Ch. 8 The World Isn't Perfect

Same disclaimer as other chapters

Author's note: Sorry for some of you this took long--lol I think this is a relatively long chapter so…well…sorry ;)

OH and to all those doubting people out there--IT ALL WORKS OUT! Trust me…I have a way for my plot to not be all messed up and have since almost the beginning J

"Sevy, what should we do?" Lily cried out to Severus after telling him about her meeting with Jessica.

"Don't call me Sevy," he said, irritated, then he responded to her question. "We?" he asked, leaning back in his chair sounding his usual cocky self. While he was going with Jessica, h e had become a little less self-assured, but his confidence apparently had come rushing back as a result of their breakup.

"Yes, we," Lily replied sounding slightly put out, "You, me, Tara, and anyone else who has any ideas…"

Severus grunted slightly. "Why me?" he asked, "I thought I'd be done with her once and for all--I thought breaking up with her was the right thing to do. I thought you didn't care about Jessica! You're confusing, Lily--and I'm not sure I can help you."

"Of course you can. You can help me find some friends for her," Lily replied in a matter of fact tone.

Severus laughed. "Lily, I think Jessica was just a bit hysterical and didn't know what she was saying. She has to have friends…I mean, you've said so yourself, she's the most popular girl in school from your grade--everyone knows that."

"Yes and 'everyone knows' that Jessica is rich, kind hearted, perfect, and obliging," Lily stated blandly. "I don't think anyone really knows anything about Jessica--not even us, although we know more than most people."

"Maybe," Severus said, "but it also could be that Jessica is playing for sympathy."

Lily smiled, "Would she tell her arch rival that she was friendless and poor just to get sympathy? Would she even want my sympathy?"

"True…but Lily I really don't want to have anything to do with this. Besides--who on earth could we get to be her friends?"

"Well," she said thoughtfully, "we could always get James…"

"I refuse to have anything to do with that…Gryffindor," he said the last word as if it were the worst kind of insult.

"Fine then…Sirius…" she broke off at his glare. "Well at least Remus then! You two aren't as bad of enemies as the others and you are."

"Ok…fine…Its only a friend for Jessica after all…so how do you suggest we persuade him to do what we ask?" he asked curiously.

"Ask nicely, of course," she replied in a "what else would we do" tone.

Severus gave her a doubtful look, but she stood up and walked towards the exit anyway, looking confident. He followed slowly, looking glum.

They first went to find Tara. Lily told her the whole story, and Tara grudgingly agreed to help. The three of them then went to find Lupin.

That was no easy task. They searched for at least an hour and found no trace of him or his friends. Finally, the found Peter looking over a book on werewolves in the library.

"Peter!" all three of them almost screamed when they saw him.

Peter looked very scared, and stammered, "Uh…hi guys…Lily…Tara…Sss…Sev…Severus?" he said the last name in complete surprise and turned as white as a sheet.

"Yes, Peter," Tara said smiling to try to make him feel at ease. "We're looking for Remus…do you know where he might be?"

"Well actually yes, but I don't think I can tell you," he said with a sly smile.

Tara's eyes flashed with annoyance, Lily groaned, and Severus turned away in complete disgust.

Noticing he was in danger of making two new enemies and getting beaten up by Severus, Peter spoke up again. "I could, perhaps…give you a clue.'

The three friends just looked at him.

"Erm…it's a full moon tonight…so he won't be in the school…"

Severus laughed. "Do you mean the idiot's off kissing some girl under the full moon every night? But why isn't he inside now?"

"That's not what I meant," Peter squeaked.

"Then what did you mean?!" Severus roared.

Just then, James walked in.

"What are you up to slime ball?" he asked Severus.

Lily and Tara spun around.

"There's no slime ball here," Lily said haughtily. "If you were referring to Severus, he's helping us."

"Oh…Lily…I didn't see you there," James stammered.

"Obviously not, " she replied.

Tara decided to break in before there was a fight. "James, do you know where Lupin might be today? We've been looking all over for him. All we can get out of Peter is something about a full moon."

James' eyes got big and he threw a warning look at Peter.

Surprised at this, Lily became very curious. "Tell me James…I have to know."

"Erm…its no secret, he had to go visit a sick relative. He has to go about once a month…usually during the full moon by coincidence. That's what Peter meant."

"I don't believe you," Severus announced. "Peter wouldn't have been so secretive about it if it was something that simple."

James scowled. "Well, I don't care what YOU think Snape. I've got better things to do." With that he stormed out of the library.

***

"He's a werewolf," Tara stated blandly once they were inside the Slytherin common room. Technically, Tara wasn't allowed inside, but Lily didn't' pay much attention to that rule. She used the excuse of having almost no friends in Slytherin.

