Author's Disclaimer: As always, I claim no ownership over the Harry Potter universe, characters, or concepts.
"You have no right to live, Severus Snape...you let me die once, you'll do it again in this lifetime too!"
Severus' face was contorted in agony at the haunting voice of Lily as he watched her hit the ground. He had tried to reach his beloved friend in time through the power of flight, but could not swoop in quickly enough….through the tears in his eyes, he watched first-hand as the life faded from her emerald-green eyes...yet still, the wraith-like voice continued.
"You'll never learn, will you?! Always looking for someone else to pass the blame on, looking for the Slytherin responsible for this...All you need do is look in the mirror and you'll see, Snape, you'll see my killer!"
"Lily, please…" he could scarcely respond with a defeated whimper, reaching his hand to her cheek, begging for any sign of life. "All I've ever done has been for your memory...please don't leave me again!"
"Once upon a time you told Dumbledore you wished you were dead. So do it, Snape! Die like you deserve; you'll earn no forgiveness from me for all you've done to me, my husband, and my son! LIFE IS TOO GOOD FOR YOU, SNAPE!"
"-Snape! Wake the bloody hell up, you idiot!"
Severus stirred, his eyes opening slowly as if they had been cemented shut, the dread of his nightmare at last shifting to the back of his mind. For a moment, he wondered where he had been, but noticing the dim, green flames and the feel of the plush, jade-colored cushions beneath him revealed the fact that he had apparently fallen asleep in the Slytherin Common Room. Turning his attention back to the source of the voice, Severus' endless black eyes met the annoyed brown orbs of Jacob Avery.
"Done moaning in your sleep, at last? Honestly, you're more noisy than Mulciber was when he snored. Thank your lucky stars that I was the one who found you and not somebody else; half of Slytherin might cut your throat for the way you've been acting lately. Why on Earth did you go to sleep out here instead of our dorm?"
Severus' eyes narrowed at the sight of Avery, shifting his gaze momentarily to see that the entrances to the dormitories were closed and the other students were apparently still asleep. "Something quite unsettling happened at the Astronomy Tower, and I decided it would be best to stay out of bed and keep an eye in here to see if anyone in Slytherin had anything to do with it.
"And why, pray tell, are you out of bed, Avery? Care to tell me what you were doing just before midnight last night?"
Avery snorted derisively at Severus' suspicious inquiry. "I was with you at the Astronomy O.W.L., you moron! Not that you would have noticed because last I saw, you were staring at your Mu-"
"Remember what I warned you about, Avery. Choose your next word carefully…" Severus interrupted with a hiss."
"Your Mugggleborn friend is all I was going to say. I cleared out just like everyone else did. After that, I came back down here for bed, and thank Merlin for that because I needed to wake up early to study a bit for today's History exam."
"Why should I believe that you didn't have a hand in what happened? You're still plenty devoted to the cause." Severus sat up and looked up and down his former ally's cautious form.
"Yeah, I am. But you'll have to forgive me for not wanting to get on your bad side when Rosier and Mulciber are gone now, and Wilkes is only here for another couple of days before he graduates. You think I'm stupid enough to cross you after what happened on Sunday?"
"We both know you're plenty stupid, Avery, but for your sake, let's both hope that you remain on your best behavior. Let's say for the sake of argument that you had nothing to do with what happened, did you see anyone come into the common room late?"
Avery shook his head, clutching his pile of books to his chest. "I was getting ready for bed the moment I got down here. Are you going to keep being vague about what exactly happened?"
"Not that it's any of your business, Avery, but last night, someone tried to kill Lily before my eyes. I don't know who it was, since Polyjuice Potion was involved, but obviously someone in the House wants to send a message to me, and I intend to find out who."
Avery scoffed, making his way towards the Slytherin Common Room Entrance. "Imagine that! I'm not sure what happened to your priorities, Snape, but you didn't make the smartest decision yourself by turning against us. One day you're singing the praises of Slytherin House, and the next, you're fighting against it. If you never believed in the cause, you would've been better off keeping your head down since first year like the other pretenders here, but instead you had to make a flashy statement like you're some bloody Gryffindor!"
"I imagine by now that Rosier's cousin, Bellatrix has heard what happened and I'm quite sure she's plotting all sorts of retaliation for what you did to him. One doesn't cross the Blacks and live to tell about it. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got studying to do."
