Chapter 27 - 27 p1

Chapter 27 I see London, I see France

With things sorted between the three girls, Lily Evans, Mary MacDonald and Helen Parkin, they went to breakfast together as they usually did on a Saturday morning. Helen would have to go early to the pitch because she was captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team, despite efforts to have her replaced by the banned James Potter prior to the first game of the year even being played.

Mary planned to spend the spare time before the match in the library getting them both library books for History. Both Helen and Mary had continued to take that course with Prof. Binns.

As they were leaving the Great Hall, three Slytherin boys intercepted them outside the doors. Malcolm Wilkes, Evan Rosier, and a reluctantly following Severus Snape, still very green and pockmarked.

Evan said, "Wanted to catch you ladies before today's game. You might not want to talk to us later."

"We'll see," Helen replied, confident that her team would be the victor.

"You sounded rather serious last night," Malcolm said. "If you weren't just saying that to get me to polish faster …"

"Oh no, Malcolm," replied Mary with sincerity.

"Good. We three would like to invite you all to Hogsmeade next week."

"What did you have in mind?" Helen asked.

Lily crossed her arms, and pretended not to look at Severus. This was one way around the girls' ultimatum, to get their ugly, green friend, Lily, a date too. Lily had not told her girlfriends that she intended to go to Hogsmeade with Severus. He was pretending he did not want to go anywhere with anyone from that suffering expression on his face, and the dispirited attitude that infused his world-weary posture.

"Well, we have not formalized an itinerary yet, Helen. Did you have someplace special in mind?" Evan asked.

"Maybe," Helen replied. "We'll need to talk it over first before accepting."

"Would till tomorrow evening be sufficient time?" Malcolm inquired.

"Yes, see you at our usual table in the library after dinner?"

"Absolutely," Malcolm replied, and he and Evan went towards the front door of the castle.

Without even looking at her, Severus asked, "Are we still going to the library this morning, Evans?"

"Can I meet you up there, Sev?"

He nodded and turned to head for the stairs.

Once he was out of earshot, Mary commented, "Is that the way his voice is going to sound from now on?"

"Yeah I did write that, didn't I?"

"You never mentioned what an improvement it was," Helen explained. "Don't know if his looks will get any better, but I would not mind him reading to me now."

Mary giggled, "Yeah, kind of deep and sexy now."

"Silky and dark."

"Stop," Lily exclaimed. Why did they have to pick on her friend?

"All right. All right. We have to give some thought to the terms of our acceptance. They could have tried a little harder than getting Snape for you, Lily."

"Severus is fine."

"Well yeah, we all know the allowances you make for him, Lily. Right moody git, if you ask me. Maybe you can take him off somewhere and lose him? He'll be a real downer next week."

"Maybe I'll just stick with him. You know, if you two are on like a serious date, wouldn't it be a little odd to have either one of us around?"

Mary frowned, "Well we don't want to ditch you, Lily. Our talk with the boys was more about in the library in the evening."

"I won't feel ditched, if I have Severus for company."

Making a face, Helen moaned, "Oh, Lily. You're making us feel bad. Tell you what, once your skin is better, we'll fix you up on a real date for Hogsmeade."

"Will you stop picking on Severus? I know he's not here to overhear you, but I really do enjoy his friendship."

Both of them rolled their eyes at Lily. No one in their right mind would want Severus Snape's moody and insulting companionship … unless he would do their homework for them, and not expect something in return. Certainly wouldn't want to be seen with him anywhere public, even before he was all dragonpox'd.

On their way to the library, after wishing Helen luck, Lily said, "You know, Mary, maybe you and Helen ought to consider how you treat Severus. You want your friends to be nice to me. Why can't you at least not talk about him in negative terms?"

"Because it seems you're willing to overlook all his flaws, Lily."

"I'm flawed to Malcolm and Evan."

"That's only because they haven't taken the time to get to know you."

Lily turned her head to glare at Mary by her side. Helen and Mary's letter over the summer was the most direct communication they had had with Severus that she could think of.

When they entered the library, Lily found Severus at the table for two that they had used earlier in the week. He already had pulled Defense books for them to work on that class assignment. Mary and Helen both took that class too.

"Hey Sev," Lily said before touching his arm. "Mary's going to need to work on that too, and perhaps check some of those books out so Helen can do that assignment later."

"Hmm," he replied, without even looking towards Mary. "I can look up some things and take notes, if you want these for the three of you tonight."

"No, maybe we can move to a larger table together?"

Severus looked up at Lily, confused. Since when did he get invited to sit with the other Gryffinor girls? They had to know that the invitation for next weekend did not come from him. A glance at Mary's sour face showed him that this was solely Lily's idea.

It did occur to him to suggest they take one of the other empty tables on either side of his, but that would probably lead to Lily sitting with MacDonald, rather than him. If he moved, he'd either end up sitting next to or across from Lily. "All right," Severus replied without displaying enthusiasm, packing up what he had removed from his bag.

Lily picked up some of the Defense books and said, "Lead the way, Mary."

Mary MacDonald intentionally chose a recessed table for four, and then seated herself in the back. She better receive a sterling Defense grade for this homework.

Once they were settled, Lily and Severus wasted no time and got right to work discussing the assignment and referencing their supporting facts. If Mary didn't look at Snape, his voice made her momentarily forget his looks. Lily and him were a couple of swots, but they were doing all the work while Mary just made notes to write her essay later.

Lily was happy that Mary didn't complain about Severus sitting with them. Perhaps she'd realize how valuable he was, when it came to doing homework.

Not caring what Lily wanted to review, Severus went along with her discussion and shared books with Lily while they sat closely next to each other.

When their Defense assignment was completely revised, Mary suggested they start on Charms before lunch. She had that class with them too.

When Lily and Mary returned to their common room to get ready for lunch, then the match, there was a gaggle of students around the bulletin board complaining. One of the younger students asked the first prefect she saw, "Evans, what's this about us doing a class on a Sunday?"

Lily said, "Excuse me," to get a look at the notice for herself.

There was a separate time scheduled for 6th and 7th years, 5th years, 4th and 3rd years, and then a last class scheduled with 1st and 2nd years for an hour each tomorrow afternoon in the Infirmary. The only information was that it was 'Mandatory'.

"Well, it doesn't say. Perhaps Prof. McGonagall will make a verbal announcement?"

Severus felt Prof. Abstractus was making something out of nothing. He had started with widely accepted substitutions for his equations. After he exhausted those, for a challenge, Severus chose more difficult substitutions that had no basis in fact, like freely donated unicorn blood. If the blood was taken by force, it would be disastrous for whoever imbibed it. Due to the complexity of the substitution, the equations were hypothetical and only suggested possible substances, when prepared a certain way that could fit into the formula as a solution that could be solved as many different substitutions. His suggestions were not definitive since ingredients could be prepared to meet the numerical equivalents, and was therefore infinite.

"So, with your permission Severus, I'd like to send him more of your work."

"It's a waste of time. If there were substitutions, they'd already be using them."

Shaking his head, Prof. Abstractus replied, "It will take great deal of experimentation to determine if any will lead to positive results. There's a great number of variables that can lead to a mathematical match, but not a magical one."

"There's nothing revolutionary about what I did."

"Oh no. You have an innate grasp of interactions, Severus. You eliminated many of the possible substances that would fit mathematically," he explained while holding up Severus's notes.

Skeptical because no one ever thought highly of Severus not 'following the directions' before, Severus uttered, "I'd rather not."

"You underestimate yourself. I've already talked to your head of house. Prof. Slughorn says you only aspire to being a janitor, grounds keeper, or some other profession in the magical maintenance field. I think you have more potential than you give yourself credit for. You attained more OWLs than many of your classmates.

Severus never had any career discussion with Slughorn. So Slughorn thought he was only qualified for cleaning toilets? Not a surprise.

