Author's Note: I present you with my longest chapter yet! I hope it pleases! It's setting the stage, but I won't dare give anything away. ::evil smile::

New, beautiful artwork for this story by LilyHBP can be found on DeviantArt! Her username there is LilyHBP, and the work is entitled "In the Broom Closet," and is an illustration to chapter 37! I'm honored LilyHBP gave me this lovely gift art!

Thank you all for your continued support! The next chapter will be along soon... in three days, tops:) (So, hint, hint, you don't need to tell me to update soon, because I will!)

Chapter Fifty-Four

September progressed slowly into October, the amount of daylight shortening and a chill entering the air that hadn't been there since early spring. With fewer hours of daylight, students were found outside less and less in the evening, and when the cold that marked the eventual onset of winter broke, the students were confined to the castle, which, much to Severus's dismay, meant more opportunities for trouble to arise in Slytherin.

The students grew restless, awaiting their first Hogsmeade outing, which was scheduled for the last weekend of October, just before Halloween. By the time mid-October rolled around, Severus had lost track of how many times he had to intervene in the Slytherin common room, or worse, between houses. Being Head Boy was not the honor everyone thought it was. Like anything, the higher the position, the more responsbility that came with it.

In the weeks since the beginning of seventh year, Severus had learned to endure almost weekly patrols at night with Lupin. He was sure Dumbledore had arranged it thus, as he never got to patrol with Lily. The werewolf's company grew more tolerable, and the rest of the Marauders were scarce, with the exception of in Potions, when Peter Pettigrew would still cast a curious look in his direction from time to time.

While Severus couldn't have been happier that his relationship with Lily had developed and matured into its present state, the niggling feeling of the impending war never left him. He recalled his conversation with Regulus Black, wondering if any good had come from it, but Black had withdrawn into the shadows again, and while he didn't partake in tormenting other students like Roger Mulciber and his cronies did, neither did he stand up to such bullies and defend what was right.

Every time Severus would see Dumbledore in the Great Hall during meals or happen to catch a glimpse of him in passing in the halls, he would ponder what the headmaster knew about Voldemort. There had been so many secrets, so many lies, so many things covered up before, and Severus still hadn't forgiven the old man for keeping him in the dark. While he would never prostrate himself as Dumbledore's little spy again, he grew ever-more concerned about the future and this bloody war.

Severus groaned to himself for the tenth time that hour, as he was alone in his room, and no one would have to overhear his private grumbling. Was he doing everything he could to aid the cause for good in the upcoming events? He couldn't very well except things to play out as they had before, however, as the circumstances had vastly changed in this life. His mind went back to Pettigrew, to seeing something to pity in the weaker boy all those weeks ago. Dare he help him, but how?

The only time he would be able to find Pettigrew alone would be when he sent his mother a letter by owl, so Severus decided to confront him then. He knew what day of the week Pettigrew went up to the owlery and what time of day. It was truly clockwork.

x x x x x

A couple of days later, Severus kept an eye on Pettigrew from a distance, watching as the shorter boy walked down the hall after class. The halls were quickly emptying of students, all intent on returning to their common rooms for some time to relax before dinner. Severus noticed that Pettigrew had a nervous twitch when he walked, and he was constantly glancing in different directions, including over his shoulder, paranoid and afraid.

Severus pretended to be indifferent, but he couldn't help but sneer at Pettigrew's cowardly demeanor. Everything about the Gryffindor boy was pitiful and pathetic, and Severus wondered if he would be better turning around and forgetting the entire plan.

But no, a small, annoyingly persistent voice nagged inside his mind, you will be the better man and will offer your assistance, if only to help protect Lily and yourself in the long run.

Severus watched as Pettigrew turned the last corner and was now headed up the stairs to the owlery. He watched a minute, then followed him up the steps. Severus observed Pettigrew quietly from the door, allowing the other boy enough time to select an owl and send off the letter with it. Once the task was complete, Severus entered the room, and Peter spun around, startled. Severus saw a spell start to form on the trembling lips, but with a fierce flick of his wand, Severus disarmed Peter, leaving him shaking by the window, much in the same manner he had been when Mulciber had attacked him.

