The Warning
Finally the weekend arrived and Severus had finished all of his homework by Saturday afternoon. Regulus had gone to Quidditch practice, leaving his roommate at loose ends for awhile. The Black brothers still weren't speaking to each other, and Regulus was doing his best to pretend he was an only child. Severus couldn't blame him. Sirius needed a swift kick in the backside to make him quit acting like he was twelve and grow up. At least Potter was behaving better this term and not joining Sirius and Pettigrew in their little prank wars.
After taking a short nap, Severus rose and went into the Great Hall, trying to see if Lily were there, she usually ate lunch around twelve thirty. Sure enough, there she was with Cindy and Alice. He stood there for awhile, not saying anything, just looking her over admiringly.
She had the most vibrant auburn hair, it reminded him of flames made solid, it was a mixture of deep red and had golden highlights, and it flowed down her back like a fiery curtain. She had her head tilted to one side, laughing at something Alice said, and her evergreen eyes glowed with a passionate light that made him tremble from head to foot. Her sun-kissed skin complemented her hair and eyes perfectly and she had a smooth complexion, not freckling like most redheads did. And her figure . . .well, it had kept him awake more than one night, imagining his hands skimming her most intimate places. He shook his head, he had missed her so much, they had not had much time together since classes had started this term, their professors seemed determined to drown them with homework and he hadn't had a minute to visit Lily since term had begun.
So he allowed himself a few moments to leisurely admire his beautiful oracle, and then he approached her, sneaking up on her from behind and putting his hands over her eyes. "Guess who, Evans?" he asked, making his voice deeper, trying to fool her.
Her girlfriends giggled and cried, "Lily, better keep this one, he's a sweet thing!"
"Oh? Who is he?"
"We're not telling," Cindy said.
"Yeah, Evans. You gotta guess," Alice said. She winked at Severus.
"Hmm . . .let's see . . .that voice sounds familiar . . .is it someone I know?"
"Yes, you know him real well," Alice told her.
"Okay . . .is it James Potter?"
"Potter? No, I'm far sexier than Potter!" Severus choked.
Lily burst into peals of laughter. "Only kidding . . .Regulus."
"And I'm far more handsome than him."
"Well now, let's see . . .you're sexy and sweet and handsome so therefore you must be . . .Sev, my one and only love."
He removed his hands and then leaned over and kissed her, grinning. "I love you, Lily," he whispered.
"Love you too, Sev," she replied, kissing him back. She tasted like strawberries and cream cheese. "Why don't you sit down and have lunch with us?"
Severus agreed, and Lily scooted over so he could sit next to her and then he ordered a grilled cheese and bacon and some crispy chips to go with it. He and Lily shared the chips, dunking them in ketchup and popping them into each other's mouths.
Cindy and Alice just rolled their eyes and started to discuss the latest wizarding fashions at Diagon Alley and let the couple enjoy themselves without commenting. Both of them were wishing their boyfriends were there to share their lunches, but Frank was also at Quidditch practice and that didn't finish till after one o'clock. Cindy pulled out a copy of Witch Glitz and Glamour and they began to pore over the pages, ahh-ing over some dresses and robes and rejecting others.
Severus continued feeding Lily chips, until she snuck a bite of his sandwich, and then he swatted her hand playfully and told her to get her own. "I'm hungry, Evans!"
"Me too," she murmured sultrily. "For some time alone with you."
"Give me a few minutes to eat, okay?" he teased. "I need to replace all the energy I used up studying." He bit into the other half of his sandwich.
Lily clapped her hands and a second grilled cheese and bacon sandwich popped up next to the first. "Mmm . . ." she purred, licking melted cheese off of her lips.
Severus's eyes were riveted to her lips and he kissed her leisurely. "You taste wonderful, Lil."
Alice glanced up from the cosmetic section of the magazine. "Uh, Cin, it's a Make Out Alert!"
Cindy looked at the two and coughed. "Definitely, Alice. Oi, earth to Sev and Lily! If you're gonna share anymore intimate stuff, better go and get a room. If a professor ever saw that they'd write you up for TMPDA."
"What in the world does TMPDA mean?" Severus asked.
Lily snickered. "That's girl speak for Too Much Public Displays of Affection."
"In other words, we're making them uncomfortable." Severus translated.
"No, Snape, what you're making us is jealous," Alice corrected.
"Right on, girl. We're going green with envy 'cause our guys are off riding broomsticks 'stead of spending time with us," Cindy said mournfully.
