Witches belonged to the realm of fairy tales, along with princesses and knights in shining armor. Lily had never really liked fairy tales, even as a little girl. No matter how clever or tough a girl was, there was always a boy waiting in the wings to come and rescue her from her problems, take her away and marry her. Or else kill her, because if a girl wasn't a Princess then she was a Witch, and in the end the Witch must die.
She got so mad when Sev first told her that she was a witch–
Lily scowled as thoughts of Snape floated to her mind – without her permission – she didn't care about him anymore. She didn't want to care about him. He was going down a dark path and nothing in this world was going to stop him from walking into that grave, and she wasn't going to let him drag her down into the pit with him. Lily leaned against the balcony that overlooked the school grounds. She saw Snape walking back to the castle with his arms laden with the cut heads of roses he had gotten from the greenhouse. She knew without even asking that he was going to make a memory-sharpening potion with them. "I thought roses would be used for love potions," Lily had said once when she had been an ignorant first year.
Sev smiled at her. "That's all Muggle rot. Roses to remember, and lilies to forget."
She watched as another Slytherin – Mulciber – headed straight for him. Something burned inside her at the sight. It was Mulciber and Avery and Rosier who now took up Sev's time. They had been horrible to Sev his first three years here, all because he was a half-blood. How many times had Lily comforted him because he was being bullied on all sides from both Slytherins and Gryffindors, and now, suddenly, she was just supposed to accept that Sev and Mulciber were friends? It disgusted her the way Sev sucked up to them now. They only stopped bullying him because Lucius Malfoy was writing to him. They had all seen Malfoy's signature eagle owl dropping letters off for Snape in the Great Hall. He was grooming him for the Death Eaters, that's what James and Sirius said, that's what everybody said. Snape all but confirmed it, yelling out "Mudblood!" like he had.
Mulciber looked angry. He got right up in Snape's face and although she couldn't hear what was being said from her spot on the balcony, she could see his face grow redder and redder. Snape just stared up at him, that soft, placating look on his face that made Lily's vision darken with rage. How dare he turn those eyes on Mulciber, how dare he look at him like that when Sev had always, always, fought tooth and nail like a man possessed. He had never looked at anyone like that, had spat and hissed like a feral cat.
Lily couldn't hear the words from where she stood, but she heard the echoing crack when Mulciber drew back his hand and slapped Sev across the face.
Running down all those stairs, wand already out and rising, none of that registered to Lily until she heard herself cry out, "Flipendo!" and saw Mulciber fly backwards through the air and land with a grunt in the gravel. Sev was looking at her in shock, and Lily realized just what an incredibly stupid thing that was to do. She's a Muggleborn, and Mulciber was vicious. She's just painted a target on her back. Well, Lily thought, keeping her wand ready. Too late to take it back now.
Mulciber was frothing at the mouth as he scrambled to his feet. Lily saw him go for his wand where it had been knocked to the ground and she tensed, her muscles quivering, as she readied for her first real duel. Then came a wall of black hair, cutting Mulciber off from her vision as Sev stepped in front of her.
"Out of the way, Severus!" Mulciber screamed, but Sev shook his head.
"She's disarmed you," he said calmly.
Lily watched the exchange in confusion as Mulciber stopped short, still half-kneeling on the ground. He sputtered a little, looking wildly between herself and Sev. "So!?" He demanded. "She's just a stupid Mudblood! It doesn't count!"
Lily flinched at the word 'Mudblood,' but Sev kept his voice steady. Severus Snape, calm. Ha, Snape was many things, but he was never calm. Who was this creature? She didn't recognize him. This wasn't her childhood friend. "It doesn't matter," Sev insisted. He then placed his hands over his chest, clutching the roses to him. "I can feel the power has shifted. It recognizes her as a challenger. She's earned the right to fight. If you want to keep that power then you'll have to duel her properly at the Dueling Ground. No cheating, no ambushes, or it'll find you unworthy."