Some dunderhead, that Severus had never heard of, wanted to waste his time experimenting with his equations? Severus would prefer to do it himself, but Slughorn was not permitting it. Post-Hogwarts, Severus did not know where he'd get access to equipment and ingredients, but he could always do more calculations, if all these failed. If any of these turned into something promising, Abstractus said he already had agreement from this other bloke to give Severus some credit if anything was published. With publication came some recognition, depending on how big a discovery it was. Severus had been trying to think of how to get future recommendations, seeing how Slughorn was against him, and Defense teachers had not a dedicated bone in their bodies.

Shrugging, Severus agreed,"Whatever you think best, Professor." He was already thinking about Lovegood's offer. He didn't pay, but he was interested in some of Severus's ideas with the intent of publishing. The Quibbler wasn't The Daily Prophet, or even Witch Weekly. However, Severus knew his unpopular views would find an audience.

One of those little Slytherins following him around was Bartemius Crouch's son. He was the head of Magical Law Enforcement that allowed the Ministry use of Unforgivables. The Daily Prophet had been short on the details. When were they allowed to be used? What record was kept of their use? If it was not through self-reporting, could it be used to track down others who used the spells in Great Britain? If so, how could they tell what it was cast on? Severus had cast the killing curse on bugs and small animals. The law only covered humans, both muggle and wizard, and other beings with human-like intelligence, like goblins, centaurs, merpeople, vampires, werewolves and even giants.

Lily and Mary ended up disappointed by the match. Helen and the team were doing well, when the sneaky Slytherin seeker caught the snitch and won the game.

They had been more worried about Helen, but when they got back to the Tower to wait for her, Pettigrew was being a real big toerag amongst a sumptuous feast in their common room that involved more food than was served in the Great Hall on September 1st.

"If James was playing, we would have won the game. He wouldn't have let some slimy Slytherin get the snitch before him."

Punctuating that, a bowlful of red gelatin that had been hurled upwards minutes earlier, peeled off the ceiling and showered those that had just entered the common room, including Lily and Mary. Lily looked up and saw more food stuck and waiting to rain down.

"Grow up!" Lily called out. "Potter played a chaser before he got banned. Chasers don't catch snitches."

"Evans," Potter replied in a friendly manner. Obviously she didn't know all a chaser did during a quidditch match, because she only heard strategy from Parkin. "Wormtail was just talking."

"What kind of nickname is Wormtail anyway? Born with a gerbil tail, Pettigrew? Is that why you can't sit on a broom?"

Peter sputtered, "Oh, like uh … you think a toad like you can fly?" How dare someone insult him.

"Hey!" James cried.

"Stuff it, Prongs," Sirius replied. Couldn't let some girl insult a Marauder, even if it was Peter.

Mary asked, "Prongs? You use a fork to comb your hair, Potter?"

Lily and some of the others started to laugh. "No," replied James indignantly. James frowned. They were laughing at his hair, even Evans? He spent a lot of time on it, and it showed. Every morning and evening, he spent some quality time with the mirror and his wand. Never one spot on his teen face. Ever. Clean-shaven, pleasant smelling, teeth flossed and brushed, and just a hint of a rebellious sideburn to complement the rest of his carefully coiffed hair.

"What's gotten into you, Evans?"

Jabbing her finger in their direction, Lily said, "Maybe I'm tired of these messes, and hearing all your talking. Always blaming others when you lose our house more points in one week, then could possibly be made up in one quidditch match. Why don't you all start pulling your weight around here, and help Gryffindor?"

"Yo Evans, you cost our house points too. Miss Prefect," Sirius sneered.

"No one could get to class because your little groupies were crying on the stairwell when you didn't wave 'hi' to them. Being a prefect does not mean I have to wipe your noses and arses for you lot."

Not realizing that Lily was being sarcastic, James explained, "You little guys got to realize that those stairs are crowded in the morning. We didn't see you. Nothing to cry over. We'll see you back here later."

"Prongs!" corrected Sirius, "It was Snape that jinxed their noses to let loose a river of snot that flowed down the stairs. Not you ignoring them."

"Ewwww," James replied. Now if it had been Snape's nose, the dungeons would still be flooded with mucus. He'd have to check into that.

"Once again, you are lying, Black," Lily said calmly.

"I never!"

"Can't you just go to your room, Evans? They shouldn't let you girls out when it's your time of month." Peter complained.

Remus, Sirius and James wished they were still talking about bogies because the common room erupted in a predictable fashion.

Amongst the raining and thrown food, there were many comments made. Evans was called a jolly green bitch and more female problems were attributed to explain her current crabby disposition. Mary MacDonald was called some rather unkind things, but because her mouth was running non-stop she didn't hear any of them. The nickname of Padfoot was defined as a petty, lying thief, and Remus defended his nickname of Moony did not mean he dropped his trousers and gave his hairy bum a good public airing for fun. And who told about his furry backside?

By dinner, Lily was ready to chew and spit nails. Their common room was totally trashed. Again! And they had lost the game, so they couldn't even label the reason for getting all that food as a celebration. And those toerags, Lily was seriously considering joining the female group that was forming to raid the boys' dorms while they slept.

Afterwards, she sought out Severus. She was tired of all the immature Gryffindor crap.

He did what she really appreciated about Severus; he listened to it all, or at least all Lily was willing to tell him.

Severus felt Lily's capacity to continue dealing with people she had nothing in common with, and that went out of their way to harass her, was the cause of all her problems. There was nothing new about her complaints. The Gryffindor boys were disrespectful slobs who would gladly defend their right to make their common room into their putrid lair. They only stopped short of sitting around in their underwear. They did not bother to cover up how much they scratched their privates and bums, and then stuck their fingers in either their noses or ears before returning to eating with those same unwashed fingers, while amusing themselves with breaking wind and belching during their never ending discussion of quidditch.

Even with his limited experience, Severus knew that this behavior would not endear any lad to a young lady. He may have been raised without much supervision, but he was aware of manners and the proper way to act. It was his intentional choice not to spend his life kissing arse for inane conversation from a bunch of fickle dunderheads. Add to that his ingrained desire to remain unattractive to Spinner's End predators, and he was able to keep all of this … drama from taking over his life. Severus had better things to do with time than trying to impress shallow individuals.

Lily went to the Slug Club meeting with Helen, but found it incredibly boring.

She didn't care what gifts Slughorn had received. She didn't care much about recent graduates' successes since there weren't many she knew well enough. And Lily didn't want to hear that Slughorn's almost surprise for his group of favorites had been sidetracked by the Headmaster so he could only offer it to Slytherins tomorrow.

Lily didn't know what was going on in the Infirmary tomorrow afternoon, but if it was mandatory, why should some Slytherins get excused to portkey to a quidditch match? She had never even heard of this Bagman fellow, and to hear Potter and his fan club talk, the beater was the lowest position on a team. Besides, quidditch games could last a while, didn't any of them have homework this weekend? There had been a Slytherin game today so they were mostly tied up for hours this weekend watching that.

Something was odd at lunch the next day. Most of Slytherin house was missing. Severus and a handful of smaller students were sitting together at the end closest to the staff table. Lily scanned the head table, and Prof. Slughorn was missing. Why would Dumbledore let Slughorn take so many Slytherins out of school for the afternoon, even if it was a Sunday?

Since 6th and 7th years had their mystery class first, Lily went over and sat down on the bench next to Severus, who was reading with his hair hanging forward to block out the younger students.

The other Slytherin students didn't ignore Lily, glaring at her as her Gryffindor behind sullied their bench. She gave them a withering glance back, and was tempted to put her bare, green hands all over their food.

"Why are you here, Sev?"

"Lunch."

Lily looked at his plate. Whatever he had used a fork to eat was gone, there was still some grapes and slices of apple and cheese.

"What about quidditch?"

He shrugged and closed his book. "I have stuff to do today. That thing in the infirmary is only an hour."

"Do you need any help?"

