Chapter Four

Emma had taken Severus' hand automatically, then had immediately wished she hadn't, certain he was going to shake her off. To her surprise, he hadn't even commented, but had simply let her tangle her fingers with his, as they took the final steps towards the neat little house with lace curtains and a rockery in the front garden. It was obvious that he was regretting bringing her here, regretting even mentioning the Muggle-born witch that lived here. He disliked Muggles, that much was obvious, and it was quite possible that his distaste ran to cover Muggle-borns as well.

Normally such bigotry would have offended her – something else she needed to add to her growing list – but his discomfort stopped her from speaking. This was more than just simple prejudice. If she didn't know better, she would say that Severus Snape was afraid.

The welcome they had received from the rather horse-faced girl had left her in little doubt that Severus was not welcome in this house. Maybe the prejudice was reversed; maybe he was not wanted, as he came from an obviously poor household.

She glanced sideways at his baggy clothes. Fashions here seemed strange to her, but even she could see he was badly dressed, his clothes probably cast-offs from his father.

Her heart went out to him then.

She knew what it was like to be an outsider, to not be accepted. She didn't know how she knew this, but the pain she could feel on his behalf felt like empathy, not sympathy. His silly dislike of Muggles paled slightly compared to the fact he was facing prejudice himself to try and help her. It seemed oddly noble coming from a boy who couldn't wait to be rid of her.

She stilled the sudden urge to take his hand once more, and took a half step closer to him instead.

-x-

The door opened to reveal a red-headed girl who was probably very pretty when not scowling fit to curdle milk. As it was, the similarity between her and her blond sister was striking. Emma made an internal vow to always remember the effect an expression could have on a face, even one that was pretty to begin with.

The girl didn't even glance in her direction, for which Emma was glad. Instead, she glared down at Severus from her position on the door step. "You can't be here," she sniffed. "James and his parents are on their way."

Severus paled noticeably, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, but his voice was level, almost dismissive, when he spoke. "Believe me, I have no interest in taking up any more of your time than strictly necessary, Evans. "

The redhead's eyes narrowed. "'Evans'? Didn't take you long to change your tune, did it?"

Snape shrugged. "You made yourself clear. We aren't friends. I won't come again, but this girl needs to speak with you."

"Does she, now?" Disturbingly green eyes finally found Emma's. "What do you need to speak about?"

Thrown by the bluntness of her question, Emma found herself glancing at Severus for help, but his gaze was stonily fixed on the ground. It was obvious that there was far more going on between the two of them than she was aware of, and again, she wondered at Severus' willingness to bring her here. "You don't recognise me?" she eventually choked out.

"Should I?"

Emma sighed. If the Snapes' plan had been to offload her onto this Evans girl's family, they were out of luck. Nothing could be less welcoming than the girl's frosty reception. "Probably not," she admitted. "We'll leave you be."

She turned to the awkward-looking boy beside her when a call from inside the house caught their attention.

"Hurry up, Lily! The fire's gone green!"

Severus caught her elbow and pulled her down the path. Emma was half way down the path – and had already realised just how much she had been relying on the obviously reluctant Severus to miraculously be able to help her - when a voice from the house caused him to spin.

"Going already, Snivellus?"

Severus turned so quickly that Emma stumbled, caught in his momentum. She steadied herself and glanced up, only to step back when she caught the murderous expression on his face. His pale skin seemed almost entirely drained of blood, and she could tell from the angle of his arm that he had his wand grasp tightly in his pocket. She followed his gaze to the boy leaning idly in the doorway.

Her chest constricted in recognition.

The messy black hair, the boyish face – it was him! She elbowed past Severus, ignoring his hissed reproach, desperate to reach the first person she had recognised since fainting at Tobias Snape's feet. The lounging boy transferred his contemptuous gaze to her, a flicker of interest and uncertainty marring his familiar features.

As she moved closer, a horrid sense of wrongness flooded her stomach, rooting her to the spot. She searched the boy's face and found it somehow lacking. His eyes were wrong. The face she had hoped she had found wasn't cruel or arrogant.

It was wrong, just wrong.

The dizziness from the day before returned, and she felt as if she might be sick. Clutching both hands to her stomach, she stepped backwards. The boy – James – dismissed her disdainfully, his eyes flicking back over her shoulder.