Mulciber bared his teeth and Lily felt that if looks could kill she would not only be dead, but also dismembered and fed to wild dogs. He looked positively murderous. "Fine," he spat. "I won't touch a hair on her head outside the Dueling Ground. You better keep away from me, Mudblood." He pushed past both Sev and herself, knocking his shoulder into them and nearly causing her to fall on her ass.
Lily watched him go and felt a burning desire to turn his hair purple when Sev suddenly rounded on her. "What the fuck do you think you're doing, Evans?" He sneered.
Hearing her last name come out of that poisonous mouth hurt. "I was protecting you!" She shouted.
"Oh, 'protecting' me, good job, excellent, thank you very much, now leave me alone!" He tried to storm past her, but Lily grabbed his arm, yanking him back.
"Oh, no you don't!"
"Let go!"
"Not until you tell me what's going on!"
"What for?" He hissed. "We're not friends, remember? I owe you nothing."
Lily could feel the blood rush to her face and she raced for an excuse. "I'm a prefect," she said at last. "It's my job to help students in trouble, now you can either tell me what happened or we'll go straight to McGonagall."
"It's none of your business!" He wrenched his arm free and took a few steps back, still holding on to the rose heads, though they were now a little worse for wear. Snow white petals had fallen all around him, blowing across the courtyard and getting caught in the folds of his robe. "Just stay away from Mulciber! He won't attack you, I promise."
"What was all that about power and a dueling ground!? Snape! SNAPE!" But Snape was already gone, running into the castle.
Lily scowled at his retreating back. He was right. They weren't friends, not anymore. She was under no obligation to help him. Snape wasn't a delicate flower in need of protecting; he was smart and resourceful and if he was letting himself get smacked around by Mulciber then it was his own fault. He could go to a teacher and report it. She wasn't sticking her neck out for him again, not after he called her a Mudblood.
So, she pushed it all to the back of her mind and ignored it. Ignored the way Mulciber grabbed Snape's wrist hard enough to leave bruises. Ignored the way he backed Snape in a corner. Ignored the way his hand clasped Snape's hip. Lily lingered by the second-floor bathroom, hidden by a suit of armor and watched as Mulciber dug his fingers into Snape's hips. He was whispering in his ear, and Snape just stood there, his black eyes calm. Dull. It was wrong. They should be narrowed with hate, and burning with barely restrained power. Not empty. Never empty. Not her Sev.
She knew it was coming. She could see all the signs leading up to it. The tilt of Snape's head, the harsh pull on his hip, and then Mulciber's lips were on him, bruising and hungry. Sev kisses with his eyes open, Lily thought as she watched them. Mulciber's eyes were closed, but Sev's were still wide open and empty. Expansive. Neverending. Twin black holes that sucked her in and devoured her.
Mulciber pulled back and there was a nasty leer on his face. He whispered something and with one hand he reached up and patted the top of Snape's head like he was a dog. And then he pushed, guiding Snape to his knees. No, Lily thought when it dawned on her what Mulciber wanted. Sev won't allow it. They're in a corridor. Anyone could walk by and see them!
But Snape was already lifting Mulciber's robes to reach his trousers.
Laughter echoed through the stone corridor and Mulciber quickly yanked Snape back to his feet by his arm, his robes falling down to hide his erection just as two third year girls came around the corner. They didn't even notice when Mulciber shot the pair of them a dirty look, too caught up in their own conversation. As soon as they disappeared, he dragged Snape away – he took Snape away, dragging implied force and Snape offered no resistance – toward the dungeons where he would do God only knew what to him.
Lily stumbled back to the Gryffindor common room, her knickers uncomfortably damp.
Lily had Mary MacDonald splayed across her bed. Her shirt was unbuttoned, her skirt rucked up around her waist to reveal a pair of plain, white panties and smooth, creamy thighs. James went on and on about Lily's beauty, but she was nothing compared to Mary. Tall and willowy, pale skin, dark brown eyes, beautiful black hair that Lily wanted to bury her face in.