"Abysmal, Pettigrew," Severus sneered.

"W-what're you playing at, Snape?" demanded Pettigrew half-heartedly.

Severus proceeded farther into the room, uttering a clipped word with every measured step he took. "Had I been an enemy, I would have caught you with your guard down yet again, Pettigrew. How predictable that not a word I told you weeks ago has had any effect."

Severus stopped and had to refrain from smirking outwardly. He was very much in professor-mode right now and was finding immense joy in seeing Pettigrew cower. When Peter looked like he might cry, though, Severus felt his old habit crumbling under the weight of his newly-acquired sympathy for others in this lifetime.

He roughly reached for Peter's hand and shoved his wand back in it. Peter snatched his hand back as if he had been burned, cradling it in a disturbingly similar manner as he had when his hand had been silver.

"Luckily for you, I am not an emeny," Severus stated simply, daring Pettigrew, challenging him to drawn upon what little courage he possessed.

"And I'm supposed to believe you, just because you stopped those boys from harming me once?" Pettigrew demanded, standing slightly straighter.

Emboldened by Peter's resolve, Severus said, "That's better. If you can talk back to me, surely you could find something better to say to bullies such as Mulciber than mere whimpers? But speaking isn't enough, and it's mostly blowing hot air, anyway. Speaking your way out of trouble is something your simple mind will never be able to grasp," Severus stated, smirking, his habitual enjoyment of insulting the intelligence of lesser mortals resurfacing.

A large part of him was glad he still retained much of his old personality. He was still Severus Snape, after all, and his biting tongue, cruel though it might be, had also forced others to step out of their comfort zones and face him (and far worse enemies) like men. He thought witheringly of failed Occlumency lessons with Harry Potter.

"You- you're the rudest g-git I've ever met," Pettigrew said defensively, trying to step around Severus.

"True though your assessment might be, Wormtail, I could still be instrumental in instructing you on the proper way of defending yourself. You started to learn nonverbal spells last year, and if I'm not mistaken, which I know I am not, you have the ability to transform into a rat."

"H-how did you k-know that?" Pettigrew stuttered, fear in his eyes.

"Ah, an illegal Animagus admits it by just his scared tone... and you aren't alone, are you? That is not that point, Pettigrew. The very fact that you can perform advanced magic such as transforming yourself into an animal proves that you are not as inept at magic as you believe... or as you would have others believe."

"What? You think I'm putting up a front, pretending I can't perform certain spells?" Peter asked.

"I think you hide behind your cowardice. I think you use your fear of confrontation as a shield and a wall, yes. You may never measure up to be a highly skilled wizard, Pettigrew, but you don't fool me for a second. You are sneaky and self-serving, and to hide behind stupidity when you're actually more intelligent than you let on makes you both a fool and brilliant in an oddly twisted way."

Peter wasn't sure if he had just been complimented or insulted, but realized it had been both. Frowning, Peter finally posed, "And what am I supposed to do, Snape? You told me last time I ought to be willing to sacrifice myself for others if it came to that, but that's- that's ridiculous! How many people d'you honestly think would do that? It's not just me that I'm worried about, anyway. Mulciber threatened to hurt my mum. You lost your mum earlier this year. If anyone would know what it's like to lose a mother, I'd think you'd be a little more understanding."

Severus thought his ears might fall off, for he couldn't believe what he was hearing. For once, Peter Pettigrew was thinking about someone other than himself!

"I do understand what it feels like... to lose a mother," Severus said somberly. "You say you wonder how many people would actually sacrifice themselves, but let me ask you: Would you die to protect your mother?"

"Y-yes," Peter said hesitantly.

