A/N: Some minor adjustments, but otherwise a very canon-adjacent chapter this time around. Harry forges a stronger connection with Nearly-Headless-Nick than he had before.
Chapter 27 Rising Tensions & Death Day Parties
October was about as miserable as could be for Harry, Lily and Severus. Not just for them, either, for practically the entirety of Hogwarts' occupants felt the effects of the terrible weather and atmosphere the tenth month of the year seemed to bring with it. The weather was downright atrocious, incessant rain, high winds, and even hail from time to time. It got so bad during the second week, that when Oliver Wood was scheduled to hold Quidditch practice, he took one look at the thundering sky, sighed, shook his head, and called off practice. Harry thought the fact that Wood thought the conditions were bad enough to contemplate cancelling Quidditch practice, let alone actually cancelling it, spoke volumes of just how terrible the weather was. Of course, he couldn't complain, for it meant that he could spend a little more time with his friends out of the elements and within the warm confines of the castle. Harry's cancelled practice wasn't the only casualty of the inclement weather, however, as their visits to Hagrid also had to be put on hold for the time being too. Although Hagrid wasn't all that bothered by the constant rain and hail himself, he understood that those less durable than he had more than a few bones to pick with the weather.
While Harry enjoyed a relatively relaxed schedule, Severus and Lily's weekend brewing pursuits persisted throughout October. They spent an awful lot of time brewing pepper-up potions for the Hospital Wing, in large part thanks to Madam Pomfrey's stock being depleted at an alarming rate. They still made time for their friends, weekdays being devoted to Anthony and Mandy for the most part, and the weekends being when they got together with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Tracey still was a permanent fixture of their Sunday morning potion brewing, though her bright and bubbly self was somewhat subdued thanks to the inclement weather. For Severus in particular, he found the persistent rain rather relaxing and didn't mind in the least that it seemed to rain non-stop. He was as productive as ever and was at the head of his class for both DADA and Potions throughout October with ease. Lily, on the other hand, didn't fare quite as well. She grew frustrated with being confined within the castle, her longing for sunny, clear skies caused her focus and concentration to suffer, and her grades slipped slightly as a result. Catching up proved to be difficult too, which resulted in many long hours in the library throughout October.
On a late Saturday evening on the third week of term, Harry, Severus and Lily exited the library and set off for Dumbledore's office. They'd shifted their weekly meetings to Saturdays owing to the fact that Severus and Lily's extracurricular brewing, and Harry's Quidditch training—on the days it wasn't canceled, both occurred on Sundays. They arrived at Dumbledore's office just shy of nine, their brief walk from the library not talking too long thanks to the Halls being mostly deserted. They'd come across a handful of students heading back to their dorms, but other than that, their walk was mostly unimpeded.
"Chocolate Quills," Harry said to the Gargoyle, who dipped his head and sprung aside.
They all ventured up the staircase one after the other with Harry reaching the door first and rapping his knuckles on the red maple.
"Come in," Albus said from the other side.
Harry and Lily strode through one after the other, though Severus lagged behind a bit and hung his head slightly as he entered the office. Harry and Lily sat down quickly, Severus, like before, shuffled across the office and avoided meeting the Headmaster's curious gaze, though he could tell his sparkling-blue eyes were fixed on his hunched-over form.
Predictably, Albus was sat at his desk; and opposite him were three chairs facing him along with little side tables. A pot of tea sat on his desk along with three cups, saucers and a tin of biscuits.
"Good evening, children," said Albus, waving them over.
"Good evening, Albus," they chorused in unison.
Albus smiled and gestured to the chairs. "Come. Have a seat. We have much to discuss."
Harry and Lily sat down quickly, Severus, like before, shuffled across the office and avoided meeting the Headmaster's curious gaze, though he could tell his sparkling-blue eyes were fixed on his hunched-over form. Severus declined an offer of biscuits, though Lily and Harry accepted; Albus then served them all three cups of tea at their request.
"So," Albus began, clapping his hands together and rubbing them vigorously. "How has your week been?"
"Tiring," said Severus and Lily, the two sharing a humored look at their simultaneous response.
"It's been all right," Harry said, he couldn't help but smirk at his two friends as they spoke.
