445Chapter 8: A Tortured Lily
The Boy Who Loved
By
Belle. A. Lestrange
Chapter Eight: A Tortured Lily
The white picket fencing was glinting in the late night lamplight as did the freshly water grass. It rivalled the neighbours' own yellowing grass. Harry glanced at his aged watch before shuffling through the keys on his ring, one-handed. It did not look like anyone was home and it was still fairly early in the evening. "I don't think that anyone in home at the moment so you can have a shower if you want one" Harry stated as he turned the key into the lock and pushed the door open. He led the way into the Dursley's house, gathering a bag in his hand as he did so, and was grateful when he heard Draco's own trainers scuffing the carpet. They both stood awkwardly in the slender hallway as Harry turned back and closed the front door shut with his foot. Draco looked so small and awkward standing against Aunt Petunia's floral wallpaper. Harry turned the hallway light on, bathing the hallway, and Draco, in bright light.
"Um ... where should we put all of -these?" Draco asked nervously as he indicated the plastic bags laden with food in their hands.
Harry glanced down at the bags. "Here the kitchen is just down the hallway. I'll show you" Harry stuffed his keys into his back pocket and shuffled past the blonde and walked towards the kitchen. He walked through the open doorway and flicked the light switch on with his elbow. Draco watched in wonder -how did Harry do all that without magic? He snapped back into reality with a small shake of his head and hurried after his friend into the kitchen and placed the bags into the round table where Harry had placed his own bag. Draco began unpacking his bag when Harry's hand smoothly touched his own, "it's alright, you don't know what goes where. Go and look around I'll be done with these in a little while"
Draco gave a small smile and then turned to look around the adjoining living room, he loathed the decor but he supposed that as his current 'home' was a jungle-gym, he could not comment. But he still hated the decor. He wrinkled his nose and prayed that the rest of his house looked different. As he ventured through the living room, taking the long way to the staircase he could not help but notice the numerous photo-frames lining the walls, shelves and other available service. The photo's did not move, but he already knew that muggles did not have moving photographs. He peered closer at the photo's; there was a fat man with a heavy mustache on his upper lip and beefy cheeks and very little neck standing beside a horse-faced woman with high cheekbones and a superior air to her. In front of them stood a very disgruntled replica of the fat man, only the boy was slightly thinner and had the woman's wide eyes.
But there was no Harry.
Draco frowned at this and decided to investigate a little further. He mounted the stairs one at a time and came to the landing that was decorated with the same floral wallpaper as the hallway downstairs. He grimaced. It was hideous. He went to the other end of the hallway, starting from one end and walking to the other that had the staircase. He opened the first door. It was the master bedroom complete with double bed and a mixture of feminine features and masculine clothes strewn everywhere. He walked around the other side of the bed, nearest the window, and opened the beside drawer of the woman's side. There were the usual things in there; lipstick, make-up, tissues, and other rubbish things. He was about to close the drawer and leave the room when something caught his attention. A photo-frame. Through the dim light he could make out a younger version of the woman at a train station -was that Kings Cross? -standing next to a girl with fiery auburn hair and emerald green eyes -Harry's eyes. Was this Harry's mother? Was the other woman his aunt? If so then that would explain why there was no many photo's of Harry around the house. Humming in thought, he replaced everything as he had found it and quickly departed the master bedroom.
He walked to the second door and opened it. He was abused with the lamplight glinting on numerous metallic devices that looked rather -aggressive. He frowned before moving onto the next door. He came to the last door, the one that was only a few feet from the staircase.
He opened the door.
It was a small room, one that most people may have used for a study room. There was a worn desk and wardrobe stuffed into the room along with a rather thin single bed with an iron bed frame and rumpled bedclothes. At the desk was a sleek silver device that he had no idea what it was called, along with a large notebook, with black words written everywhere and overlapping the black words, were red notes, lines and arrows. He frowned and leaned closer. In the dull light he saw the title at the heading of the book. 'Chapter fifteen'. So Harry was writing a book? Draco pulled an interested face before eyeing the photo-frame standing on the other end of the desk. It pictured an older version of the red-haired girl. Harry's mother. Her bright eyes shone brightly as she smiled at the camera, caught in a dancing pose with a dark-haired man with glasses on his nose, also laughing. Draco peered closer, concentration burning through his temples.