"It's fine, Lily," Severus responded while resuming his lunch.

She frowned looking at the Slytherin table. The entire table was set for the whole house to have lunch, with large platters of untouched food along its length. Although magic was involved somehow, it struck her as extremely wasteful.

"Did everyone go with just Slughorn?"

"No, that new flying teacher went too. Not sure if she even likes the Wasps."

"She seems all right," Lily commented. Since she hadn't had a flying lesson since first year, she hadn't had a class with the new teacher.

"Did you want to head up now?"

"All right."

Since they were leaving early, Severus and Lily had plenty of time to walk slowly and by a more scenic route. With a quarter of the students missing, and many still at lunch, it was quite nice till they made the final turn that put them back on the primary route to the Infirmary.

Potter, Black, Pettigrew and Lupin had two 6th year Hufflepuff girls backed up against a suit of armor. The girls were looking past the boys hopeful that help would arrive soon.

"So you two could go with us next week to Hogsmeade," Black insisted.

"Well... uh, we already told some ..."

"Pfft. Just tell them you are going with us now," Pettigrew replied confidently.

"You know, I have a Nimbus," Potter was telling them.

Lily rolled her eyes. Not the Nimbus again! When she was a first year, she had gotten around to looking that up because it was something Potter always talked about, his Nimbus that he couldn't bring to school till next year. Not good enough to wait till second year to let them all see this broom. Oh no.

James Potter and his family only purchased a Nimbus, Devlin Whitehorn started that broom company in 1967. Stuck-up snob thinking an expensive broom made him sound all groovy. Probably the only reason he got a place on the house team as a second year, from what she understood from Parkin.

"Leave them alone," Lily snapped. "They said they have plans already."

Black folded his arms over his chest, and replied, "We're offering them better." He purposely looked her and Snape, beside her, over from head to toe in a dismissive manner.

"Evans, you could come with us too," Potter eagerly added while unsmoothing his hair with his hand.

"I also have plans so why don't you lot just move along?"

"Plans?" Potter asked, confused because Evans was just as green as she was three days ago when she got out of St. Mungo's.

"Who cares?" Pettigrew muttered in Evans direction, before returning his attention to the lovely Hufflepuffs. Suggestively he said, "You girls like Honeyduke's and maybe a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks?"

"Don't leave out Zonko's, Pettigrew," Lily added sarcastically.

"That pretty much goes without saying, doesn't it?" Black asked.

When Lily burst out in giggles at the pointless day the boys had planned, just like any other time they had been going to Hogsmeade since they were thirteen, Black and Pettigrew took offense.

Potter suggested, "I'd go someplace new with you in Hogsmeade, Evans."

"Maybe the Hog's Head," Sirius suggested. "It's dark in there."

The drawing of wands happened simultaneously, with Lupin being the only one not to take his out. Even the two Hufflepuffs slowly took out theirs, in case they needed to defend themselves from the creators of the Breast Baring Jinx. Where were the rest of the Hufflepuffs to save them from these immature beasts? They already had attacked Evans before, so her being a prefect meant little since they didn't receive any meaningful punishment.

Severus's protego was a heartbeat sooner, covering both himself and Lily, then Potters' impedimenta and Black's levicorpus. Less than a second later, Evans finished casting expelliarmus at Potter, then Pettigrew's slow stupefy was cast, but still blocked by the original shield charm.

Emboldened by the success of Snape and Evans to resist a group attack by the nastiest bullies at the school, the two Hufflepuffs cast expelliarmus at Black and Pettigrew's backs.

Being disarmed did not deter the Marauders, who were loudly proclaiming that Severus and his newfound Hufflepuff allies were sneaky and attacked innocent people from behind. As more Hufflepuffs arrived with some Ravenclaws, also on their way to the Infirmary for this mandatory class, they found no one to believe their story of outrage. The Hufflepuff tale made them all wary that in the next week, no female would be safe from being pressured by the Marauders to be their dates to the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year. They would not take 'no' as an answer.

Madam Pomfrey came out of the Infirmary as the volume grew, and Prof. McGonagall came from the other direction, walking with Parkin and MacDonald. Pomfrey deferred to McGonagall, and invited all those not directly involved to take a seat inside.

McGonagall quickly reached a decision to give Potter, Black and Pettigrew detention. The opposing side was in agreement that Lupin cast nothing. Her Gryffindors insisting that Snape started it when he cast no spell at them was ludicrous, and she did not blame any of the ladies for disarming those boys once they started casting offensive spells. She would have a good deal of time with them tonight to explain their probation extended to more than undressing fellow students.

McGonagall was still steaming at their immaturity the other day when she addressed the assembled 6th and 7th years gathered in the infirmary, seated facing a screen that had been put up for Madam Pomfrey's presentation. "As you may have heard, a baseless rumor was cast about widely on Friday that has caused a great deal of undue confusion, especially among the younger students."

Shifting her narrowed eyes to James Potter, "Preying upon the ignorance of innocent children will not be tolerated at Hogwarts. Especially at the cost of your classmate's reputation, which is so much above the example you set with your own immature, self-serving behavior. Do I make myself clear, Potter? Oh, and probably you too, Black and Pettigrew?"

A chorus of "Huh", "Whatever." and "What?" came from the section up front which Prof. McGonagall had cleared especially for them.

"That will be another detention, gentlemen. I invite you to keep testing me." Turning aside, she yielded the floor, "Madam Pomfrey, you may begin whenever you are ready."

"All right then, I'll keep this brief and informative since I'm sure at your age, you've already heard all about wizards and witches from your parents. If you have any personal questions, you can always stop by and ask me privately."

Lily frowned, wizards and witches? She recognized the illustration that flashed up on the screen from the baby book from St. Mungo's. Oh gosh, and she was sitting next to Severus, with Mary and Helen on the other side of her.

Madam Pomfrey did mention a few things that Lily didn't know, but she maintained an attentive look throughout the presentation. There were a couple things about the boy bits that suddenly made some sense to her once she heard it explained. The anti-pregnancy spell on the castle and grounds seemed to be common knowledge, but they were also taught a contraceptive charm.

What Lily wanted to know was, how was her mother supposed to teach her any charms at all? Either to prevent or aid these kind of things.

Quite a few times, she had glanced at Severus. He would look back at her, but unlike the male Gryffindors in front who found this whole talk hilarious, Severus behaved himself. Mary and Helen were also calmly paying attention. Lily had looked their way a few times too, to see if they were as embarrassed as her with Severus sitting here.

She also had to keep a confused look off her face when Madam Pomfrey briefly talked about wizard couples and witch couples, but didn't explain how they interacted. If the male part fit into the female part, what did they do, if they did anything at all?

At the end of the presentation, no one asked any questions, so Lily didn't ask any either.

Prof. McGonagall removed all the 6th year Gryffindor boys to her office for some more discussion on how they were to behave properly.

As they were leaving, Helen asked, "What time are they expected back?"

Lily gave Severus a nudge. He muttered, "I suppose whenever the game is over."

"They were supposed to meet us in the library."

He sighed then said, "They are interested in going with you to Hogsmeade next week."

"How interested?"

"I can't speak for them." Severus broke away from the Gryffindor girls, and mentioned, "I have some work to catch up on."

Confused, Lily didn't know if Severus really had something he needed to do, or he just wanted to avoid Mary and Helen asking questions about his friends. "Sev, will we see you in the library later?"

"I suppose, if they get back in time."

"All right."

Once he turned away on the staircase, Mary commented, "At least he wasn't laughing like a hyena in there. That was so boring."

Helen agreed, "I know. All Potter's fault, ruining everyone's Sunday afternoon."

Lily just followed them back to the tower. She learned things, but would they think her silly if she said that? Although she wouldn't have thought Severus a better choice to talk with about these things, he wouldn't laugh at her, or at least not for long.

