Chapter Five: February 1973
"Professor?" Lily asked Minerva one day after class. "Do you have plans right now, or can I speak to you?"
Minerva bit back a smile. In her second year at Hogwarts, Lily was proving to be an intelligent, well-spoken girl. Minerva enjoyed watching the way her mind worked and found her Transfiguration work to be exemplary.
Of course, she expected this, given Lily's actual father.
And, Lily seemed to have taken a liking to Minerva, for the girl found a reason to talk to her professor outside of class at least twice a month.
"I am free until dinner," Minerva said. "Would you like to speak with me here, or in my quarters?"
"Your quarters." Lily leaned closer to Minerva and whispered, "I need to talk to you about another professor."
"Oh, well, then," Minerva responded, her eyebrows raising. "You're correct; my quarters are the better location for that type of discussion. Follow me."
She led Lily into her sitting room. To her amusement, Jilly—Albus' trusted elf—had already sent up a tea service. Jilly was quite familiar with the tea service that Lily and Minerva preferred; after all, Lily joined Minerva for tea on a regular basis. Jilly, being Jilly, always seemed to anticipate when they would need it, as well.
"Now, Miss Evans," Minerva said after pouring the tea, "why are we here?"
"I need to tell you something," Lily whispered. "Some of the older kids told me it was normal, but I don't think it is."
A horrible, sinking feeling began to brew in Minerva's stomach. "What isn't normal, Miss Evans?"
"It's Professor Slughorn. He said I'm really good at Potions, and that he wants me to join some weird club."
Minerva laughed. "He invited you to join the Slug Club?"
Lily looked relieved. "You know about it? He invited me to some odd Christmas party, but I didn't want to go. After class the other day, Professor Slughorn kept me behind. He said he normally didn't let people join after Christmas, but he thinks I'm talented, and he wants me to attend his party on Valentine's Day."
"Have you given any thought to what you might do?"
"I wanted to ask you about it, Professor! Is it even safe?"
Minerva remembered her own time in the Slug Club. It wasn't all bad, but she recalled the events that led to Tom Riddle branding her, and involuntarily flinched.
Lily saw the action, and her eyes widened. "So it's not safe?"
"I wouldn't say that. A fellow student was unkind to me when I was a member," Minerva admitted. "That doesn't mean the...organization itself is unsafe."
"Wait, you were a member?" Lily gaped. "Just how long has Slughorn been teaching here?"
"Why, do you think I'm too old?" Minerva asked drily.
Lily blushed. "No, it's just that he must be really old."
"To answer your question, yes, I was a member. Like you, I was a good student. Professor Slughorn thought I would enjoy attending his club."
"And did you?"
"Some of the events were nice," Minerva said, thinking. "The food was always good, and it did provide a nice opportunity to interact with students I wouldn't otherwise see."
"Hmmm," Lily mused. "Should I do it? Now that I know it's not creepy, I don't hate the idea of it."
"If you feel you have the time to devote to it, while still maintaining your level of academic excellence and your normal social life, then I don't see the harm in it." Minerva cocked her head. "Were any of your friends invited to join?"
"The only other person he's inviting in my year is Sev," Lily confessed, thinking about it. "Wait. Professor Slughorn said he invited someone else, but that person declined."
"A second-year had the gall to tell Horace no?" Minerva said, forgetting herself for a moment. "Who would that be?"
"Probably Potter or Black," Lily answered, rolling her eyes. "Such twits, the pair of them, even if they are book smart."
Minerva raised an eyebrow. "After a year and a half, you're still not getting along?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "It's not that we don't get along, Professor—it's that they're mean. They're cocky and annoying, and they...they tease Sev a lot." She nibbled on a biscuit. "I just don't think they're very nice, that's all."
Minerva sighed. "They may be troublemakers, but I have hope that they'll grow out of that."
"I don't know that they'll ever grow out of being mean," Lily said sharply.
At once, Minerva was reminded of two things.
One, Athena Dumbledore was fiercely protective of the ones she loved, and it seemed that Lily Evans had kept that particular trait.
Two, her son desperately needed an intervention.
"This rivalry between Misters Snape and Potter will eventually subside," Minerva said. The words were for her own sake as much as Lily's. "It's unfortunate that Mr. Potter has a group of friends that encourage this behaviour, but I have to hope that as the lads get older, they'll gain some awareness."
