Of Blood and Serpents
First Year: Chapter Five
Lily suffered beneath the weighted gaze of her class mates, but was relieved when none took it further than gazing. She felt guilty for it, but enjoyed not needing to look over her shoulder in fear of Carmella's heckling or shoves. Veronica and Delany acted as if she didn't exist or were repelled by being near her which is something she very much appreciated. Even Gryffindor had heard about what happened, Charlie or Tonk's however weren't much put off by it, Tonk's even clapped her on the back, her hair becoming a deep red color as she did so. Lily was not completely rid of Carmella though, as her evenings were spent within the medical ward where Carmella still resigned.
She went there now, after a tiring day of classes and having just finished struggling in Transfiguration to turn water into Vinegar which she had some success in. She greeted Madam Pomfrey as she entered, placing her books on her desk and removing her long robe to put on a nursing apron and tied her hair back neatly, smoothing the apron with her hands after.
"Make the beds at the end there and fill the water jug." Madam Pomfrey snapped in an orderly fashion. She always had something for Lily to do to keep her busy and she was becoming accustomed to her curt and clipped manner. It was not much different than Severus's own.
Lily took her time making the beds in the way Madam Pomfrey had instructed. She had received a few slaps on the wrist with a wooden switch when she had done them incorrectly. Some would say Madam Pomfrey was too severe, but Lillian supposed she just wanted it to be done right. After a few switch hits Lillian became as careful and particular about it as Madam Pomfrey was. As she smoothed the sheets of the last bed she heard the a rhythmic click of heels that echoed down the entire ward. There was a noticeable rustle then from Carmella's bed, but Lily couldn't see her as her curtains were drawn for privacy.
"I was told my daughter was here." A sharp voice carried across the ward, not too dissimilar to Carmella's high pitch. Lily couldn't help but look down the aisle, distracted from her task.
A tall woman slightly rotund was speaking to Madam Pomfrey who stood from her station clearly leading the woman towards Carmella.
Lily looked away as they approached, focusing for a moment on smoothing the bed out she couldn't help but keenly tilt her head towards the conversation.
"Thank you." Came her reply as Madam Pomfrey left the two alone. She heard the swoosh of a curtain and glanced to see the woman had drawn the curtain. Curious, she bit her lip sneaking to see if Madam Pomfrey was watching. She wasn't and so with a nervously flipping stomach she pretended to find a reason to cross the ward near the drawn curtain.
"You little brat!" The woman hissed, "Embarrassing the family you little fool. First I find out your falling behind in classes and now this letter!" She growled. Lily couldn't' see but heard the rustling of paper.
"But mum she-" there was a quiet 'thwump' noise and a whimper, Lily's heckles raised the hair on her arms raising.
"What are you doing?" Madam Pomfrey snapped, and Lily started, her eyes as wide as saucers. the voices behind the curtain silenced and Lily blushed furiously in embarrassment.
"Sorry mum." She said quickly, briskly moving to go to the water jug before she would get another hit from the switch. She felt Madam Pomfrey's eyes follow her but was relieved to not receive anything else. From down the ward Lily heard the clicking of heels as the woman left. Lily brought around the water tray to several of the patients that had found their way into Madam Pomfrey's care for one reason or another. One boy had been levitated and sprained his ankle, another student had falling from a broomstick during Quidditch practice. She might have skipped Carmella's bed, but something made her hesitate and she gently parted the curtain to hear sniffles.
"Would you like some water?" She asked, her eyes flitting to Carmella's face and down again. As quick as her glance was she saw Carmella's face was puffy and she had a red mark on her cheek, her crying making her look worse. Lily's chest twanged slightly.
"Think it's funny don't you." Carmella snapped her voice cracking as she continued." G-gonna tell everyone about it. I-it's your fault to, you're stupid d-dad had to s-send that l-letter." She hiccoughed and Lily looked up in surprise green eyes meeting Carmella's blue ones which quickly skirted away to the floor. Lily realized she felt sad for Carmella and then it felt as if a weight had been lifted from her, the fear she had for Carmella suddenly falling away and she really looked at her. a sad pudgy girl with a really mean mom.
"Severus wrote your mom a letter?" She found herself saying in surprise. Carmella knuckled her weeping eyes scowling at her.
"As if you didn't know it."
"I didn't." There was quiet then and Lily swallowed, raising her pitcher to fill Carmella's glass. The water sloshed as it filled and she set it down beside her. she turned to go, but paused looking back at the sad girl rubbing her eyes. "I won't tell." she said quietly, then left, allowing the curtain to swish closed behind her. She did not wait to see Carmella's surprised expression.