Albus chuckled and leaned back in his throne-like chair a little. "In that case…perhaps we had better start with you two," he said to Lily and Severus.
Severus quickly gestured for Lily to go first, who accepted his gesture of seemingly-good will with a smile. Albus' eyes lingered on Severus' form, knowing of why the boy wanted so desperately to shrink into his chair and hopefully, disappeared from sight. Harry sat back and helped himself to his tea and biscuits while Lily started to recount her troubles from the past week.
"I feel as though I haven't been focused enough," Lily said with a frown. "I've never really liked being cooped up indoors all that much, and I hated when I had to stay home 'cus of the smog back in Cokeworth…so, I guess being stuck inside the castle all day reminded me of that and my concentration in class suffered a bit." As she spoke, a loud crack of Thunder sounded out from outside the castle, rattling the teacups and liquid within.
"Well, at least you know the source of your problem, now what you must do is address it."
"I have been, Albus," Lily said eagerly. "I spent practically all of today in the library catching up, and I think I'm better shape for next week than I was this time last week."
"Very good, Lily, but it is also important that you make time for rest and relaxation, too," Albus suggested, Lily nodding in reply.
"Now, Severus. How about yourself?" Albus went on, fixing his blue eyes intently on his eldest ward.
Severus drank a little more tea then set the cup and saucer down. "My week was fine, more or less," he muttered, giving an apathetic shrug of his shoulders. "Don't have much to say."
Albus only smiled, his eyes twinkling with mirth, though Severus had a hard time thinking why. "Are you sure you don't have much to say, Severus?" Albus asked quietly.
Severus hesitated, he was sure it showed clearly on his face, but he still nodded nonetheless. "Mhmm."
Albus nodded once, he appeared contemplative for a moment, but his face soon hardened after that as he fixed Severus with a penetrating stare. "So, what you're telling me is that if I were to ask you, or anyone else in your dorm, if there was a confrontation between yourself and Mister Corner; you would tell me with absolute certainty and truthfulness that there was no such confrontation?"
"I—sir, I don't know—"
"—because I have it on good authority that there was a confrontation between you and Mister Corner just this past Wednesday," said Albus, who sounded more disappointed than he was cross.
Severus hung his head, no longer able to see the disappointment etched clearly into Albus' lined features. "I—yes, it's true," he said softly, drawing shocked gasps from Harry and Lily.
"You fought Michael? Sev—what on earth were you thinking? Why'd you do that?" Lily asked incredulously.
Severus darted a quick glance up at her, and to his dismay, the disappointment Lily felt showed clearly on her face. He didn't say anything and turned to Albus.
"C-Can I speak with y-you alone, sir?" he asked softly, his words tremulous.
"You may," said Albus. "Harry, Lily, perhaps sit down by the coffee table if you please," he said to Severus' companions.
Harry stood up from his chair and wandered over to the sitting area fairly swiftly. Lily hesitated, shooting Severus a disappointed glance before following suit and joining Harry. Albus then drew his wand and cast a privacy spell into the air, ensuring their conversation would remain just between the two of them. Severus looked back at Lily longingly, half of him wanting to tell her why he fought Michael, the other half begging that she never find out lest it ruin their friendship.
"Now that we're alone, Severus, perhaps you can tell me why you got into a scuffle with Mister Corner," Albus said invitingly.
Severus sighed and took a swig of his tea, finishing the cup, and then looking up at Albus. "I—he was saying some things I didn't agree with…or I took offense to, I didn't really rough him up, sir. He asked for it with what he said!" Severus spluttered, his anger slurring his words.
"And what did he say to anger you, so?" Albus inquired, his tone curious and his blue eyes inviting.
Severus shook his head quickly and darted his black eyes down towards the carpet, staring intently at the pattern as Albus released a tired sigh.
"I'm afraid I must insist, Severus. This is an important matter, and if you want any leniency on your punishment, you will have to tell me why you attacked Mister—"
"—I'm being punished?" Severus asked despairingly.
Albus gave the boy a sad but stiff look. "You attacked another student, despite knowing what would happen in lieu of the dust-up you had Mister Carmichael just under a year ago, Severus. So, yes, you will be punished appropriately for this transgression," Albus said sternly.