"I hope you're right, but I doubt it," Lily muttered. She looked at Minerva carefully. "Sorry, Professor. I'm sure you know more than me."
"Oh, I don't know about that," Minerva chuckled. "I simply yearn for a world where my classroom isn't turned upside down every time I teach my Gryffindors." She winked, and Lily giggled.
"How is Mr. Snape coping?" Minerva asked carefully. After noticing how unwell he looked last year, Minerva had done her best to make subtle inquiries about the boy. Horace had been no help—Minerva had since taken to begging Albus to force him out of the Slytherin headship—and unlike Lily, Mr. Snape didn't seem to warm to Minerva.
"He's brilliant, so school's fine," Lily said, shrugging. "He does well here. Some of the older Slytherins have noticed he's smart, so they like to talk to him. They give him a family here. I think that's good for Sev—most boys in our year don't talk to him since Potter and Black hate him so much. But..." Lily hesitated. "If I tell you something, do you promise not to do anything?"
"I can't make that promise, Miss Evans," Minerva said firmly. "I have a duty to protect the students here."
"I guess since I'm the student, it doesn't really matter," Lily mumbled.
Minerva felt a sudden surge of maternal instinct. "Who is bothering you? Are you hurt?" Her eyes quickly roamed over Lily's form as she searched for injuries.
"No!" Lily exclaimed quickly. "No, I'm not hurt. Honest, Professor. It's just that some of the Slytherins have given me a nickname. It sounds sort of, I don't know, old? I know I'm Muggleborn, but I don't think it's very nice."
"What do they call you?" Minerva felt a very dark sense of foreboding.
"They call me 'Sev's Mudblood,'" Lily whispered. "I'm not bothered by it, Professor. And these older boys are nice to Sev. He deserves friends. I'm not going to do anything to stop him from having more friends. And I know he doesn't believe that I'm a bad person because I'm Muggle-born."
"That word," Minerva spat, "is an awful, horrible word. It is meant to degrade someone who does not come from magical heritage. If anyone calls you that, you send them straight to me."
"Professor, it's fine!" Lily protested. "I won't be sending anyone to you. I don't want to make it worse. Right now, it's just annoying."
Minerva felt exasperated at the way twelve-year-olds thought things were so simple, and even angrier at the fact that her daughter-in-law was being bullied by older students. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed tiredly. "Fine. But if I hear anyone use that word, I'll be dealing with them myself."
"Deal," Lily agreed. "Actually, Professor, I'm really glad you told me the Slug Club isn't scary."
"Hmm? Why is that?" Minerva asked, her mind still half-occupied by the apparent rampant use of slurs down in the dungeons.
"It will be a good way for Sev to make some new friends," Lily said quietly. "He might like meeting people from other houses, and if we're all smart, maybe we'll all have things in common."
"I hope you're right, Miss Evans." Minerva patted the girl's hand. "I sincerely hope it helps the both of you. But," she added, a touch of steel in her voice now, "if anything ever does happen at one of these club gatherings, I'd like you to tell me."
"Yes, Professor." Lily smiled. "I think Professor Slughorn said it would be Valentine's Day themed, so I'm going to avoid the drinks and bring my own goblet."
"Why?"
"In case he slips a love potion in the drinks," Lily breathed. "You never know with him."
Minerva laughed, and then sobered quickly when she realized Lily had a point.
"Yes, that may be a good idea," Minerva advised. "Ensure Mr. Snape does the same, will you? The fewer of you that fall prey to a love potion, the easier my life will be."
Lily opened her mouth, ready to speak, and then quickly shut it again. Her eyes went wide and focused on something behind Minerva. "Er, Professor?"
"Yes?"
"Why is the Headmaster here?" Lily whispered. "And how did he just appear?"
Minerva whipped her head around to find that Albus had indeed entered her quarters—clearly, through the secret passageway that connected their quarters, for she had not seen him enter through either the usual portrait, nor the door in her office.
"Albus?" Minerva barked, perhaps more unkindly than she intended. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"I wanted to come and see you. I've been feeling—" Albus stopped, his eyes wide upon seeing Lily on the couch. "I apologize. I didn't realize you had company."
"It's fine, Headmaster. However you've been feeling, it's definitely more important than my problems," Lily said hurriedly. "Thank you, Professor McGonagall. For the help, and for the tea. I'll let you know how everything goes."