"What?!" Lily and Severus yelled as one.

Tara sighed, "Its obvious. Full moon….Peter was reading a book on werewolves…"

"That's impossible," Severus scoffed, "they'd never let a werewolf come to Hogwarts."

"Besides, Remus would never be able to hide the fact that he's a werewolf from me, I've been his friend for years," Lily jumped in.

Tara looked slightly downcast. "Everyone always shoots down my ideas--my family, my Ravenclaw friends and now you guys! I mean--I thought that was a pretty brilliant deduction."

"Sorry, Tara," Severus said slowly cautiously putting his arm around her trying to look casual and giving her a little squeeze. "But this idea IS ridiculous. I don't want to hurt your feelings, but it just is."

Tara sighed. "Well what are we going to do about Jessica anyway?"

Severus smiled, "I suggest we are totally unoriginal. Tara--get some people from Ravenclaw to be her friends--or if you want, be her friend yourself."

"I'll try…" Tara said unhappily.

Why does he still have his arm around her? Lily wondered.

"On a totally different topic," Lily broke in to try to take Severus' attention away from Tara, "Where are you two going for Christmas?"

Sure enough, Severus removed his arm. Lily smiled.

"Well, I'm going home, as usual," Severus replied.

Tara sighed, "I don't know where I'm going. My parents are going to France and won't be back in time for me to start school, so I can't go with them."

"Me neither," Lily said, "Petunia's been so rotten to me lately my parents gave me permission to go somewhere else, but I don't know where I'd go."

Severus took that as a hint. "Would you two like to come stay at my house for Christmas?"

"Wow," Lily replied in shock. "Are you sure your parents won't mind?"

"Perfectly sure. It'd make Christmas so much more fun to have you two around."

"Around when, who? Huh?" Lucius asked as he walked into the common room.

Severus grinned. "I just asked them to come to my house for Christmas--do you want to come too?"

"Sure!" he replied.

Lily groaned inside. Christmas with Lucius? This sure would be interesting.

***

Christmas break came surprisingly quickly, and before she knew it, Lily was on a train headed for the city that was nearest Severus' mansion.

"So, how are things going with Jessica?" Severus asked.

"Ok," Tar replied, "not quite as well as I'd like, but…she has one friend other than me, now."

"Great!" Severus said, "Who is it?"

"Me," Lily said glumly, "Tara was having absolutely no luck, so she begged me to help."

Lucius burst out laughing. "So in other words, you've gotten nowhere."

Lily glared at him. "You don't have to put it like that," she complained.

"Stop arguing you two!" Severus said. "We're almost there. You two girls excited to see my house?"

"Actually," Lily admitted, "I'm a little scared to meet your parents--I mean after all, I am muggle born.

Severus sighed, "Don't worry about it; they'll love you."

When the train pulled up to the station, finally for some, too soon for others, Lily's mind was racing with horrible scenarios that could happen meeting Severus' parents. She tried to tell herself it was all just meaningless worry, but she kept thinking of the way the other Slytherins, and even Severus at first, had treated her .

Almost immediately after stepping off the train, they were approached by a tall man with grey hair and a mustache who was dressed almost completely in black.

Lily suddenly got even more nervous than before. "Is that your father, Sev?" she questioned nervously.

Severus laughed, "No of course not, he's our butler--our only muggle servant. He's useful when we need someone to interact well with muggles."

"Your car is ready sir," the butler droned.

"Thank you," Severus said and led them off to the parking lot.

Severus' car was a black Mercedes that looked brand new and spotless. Lily was amazed.

"I see father didn't trust us with the limo," Severus said laughing. "Well…I guess I don't blame him since Luc and I crashed his rolls…"

"You crashed it!" Lucius broke in, "but I got blamed for it!"

Severus rolled his eyes. "Yea, yea, whatever."

The car ride was about ½ an hour long through the winding country roads of England. Lily daydreamed while looking out of the window. Pretty soon she saw it. The biggest and most grand manor house she had ever seen in her life. She gasped and heard Tara echo her. Severus laughed.

"There it is," he said, "do you like it?"

Lily and Tara just sat there gaping as the car drove up to this magnificent house. There was a man and woman waiting by the front door. The man was tall and rather handsome. He looked almost exactly like Severus. His mother was blond and beautiful. She looked absolutely perfect. Lily started thinking of ways to get out of meeting Severus' parents. They wouldn't like her.

"Severus!" his mother exclaimed. "I'm so glad to see you…and Lucius of course. This must be Tara," she said beaming at Lily's nervous looking friend. "And you…."she paused, "I suppose are Lily Evans…the one who caused such controversy at Hogwarts over the House she was placed in."

"Um, yes…" Lily stammered.