Once her shift was finished she collected her books back and took off her apron , placing it in a dirty laundry bin as she passed. It was dinner time, this time lily did not venture to the great hall though, she found herself instead going another way. She got a little lost and had to ask a portrait for directions but sooner rather than later she found the old portrait of a alchemist mixing a formula.
"Bezore." She told the portrait who raised his head briefly, looking far too busy to deal with her and waved her in. It swung open to plain chambers, there was a single four poster cot, a long table in which some old and new potions and ingredients sat and two well worn arm chairs and a small table between them across from a warm crackling fire.
"You appear to have found your way." Severus said, rising from one the arm chairs to greet her. Lily greeted him with a smile, unslinging her bag of books to put on the ground beside the door and hanging her robes on a coat hook.
"I got a little turned around, some of the portraits helped me." She admitted. Severus drew his wand and pointing to the larger table in the room he summoned two meals which he had arranged to be prepared with the house elves. Lily's stomach growled hungrily as she took her plate going to sit beside Severus in the arm chairs beside the fire.
"How has the hospital ward been?" He asked as he took his own plate and sat. There was a scraping of cutlery on plate before an answer. Lily taking her first bite of juicy pheasant and swallowing.
"Boring, for the most part... Carmella's mum came in." She looked at Severus from beneath her lashes shyly almost. "I didn't know you had written a letter." She said simply dipping her brussels sprouts in butter before popping it into her mouth.
"Did she confront you?" Severus asked, referring to Carmella's mother.
"No, she was very angry at Carmella. She didn't even look at me." She answered watching Severus's glittering black eyes and somewhat satisfied expression as he began to eat.
"I'm not afraid of her anymore." Lily found herself saying then, looking at her plate watching as the globular gravy drifted from the well that had been made in her mashed potatoes and slowly dribble over to her brussels sprouts like gooey gravy magma. "I guess I was before, but today I realized she's more scared of me than I am of her."
"She is petty, you are not." Severus said quietly over his meal, watching Lily's thoughtful expression as she poked at her food.
"She's afraid of me because she thinks I'm smarter."
"You are." Severus said without missing a beat. "She may well not be the last, you also won't make many friends in Slytherin should you remain close to that Gryffindor boy." Severus chided her and Lily took another bite chewing slowly, masticating over her thoughts as much as the food.
"He's nicer than them." she said, fixing her eyes on the warm hearth instead of looking at Severus, her face flushed with warmth of the fire.
"Be that as it may, he is not your house." Severus's tone rose sharply, punctuating his words. a companionable silence fell between them, Severus allowed her to mull over his words as they finished their meals.
Their plates emptied and their bellies filled they sat peacefully by the warm lull of the hearth. Lily became quite sleepy, eyelids heavy with sleep. Then suddenly, Severus's words started her awake.
"I have requested the headmaster that you be pulled from your first year potions and placed into second year." Severus words made her start and she blinked as if she had been slapped awake. "You will be somewhat behind, but I assured him you would catch up."
"What?" She gawped in surprise, her tired mind taking a moment to understand.
"You've excelled more than I initially surmised. You will need additional tutelage perhaps to be on par with the others, but I have no doubt you will flourish with some study." Lily wasn't sure what to say, and although she felt fearful initially it quickly passed to a sort of nervous excitement, then a tad bit of sadness that she would no longer be able to help Charlie with his potions.
"Then of course you must pass both end of year exams." Lily's eyes widened at that something which amused Severus slightly.
"You have my full confidence." He assured her, Lily found she wasn't quite as confidant but nodded.
Severus stood to let her out, a warm hand on her shoulder as he walked her to the portrait out.
"Thank you for dinner... and the letter." Lily said even though she didn't know what the letter had said, she knew he'd written it for her. Even with the 'surprise' of her upgraded potions class Lily felt happy warm and full, appreciation also blooming in her chest for Severus.
"You are welcome, to both." He said as the portrait swung open, both giving a small nod in goodbye. Lily slung her bag back over her shoulder, stifling a yawn as the portrait closed behind her and she began making her way further into the dungeon to the Slytherin common room.
A/N: So does anyone want to see anything particular come out of this story? first year as far as I can tell is just going to be light and fluffy. I'm working on a plot for her later years although I haven't fully decided whether or not to skip some of them to get to the Harry potter novels. What do you guys think? how are you liking the characters and is Lily too mary sue? Thanks for reading sorry about the short chapter :)