Severus turned around and finished his sandwich and then Lily broke hers in half and gave him it. "But, aren't you hungry?"
"No, I just like stealing food from you," she said impishly. "Eat it, Sev. I'm stuffed."
So he did, then they rose and told Alice and Cindy they were going for a walk around the lake and if they saw Frank or Regulus they'd tell them to finish up and go give their neglected girlfriends some quality time.
"Aww, you're sweet!" gushed Cindy. "Thanks!"
"Not a problem, Cindy," Lily called over her shoulder, then she left the hall, arm in arm with Severus.
* * * * * *
Outside by the lake, it was cool and the wind teased Lily's auburn hair into tangles in moments. But she found she did not mind right then, so long as Severus was there beside her, holding her hand in his own. They weren't wearing gloves, only warm cloaks over their uniforms, but the cold did not bother them. Lily reached in a pocket of her robe and tossed some crackers to the squid, who popped up from the lake and waved a tentacle at them in thanks before going below again.
The wind made the lake ripple, reminding Severus oddly enough of one of the posters he'd seen in Dickon's quarters the other night. He had told Lily about his "detention" and she had said that Dickon's advice reminded her of her dad. "He was always telling me and Tuney to think before we opened our mouths, that we'd save ourselves a lot of grief that way. Cruel words, once said, can't be unsaid," she had quoted.
"That's good advice," Severus had replied. But now he didn't want to remember adult wisdom, no matter how true it was. Right now he just wanted to be with Lily, enjoying the crisp winter afternoon and the feel of her soft hand in his.
"Sev, what do you want for your birthday?" Lily asked suddenly.
He halted, surprised by the question. He had been so busy with homework and classes that he had forgotten completely about his upcoming birthday. It was in two days. "Uh . . .I don't know."
"There's nothing you want?"
He shrugged. "Some new potions vials would be nice. Maybe a new journal to record my experiments. Other than that . . .I have everything I need, little oracle." He turned to her and lifted a hand to caress her cheek, running his finger lazily down her neck and shoulder, until his hand cupped her breast and he pulled her against him. "All I really need, Lily Ann Evans, is you."
She snuggled against him. "Besides me, beloved." She murmured.
"Surprise me," he said.
"All right, I will." She tilted her face up to his and kissed him as if he were the last man on earth. She could feel his heart beating in time to her own and desire licked at her, golden tongues of flame sweeping through her, turning her blood to fire, and she wanted nothing more than to feel his hands all over her, those slender fingered hands that knew instinctively where and how to touch her to make her insane from wanting him.
"Sev . . ."
His finger swept up from her collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in its wake, to come to rest beneath her chin. "Yes, Lily?"
"Hold me and never let me go."
"Wish granted," he whispered and then he held her close, his eyes bright with a sweet savage joy.
He dipped his head and inhaled the sweet fruit essence of her shampoo and a clean spicy scent that was uniquely Lily's and thought, I wish I could stay like this forever. Damn Voldemort! And damn Dumbledore too! All I've ever wanted is right here. She is the light that brightens the darkness within me, the darkness that came from my father, that I must fight to overcome. But when I am with her, all I know is light and a joy so great that it's almost like pain.
They remained that way for a long time, ignoring the Quidditch players flying overhead as well as some seventh-year Slytherin boys coming around the lake, who scowled at them but then moved on.
Little did Severus know that there would be a reckoning later.
* * * * * *
That evening, Severus was on the grounds, gathering some wild dandelion and tansy for a potion, while Regulus was over near Hagrid's hut, picking some burdock. Some of the more common ingredients for healing salves and elixirs were easily found growing upon the grounds and Regulus had volunteered to help Sev gather some. They had lit up their wands in order to see more clearly, and Severus was putting the trimmed dandelion stems and leaves into a small basket, when a shadow fell over him, blotting out the light.
He peered up through his hair, which had come loose from its tie and had drifted over his eyes, as often happened, and saw three figures standing around him. Immediately, he felt his danger sense come on the alert. He had never liked many people standing close to him, especially those who were bigger than he was, and he sensed instinctively that these three, despite the snake emblems upon their robes, were up to no good.
He stood up, wand pointed at their faces, and looked at them inquiringly. "What do you want?"
"To talk, Snape. My name's Winthrop, seventh year," said the first one, a tall sallow individual with a bulging nose. "These are my mates, Cord and Sickle." He indicated the other two, one a big burly curly-haired kid and the other small with a ferret-like face. They stared at Severus in an unfriendly fashion.
