Remember I own nothing but Eva, OCs (in this story)plot.

And thank you all to those who reviewed the last chapters, makes my day :)

7. A Potion's Edge

Morning arrived swiftly, when Severus woke up, he heard the excited shouts of the first years from the common room, no doubt eager to receive their schedules. He dressed quickly and headed to breakfast along with his friends. The previous night had been spent discussing their upcoming NEWT courses, a conversation that, for Severus, had been quietly satisfying. The path ahead was finally clear, each class a stepping stone toward the goal of becoming a powerful wizard. As they entered the Great Hall, the noise of hundreds of students filled the space, but Severus tuned it out, focusing instead on Professor Slughorn, who was distributing schedules. When Severus received his, a small smirk graced his face. Charms, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Arithmancy, and Transfiguration, every subject he needed to prepare for any future he might choose.

His first class was NEWT Arithmancy, a subject that came naturally to Severus. It was logic, discipline, everything he enjoyed. The numbers and complex calculations came easily to him, as they always had.

Herbology followed. Of the Slytherin friends, only Rosier took the NEWT class. As Professor Sprout began her introduction to the dangerous Venomous Tentacula, Severus quickly scanned the rows of students, a few familiar faces Grace from Evangeline's Ravenclaw group, Rosier at his side… but his sharp eyes promptly noticed who was missing.

Evangeline Easgriff was not there.

He knew she had achieved an E in her OWLs, enough to continue the subject, and yet... she wasn't there. Severus frowned, his fingers tracing the rough edge of the greenhouse table, momentarily distracted from Sprout's lecture. He wondered why she stopped. Herbology was essential, especially for advanced potion-making. Severus then immediately pushed those thoughts aside. He was here to hone his skills, not think of people. Least of all Evangeline Easgriff.

Severus briefly resumed his scan noticing Lily with her friends, he instantly stopped and set his attention on his notes. The sight brought a familiar tightening in his chest.

After lunch, it was time for Potions, the class Severus was most eager about. He kept his mother's well-worn copy of Advanced Potion-Making, now filled with modifications and improvements he'd worked on over the summer. The recipes were improved not only with his knowledge but also with the help of the book Evangeline got him that summer. Potions was where he excelled, a subject where his natural talent and relentless study would set him apart. Avery, Rosier, and Mulciber were part of the small group of Slytherin's that attended the class. Entering the dungeon classroom, he immediately went to his preferred seat near the front, whilst the rest of his 'mates' went towards the back, out of sight.

Soon, the Hufflepuffs arrived with the Gryffindors. Severus's eyes darted to the door as the Marauders strode in, though, predictably, without Pettigrew. He allowed himself a brief, private smirk. Pettigrew had never stood a chance at making it into the NEWT program. He noticed Lily taking a seat in front of Potter and Black with her friend Mary. Severus clenched his jaw, forcing his attention away from her and back to his potions kit. He refused to let her proximity affect him.

Finally, the Ravenclaws entered. A smaller group, the only ones he knew were Eva, David, Quirrell and Mariana. A few others made it into the NEWT program. They all took their seats, with Eva happily taking hers next to Severus, as she promised she would at the end of fifth year.

"Hello Severus, have a good morning?" she asked, settling down with her book and notebook.

"Alright," he replied, his tone clipped but not unfriendly. His sharp eyes flicked briefly to her. "You've dropped Herbology, I noticed."

"Oh, definitely," she said with a grin, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I hated it. I did alright, but the moment I could drop it, I did."

Severus nodded curtly. Though he didn't say it aloud, he disagreed with her decision, Herbology was practical, especially for advanced potion-making

"You know," she continued with a playful glint in her eyes, "last term I said this could be the start of a beautiful potions partnership, right?"

Severus raised an eyebrow "I have a vague recollection of certain terms used."

Evangelinengeline laughed softly. "You can't deny we made a good team when you came over. That brew we worked on? Practically perfect."

Severus allowed a small, nearly imperceptible smirk. "It was adequate."