She had one thigh between Mary's knees and was grinding it up against her cunt. She was soaking, Lily could feel it seeping through her underwear. Lily could feel her own aching cunt. God, this would be so much easier if she had a cock. She wanted a cock. She wanted to pull down Mary's underwear, spread those pink lips, and push her cock into her. Lily groaned at the thought and rubbed up against Mary. She had a hand underneath her and with a few fumbled clicks, managed to unclasp her bra and reveal two perfect peaked mounds.
She got one in her mouth and used her hand to play with the other one. Mary laughed as Lily ran her tongue over her nipple and she felt a hand brush back her red hair. "I thought we weren't supposed to do this anymore."
Lily pulled off her tit, giving the hard bud one last lick before looking up at Mary. "What do you mean by that?"
"It's just… you know…" Mary shrugged awkwardly, and Lily tried to pay attention, to keep her gaze off of her breasts as they swayed with the movement of her shoulder. "James Potter. I thought you guys were dating now."
Lily frowned. "We're not dating. Not really. Not officially. He took me to the Three Broomsticks twice. That hardly means we're exclusive."
"That's not what he's saying. Lily, the man asked me what kind of jewelry you like. He's already looking at engagement rings."
"Potter is a complete nutcase," Lily said mulishly, upset that Mary thought to interrupt their fun time over something as trivial as Potter's obsession with her. She lifted herself up enough to tug at Mary's underwear. Mary bent her knees and lifted her hips to help her get them off of her, baring her pussy to Lily's gaze. Her lips were puffy and shiny with slick and Lily wanted nothing more than to shove her tongue inside her.
She rubbed her fingers between those lips and Mary arched against her touch. Lily let the tip of her index finger dip inside, pistoning it in and out. She wanted to fill Mary up, to stretch her on her cock until she was a sobbing wreck. Lily leaned down and kissed her, pushing her tongue against her lips to beg her entrance.
Mary pulled back with a gasp. "Lily, I don't want to get between you and James."
"You won't, you won't–" She muttered against her lips. Lily liked James. He was undeniably attractive, outgoing, and charming when he wanted to be. He was also an arrogant cunt and it made Lily want to bend him over, wanted him terrified at the thought of her huge cock splitting him open until she got it into him, forced him to take it all until he was crying with pleasure, begging her to use him. Except James would never let her do that to him.
Lily looked at Mary, at her pale skin and her black hair and her dark eyes. Her mouth was wrong. She was smiling up at Lily, and her nose– it was small and delicately curved. There was nothing delicate about Sev's features. They were harsh and angular, his brows two perfect black strikes against his forehead, a chin that jutted forward in obstinance. His nose. Sev could be such a little cunt too, sullen and snippy. She wanted to pull him onto her lap – nevermind that he was taller than her – and make him work himself up and down on her cock. If he wanted to get off, he'd have to do the work himself. And Lily would watch him do it, lean back and let that velvety heat squeeze her dry, watch him come undone. God, she needed to get a cock–
"Oh! Oh! I will! I will!" Mary cried as Lily worked her fingers inside her, rubbing against her clit with each pass. "He'll hex me like he hexed Snape! Oh God, I don't want to end up like Snivellus! I won't–!"
Mary wrenched herself away from Lily and rolled out from underneath her, her skirt falling back down to hide herself from Lily's gaze. Mary paced beside the bed, her arms folded close underneath her breasts. She was shaking her head, her black hair swinging wildly around her shoulders. "I can't do this anymore, Lily. I already have to worry about that creep Mulciber, I don't want to be afraid every time I step into the common room too."
"Has Potter done something to you?" Lily demanded.
"No, he just… he gives me odd looks when we're together. I think he suspects–"
"Mary, he won't hurt you. I'll protect you if he tries anything."
"Like you protected Snape?" Mary snapped. "Lily, face it, you can't stop James. Sometimes, I think you don't even try. Maybe you even like it, playing princess to his knight-in-shining-armor, even when the imaginary dragons turn out to be your friends."
