Chapter 20: Persistance
The first two weeks in January seemed to have passed in a blur, and soon it was time for all of the male students of Hogwarts to celebrate one of their favorite days of the year: Lily Aurora Evans's birthday. This had become quite the unspoken tradition since Lily premiered at Hogwarts those short five years ago.
Every year the boys in her year would send her a present with a card that expressed their affection for the talented red head. Even with her dating Severus Snape, and hanging out with her new friends at the Slytherin table, this tradition was not about to be broken.
Only two days remained until Lily's birthday and the next Hogmeade weekend. Everybody, fanboy or fangirl, was trying to come up with an unique way of celebrating this day in Hogwarts history. It was at the Slytherin table that Bellatrix was speaking to Lily about this very problem.
"But you have to come, Lily! I'm holding this party for you. Don't be a stick in the mud," the dark girl kept saying to her guest at breakfast that Thursday morning.
Shaking her head again Lily replied, "I told you, Bella, I don't want a party. I'd rather just spend my birthday reading in front of a fire and trying to relax before the Semi-Finals come up. Everybody in Gryffindor will be too wound up about the next bout, and I'll have my hands full trying to keep them all calmed down."
"But Lily," she started to whine again until Professor Dumbledore came up to the podium.
"Attention," he called out and the Hall became silent. "As you all know we are nearing the time for the Semi-Finals of the Hogwarts Interhouse Dueling Championship. It is during this time that the House Champions shall be receiving their armor and a chance to practice in them before the bouts begin.
"Now then I would like to announce the times for when each Champion shall be called to be fitted into their House Armor. The Gryffindor Champion is to meet Professor McGonagall in her office tomorrow night at nine in the evening; The Hufflepuff Champion is to meet Professor Sprout in her office on January 31st at eight in the evening; The Ravenclaw Champion is to meet Professor Flitwick in his office on February 1st at seven in the evening, and the Slytherin Champion is to meet Professor Slughorn in his office on February 2nd at six in the evening.
"Good luck to each House Champion and be prepared for the first bout on Saturday, February 15th," he concluded and sat back down at the staff table.
Once again the Hall was filled with spirited conversation as everyone was discussing the House Armor, and who their respective Champions would be facing in the first round that Saturday. There were looks of both excitement and panic on the House Champions in question. However, the expression of panic was pronounced strongly on the Gryffindor Champion as her green eyes scanned the table she was sitting at, trying to figure out who the Slytherin Champion was.
Before she could make any accessment the bell chimed for everybody to get to their first class of the day, and everyone grabbed their bags and filed out of the Great Hall, Lily and Severus trailing behind hand-in-hand.
When they got to the entrance to go to Potions class Severus noticed the nervous energy coming from his girlfriend's grasp and asked, "Lily? Is something wrong?"
"Maybe," she admitted. "I can't help but be nervous at the thought that my House's Champion may have to face off against your House's Champion in the first bout. I mean with our Heads's Deal and everything on the line..."
Giving her hand a comfortable squeeze Severus whispered, "I know, Lily, I'm just as nervous at that prospect myself, and so are our dear professors. Did you see the looks on their faces when Dumbeldore made that announcement?"
Lily nodded, remembering that just a few minutes ago both Heads were looking down at their plates, looks of nervousness and shame etched on their faces. Professor McGonagall's eyes shot toward Lily in an almost pitying look before lowering themselves down, probably ashamed that she put more pressure on her Champion than what was needed. Professor Slughorn was the same way when he made contact with his mystery Champion, but quickly averted his eyes before the Gryffindor girl could pin-point him, or her, at the table.
Infuriated Lily hissed back to Severus as they neared the door, "I still can't believe they did something that stupid!"
Just then Professor Slughorn waddled his way out of the classroom and said, "Good morning class! Please come in and we shall get started on today's lesson."
With that the class proceeded inside, but the Potions master held Lily back wanting to talk to her in private. Lily gave Severus a nod, and he promised to save a seat for her as he went inside.
"Is there something wrong Professor?" Lily asked as politely as possible. Her respect for her teacher had deminished slightly since she heard about the agreement.
"Wrong?" the pudgy potioneer said, nervously. "Oh no, just wanted to know if everything was going well for you. I heard that you and Severus are now an interhouse couple, and I wanted to give you my sincerest congradulations. It's not everyday that two of my best students become quite the item."
Smiling Lily said, "Yes, Sev and I are quite happy about it. Thank you for your consideration."
"Not at all, Lily dear, not at all," Slughorn said with more confidence. "I also heard that you and Bellatrix have become good friends, and that she was suggesting about holding a birthday party for you."
"We have become friends, Professor Slughorn, but I also told her that I don't want a birthday party. I prefer trying to get some rest before I have to tame some of the people in my House, what with the Semi-finals approaching and all," Lily replied with a slight touch of annoyance.
"Ah, but that is what I wanted to talk to you about," he beamed. "You see I am having one of my get-togethers this Saturday night, and, since that is your birthday, I thought it would make an excellent two-fold celebration. Would you care to come as the guest of honor?"
Lily gapped at him for a second before answering, "Professor, if I refused my friend's idea at having a birthday party then it be unfair that I attend one that you are hosting. Besides, I just said I'd prefer resting in-between the tournament excitement and upcoming OWLs."
Sighing Professor Slughorn nodded, "As you wish Miss Evans. Now, let's get started on today's lesson."
Heading into the classroom first Lily took her seat beside her boyfriend and began taking that day's notes.
"I didn't think it was possible but I got a bigger headache than what I had this morning before Potions class started," Lily complained to Severus as they took their places under the beech tree and sitting on a warm blanket, protected from the snow beneath.
