The Untold Story
Chapter 7: Potions and Pendulous Relations
September 3, 1971
Severus was only half-listening as Mulciber bragged about the many trophies he had won in broomstick races. Yesterday, after flying class, he had headed to transfiguration with the Ravenclaws where Professor McGonagall had put all of them to the task of transfiguring a match into a needle. She seemed to be a strict, no-nonsense, and fair professor that Severus had immediately liked. He had been the only Slytherin boy to achieve the complete transfiguration, which had prompted Professor McGonagall to award 5 points to his house. This had slightly increased his precarious position in the eyes of his roommates. Of course, he had also spent most of last night flattering their egos by asking them questions on pureblood culture and politics. As he pondered his day, his eyes momentarily wandered to Black at the Gryffindor table. Narcissa had told Lucius that Bella, whoever she was, was out for Sirius's blood and that Lord Black's threats were the only strings holding her back.
"Snape, pass me some of those mashed potatoes." Rosier ordered.
That brought Severus out from his recollection of last night and instead he focused his attention on his next class, Potions with Gryffindors. Malfoy had told him that Professor Slughorn usually allowed students to choose their own potions partners. He didn't want to get stuck with someone like Black who just semi-listened to the professor as he doodled in his notebook. If he was honest, there was only one person he wanted to partner with: Lily.
"SEV! SEV!", Lily shouted as she excitedly made her way to the Slytherin table.
He could feel the eyes of those at the table turn to stare at him with disapproval and he just wanted to disappear into thin air. However, he took a deep breath, slowly making his way to meet Lily before she reached the Slytherin Table.
"Lily," he said quietly as he grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the entrance of the Great Hall.
"I don't understand why we have to sit with our houses. There are no rules stating a student must sit at one's House table in Hogwarts: A History."
"There are no rules explicitly stating that, but it's just a norm due to the rivalries between the houses." Severus agreed.
"Malfoy, the blonde seventh year Slytherin perfect, told me that we get to choose our partners in potions and that we have the same partners until fifth year." Severus told Lily.
"Ok."
"Umm..so...uhhh…" Severus struggled
"Do you want to be partners?"
"Yes!" Severus said nodding and thanking Merlin that Lily was so understanding.
Now, he had the arduous task of explaining to Lily that she had to stop yelling his name and seeking him out in such a public manner. She continued to talk to him about potions, and how interesting the subject seemed to be. "The book was so interesting, I couldn't understand all of it though. But it's just like you told me!" Severus couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
The pair quickly walked into a room in the dungeon corridor. "It's so cold and echoey down here." Lily whispered to Severus, as they quickly took a seat in the back of the empty classroom. "Who teaches this class?" Lily asked as she quickly took out her potions textbook.
"Professor Slughorn, head of Slytherin House." Severus replied as he observed the potions room.
"Oh…" Lily was cut off by the door opening.
"Good morning!" An amiable man greeted as he walked in with a few books and notes in his hands. "What are your names?"
"Severus Snape, sir." Severus answered deferentially.
"Lily Evans, sir." Lily replied with a smile.
"Ahh, nice to meet you." the man said as he got ready for the lesson. Lily and Severus looked at each other and grinned.
"He's so nice! This is going to be a fun class, I can tell." Lily whispered. Severus agreed silently.
A few minutes passed, and students slowly started to trickle in. The Gryffindor girls gave Lily a wave which she returned, while the Slytherin first years ignored Severus and sat in a corner at the front of the room. So much for starting to get on their good side Severus thought.
"Welcome to your first potions class." Slughorn began with a small smile. "This class is meant to further enrich the study of potions. It's not an easy class, especially as you get older, so pay attention and study well, for only those who understand the subject will succeed in it." The first years hung on to his every word.
"Really?" Lily whispered. Severus shrugged.
"Now, I want you all to turn to page…." He was interrupted by the door opening. Everyone turned around to find four Gryffindor students panting.
"We apologize sir." Remus began to say as he tried to catch his breath.
"We got lost." Sirius finished with a grin.
"I see, well… find a seat and turn to page 4 everyone." Slughorn said. "What are you names?" Slughorn asked.
"James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew."James said pointing at his friends, as the four quickly sat down behind Severus and Lily.