Watching his classmate exit, Severus sat alone in quiet contemplation. Avery had a point. He had thrown himself quite firmly off of the proverbial fence with his actions as of late. Still, since his revival, he never had any intention of fighting in this war again. He took no sides, no longer believing in what either cause fought for. The only side he truly stood on anymore was Lily's. Keeping her safe was the only priority he had, much like it had been with her son in his other life. But it was clear that his decision to do so was making waves within the ranks of the Death Eaters, and for the very first time, Severus considered the very real possibility that his wand might clash with Bellatrix, or even worse, Lord Voldemort himself…The notion was one Severus was quite sure that he was nowhere close to being ready for.
Unlike all other classes during O.W.L. exams, History of Magic was not divided into two portions, and thus, was a much longer written test that Hogwarts students unanimously dreaded. The running joke amongst students was that the only one who attended N.E.W.T. level History classes was the ghostly Professor Binns himself. Every year, History of Magic was what marked the finish line of O.W.L.s, as well as the beginning of a weekend of celebration for the fifth-years, and this was no exception.
The rowdy cheers and excited voices of the students became quite the spectacle when the exam was finally over with. Dozens of smiling faces poured out of the classroom after three hours spent in silence, and within moments, Severus had waded through the sea of students to find a certain redhead.
Instead of finding Lily alone, however, she was standing beside Mary, and near them in turn were all four Marauders. Leading the group of them, uncharacteristically, was Peter Pettigrew, who had his head down, his face etched in a very remorseful expression. Curious as to what they were discussing, the Slytherin drew closer.
"-that I would never do that to anyone, least of all a Gryffindor. Whoever did this to me knew what they were doing, though, because I didn't see them before they knocked me out, and they didn't leave any sign in the closet where I was stuffed. Lily, I can't apologize enough, p-please-'
Lily raised her hand at the stammering boy's face to silence his apology. "It's alright, Peter. If I hadn't been so terrified at the situation, it would've been easier to see that whoever masqueraded as you wasn't making much effort to act the part. Everything turned out alright..." After a brief moment of thought, her eyes lifted from Peter and scanned across James and Sirius as well, both of whom were patting their friend on each shoulder.
"Come on, Wormtail. You'll have quite the pick-me-up during the party tonight; we all will." James said reassuringly. His smile extended to Lily when he saw her continuing to look at him. "What about you, Evans? Can I get you and Moony to skive off your Prefect duties tonight in order to have a bit of fun to celebrate? O.W.L.s are over and we're about to win the House Cup. I think all of Gryffindor should be there."
"You too, Mary." chuckled Sirius with a smile. "I got quite a few extra Liquorice Wands and Pumpkin Pasties while we were down at Honeydukes, since I remembered they were your favorites."
Both girls looked at each other for a moment, before Mary was the first to speak. "I'll go, but don't get the wrong idea, Sirius. I don't care what you got especially for me; I'm not getting back together with you after what you did with that Ravenclaw."
Lily, on the other hand, shook her head. "I actually have an important meeting with Professor Slughorn to talk about what happened last night. If we finish early enough, I'll try to make it before everything is gone, but don't you dare hold the party up on my account, James.."
With a swing of her vibrant, copper hair, Lily turned around only to bump abruptly into Severus. "Well there's the hero that I was about to go look for." she announced with a relieved smile. "I was given a note from Slughorn that asked us both to his office after the History O.W.L. to give our account of what happened last night."
"Funny, I got no such note…" Severus sighed with a hint of annoyance. The pair slowly made their way through the mob of fifth-year students, and it almost made the Slytherin boy jump when he felt a soft hand enter his. Obviously Lily didn't want to lose him as they cleared through the hallway.
"Well it helps to be a Prefect and get these sorts of things in advance. I imagine the Professor was going to rely on me to break the news to you, but I didn't see you at all during breakfast. Honestly, doesn't he keep his eye on his own House students?"
"Obviously not, and that's why last night happened the way it did. Either order is going to be set, or I'm going to start taking matters into my own hands…"
Once they made it to the Grand Staircase, they made the climb towards the fifth floor where Professor Slughorn's office was. Severus found himself letting go of Lily's hand on instinct, but he didn't look at her to gauge a reaction.