Confused by her own reaction, and suddenly desperately afraid, she took refuge again behind her glowering companion.

She was lost.

-x-

Snape had no time to pay attention to Emma's odd behaviour, using Potter's momentary distraction to half ease his wand from his pocket and consider his options. This was the first time they had ever met outside of Hogwarts or the school train, and he had no idea how far the Gryffindor was likely to take things, especially as he seemed to be lacking his usual stooges.

This was a Muggle area and the use of magic was strictly prohibited, even if he was of age. Severus was unlikely to be arrested, given his youth, but his expulsion from Hogwarts was almost guaranteed should he give into the urge to let a hex fly.

Why did James Potter have to choose today of all days to deign to visit a Muggle residence? His stomach had clenched uncomfortably when Lily had casually mentioned that his parents were visiting too, as if he didn't know what that meant. Had she got over her distaste for the arrogant pure-blood that quickly?

Potter grinned. "Lost for words? That isn't like you. Aren't you at least going to say hello? It's only polite, you know. But then maybe you don't; manners never were your strong point, where they?"

Severus snorted. "Where as this display is bound to be impressing your Muggle hosts."

"Defending their daughter?" Potter shrugged. "I rather imagine it is."

Severus felt Emma's hand on his elbow. "Can we just leave, please?" She asked in a quiet, unhappy voice. He ignored her, never breaking eye contact with the Gryffindor.

"Yes, Snivellus, why don't you run away? I'm sure Lily's made it very clear that you aren't welcome," Potter mocked. Risking a glance at the house, Severus could see the outline of observers in the bay window. It seemed as if none of the adults were going to involve themselves. James saw the glance and smirked.

"Don't worry, they know all about you. I don't think anyone will be helping you, given what you said." He slid his wand slowly from his pocket and held it by his side, the tip pointing casually towards Severus. "I doubt they'd even mind if I was to teach you another lesson."

Emma's grip on his elbow was almost painful now, and he could hear her chanting at him in a whisper to just ignore the boy and leave. It was an impossible situation. He couldn't just back down, his pride wouldn't allow him to, and he had a feeling that Potter would likely curse him the moment his back was turned. Doubtless his father would be able to smooth things over with the Ministry, should his only son get carried away. Even this far from Hogwarts, James Potter only faced him when the odds were on his side.

If he were at school, Snape would have attacked already, simply to give himself the advantage. He knew Lily was watching from somewhere inside, no doubt egging her boyfriend on. Surely she could see Potter's silly posturing for what it was? Hadn't she always expressed distaste for his arrogant posing?

He adjusted his grip on his wand, his mind racing. If he were to use magic, even in self-defence, he would lose his place in Hogwarts. If he were to back down, he would probably be hit by a hex and not be able to remove it without using his wand, and lose his place at Hogwarts. Tauntingly, Potter began to slowly raise his own wand.

Snape made to draw his own, but suddenly found his path blocked by Emma as she advanced furiously on his assailant, her earlier unsteadiness completely gone.

"Put your wand away, you ridiculous boy!" she snapped. "Even if your family's been allowed to hook a Muggle fireplace to the Floo Network, I doubt they're important enough to get away with it if the Ministry has to have half the street Obliviated!"

Potter's mouth dropped open in surprise. Severus quickly snapped his own closed. The Gryffindor's wand dropped loosely to his side, but Emma continued to admonish him, her voice dropping to a hiss so as not to carry to those inside the house.

"Let me guess. Pure-blood, right? Rich, only child, usually surround yourself with imposing friends?" Her tone was caustic, mocking. "I've met your type before and can only assume your attempting to make up for some pretty serious shortcomings."

Potter opened his mouth to retaliate, but she didn't give him a chance to speak. Severus doubted that anyone other than Lily had ever spoken to him quite so harshly, and even then, never with such venom.

Her tone became quietly considering as she nodded towards the house. "Your parents seem to love you, so I'm guessing it's something a little bit more personal, huh, James? Now run back to your tea party before I report you. We're leaving!"

She grabbed Snape's hand and laced her fingers tightly with his despite the dampness of his skin, and pulled him unceremoniously down the street, leaving James Potter open-mouthed in their wake.

.