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 14: Early Out

Lily looked around the room. Her heart raced at the number of people standing around with expressionless faces. There were about a half dozen people that she had never seen before.

"You may sit, dear."

Lily shook her head and slowly sat down. "What are these people doing here?"

"Ministry officials on the case." The Minister spoke. He cleared his throat. "Now, to the matter at hand. We have spent a lot of time evaluating your statement and the statements of the others. Based on a few other observations from several students here and evidence found, we have reasoned that you will not bear any responsibility for what has happened. What the school has decided is another matter."

Lily let out a small sigh of relief.

"However, we have considered the statements of the others and have concluded that punishment is necessary for everyone involved."

The hairs stood up on the back of her neck. "Punishment?"

"Yes."

Dumbledore looked at Lily. "You will not be punished by the school for anything that has happened. None of what has occurred can be blamed on you."
McGonagall cleared her throat. "No house points will be deducted by you. You will not receive any detention or punishment from me. You will not lose your status as Head Girl for this either."

Lily let out another sigh of relief. She was not relaxed though. "What about Severus? What would his punishment be?"

"Will Severus be punished?"

"That." The Minister stated. "Is not something we can discuss with you."

"I hope you don't punish him. It's not his fault. None of this is. He's really not been anything but supportive to me. Despite what happened, he's not left my side. I-just-he doesn't deserve to be punished. We're already being punished enough."

"We've heard your statements before." The Minister said. "Your statement won't change our opinions on this matter."

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Thank you, Lily. We appreciate your cooperation through this. You may go. You will be led out."

Lily got up and left the room. She looked at Severus. As she started down the stairs slowly, looking back at him, he was called into the room.

"Mr. Snape?"

Severus watched Lily descend the stairs, glancing back at him every other step with unease. It did not make him feel any better about this situation.

He stepped into the office and his throat went dry at the number of people around the room. He did not like the look of the situation.

"You may be seated." The Minister said.

Severus sat down slowly looking at the men and women he had never seen before standing there with emotionless expressions.

"As you are aware, we spoke to you about a week ago and asked some questions."

"Yes."

"We have taken all the statements and listened to several other students discuss the situation where Ms. Evans was struck with the banned illegitimate curse. For that incident, you will not face any punishment for harm caused to Ms. Evans. The Ministry will not be punishing you for that incident."

Dumbledore nodded to the Minister. "The school does not find any guilt on your part for what happened to Ms. Evans. However, you will receive a week's worth of detention for your part in the duel between yourself, Mr. Potter and Mr. Black."

Severus grumbled to himself. "Are Potter and Black getting any punishment or am I the only one?"

"Mr. Potter and Mr. Black have detention for the duel as well. You will spend your detention with Professor Slughorn."

Severus nodded. "Okay. When do I start?"

"Sunday evening at four. Rest of the week will be the same time." Slughorn said.

Severus huffed to himself. "Great."

"Now, back to the other matter." The Minister spoke up. "The potion incident. Based off the statements and evidence received, we find the act itself that resulted in Ms. Evans' becoming with child-"

Severus rolled his eyes. "Sex?"

"There is no need for that."

"It's just a word. You're married with a couple kids. You've obviously done it yourself a few times."

"We are not discussing what happens between adults."

"I'm 18. That's an adult in this world. Lily and I were adults when this happened."

"Don't take away from the matter at hand. You are set for a trial hearing on March 15 at two in the afternoon. Yes, that's a Wednesday and you will be excused from your classes that afternoon."

Severus sat up straighter. "Trial? For what?"

"Yes. The Ministry finds you guilty of creating unauthorized potions."

Severus blinked. "What? But-"

"Do not speak right now."

Severus got quiet.

"Now, that does not matter. As a rule we do not allow any minor or any student still in school to experiment. Adults with permits may experiment freely. You do not have such a permit to experiment with your potions, which could be very dangerous. The punishment for unauthorized experimentation of potions is service work for two weeks for the Ministry. We realize this will be difficult as a student so we have decided to reduce it to evening work for two hours once your detention with the school is over for two weeks?"

He clenched his fists. "Three weeks of detention?"

McGonagall spoke up, "Minister, I think that's rather extreme. Mr. Snape is far from the only student who does this."

"We already made our decision on this. We are not tolerating this school's lack of discipline on this matter. More students will be punished. We have a list." The Minister spoke terse and pointed to a blue box on Dumbledore's desk. "But this cannot be tolerated."

McGonagall frowned with a deep glare at the Minister.

"We could fine you a great sum instead."

"How much?" Severus asked through gritted teeth.

"About 496 Galleons, 8 Sickles and 26 Knuts."