"I hope you don't mind, but Mum and Dad asked about you in their letter, Sev...I sent them an owl almost immediately after you were released from the Hospital Wing. I told them about what's been happening and they were ecstatic to hear that we're back on good terms again, and asked if they should be expecting you around quite a bit during Summer."
A chill went down his spine at Lily's admission. Another pair of ghosts from Severus' old life were back from the dead, and although he had become used to it by now, he didn't know what to expect. Jasper and Dahlie Evans had been gone from his life even longer than Lily had been, by virtue of his falling out with their daughter. He did remember well that the two of them were the antithesis to his own parents.
Where Tobias had self-destructed at the discovery of Severus' magical talents, Jasper was an extremely proud, if not curious father when it came to Lily's changes, always encouraging her talents. Where Eileen had abandoned her son to her husband's abuse, Dahlie Evans was a mother who doted on her children. Her family meant everything to her, and she often made it clear that because of Severus' place in Lily's life, he was just as much a part of that family. It had been so long since he had seen Lily's parents, or Petunia for that matter. Combine that with how hostile his own household was going to be, and Severus knew it was going to be a long, awkward Summer.
"That was assuming Lily could even stand to look at you after you confess…" he dreaded to himself as they reached the fifth floor and made their way towards Slughorn's office. It was no wonder that the Head of Slytherin had no handle on his students' behavior considering he lived so separately from them…
"My word! That sounds like an absolutely dreadful experience, Miss Evans!" Slughorn's voice rang with troubled astonishment as he listened to the two fifth years recount what happened the night before. They did, however, leave out the details of their moonlit flight.
"I must say, Severus, you're proving to be quite an asset to keeping other students safe in this final week. I know it's irregular, but perhaps I could persuade the Headmaster to add you as an extra Prefect during your sixth year. You've certainly been-"
"I have no interest in such a post, Professor." Severus interrupted with obvious annoyance. "With all due respect, I think it's up to the Head of the House to set an example, and not a student who has to compensate for lack of attention. Lily could have died last night, and we don't even know who it was who tried to kill her."
"Yes…" Slughorn drifted off grimly. "I did notice several ingredients for Polyjuice Potion had disappeared from my stores, but I had assumed that students were studying its effects in preparation for the O.W.L.s.
"And that is all the difference between this idiot and myself when I ran Slytherin." Severus thought resentfully as he glared at Slughorn. "He has no eye on any of his students and likes to surround himself with celebrities to make up for his own insecurities. Is it any wonder that so many Death Eaters sprung up right under his incompetent nose?!"
Nonetheless, Severus managed to stay calm despite his livid interior. The Potions Master nodded with a hint of understanding that he could see his student's frustration. "I'll be keeping a much closer eye on my wares in the future. I've been a bit lax as of late, and I suppose the blame for what happened last night partially falls upon me. Times are a bit grim for Slytherin House right now with all the rumors regarding...well, you know who…" he shuddered.
"I will be giving a full recount of what happened last night to the Headmaster. We're going to get to the bottom of who attacked you last night, Miss Evans, of that I can assure you." As if on que, the Professor's expression lightened considerably. "I will say that it's nice to see my two brightest students on such good terms again. I was getting a bit worried that you two would not be the dream team in N.E.W.T. classes that you had been for the past five years."
The redhead's eyes lit up. "My my, Professor, that's a bold statement. We don't even know what we scored on our O.W.L.s yet, and you're already talking about sixth year. What if Sev and I don't get E's?"
Slughorn's lighthearted laughter echoed throughout his small office. "E's?! I'd say there's a better chance of the Chudley Cannons winning the cup than you two not getting Outstandings, Miss Evans! You both have been the highlight of my time teaching since that day first year when you both walked in my class the very first time. Which reminds me!"
The Professor ceased for a moment and turned towards his personal cupboard, which was a blessing to Severus as he could only stand so much of Slughorn's rambling.
After about a minute of fumbling through the drawers of his cabinet, the Potions Master procured a small object and kept it hidden within his hands, though there was no hiding the almost giddy look on his round face.