Still alive and well, Abraxas Malfoy was puzzled by the information that was forming on Tom Riddle, Slytherin, Hogwarts Class of 1945. His father was also named Tom Riddle and was a muggle? His muggle grandparents were Thomas and Mary Riddle of Little Hangleton, and their home was called the Riddle House? This looked too simple. Although he had been calling himself publicly Lord Voldemort for close to ten years now, that was not long enough for a wizard to forget his original name.

Mother was a witch who didn't attend Hogwarts. A squib most likely. That was marginally better than being a regular half-blood. Half-bloods were the lowest form of partial wizard there was. They were intentionally created by their parents, who should know better. At least muggleborns' parents were totally clueless and were just doing what came naturally to them and screwed like kneazles.

Maybe he'd pay a visit to his friend, Crouch, down at the Ministry. If any of this were true, pureblood support for this substandard wizard, who dared to think himself above a Malfoy, would soon dry up.

At dinner, they saw the Slytherins had returned so the girls kept to their plan to meet with the boys in the library this evening. They intended to agree to go as a group of six to Hogsmeade, and for Lily sit with them in the library this week.

They did not have any homework left to work on, so they spent their time discussing Hogsmeade next week. Helen and Mary were inclined to let Malcolm and Evan plan the day to see what they had in mind to impress them. Lily agreed that if it was a circuit of Zonko's, Honeyduke's and then a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks, they weren't the caliber of fellow they were looking for. Although Severus could influence them away from those spots, if he tried. Lily already knew his opinion of the typical afternoon in Hogsmeade. Maybe she should tell him not to, since Mary and Helen were using this as a test to gauge whether they suited. Lily would go with Severus to Hogsmeade other times after this.

Since they still had plenty of time before curfew, they decided to leave the library together, but in pairs. Helen and Evan, along with Mary and Malcolm were interested in having some quality couple time. Severus and Lily were free to do as they liked, rather than being forced together. Obviously neither of their roommates realized that their friendship did involve time with each other, and it was not only due to Severus's normally abrasive personality keeping others at a distance.

Severus suggested quietly, "Maybe we should tag along with them. If there's trouble, they'll be six of us."

With so many of the students becoming openly aggressive towards her, Lily considered Severus's overcautious attitude. Also, if either of the boys got fresh, Lily would be a shout away, rather than staying up late this evening wondering where either of them were.

Rosier and Wilkes already had someplace in mind two floors up on the sixth floor. Lily knew this floor attracted snoggers and troublemakers looking for silly duels. None of the other four said anything as Lily and Severus followed along with each turn and then finally ducked under a tapestry. They also cast lumos and found it covered a door to a storage room that was partially filled long ago. It was large enough that they were able to get enough distance between each couple. Wilkes warded the door to warn them if anyone opened it. There were plenty of comfy spots that there was no need to argue, and they quietly separated in their pairs.

Severus chose a large, old chair in the corner, cast muffliato and then did something to his lumos to free it from his wand tip, and it split into a number of fairy lights on the ceiling. When Lily cast nox, she intially felt it was a little too dark.

He sat down to one side and reached for Lily's hand, while asking, "So how was your day?"

Lily laughed, and wedged herself in next to Severus. "What did you think of our mandatory class?"

Severus sighed and said, "Madam Pomfrey did what she was supposed to do. The facts, but nothing extra to make anyone who didn't know, think they should immediately run out of there and go shag."

"So you know everything, Sev?"

"What makes you ask that, Lily?"

"You knew things were missing."

"You know that too." He then added, "Don't you? There was nothing at all about kissing and touching."

"It's not necessary."

Severus snorted. "That sounds very male."

"Why?"

Sighing, he explained, "Many just want to get to the part Pomfrey covered, and not worry about whether the witch likes it or not."

"If she loves him, won't she?"

"Perhaps, but there's more that a wizard could do."

"Would you?"

"Why wouldn't I try to make you happy, Lily?"

"Well, yeah … but … like what else?"

"Wouldn't you rather find out together? If we find something we like, maybe it'll be brilliant. Something we don't, then we'll know."

"How about now, Sev?" Lily asked, placing her hand on the front of his trousers.

Severus took her hand by the wrist, and reminded her, "I still can't have any of my skin rubbed for now. Besides, I like the slow pace we've set, rather than just ignoring the things we've enjoyed so far by slowly exploring and savoring it."

Lily didn't protest as Severus leaned his face close to hers for a kiss. Slow exploration sounded perfect to her as she opened her mouth to let him know she wanted in. Besides, with others in the room, even if they couldn't be seen, now was not the time to start baring herself to try something new.

Side by side was not as nice as being on top, so Lily withdrew her tongue from Severus's mouth and then twisted herself to climb onto his lap like last time. She had to nudge him into the center of the seat, so there was enough room on either side of him for her knees to rest comfortably.

"Did you learn anything new today?"

She felt him hesitate under her and hold his breath for a moment, before he muttered, "Not necessarily. I hadn't considered that my mother could have more children."

Lily frowned in thought. Severus said his parents still … did it, but how? Did his mother ever move from the kitchen, or did they do it there? These thoughts got Lily out of the snogging mood. "What if she did?"

"I don't know. She may be able to take care of it, like she did me. I'm not sure."

Although Lily's impression was that Severus's parents did not take care of him, she understood that prior to him jumping out from behind a bush at the playground, surprising Petunia and her about eight years ago, that he needed more care like diapers and feeding. At least for the first year, or maybe longer? The length of time between infant and semi-independent toddler was rather vague in her head. When did Severus need to start dressing and feeding himself? Was it easier to learn how to go to the bathroom in the garden, or indoor plumbing? Would he expect his children to be as motivated as him, and need little supervision? Although he did not attend regular school, Severus knew things. Lily thought he said his mother taught him to read and some spells. Reading well had taken Lily years, along with learning how to print and write cursive. Her friend was smart, but even if he could learn in half the time it took Lily, it would have meant his mother actually did something beyond caring for him till he was potty trained, and then stuck him on the Hogwarts Express at the age of eleven.

"What would happen if she couldn't?" Lily asked.

"Even if she could …" Severus started. "Either I'd have to, or it'd just be better to prevent it suffering by dumping it in the river."

Lily felt a feeling of dread wash over her. She didn't know what argument to use to say that hypothetical solution was wrong. It was wrong, she knew that. If Severus had a choice, to have been killed as a newborn rather than live the life he had lived till now, would that have been what he would want? She heard people here at Hogwarts come right out and say they attacked him merely because he existed. The staff certainly didn't show concern. Lily realized that Severus didn't exaggerate much when it came to the school caring about his safety. Why should they, would his parents complain if he never came back on the train in June? Probably think he had gotten smart enough to not return to Spinner's End. At least at home, even when Petunia was being her most unpleasant, she never said she wanted Severus dead, just for him to stay where he belonged.

Rather than trying to get specifics out of Severus, Lily led him with an open question, "Why would you say that?"

"It's hard to put into words. Even simple things like food are difficult. My mother called every piece of meat 'chicken'. I'm not certain I ever had real chicken before I came to Hogwarts. I tasted it here just to see."

"But here you know what things are."

"Where does it come from? Food cannot be created by transfiguration. How do I know the animal was in good health, rather than parasite-ridden, diseased, covered in oozing sores, and able to walk to its own slaughter? It may have lived in a dark shed, knee-deep in its own waste for its entire life with its legs slowly rotting away. Additionally, how do the house elves know the suppliers aren't lying? Everyone lies when there's money to be made."

"No they don't, Sev. They know we're children and wouldn't sell something to the school that we shouldn't eat. I've seen chickens, sheep and cows on television. Pigs kind of wallow around in the farmyard mud, but that's the way they are. You are overthinking due to some of the questionable sources … the food in your youth came from."

"When the owl that brought my school letter ended up getting boiled for dinner, I knew nothing was safe from getting thrown into the pot."