Severus cringed. "I guess I will take the detention." He mumbled, a bitter feeling rising inside of his body, itching through his veins. He swallowed his anger into the pit of his belly, causing his stomach acid to bubble with resentment.

"The school has decided what to do about this as well." McGonagall spoke.

Severus huffed. "Let me guess. More detention?"

"Not exactly, Mr Snape. Two days suspension from all classes for you. No events for the next month. This means you may not participate or watch the Quidditch free play games and no visit to Hogsmeade this month. You will all spend those evenings with Filch. We have deduced 50 house points from you for your part in the duel. We think our punishments fit accordingly." She turned to the Minister with narrowed eyes. "At least here at the school." She turned back to Severus, "And yes, Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, Mr. Fielding and Mr. Ward are receiving the same punishment."

Severus started to say that it was just a stupid game, but decided against saying anything out loud in case they wanted to change his punishment. He just nodded. "Reasonable punishment."

Slughorn cleared his throat. "You have lost 50 house points. However, I feel based on Ms. Evans' testimony about you that you also deserve some of them back. I am awarding 10 points for your courage to be a friend to Ms. Evans throughout this."

"So I lost our house 40 points?"

"You have time to gain them back."

"The hearing coming up will determine anything else. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Snape. You may go, but will be escorted out."

Severus got to his feet and left the office, frowning and clenching his fists.

As he got to the stairs to head for the lower levels, he saw Lily standing there. She got to her feet at the sight of him.

"What'd they say? Please tell me they didn't expel you. If they did-I-I can't-I won't stay here."

"That's stupid. You ought to finish your education regardless of whether I do."

Lily frowned. "I don't want to be here without you."

"You still have Anna, Sarah and Carolyn."

"Yeah, but it's not the same."

"You still shouldn't consider quitting."

"Why not? We don't need any more education, not really. I'll just ask to take my NEWTS now and get out of here. Slughorn would probably agree and I could probably convince McGonagall as well. Flitwick and the others, we shouldn't have any problems getting to agree."

Severus looked at Lily. "You think so?"

"What? That I could convince them to let me do it?"

"You think they will let you?"

"I don't know. Probably."

"Would they let both of us?"

"I don't know, why? Are you being expelled?"

"No."

Lily let out a deep breath. "Thank god."

"But I am on suspension from classes Monday and Tuesday, have four weeks of detention and a trial coming up."

"What?" She gasped. "A trial? What for?"

"Over my experimentation over potions."

"That's insane."

"Doesn't matter. Trial is on the 15th."

Lily huffed. "Four weeks of detention?"

"One week with Slughorn. Not bad. Two with the Ministry in the evenings for two hours. Another week with Filch after that. But, maybe I could convince them to take my NEWTS now, leave school and maybe work with the Ministry instead."

"Did you lose any house points?"

"40 total in the end. Was 50, but his favourite student, which is you, was treated well by me so he gave me 10 of them back."

"But you still have four weeks detention."

Severus sighed. "Yes." He looked at her. "You think they would let us take the NEWTS early?"

Lily shrugged. "I don't know. It's worth asking. I think I could do them."

Severus nodded. "I think I could pass them and do fine. May be difficult for the practical part since the professors don't do it."

"Well, I personally think that we have suffered quite a bit at the hands of others. We have been threatened and degraded continuously over all this and therefore we both feel that leaving this institution and getting out into the world would be best for everyone. How's that for an explanation?"

"Sounds good to me."

"How did they even know you experiment with potions?"

"Talk I guess and seems they found some box of mine. Made it sound like it had potions inside."

Lily's blood ran cold, "Box?"

"Yeah, some blue box. Guessing Black or Potter or both set me up. Lily?" Her face had gone pale and she was trembling.

"They said it was yours?"

"They implied it."

Lily's mouth went dry and she started to have trouble breathing. "I-I can't." She ran back up the stairs.

"Lily, wait-what?"

She bolted to the top and knocked frantically on the door. It opened and she burst in.

"Ms. Evans, what brings you back?" Dumbledore smiled, but Lily couldn't quite place his expression. It was like he had expected her return.

She glanced between them and saw the blue box still sitting on the desk. Her blue box. "That box."

They all turned to the desk.

"It's not Severus's. It-it's mine."

"Ms. Evans, this was turned in to us as Mr. Snape's." The Minister spoke.

"It's not his. It's mine. I did those potions. Sirius-he-he stole it from my room a few days ago. Said he gave it to Professor Dumbledore. I thought it was to get me in trouble. Now-now I see he did to get Severus in trouble."