Severus wasn't entirely convinced, for he also knew Peter was likely to join the Death Eaters if coerced into thinking it would protect his mother. He speculated if that had been at least part of Peter's reason for joining ranks with the Death Eaters before. While he couldn't be sure, and it certainly would do no good to inquire with this Peter in this lifetime, he felt he had hit the right spot. Peter's weakness could be strengthened if he cared to take the time.

"Then perhaps you ought to start by learning how to properly and effectively duel," Severus stated. "Your friends have no doubt taught you how to use spells on others for the sake of teasing, but that is not going to be enough. Besides, if I recall correctly, you did more laughing and observing than actual spell-casting."

Peter reddened, knowing full-well that Severus was referring to the many occasions when the Marauders had attacked him. In disbelief, he asked, "And I suppose you're willing to teach me?"

"Teach you, use you for target practice, tire you out, make you afraid to look behind your back... Wait, you're already afraid to look behind your back, but yes, I suppose."

Severus noticed the nervous excitement in Peter's eyes and scoffed at him.

"Really, Wormtail," he said witheringly, "you need to stop it with the admiration. Trust me, when I'm through with you, you may wish you hadn't agreed."

Peter shivered a little, but didn't protest.

"Do you agree, then?" Severus inquired smoothly.

"Y-yes," Peter stuttered, then nodded. Finding his voice, he said more calmly, "Yes."

"Good. You will meet me tonight in the empty classroom on the third floor, near the painting of the dancing hippogriffs."

That said, Severus left Peter to his thoughts in the owlery and went back downstairs to find Lily. She would no doubt be in the library in their usual study place, and with less than an hour left before dinner, Severus decided against bringing any books. It was unlikely they would get any studying accomplished.

When Severus entered the library, he avoided Madam Pince's eyes. The hawklike woman glared at him, daring him to make a sound. Severus and Lily had become disruptive on more than one occasion in the library so far this year, and as Severus wandered past several tables and shelves of books, he idly wondered if the librarian would try to have them kicked out of the library permanently.

Finding Lily, Severus took a seat next to her as Lily turned to greet him.

"Hey, Sev," she said. "I was starting to think you weren't going to show."

"Sorry," he mumbled. "I was, ah, sidetracked."

"And you didn't bring your books because of this sidetrack?" she asked curiously.

"I didn't think we'd have time to properly study, what with how close it is to dinner already," Severus explained.

Lily continuned to give him a quizzical look. "Are you going to enlighten me as to what sidetracked you?"

"Peter Pettigrew," Severus stated. "I followed him up to the owlery and had another talk with him."

"Sev, don't take this the wrong way, but why the sudden interest in Pettigrew? I know he admires you and all, but I'm just surprised you would take the time to talk with him after he was part of the group that caused you so much pain for so long."

"You don't seem to have a problem with Lupin," Severus pointed out mildly.

"Remus is different. Yes, he should've stood up to his friends when they picked on you, but he didn't partake in the 'fun,' as they so bluntly used to call it. Then again, Potter and Black have left you alone for quite some time now."

"Pettigrew is different from Potter and Black, too, although not in the same way as Lupin. While Lupin lacks much of a backbone, Pettigrew is so cowardly, it's just downright humiliating for those around him and pathetic to the core. Call it taking pity on the sorry excuse for a wizard, but with this war coming, people need to be prepared, Lily."

"Wait, you're planning on personally training him?" Lily questioned incredulously.

Severus had to admit she had a good point. Not very long ago, he had wanted nothing to do with this war. He had deluded himself into believing he could have Lily all to himself, and they could somehow run off and hide away, but in the back of his mind, he knew that had never been a possible reality.

"Yes."

"But why him?" Lily persisted. "He's not the only one who could use a little help."

"I can't train a whole army of wizards, Lily," Severus tried to reason.

"I'm not saying you should, Sev," Lily replied gently, taking his hand in hers. "You've been through so much as it is, and you've already done so much."

Her eyes were locked directly on his, and he felt her intense gaze penetrating his insides. Lily didn't know Legilimency, Severus knew for a fact, but he felt completely unhinged in that moment. It was as if she could see everything he had been through in his other life, and that scared and unnerved him.

