1Sorry for the wait, guys!
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Chapter 6: Surprises On Every Corner
James and Lily stared at Larry in shock. "Please tell us you're joking."
"I wish I was." Larry shrugged. "Dumbledore hired him last September."
"Why? Why would Dumbledore hire a Death Eater?" James asked aghast.
"Well, Dumbledore said Snape changed his ways and that he's on our side now." Larry pointed. "Personally, I don't believe that he's changed sides, but what can you do?"
"Well, if he can't fire him, then make him want to quit!" James threw up his hands. "Severus Snape is the last person I want teaching here!"
"James, you are not the headmaster here, nor are you a teacher." Lily pointed out. "If Dumbledore thinks Snape has changed, then I trust his judgement."
James sighed in frustration. "Right. I forgot you two were best friends."
Lily stared hard at her husband. "Yes. We were. That was a long time ago, James. Sev and I haven't spoken a word to each other for like five years!"
Larry was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable. "Okay. So...you know where the bathrooms are, the kitchens, and the Great Hall. Mealtimes are the same as always, and our first Quidditch game is this Saturday if you guys wanna come down."
"Thanks, Larry." Lily smiled.
Larry returned the smile. "Let me know if you guus need anything else." He left.
James sighed and stared at the door. He shook his head slowly. Lily could hear the words "Insane" and "Mad" coming from his lips in low whispers. Lil rolled her eyes and sighed.
"James, come on. People can change." Lily protested. "Just give Sev a chance, please? For me?"
James groaned silently, threw his head back and turned to face Lily. "Fine. For you I will give him a chance. Satisfied?"
Lily smiled and walked over to her husband and put her arms around his torso. "Very."
They kissed. "Can I at least play a prank on him?"
"Don't push your luck."
"Yeah, I figured as much..."
XXX
The next morning, the Potters were mobbed by a crowd of Gryffindor girls who were very taken with Harry. After all, who doesn't love babies?
It took the Potters close to thirty minutes to get downstairs to the Great Hall. They sat next to Larry and an unfamilliar face.
"Lily, James, this is Kim Stevenson." Larry introduced the girl sitting on his left. "She's a Prefect."
Kim was tall and average weight with shoulder-length curly dishwater blonde hair and blue eyes. She smiled. "I think we've met before a few times while you were still at school."
"Oh yeah! I think we have." Lily smiled and nodded.
James looked over at the staff table. Sure enough, Snape was there, glaring at James with extreme hatred. James just smiled and waved cheerfully at his former rival.
"What are you doing?" Lily asked,.
"What? You did tell me to give him a chance." James shrugged.
"...Good point..."
XXX
"I can not believe you're letting him stay here."
Snape was in Dumbledore's office during the last fifteen minutes of breakfast.
"They have nowhere else to go, Severus." Dumbledore explained kindly. "Hogwarts is the only safe place from Voldemort."
Snape flinched. "He's never going to stop, you know. He's always had it in for me."
"Now, Severus. James is different from the boy you once knew." Dumbledore smiled. "Give him a chance. I know you'll be surprised."
Severus just snarled and left the office. 'If I'm gonna be working for a guy who never takes anything I say seriously, I'm gonna end up blasting him off the roof of the Astronomy tower!'
XXX
Later that day after dinner, Lily decided to take a walk around the school. She ran into her former best friend.
"Sev! It's been a long time." She smiled.
"Lily." He said politely.
"So...how are you?"
"Just fine." Saverus said stiffly.
Lily nodded. "That's good. Um...so..you're a teacher now! Wow. Congratulations!"
"I wanted to be the Defense Against The Dark Arts job." Snape replied matter of factly. "I'm surprised James didn't apply. Since you are staying here temporarily."
"I guess he didn't think abut it." Lily shrugged. "He's pretty happy with his current job, anyway."
"Which is...?"
"He got a job at Zonko's." Lily replied. "His parents left him a ton of money, so he didn't need a well-paying profession."
"I see." Snape replied. He started walking past Lily.
Lily turned around. "Sev, stop." He stopped, but didn't turn around. "I know you hate James for how he treated you at school. But, he really has changed. Can you please give him a chance? For me?"
Snape didn't say anything. He just walked on. Lily sighed sadly and continued her walk. 'I tried.'
XXX
Remus Lupin sighed as he put down his copy of the Daily Prophet. Thins were getting worse. More giants and werewolves were being recruited for Voldemort's army. He hasn't been in contact with any of his friends for months. He heard from the Prophet that Sirius was kidnapped. He wondered where they were on that. He knew James and Lily were in hiding, but he had no idea where Peter was.
Remus decided that if he didn't hear anything until New Years', he would go to Dumbledore. He didn't care if his friends didn't trust him. He still cared fr them, and wanted them to be safe.
XXX
Snape headed to Voldemort's hideout. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't tell Voldemort where the Ptters were hiding in order to keep his cover. That didn't mean he couldn't do some damage to the Marauders, however. Loyalty means an awful lot to James Potter. If he found out one of his friends betrayed him, he would be crushed and upset beyond belief. The thought cheered Snape up.
Snap headed to Sirius' cell where he was just finishing up his dinner. "How was the food? Terrible? Good. You deserve everything that's happening to you right now."
Sirius glared at Snape, but didn't say anything. Snape smiled. He suddenly had an idea. He went to the door. "Wormtail!"
Wormtail timidly walked to the door. "Yes, Snape?"
Snape pointed to Sirius' empty tray. "Clean out the p9isoner's dinner."
Wormtail walked slowly into he room not meeting Sirius's surprised and shocked expression. Snape smiled wider. "I'll leave you two alone."
Sirius finally found his voice. "What...what are you doing here?"
Wormtail swallowed. "I am working for You-Know-Who."
Sirius's heart jumped to his throat. "You're the mole."
Wormtail. "He was going to kill me, Sirius."
"So?" Sirius' voice quivered. "What the hell do you think we would've done if we were in your position?"
Wormtail fidgeted. "I'm not brave like you or Remus or James."
Sirius glared at Wormtail. "You son of a bitch."
Wormtail wimpered slightly. "I uh...I gotta go." He ran from the room.
Sirius groaned and banged the back of his hreead against the wall. 'Could things get any worse?'
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