McGonagall held a deep frown, "Lily, do you understand what admitting the box is yours will mean?"

She shook her head, "Doesn't matter. I can't allow him to get in trouble for something that's not his. If it means I am to be punished, then so be it."

They glanced between each other and the Minister motioned the others to him and waved Lily to the door telling her to hold there.

After a few minutes of hushed whispers and her heart racing, they turned back to her.

"Okay, then. We will need to discuss this matter further, however, you can expect punishment in the form of nightly detention for two weeks for one hour. Starting on Sunday evening."

She nodded, "Yes, sir. I understand."

"And you will attend the trial on the 15th with all the other students for unauthorized potion making. Can you tell Mr Snape to return to us?"

She left the office and saw Severus waiting for her with a befuddled expression. "The Minister wants to see you. It's a good thing."

He started to speak, but McGonagall was at the door and waved him in. He raised an eyebrow at Lily, who attempted a half smile.

"Mr Snape?" The door shut behind him. "It seems we may have been a little hasty. In light of some new revelations, we have removed your punishment with the Ministry to just one week. One hour for one week starting Sunday evening. Your punishment with the school will being the following week."

Severus blinked and his jaw dropped slightly. "What? Why?"

"No further questions. You may go."

He stood there for a moment, his head spinning. Finally, he turned and left the office.

"What did you tell them?"

Lily grinned, "The truth."

"How did that reduce my punishment?"

"Because you aren't getting in trouble for something you didn't do." Lily looked into his eyes and touched his back, moving close enough until her body was almost against his. "Sev, I"

"What?" He ran his rough hand over her shoulder.

"I just wanted to say that-something I haven't said really. No matter what happens in the end. I-I love you. I just wanted you to-know that."

"Don't worry. I already knew."

Lily felt his lips over hers and she ran her hand through his hair. His hands slid down her back. As he reached just above her buttocks, someone cleared their throat.

"Ah-hem."

Lily and Severus gasped and moved apart quickly, letting go of each other. They turned to see Slughorn standing nearby. The heat rose in her face and Severus glanced away.

"Professor, um-we were looking for you." Lily spoke up.

"You were, were you?"

"Yes. Severus and I have been talking-"

"Talking, eh? You weren't doing much talking just now."

Severus's face grew a little hot.

"No, but we were-before. We have a proposal to ask." Lily said, smoothing the top of her robes.

Slughorn raised an eyebrow."A proposal?"

"Yes, sir. Can we discuss it in your office?"

"Sure. No more affection displays. Won't take off any points this time, but you get caught by another professor and you just might. None of that."

Lily nodded. "We won't, especially if the proposal goes through."

"Come on down to the old office then and we can talk about your proposal."

Lily and Severus followed Slughorn down to his office.

"Take a seat. Can I offer you tea or some button mints?"

They both shook their heads.

"No, thank you." Lily said.

"Me either."

"Okay, then." Slughorn sat down in his chair. "So, what is it you wish to propose, as you say?"

"Well, I, Severus and I, that is, have been talking and we think-we'd like to go ahead and take our NEWTS."

"You want to take your NEWTS early?"

Severus nodded. "I would like to double up, having the detentions here and do the Minister's in the evening. I can get my homework done at lunch and dinner and study for the NEWTS in the evenings and nights when not in detention. Then Lily and I take out NEWTS and leave school the following week or so, whenever we can take and finish our NEWTS."

Lily cleared her throat. "Severus and I are not comfortable here. Since all this happened, we have had major backlash. Degrading us, mostly me as a slut, even from my own roommates. We've received threats. I have been hexed and cursed and so has Severus and it's all over this incident that we never asked for in the first place."

"When my detention is over and the trial, barring I am not in serious trouble, we'd like to leave. We just think getting out of this school would be best."

"Same here. I can have my detention this week and study for NEWTS during my breaks and at night."

Severus raised his forehead at Lily.

Slughorn cleared his throat. "So you two want to take your NEWTS next week and Mr Snape, you want to double your detention hours this coming week, is that correct?"

"Yes, sir. Same amount of punishment, just all at once"

"Then you want to take your NEWTS?"

Severus nodded. "Yes. We do not feel safe here and wish to leave. Here we are stuck closed into dorms, having to sleep at night with others who are ready to, as Lily puts it, stick us through a meat grinder. Tension for everyone would lessen if we both left. We'd be given the chance to start contributing to our world if we could leave."

Slughorn cleared his throat again. "Well...I don't see why it would hurt anything. You both are certainly intelligent enough to pass your Potion NEWTS with flying colours. I will have to speak with the Headmaster, however, and find someone to give you two the exam. If you two were not my best students, I would not consider it, but I know you will be fine."