Harry's mum laughed silently as she was twirled through the autumn leaves.
Draco jerked backwards with wide eyes, his breathing erratic.
"So you like my room then?" came a smirking voice from the doorway. Draco jumped and pivoted around on his foot as Harry flicked the switch on and the room was flooded with bright light. Draco flinched, his eyes snapped shut, and making a noise of protest. "Sorry" Harry said looking sheepish as he walked further into the room to a chest of drawers that was opposite his bed.
"I did not mean to intrude, Harry" Draco managed to say in a choked voice as he adjusted his eyes to the bright light.
Harry shrugged with a smile, "it's alright" he insisted as he opened a door and began leafing through the garments inside. "I told you you could look around anyway. Want some clothes?"
"I know but -er -what? Clothes? Why?"
Harry chuckled at the look on Draco's clothes. The blonde may look grubby and greasy but Harry could not deny that Draco looked adorable in his filthy attire, clinging onto the one thing he had from his old life. It was mildly sad also, but Harry could not stand the smell of the blonde any longer. "Yes for after your shower. I can lend you some of mine and wash your old ones"
Draco looked down at his rumpled clothes, not daring to think about how filthy they actually were. Hell, even the Weasley's probably looked better than he did right now. Mentally mortified at such a thought he nodded, "okay only if you do not mind that is"
Harry mock-sighed, "well I suppose I can sacrifice one outfit for you" before breaking into a grin, "don't worry about it. My clothes are rather plain and some are my cousins hand-me-downs so they will be a little large but -clean clothes are clean clothes"
Draco nodded. He rubbed at his arms before taking a deep breath, "whose that woman with the red hair?" he asked a little breathlessly.
He watched as Harry's posture tensed and shook slightly. "S-she's my mother ... she's dead. So is my dad"
Draco felt his heart clench and throb painfully within his chest. His stomach knotted and churned uncomfortably. Dead? He had not anticipated that. He had assumed at least one of Harry's parents would have been alive somewhere -like a business trip -and would be back soon. He felt horrible. At least he had a family -sort of -even if they have exiled him and kicked him out he had known what to have blood parents was like. He looked over at Harry who was clutched a shirt from within his drawer. He suddenly looked so small, dwarfed by the small room. Draco unfroze himself and took timid steps across the floor until he was behind the other boy. He rested a hand on Harry's shoulder, feeling the tense muscles underneath, and gently steered the boy around to face him. Harry was refusing to meet his gaze. Draco suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the stubborn pose as he hooked a finger under Harry's chin and tilted his face upwards. "Harry it's-"
Draco was promptly cut off as the young raven-haired boy threw his arms around the blonde and tried to smother his erratic sobbing against the Draco's collarbone. Draco -whose arms were suspended mid-air -gently drew his arms around his companion, a hand lacing through Harry's tousselled locks in an attempt to soothe him. They both unconsciously shifted their positions so that they were more comfortable against one another, and Harry found security in the crook of Draco's neck.
They stood that way for a while until a choked cough came from Harry as he pulled away. Draco suppressed the urge to whine at the loss of contact. Harry had fit so snuggly against his chest. He suddenly felt vulnerable. Harry shifted awkwardly, turning his attention back to the open drawer to remove more clothes. He had no idea how wonderful hugs could be -he had wondered about them often -but to have such a perfecthug was -breath-taking. He snapped to attention and quickly grabbed a pair of his loose grey tracksuit bottoms and a long-sleeved white shirt. "Here you go" he turned to Draco triumphantly, holding the garments in his hands.
Draco smiled before shifting again, "er I think I can managed on my own"
Harry's grin faltered slightly but he mentally slapped himself, "er ... yeah sure that's fine -I can make us something to eat if you want?" Draco gnawed his lower lip. Food sounded great but what about the relative? Upon asking this, Harry shrugged. "My aunt left a note on the fridge, saying they had gone out to a movie and then dinner. They won't be back until really late"
Draco sighed with relief. "Alright then -I'll see you downstairs"
Harry nodded and walked out of the room ahead of the blonde, sparing him a glance that lingered on Draco's very skin, before the door closed behind him.
