-Part 4 – The Aftermath-
For two brief, blissful seconds after waking up, Lily couldn't remember any of the previous day's events. She thought she was up in her dormitory, about to begin a perfectly ordinary morning.
Then she heard the crying.
Lily sat up to find herself in the hospital wing. Looking around, she saw that every bed was occupied. Some student's parents had come, and judging from the muted shouts and violent gesturing, many seemed to be arguing. Others were lost in tears. Lily wasn't surprised. The safety of the school had been questioned. A boy had died.
The headmaster was striding about the room, seemingly trying to calm the more frantic parents. When he noted that Lily had awoken, he came to sit by her bedside.
"Miss Evans. Thanks are in order, I believe, for the safe return of most of our students."
Lily hung her head. "Most," she repeated. The word hung in the air.
"Yes. Young Joseph Keats fell victim, I'm afraid, to the Death Eaters. His parents have been informed. A memorial is planned for Monday. Classes are of course postponed."
"Were many people hurt?" Lily sat up more. "I really don't need to be here, it's so full…"
"You are just fine where you are. Luckily, not many sustained injuries. Madam Pomfrey simply wanted to keep an eye on those who reacted to the memory charms."
"Memory charms?"
Dumbledore looked around quickly to be sure that those around them were absorbed in their own affairs. "Yes," he said quietly. "The secrecy of the particular passageway you used is a matter of utmost importance to the security of the school, and to Mister Lupin's continued tutelage. I suppose you are privy, now, to his so-called furry little problem?"
Lily nodded slowly.
"Well, I imagine he is not upset by your knowing. Everyone else will find that in their panic, the details of the escape have gone hazy." He smiled. "But I think they do know that owe their safety to their Head Girl, among others."
Lily scanned the room quickly. "Professor, are Remus and James and Sirius okay? I mean, everyone's back, right? Except… well."
"Your friends are fine. Sleeping in, I believe, after a long night."
"And you wouldn't happen to know… Severus Snape. Did he get back?"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Mister Snape returned to Hogwarts somewhat later with a few of his friends. They were out walking, or so he told Professor Slughorn. Missed the whole thing. How fortunate for them." With that, the headmaster moved on to try to placate a few more overbearing mothers, leaving Lily with her thoughts.
-
Over the next month, James ensured that the morning in the hospital wing was the last time that Lily had to be alone with those thoughts. The events of the Hogsmeade attack made him more affectionate, more protective, and completely unwilling to ever leave her alone again. Finally, the holiday break arrived, and the couple had to part to return to their families.
James waved animatedly as Lily's train pulled away, taking her home to the muggle station at Spinner's End. Lily smiled and waved as well until her devoted boyfriend faded from sight. Then she sat back with a sigh. She knew that she wasn't the only Hogwarts student on the train, but she and Severus hadn't made this trip "together" in years. He sat in the back now, in an old compartment all by himself.
Lily knew that she ought to just leave it alone. Whether or not that turncoat Death Eater was Severus, he didn't want her to know, or he wouldn't have run away like that. But deep down, she couldn't let it go. She got up and moved to the back of the train.
Alone in his compartment, Severus had his head bent over a textbook. He appeared to be scribbling something feverishly in the margins. Lily knocked on the window, and Severus sat up with a start. He hurried to let her in.
"Lily! Wh-what do you, um, what do you want?"
Lily promptly forgot everything she had prepared to say. All she could think of was that night outside the Gryffindor common room, refusing to forgive him. That, and the awful thought that he had gone ahead and done it—joined the Death Eaters. Practiced dark magic. Pledged himself to You-Know-Who. Lily opened her mouth, then closed it again. She gave Severus one long, thoughtful stare with those green eyes that haunted his dreams.
"Nevermind, Sev." She shook her head slowly and walked away.