Lily opened her mouth to tell Severus that couldn't be true, but then closed it. Maybe it was true. Something had happened to make him treat food with mistrust. Owl was close enough to chicken that it might not be bad … if Lily didn't like her own pet owl. Even when she was younger, Severus's mother couldn't have had enough correspondents to risk nabbing one of those owls. What else was served as chicken at the Snapes? There were a lot of rats by the river, but his mother wouldn't cook that, would she? Maybe. If she was drinking heavily then, maybe it didn't matter to her. It didn't seem to have done Severus any harm, but maybe it was the deception of calling everything chicken that hurt him most.

"Being a vegetarian due to concern for the welfare of animals is all right, Sev, but you should make an effort to eat more of other things."

Did Lily ever listen to him? Severus wondered. He was concerned about himself, not the animals. It was more than mystery meat, there was improperly stored food that could be infested, or include tainted ingredients. It wasn't worth talking about it, if Lily could not be bothered to make an effort to understand his point of view. Rather than saying more, Severus put his arms around Lily and rested his head against her shoulder.

Lily responded by putting her arms around Severus. Although he was getting older, her friend needed someone to care about him.

Her quiet thoughts were interrupted by sounds from within the darkened room. Only her and Severus had any light, so her imagination was free to supply activities to match the loud sighs, male and female moans, and something audibly wet.

She whispered, "What do you think they're doing, Sev?"

Feeling more than hearing his snort of warm breath against her neck as Severus tilted his head, Lily heard Severus whisper a reply, "Getting better acquainted?"

"Huh? Are you trying to be funny?"

"No. Unlike us, they don't know each other, and don't want to waste time to later find out they aren't compatible."

"Why wouldn't they be compatible?"

"It's an excuse to snog and get their hands on each other. They don't bother getting clever with toothbrushes."

Lily tutted in response, then said, "It sounds like more than kissing."

"Perhaps, or it could just be loud kissing. We're rather quiet, compared to others."

"What do you mean? Why would kissing be loud?"

Severus took a turn making a tutting noise, then explained, "When they get aggressive and hurried, and they also make noise to spur the other on."

"Do you want me to make noise?"

"I think you're perfect, Lily. Though if you feel the urge, you may, but it's not necessary."

"If I feel the urge?" she sarcastically asked, and leaned back breaking their embrace.

"Hmmm mmm."

"Maybe we should go, Sev. They are being a bad influence on you."

"As you wish, Lily."

"I do."

"Are you going to get off me?"

"Can't you carry me?"

"Maybe," Severus replied, but as soon as he moved his hands under her bottom to get a logical enough hold to avoid dropping her, Lily scrambled off his lap

She said, "Just kidding, Sev. You'll get hurt. There's too many obstacles in here anyway. Probably land on top of me."

"If I recall correctly, you usually land on me." He removed the alarm from the door, opened it, reversed the muffliato, then added in a louder voice, "We're going."

Barely audible murmurs replied. Lily was eager to ask Helen and Mary what they were doing. Did this mean they were serious about these two? Now that she had put her tongue in her best friend's mouth, that meant a bit more than just kissing her best friend frequently. Maybe her roommates' definition of what their status was would help explain how she felt about Severus. She knew kissing her best friend was more than best friends, but Lily wasn't ready to call it something more unless she really had to.

Lily was still confused later in the week as she went down to Potions with Severus. Now that they knew post-library time with the others had turned into snogging sessions, neither of them wanted to tag along.

Lily heard quite enough Sunday about her and Severus talking the whole time they were there. Mary and Helen were in favor of Lily doing nothing more than talking with Severus, but they could talk anywhere and anytime. Lily could tell them they did more than that, but bragging didn't seem right. Until they gave details about what they've been doing with boys, it would be uncomfortable for Lily to talk about it. She also wasn't sure she wanted them to know that Severus may be more than her best friend at the moment. It was only kissing, and kissing was … only kissing.

Her friend still seemed determined to stay on a course to marry her, at least that's what she thought. She didn't want to talk about that though. Lily wouldn't say they were 'compatible', but she really couldn't envision someone else putting up with Severus. Not that he ever tried to broaden his circle of friends beyond her, and this new group of younger Slytherins, who were following him to meals, and whatever they got up to down in their house's dungeons.

At the moment, Lily had no other prospects, but she was young and only green and scarred with pockmarks temporarily. Maybe in 7th year, she'd catch someone's notice. If not, there was always once she graduated Hogwarts to meet mature wizards that thought about things other than quidditch and practical jokes. Though maybe not, Prof. Dumbledore cared more about candy than what went on at the school, and Prof. Slughorn only cared about himself.

A whole week had passed since they returned to Hogwarts so it was another Potions lab. After dinner, Severus and her were supposed to report to the Infirmary for a check-up.

Everything started out fine for the lab, even though her friend was still seated next to Potter and in front of Black. It contradicted Slughorn's inherent laziness to invite that kind of trouble.

Approximately fifteen minutes into class, Sirius Black realized he had messed up his potion. Must have not gotten enough sleep after their night out with Moony. There would be time to start again, but then he'd have to hurry and pay strict attention to what he was doing. Boring. James's potion must be going all right since he was ignoring all his psssting.

When Snape turned around to give him a dark glare, Sirius showed the creep his two middle fingers. Snivellus couldn't keep his large, greasy nose out of things that didn't concern him. Since when did Sirius want his attention? Like never. Greasy nosy parker. Hey, now that Snivelly wanted to play, how about he help him out with giving him a reason to shampoo that oil slick that was dripping out of his scalp? Here he had a perfectly disgusting, ruined potion, and with a hover charm, he'd have something to brighten things up in this dreary dungeon.

Lily saw it first. She had been glancing at the front corner of the classroom frequently. A cauldron hovering in midair was not good. Rather than getting out the warning the meant to say, all that got out was a gasping sound. When some members of the class looked at her, she pointed to get their attention on what was important and tried to get her wand out.

It was the mutter of 'fucking gryffindors' from over his left shoulder that got James's attention. With trepidation, he looked back and to his right to see Sirius grinning, looking upward while holding his wand. James saw the cauldron, and Snape was on the step where an ingredient was precisely added after each stir so his focus was totally on his own cauldron. He was hunched forward protectively to keep smaller stray objects from being thrown into it.

The decision was split-second. James did not want Evans cooing over Snivellus while he exaggerated how hurt and sick he was. If he broke Sirius's concentration, the cauldron would come down anyway so he shoved Snape. Of course, he was such a pathetic lightweight that the shove moved him, splattering his cauldron's contents onto one of James's hands. Luckily, Sirius's cauldron dropped onto their table, rather than on Snape's head. That's the thanks he gets for trying to help. His hand really hurt – that was hot!

Many in the class were frozen watching as yet another bullying at the hands of Potter and Black unfolded right here in Potions, while the teacher was still in the room. The Hufflepuff sharing a table with Black tried to push past him to extinguish Snape's robe sleeve that had passed through the flame under his cauldron, but Black chose to push back and get into a physical altercation.

No one pushed Sirius Black around!

Being set on fire, while low on his list of possible ways of getting injured, had occurred to Severus so he already planned out what he should do in this circumstance. Although still gasping from getting two cauldrons of hot liquid splashed onto him, while still trying to get his breath back from hitting to the stone floor, fire was still fire, and commanded his attention.

Later, Severus knew he'd replay this scene over and over in his head on how he could have made this look graceful. For now though, he just settled for rolling over onto his arm to snuff out the flame before it spread. Lily was across the room, so if he didn't help himself, no one would. Probably clap and cheer while the flame merrily burned him. How he hated it here!

When Slughorn, ignorant and interrupted from his correspondence, yelled from his desk, "Snape! You clumsy twit, you spilled Black's potion! Detention with Filch tonight at eight." Lowering his voice, he continued, "No need to be upset, Black. You'll receive full marks."

Already finished with putting the pushy Hufflepuff in his place, Sirius replied, "Thank you, professor."

