Part 31 – Dark Times Coming

Luckily for Severus he was not asked to steal any more items from the stores over the next few weeks. After the initial uneasiness had worn off he found that he was once again enjoying spending time with Professor Slughorn.

The only downside to his life was the tension he felt when he continued to sneak out to join Lily and the study group on the Sunday mornings. He still had no idea how it was that Lucius had found out about his weekly meetings with Professor Slughorn. He dreaded what would happen if he found out about his meetings with Lily. He knew that he would not be able to use the same excuse of ignorance now that they knew that he knew she was muggle-born.

It was a cold morning in early February when it was made very clear to Severus that the Slytherins meant what they said about their contempt and revulsion for the students that were not pureblood.

It was a Tuesday morning and like the other Slytherin first years Severus was enjoying his free class that always followed their night time astronomy lessons. His assignments were all done and he was pleased to be able to wander the grounds of the school, knowing that James and the other Gryffindors were in their transfiguration class with Ravenclaw.

The sound of a muffled scream came from across the grounds near to the lake. Severus stood listening for other sounds to try to establish where the noise had come from.

As his black eyes scanned the area he caught sight of movement in the edge of the trees and with only a moment of hesitation he hurried across the grass to see what was happening.

"Filthy little mudblood," the voice sneered from out of sight in the trees.

Severus tried to make out who it was but he wasn't too sure. He did know though that it was one of the Lestrange brothers. He was just not sure which of them it was.

"Just let me go back to class," the girl's voice cracked on a sob.

"You've no right to be at this school, or in our classes."

Severus moved quietly around the trees to see if he could tell who it was who was speaking. Careful not to tread on the scattered twigs or make his presence known, he finally inched his way around the edge of the trees. The profile of Rodolphus Lestrange was clear. He stood in the shaded area, carefully hidden from anyone at the school who might be looking out across the grounds.

Next to Rodolphus stood Bellatrix Black, her wand poised, casually pointing in the direction of the cornered Hufflepuff girl.

Rabastan stood at the other side of the girl blocking her exit completely.

Severus stood out of sight to see what was happening.

"I'm a witch, just like you," the girl spoke to Bellatrix, perhaps thinking that the female of the three might be more willing to take her side and call a halt to things. Severus realised that the Hufflepuff girl clearly didn't know the Black family.

"You're nothing like me," Bellatrix hissed as she stepped forward, her wand still raised. "The Blacks are one of the oldest pureblood families in the world. You are nothing more than a freak."

"I'm not a freak," the girl sobbed.

"You're a mudblood," Bellatrix continued in a cold tone. "It's the same thing. You've no more right to practice magic here than a muggle."

"W-w-what are you going to do to me?" the girl cried as she stepped back from Bellatrix's wand and stumbled over the root of a tree as she tried to keep out of the reach of Rabastan.

"Nothing," Rodolphus said, with a quick smirk at Bellatrix. "You're going to run away from school, tonight. We'll help you get to the gates."

"I can't run away," the girl cried. "My parents will make me come back anyway."

Bellatrix smirked back at Rodolphus before turning to the girl again. "Well perhaps we can work something out?" she suggested with a dangerously sweet smile.

Severus shrank back as he watched Bellatrix move towards the girl and put an arm around her shoulders. He recognised the look that Bellatrix had on her face, and it was not a pleasant friendly one. It was the look that told anyone who knew her that she had planned this from the start, and that the girl had played into her hands.

"If you want to stay at Hogwarts, you'll just have to learn your place," Bellatrix advised. "For instance, you should make sure to let the purebloods at your table eat first at meals. If a pureblood should ask you to do something, you should get right to it before you do anything else."

"H-how do I know who the p-purebloods are?" the girl asked.

"Let's just say any of the Slytherins for now, you can learn the rest later." Bellatrix nodded thoughtfully.

"That's all?" the girl asked, as Bellatrix guided her away from the others and back towards the school.

"For now," Bellatrix smiled.

Severus watched in silence as the four students moved out of his sight and earshot. He felt slightly ill with what he had witnessed. The three ganging up on one was far too reminiscent of James, Sirius and Peter turning on him.

As he walked back to the school he wondered briefly if Lily had had a similar run-in with Bellatrix. He suspected that she had although he doubted that she had given in so easily to any such demands.

He made a point to ask her when he next saw her. He could no longer talk himself into putting off the long overdue discussion with her.

That time came around that same afternoon when they were taking a short flying lesson.

Keeping hold of his broom, he still didn't trust James and the others not to tamper with it again, he walked over to where Lily stood laughing with Veronica.

"Meet me at Hagrid's after classes," he hissed before hurrying back to the other Slytherins.

"What was that about?" Martin asked with a frown in the direction of Lily.

"Just a message for her from Professor Slughorn," Severus said. In some instances he had found that it was useful to have his meetings with Professor Slughorn well known.

After classes were done Severus headed to Hagrid's hut and sat on the cold ground waiting for Lily to meet him. She arrived shortly after he did and frowned at him from above.

"What's this about, Severus?" she asked in concern. "Is something wrong?"

"You tell me," Severus replied. "I want to know what's gone off between you and Bellatrix Black."

"Nothing," Lily said as she turned to leave.

"You're lying," Severus hissed as he jumped to his feet and grabbed Lily's arm.