"Adequate? You seemed rather pleased with it at the time," she teased lightly.

Before Severus could respond, Professor Slughorn, with his usual jovial energy, stood from his desk and addressed the class. "Ah, welcome, all of you, to NEWT-level Potions!" His eyes sparkled as he surveyed the students. "Now, since you're all here, let's begin with a few questions before we dive into brewing, shall we? Who can tell me what the Draught of Living Death is?"

Next to Severus, Evangeline's hand shot up instantly. Across the room, Lily's hand followed. Severus couldn't help but think, This will be interesting.

"Ah, yes, Miss Easgriff. You raised your hand first, so let's hear it," Slughorn said, his tone encouraging.

Evangeline spoke confidently: "The Draught of Living Death is an extremely powerful sleeping draught sir. It puts the drinker into a death-like slumber, similar to suspended animation. It's much like the tale of Emeric the Enchanted, who fell into a dead like sleep for a century. But to reverse the effects of the Draught, the Wiggenweld potion can be used."

"Very full and developed answer Miss Easgriff, 10 points to Ravenclaw. Now that we all know what it is. Your task today is to brew by groups of two the Draught of Living Death. The pair who makes the best one will receive a special reward."

"What kind of reward, sir?" Lily's voice rang out, curiosity apparent.

Slughorn chuckled warmly. "Ah, Miss Evans! All in good time. You'll find out if you succeed. The recipe is on page ten. Good luck!"

Severus took out his book, and the cauldron, while Eva, having already read the potion, went to get the ingredients from the cabinet. She arrived back with the ingredients then let out of a sigh.

"You seem…troubled". Severus remarked.

"Just Black has been a real pain lately, more than usual. And Lily—" she hesitated, her voice lowering, "—she's been staring at me like I've done something to offend her. I don't know why, we were always on friendly terms."

Severus's expression hardened at the mention of Black, but he chose not to dwell on it. "Ignore them," he said quietly. "Focus on the task."

Evangeline nodded, her expression easing. "You're right. Let's brew the best potion and win this."

She flipped through the pages of her book before frowning. "Cut the Sophophorous bean?" She shook her head. "Father always said cutting it was a waste of time—it jumps everywhere."

"Wait." Severus's eyes flicked toward her work. "Don't cut them. Crush them instead."

"But the book says to cut them to get the juice," she pointed out, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Books can be wrong," Severus replied. "Crushing them is more effective. Watch." He took the knife from her hand and demonstrated, the bean yielding its juice with ease.

Evangeline blinked, impressed. "How did you know?" she asked, her tone curious. "Let me see your book."

Before Severus could respond, she grabbed his potion book and began flipping through the pages. Her eyes widened. "Wow. Not bad, Sev. You did all of this during the summer?"

Severus nodded slightly, his expression betraying only the faintest trace of pride. He had spent much of the summer perfecting the potion, using the book Evangeline had given him to make the necessary corrections. "We should really get started now."

"Yes," Severus muttered, his focus already shifting back to the task at hand. "Let's."

They both started the potion, with more excitement than before, though Severus couldn't help but correct a few of Evangeline's steps. His sharp eye for detail caught every misstep, though each correction brought a flicker of tension between them.

Evangeline huffed, her eyes narrowing. "Now what did I do?"

"I never said anything." Severus replied curtly.

You don't have to. It's written all over your face. Those dark, brooding eyes of yours give it away."

Severus paused, unsure how to respond to her teasing. Instead, he focused on the potion. "Well… you could stir anti-clockwise seven times, then clockwise once. It's faster."

"For your information I did." Evangeline replied, raising an eyebrow. "We're following your instructions, remember?"

She smiled, taking the small piece of Valerian root from Severus and dropping it into the cauldron. The potion shimmered and turned a pale pink, a sign of success. "Besides, those potions we brewed at mine remember? They pretty much guaranteed my trust in you." They were finished before anyone else, allowing them a moment to chat.

"So," Evangeline began, leaning back in her seat, "happy with your schedule this term?"