Cries of outrage and protest rang out in the dungeon. James raised his hand, "Professor, may I please go to the Infirmary? My hand was burnt."

"Please do, Mr. Potter. Another detention tomorrow, Snape. For not following safety procedures."

With so many missing the timing on their potions, students cast evanesco, while continuing to complain while Potter speedily cleaned up his area and strutted out the door.

"Get off the floor, and get that mess cleaned up, Snape."

Loudly, Wilkes called, "Prof. Slughorn! There are five prefects in this class. Who are you going to believe when all of us say that Black and Potter attacked Snape?"

"Nonsense!" yelled a smirking Black in reply. "And no one asked you, Wilkes."

For the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws in the class, who had not previously had Potions with Gryffindor and Slytherin, this blatant disregard for safety by playing dangerous jokes in class was not lost. Any that still had a potion simmering cast evanesco in protest.

Lily was about to go to Severus when she saw his head, then the rest of him, as he rose to get to the task of cleaning. Smelling her potion burning, Lily was the last person to cast evanesco. She continued watching Severus as he cleaned up, and dried and repaired his uniform. He finished by sneering at Black, while returning his cauldron by clunking it down on Black's table.

Slughorn looked up and realized no one in class had a potion simmering. "You may go. We'll attempt brewing this again next class."

For a man his size, Slughorn could sure disappear fast. He had more practice so he was out of the classroom, while Sirius was putting his bag over his shoulder, while thinking about skiving Magical Creatures. Remus wouldn't be there, and James wouldn't head there straight from the Infirmary.

"Ten points for not following safety rules," Lily snapped as she marched up the aisle to join Severus and check on how he was, before she headed to class.

"Hey! If something happened then, it would be up to the teacher to take points."

"Ten points from Gryffindor for fighting, Black," one of the Hufflepuffs added.

"Five points for an untucked shirt, Black," Wilkes said.

"Those shoes could use a shine, Black. Five points," uttered a narrow-eyed Ravenclaw prefect.

The second Ravenclaw prefect studied Black. She could jinx Black to get a bigger deduction, but jinxing was the Marauder way. She settled for, "Tie's crooked. Five points, Black."

"Have you all gone crazy?" Black asked.

"Do you need a hanky?" Wilkes inquired sardonically.

"Maybe your mommy will get those points back for you, Black."

"What do you mean?" inquired Black, getting worried because some sort of madness was spreading through the class.

"Your family got a photo of Dumbledore blowing bubble gum while screwing a sheep?"

"Naw, his mum gives He Who Must Not Be Named a good broom polishing."

Sirius laughed as he left. Insulting his mother? How juvenile. He couldn't give a flying crap what they said about her. It would be sweet though. His father could have caught some wand-wilting disease from a French whore, given it to his mother, and she could give it to Moldyspore.

Seething in annoyance, Sirius waited for Peter in the Front Hall so they could go to class together. Points meant nothing to him since Gryffindor's quidditch team was rubbish with Parkin as captain. They had no chance at the House Cup. What irritated him was all these morons acting like Snivellus wasn't here solely for their amusement. Snape was such a Merlin-cursed loser. Who cared if a cauldron got dropped on his greasy head, or he slipped in his own oil spill and fell to the floor?

Rather than answering her question, Severus told Lily, "You'll be late to class, if you don't go now."

"But what about you? I can walk you up to the Infirmary, Sev."

"I have class," Severus muttered as he headed to the door.

Lily followed, "Aren't you hurt?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does."

"Not at Hogwarts."

"Go to the Infirmary."

"Can't. If Pomfrey doesn't think I'm injured enough, I won't get a pass to go back to class. That'll be points and maybe another detention."

"At lunch then?"

Wilkes butted in, "I'll walk you up after class, Snape."

"We're going upstairs, Lily."

"Oh, yeah," Lily murmured. She had class with her fellow Gryffindor toerags. Lily passed by Sirius Black in the Front Hall before she went outside.

Severus felt his arm was fine. With the loose sleeve of the robe, over his sweater, and then his long-sleeve shirt, he didn't feel anything from the brief time the robe was aflame. It was where the hot liquid spilled on him that hurt. Burns were always painful. He couldn't tell how hurt he was until he got a chance to look at it. If he could even tell, with all the green. New blisters would be a sign that he was injured, rather than just painful irritation.

He could tolerate a class. If Pomfrey couldn't be bothered, he could look himself over at lunch.

Not sure who he was seeing about his dragonpox tonight. Pye and Spleen said they'd be checking weekly, but that could just be written reports from Pomfrey. She did not have to see him to write down whatever would keep people out of her infirmary, especially him.

Regulus Black and his buddy, Barty, were on their way back from Magical Creatures in a crowd of fourth years, when Regulus saw Evans in all her horrific greenness heading down the hill towards them. His impatience to debut his Bottom Baring Jinx might need a new victim to premiere it on. Evans had been lucky for days since he chose her, with not a Marauder in close proximity whenever they passed.

Ah, there was his brother's fat head, with Pettigrew waddling beside him. Where's the other two idiotic thugs? They weren't letting the loss of Potter and Lupin slow them down though, they both had their wands out ready to jinx the fourth years as they passed. Morons didn't realize that they started leaving class in a group weeks ago so they couldn't pick off the stragglers. The Hufflepuffs were so easy to manipulate.

Speaking of easy to manipulate, if Regulus could slow Evans and speed up his dimwitted brother, his wait could be over. To get his brother's instant attention, Regulus stepped out of the tight pack of fourth years. Sirius would not be able to resist. Gritting his teeth to do the unthinkable and address a mudblood civilly, Regulus called out, "All right, Evans?" She was Snape's friend so perhaps the Slytherins with him could forgive him, if what was about to happen did not wipe it from their memories.

One of the Hufflepuff girls behind him in his group muttered, "Why is she walking alone? They are going to get her."

Although lost in her own thoughts about what happened in Potions, Lily did remember Regulus Black. He was nothing like his brother. Pity he wasn't the one sorted into Gryffindor. She paused, waved and yelled, "Hi!"

Regulus smiled and while pretending he was waving back with his left hand, slid his wand tip down his sleeve to let it extend just past his fingertips. He was ready, when Sirius bellowed "Oi there!"

Verbally Regulus replied loudly, "What's it to you?", but nonverbally was something quite different as he raised his hands to gesture at his brother, behind Evans.

Evans's robe forcefully whipped up and tangled around her head, and her skirt ascended straight up. Regulus was highly disappointed. The pink knickers she was wearing over her viridity were covering everything and more, without even a scrap of lace to make them look a bit feminine. Did her mother pick those out? They looked like something his mother would approve of, until people became sensible and went back to wearing bloomers. What a waste of a spell. All this anticipation and it was ruined by Evans not having the sense to wear undergarments suited for a teenage rather than a pensioner. Freaking mudblood.

Surprised, Lily screamed. Her arms were trapped, and she couldn't see. She fell over as she tried to free her arms on the uneven hill that she had been descending. Oh no, she could feel the grass on her thighs. Had her skirt shifted up as she fell?

Pettigrew was the first to laugh when he saw Evans's pink knickered bum. About time someone put that swot into her place. If it wasn't for James, he gladly would have done it. She had been asking for it. Taking points from them and carrying on like she was their mothers. They were at school to get away from their mothers, not find a new one.

"What the...?" asked Sirius, raising his wand to retaliate against whoever cast that spell on Evans. That was uncalled for.

Sirius did not have time to pick a target because he was tackled from behind by the equally muscled and bulked Evan Rosier. Rosier then concentrated on abusing Black's wand hand before he cast something else by grabbing it in both hands and bending his fingers painfully back, while Black screamed.

Peter might have been able to act, but Avery punching him in the face prevented that. Avery was not protecting Evans, a mudblood, at all. He just felt like this was a convenient time to punch that loudmouth Pettigrew. Without his mates to stick up for him, he would have to defend his browned nose by his lonesome.

