7 – Slytherin's Best
Harry returned to the memory just before midnight as an owl was pecking at Snape's window, lightly banging into it several times, creating the effect of a soft knock. At first, Harry thought it was Hedwig. The snowy owl had beautiful white feathers, amber eyes rimmed with gold, and a cunning awareness, but it also had an errant, black plume on its backside. Snape looked at this dark feather carefully and stroked it between his fingers. Harry wasn't sure what he was looking for, but finally he seemed to be satisfied. "Just checking," said Snape and patted the owl. He opened the letter attached on its left leg—
SS,
I am indebted to Slughorn for him bringing you to my attention as Slytherin's Best. I have no doubt you will become an impressive wizard, but it is your unwavering service and secrecy that have earned my respect. I assure you that these will bring unparalleled rewards.
Very soon, I will be TR no more. I have transcended this name and will lead purebloods to their rightful place in the world, and in exchange for your pledged devotion, I will make you a part of my inner circle, a vanguard of wizards of the highest potential. We will bring magic to a level the world has yet to see.
Please retrieve the Doppelganger root, and I will show you the Curse of which you have spoken. To you and only you. The Doppelganger will be your first contribution to my group, and it will be an important first step on our journey.
With the utmost gratitude.
Snape reread the letter several times before neatly folding it. He opened the jar with the singing worm, something Harry had never seen in person, and the creature bellowed "You Belong to Me," the Dean Martin song, in the most hideous, screeching voice. Snape flashed his wand, mumbled a few words, and pressed the worm to the letter; the voice immediately disappeared, trailing off as if the worm had been thrown down a well, the echo getting fainter and fainter. The parchment sizzled for a moment, and the singing worm turned into a bright green seal, clasping the letter shut, and leaving a green halo above it. It was clear that no one would be opening this letter any time soon.
Snape opened a black box that was sitting on the book case's top shelf, and although Harry couldn't see inside it, it emanated a bright green that lit the entire room. Harry wondered how many letters Snape had already sealed and stowed from Riddle inside that black box.
He gave the owl another pat and fetched it a treat, the last singing worm in the jar. This one wasn't singing any song in particular. It was just screeching incomprehensible words, and the owl seemed happy to swallow it for both the nourishment and to stifle its sound. With the snack gone, Snape released the owl into the night, surely headed back to wherever Tom Riddle was dwelling. And with that, he went to bed.
The next morning, he arose with the rest of Slytherin Hall and started the trek to the Quidditch Stadium. It was a day he loathed every year, the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match, a celebration of broom play and sporting heroics that made all but the most intelligent girls swoon. The entire way to the stadium, there was chatter about if Slytherin's team could stop Potter and Black, the dynamic duo. Snape rolled his eyes. He was more interested in the magic Gryffindor Hall was currently pulling off—a real lion was floating above the team as they strutted with their fellow hall mates. The lion clearly hated being in the air. It was writhing and swinging its paws, hoping to connect with the person responsible for its newfound flying powers.
"There he is. Hey Snivellus! Bet you can't do that." Sirius Black pointed to the lion.
In the midst of the spectacle, Snape had lost track of his surroundings. His hand immediately went to his wand. "I hope you don't have an unfortunate flying accident today."
"Not possible," said Sirius. "James and I are untouchable."
The Gryffindor Quidditch team passed, and Snape relaxed his grip a bit. He stopped walking and looked at the other students passing, turning his head to any girl that had reddish hair.
Sirius quickly turned back and yelled, "Carpe retractum!"
Snape instantly dove to the ground. But a purple flash, or any light for that matter, hadn't shot from Sirius's wand.
"Just joking. I've already seen your tight undergarments and white legs." James and Sirius slapped hands, and other Gryffindors laughed.
"One day, you won't know what hit you," said Snape.
Another ten minutes passed. The trickle of students had slowed considerably. He craned his neck to see if anyone else was coming, but it only appeared that Dumbledore and Flitwick were left. He lowered his head and walked back to Slytherin Hall alone.
It came as a great surprise when he found Lily sitting in front of his door. "Sev, I thought I missed you."
"Aren't you supposed to be with the Slug Club," he sneered. Sirius's latest joke was still fresh on his mind. "There's a big match today, and some people asked you to go."
"The match is worth skipping. I didn't like where we left things yesterday."
Snape relaxed his posture a bit. "Oh. Well, why don't we go in the room and sit down."
Lily stood and touched his hand. "I just wanted to make sure—"
"Listen, if you want to go to the Quidditch match, it's fine. Why should I stop you?"
"That's not why I'm here."
"If it's about me going to the Forbidden Forest, I have to go. I already made a promise to someone."
Lily looked confused. "Who did you make a promise to? Slughorn?" She paused and thought about it. "It doesn't matter. I'm not here for that either."
Snape waited for her to continue. "Well?"
"Well…" Lily sighed. "Well, sometimes things are unspoken between people." She looked for any understanding in Snape's eyes, but she could only see fog. "What I'm saying is that we spend a lot of time together. We talk. We listen to Dave Martin records."
"Dean Martin," Snape corrected her.
"Yes, Dean Martin. We talk about other things too. Art and books and our families."
"Well," said Snape, "I'm versatile. I'm more than just a standout wizard."
Lily giggled.
"What?" He looked offended as if she didn't believe in his talent, but then he realized why she was laughing. He allowed himself to show a hint of a smile. Just for a second, but it was enough for Lily to giggle again.
"You should add confident to the list. And it's different from James or Sirius, and I like that," she reassured him.
"Thank y—okay. So what are you here for?"
"I'm here because I wanted to tell you we're friends…"
Snape looked to the ground.
"…but I'm happy that there's something more," she continued. "I think we... fit."
He shifted uncomfortably. Harry shifted uncomfortably as well. Both were looking behind that door picturing the journal with the raw emotion spilled onto the pages for Lily. "When I'm not with you, I think of… I mean, I…" Snape struggled to find the poetry he knew was on those pages.
Lily took his hand completely in hers. "I'm here because I wanted to ask you if you'll go to the Yule Ball with me."
