Chapter 10

Lily Evans

Lily apparated into the heart of Severus' residence. The dying light of the day closing in on the space like a casket.

Despite a rising tide of trepidation, Lily felt… safe.

She trusted Severus.

Being in his space felt intimate. It brought comfort to her in ways she wasn't ready to express. She was tempted to run back to his bed; to breath him in and feel the weight of his scent on her...

"Lady Lily," Reno squeaked, jolting her thoughts back to reality. "Reno must apologize, Reno was not expecting guests. Would milady like some tea?"

Realization came over Lily-

Severus was not here.

"I'm sorry to barge in, Reno." Lily spoke quietly, "Do you know where Severus is?"

"Master has been summoned by the Dark Lord many hours ago." Reno nodded his head eagerly. "Reno does not know when master will be back."

Lily had better get comfortable.

"I suppose I'll take you up on that offer for tea, then." Lily decided, plopping down on one of the armchairs by the hearth. "You don't happen to know where Severus keeps his potion book, do you?"

"That book is a most prized possession of master. Reno is forbidden to touch it."

She should have figured as much.

Reaching for the cup of newly poured tea, Lily leaned back and thought about what she was going to do.

There had to be something they were missing. Wards with that much power had to be hiding something substantial. What was she getting herself into?

Lily let her thoughts muddle as she continued drinking her tea.

A prophecy.

The Veil.

Blood Wards.

She wasn't sure how she fit into all this, but she was determined to fight. She was going to do this and-

The room erupted in darkness. Black wisps of smoke dissipated around a sculpted figure of cruelty.

Severus.

The back of her neck tingled with awareness as goosebumps coated her skin.

Severus was dressed in formal death eater attire, his presence sucking all the oxygen out of the room. He was… beautiful.

"Lily," Severus spoke, breaking the tension. "I felt you enter an hour ago- I came as quickly as my obligations would allow. Are you- okay?"

Lily breathed a sigh of relief. Why did she think he was going to be pissed at her?

"I-I shouldn't have just showed up- I'm sorry."

"You misunderstand." Severus drew closer to her, "Come and go as you please. I was merely concerned… but now I can see that was in vain."

Severus' lips curved over his canines as he smirked at her with a pointed glare.

Lily looked down at herself- her feet laid up in front of the fire, her cup of tea almost empty. She let out a laugh. "I was just starting to enjoy myself."

Severus let out a laugh and began to settle, the mask of his duty fading, "Well, in that case- I'm sorry to intrude. Don't stop on my account."

Lily wished she could pretend they weren't amid the rumblings of a war, but she had an entire Order waiting on her.

"Unfortunately, I'm here for more of a …business matter." She flinched at the words.

"Ah, but you see, I'm decidedly done with business for the day."

"Well, I'm decidedly not." Lily pushed back playfully, "I have a proposition for you."

Severus looked at her with amusement as he pulled off his cloak and placed it in an armchair. "I'm listening."

Lily suddenly felt nervous, the stark reality of what she was going to ask sinking in.

"Does a potion exist that can elude the effects of blood magic? Say… allow the taker to walk through blood wards unnoticed…"

"One does."

Severus raised his brow at Lily, taking a seat across from her.

"You wouldn't … say… know how to make it?" Lily scrunched her face, fearing his response.

Severus let out a low huff and leaned back into the comfort of his chair.

"What is it you're asking me to do, Lily?"

The features of Severus' face softened in the light of the fire. He looked exhausted.

Lily's heart ached at the sight- she wanted to take his pain away, not cause it.

But they had a war to fight. To win.

"To help me brew the potion so that The Order can infiltrate the wards in the ministry."

There. She said it.

Severus' face shifted as he began to think aloud, "I helped build those wards myself, I can… do some research and likely develop something. But it may take me a few days."

Severus gaze caught hers, the grey of his eyes pinning her in place.

"But if you're going to use my help- I require your assurance that you will go no where near those wards- or the ministry."

"Severus, you can't ask me to"-

"Promise me."

Lily felt as his magic started tightening the space between them.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"I promise." Lily bit out, her chest tightening.

"Lily, Voldemort himself is operating the protection of those wards. Few know what he's keeping in there. I don't even know what's behind them. Whoever is sent in there… isn't coming out."

Lily nodded her head in silent understanding.

"We want to rescue captives and see what they're planning... It must be a part of turning the tide of this war."

"You're not wrong…" Severus ran a hand through the tassels of his hair, "And frankly, I don't know why I hadn't considered it. If I'm able to procure something… the effects likely won't last for very long. Make sure they're out before the effects wear off, Lily. Their life will depend on it."

Her life would depend on it.

"Severus, I"-

Severus peered up her, his eyes deep with longing.

"Appreciate you. Thank you. For everything."

Severus cast his gaze towards the fire, "Have them go when we venture beyond the veil. The wards will still be protected but there's potential for… exposure. I'll do what I can to keep Voldemort occupied."

"How will I know when that is?"

"Ah, I almost forgot." Severus dug into the side of his pocket, pulling out a small chain with a silver doe pendant attached to it.

Her patronus.

"I made this for you," He spoke, running the length of his fingers over the course of the chain, "Its enchanted with a protean charm. It will glow when I'm trying to communicate with you. If you want to communicate with me… hold it and will your intention, or feel free to just show up."

Lily reached over, her hand brushing against the callouses of his as she grabbed with chain from him.

"You're forgetting something." He spoke, their faces close enough to share breath. "A proposition suggests there's something in this for me."

Lily resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "And what did you have in mind?"

A slow smile spread over Severus' face, igniting the grey of his eyes. "You'll see."