Swallowing, Severus croaked, "How did you know?"

"Know?" Lily echoed, her gaze broken.

"About everything-"

"You've been through?" she finished. She squeezed his hand. "I've been right there with you through much of it, Sev, and for the parts I wasn't there for you, I'm sorry. I meant... losing your mum, growing up in a broken household, being picked on by Potter and his friends, and the pressure you had from your own house, and I- Sev, there was a time I didn't believe you when you told me what Black had done to you. I didn't want to believe Remus was really what you said he is, and I nagged you about your friends, and for a while, I was scared, Sev, so scared I was lose you to them."

As Lily spoke her confession, her voice wavered and cracked. Severus saw tears in the corner of her beautiful eyes, and he desperately wanted nothing more than to sweep her away from that place and kiss all her fears and sorrows away.

"No, Lily, don't cry," Severus murmured gently. "Let's go somewhere else if you want."

Lily shook her head and wiped viciously at the tears. "No," she sniffled. "If we have to leave, people will see that I've been crying. Look, I'm okay now. Stupid of me, really, to cry over what could have been."

"It's not stupid," Severus said. "You had valid reason to be worried, and I'm touched you cared enough to stick around when so many others would have left long before. You are the reason I have become a better man, Lily, and now I can say that what I'm doing, even for someone like Pettigrew, is the result of knowing what's good and right in the world. Until recently, I still doubted myself to make the right decisions."

"You don't give yourself enough credit; you never have, Sev. If you want to help Pettigrew, then help him. Personally, I think it's admirable what you're doing."

"Thank you."

They leaned in to kiss, but not a second after their lips brushed together did they hear the shrieking voice of Madam Pince demanding they leave at once. Severus and Lily broke apart, their earlier sentimental mood shattered in a heartbeat, and as Severus helped Lily collect her things, they scampered out of the library, all the while hearing: "The very idea of such behavior! And seventh years and the Head Boy and Girl, no less! Out, out!"

Once they were in the hallway, Lily was the first to release a giggle, which quickly became a fit of laughter. Severus chuckled a little, mostly amused that Lily found Madam Pince's outburst so amusing. They returned Lily's books to her room and headed down to the Great Hall, going to their separate tables.

Dinner was a rather boring affair, but thankfully, Mulciber didn't try to start anything at the table. Severus still kept his eyes fixed on the boy and any other Slytherin who was a supporter of the Dark Lord. Before Severus left, he glanced up at the head table, finding Dumbledore in his usual seat in the middle. The headmaster was deep in conversation with McGonagall to his right, and so didn't notice Severus's gaze. As Severus strode out of the Great Hall, he pondered what it would take for Dumbledore to do something about the reckless Slytherins who were still a problem. Surely their behavior hadn't gone unnoticed.

Severus found the classroom he had instructed Pettigrew to meet him in and waited. He wondered what explanation he would give if they were found by a teacher, but they could always use the excuse that they were practicing for their N.E.W.T.s... or Severus could remedy that problem with some charms applied to the room.

When Pettigrew still hadn't shown up in thirty minutes, Severus began to think he wouldn't come. It wouldn't have surprised him if that had been the case, but just as he was thinking of leaving, the door squeaked open, and Pettigrew timidly peeked into the room.

"Well, don't just stand there gaping at me like an owl," Severus snapped, annoyed for being kept waiting. "Come in and shut the door behind you."

When Peter complied, Severus instantly secured the door with a charm and set noise wards on the room.

"What are you doing?" Peter asked, standing as far away from Severus as possible.

"We don't need to be disturbed," Severus stated matter-of-factly, "whether by teachers or students, especially your friends. You are here to learn, and as such, I require your utmost attention. You will find, Wormtail, that I am not going to tolerate ineptitude."

"Why d'you call me Wormtail?" Peter demanded.

