Chapter 5

Silver and Red

It felt like sipping piping hot cocoa on a frigid winter night or diving into a cool spring after a long trek through an arid desert. Only a tiny sip of the Essence of Dittany – tasted like ambrosia, a healing salve from the Gods – and throbbing pain was instantly dulled. One must exercise caution when using the potion – too much of a good thing and all that.

Essence was a very potent healing draught that was normally applied topically, but for increased efficacy Severus Snape had discovered that one should ingest it. Like powerful pain killers, Essence could become very addictive – Snape had seen firsthand the deleterious effects of substance abuse. Snape's potions reputation has been spreading through the magical community and he could have commanded a healthy profit on the black market if he was so inclined to sell his wares – this particular brew would have fetched a substantial sum, but he bottled the rest of the potion and trudged out of his lab.

Snape had decided to keep the ramshackle house on Spinner's End when it passed to him, never having been one to care about appearances or living in a "status" neighborhood. He was one of the very few Death Eaters who had no interest in looting or profiting from the aftermath of the wizarding war.

Snape couldn't help but notice that many of his brothers, especially Lucius, had enjoyed quite a considerable boost to their personal coffers during the last few years. Wealth distribution was quickly becoming a major side effect of the violence and certain families had been able to consolidate their financial wherewithal.

However, monetary goals had never captured Snape's true passions. As long as the Death Eater rank and file kept his storerooms full of the world's rarest ingredients and passed along any dark magic books they pilfered, his comrades could take his share of the other treasures.

Snape's mind drifted to his inviting bed with its goose feather pillows and cotton sheets, yearning for a long respite to the trying day. He glanced down at the stairs as he marched up them in a slow trudge; faded into several steps were dark red blotches, indelible evidence of a long forgotten pain. His father, his mother…he felt anger reddened his cheeks and then quickly swallowed it down.

As Snape eased his tired bones into his waiting bed, he thought towards Dumbledore and what the great wizard might ask from him now that his allegiance had shifted to the light. He had been instructed to return to the Dark Lord's side and resume his old life – Dumbledore gave his word that he would keep watch over Lily and protect her family. Something or the other about a Fidelius Charm, Snape had overheard the Headmaster mention. And then one day the time would come – Dumbledore would summon him to fulfill his oath and pay back his blood debt.

Snape stripped off his soiled robes and let his bed swallow him whole. He closed his eyes and fingered a metal necklace lying across his bare chest – a thin silver chain, magically interwoven with ruby strands. Beautiful though it was, it was an odd thing for someone like Snape to wear, who cared not for his appearance and eschewed any type of jewelry or ornamentation. Snape appeared to go out of his way to avoid anything that could have improved his physical appearance, had never shown any interest at all in looking attractive.

But when Dumbledore had asked if there was anything he kept on himself at all times, save for his wand, Snape immediately thought of the silver and red necklace, his priceless possession, the last honest gift he had ever received. Dumbledore had then produced a bracelet of his own and, using a Protean charm, magically binded the two pieces of jewelry together. When he wanted to contact Snape, Dumbledore could simply tap his bracelet and Snape's sister necklace would turn ice cold; Snape could then touch his necklace and receive a quick vision of when and where to meet…

"Ingenious," muttered Snape, kneeling on the windy hilltop. The necklace Dumbledore had conjured from thin air had glowed bright green and then settled back to its original gold color.

"I must admit, I got the idea from your master," replied Dumbledore. "Lord Voldemort and his dark tattoos…" Snape involuntarily jerked at the mention of the Dark Lord's name. "Incidentally," Dumbledore continued, "I'm surprised you even own a piece of jewelry Severus. You don't really seem to be the type."

…Severus looked around impatiently, still no sign of her. Where was she?

Although he complained about it constantly, he actually loved meeting Lily in secret spots around the Hogwarts grounds. He had her undivided attention for a short time and it made him feel like the most important person on the face of the Earth to know that she was taking time out of her schedule just for him. She could do anything in the world, be with anyone she wanted, and for those precious few moments she chose to spend her time just with him.

Today she had passed him a note to meet her near the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest – behind the sprawling vegetable patch, adjacent to the school greenhouse. But as time ticked on, Severus began to worry; maybe she'd gotten tied up with class work, or worse, maybe she'd forgotten about their rendezvous.

She's going to forget about me if she hasn't already; I've no place in her new life; she's going to leave me behind.

Just as his doubts were beginning to get the better of Severus, a snowball whistled through the air and smacked him square in the head.

Danger flashed through his mind as he spun low to the ground, his wand at the ready.

It must be the gang of four, those bastards always knew the perfect time to attack to me; they always popped up when I'm unaccompanied and away from Slytherin backup or the protection of the teachers. I don't understand how they always know when I'm all alone!