~0~
The hot water rained down inside the glass cubicle as Draco waited for the temperature to adjust. He had placed the clean pile of clothes atop the toilet tank as he waited, and then placed the warmed towels on the heated towel wrack opposite the shower. He liked the idea of having warm towels on him after a shower. He stood in front of the sink, eyeing his reflection in the mirror with a grimace. He really did look lower than a Weasley. His once silken blonde hair was greasy and a dark golden colour as it hung in lanky curtains around his face, his oily complexion glistened in the bathroom light, and his body odor was enough to make him gag. How had Harry managed to hug him?
He pealed the grimy shirt from his torso and kicked his legs out of the rumpled jeans, socks and underwear. He kicked them until they were under the sink. All that remained of his previous life. His father's appointed muggle clothes.
He turned to the shower cubicle, slid the door open and stepped into the hot, gushing spray.
He hissed and gasped as the water thrummed down onto his skin, but even in the heated spray of the shower, Draco had to admit he had never felt so refreshed. He glanced down at his feet so grateful that there were an assortment of brightly colored shampoo's and shower gels standing off to one side. I wonder which one Harry uses, he couldn't help but think as he picked up a 'Gillette fusion' bottle, squirted a large amount into his palm and began lathering his entire body, from head to toe. He soaped every crevice and inch of skin he could reach -even bent in odd positions to get to the places he couldn't -just to make sure he was fresh and clean. He sighed in contentment as he thoroughly scrubbed at his scalp, damning all the dirt and grease to Hell as he did so.
Finally when all he could smell was the fragrance of 'Gillette', and when his fingertips were pruning up, he decided that he was clean enough to climb out of the shower.
Once out of the shower, he tugged a towel off of the heated wrack and wrapped it tightly around his waist, reveling in the warmth, before snatching the second towel and hugging it around his shoulders. He sighed with a happy smile. He then towel-dried his hair until it was damp and a soft golden colour before dropping the second towel to the floor, stepped upon it to dry his toes, and then glanced at himself in the mirror.
He looked better than he had before.
His skin was glowing pink from the hot shower, his hair looked clean -if damp -and the bruises that had adorned his pearly skin a few weeks ago from his father's attack were almost completely gone.
Only the scars from being whipped with the cane remained.
Forcing tears not to well up in his eyes, he gingerly dressed himself in Harry's clothes; the tracksuit bottoms hung onto his hipbones for dear life, and the t-shirt clung to his rib-cage and what were left of his Quidditch muscles. He decided that if he was going to continue hanging out with Harry then more frequent meals were in order. Smiling a little he wondered if he should risk using Harry's toothbrush. He wrinkled his nose -even he didn't like the idea. He decided to ask Harry about it after dinner.
His stomach growled ravenously and with a light chuckle, Draco took his cue to venture downstairs for dinner.
~0~
Harry was humming along to the 'Evanescence' CD he had shoved into the radio in the kitchen as he wondered around preparing for dinner. In the round table he had set up two plates, two sets of cutlery -not that he was prone to using it much -and two glasses along with the salt and pepper shakers. He was seriously hoping that Draco liked what he had cooked. The Dursley's had been out and would not miss what he had cooked -he hoped. He was waiting for the timer to go off on the oven, wringing his hands as he paced, when a luminous sight in the kitchen doorway made him stop dead. He gaped a moment. "D-Draco?"
The blonde anxiously looked down at himself in case there was something he had forgotten to put on. The confusion was clearly evident on his face when he looked up at Harry. "Yes?"
Harry's face broke out into a grin, "you're clean -and you used my 'Gillette'" he remarked, taking an exaggerated sniff of the air.
At the last comment Draco squirmed and looked a little sheepish, "I -yes, I hope it's alright"
"Of course, dinner will be ready in-" the timer began to beep loudly, startling the blonde, "-now apparently" Draco took a seat at the table and watched with interest as Harry began dishing the food up and bringing the food-laden plates over. "I know you have not eaten in a while so I thought that I would just make a bit of everything -I'm pretty hungry myself" Harry began blabbering away, much to Draco's amusement, as the brunette brought over a huge salad, another large bowl of pasta, two plates with a slab of spiked chicken for each other them, along with chips, and then the small bottles of vinegar and olive oil.
Draco was sure his jaw was permanently dislocated.
"Is it too much?" Harry asked as he went over to the fridge for drinks.