"Ah, the nickname your friends saw fit to give you when you figured out how to turn into a rat? It simply sees fitting," Severus said with a smirk.

"Just as Snivellus does for you," Peter shot back without thinking, but the moment he said those words, he wished he could grab them and push them back into his mouth. "That is... I mean..."

Taking a series of long, fast strides toward Pettigrew, Severus roughly grabbed the front of his robes and literally lifted him a couple of inches off the ground.

His hooked nose only an inch away from Peter's cringing face, Severus hissed, "You will never call me that abominable name. Do you understand?" When Peter kept his eyes screwed tightly shut, Severus yelled, "Look at me!"

Scared and shaking, Peter opened one eye a fraction, blinked, and then opened both of them. "Y-yes," he replied in a very small voice, fitting for a rat.

"Good," Severus said, releasing Peter and letting him fall unceremoniously to the floor.

Severus walked a few paces away from the other boy, and when he turned to face him, saw that Peter was still sitting on the floor, a miserable heap of clothes and tears.

"Stand up!" Severus barked. "If you expect to learn anything, you would do well to compose yourself and stop snivelling. You and your friends thought it amusing to baptize me with a nickname which means to be a pathetic, whimpering mess. I see it's much more appropriate for you."

Peter slowly stood, but he backed away from Severus, going toward the door. He tried to open it, but to no avail.

"Let me out," Peter whispered.

Severus heard every word, but he pretended not to understand. "What was that?" he asked, challenging Peter to say it louder.

"I said... LET ME OUT!" Peter cried, now banging on the door with a fury Severus hadn't seen in him before.

Holy shit. What an effect I've had on him already.

Knowing his strategy was working, Severus called mockingly, "That's right! Get mad, Wormtail! Cry for someone to come save your sorry ass! Well, guess what? No one can hear you! You're all alone with me, your enemy, and now you're at my mercy! What are you going to do?"

Wormtail was sobbing, crouched at the bottom of the door. Severus carefully approached him, waiting for the moment of truth: to see if he would make or break the other boy. Severus was almost upon Wormtail, ready to disarm him and place him in a body bind, as to display what could happen in a scenario where Peter refused to defend himself. Severus raised his wand to nonverbally cast Expelliarmus, but then he was hit with a rushing wind, which knocked him over, the anger of it wild and utterly unbound.

Then Peter was standing over him, tears still running down his cheeks, still trembling violently, but he glared down at Severus.

"You stop it," Peter breathed. "You tell me I can't call you names. Well, then you stop being such a bloody hypocrite, Snape, and stop calling me names."

Severus lay on the floor for many long seconds, surprised more than anything, but a part of him was glowing with pride on the inside. He would never show it, but he was glad Wormtail had finally shown he was capable of fighting back.

Finally sitting up, Severus simply nodded, then stood. "Well, you finally learned something," he stated, in a voice all-too-calm for Peter's liking.

"What are you talking about?" Peter asked, once again afraid.

"Idiot," Severus scoffed. "Didn't you think for one moment that maybe this was the exact effect I intended all my relentless taunting to have on you?"

Peter gaped at him, at a loss for words. "You- you bastard!" he suddenly yelled. "You-"

"Call me whatever horrible names you want, Wormtail. I honestly don't care, but I think my way of training worked. You needed a good smack in the face."

"You seemed pretty upset a few minutes ago when I called you Sniv-"

"Don't push it," Severus said repressively. "I think that's enough for your lesson today. Are you still willing to learn, or have I scared you away?"

"I, uh... can I bring a friend next time?" Peter asked hopefully.

Severus scowled, then sneered. "Surely not Black or Potter?"

"No, Remus."

Severus considered. "Very well, but I will also be bringing a friend."

Severus removed the charms from the room and watched, half-amused, as Peter scampered out of the classroom, proving that a bit of fear was a good thing.

I'll have much to tell Lily, Severus thought. Surely she will want to join me next time.

He left the room and returned to his own bedroom, impressed with himself that he could turn Pettigrew's weakness into a strength.