"Please do." Minerva rose and opened the door to her office. She watched as Lily walked through that door, her office and her classroom, and, finally, as Lily shut the outside door behind her. Turning back, Minerva warded every entryway into her quarters and faced her husband. "What's wrong? What have you been feeling?"
Albus still looked rather gobsmacked at seeing his daughter on their couch. He shook his head to clear it. "Well, I felt rather enraged all of a sudden, and I realized the feeling must have come to me through our bond. I wanted to check on you."
"Ah," Minerva muttered. She threw herself unceremoniously down on the couch. "You caught that, did you?"
"Yes, and I'd like to know what the trouble is." Albus smiled gently. "If you want to share, that is."
"I'll share if you promise not to fly off the handle."
Albus groaned. "That sentence never precedes good news."
"It would appear that some of the older Slytherins have taken to calling Lily, and I quote, 'Sev's Mudblood,'" Minerva revealed quietly. She suddenly jolted with a flare of anger that pulsed in her stomach. "Oh, Merlin, Albus. That hurts."
"I'll kill them," Albus growled.
"No, you won't. They're children, however misguided they may be."
"Then I'll expel them all," Albus countered darkly. "I will expel every last one of them, and that'll be after I break their wands."
"Al—"
"She's not even Muggleborn, for Christ's sake!" Albus exploded. "And then to use that word—that vile, dirty word." He shuddered. "No one is allowed to talk to my daughter like that."
"I know," Minerva said quickly. She rose and placed a hand on his chest. "I know. No one should ever say that to anyone in a civilized society. It's partly why we're fighting against Riddle, isn't it?
"These children learn such behaviour from their parents. We can only do our best at stamping out the behaviour in them as we see it, and in doing our best to protect our world." Minerva stroked his face. "You're doing all that you can, my love."
"Did Lily seem hurt by it?" Albus asked quietly, and Minerva realized he was crying. She knew that Albus hated feeling powerless, and she also knew all too well the guilt that accompanied being unable to protect one's own child.
"No, not hurt. She knew it wasn't a kind word, but she insisted it wasn't bothering her. In fact," Minerva snorted, "Lily was rather grateful that Mr. Snape was making friends."
"These are friends of Severus Snape?"
"Yes, but they're the only ones he has, apart from Lily. She wants him to fit in, so she says she doesn't mind. After all, James and Mr. Black tease the poor Snape boy endlessly. I did tell her, however, that if I personally hear that word, then I will punish the perpetrator how I see fit."
Albus wasn't exactly listening to his wife anymore. In that instant, all Albus felt was a kinship to his son-in-law, and he didn't particularly care to put a stop to James Potter's antics where Severus Snape was concerned.
Above all else, he didn't want anyone insulting his daughter.
"Al? Are you hearing me?" Minerva tugged on his beard. "Albus, are you with me?"
He looked down at his wife, who was peering up at him with concern in her eyes.
"I'm with you," Albus sighed. "I am merely vexed that a group of students is insulting my daughter, and that I am unable to do anything about it."
"On the plus side," Minerva said softly, "you spoke to her for the first time."
"I did," he admitted, allowing a small smile. "She seems very kind."
"She is."
"Is she here often?" Albus asked. He sat down on the couch and took one of the biscuits from the tea service. At Minerva's inquiring look, he added, "I'm asking out of curiosity. I'm not about to lecture you."
"So we have made some improvements since last year," Minerva responded. Her tone was light as she sat down beside her husband. "She's here once or twice a month. Lily sees me as a confidante—like another parent in the magical world. Sometimes she needs advice on certain magical protocols, and sometimes she's a twelve-year-old who needs a motherly ear."
"Would I be able to ask after today's subject of conversation?"
Minerva laughed. "Horace has invited Lily to join the Slug Club."
"I'm not surprised if she's anywhere near as intelligent as she was the first time she came to Hogwarts," Albus declared proudly. "Is she going to join?"
"After the discussion we just had, I dare say I think she will. Mr. Snape will be joining her."
"I can only hope that the club will make the boy see some sense," Albus huffed. He would never forget that Severus Snape had introduced his daughter to less-than-savoury students. "Perhaps he'll make some new friends. Ones that do not insult Lily on a regular basis."