Draco shook himself from his stupor, "n-no don't worry about it -it's ... I ... thank you, Harry"
Harry smiled over at the blonde before ducking inside the fridge, "what would you like to drink? I have Diet Coke, Lemonade, Orange Juice, Fanta and Tango"
Draco paled at the drinks listed. He had no idea what any of these strange words meant. Then again, he rationalized, half of the things I could tell Harry about would sound like the ramblings of a madman. He shrugged in thought, "My parents did not let me have any of those -except for Orange Juice"
"Would you like Orange Juice?" Harry asked cautiously.
Draco was about to nod when he decided against it. "No -I'll have whatever you're having" he grinned to himself as he watched Harry pour the drinks and bring them over.
And so his adventure into muggle fizzy drinks began.
~0~
Severus Snape had kept the muggle telephone that sat -covered in dust from years of misuse -beside his favourite armchair in front of the fire place. He had rarely used it save for emergencies.
This was an emergency.
Ever since he had bumped into Harry Potter on the way to the local supermarket that evening, his nerves had been in shreds. He had her beautiful eyes and he pretty, open smile. The boy -like Lily -had a perfectly proportional face. What Severus wanted to know now though, was why the child had never gone to Hogwarts -never been introduced to their world? Was the boy even capable of magic? He doubted it. He tapped his forefinger to his lips, thinking. He tapped his forefinger to his lips, thinking. "Oh Lily what happened to your son?" he breathed, staring into the burning fire.
He knew of no way to analyse the boy without seeming suspicious. He did know, however, how to go about getting Lily's old medical records from St. Mungo's archives. All he had to do was pick up the telephone. His fingers were itching to make the call but he was afraid of what he would find out. No matter what -if Harry were a wizard -then he would be too late to grow up and learn magic the way many young wizards did -the way Draco did. He would be an outcast all over again -like in the muggle world.
He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair.
He clenched and unclenched his fists.
Finally the temptation grew too great for him –he simply needed to know.
He snatched the receiver and dialled the number, teeth grinding as he waited to be put through to the main reception line. "Hello St. Mungo's hospital of magical maladies, Sasha speaking, how may I help you?"
"Hello Sasha, I was wondering if you could help" he cleared his throat, noting on how he was beginning to choke uncharacteristically already. "A dear friend of mine was at your hospital seventeen years ago. She suffered a tragic accident and died. I was wondering if I could get a copy of her medical files?"
"I'm sorry but due to patient confidentiality I am unable to make you a copy sir"
"But you must, my dear, it is for a court case coming up next month. It is crucial that I have that information"
"I'll need to speak to my supervisor can you hold?"
"Yes" Severus ground out as he was put on hold. Two long minutes later and he even found himself tapping his fingers to the breezy melody that played from the other end. He almost jumped in his seat when the other end of the line was picked up again. Almost.
"My supervisor had granted me permission to make a copy and send it to your address"
"Thank you ma'am you have been most helpful" Severus drawled truthfully. When asked, Severus gave his address for Spinner's End. Not his name. He never gave his name. He would be traced via his name wherever he went. He thanked Sasha and replaced the receiver on its holder, wiping the dust from his fingertips onto the arm of the sofa.
For an hour he waited patiently in the armchair for the delivery he knew would come. At exactly 9.10pm it did.
Scooping up the slim file from the small dusting of ash that had come out of his floo network, he sat back into his armchair, the file in his lap, and a refreshed glass of Goblin's Gin on his left hand side, ready to be picked up and drunk at any given moment. He opened the file and began to read.
Name: Lily Iris Potter nee Evans.
D. O. B.:30th January 1960 - 31st October 1981 Aged: 21
Hair colour: Auburn
Eye Colour: Green
Blood Type: Muggleborn [O-]
Height: 5ft 4"
Attended: Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Profession: Healer's Apprentice
Spouse: James Potter
Severus rolled his eyes. He knew all of this already. There was supposed to be information in here that only he would know –along with the Healer's at St. Mungo's. He continued to read.
Pregnancy Report
Ah, here we go, Severus thought as he immersed himself in the next few yellowing pages.
December First Scan: Mister and Mrs. Potter present. Everything developing fine.
January Second Scan: Mister and Mrs. Potter present. Everything looks normal and appears to be developing fine.
Severus' felt his eyes browse the rest of the pages until he found what he was looking for.