Severus wilted and seemed to shrink into his chair even more, his dark eyes beginning to water and his lip beginning to wobble. Albus winced, wondering if the tone he used was too harsh, all he wanted was to get to the bottom of why his child in all but blood attacked another student, in awfully similar manner to what occurred one year ago with another of his roommates. "But if there's anything you have to share with me first, it may help matters regarding your punishment, my boy," he continued more gently.
Severus wiped his eyes and nose with his robe sleeve, then lifted his gaze to his guardian. "I—he insulted Lily, sir. He…talked about her in—like—like how Tobias…" he shook his head and wiped his nose, unable to go on.
"Like how Tobias did what, Severus?" Albus asked.
"Like how Tobias talked about the cheap whores he cheated on my mother with!" Severus all but shouted.
"Severus! Do watch your language! This is a school, not a barnyard!"
Severus flushed a dull shade of red, but his anger only took a backseat for all of five seconds as he heaved a deep breath and said; "Corner insulted her!" He couldn't elaborate more than that, he really didn't want Albus to force him to repeat what Corner said about Lily…but thankfully, his guardian sensed that and relented.
"I believe you, Severus," Albus said quietly. "But verbal insults do not excuse fisticuffs, I've said as much before regarding your incident with Mister Carmichael."
Severus breathed a heavy sigh, trying to expel his righteous anger with his breath. "Yes, sir," he said quietly.
Albus gave Severus an indiscernible look, then nodded, and lifted the privacy spell with a wave of his wand. If Severus was surprised to hear about his punishment, or lack thereof, he didn't let it show on his face other than a barely-noticeable raise of his eyebrows.
"Lily, Harry, do join us again," Albus called out, snapping Severus from his surprise.
Harry got up off the sofa fairly quickly and sat down next to Severus, Lily a little slower on the uptake and sitting on Harry's other side. She gave Severus a wary look but her disappointed expression from earlier was now gone, much to Severus' relief.
Severus tuned out the rest of the meeting and lost himself in his thoughts. When he returned to Ravenclaw tower with Lily later that night, he headed upstairs to his dorm room with only a muttered utterance of; 'goodnight' to Lily. Lily frowned as she watched Severus leave up the stairs to his dormitory. Lily wasn't blind, she'd certainly bore witness to Severus' evident mood-swings over the past three or four days; and now that she knew the truth behind it, well, at least some of it, she couldn't help but wonder just why Severus initiated a fight with Michael. Instead of following him up to the dorm, Lily sat down at a nearby couch just opposite to a couple of her roommates. She offered up a smile and wave for Sue and Lisa in greeting, but cast her thoughts adrift to discern why Severus fought Michael. He'd gotten into his fair share of fights back in Cokeworth before, sure, but usually he was the one being picked on, not the one actively seeking out trouble. Just thinking about it made her head hurt so instead she simply decided just to ask him about it tomorrow. Perhaps he'd tell her if he was feeling charitable.
The following morning Harry set off for his morning Quidditch training with the Gryffindors. The weather had let up slightly overnight, and now that it was only drizzling slightly, Wood thought the conditions were more than good enough to practice. Knowing their first match against Slytherin was only a couple weeks away, Harry knew Wood was going to grill them hard to ensure they were in peak form for the match. There was also the issue of Ron, Harry knew he wouldn't take it well if he ever found out he made the team based on a wager between himself and Wood. Like himself, Ron didn't take charity all that well, and that's exactly how he'd view it if he were to make the team, even if only as a reserve based on the outcome of the coming match. Never mind the fact that the main reason Harry even posed the request to Wood was so he'd have a friend on the team that he could chat and get along with. Not that he didn't get along with Fred and George, nor with Angelina, Katie and Alicia; but they were all older, and they were all friends with one another.