"A bit," Severus replied, his tone measured. "And you?"

"Same. I dropped Divination though. Couldn't handle it anymore. It's just ridiculous." She put on a mock-serious voice, adopting an exaggerated mystical tone. "Ohhh, gaze into the crystal ball, child. I see your future, full of endless cups of tea. Perhaps a cat will cross your path, and you'll have an epiphany about your socks. Truly profound stuff."

Severus snorted, despite himself. The sound startled him more than anyone, but the brief moment of amusement lingered. Eva grinned at him, pleased. Slughorn, watching them from across the room, smiled, while Lily, sitting nearby, glanced over, her eyes narrowing curiously.

"And don't forget," she continued, her voice still light with humor, "'My dear, your potion has turned purple! But fear not, join my club and all your answers will be revealed!'"

"Eva, stop." Severus muttered, trying to suppress a small chuckle, his usual composure slipping. "Slughorn is coming."

"My, my," Slughorn's voice boomed as he approached, his eyes twinkling. "You two must be finished if you have time for some lively discussions!"

"Apologies, sir," Severus said, quickly regaining his composure as he sat up straight, though a faint trace of amusement lingered.

"Nonsense, my boy! I love seeing people happy in this class. The others should be finished in about ten minutes. Carry on your discussion," Slughorn said cheerfully before moving off to inspect the other students' work.

Slughorn went to inspect the other students' work, while Severus and Evangeline kept on talking. On the other side of class, a few Gryffindors observed the scene.

"I can't believe what I'm seeing," Sirius muttered, glaring towards Severus.

"Oh shut it Padfoot." Remus said with a smirk. "You're just sulking because she turned you down last year."

"Moony, I don't want to talk about it."

"Ah, that time she rejected you—very publicly, might I add," James chimed in, clearly enjoying Sirius's discomfort. "Explained her reasons loud enough for the entire courtyard room to hear, didn't she?"

"Prongs, don't push it."

James shrugged. "Whatever." He leaned forward and poked Lily in the back, prompting her to turn around.

"What is it, Potter? Can't you see I'm working?" Lily snapped, her voice sharp with irritation.

James grinned. "Just wondering if you've noticed what's going on over there between Snivelly and Evangeline. Quite the odd pair, don't you think?"

Lily shot him a cold look. "It's none of your business, or mine."

Meanwhile, Severus, oblivious to the attention from across the room, was having a rare, enjoyable conversation with Evangeline. He had learned that she would be in the same NEWT-level Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Charms classes with him, which pleased him more than he let on. As Slughorn finished inspecting the other students' potions, he returned to test Severus and Eva's potion. Both knew that the competition would likely come down to theirs or Lily's.

Slughorn observed both potions with a keen eye. He dropped a small leaf in Severus and Evangeline's cauldron, watching as it dissolved perfectly.

"Merlin's beard, it's perfect!" Slughorn exclaimed, beaming at them "Wonderful job, as I said the two of you make an excellent team."

"Thank you, sir." Severus and Eva both said in unison.

"Now, Miss Evans, let's see how yours and Miss Macdonald's turned out." Slughorn said, moving over to their cauldron. He performed the same test, dropping a leaf into the potion. "My goodness, it's perfect as well. Good job! Now we must decide, who gets the prize." Slughorn thought for a few minutes, his gaze shifting between each pair, then a smiled creeped on his face "I might just have something for all four of you. Could you stay behind for a moment after class?"

"Of course, sir." Lily responded politely.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson. Severus, Eva, Mary, and Lily remained as the other students filed out, waiting for Slughorn's decision.

"I am very pleased with your work." Slughorn began. "First, I'll be awarding ten points to each of your houses. Second, I'd like to invite you all to the Slug Club, and third…"He paused dramatically, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Excuse me, Professor," Evangeline interjected, her voice polite but firm. "But I'm already more than happy with the points and the invitation."

"Don't you want to hear my surprise, Miss Easgriff?" Slughorn asked, his smile widening.

Eva hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'm sorry, sir. Please continue."