March Fourth Scan: Mister and Mrs. Potter present. Foetus appears smaller than it should. No cause for concern, will keep patient on a strict diet.
May Fifth Scan: Mrs. Potter present. Foetus development on track again. Medium strength heart beat …
Severus frowned at this –why had Lily gone to this scan all by herself -Alone -With no one there to hold her hand if there had been bad news? He read the remainder of the fifth scan report.
… Gender: a boy. Blood type: Half-blood [A-]
Severus felt his heart freeze in his chest. The space around him suddenly grew airless. How could the boy have a blood type of 'A-' when both Lily and James had been 'O's? Two 'O's did not make an 'A' no matter what type of 'A' it was. He shuddered and suppressed the urge to throw up. Lurching from his chair, the dark-haired man went into his den at the back of the house and opened the cupboard doors, summoning his Pensieve out with his wand. As he looked down into the bottomless basin, he could not help but feel the ice lace his insides. He shivered again. He had asked the nurse to Obliviate his mind once the memory had been extracted and placed onto a vial if he ever wished to see it again. He did not know exactly what was in it –but deep down in his heart of hearts he knew. He uncapped the small glass vial that was labelled 'LILY' and spilled the silvery substance into the basin.
He lent over and was lost …
A slightly younger Severus was standing in his parlous with a hysterical Lily as she came to him late one evening, her face red and blotchy and her hair a mess. He had welcomed her inside and asked her what the matter was –desperate to right any wrong in her life. "Oh Severus" she wept, his name sounding silvery upon her tongue, "I didn't know who else to turn to –and I missed you and –I don't know what to do"
Severus loathed to see his Lily suffering so badly, so he had taken her against his chest and led her slowly into the kitchen where he made her some herbal tea laced with a calming draught. Once the tea was made, offered and accepted, Lily sobered slightly from her hysterics. He had never seen her in such a way before. She had always been so strong –but now –she looked broken. His heart ached. He reached across the table and placed his hand upon her own, "Lily whatever is the matte to have you wound to such a state?"
The auburn haired woman rubbed at her pink nose and rubbed at her wet eyes. "It's J-James" she choked on the name as Severus flinched, "we tried another round of magical IVF and nothing has worked. This is the fifth time!" she sniffled again, determined not to cry. He saw her struggled and squeezed at her hand reassuringly. "Of course it's my fault" she scoffed, "none of this would have happened if I were a pureblood" she rolled her emerald eyes. "Oh Sev, what am I to do?"
"Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps James is the infertile one and not you?" the younger Severus ventured.
Lily looked at him, blinking in confusion and a new wonderment, "to tell you the truth no –I have never thought of it. All I have ever heard was of purebloods having amazing genes and that none of them were ever infertile"
"Oh Lily, of course they will tell you that. They would not want their families put to shame. That is how people invented the blood adoption potion after-all"
Lily gave him a wry grin from over the table-top, "you and your potions Severus" then a light ignited within her eyes, "blood adoption –what is that? I don't remember studying it in potions and you know how much Slughorn bragged about potions we were never going to be taught at Hogwarts" they both smiled at the memory.
"Basically if say you were to adopt a child or bear a child that was yours and someone else's or not yours at all, as long as the child is inside you and you take a potion with both of your own and your partners blood –for this matter James –then the child will have its DNA altered to look like it was grown from both yours and James' genes"
"You wizards really do have a potion and spell for everything don't you" Lily remarked dryly with a small smile.
"Except Cancer" Severus muttered darkly, "no one knows a cure for that"
Lily looked over at her long-time friend and squeezed his hand that she was still holding. "I am sorry that you lost your mother, Severus, I'm sure I would have liked to meet her"
Severus gave her a small, sad, smile in return, "I know she would have loved to meet you" he breathed, pressing a kiss to her cool knuckles.
As the lips began to move away from her knuckles, Lily stared at Severus. This man –no matter what mistakes had occurred in their past –he had always been there for her. She could even remember when she was in an exam whilst dating James in their last year and had not had time to study, as James had wanted her at the after-party for Gryffindor's victory. It had lasted all night until 3am the following morning. She was struggling on the one answer she did not know when a little paper crane drifted discreetly onto her exam paper. She had opened it under the table to read it;
Lilles, take deep breaths and focus. You know these answers and could answer this exam in your sleep. Stop over-thinking everything. You can do this. Sev x
P.S. the answer is a bezoar
That was one of the moments she knew how much she felt for the lonely Slytherin. Even though she was with James and had not studied with Severus for almost six whole months he still knew her weakest subject when it came to the potions theory exam; antidotes. Now that she looked at his over the tabletop she felt a surge of emotion she had never felt towards James.