After a tiring practice session, Harry wearily headed back into the castle and soon came across Nearly Headless Nick. The two engaged in conversation, Sir Nicholas spitefully recounting his umpteenth rejection of his application to join the Headless Hunt, then Harry having his turn griping about Quidditch training. As the two commiserated their troubles and gripes with one another, Mrs Norris snuck up on them and announced her presence with a loud meow. Harry cursed his rotten luck, having not seen Filch's feline accomplice sneaking up on him. Sir Nicholas advised him to leave, but he wasn't quick enough as the tapestry next to them suddenly swung open and out came a deranged-looking Filch. Filch's maniacal eyes trembled with excitement at the sight of a young rule-breaker to take his frustrations out on, and he barked for Harry to follow him to his office. He begrudgingly followed Filch to the man's office, but upon arriving, he was saved by the timely intervention of Peeves who distracted the caretaker. Harry didn't dare leave, not until Filch came back and dismissed him, stating that he had to write up a report regarding Peeves. Harry didn't waste a moment inside Filch's office any longer and quickly left the cantankerous caretaker behind.
He wiped away as much mud as he could find, only to come across Nick again who floated towards him with a big smile on his face.
"Did it work, Harry? Did Filch set you free?" Nick asked eagerly.
Harry nodded quickly, but his expression of confusion only lead Nick to smile.
"I convinced Peeves to cause a distraction, see here?" Nick moved to the side, allowing Harry to see into the abandoned classroom from which Nick'd floated out of. On the floor were the shattered remains of a cabinet, evidently dropped by Peeves. "I'm glad he's been useful for a change, and happy to see that you're free," Nick said with a smile.
"Thank you so much, Nick!" harry said gratefully. "Believe it or not, I didn't even get a detention for it."
Nick beamed back at Harry and the two set off down the abandoned corridor side by side. Harry noticed that Nick was still holding the rejection letter from his application to join the Headless Hunt, the ghost still seemed a little put out about it.
"I wish there was something I could do for you about the Headless Hunt," said Harry.
Nick stopped in his tracks, and Harry walked right through him without warning. He wished he hadn't, it felt like stepping through an icy-cold shower.
"But there is something you could do for me," Nick said excitedly. "Harry…I worry this is asking too much—but would you be willing—no…you wouldn't want—"
"—What is it?"
"Well, this Halloween will be my five-hundredth death day," said Nick, drawing himself up and looking dignified.
"Oh," said Harry, not sure whether he should look sorry or happy about this. "Right."
"I'm holding a party down in one of the roomier dungeons. Friends from all across the country will be coming. It would be such an honor for me if you would attend. I daresay you might want to bring Mister Weasley and Miss Granger along to my party, and they would be most welcome, but I presume you might want to go to the school feast?" Nick watched him on tenterhooks.
"No," said Harry quickly. "I'll come. But can I bring Lily and Severus as well?"
Nick gave a wry smile. "Perhaps Miss Bergman can be permitted to attend," he said wryly. "I did know her quite well as Miss Evans, to be frank. I brilliant young lady, you mother was, Harry."
Harry looked out of breath, his eyes wide with curiosity. "You knew my mum?"
Nick laughed heartily and loudly, his barely-attached head quite nearly flying off his floating body. "Oh, yes!" he boomed. "She was a Gryffindor after all, and I make it a habit of only inviting Gryffindors to my Death-day parties, Harry. And though Miss Bergman is not a Gryffindor, I think I can bend my own rules and allow her to come."
"And Severus?" Harry asked eagerly.
Nick frowned at that. "Since he was neither a Gryffindor in his current life nor in his past one, I'm afraid I can't allow that. I'm sorry."
Harry looked downcast for a moment, but even the disappointment of Severus not being allowed to attend was overshadowed by the revelation that Nearly Headless Nick knew of his mum. "Okay," Harry said quietly. "In any case, I think Lily, Severus 'n I are supposed to meet with Dumbledore on Halloween night anyways…so I'll tell him I can't come. I hope Severus won't be too bummed out about it."
"I think our illustrious Headmaster ought to allow you to skip out on one of your weekly meetings for my five-hundredth death-day of all things!" Nick chortled.
Harry gave a small grin of agreement, but already, his thoughts wandered to his parents and the many questions he wanted to ask Gryffindor's Ghost about them.
"But considering that Miss Bergman was a Gryffindor, and I did know her quite well as Miss Evans…I think it'd be just fine if you invited her along," Nick went on, interrupting Harry from his musings.
"Err—Nick?" Harry asked tentatively.
"Yes, Harry?"