Slughorn beamed at her. "No harm done, as I was saying, I'd like to offer you and Mister Snape something special. How would you both like a key to a private potion lab down the hall? I've seen your talents, and I believe you would benefit from having your own space to experiment. Along with that, I'll provide a selection of advanced alchemy books from my personal collection."

"Thank you, sir," Severus said quietly,

"Quite welcome, quite welcome. You are both excused, I will make the necessary provisions in the following days for you. Now Miss Evans…"

As Severus and Evangeline stepped out of the classroom, the door closing behind them, she let out a small laugh and spun around in a little circle.

"And what exactly are you doing?" Severus asked, raising an eyebrow, his voice carrying its usual dry tone,

"Celebrating, of course!" Eva grinned. "We just got keys to a private potion lab. A private potion lab, Sev! Can you believe it?"

"I see." Severus's tone remained flat, but there was the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes. "Still, that seems an overenthusiastic reaction, even for you."

Evangeline gave him a playful nudge. "Come on! You know this is exciting. And, if you must know, it's not just the lab. I was also offered the Quidditch captain position this morning."

"Congratulations. That's quite an achievement." He said without much enthusiasm in his voice.

Evangeline undeterred by his lack of enthusiasm, beamed. "It is! McOwen didn't feel up to it two years in a row, so it's all mine now. Plus, I get to pick a new Seeker and finally kick Lockhart off the team."

"Yes. You've mentioned that... repeatedly," Severus noted dryly, though there was a trace of amusement in his tone.

"Will you come to Quidditch tryouts when they take place? Sorry if it's a little early to ask." She asked. "I could use the extra moral support, especially from a non-Ravenclaw."

"I'll see if I can," Severus replied, his tone noncommittal.

Evangeline nudged him playfully. "You know that's as good as a yes," she teased. "And hey, when we're not busy, maybe we can sneak in some time to start on those alchemy books. That lab is ours now!"

"That does sound... productive," Severus conceded.

"Or," Evangeline continued with a mischievous grin, "we could have a little fun. How about we color Lockhart's hair blue? I'm long overdue for a harmless prank."

Severus shot her a sidelong glance. "Are you asking me to lower myself to such juvenile behavior?"

"Yes," she said with a grin.

"Absolutely not." Severus retorted. "I'd rather spend time in the library re-writing Potion instructions than waste it on such trivial nonsense."

Evangeline conceded, for now "We could do that and use the book I gave you for the more challenging ones."

Severus nodded, the idea of Potion Making was more appealing than the thought of turning Lockhart's insufferable hair blue. "That is a good idea. That way we are prepared."

As they were about to leave, Lily and Mary came out of the classroom. They seemed to be pleased with whatever Slughorn decided to give them. Mary headed off without Lily, leaving Eva and Severus puzzled. She turned to both of them.

"Evangeline," Lily said, her voice cool, "could I speak with Severus alone for a moment?"

Severus felt a sudden shift in the air, his shoulders stiffening slightly. Though he hadn't gone into detail about the fallout with Lily, Evangeline knew enough to understand why they hadn't spoken in months. Lily and Evangeline were cordial even friendly at times, but lately, the air between them had grown colder.

Evangeline looked at Lily and crossed her arms. "Why is that?"

Lily's eyes narrowed, her tone growing sharper. "This is between me and Severus. It doesn't concern you Evangeline."

"Right, because you've shown such concern for him lately," Eva shot back, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Lily's jaw tightened. "That's not—"

"Quite the timing don't you think?" Eva interrupted.

"Eva," Severus interjected before things could escalate further. He turned to her, his voice calm but firm. "It's fine. Let me talk to her."

Eva hesitated, but she nodded reluctantly. "Fine. I'll be just over there," she said, before stepping aside.

Once Eva was out of earshot, Severus turned to face Lily, his voice guarded. "What do you want Lily?"

Lily hesitated, her green eyes scanning his face before briefly flicking to Eva, who stood watching from a distance. When she looked back at Severus, her expression was conflicted.

