Chapter 13

Lily Evans

The rooms of Severus' residence felt wet and cavernous as Lily and Sirius apparated in. Multiple cauldrons sat side by side, their contents bubbling within, sending wisps of emerald smoke up from their depths. Tomes and tinctures lay sprawled along the table with all manner of ingredients and herbs amongst them. It was another intimate glimpse into Severus' life that Lily felt somewhat uncomfortable beholding. It was as if she was peering into a protected, youthful part of him. He was a paintbrush for a muse as ancient as the tempest brewing within her… and she didn't know how to feel about that.

"Looks like no one's here," Sirius broke the silence, scuffing his heels along the stoned flooring "and… this place is about as welcoming as I'd expect it to be."

Severus' choice of demure décor was dark and minimal, but the bookshelves that lined every wall, overwhelmed with texts; the stone hearth that often warmed the space; the worn leather of the armchairs… it was cozy, and Lily had grown to love it.

"Coming from a Black, that is saying something." Lily laughed. "I…would be careful what you touch, though. There's bound to be a dark artifact or two lounging around here."

"Ah, well that I am used to." Sirius eased towards the hearth to ignite it. "I sometimes wonder what would have become of me if I stayed living in that house…" Sirius began playing with a ring on his ringer, twisting it in anxious thought.

Sirius had left his childhood home years ago, choosing to sleep on couches rather than be associated with his family. Lily admired Sirius' strength… she related to him in ways she related to few others. He knew what it meant to be an outcast.

"You would have found your way… you always have." Lily came beside her friend, running a hand along his back, "You really ought to give Regulus a chance. I won't push you, but… he's the Regulus we've always known and loved."

Sirius continued staring blankly at the now vibrant fire, his features disfigured in thought, "We should get to work. We only have a few days to make sense of your plan…" Sirius turned towards Lily, changing the subject "which, if I might remind you, is completely mental. It's not too late to go back on it. You don't have to go in those wards, Lily."

Lily felt as her body began pulsing with emotion. "I do, though. It… means something to me." Lily stood a few feet from her friend, her hands clenching on her side. "You know how it is, Sirius. I've never fit in… in either world. In the muggle world, I'm a freak and here I'm a filthy mudblood. I'm angry. I want… to fight. To stand up for what I believe in. To whatever end."

Sirius nodded in understanding and Lily was grateful he didn't push the subject. "It will be the last time they underestimate us, Lily. To whatever end."

"What a heartwarming sentiment, brother." Regulus' voice rang through the hollow space, jolting them. The air around them suddenly thick with tension. "Will I be awarded such a familiar welcome?"

Regulus stood in the shadows of the adjoining chamber, picking at his nails. His robes hung heavy on the length of his body, falling on the floor beneath him. He must have changed since this morning because these robes were fitted and elegant.

"When the hell did you get here?" Lily shot towards him.

"Who me?" Regulus joked, "Been here the whole bloody time. You really ought to work on your skills of discernment, brother. I was going to say something but then… you got to talking and it really was just too… sweet."

Sirius rolled his eyes, his features still somewhat softened in the light of the fire. "I'm going to need some food before we break into this old chestnut."

Regulus let out a low laugh, walking into the illuminated space between them. "Oh, C'mon, I'm the same Regulus you know and love." Regulus winked at Lily.

"Did I say food? I meant whiskey." Sirius stared blankly at his brother.

"Ah, just like old times, eh? Lucky for you… I come prepared." Regulus pulled a half empty bottle of whiskey from his robes, the grin on his face brighter than the moon.

"Really, you two?" Lily cut in.

Regulus and Sirius shot Lily a look that said stay the fuck out of this. Lily put her hands up and slowly turned away. They could do… whatever it was they were doing… she needed to get started on finding out how to get into those wards. "Reno!" Lily spoke to the bare space, a smile covering her features at the appearance of the house-elf.

"Milady, Reno is most pleased to see you," the elf bowed, "Reno does get so happy when Lady Lily is here!" The smile on the elf's face was filled with child-like wonder. Its knobby knees clanking in excitement.

"I… am happy to see you, too, Reno." Lily smiled back at the elf, "Severus said you could help me navigate his book collection." Lily gestured towards the shelves surrounding them. "Do you know where I can find anything on blood magic or… wards?"

Reno nodded his head eagerly, "Yes, milady. Reno has already gone through master Severus' collection." A stack of old texts magically appeared in a pile in front of her feet, the thump of their presence startling her. Sirius and Regulus still bickered in the background, and Lily suddenly felt very grateful to be focusing on something… else.

"That seems like a good enough place to start." Lily let out a low huff, "Thank you, Reno. Could you prepare some stew for us, too? We're starved." Reno nodded his head as he quickly disappeared from the room.

Lily gathered her thoughts as she began taking in the space around them. Two armchairs sat by the fire; the rest of the room was bare but somehow a bit cluttered. If they were going to be held up here for a few nights, they were going to need to be… comfortable. Lily pulled out her wand and began rearranging the contents of Severus' living room. She conjured a few cots, some side tables and a few lamps. The change in ambiance was enough to pull the bickering brothers out of their engagement.

"Making yourself at home, eh, Lily?" Regulus turned towards her. "I wasn't so sure before but… I think I'm a fan of this whole… Severus has a lady, thing."