"I would very much like the same thing," Minerva agreed.
"Normally, the idea of Horace's club annoys me," Albus mused. "An exclusive event for students handpicked by a teacher because of their potential ability to be big names in wizarding society?"
"Well, you're the one who still allows him to teach here," Minerva said, more than a bit of disdain in her voice.
"I am aware of your feelings on that score, but Horace will not take kindly to being pushed out. It's better to let him leave on his own terms."
"If you say so."
"I do," Albus said, kissing her as if he could prove it.
"What are you all dressed up for, Evans?" Sirius Black yelled as Lily came down the stairs from the girls' dormitories. "Do you have a hot date for Valentine's?"
"No, I've been invited to a party," Lily said primly. She checked her bag to make sure she had two goblets. One for her, and one for Severus.
She trusted Professor McGonagall's advice.
James Potter's eyes grew wide before he laughed. "Oh, don't tell me you've gone and joined the Slug Club! Come on, Evans, really?"
Lily channelled her inner Professor McGonagall and glared at her classmate. "It seems to be a good opportunity to meet with other students and make new connections."
"Oi, what did Sluggy tell you this club was for?" James chortled. "It's a glorified networking event for him, not for you."
"What do you mean?" Lily asked uncertainly.
"Slughorn invites a whole bunch of students to join this club of his. They're invited because they're from some important family or they have big brains. Slughorn helps get them plush jobs out of Hogwarts, and then he has the privilege of saying he knows the high and mighty." James pushed some of his fringe off his forehead. "He's done it for ages—since he's taught at Hogwarts. My cousins wrote and told me."
"So I take it you're the student in our year who didn't accept the invitation," Lily said coldly.
"Evans, do you really think I want to spend more of my time hanging out with a professor?" James scoffed. "Especially Sluggy."
"At least you were asked," Peter Pettigrew mumbled. His ears grew red as he realized the others had heard him.
"I was only asked because I'm decent at Potions, and my family is important in wizarding history, that's all," James said. "I wouldn't think too much of it, Petey."
"He was going to ask me, but I told him not to bother," Sirius added. "If James wasn't going, and he wasn't going to invite Peter or Remus, I told Sluggy that Sirius Black would not be gracing the club with his presence."
"You weren't invited?" Surprised, Lily turned to face Remus Lupin. He was much kinder than the rest of his friends, and Lily enjoyed studying with him. "You're brilliant, Remus."
Remus' kind smile seemed too old for a twelve-year-old. "Maybe, but look at me." He gestured at his hand-me-down robes. "I'm clearly not wizarding royalty. Not like James or Sirius."
"I've been disinherited, mate," Sirius laughed. "I'm not royalty anymore."
"Is Snape going with you?" James asked suddenly. He looked at Lily intently. "He's good at Potions."
"Snivellous isn't good at anything!" Sirius barked, laughing. "James, what's gotten into you?"
"I may not like him, but he's the only one who can beat me at Potions, except for her," James told his friend, jerking his head in Lily's direction. "He's always writing like crazy in his notebook. Snape knows what he's doing. Slughorn would be a fool if he didn't notice it."
"If that's all," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "I'm late to meet Sev."
"Have fun, Lily!" Remus called.
"I'll bring you back some food if I can," Lily promised him.
Refusing to look back at the others, Lily turned and left the common room. She had told Sev she would meet him near the Great Hall. He didn't want to come too close to the Gryffindor common room lest Potter or Black tease him. For slightly different reasons, Lily didn't want to go near the dungeons alone.
She didn't want any of the older Slytherins reminding her that she didn't deserve to be Sev's friend, and she certainly didn't need a reminder that she didn't belong at Hogwarts.
"Hi, Lily," Severus uttered softly when he saw her. "You look nice."
"Thanks, Sev." Lily grinned. "I can't wait to see who else is at this party. Ooh, and I am excited for the food, too."
"Why the food?" Severus asked as they began to walk to the dungeons.
"Someone told me it was good," Lily said carefully. She hadn't told anyone—not even Severus—about her visits with Professor McGonagall.
"Was it Potter or Black?" Severus sneered.
"No, Sev." Lily stopped him with a touch of her hand to his forearm. "They aren't coming tonight. As far as I know, we're the only two in our year going."
At those words, Severus smiled his special smile that was reserved for Lily, and the two continued on.