Lily rubbed her eyes tiredly as she leaned against Severus's chest, looking over the lake and feeling the comforting beat of his heart. Severus was slowly stroking her hair with his left hand and watching as her brilliant eyes were starting to fade behind her drooping eyelids, a contented smile on his face.
It was after lunchtime and both Prefects had a free period that they used for relaxation. Potter and his friends were in their classes, and Bellatrix and her group were in theirs. Nobody was there that could interrupt their rare moment of peace.
"Sorry about that Lily," Severus whispered to her, planting a gentle kiss on her lips as she turned to look at him. "But I'm sure that after the tournament is over, and our OWLs have been completed both of our headaches will be gone."
"Our headaches?" Lily repeated, sitting upright next to him. "What happened? Has been making trouble for you again?"
Sighing Severus mumbled, "For once I wish that were the case. Trixie has been pestering me to convince you to go to Slughorn's party Saturday. Somehow she got wind of what he was planning and has been plotting with him to make it happen, even if it meant dragging you there by your lovely tresses."
"Can't they take a hint that I am not the partying type, and that I don't care too much for birthday celebrations? I'm quite contented with just getting presents from my friends," she looked at him affectionatly before stating, "and my boyfriend, and trying to calm my nerves before school life starts rushing out at me at full steam."
"I know, Love, I know," he whispered, giving her another kiss on the lips.
Lily pushed her head further toward him and deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around him contentedly as he wrapped his around her waist. They stayed like that for a few blissful minutes before breaking apart to receive some oxygen, their cheeks slightly red as they looked into each other's eyes, arms still wrapped around their bodies.
Suddenly they heard the sound of footsteps coming toward them on the snowy ground, and quickly inched apart in case the person coming was a teacher. It would not be good for the two Prefects to be caught breaking one of the school's rules: no public displays of affection.
"That rule doesn't make any sense, because before a faculty member comes the couple is usually showing private displays of affection," Lily thought irritably, turning her head to see who it was coming and wishing that she did not.
Coming towards them, looking scandalized and devastated was James Potter. He quicken his pace when he saw the flash of red against the white snow and had just rounded on them moving away from each other, still holding hands. His own were clutching something.
"Evans?" he asked, his eyes narrowing when he saw her companion. "What are you doing with him? Shouldn't you be in Divination class?"
"He still thinks she's taking that stupid class? What an idiot!" Severus thought bitterly as he tighten his grasp on Lily's hand very gently.
Getting her cover story ready Lily lied, "Actually I finished early, so I agreed to meet Sev out here before going back into the castle for next period. What are you doing here?"
"My class was cancelled, so I decided to look for you and give you your birthday present early. Here, it's from the other Marauders and myself," he said, holding out the package to her.
However, she looked at the package darkly and then gave him the same glare.
"Thanks Potter, but I think I'll pass," she replied, pushing the present away from her. "The last time I accepted anything from you, you tried to bespell me. So what makes you think I would want anything else from you?"
"That's exactly what Moony said," he mumbled, remembering what the tired Prefect said that morning during breakfast. "What is that?"
He pointed to the necklace on her pale neck, each word drentched with vemon.
Smiling smugly, and cupping the rose between her thumb and index finger Lily replied, "Oh this? This is a Christmas present from my boyfriend here, and do you want to know what the best part about it is? It isn't spiked with love potion!"
The crushed look on Potter's face was so pitying even Severus almost felt sorry for him, but he did not. Instead he wrapped his other arm around Lily's waist and was pleased to see her smug smile becoming bigger as Potter took in the scene.
"Yes, Potter, unlike you I have been treating Lily with the utmost respect she deserves," Severus said, "and I intend to make sure it stays that way."
"You can't be serious Evans!" Potter exclaimed, his free hand balled into a fist. "He's nothing more than a filthy Slytherin git! The minute things go wrong he'll start calling you the 'm' word and dump you on the spot!"
"How dare you!" Lily hissed at him, her own eyes narrowing at the now cowering figure. "The last time I checked Sev didn't try to 'disinfect' me, or break my wrist, or give me a gift that would force me to like him. Unlike you, James Daniel Potter, Severus Snape has been more of a gentleman to me whereas you have been the filthy git, and you're supposed to be an 'upright and proud' Gryffindor!"
Taking Severus's hand both Prefects stood up and walked back into the castle, leaving Potter standing in the snow with tears of sadness and defeat leaking from his eyes.
"That prat! That idiotic, hypocritical, pathetic prat!" Lily vented as she and Severus sat down on one of the staircases in the main hallway. "Who does he think he is trying to give me another present that was probably tampered with, and speaking ill about you as though you weren't there?"
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders Severus hugged her tight, "Don't let him upset you, Lily. You're turning sixteen in two days, and we've got more important things to think about, like the tournament, career counseling, OWLs...?"
"What I'm going to wear to Professor Slughorn's party Saturday," Lily whispered with a smile.
"What?" he asked, looking at her astonished. "But Lily, you just said-"
"I know, but after that ordeal with Potter I'd rather not stay in Gryffindor Tower any longer than I have to," she replied, looking at her companion. "What's one party going to hurt anyway?"
Kissing her lightly on the lips the Slytherin smiled, "I'll tell Trixie you'll be there."
A.N. Sorry for this little filler chapter, everyone, but I've got a major case of Writer's Block. So I thought this would help me boost my creative juices a little until full inspiration overtakes me again.
Hope you enjoyed it, and please feel free to comment or question my work to help get my mind restarted!