BitterSweet: Chapter 2.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, J.K Rowling does...
Severus Snape Point of View:
Defence Against the Dark Arts exam – my best subject. I change into light but slightly loose robes for the occasion, knowing nothing worse then being overheated in an exam. Sitting down at my table I wait for the paper to be handed out and I see a head of red-brown locks a few chairs to my left. Lily had decided to wear her hair down, but to me I would love it no matter which way. Further ahead of me James Potter sits cockily with his sidekick Sirius. Stupid arrogant…
"I remind you all that cheating will be harshly punished. You have an hour to finish your theory section for the Defence Against the Dark Arts exam. Begin." Professor Flitwick announces as our papers appeared on our tables. I immediately begin to fill it in.
How do you repel Dementors?
The Patronus Charm – Expecto Patronum.
What is a disarming charm?
Expelliarmus…
Finishing up, I walk out of the great hall double checking all my answers in my head, unaware of my surroundings. I was so sure that I answered question 23 right, but I just can't be sure. I sit down on the grass with my revision notes surrounding me, trying to double check what the spell is for destroying a Boggart. Unable to find it in my notes, I decide to go to my dormitory to check my textbook but the moment I stand up, Potter disturbs me.
"All right, Snivellus?" Potter asks loudly. I quickly grab my want, but before I can utter a curse it lands on the ground in front of me.
"Impedimenta!" James jinxes and I am knocked off my feet, unable to move, with the breath knocked out of me. As I lie panting, I try to remember the rules of wandless curses, internally cursing myself for lack of preparation.
"How'd the exam go, Snivelly?" James asks me.
"I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment" says Sirius. "There'll be great grease marks all over it; they won't be able to read a word."
That little mutt will get what's coming for him the second I retrieve my want. I hear laughter rise around me. Great. An audience. Just what I need. I try to get up but my body is still bound by the jinx. "You – wait" I pant, looking up at James "you- wait!"
"Wait for what?" Sirius mocks. "What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"
"Filthy, bloody mongrel! Sectumsempra!" I curse, but as I have not mastered wandless magic, nothing happens.
"Wash your mouth out." James says. "Scourgify!" Instantly pink bubbles froth in my mouth, beginning to fill my mouth and making me choke.
"Leave him ALONE!" I hear Lily shout. In this moment, I see that this is the very thing I foresaw. It is now that I need to refrain from calling Lily mudblood. I must remain dignified, or I will lose her forever.
"All right Evans?" Potter asks her as if nothing is going on. I wish I wasn't here.
"Leave him alone. What's he done to you?" She asks, clearly disgusted.
"Well, it's more the fact he exists, if you know what I mean." He replies, grinning.
"You think you're funny, but you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone." She orders him.
"I will if you go out with me. Go on, go out with me and I will never lay a wand on old Snivelly again." James haggles. I begin to feel the jinx lifting, and I start to inch towards my wand. Their argument provides me with the distraction, leaving me temporarily unnoticed.
"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid." She retorts.
"Bad luck Prongs. Oi!" Sirius shouts as he realizes I got hold of my wand. With one quick flick, James has a deep cut on the side of his face and blood on his robes.
"Levicorpus!" James says. I am yanked up by my ankle into the air. Mentally cursing myself for wearing my loose robes, as in absolute horror, I feel my robes dropping to reveal my legs and underwear, neither of which are pleasing sight to me, let alone...
I don't think I could feel any worse. Surely death is more merciful. My blood boils as I remember Potter used my invented curse. Stupid schmuck can't make his own so he steals mine.
"Let him down." Lily persists. Her bold movements make me feel proud, before the feeling is lost remembering I am hanging upside down with my dirty underwear being exposed to the one I love and the one I hate. Embarrassment and anger take hold of me.
"Certainly. Petrificus Totalus." James says, shooting another curse at me.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouts, pulling out her own wand.
"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you." James says.
"Take the curse off him then!" She shouts in anger. He releases me, sending me crashing to the floor. I quickly cover up.
"There you go. You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus." James says spitefully.
No matter how hard I try, my emotions are too hard to control.
"I can take care of myself Lily." I hiss at her, unable to help myself. She turns with a huff and walks back to the castle, and my heart throbs, hoping I didn't offend her.