"So what if I am?" Lily replied, uncharacteristically hostile.

"We're supposed to be friends," Severus pointed out. "Tell me the truth!"

"The truth?" Lily shouted. "Like you told me the truth when I asked whether being muggle-born made any difference?"

Severus drew in a sharp breath. There was no going back now.

"I'm sorry," he started. "I didn't mean to…I just…"

"Lied," Lily finished for him as he stumbled over his words.

There was nothing he could say in response and he sank down onto the step of the hut.

Lily hesitated a moment before sitting down on the step of the hut. She looked behind her before belatedly asking if Hagrid was in.

"No, he's in Hogsmeade today," Severus assured her, pleased he had overheard Hagrid telling Dumbledore of his plans at breakfast that morning.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth?" Lily asked in a quiet voice.

Severus frowned as he tried to come up with an explanation that wouldn't jeopardise their friendship any further than he already had.

"I thought you wanted to talk?" pressed Lily, as Severus remained silent.

"I did," Severus assured her quickly. "I mean I do…I don't know…"

"You don't know whether you want to talk to me?" Lily asked.

"No! I mean I don't know why I lied." Severus leaned back against the door. "You were worried and I didn't…"

His voice trailed off but Lily seemed to understand what he was unable to put into words. She nodded and a sad smile formed on her face as she looked at him. He sat in silence awaiting her judgement.

"How well do you know Bellatrix?" Lily asked. "You seem like you're friends."

"Not really," Severus replied. After seeing her in action that morning he wondered if he knew her at all.

"My parents are good people," Lily said.

"I know," Severus said. "They've always been nice to me."

"They love meeting my friends," Lily smiled. "They think it's great having a witch in the family. I don't know how to tell them that the wizard world isn't much better than the muggle one. That there are prejudices in this world and that me and my family are the ones who are treated like, like…"

"Mud?" Severus offered, then instantly regretted his choice of word.

Lily scowled. "Mudbloods. You obviously know the term."

"Yes," Severus whispered, unable to look Lily in the face.

"You're one of the few Slytherins I haven't heard use the word," Lily said with a sad smile. "They really do hate me. They hate all muggle-borns."

"I know," Severus nodded. "But what about Bellatrix? What's happened between you and her?"

"Nothing recently," Lily said, still obviously avoiding telling Severus the truth.

"Has she tried to order you around or suggest you leave Hogwarts?" Severus asked, already suspecting that he knew the answer.

"She even offered to help me leave," Lily replied with a bitter laugh. "I told her no and she cursed me."

"She what?" Severus looked at Lily in shock. He couldn't believe that Bellatrix was getting away with cursing one of the younger students.

"Just a small silencing curse," Lily answered. "She said it would teach me to guard my tongue for a while."

"Did you tell Professor McGonagall?" Severus asked, again knowing the answer already. Lily wasn't the type to run and tell tales. Her quick shake of the head confirmed this.

"Has she been bullying you all year?" Severus asked.

"On and off," Lily confirmed. "Nothing I can't handle."

"Are you sure?" Severus asked.

"Quite," Lily said with a determined nod.

"I can teach you some curses if you like," Severus suggested casually.

"No thanks," Lily replied, as she stood up and brushed off her robes. "There are other ways to solve problems without lowering myself to her level."

Severus couldn't help admiring Lily for her attitude. He knew that his first reaction was always to fight back and retaliate in kind. He realised now why Lily had reacted the way that she had to his feud with James and the others. He wondered if he could try to follow her example, but realistically he knew that although he was doing well at avoiding the Gryffindors, if they brought the fight to him again he would not be walking away with the quiet dignity that Lily had.

"Was that all you wanted to know?" Lily asked as she turned back to the school.

Severus nodded. "I'm sorry," he offered quietly.

"Accepted," Lily replied. "Just please don't lie to me again."

Severus nodded in silence as Lily started walking back to the school. He waited behind lost in thoughts for a while before heading back himself.

He was caught up in the middle of the pureblood, mudblood feud and he couldn't see how to get out of it. He wondered how bad things were going to get. The next day he knew just how bad.

Many of the students at Hogwarts had subscribed to the Daily Prophet, the paper being their link to the wizard world outside of Hogwarts.

The next morning at breakfast the owl post arrived with many carrying in the popular paper.

Severus had not subscribed himself but Evan Rosier who was seated next to him at the table had. As soon as the paper was unrolled the headline and accompanying picture grabbed the attention of Severus. Gasps from throughout the room told that others had seen the same front page at other tables.

Severus felt his stomach turn over as he looked closely at the paper.

A SIGN OF MURDER

The headline announced. Severus looked at the picture closely. Like many other photos in the wizard world it was moving slightly. This one however was not as obviously alive as pictures of people were. Instead there was just a trace of movement as a breeze rustled through the trees outside of the house that was pictured.

But it was not the house that had Severus's attention in it's suffocating grip. He didn't recognise the building or the street. What he did recognise was the image that shone above the house in the dark night sky.

A skull and snake glowed brightly for all to see. The snake was coming out of the mouth of the skull in an eerily close rendition of the picture he had sketched at the Black's New Year party.

He jumped up from the table in horror at what he was seeing and ran from the room to the boys' bathroom. Dashing to the sink he began to retch before finally sinking to the floor in a shaken heap.