

Lily sobbed as she let out a small laugh. "But why didn't we use anything? What were we thinking?"

"We weren't." He choked, his heart sinking into his stomach. What were they going to do if she was pregnant? How the hell would they be able to pretend nothing happened between them if she was pregnant? A child was the last thing on his mind right now. How could they possibly raise a child so young and during a time of war?

Severus put his arms over her shoulders. She didn't protest and put her hand to her mouth.

"I don't want to do this. I don't want to have a baby."

"Why don't you find out for sure? Take one of those tests just in case. It may be a false alarm. Maybe it's one of those chemical ones where nothing will happen. Maybe we can do something."

Lily gasped. "Are you saying you want to get rid of it? I don't think I could do that."

Severus backtracked at once. "No, I mean-You said you don't want to have a baby though."

"I don't."

"So then what?"

"I don't think I can go through with that."

"Just find out for sure. Then we can decide whether to worry or not."

"I already started the potion. I am going to check it in the morning."

"Why in the morning?"

"Because it needs an extra ingredient."

Severus knew what ingredient she was talking about. "Got it."

Lily folded her arms across her chest. "Our lives are over. They will find out and kick us out of school. We will have to run off somewhere because your friends will also be ticked off with you having a baby with a mudblood. I'm only 17, you're only 17. How can we care for a baby? I mean, I want kids, but not yet. Not yet."

Severus rubbed her arms gently.

"Well, say something!"

"I don't know what to say."

She sighed. "That's what I was afraid of." Lily choked. "I can hide it for awhile, right? I mean, it will take a bit to get large enough to show through the robes. Just six months is all we have left. I can put on charms to give the appearance of not being pregnant until we finish school."

"That could work until about three months later when you suddenly pop out an infant."

Lily laughed and she did not know why. "Well, at least we can be done with school at that point, right?"

"Yeah, Lily. We will be." He attempted a smile, but it was forced. Their lives were about to turn from trouble to pure and complete hell. He knew that if Lily thought she was pregnant; she probably was, and he hoped to the heavens it was just a false alarm. Right now, he was glad to have neglected breakfast with his churning stomach. His heart raced as fast as his mind. Things were hard enough right now as it was. This was not something either of them were prepared to handle.

"This wasn't what I had planned." She folded her arms tight across her chest. "This is one secret that's going to be the hardest to hide."

"Since when does anything in life ever go as planned." He sighed.

"You don't have to deal with this. I understand if you-if you want to just bail." She hung her head down.

He shook his head. "This is just much my fault as yours. I couldn't do that. If you are expecting, then we have to face the consequence-together."

She swallowed hard and put her hand on her stomach. She was anything but ready for the hell that was about to come.

Early hours of January 16

Lily woke up and quietly entered the bathroom. Never had she so anticipated her cycle coming on time. It was normally painful, and she rather dreaded it. This time though, when nothing was happening, she wanted nothing more than to have it arrive. However, that time had come and gone, and she had a very bad feeling that she and Severus had not been so lucky. She did not feel right, but her hopes were that it was just in her head because she was just afraid she could be with child.

Lily pulled out the potion she had brewed the day before nervously, her hands shaking the red coloured liquid inside. Her mind spun and she grew dizzy as she sat on the toilet to add the urine. She set it on the sink, trying to not look while she waited to see if the potion changed colour. She was afraid to leave it for fear of a roommate discovering the potion and asking her questions. Lily knew they would bombard her with questions about James and how it was the first time with him, and she could not answer them. Lily said they were taking a break from each other so it would look even more suspicious about why she was using a pregnancy detection potion. She was not at all ready to tell anyone about her night with Severus and Peter had still not told James everything. Lily still denied it was with Severus, but she and James were hardly speaking right now. James seemed adamant that she was covering up the fact that she had cheated even when she insisted Peter was covering up the fact that he had attempted to use love potion on them. He continued to say she was covering it up when she outright accused Peter of drugging her so she would have hopped in the sack with James. She had been avoiding the Marauders lately. She was sick of the blame on her and sick of trying to convince Pettigrew to own up to his error and James to believe her. She was afraid to even begin to tell her friends what had happened, fearing they wouldn't believe her either.

She looked over again at the potion. It was turning an aqua colour which made her cringe. "Please turn to an orange, please. Not green. Anything but green." She said to herself. She caught herself biting her fingernails in nervous anticipation. Her legs trembled a bit and she took a deep breath to calm herself and put a hand on her left leg to steady it, fearing the worst had come true. Three minutes passed. Though she had already resigned herself to the truth, Lily shut her eyes tight and swallowed hard before finally forcing herself to look.