"One day, Lily will realize what a git you are, and then no one will stop me from giving you what you deserve" Potter spits at me. I have to fight the immediate reaction of hexing him, so I can try and find Lily to apologize, but am swept into the crowds going to the Great Hall for dinner. How ironic if I made different mistake, but with the same results despite my foresight? I eat my food, barely tasting it, and run to the Gryffindor common room, accidently bumping into Lily's friend, Mary.
"Hey Mary, can you please get Lily for me?" I plead. Shock is evident on her face and I fight the uncommon urge to laugh, for I have only ever sneered at most people; talking to them is a big comparison.
"She doesn't want to see you." Mary says with her nose raised high. Damn girls and their immature ways.
"I will sleep out here all night if I must." I threaten. Mary flinches at the idea.
"Fine! I will go get her!" Mary surrenders, raising her arms high while walking back through the portrait into the Gryffindor common room. Seconds later, Lily appears with her arms folded and her face looking serious.
"Lily, I am so sorry. I didn't mean what I said…" I can't finish my sentence as I realize I may well have made the same mistake as before, her stony face unwavering. Why can I never get anything right?
"Oh Sev, it's ok, I know you've been under a lot of pressure. I just wish you would let me help." She says, her face softening as she wraps her arms around me giving me my first hug ever. It just feels natural, and I wrap my arms around her and hug her back, inhaling the scent of her hair while exhaling a breath of gratitude. She pulls back from me with a smile on her face but worried eyes.
"I think we need to talk – meet you by the lake in an hour?" she asks.
"Sure." I say, and I can't help but slightly smile at her enthusiasm.
"See you then!" Lily says as she goes back through the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor common room. I begin my way to my dormitory, walking at a slow pace as I think about all that has happened today.
The thought that she still wants to talk to me makes me feel warm, but I begin to worry. No doubt, she will ask why I haven't talked to her nor left my room. I can't tell her of the prophecy. Although the prophecy hasn't come true, there is still a high possibility of me losing her. I have to learn how to open up, instead of shutting out. I have to show her that I feel the same emotions as every one else.
I chuckle at myself – I would make a great soap opera – but my attention is drawn to the clock's dongs. I have half an hour to get ready and I have been wandering around the castle like a fool! I want time to get ready and make a half-decent impression. I run down to the Slytherin dormitories, trying to gather robes for a shower. I have a quick look in the mirror. Ugh. My greasy hair. I do not know a sufficient potion to make it clean, but I have heard of a muggle invention called 'Shampoo'… I think. Not that I have any. I decide to try my luck. "Accio Shampoo!" Out of nowhere a pink bottle with a liquid substance flies at my head. I catch it and read the labels. 'Make your hair clean and shiny, because you're worth it'. Good enough. I race to the showers, strip down and shower. I follow the muggle potion instructions, washing and rinsing, surprised by the clean smell coming from the muggle potion.
I quickly hop out and dress in my button-up robes and knowing I don't have much time left I run into the Slytherin Common and out towards the lake. On my way, I pick a stray flower – rose I think it is – and I quickly pluck all the thorns off. I walk over to our 'special' spot by the lake, under the beech tree. As I sit down, I hear ruffling coming from behind me and I turn around to see Lily walking towards me. Her hair bounces with every step and she seems to glow, illuminated by the afternoon sun.
"Hello Lily." I welcome, and I unsurprised by the sound of my voice. Soft, silky. Not the normal sneering voice I use, but instead the one I reserve for Lily. The change in tone is almost unconscious, now.
"Hey Sev." She says, grinning as she sits next to me.
"Uh, this is for you." I say as I awkwardly thrust the rose at her. I feel like a total idiot.
"Aw, thanks." Lily says, taking the rose from my hands and placing it in her hair. Silence then falls between us, both of us knowing the conversation we will be having, but neither of us wanting to start it. I sigh.
"I have been worried about you. It broke my heart to see you cry and then I didn't see you for a week until our Defence exams! I missed you. What's wrong?" She begins, whispering the last part.
"I'm sorry. I – I" I close my eyes against the memory of the prophecy. I breathe in deeply. "I
"So tell me baby
Can you hear me?
I sent a message out into the dark
It's a mystery
When you're near me
I've gotta find my way to your heart"
-Into the Dark, Ben Lee.
What do you think? Sorry for any spelling mistakes. Will Severus tell Lily how he feels? Read and Review, to find out :).
Please note that majority of this was taken from the book, but just transformed into Severus' point of view. I shall get the reference pages when I get my book out :) xx