Lily's cheeked bloomed at the accusation. She felt defensive, "I'm nobody's lady, Regulus. We simply need some modern comforts if we're going to get anything done here." Lily hands moved towards her hips as her head rose in challenge.

Regulus hummed in sarcastic agreement, and Lily watched as he turned his attention back to his whiskey. Good. Maybe Sirius was right. He needed to learn to mind his own damn business.

"Let's eat and then we can get to work," Sirius added as bowls of beef stew appeared on the side tables beside their cots. The smells filling Lily's chest with warmth. Fuck, she was starving.

"Here." Lily threw them each a book as she grabbed a few of her own. "I'm getting started."

The three of them sat on their cots, munching on stew and flipping through pages and pages of texts. Regulus and Sirius behaved themselves and even seemed to be having a little fun.

There was plenty of information on how to create the wards, but nothing about how to dismantle them. It was well past midnight when Lily peered up from her book. Both brothers were passed out on their cots. When did that happen? Lily let out a small laugh. She was getting tired herself. Her eyelids felt like twenty-pound weights. She was almost done flipping through the aged text… but she felt determined to finish this book.

Lily peered back down at the dried pages of Blood and Bone: Everyday Use of Dark Magic and read aloud.

"The use of blood magic is extremely effective when looking to protect, ward or alarm one of exposure or intrusion. The power of the ward is dependent upon the amount of blood offered and the strength of the donor."

Yes, she knew that much… She continued reading.

"Once the magic has been imbued, the bindings of the engagement are final. There is no way to reverse or mitigate its effects without proper sacrifice. The magic will require retribution for what it has now deemed its own. According to the research of this author, only the creator of a ward is gifted the ability to disarm it."

A proper sacrifice.

The words rang loud in Lily's mind. She remembered Severus saying that he had helped build those wards… so, according to theory… something of extreme importance to Severus could be granted as a sacrifice to the ward… to… disarm it, at least in part. Lily's head continued spinning as she tried to make sense of how this could work. She could only think of one thing.

Herself.

...

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...

Lily was awakened by a loud thump. Throwing her eyelids open, Lily patted around her as she gathered in her surroundings. Cot. Floor. She must have fallen asleep.

"Reno… healing potion… now." Lily heard the words whispered through hefty breathes. She wasn't sure what time it was, but it was still too dark to see. The rhythmic breathing beside her told her that Regulus and Sirius were fast asleep. Taking light steps towards the bedchamber, Lily took in the large figure of Severus on the stone floor, his robes covering him, his death eater mask on the stone beside him.

"What happened?" Lily whispered, kneeling beside him, running the warmth of her hand over the icy paleness of his skin.

Severus rolled to his side, the grey of his eye's weary with pain. Severus didn't answer Lily's question as he placed the palm of his hand over hers, closing his eyes and breathing in her scent. Severus' energy was reckless and heightened, the dark magic around him pulsing, begging for release and drawing out the darkness within her.

"Severus, I"— Lily began.

Severus pulled her closer, the breath leaving her body at the strength. "Lily," Severus moaned her name, rubbing his face and lips along the palm of her hand, "Let me worship you. Even if just for tonight."

The words set Lily aflame, yanking on the chains she'd placed on herself. Hearing Severus say her name like that sent prickles up her spine, flooding her body with awareness. Severus' silver gaze was molten as he peered at her through the dim light, his hand still gripping hers firmly. The words she wanted to say were scrambled in her mind, but she was tired of thinking.

Pulling herself closer to his body, Lily threw her legs over him, straddling his lower torso. The heat of his body soaked into her as his impressive length pulsed against the apex of her thighs. Lily brought her hands to the sharp lines of Severus' face, running her fingers along his sallow skin.

"Tonight… and every night, Severus." Bringing her lips to his, Lily continued staring into his eyes, feeling his lips against hers. "Always."

Severus smiled against her lips as his heart began pounding against her chest. His hands trailing up her hips to her face. "Always."

Severus crushed his lips against hers, the magic around them clouding out every other sound. Lily opened her mouth for him as Severus' tongue began hungry sweeps around hers, his hands gripping her closer and closer to his body. Lily wanted to feel him inside every part of her body, her mind, to breath in every moment of him and suspend it inside her forever.

Severus released a moan as Lily began slowly thrusting herself over his robes, his length firm against her, her hands roaming through the tassels of his hair. Their lips still entwined, their souls igniting. Nothing else mattered except for this moment, this magnetic pull that had been growing between them since the dawn of time.

She was his. She had always been his. And he was hers. Always.

Lily pulled herself away from their kiss, the absence of his lips against hers already tugging at her heart. Lily peered down at him as a single tear fell down her cheek. Lily let out a small laugh, her chest filling with so much emotion she could explode.

"What's wrong, my love?" Severus spoke quietly, running his thumb along her cheek, wiping away the tear.

Lily couldn't hold back the tears, the emotion, the absolute tsunami inside her. Severus had broken through her shields, her fortress and wove himself into her very existence.

Being here with him, she was finally home.

Lily pulled herself from off him and laid her body beside his. Their eyes and noses connected, their lips pressed lightly against each other's. "For once, Severus. Nothing is wrong."

Lily's eyes were so heavy as she felt the strength of his hands pick her up off the floor and carry her to the soft caress of his bed. Climbing on the bed beside her, Lily felt as Severus pulled her within his embrace, his chest against her back, his legs entangled with hers.

A soft smile spread over Lily's features as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Home. She was finally home.