Harry gave Nearly Headless Nick a pensive look. "How well did you know my mum? Were you a friend of her's when she was a Gryffindor?"
"Oh, I knew her quite well from the moment she was sorted. You should remember that I make it a habit of greeting every first year Gryffindor after they're sorted, Harry!"
"Right," said Harry. "But did you know my mum any better than that? Or my dad, perhaps?"
A fond smile tugged at Nick's translucent lips, Harry found himself smiling too. "I knew your mother well…though I remember James too. I'm afraid our resident pesky, poltergeist Peeves knew James Potter better than I," he chuckled. "But as for Lily Evans…I can say I was far more acquainted with her than I ever was your father. And like young Miss Bergman, your good friend—" Nick gave Harry a poignant look now, "—she too, was a kind, curious, if a bit vivacious; truly identical to your very good friend, Miss Bergman. Even though they are quite literally the same person…Lily Potter and Lily Bergman are more alike than you can possibly realize."
"What else can you tell me about her? About them?" Harry asked breathlessly.
Nick paused, coming to an abrupt in the middle of the corridor. Harry did well to evade running through the ghost this time around. "She was one of the smartest witches of her time…it's no wonder she was sorted into Ravenclaw this time around, she could have easily ended up there the first time. Character wise…it's like I said before, she was always kind to those in need, curious too…though sometimes too curious for her own good—she lit up a room with her presence, Harry…truly one of a kind in that regard."
"Did she have a temper?" Harry couldn't resist asking. Lily Bergman certainly had a temper, though she usually expressed said temper with icy, cutting barbs rather than red-hot, flaming insults.
"A mighty great one if she got going," Nick chuckled. "Not that I was ever on the receiving end of it, mind you. She and your father got into many fights and arguments over their seven years within these walls…though by the end of it she'd fallen head over heels for him and they were madly in love."
Picturing his parents smiling and laughing brought a smile to Harry's face, his mind's eye replaying a year-old memory of him looking at the Mirror of Erised and seeing the smiling faces of his mum and dad. Knowing that his father hadn't been brought back, and that Severus and Lily were the only ones to travel forward through time…he couldn't help but wonder if there was anyone in this time that could make Lily Bergman happy like how James Potter did for Lily Evans.
"It's…a bit weird, you know? Going to school and becoming friends with a girl who was my mum in another time," Harry said at last.
He hoped he hadn't weirded Nearly Headless Nick out, but the Gryffindor Ghost only smiled and nodded.
"In a world of magic, Harry, I find that surprisingly pedestrian to be honest," he remarked with utmost seriousness, though Nick's quivering lip soon gave way to hearty laughter.
Harry and Nearly Headless Nick soon parted ways at the base of Gryffindor Tower. Harry returning to his dorm for a warm shower and a fresh change of clothes, and Nick heading off to roam the castle and do whatever it is ghosts do. As Harry relaxed and soothed his aching limbs under the hot spray of his shower, he began to brainstorm a series of questions he could ask Nearly Headless Nick about his parents, specifically, his mum. As various bits of inspiration invaded his consciousness, he was already looking forward to his next meeting and discussion with Gryffindor's Ghost. When he finished his shower, Harry stepped out, redressed in some fresh clothes and headed out into the dorm. The dorm was pretty much empty save for Neville, who was sat at his desk trying to put together a potions essay. Harry ignored Neville, who appeared to be ignoring him too, and wandered over to his bedside table, retrieving an ink-pot, quill and notebook he could use to write in. He then sat down at his desk and began to jot down ideas for what he wanted to ask Nick. As Harry put his thoughts, ideas and bits of inspiration into writing; he remained entirely oblivious to the worried looks Neville kept giving him over his shoulder.
Not too long after, Harry's well of ideas ran dry and he put away his writing materials, notebook included, in his bedside table. He decided to head down to the Great Hall for an early lunch. As he went down the stairs into the common room, he spotted Hermione and Ron sat together at one of the tables. Ron noticed him first, his blue eyes going wide with surprise, he smiled and quickly waved him over, Hermione doing the same when she noticed Harry's approach.
"Where were you, mate? Hermione and I couldn't find you for ages," said Ron, as Harry sat down next to them.