She took a breath "I wasn't planning on speaking to you again, Severus. But then I saw you with her. It got me wondering, why are you around her?"

"What are you implying?" he asked.

Lily crossed her arms, her expression a mix of frustration and concern. "She doesn't belong in your world, Severus."

"My world?" Severus scoffed, his tone darkening. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Lily said, her voice tightening. "Mulciber, Avery, people like them. You're still mixed up with them, aren't you?"

Severus's eyes narrowed. "What does that have to do with Eva?"

"Does she even know what kind of people they are? Mulciber and his lot, they're dangerous, Severus. They talk about Muggle-borns like we're vermin, like we're not even human. And now you're pulling Evangeline into that?"

Severus's expression darkened, he clenched his fists "I'm not pulling her into anything. She is her own person making her own decisions."

Lily's eyes flicked back to Eva briefly. "I know she can make her own decisions. But does she really know the people you're associating with?

Severus's voice turned cold. "What are you implying?"

Lily flinched slightly at his tone. "I'm saying I've seen where this road leads. You've already made your choices, Severus. Don't drag someone else down with you."

Severus could feel the familiar ache of frustration building inside him. "You don't know anything about her, Lily."

"I know enough to see she's nothing like Mulciber and Avery." Lily shot back, her voice rising slightly. "You've changed, Severus. You're pulling people down with you, and you don't even realize it."

"I'm not pulling anyone." Severus snapped.

"You are!" Lily said "You're on that path with them. After you called me that…that word. I knew you made your choices."

"I told you, I didn't mean it!" Severus retorted, his voice a mixture of anger and regret.

"You could have said anything else," Lily shot back. "Anything. Or nothing at all. But you chose that word. You chose to call me Mudblood."

Severus winced, the memory of that word hitting him like a physical blow. "I didn't mean it," he said again.

"You still said it." Lily whispered "That wasn't a slip. And now you're going to get Evangeline involved. Her views will get her stuck in the crossfire, I may not know her well, but I do know that she's a decent person when it comes to these topics."

Lily took a step closer and continued "You cannot seriously believe that those Death Eater friends of yours will respect someone who doesn't share their views. And if they ever decide she's in the way, they won't hesitate to take action."

Before Severus could reply, Evangeline walked back to them "Well are you both finished?"

Lily hesitated for a moment, as though she wanted to say more. But instead, she exhaled softly and turned to Eva, her gaze less guarded now. "Evangeline," she said quietly, "I know we don't know each other well, but… be careful. There's a lot you might not see yet."

Eva blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in Lily's tone. She expected a confrontation, not concern. "I can handle myself." she said, but gave a small nod. "But I appreciate the concern."

Lily held her gaze for a moment as if weighing whether to say more, but instead, she simply nodded in return. Without another word, she turned around and began to walk away down the corridor, her footsteps echoing softly behind her.

"Sev?" Eva finally said, her voice quieter than before. "What was all that about?"

Severus shook his head "Nothing important."

Evangeline crossed her arms "That didn't seem like nothing, there was a little shouting and–"

"I said it was nothing!" Severus snapped his voice sharper than he intended.

Evangeline blinked startled by the sudden change of tone. "Severus," she said softly, but firmly, "you don't have to snap at me like that." She moved in front of him, blocking his path. "Look at me," she commanded, her voice calm but authoritative.

Severus took a deep breath before meeting her gaze, his dark eyes locking with her steady green ones.

"If you don't want to talk, that's fine," Eva continued, her tone softening. "But don't lie to me. I can see it bothers you."

Severus's jaw tightened. For a moment, he said nothing only looking between Evangeline and the spot where Lily stood. Finally, he was able to mutter some response. "It's just old…old history."

"Ok, if you want to talk about it–"

"I don't," he interrupted, his voice still tight.

Evangeline raised her hands "Okay, fine. Just know I'll listen when you're ready."

Severus exhaled slowly, unclenching his fists. The color returned to his pale hands as he glanced back at her. "Thank you," he muttered, the tension in his voice ebbing slightly.