Lily and Severus looked at each other and silently groaned. Just their luck, of course, they'd be stuck in front of Potter and Black.
"I see, do try to be on time in the future." Slughorn said. "Now I want you to make the potion, Burning Bitterroot Balm, on page 4 with your seat partner. It is due at the end of class. The student storage room is in the back, and you also have your own ingredients that you should have purchased before school started. You may begin."
"I'll get the ingredients." Lily said as she studied the page and rummaged through her book bag. Severus nodded as he quickly set up his cauldron. There were no instructions on the page about how to set up his cauldron, and he silently thanked his mother for teaching him the basics of potions.
"Wait, are you sure that is the correct way?" Severus heard Potter whisper to Sirius.
"Yeah, Auntie Cassie has been giving me potions lessons since I was six and Severus has his set up the same way."
"You're on a first name basis with that slimy snake?!" Potter seemed to be scandalized.
"Well...he is my partner in Defense, and weren't you supposed to get the ingredients from the store room, you lazy arse?"
Lily could also hear their "whispered" conversation clearly enough and was giving Severus the "Can you believe those arrogant pricks?" look. Severus pointed toward the book and discretely wrote in the margin: "We will be better potioneers than those idiots. First, this potion!" Lily smiled and nodded. The rest of potions class passed by quickly enough without any memorable mishaps. After all, the Burning Bitterroot Balm was a simple and well-know potion that was in every wizarding home. Severus scanned the class quickly as Professor Slughorn called time and realized that everyone's potions weren't the pleasant sky blue color that was the defining characteristic of the potion. Instead, they seemed to be the only team with a perfect potion. Black-Potter, Rosier-Greengrass seemed to be a close second. Avery-Mulicber's potion seemed the worst of the lot having turned a dark shade of black.
"Ahh...what a potion you have there Miss Evans!" Slughorn commented as Lily handed him the potion.
Lily blushed under his praise and replied, "Thank you sir! I couldn't have done it without Sev."
Severus tried not to grimace as Slughorn asked, "It is quite unusual for a Slytherin and Gryffindor to be partners, much less friends. Perhaps you knew each other?"
"Yes sir! Severus was the one who told me..." Lily started.
"We grew up in the same neighborhood sir. Please excuse us, but we have another class to get to." Severus said pulling Lily along with him before Slughorn could offer any response.
"Why did you do that? We still have time until class." Lily said angrily yanking her hand out of his as he dragged her towards the Great Hall.
"You don't need to tell everyone our life history." Severus said in low, angry voice. "I don't want the Slytherins finding out I am a poor half-blood with a drunkard father."
"I wasn't going to tell him that and you know it. I was just telling him how we met."
"Lily, you need to stop being so obvious and public about our relationship. 'How dreary – to be – Somebody! How public – like a Frog – to tell one's name…'" Severus said quoting Emily Dickinson.
"That's not true at all! You have always wanted to be known. You just don't want to be associated with a muggleborn like me!" she cried accusingly. Tears pooled in her eyes as she yelled, "I hate Hogwarts! I thought we could fix all the world's problems with magic, but wizards are worse than muggles. Coming to Hogwarts was the worst decision ever. It made Petunia hate me, and now it's taking you away too!"
"Lily, that's not true. I…" he pleadingly started saying before he noticed some green and silver out of his peripheral vision. He quickly switched his tone to sound more neutral and continued, "You don't understand." Not that it mattered anyway, she had already run towards the Hogwarts grounds and he had to use his entire willpower to not go after her.
A small crowd of Gryffindor and Slytherin first years had gathered and he tried to look dignified as he walked towards Transfiguration pondering what he could do to get Lily to forgive him. So much for thinking he had made any progress with the Slytherins; now Lily hated him, and he was truly a loner.
AN: Thanks to our reviewers for their kind words! Also, thanks to all of you who are following or liking this story. I am not sure who added us into the Awesome Severus Snape Stories community, but thank you! Please keep reading and reviewing...your words mean a lot!
We will also be going back and adding dates to the previous chapters. We are writing this taking into consideration the actual dates and moon cycles and we decided it would add to the reader's experience if we actually shared the dates with you.