"Oh, I got in a little bit late," Harry explained.
He then told his friends about practice running over a bit, him getting back to the castle late and then his run-in's with Nick and then Filch. He then talked about Nick's upcoming 500th death day and if they'd be interested in attending with him. Hermione gave her approval very quickly, nodding her head happily in acceptance; Ron seemed a little more apprehensive but after some wheedling from Harry and Hermione he too, accepted. Harry was then struck with a barrage of questions from Hermione about what Death Days where and the significance of them to ghosts and other forms of the deceased. He didn't get a chance to tell his friends the good news about Nick knowing both his parents, especially his mum. He tried to answer Hermione's persistent barrage of questions about Death Days and other ghostly holidays and traditions, but he soon grew weary of talking. By the time Hermione finished asking her questions, Harry had long since forgotten about telling Hermione and Ron about Nick's connection to his parents; but they set off for the Great Hall for lunch at last, much to Ron's relief.
The next week went by fairly smoothly for Harry. He did end up telling Severus and Lily about his encounter with Sir Nicholas, Lily eagerly pressed him for details while Severus sat back and let Harry do the talking. He briefly recounted his momentary detainment in Filch's cluttered office before getting into what he really wanted to talk about, his discussion with Sir Nicholas about his parents and the upcoming death day party. Severus, predictably, wasn't all that bothered about missing out on the death day party, simply stating that he didn't mind either way and was fine with the two of them going. Lily, on the other hand, remained on the fence, unable to decide whether to go with Harry, Ron and Hermione, or to remain with Severus so he wouldn't be by himself when meeting with Albus. She eventually made her decision and told Harry that she'd come, the prospect of chatting with Nearly Headless Nick being too great to pass up. From what Harry had told her, Nick had a treasure trove of information about who her alternate self, Lily Evans, was. She had every intention of learning as much as she could about the woman who would eventually become Harry's mother, as Harry himself.
When Halloween arrived at long last, Harry slowly began to regret his decision to dine with Sir Nicholas. Upon informing Albus about it, his guardian was all too happy to allow he and Lily to attend, Albus seemed to share Hermione's sentiment that it ought to be an interesting learning experience for Harry and Lily, and even encouraged the two of them to miss their weekly meeting. Throughout Halloween itself though, as the castle and its occupants fully embraced the festivity of Halloween, Harry began to regret his decision to attend Nick's death day party, knowing that he'd miss out on the highlight of the celebration, namely the Halloween feast in the Great Hall. When Harry started having thoughts about reneging on his agreement with Nick, Hermione and Lily set him straight and all but forced him into the dungeons as he longingly watched everyone else enter the Great Hall for the Halloween feast. Once he'd been straightened out by Lily and Hermione, they prepared to set off for the dungeons with Ron. Tracey was kind enough to volunteer her services as a guide, since as well as Lily knew the layout of the dungeons, Tracey knew them like the back of her hand.
"Save some food for us, Severus, will ya?" Ron asked beseechingly.
"I'll think about it," Severus said with a small grin. "In any case…you five had better get going, I don't think Sir Nicholas'll take too kindly to you being late."
"Severus is right, we've dilly-dallied for long enough. It's time to go," Hermione said swiftly, Lily nodding her head in agreement, while Harry and Ron hung their heads in acceptance.
"All right you lot. Stick close to me, and I'll have you at your death day party in good time," said Tracey, smiling at the three Gryffindors and lone Ravenclaw.
With Tracey leading them away, Harry, Lily, Hermione and Ron left the Entrance Hall and disappeared into the dungeons, while Severus, Mandy and Anthony turned to enter the rapidly-filling Great Hall.
"And then there were three," said Anthony.
"Would you mind having a fourth?"
Anthony and Mandy whirled about at the unfamiliar voice, though when Severus turned, albeit a little slower, he knew full well who the owner of that voice was.
"Greengrass?" Mandy asked curiously, her head cocked to the side. "What're you doing here?"
Daphne stepped out of the corridor from which she'd come, and gave the three Ravenclaws a little grin. "Tracey's off guiding the rest of your friends into the dungeons, so, I figured I'd join you lot. If…that's all right with you, of course."