"I'd like you both to take a look at this and tell me if you remember it." he said, opening his hands and revealing a rather extravagant looking necklace. The chain was a mixture of silver and gold links, with what appeared to be a small phial that was essentially the decoration for the piece
Severus took one look at the potion and knew right away from its intense green color that it was an Invigoration Draught. Though the significance of what he was supposed to remember was lost on him.
Lily, however, took a look at the phial and studied it closely for a few moments, looking at the smudged ink on the side of it and she almost squealed with glee. "Sev! Look!" she said, pointing to the black ink on the faded label.
Squinting a bit to decipher the smudge, he could see it. LE + SS, written in what had obviously been poorer versions of their own handwriting.
"This is the very first project that you turned in to me during your first time brewing as a pair. You both did exceptionally well on the Boils Cure that first years normally start with, so I put you together to see how far ahead of the pack you really were. Imagine, two first year students brewing a fifth year level potion. I knew then that it would be a waste to use or sell your first potion you made as a pair."
"Sev did most of the work. I was still getting my feet wet in the magical world…" Lily said with a blushing smile.
"Don't sell yourself short." Severus said, staring at the phial with genuine amazement that he had forgotten such a special memory. "You had a steady hand and were a fast learner. I'd been learning most of this from my mother's books for years before we arrived."
Something was bothering Severus as he looked at the phial. "Professor, have you been keeping this potion as a keepsake for us ever since we brewed it years ago?"
Slughorn nodded with overflowing exuberance. "Indeed, Severus. Normally when students make something for extra credit or on their own time, I either use it or find someone else who can, usually Madam Pomfrey. But this was such a display of advanced talent that I knew I had to keep it and give it to you both when you could appreciate how well you started and how far you've come. Sadly, there was only the one phial, so I couldn't craft one for each of you, but you're both free to keep it as you see fit."
Without hesitation, Severus looked at his best friend. "You keep it for now, Lily…" he whispered, handing the necklace back to her. "I'm usually not one for sentimental objects, but thank you for the gesture, Professor. It might even bring us some luck in the N.E.W.T. classes ahead. One thing though...don't potions that settle and ferment for a long time increase in potency?" he asked, already knowing the answer, but wanting to feign ignorance on such an advanced facet of potion-making.
"Quite right, Severus! Which is why I fashioned it into a necklace. Most Invigoration Draughts, even the most well-made, pack a punch, but nothing that outlandish. For a potion to have been brewed and settled that long ago and to not have been disturbed, I'd wager that little phial has enough energy to have some amazing, if not dangerous results for the drinker. Probably best not to drink it because of that fact."
Lily made one last look to Severus, questioning his decision for a moment before he nodded his assurances to her that it was okay. With a nod of gratitude to both her friend and the Professor, the Gryffindor girl put on the necklace and fingered the phial with giddy affection. "Thank you, Professor. This should be a reminder of happy, if not simpler times…"
Author's Note: Took long enough, but I finally decided on my names for Lily's parents, Jasper and Dahlie. As always, the tradition of Evans women being named after a flower continued with Lily's mother, who I have named Dahlie, the German name of the Dahlia flower. Many great writers have given their own interpretations of Mr. and Mrs. Evans and I hope I can do justice to that with my own story for them once they're introduced during the Summer.
Once again, I apologize for how long it took to deliver this chapter. I had a visitor come in late October, and after I was done hosting for about two weeks, a little time-sink named Fallout 4 came out. Such a fantastic game, but it diverted a lot of my motivation.
Another thing I was waiting for was the ending of "His Greatest Wish", written by AndromedaMarine. I HAD to see the ending of a five-year Severus-Lily project that was a great inspiration in the planning of this story. Once I read the ending to that, I took some time to plan out where these characters were going, and what I could put in as little pieces of foreshadowing or future plot points that seem mundane now, but will make a great deal of sense later.
A lot of time was spent planning out how and where exactly I want this story to end, and so something very important was introduced in this chapter despite the otherwise uneventful nature of it compared to the few chapters before it.
As always, I want to thank my reviewers for their interaction and support, specifically hidden-muse-989 for their consistent, detailed thoughts and discussions every chapter. It's always great to see people following along with the story and delivering their own ideas that could always be considered later on. Hopefully I'm out of the gaming habit for a bit and can get back to delivering consistent updates for you all. Thanks for reading!