She leaned over and pressed her lips against Severus'.
Though shocked for a moment, Severus leaned into the softness of Lily's lips, the soft taste of her lemon lip balm that she used in the summer. A hunger stirred within his belly. He could not suppress it as he drew a hand up to cup her feather soft cheek and deepen the kiss, melding their mouths together, softly sucking on her sweet lips … the taste of her was maddening. He pulled away, "Lily –oh Lily what torture I must endure knowing that at any moment you will return to him" Severus snarled in anguish like a wounded animal.
Lily looked saddened too, "Severus I am sorry I should have known better –I am married after all –to a brute no less and…"
Severus had grabbed her wrist and tugged the sleeve up to her elbow revealing her forearm. Instead of pearly white skin Severus saw a large, palm-sized yellowing bruise. "Did he do this?" he asked in a calm voice, too calm to be safe. She bit her lower lip –oh goodness when she did that she was irresistible –before nodding. He released her arm, closed his eyes and dreamt of the years he had listened to his father beating his mother. His witch mother, who could do spells and defend herself, she had done nothing to stop it. "Lily you cannot stay with him if he treats you this way"
"Wizarding couples cannot get divorced, Severus you know this" Lily sighed.
He did know it. He knew it all too well. He knew it when his mother killed herself and his father's drinking problem had gotten worse -when the abuse had gotten worse. He looked up at Lily –he knew he could save her. He cupped her face in his hands, "Lily, don't leave me alone with this knowledge, I fear I shall be reckless. Stay tonight, in the guest room"
Looking up into Severus bright onyx eyes Lily knew she should say 'yes'. And she did.
Later that evening, basking in the moonlight filtering through the curtains, Severus did not sleep. He lay wide awake listening to Lily stirring restlessly, with only a wall between them. He ached to comfort her but knew he could not. He would not pollute their friendship with his sinister love. As he grumbled to himself in the darkness he did not here Lily leave her room. His mutterings fell silent when his bedroom door opened and closed, soft footsteps tiptoed to his bed, and the mattress dipped as a warm body crawled in under the covers next to his own. A warm arm draped over his stomach and a head of soft auburn hair rested upon his chest. He looked down at Lily lovingly lying in his arms and was over-whelmed when she lent up and began kissing him, all the pent-up emotions waving out of her body as she tenderly touched Severus' bare skin. Electricity raced through him as he mirrored her actions –her skin so soft beneath his touch. "Severus …" she breathed as he rolled on top over her, overcome with emotions. She helped disperse of the baggy shirt she was wearing.
"Lily, my lovely, be mine if only for tonight"
"Severus" she breathed as his hot mouth began pressing a trail of burning kisses to her skin, "I'll always be yours Severus –always"
They made love that night; pure, guilt-free, beautiful love in the moonlight. The way it was always supposed to be. As the moon shone low in the sky, Severus looked down at his beautiful lover in his arms as he stroked her moon high-lighted hair. He stroked the silken auburn threads of hair and watched as her eyelashes fluttered while she slept. He held her naked body closely, as though she would vanish into thin air. She may as well have …
The memory jolted …
Severus watched his younger self in the kitchen as Lily talked to him over a cup of tea. "I'm pregnant Severus … and we both know whose it is"
Severus watched as his younger self looked up, afraid of what Lily would say and do next. She smiled, "I'm pregnant, Severus I'm finally going to be a mummy" she wiped her damp eyes, "and it's going to be with you. I don't care what James thinks, it's just you and me" she took on of his hands and placed it over her still flat stomach, "and baby makes three"
The memory jolted …
"HOW DARE YOU STAND THERE AND SMIRK AT ME TELLING ME YOU GOT MY WIFE PREGNANT!"
"WHY POTTER BECAUSE I FAILED TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU COULDN'T FOR ONCE IN YOUR MISERABLE LIFE?" Severus roared. He was angered by both the intrusion and what James had dared to ask of him.