"Oh, it's more than all right with us," Anthony said breathlessly, his blue eyes wide almost as if they were straining against the sockets. "You're…you can sit with us any time, Greengrass."
Severus almost snorted, and Mandy merely elbowed the boy in the ribs. "Get your mind out of the gutter," she snapped, drawing a little chortle from Severus.
Before she could respond to Daphne, Severus took the initiative. "Aren't you worried about what your housemates might think?"
Daphne's cerulean eyes swept over their robes. "I don't think they will. I don't see any red and gold on your robes after all," she said with a smile.
"Fair enough," Mandy murmured under her breath, though not quiet enough for Severus to miss it.
"Well, if you're all right with it, then you're more than welcome to join us," Severus replied.
Daphne's smile widened a bit and she stepped out of the corridor and wandered over to them. "Bear in mind…my house doesn't look kindly upon fraternizing with Gryffindors, but with you Ravenclaws—it's acceptable as long as—"
"—Then why does Tracey do it?" said Mandy, her tone and narrowed eyes conveying her suspicion clearly.
"Tracey simply doesn't care," said Daphne. "Sure, she never gets too brazen, but pretty much everyone in Slytherin knows that even though Tracey's a blood-traitor and not one of, well, us; she and Professor Snape go way back, supposedly, so they know better than to try anything. Tracey's aware of this, and knows she can afford to discreetly befriend some Gryffindors, as long as she doesn't get brazen and flaunt the fact that she's befriended Potter and his group in front of the rest of us."
"And do you see Tracey as a blood-traitor?" Mandy pressed, she didn't sound like she trusted, or liked Daphne all that much. "I thought you were friends with—"
"—Of course not," Daphne snapped. "As you say, she's a friend, and I don't care for politics, Severus knows this."
Severus nodded once he felt Mandy's gaze find his. "We're missing out on the feast as it is, let's head inside and save this discussion for later," said Severus.
Moments later, they'd find that Daphne's statement rang true. When she followed the three Ravenclaws over to their table, she drew a number of indifferent looks from the Slytherins. A handful of the glances shot their way were hostile, but more often than not, they were met with indifference. Mandy and Anthony noted that Severus sat down about as far from Michael Corner as possible, but the main focus of their fellow second-years was the Slytherin in their midst in Daphne. She sat down next to Severus and across from Mandy and Anthony on the bench, politely smiling at anyone willing to look her way. Amongst the second years, Severus was surprised that there weren't many complaints about Daphne's presence at their table, but then again, Daphne wasn't exactly part of Parkinson's gang so she hadn't ruffled nearly as many feather as some of her housemates. Dumbledore then rose to his feet from the high table, and with a wave of his wand he, lit the candles within the floating pumpkins and declared the commencement of the Halloween feast and invited the students to tuck in.
Throughout the meal, conversation continued to flow between Severus, Mandy, Anthony and Daphne along with their seat-neighbors sat beside them on the bench. They kept conversation fairly innocuous, focusing mainly on their exploits over the first couple months of term or so. Severus hadn't had a chance to meet up with Daphne since the first week of September, the inclement weather preventing their usual meet-ups at Hagrid's Hut, and Lily's detention troubles in September not helping matters as well. Daphne, as it turned out, had had a fairly eventful first two months of school as well. She explained how her sister, Astoria, had sorted into Slytherin as well, and how she'd been acting as a protective guardian of her little sister at her parents' request. That coupled with her studies and her weekend visits to Hagrid meant her days were as jam-packed as ever these past couple months. As the meal wound on, she eventually spotted Tracey sneaking into the Hall and wandering over to the Slytherin table. Tracey sat down next to a petite, blonde-girl, a first-year by the looks of things. Upon seeing that, Daphne hastily polished off her plate and excused herself. She sat down next to Tracey and the blonde girl, who Severus presumed was Astoria.
With Daphne now gone, Mandy started to smile a little more and conversation flowed more freely between the three of them. Severus' feelings of suspicion heightened a little bit, for some odd reason, he got the feeling that Mandy didn't like Daphne that much.