The fourth years surged past Regulus to help Evans. Well, the Hufflepuffs did. Weighing the advantages of different courses of action, Regulus looked at the older Slytherins pummeling Black and Pettigrew. House unity decided it. Stepping forward, Regulus cast a spell that seemed to be one of Snape's favorites when they were testing his patience, "Finite incantatem."

He let the Hufflepuffs sort Evans, while he enjoyed the show his brother was giving.

Lily did not see Severus again till Charms. Classes were sure to be unpleasant this afternoon. With Potter, Black and Pettigrew all paying a visit to the Infirmary today, they were sure to be itching for revenge, even though it was really Black that led to Potter's injury, and the stupidity of the other two that led to theirs. Even though they denied it, one of them exposed her underwear. Again.

They were not in class yet when Lily arrived, and headed to Severus's back corner to wait. He arrived with Wilkes. Wilkes was surly looking and talking in low voice to Severus, who he had by the arm and continued to their back corner to take a seat there himself.

" … Headmaster tonight, if it's not sorted," Wilkes said as he sat. "Evans, if I need to get all five prefects from Potions together, are you available?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"Pomfrey is being a git. Pain builds character, my arse."

"She didn't?"

"She did," muttered Severus. "Maybe she'll take care of it later. She's angry that Potter got hurt."

Lily was still rolling her eyes at the golden boy's boo boo, when Potter, Black and Pettigrew sauntered into class. Pomfrey had no problem sorting out her favorites. None of them looked like a hair was out of place, even on Potter's purposely messy head.

Once class started, she asked, "Are you all right for the afternoon? How bad is the burn?"

Severus shrugged. He had little choice whether he was all right or not. Compared to injuries his father caused to him in the past, this was tolerable.

Malcolm muttered, "Madam Pompfrey corrected us. Snape was scalded because it was a liquid. He's got patches of darker green skin, some blisters."

"So she saw?"

"No, I looked when she wouldn't. If Snape wasn't so stubborn, I'd have dragged him to Dumbledore."

"He doesn't give a shit."

"Prof. Dumbledore visited us in St. Mungo's," Lily recalled.

"Must have missed it."

"It was when you were kept knocked out to keep that breathing tube in you."

"Hmm. I think in that case he was visiting you."

Wilkes suggested, "Maybe he stopped by to or from the Ministry. He's down in London a lot, rather than hanging around the school."

"As long as he's back in time for dessert, that's the important thing," Severus sneered.

Although she knew her friend was bitter, the Headmaster's life and conversation seemed to revolve around the next sweet to come his way. Lily had heard Dumbledore was a Gryffindor. Do they really stay so immature even when they reach that age? Was he still pulling pranks? At what age did he stop playing quidditch, or was he still zooming around the pitch on a broom? What did he think of the relatively new Nimbus brand? Why was Lily sorted into the shallow house of losers? Also, why had McGonagall ended up there too? She seemed like a good sort. Was it just the males?

Defense was more of the same, except they talked less. Lily was angry at so much. So many around her were acting like it was a typical day. Was it to them? As long as they didn't have heavy metal objects dropped on them, weren't set on fire, and didn't have their undies shown off in public, everything was just absolutely spiffing? Cowardly bum rags.

This instructor was taking the threat of He Who Must Not Be Named and Death Eater followers seriously. He was actually attempting to teach them practical defense against giants, werewolves, vampires, inferi, dementors and the current trends in Dark Arts this year.

Unfortunately, he was not a forceful and loud individual so private conversations sometimes drowned out what he was saying. Like what Peter Pettigrew would be buying at Honeyduke's on Saturday. Lily was so glad that his life could carry on with no interruption, and he'd be able to drag his own weight in confections back up to the castle, to stick to every surface in the Gryffindor common room. Maybe that would be a better defense against inferi. Using half sucked lollipops as a sort of flypaper trap.

Not being able to bear it any longer, Lily loudly hissed, "Shut … up!"

Pettigrew turned to look back, and then had the audacity to lightly put his hand up to his chest questioningly.

"Yes, I'm talking to you, you lard-assed waste."

Black laughed, "Aw, come on. Inferi? They're just a story to scare little kids and muggleborns."

"No, they're not," Severus replied.

Potter chortled before he even got his witty repartee out. "You're forgetting Snape's parents, Padfoot."

Pettigrew found that hilarious, and overreacted by slapping his hand to the table top in front of him repeatedly.

"Did you have a question, Mr. Pettigrew?"

All eyes turned to Pettigrew, who wiped an invisible tear from his face before giggling out, "Can inferi have sex?"

"That is not relevant, Pettigrew. Ten points. Five for interrupting my class, and another five for impertinence. This is an important topic. For inferi, they cannot feel pain and are resistant to many spells. Flames, even something as simple as Incendio..."

Very funny, Lily thought. Is that why it was all right to set her friend on fire? Severus didn't seem to react to it being more unusual than anything else that happened to him around this heap of stone. When were they going to do that to her too? Would she have the presence of mind to react to a possibly life-threatening situation? Unlike her best friend, she did not spend all her free time scheming to protect herself from perceived dangers. Severus had too much practice at being injured to think that he could simply float through life like her. She should have her wand ready, and maybe like Severus did yesterday, cast a shield spell when unsure what was going to be used against her. It would be less embarrassing than having her skirt lifted while she screamed foolishly. They wouldn't stop at just seeing underwear. They would remove every stitch from a person. Maybe that was their next surprise for her, once there was snow on the ground. That would just be lovely.

Lily tried to hurry through dinner, when a little Ravenclaw scuttled over and whispered, "Evans, Head Boy's calling a meeting for after. Wants you there. Classroom eleven."

She looked over because this little firstie was staying low and out of sight, but she received a nod when she caught the eye of the Head Boy. Looking around, she saw a little Slytherin working her way down the Hufflepuff table.

As she saw the prefects from other tables excuse themselves, Lily looked at Severus. She'd prefer to go with him up to the Infirmary, but he nodded to her and waved. He seemed content to stay among the crowd of younger Slytherins for the time being. She knew that was an act for her benefit, but at least she knew Regulus Black was nothing like his detestable brother. Severus returned to a conversation he was having with him and his blonde friend.

Wilkes changed course slightly to meet her at the door leading out. He tried to reassure her, "Don't worry about him. I don't think he feels pain the same way as us mere mortals do any more."

"Who?" asked one of the female Slytherin prefects.

"Snape."

"Oh, him? He's bloody mad. Remember when Mulciber stabbed him with that knife? Snape just pulled it out, laughed, stabbed Mulciber back with it, and then laughed louder as he twisted it to be heard over Mulciber's screams."

"Yeah, that pretty much ended their feud till this year," someone behind them said.

"I think it's still ended," Wilkes commented. "Mulciber, even with Avery's help, would have to kill him to even start feeling a degree of safety. Why would either of them even dare to invite that kind of trouble?"

"Start feeling?" Lily asked.

"Might come back to haunt them. Not all ghosts are bound to a location," Wilkes said with a wink.

"Snape would be worse than that bother on the second floor. Moaning Myrtle's a drag, but she wasn't a Slytherin," laughed the first girl.

Lily didn't care for this conversation about Severus dying and returning as a vengeful, moody ghost. Bad enough he scared them by stabbing that nasty Mulciber back. He had never mentioned that to her. Obviously it happened before this year, which means she was probably ignoring him while she hung around her girlfriends … while someone was stabbing her best friend. Were they exaggerating? She had probably seen the mark from it on one of his hands or arms. Severus's skin had a number of blemishes from old injuries.

When she entered classroom eleven with the Slytherins, the Head Boy was already there with the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff prefects. The Head Girl arrived with the other Slytherins, and she closed the door. Lily was the only Gryffindor present.

The Head Girl joined the Ravenclaw in the front. She said, "It's all right, Evans. Wilkes vouched for you. Besides, we already know you are a target."