"So," Lily started. "You are going to let us take it?"

"I will have to discuss the proposal with the Headmaster, but I do not see a problem. I advise the both of you to go speak with the other professors you have to see if they are okay with the idea as well."

Severus's mouth twitched into a smile and Lily's eyes brightened.

"Thank you, Professor. We appreciate it. We will go speak with the others. Come on, Sev."

Severus got up. "Thanks."

They went to their Charms professor next and made their rounds. They went to McGonagall last.

"So, what are you proposing?"

"Well, Severus and I do not feel comfortable in this school anymore. We have been degraded, hexed randomly, cursed and threatened over this incident multiple times. Our roommates are barely speaking to us. They are really, really angry with us actually. So, we would both like to take our NEWTS next week."

"I have spoken to Slughorn already about my punishments and asked to double them this coming week. He said that would be fine."

"You still have a trial coming up so you cannot leave the country if that's your intention."

"It's not. We'll only leave the country if we want after this is all over. My punishment and trial."

"You won't get a prison sentence even if you are found guilty." McGonagall looked between them. "You both really want to take the NEWTS so soon? It's barely March. The real tests are not until late June, more than three and half months away."

"Yes. I feel confident I can take the Transfiguration NEWTS with ease."

"Same here." Severus agreed.

McGonagall let out a heavy sigh, silent for a minute. "You really want to take it now? You are only a couple months away from being finished for good."

They both nodded.

"Yes." Lily said. "I really think it would be best for us and for everyone if we left and got on with our lives. It's not that we want to just quit. We just think it would be much safer, even with the war going on out in our world, there's a war between us and our roommates as well."

McGonagall looked between them and was silent again for a minute. "I must run it by the Headmaster and you all must run it by all your other professors."
Severus gave a curt nod. "We have. They are all fine with it."

"Well, guess I will have to let you take yours as well then. You all may go have some dinner before the meal is over."

Lily and Severus nodded, going down to the Great Hall. Severus sat with some third years and Lily sat with Anna and her sixth year friend, Carolyn.

Severus went with Lily to the library after dinner and they studied for their NEWTS. Severus and Lily stayed at the library until the Librarian kicked them out after curfew. Severus walked Lily up to the tower.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll be okay. They go after me and they will be expelled. Mulciber has been in enough trouble with the Headmaster that one more incident will get him expelled. Avery is borderline and Travers is too dumb. Rosier is more bark than bite. Don't worry."

"You still hurt him and I don't-I don't trust them to not-"

"And not one person would get me in trouble. As I said, Mulciber would get in trouble. It's the one thing I think the professors would be on my side about. It involves you."

Lily nodded and kissed his lips. "Good night, Sev."

He gave her a kiss. "Night, Lily." He watched her go in through the portrait. He sighed and slowly headed down to the Slytherin dorms. The lights were not out yet, which meant professors were still up and about. He was not caught being out after curfew though.

The halls were eerily silent this time of the evening. Many of the portraits were sleeping and some were snoring. When he made it to the common room there were three girls, probably in third or fourth year, sitting by the fire and talking. He went down to the dorms. All four of his roommates looked at him when he entered. Severus said nothing and went into the bathroom. They did not say a word back.

Severus woke up the following morning. His head was stuck to the pillow and he realized one of his roommates had used the honey hair jinx on him while he slept. He got out his wand and undid the jinx with a grumble. He got out of bed and took a shower. It was Saturday, meaning he could spend it in the library, studying and doing his homework with Lily, away from the others. Better to be under the scrutiny of the librarian than the hostility of his schoolmates.

As he rinsed out his hair, he hoped beyond hope that the headmaster would grant both him and Lily the opportunity to get out of here after next week. He did not think he could take four more months here at all.

When he left the bathroom, Rosier watched him.

"Where're you goin so early?"

"It's almost 10."

"And Saturday."

"I have to study."

"Sure you are. Studying what? The mudblood's tits? Or studying your hands up her robes to play with her"

"Just because you treat Emily as an object for your sexual pleasure doesn't mean I do the same to Lily."

"Hey, she likes it."

"Does she? I wouldn't be so sure of that." Severus shut the door behind him and left the bowels of the castle for the library.

Lily had a rough night and had woken up early, unable to sleep anymore. She decided to write a note to her mother about the possibility of coming home in a couple weeks. As she started to write it out, she realized her mother would want to know why she was leaving so early. She huffed and tossed the paper in the bin.