About an hour later, Severus was on his way back to the headmaster's office for his meeting, he'd left the feast a little early so he could get to Dumbledore's office on time, and also so he could take a bit of a detour to walk off some of the pounds he'd put on in the last hour. Severus couldn't remember having ever eaten more than he just did, gorging himself on the rich, Halloween-themed food until he was stuffed like a pig. In spite of his piggish state, he was still able to make out a series of shouts coming from another corridor that immediately heightened his senses.
"It's going to kill someone!" a familiar voice shouted.
Harry! Oh no, what've you done now?
Severus immediately broke out into a run, his stomach complaining in loud grumbles as he dashed down the passageway towards the end. He rounded the corner only to see a telltale flash of dark-red vanishing around the opposite end of the corridor, he knew who it was immediately.
Lily!
He took off at a run again and started to reel in the group ahead, shouts from Lily, Harry, Ron and Hermione filling his ears and ensuring he wouldn't lose them. He followed the sounds of their shouts and yells along the entirety of the second floor, their voices only silencing when Harry & co. arrived at an empty corridor. Severus rounded the corner, the final corner after a series of never-ending passageways and corridors; he found Harry, Lily, Hermione and Ron, all with their hands on their knees and breathing heavily in an effort to catch their breath. Other than his four, out of breath friends, the corridor was deserted, no signs of life either at the far end, or the near one. They looked as though they'd run around half the castle, and from following their voices, Severus knew that his friends practically scoured the entire second floor.
"Harry," Severus breathed, his dark eyes wide with terror. "What…what's going on—why were you shouting and—"
"—I don't know!" Harry shouted. "That—that voice, I heard it—it was going to kill."
"I didn't hear anything, Harry," Hermione said hoarsely, coughing and spluttering as she fought to draw in precious oxygen.
"Me neither," said Ron, sounding similarly out of breath. "It must've been some—"
"—Harry, guys, look!" Lily urged, pointing at a nearby wall.
Something was shining on the wall at the end of the corridor, something sinister and glowing by the dim light of a pair of lamps. Foot-high words had been daubed onto the stone surface of the wall, glowing sinisterly before their very eyes.
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.
ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.
"What's that thing—hanging underneath?" Ron asked tremulously.
As they neared the wall, they stepped through a large puddle of water, Harry almost slipping. Lily and Ron managed to catch him in time and keep him upright. Severus followed them over, still a little behind them. The four of them recognized who it was as they neared, it was none other than Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat, stiff as a board and utterly frozen in place. She was hanging from her frozen tale from a torch-bracket. Her yellow, lamp-like eyes wide and staring listlessly at the floor.
"Mrs. Norris…but how? Who did this?" Lily asked.
Harry and Lily approached the frozen feline first, Ron, Hermione and Severus closely following them over.
Lily was tempted to touch the cat, but Ron said; "Let's get out of here."
"Shouldn't we try to help her?" Harry asked.
"Trust me," Ron said seriously. "We don't want to be found here."
But it was too late. A rumble, as though of distant thunder, told them that the feast had just ended. From either end of the corridor where they stood came the sounds of hundreds of feet climbing the stairs, and the loud, happy talk of well-fed people; next moment, students were crashing into the passageway from both ends.
"Oh, no. We're doomed," Lily said morosely, her head hanging in resignation.
The chatter, the bustle, the noise died suddenly as the people in front spotted the hanging cat. Harry, Severus, Lily, Ron and Hermione stood alone, in the middle of the corridor, as silence fell upon the mass of students pressing forward to see the grizzly sight.
You could hear a pin drop.
Then someone shouted through the quiet.
"Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!"
It was Draco Malfoy. Lily's fists clenched by her sides and Harry's jaw tensed. He had pushed through to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, his usually bloodless face flushed, as he grinned at the sight of the hanging, immobile cat.
"Oh, you're in for it now Potter, Bergman," he spat maliciously.
A/N2: Up next, the fallout of the basilisk's petrification of Mrs. Norris, and how it affects Harry, Severus, Lily and the rest. I debated whether or not I should include greater canon-divergence or not in this chapter, but in the end, I saw no reason as to why events would unfold any differently this time around compared to what happened in CoS. Moving forward however, there will of course be bigger breaks/changes to the standard canon-timeline as Severus' and Lily's presence alone will change things. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!