Lily sat there in stunned silence as Mary grabbed her bra off the bed, and her shirt. She started to get dressed, not even looking in Lily's direction. "Look, we're still friends, okay? I just think– I think we should stop having sex until you figure out your situation with James. I've got to– I've got to go. I have to finish an essay for Arithmancy." She ducked out of their dorm, her clothes sloppy, and her black hair hanging in her face. She looked so much like Sev in that moment that it felt like a punch to the gut.
Her nights were lonely now that Mary stayed on her side of the room, giving Lily all the time in the world to think. No matter how much she wanted to, her brain wouldn't stop turning, and always, always, it was Severus Snape that wormed his way into her thoughts. She couldn't make sense of the words he had said. Power, and a dueling ground. No, not dueling ground, but Dueling Ground. She could hear the capitals in his voice. Lily didn't know of any place in Hogwarts specifically designated as a dueling ground. There used to be a dueling club that met in an old dining hall, but the Headmaster had put a stop to that in her fourth year after news broke about a family of six that had been slaughtered by Death Eaters.
If there was such a place, then there was one person who would know about it.
Lily plastered on her sweetest, most girlish smile when she saw James lounging on a sofa in the common room the next afternoon. He and Sirius were talking loudly about their upcoming Quidditch game, until, that is, James spotted her coming through the portrait. "Lily, you look positively radiant today," he said with a grin. "Happy to see me?"
"Actually, I am," she said and watched as he jerked upright, a light blush staining his cheeks. Sirius rolled his eyes and made gagging noises as Lily came over and perched next to James on the armrest. "I've heard about a secret dueling ground in Hogwarts, and since you know this castle like the back of your hand–"
James nodded enthusiastically, happy to help her in any way. "Oh, yeah, it's way down in the dungeons, near Slytherin territory. Hasn't been used in at least a century, if not more."
"Why hasn't anybody used it? I'd figure the old Dueling Club would have claimed it as their own instead of using that old dining hall."
James and Sirius shared a look and burst out laughing. It was the same laugh they got whenever they thought Lily had asked a particularly stupid question. Poor little Mudblood, she doesn't know anything. Lily gritted her teeth and forced her smile to remain firmly in place, instead of leaning over and biting Potter's nose off like she craved.
"Used to be wizards would duel for the right to court a witch," James said and, as smooth as you pleased, wrapped an arm around her waist to draw her onto his lap. Lily allowed it and settled primly in place, keeping her knees firmly closed. "Completely barbaric. We're much more civilized now."
"There's all kinds of dark wards covering it," Sirius went on. "Binding wards. Two blokes would fight over a witch, and whoever won bound her magic to their own. She'd have to marry him then, and he'd have access to her magic reserves. So, the more powerful the witch, the stronger her husband."
"Didn't the women get a say in all this?" Lily asked, indignant on behalf of these nameless witches forced into unwanted marriages.
"Eh, sometimes, but honestly they just accepted it. That's just how marriage was back then. Same with Muggles, right? They had all these laws that said a woman couldn't have her own bank account without her husband's permission, or have access to birth control, or any of that rot."
"'Feminism–'" James used finger-quotes when he used the term. Lily ground her teeth together until her jaw ached. "Took a while for it to catch on in the Wizarding World. A lot of old Pureblood families called it a Muggleborn infestation, but, obviously, it proved pretty popular with the witches. There are still some old families that duel for the right to marry a witch, but it's pretty much all for show now. The witch in question fully approves of the pre-chosen winner and then there's a mock duel. A modern binding contract now gives equal access to each other's magic reserves, and usually includes a clause that allows for divorce or annulment. But that Dueling Ground–"
James looked downright grim as he said, "We've only been there once, and I don't ever want to go back. The wards down there were made with a sacrifice."
"A sacrifice?" Lily whispered.
"Immurement. To ensure that the wards would be unbreakable and the foundation strong, the builders buried someone alive down there."