"She's one of the smartest girls in school, mum," Severus broke in, "she's bringing a lot of glory to Slytherin."

"But not as much as you, I'm sure son," his father stated in a deep, commanding voice.

Severus gave him an uneasy look and led the way inside.

The house was even more beautiful on the inside than on the outside. The butler got busy putting away everyone's things and showing them to their rooms. Lily's room was gorgeous. It was by far the nicest room she had ever stayed in.

They were all called together for dinner in the spacious dinning room. The conversation was polite, even if Lily felt a little ignored. The only time his parents responded to anything she said was when she said that she had absolutely no connection in her family to witches or wizards. Then their eyes widened and his father started coughing.

When it was time for bed, Lily went upstairs to her room and unpacked a bit. She was not tired and was still feeling nervous. She decided to go downstairs and ask the butler for a drink of water or something. She needed something to calm her nerves.

As she was going down the stairs, she heard voices, and saw that Severus and his parents were having a serious discussion. Lily quickly hid behind a statue, hoping that no one saw her, and listened to the conversation. She felt a little guilty doing so, but she was stuck hiding behind the statue so she thought she might as well be entertained.

"Well dear, you have made some rather interesting friends while at Hogwarts, haven't you?" his mother said in a suspicious tone.

Severus' eyes widened. "What do you mean by that," he asked slowly.

Then Mr. Snape spoke up, "I never thought I'd see the day when a mud blood was in Slytherin. When you first told us, we had figured that her grandparents had at least been wizards and witches--but this? Really Severus! Your friend Tara is nice enough; she's quite a beautiful young girl, even. Spend your time with Lucius and her…and dump this Lily person."

Severus spun around to face his father looking very angry, but like he was trying to keep his temper in check. "Lily is one of the best people I've met muggleborn or not," he said in an icy calm voice. "It doesn't even matter to me what you say! She's my friend and I won't give her up for anyone."

"Son please listen to me!" his father broke in. "She's so far beneath you, she's probably bringing down your reputation."

His mother sighed slightly. "I know its hard son…but she is practically the dirt under your feet."

Lily was surprised to find herself full out crying after this last comment. How could his parents be so vicious? They didn't even know her. What was wrong with muggleborns? Why did his parents stab her in the back like this? Would Severus listen to their advice? All of these questions tortured her as she waited for Severus to answer. She could not see his face now from where she was hiding, so she could not tell his emotions.

"Lily is not the dirt under my feet. She is better than me…and you for that matter. She is beautiful, smart, funny, kindhearted…she's one of the best people Hogwarts has ever seen. We should feel privileged to be from the same house as she is!" And with that he stalked off in the direction of his room.

***

Christmas finally came. Lily had been at her wits end and though that she could not bear living there anymore. Mr. and Mrs. Snape snubbed her and favored Tara and Lucius. It was subtly done and Tara and Lucius didn't notice, but Lily did, and she was sure Severus did also.

Everyone woke early Christmas morning and ran downstairs to gather around Severus' huge Christmas tree. There were many presents for all of them. Lily received most of them from her parents, but a few were from her friends. Lily tried to keep her box of candy she got from the Gryffindor group hidden from the Snapes. Lily liked all of her presents, but she thought James and co. were a little too unoriginal. Severus gave her a mirror that whenever you looked in it, it said your good qualities. Lily had a feeling that he just gave that to her to spite his parents. Tara gave her a ring that glowed green whenever she was around someone that really loved her and red whenever she was around someone that really hated her. She put it on while they were still opening presents and the ring started flashing the two different colors at an unbelievably fast pace and started giving off a squeaking noise. She hurriedly took it off. Confusing it like that would probably break it. Lucius had given her an old stale chocolate frog with the card missing.

Lily had given Severus, Tara and Lucius books that automatically recorded the three most noble things you've done in your life. As you get older, and if you do more noble things, the older, less-noble acts are recorded over and replaced by new ones.

The Christmas feast was as spectacular as one could expect from a mansion. Lily felt unwelcome and uneasy, though, and she was glad when Severus decided to go back to school early so he could catch up on his potions homework.

As Lily stepped on the train she sighed in relief. When they left, his parents gave up basically all pretense of civility. They had practically glared at her the whole morning.

"Well at least that is over with!" Lily sighed as she sat down on the train.

"Yea," Severus agreed.

Tara and Lucius looked shocked.

"But we had a wonderful time!" Tara said.

"At least someone did," Severus muttered.

Lily groaned quietly. "I was hoping your parents would like me."

"Me to…and they made their dislike so obvious…I'm sorry Lil…," Severus replied sadly.

"Its ok, the world isn't perfect," she said. It seemed like she was saying that a lot lately.