CHASER 3: Write about a witch or wizard attempting to smuggle (one or more) Muggle technology into Hogwarts.
(Word) Motor
(Object) Microwave
(Word) Confusion
Beta'd by: isaacswolfsbane
Word Count without A/N: 1,092
i.
Severus didn't really know what was happening. Lily had called him over to help her pack for their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and when he arrived, the young girl was struggling to shut her suitcase.
Her suitcase that held only a microwave.
"Lily? Why are you only taking a microwave with you?"
The redhead in question froze, half dangling off the suitcase, and turned to look at him with an innocent smile.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Sev. We were clearly told to not bring any Muggle artefacts into Hogwarts. What you're seeing is me trying to fit my caldron into my suitcase."
Severus sighed heavily and slowly lifted a hand to cradle his face. He could feel a headache coming on.
"Lily, why didn't you just put it in your trunk? We got the large ones with shrinking storage spells specifically because I knew you'd pack more than was necessary."
Lily gaped at him before slowly turning beet red. She stuck her tongue out at him and hopped off the bed.
"Fine, then." She was silent for a moment and then turned to look up at him shyly. "Will you at least help me unpack the suitcases and re pack it all into the trunk?"
Severus always had a hard time saying no when she turned those puppy-dog eyes on him. He scowled, rolling his own eyes before striding over.
It was ten minutes later that Petunia walked in on them sitting on top of a half closed trunk.
"I thought you said this thing had shrinking and storage charms?!" Lily shrieked as the lid gave a slight push against them. Both preteens flopped down extremely hard, grunting at the impact.
"It does! You just have too much stuff to fit in the trunk even with the charms!" Severus snapped back, stretching a hand out to grasp the frame of the bed. Petunia was standing there, stunned in her confusion, mouth dropped wide open.
"Petunia?" It was their father. "Why are you standing in Lily's doorwa— Oh my god!"
Lily and Severus' heads snapped up to look at the man standing in the doorway. Both children began to flush and moved to explain what exactly was happening when the trunk finally popped open.
ii.
Severus paused once again in Lily's doorway. The redhead was staring at her trunk, confusion written plainly on her face.
"...Lily?"
His best friend jolted where she was before turning around and grinning widely at him.
"Sev! Look who's here! My bestest friend, the future master of potions, the best Slytherin around—"
"What are you trying to bribe me to do?" Severus deadpanned, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. Lily pouted, throwing herself back on her bed.
"I hate when you do that." Her head popped back up. "But I need you to put all of my books, my caldron, and half of my clothes in your trunk."
Severus blinked, staring at her closed trunk.
"Lil— Is that microwave in your trunk again?!" He hissed, dashing over to the bed and moving to open the lock.
"No!" Lily tackled him, knocking him onto the floor with a squeal. Severus squirmed, flailing his limbs as he tried to get back out from under the Gryffindor.
"Why are you like this?!"
iii.
"Are you going to try and sneak the microwave in again this year?"
Severus and Lily were laying down in the backyard, staring up at the stars.
"I want to try," Lily sighed. "The toe-rag thinks I can't do it. He doesn't even know what a microwave is!"
"You could bring in one of those portable hand-held can openers and call it a microwave." Severus snickered. "The idiot wouldn't know the difference."
Lily laughed, reaching out a hand to tangle her fingers with Severus. "What if we end up going over it in Muggle Studies later on? He'd find out then. I just want to prove him wrong."
Severus sighed. "Fine. I'll help you."
Lily cheered, letting go of his hand and running inside.
"Come on, Sev!"
iv.
"Lily? Why are you crying?"
Severus had been walking through the stacks at the library when he stumbled upon his sniffling best friend.
"W-we were able t-to sneak the microwave in, bu-ut Potter doesn't think i-it's real!" She sobbed out, hands waving as she explained.
"What? Why?! It looks exactly like the pictures in the instruction manual we packed!" Severus sat down, wrapping an arm around Lily's shaking shoulders.
"The motor isn't working on it."
"The motor?" Severus asked. "Wait, because the microwave isn't working due to the wards around Hogwarts, that bastard is saying you didn't actually sneak the microwave in?!"
"Yeah," Lily nodded.
"I swear to you, Lily Evans, by the time we graduate, James 'Asshat' Potter will have seen a working microwave. Even if it kills me."
v.
Severus stared at the machine on his bed. The microwave was staring at him, taunting him with his promise — a promise he wasn't sure if he should keep.
"Severus, what is that contraption lying against your pillow?" Lucius was eyeing the microwave, lips pulled into a sneer as he fingered his wand.
"It's a microwave. Muggles use it to heat food and drinks when they're cold." Severus waved his wand and the device shrunk itself before disappearing into a pocket in his trousers.
"Really? How interesting. And why is it on your bed?" Lucius quickly moved over to the bed, sitting down and crossing his legs.
"Lily."
"Ah."
"I made her a promise our fourth year. I intend to keep it."
"Even if she hates you?"
Severus flinched at his friend's words before nodding.
"A Slytherin keeps all promises."
vi.
The portrait of the Fat Lady swung shut behind Lily and Marlene as they exited the common room. As they turned the corner at the end of the corridor, Lily paused. There was a large object in the middle of the floor.
"What is that?" Marlene asked, pulling out her wand and turning to scan the hallway. "Is it a prank from the snakes?"
"You hang out with Sirius too much, Marlene." Lily walked closer, before slowing to a stop. "It's a microwave."
A pang went through her chest as she bent down to look at it. There was a small piece of paper on top.
Lily,
I understand that we may no longer be friends, but I made you a promise. One I intend to keep. I've charmed it to work here at Hogwarts— go show that toe-rag you were right all along.