Severus had tried concealment charms on himself, even placing alarm spells around him as he walked the halls – he had once done a week's worth of homework for another student in exchange for an old Sneakoscope, but nothing had worked in keeping him safe. It was like the Marauders had eyes throughout the entire school grounds!

Severus had even become convinced they had figured out a way to hear his private conversations, so the previous summer he had created a spell that filled the ears of any person in his vicinity with an unidentifiable buzzing sound. Still the Marauders continued to get the drop on him, appearing out of nowhere as if they were invisible.

Severus' eyes darted around in a mix of panic and anger, but saw no footprints in the snow – no trace of another living soul. He stayed low to the ground, desperately trying to ferret out from where the next attack would come.

"I know it's you Potter!" Severus snarled. "Why don't you and Black show yourselves?! Or perhaps you're still waiting for the other two pathetic members of your stupid little gang?"

No one presented themselves, yet nervous giggling sounded from nearby.

"Aparecium!" Snape yelled and pointed his wand in the direction of the laughing.

The air shimmered in front of him and a person hazily came into view – the revealing charm had washed away someone's magical cover. A beautiful laughing red head slowly appeared, with snowflakes floating all around her. Severus' sense of danger melted away, much like the way Lily's impressive concealing charm had.

"That was amazing! How'd you make yourself totally invisible!?"

"You're not the only clever student in our year, I found the spell in an old N.E.W.T. study guide and decided I was going to learn it. Never know when you might want to disappear for a while." Lily's green eyes twinkled with mischief.

"I didn't know it was possible to become completely invisible like that."

"I wasn't totally invisible, I'm not sure that's possible. But, because of the snow flurries, it would've been tough for you to see me."

"But your footprints vanished too!"

Lily had walked right up to Severus by this time, her breath puffing into white mist, he lips a deep red – he stood mesmerized as the falling snowflakes danced in her fire-red hair.

"I walked here backwards and made then vanish every time I took a step silly. It took forever to sneak up on you, but it was worth it. I had to get you back for bewitching that suit of armor on me!"

"I thought you'd forgotten about me."

"I'd never forget your birthday Sev, what kind of friend do you think I am?"

The best, he wanted to say, but instead Severus waved his wand in air and whispered "Calororarum." Instantly the two friends were bathed in warm air, impervious to the winter cold.

"My way of saying thanks."

"For pelting you with a snowball?"

"No…for remembering," Snape said in low voice.

"Oh God Sev – stop being so melodramatic all the time, you've nothing to be depressed about."

"I'm still a little on edge I guess. I thought you were the usual Potter – Black tag team."

"Honestly Severus," using his full name to show her annoyance, "I think you're getting obsessed with those two. They're not that bad, except maybe Black. He's a real bad influence on the rest of em."

"Lily! You're just like everyone else; no one around here thinks Potter can do wrong. Teachers, students, even you. He's mean and arrogant and…"

"Come on Sev, I mean he did save your life." Lily admonished him, then quickly held up her hands to stop Severus from screaming back in defiance. "I know, I know – he only did it to save himself and his friends from getting into trouble."

"I hate him, always comes out smelling like roses no matter what dirt he rolls around in, always getting whatever he wants…"

"Not always," Lily cut in with a shy smile as flicked a snowflake at her friend. Severus smiled back, barely stopping himself from grabbing her and kissing her right there and then. I wonder what her lips taste like with snowflakes melting one them.

"About time you realized he fancies you." Snape took a deep breath. "How, um, how do you…feel about him?"

"I've got to get back to my study group soon. Do you want to get your birthday present or do you want to spend our time together talking about James Potter?"

"Present please!" Severus closed his eyes and held out his hand, something cold was pressed into it. "Oh Lily, it's…it's…it's beautiful. I love you – um – it. I love it!"

"I'm so glad! I saved up all year. It's real pure silver, but the rest…well, I couldn't afford actual rubies. The silver's you and the charmed red ruby strands stand for me!" Lily said excitedly, and then added with a grin, "A reflection of how I bring color and life to your bland existence!"

"It's beautiful Lily, an amazing piece of magic! Truly!"

Severus stood still while Lily grabbed the necklace from him and made him turn around. She then held up his long black hair with one hand, while placing the necklace around his neck. He could feel her hot breath warming the nape of his neck, sending hot slivers running down his spine.

Lily was right, for at this moment, Severus Snape had absolutely nothing to be depressed about.

Sitting alone in his cramped bedroom on Spinner's End, Snape continued to twist the necklace around his fingers staring at the silver as if it might come alive at any moment. It really was a beautiful piece of complex magic, the fire ruby strands had never faded an iota since that day. Snape closed to his eyes, slowly drifting off to one his usual dreams of what could have been if only he had done things differently.

Suddenly, his eyes shot open in a panic. He looked down at his forearm and saw a black snake twisting in a figure eight, each silver sending burning sensations up his arm. Lord Voldemort had returned from overseas – all Death Eaters were to report to the Lair at once…