Severus stiffened. He knew of these three by reputation. They belonged to a group of Voldemort supporters, and were among the more radical of students in Slytherin. They were also the most vocal when it came to denouncing Muggleborns and half-bloods. Not people he wanted to tangle with. "I'm afraid I don't know why you're here," he began warily.
Winthrop smiled nastily. "To give you a warning, Snape. It's come to my attention that you're a member of the Iron Masks, see, and our sort don't . . .associate with Mudbloods like that Evans girl you've been going out with."
"Yeah. And not only is she a Mudblood, Todd, she's a Gryffindor ho as well," chuckled Sickle, making Severus long to knock his teeth out.
Cord guffawed loudly. "Not good girl material, Snape."
"And you lost points by trying to defend her in Astronomy class," Winthrop said coldly.
"I earned those points back too." Severus argued.
"Don't matter. Snakes don't date lions—'specially lower than dirt Mudbloods," Sickle sneered.
Cord and Winthrop nodded. "So, we're here to tell you that you need to break it off with Evans. She is tainted and unworthy of a follower of the Great Lord."
Severus was speechless for one moment. Then he found his voice. "And if I don't?"
Winthrop's face turned ugly and he grabbed Severus by the collar and pulled him off his feet. "Then we'll teach you a lesson you won't like at all, got it?"
The other two leaned in menacingly and Cord cracked his wrists pointedly and Sickle thrust his wand into Severus's face.
Severus gritted his teeth, wishing he dared to hex the older boys, but he knew that doing so would totally blow his cover as an informant. He had to convince the three that he would follow their stupid rules. So he gave Winthrop a brief nod. "Fine. I'll start ignoring her."
"See that you do. Or else!" Winthrop growled, then he released Severus, knocking him to his knees with a shove.
As he walked past, Cord stomped spitefully upon Sev's gathering basket, smashing the plants and the basket flat.
Severus shook a fist at them and swore roundly in his head. A whole hour's worth of work, ruined because of some spiteful fools who couldn't tell a dandelion from sunflower. How dare they come over and threaten him? Who did they think they were, Satan incarnate? Give up Lily indeed! He would rather cut off his arm. Or rip out his soul. He began to sort through the crushed herbs, salvaging what he could.
Regulus returned with his own herbs and looked at the basket and at Severus. "Hey, what happened? You trip and fall on your basket?"
"No. An oaf named Cord stepped on it," Severus answered.
"Cord? But isn't he a . . . Death Eater?"
"Yes and him and his mates want me to stop seeing Lily. Claims it's not proper for a follower of You-Know-Who to have a Muggleborn girlfriend." Severus said heatedly.
"Then you're not going to break up with her?"
"Not on your life!" Severus laughed harshly. "They can take a flying leap in the lake and drown."
Regulus looked alarmed. "But Sev, what about the fact that we're supposed to be one of them?"
"Lily and I can see each other in secret. Like we used to do before."
"What if they find out?"
"They won't. I'm not giving her up, Reg! I've given up too much to play bloody spy, I refuse to give up my heart as well. She became a spy because of me."
Regulus looked uncomfortable. "And you became one because of me," he said unhappily. "I'm sorry I ever dragged you into this, Sev."
"Don't be an arse, Reg." Severus said gruffly. "You needed my help and I offered. End of story."
"Be careful, Sev. Those three . . .you know they like hurting people, don't you? They beat the crap out of Andrew Hollister, a Hufflepuff, because they thought he looked at them funny. If they catch you openly defying them . . ."
Severus clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Reg. I know how to avoid them. I'll talk to Lily tonight, make sure she understands that we have to see each other on the sly again." He sighed, for he had loved being able to show everyone how much he cared for his beloved Lily-flower. "Bloody damn Death Eaters!" He looked at Regulus. "Have you heard from Lucius yet?"
"I got a letter from him this morning, but I didn't open it yet. It's probably the time for the next meeting," Regulus said.
Severus scowled. Then he resumed gathering up the squashed herbs, some of them were still usable. He knew this unsavory turn of events was bound to upset Lily. He wished Voldemort and all of his followers blown off the face of the earth.
How did you like this one?
Trouble is brewing, but first Lily, Reg, and Dickon conspire to give Sev a memorable birthday!
What should Lily get Sev for his birthday?