"I think it would best to just show up and surprise her. Then I can explain what all happened. No need to get her worked up until we know we can get out of here." A twinge of excitement hit her. "Out, getting out, getting away, having a life outside of school." She sighed with a smile on her face. "Please, please let them say yes, let us leave."
When the clock struck eight, she decided to shower and get ready for the day. By nine, she headed up to the library though it did not open until ten.

Sunday came and neither heard a word about whether they could take their NEWTS.

"I will just ask Slughorn when I go for detention this evening."

Lily nodded, wrapping his fingers around hers. They were technically supposed to be studying, but they were not really doing much studying that afternoon. The library was occupied by a couple others, but was empty for the most part.

Severus started to slide his other hand up her side, taking some of her robes with him. Her lips tasted sweet, like honey today. His hand reached her breast. Lily slid her other hand down over his thigh toward his groin when they heard a loud cracking noise against their table.

"Break it up!" The librarian snapped and they broke apart. "None of that nonsense in here, understand?"

"Yes, ma'am." They said at the same time.

"Let go of her hand."

Severus let go.

"Now you, young lady, up and to the other side of the table. Up! Up!"

Lily sighed and got to her feet, taking her books and moved on the other side to face Severus instead.

"Hands and lips apart! This is a library, not a motel! Study your books, not each other!"

The librarian walked away. Lily looked at Severus and stifled a laugh. Severus gave her a tiny grin.

"You want to stop studying and go somewhere else?" Severus asked quietly.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "We don't have much time to do anything, if that's why you are thinking."

"Well, it is what I am thinking, but I just meant alone somewhere. We don't have time for that."

"We can go out to the courtyard or something and make out a little."

Severus cocked his neck slightly. "I don't think so."

"Why not?" She asked in a soft whisper.

"Because I will not want to stop there."

Lily shrugged with a nod. "Yeah, I probably won't either."

"I should probably go put up my things and head to detention."

Lily nodded. "I'll go with you. To put up your stuff. No use staying here and I don't want to go up to my dorm."

"You never said why they are punishing you?"

She shrugged. "Same as you. Unauthorized potion brewing. That blue box. It was mine. Sirius stole it from my room."

He gasped, "You let yourself get in trouble?"

"Well, you didn't think I'd let you be punished for my potions, did you?"

He just sat there for a moment, unsure what to think or say.

"It's just detention for a few days. You've been punished enough. Now, c'mon, before we have to attend our detentions."

They gathered their things. The librarian was watching them intently, her eyes going from stacking books with her wand to the two of them. They left the library.

"I think she is going to watch our every move when we come into the library from now on." Severus said.

"So do I."

Lily stayed outside of the Slytherin dorms lest she find herself harassed by Severus's roommates again. Severus went down to his dorm and put up his things. Rosier was in the dorm with Emily. They were arguing.

"Get out of here!"

"My room too. Putting my things up."

"Oh, that's right. You've got detention."

"He has detention?" The honey-suckle blonde girl asked.

"Yeah. Got in trouble for fucking the mudblood and knocking her up."

Emily snickered. "That's right. He's the one that did it."

Severus left the room without another word and met Lily outside of the portrait to his dorms. "I'll see you later this evening?"

"If you aren't too tired."

"I'll be okay. See you at dinner or a little after eight if I have my other detentions."

"If you have your double detentions, don't worry about it. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

She attempted to kiss his check, but he turned and she kissed his neck instead. He kissed her lips in return before walking to the dungeons for his detentions. Lily watched him go until he was out of sight. Sighing, she slowly turned and headed up the stairs, deciding she would head back to the library until dinner and her own detention.

Severus knocked on Slughorn's door.

"Come in."

Severus entered.

"Ah, Severus. Here for detention already?"

"It's five till four."

"Well, we can start you early. I don't have much for you to do so I was thinking you could straighten up some files a bit."

Severus cleared his throat. "So, do you know if Lily and I-if we can take our NEWTS early?"

Slughorn gave a little shrug. "That I don't know. I said I was fine with it. There were some issues that needed resolving first."

"Issues?"

"Minor ones. Now, shall we put you to work so I can say I gave you detention?"

Severus sighed to himself and started to sort the files. He had a light dinner and the Ministry decided to have Severus work with Filch that evening. Filch had him scrubbing all the trophies and awards for two hours. Severus took a hot bath after that and collapsed into bed with a moan, his feet aching and his arms like rubber. It was going to be a very long week.

A/N: The fee is equal to 5000 US Dollars, which equals to 3158 UK Pounds which equals to 3758 Euros. Either way, a lot of money for most people even today. I will say that $5000 is about what a uni costs for a semester without room and board here in the US, so for someone without much money to throw around, that's a hefty sum.