Hesitating for just a second, Eva placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Come on," she said, her voice lighter, "let's go check out this lab. We'll need to know where it is if we're going to make the most of that key."

They made their way down the corridor. The private lab was tucked away at a corner of the castle not frequently used. Severus could feel the weight of the previous confrontation very slowly lift.

"Do you think Slughorn keeps any extra ingredients in there?" Eva mused as they walked. "It would be just like him to stash away rare stuff for his 'special' students."

Severus gave a small shrug, his response clipped. "Possibly."

He could feel Evangeline eyes lingering towards him, she was studying him.

"Sev, why don't you come with us to Hagrid's. He has great conversation and tea." She paused "It might…help you unwind, get your mind off whatever that was back there."

Severus had never really met Hagrid. He thought of him as a simple man, nothing less. But the words Lily said still plagued him. Would Mulciber and his friends leave Evangeline alone? So far, the only comments from them had been moderate praise. They praised him for catching the American pure-blood's attention. "At least she's not a Mudblood" or "An upgrade from the Mudblood" they all said.

Perhaps, Severus thought, no hoped Lily was wrong about everything. He didn't even know where Evangeline stood on the matter of blood purity, and that lack of certainty unnerved him more than he wanted to admit.

"I think I need to be alone... for a little while," he muttered, eyes shifting away from hers.

Severus knew he had to spend time with his Slytherin friends too. Recently he wondered how it would have been different if he had been sorted in Ravenclaw his first year.

Evangeline gave him a look "Are you sure?"

Severus nodded "Yes, I just need…need to breathe."

Evangeline nodded, sensing he was tense, she decided not to push him. "Okay Severus, just don't stay in that dungeon of yours too long. You might turn into a bat." She said teasing.

Despite himself, Severus felt a faint smirk tug at the corner of his mouth. "I'll keep that in mind," he muttered.

Eva grinned, satisfied that she had at least lightened his mood. "Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me. Anytime, any day."

With a parting nod, Severus wished her a good afternoon and turned toward the dungeons. As he walked, his thoughts drifted back to Lily's words. They echoed in his mind, intertwining with his uncertainty about Evangeline. Pure-blood, Lily's warning, Mulciber, Death Eaters, the thoughts collided in his head, leaving him feeling more conflicted than ever.

Avery looked up as Severus entered, a crooked grin spreading across his face. "There he is," he drawled. "Hey, Snape! Where've you been all day?"

Severus gave him a sharp look. "Around the castle. None of your concern."

Mulciber chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Always so secretive, Snape. What's the matter? Don't want to admit you've been off with Easgriff and her little band of merry friends?" His voice carried a hint of mockery. "What's the story there Snape?"

Avery's grin widened as he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "Yeah, Snape. Spending a lot of time with Easgriff lately. What's the story there? You two brewing up more than potions?"

Severus clenched his jaw but forced his tone to remain level. "She's useful in Potions. That's all."

Mulciber raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Useful, huh? Well, as long as she's not filling your head with any of that Mudblood-loving nonsense. Remember Snape, if she doesn't share our beliefs she's against us."

Mulciber's words echoed in his mind, a dark reminder of the path he was expected to follow. If she doesn't share our beliefs, she's against us. Severus knew the stakes.

Avery leaned forward, breaking through Severus's reverie. "Tomorrow's Defense Against the Dark Arts," he said with a grin. "I can't wait to watch you show those Gryffindors what's what. Especially Potter."

A small, hidden smile crept onto his face as he thought of Eva in Defense. She was sharp, even if she didn't always show it. For once, he found himself looking forward to the class, even if it meant sharing the room with Gryffindors.

~~~~~~~~END OF CHAPTER~~~~~~~~

I hoped you enjoyed this re vamped chapter. Thank you for reading this and following it as well.

Reviewers are welcome, and get invisible cookies if they do x)

Until next time *Laughs at Lockhart while he yells* "WHY IS MY HAIR BLUE!"