"I want you to erase that night. Erase every moment of it. It never happened do you hear me? In fact, I'll do it for you. OBLI-"
"Wait!" Severus held up his hands. He could not lose that night –his heart ached at the thought of it –but the murderous glint in James' eyes and he knew, he knew he would lose. He would lose her all over again. "Fine" he sneered, "erase my memory, but I ask of you, let me keep a copy in a vial"
"Why?" James asked suspiciously.
Severus shrugged, grasping at straws whilst trying to remain calm and collected, "For an emergency"
It was a dumb excuse but clearly James was in no mind to think it over. "Done" he went through the procedure of placing a copy of the memory into a glass vial, hastily named it 'LILY' and tucked it into a kitchen drawer. Turning back to the Slytherin he aimed his wand and yelled, "OBLIVIATE!"
Severus jerked out of the Pensieve his mind racing, his head aching with the reply of the memory –the emotions –Lily. It was all too much as he caved in on himself and slumped away from the desk in his den and collapsed into the armchair in the parlour. He was so confused and distressed. But one thing was certain.
Severus Snape had a son.
~0~
It had taken Harry almost an hour to get Draco calm from the sugar-rush he had endured half an hour after the food was eaten. Now that the blonde was calm –and Harry had stacked the washed plates and cutlery away –Draco could not help but notice how ill and disorientated he felt. Putting a hand to his temple he groaned and sat down on the over-stuffed sofa in the Dursley's front room. "Harry!" he whined, "I don't feel too good"
Harry sympathised and was already prepared with a tall glass of cool water and a couple of aspirin. He hand them to Draco, "here take these with the water –it'll help. Trust me"
Draco eyed the tablets with distaste but downed them quickly once he felt bile try to rise out of his mouth. He refused to throw-up the lovely meal Harry had made for him single-handedly. Plus, he trusted the brunette. Harry took the glass from him as the blonde sighed, feeling a little better. He groaned again. He shortly returned to Draco's side and knelt down beside the sofa, "Draco?" he asked softly, "would you like to stay here for the night?"
Draco knew he should say 'no'. Every fibre of his being was protesting against the idea, but looking up into the concerned pools of Harry's eyes made Draco melt. He nodded. He really did want to stay, "yes please"
Harry smiled, "alright. You know where my room is. Go and get comfortable and I'll bring you a drink up"
"Aren't you going to bed too?" Draco asked, his features horribly pale, and his voice meek.
Harry nodded, "of course, but I need to clean the bathroom out as well in case my relatives come back early. They cannot know that you have been here"
"I can go-"
"No" Harry growled firmly, "you are staying here. You're not feeling well. Now, up to bed with you I'll be up there soon" Harry watched the pale boy walk up the staircase, his whole demeanour radiating illness. His stomach knotted, he knew he had made too much food. Oh well, what's done was done. He went about making a warm mug of milk for Draco –he made it for himself when he felt unwell. Whether the blonde would like it or not was another matter.
As he carried the mug upstairs and into his bedroom, Harry felt himself want to stop time for as long as possible to watch Draco sleep. He wanted to hit himself for even thinking the notion, but he smiled nonetheless. Draco was the picture of innocence when he was asleep. Placing the mug gently on the bedside table, Harry brushed the now sleeping blonde's fringe out of his eyes and pressed a soft kiss to his temple, "sweet dreams Draco" he breathed. He straightened up and turned the nightlight on, loving the soft blue glow it emitted. He turned the main room light off before venturing down the hallway to the bathroom. He made quick work of folding the towels up and gathering Draco's filthy clothes in his arms. He would wash them tomorrow if he got the chance. He took the dirty pile of clothes back to his room where he dumped them into his hamper.
Sighing with relief Harry glanced at his watch. 11.39pm. His relatives would be home soon. He glanced up through the dimly lit room to the blonde who was cuddled up in a cocoon of Harry's blankets, and smiled. He was glad he had asked Draco to stay. A bed, no matter how small, had to be better than a slide –right? Now the only problem was to see if he could get away with sneaking Draco into the house.
Only one way to find out, he smiled wryly to himself as he closed his bedroom door and went downstairs to watch some T.V. before the Dursley's returned.
A/N: Here you go everyone. I quick update and a lovely long chapter. Yes, one question is answered but I know what you are all thinking -how is Harry a muggle?
Stay tuned ;)