"Seemed a bit unfair not to consult at least one Gryffindor," added the Head Boy. "You seem the most level-headed."

"Uh, thanks," Lily replied. She didn't know if she should be flattered, or worried about being 'a target'.

"All right, I've done some calculations," the Head Boy said as he unfolded a piece of parchment. "Every cast of the Breast-Baring jinx lost Gryffindor 1.7 points each time it was cast last year, once they were finally caught. Today, either Black or Pettigrew cast their new one, and Gryffindor lost no points because they were already at zero."

Lily's anger flared. Well of course, thanks to the Marauders, her house really had nothing to lose anymore.

There was an outraged cry, "They didn't even lose two points for casting it on me back in May?"

A Hufflepuff threw her hands in the air, "That's because they don't seem to care about winning the House Cup. Why bother with points when they are meaningless as punishment?"

"Well, they aren't going to see my knickers without me plucking out their eyes," swore the Head Girl. "I may not have completely respected Oakby, but they were totally out of line attacking her last year."

Everyone agreed. What good was it to be put in a position of authority when disrespectful snots didn't get punished? They worked hard to get here, their houses and parents should be proud of them, and then this lot strutted around the school like they owned it, while the staff did nothing about it.

"So here's the deal that they cut today - Potter, Black, Pettigrew and Lupin will serve detention every night for a minimum of two hours until Gryffindor house maintains at least a twenty point minimum for one week, and negative point totals will now be subtracted once someone gains them."

"All right, McGonagall!" cheered someone.

"I don't know," said one of the Ravenclaws, "they could get a hundred points out of a quidditch match."

"They could, but can they keep them for a week?"

"I won't penalize someone without cause."

"Me neither."

"Hold it. Hold it. We're not asking for you to make up penalties, just to be observant. If you feel you are in danger of retaliation from Gryffindors, wait for another prefect or a staff member. We're going to back each other on this," the Head Girl assured them.

The Head Boy nodded. The Marauders had been trouble since even before he was made Prefect. His bum and other vital bits ached for days after that wedgie. He added, "And Potions, and any other class with Gryffindors, where they are creating an unsafe environment, bring it immediately to the teacher's attention. Don't wait until someone is injured. Prof. Flitwick backs us on that when he heard of what happened in Potions this morning. You five prefects that were there have a meeting with Prof. McGonagall and Prof. Flitwick in her office at eight."

"Yeah, luckily Dumbledore's away again. Probably give them sweets and pat their bottoms for a job well done because no one got killed."

"Their families have probably had to empty their vaults donating to the school to keep those jokers enrolled."

Lily sat there flabbergasted. Someone was finally going to join her and Severus in their … well, not a crusade, but more of a bringing some common sense into the school? The problem had gone on for so long that now younger Gryffindors had adopted their behavior so her entire house was labeled as bad news. If what's his face launched their tower at the moon tonight while they slept, the rest of the school would throw him a party, until they found out the four troublemakers were out of bounds getting a late night snack, and were miraculously still alive and well and blowing up the toilets.

"I heard they attacked muggles over the summer, and bribed their way out of it with Magical Law Enforcement."

"Oh no. We still have to put up with this outside Hogwarts?"

"Can we convince them to move to Australia?"

"If they won't, I will."

"Shit. I'd even move to the Colonies and live with barbarian wizards first."

"Don't have to go that far. Ireland's still got a few wild warlocks running about. They paint themselves blue."

"Britain still has colonies?"

"Maybe, is India still one?"

Lily was shocked how ill-informed her fellow students were about modern Great Britain. These prefects were supposed to be the brightest students of each year.

The Head Boy called them back to order. "All right. You are to pay attention, get help when warranted, and keep those four busy every night till they graduate. Sorry Evans, but it's a lot less trouble to everyone else if they are kept occupied for at least fourteen hours a week."

"They sealed our common room door two weeks ago," complained a Hufflepuff. "They didn't lose a single point, and we lost points for everyone locked out after curfew."

Lily couldn't smooth that over. Hufflepuffs simply had the misfortune of being on the way to the kitchen. There was probably no better reason to target them. Sighing, Lily replied, "Well, I'm willing to give it a try. I agree it's gotten out of control. If it gets too out of hand the other way, I'll come talk to you both."

"Sounds fair enough."

"You do realize that your house does not have a chance at the cup with them, Evans? They haven't won it since they got here, even before prefects realized they were constant trouble."

"I know," she said sadly. She used to naively think getting points in class was worth something, but her housemates would mock her and then lose them in some frivolous manner. The only way Gryffindor had a chance at the cup would be if they could blackmail a staff member. One year, maybe back in third, she dreamed that Gryffindor was awarded hundreds of points at the Leaving Feast by the headmaster and won the cup.

Lily departed with mixed feelings. Her fellow prefects accepted her as level-headed, but it felt like she should be defending her house. Other than a concerted effort to keep those boys in detention, it appeared they were just doing their prefect duties. Lily couldn't think of four more deserving students to be in detention. Severus ended up with two nights of it thanks to Black.

Or, more correctly, Sirius Black. Severus was still sitting at the Slytherin table with Regulus and his friend. If Lily didn't know better, she would have thought her arrival chased them away from the way those two looked at her, then immediately got up. Maybe it was Severus telling them earlier that he was only waiting for her to come back.

"Ready, Sev?"

"I guess," he replied, getting up.

On the way upstairs, once there was no one around them, Severus asked, "Did something happen to you earlier today?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure," he answered. He lowered his voice and explained, "They tried to suggest that maybe I should make you a gift of some new underwear, but I don't know if they were hinting that would be appropriate or not, or if you just needed some."

"There's nothing wrong with my knickers, Sev. It's just that Pettigrew, or I think it was him, I could hear him laughing like crazy. Anyway, he cast something at me and my robe and skirt lifted in front of the whole fourth year Magical Creatures class."

"What did Kettleburn do?"

"Nothing, it was on the way down, while they were passing me. Rosier and Avery beat him and Sirius Black up. Regulus Black negated it and a couple Hufflepuffs helped me up off the ground. Of course, Black and Pettigrew missed class, and Potter skipped due to his injury from earlier, and then Lupin's out for another couple days. Grandmother's sick."

"He has more grandmothers?"

"That's what I had asked him back in second year, Sev, when he was going to the third funeral for his grandmother. He said there must have been some mistake in what I was told. Besides, I don't know why he misses so much class when one of his relatives gets sick."

"I think it's covering up something else."

"After six years of lame excuses, I think you may be right. Maybe we can question him in Herbology when he gets back."

"Would you like me to hold him down, while you beat the truth out of him, Lily?"

"If he's the one coming up with all these stupid undressing jinxes, then all I can say is 'right on'. Do you know Gryffindor is back down to zero points?"

"Why do you even bother checking that hourglass? Even if you all drank Wit Sharpening potion for a week, that gang of dolts would just do something even more outrageous to get them all taken away."

"Ah, I see someone has been here before us. I'm seeing a trail of lemon sherbets."

"Yeah. That's the kind of crap that gets punished around here. Hogwarts Most Wanted must have come this way."

They entered the Infirmary, and found a sour-faced Madam Pomfrey in her office waiting with Healer Spleen. Even though it was Spleen, Lily was sure he'd at least look at Severus's scalds before judging him undeserving of care.

"So who's going to be first?" Spleen asked with a smile.

"Severus was hurt this morning. Maybe you should look at that first," Lily suggested while studying Pomfrey for any reaction.

"Still talking for your friend, Evans?"

"He gave up because no one ever believes him," she replied sarcastically.

"We were given permission to use this bed over here," Spleen indicated. "So what have you saved for me?"

"Splashed with hot potion," muttered Severus.

"And set on fire," Lily added.

"That's fine. The robe was loose enough that my arm was untouched."

"So where's these scalds, Severus?"

"My torso."

"All right then, off with everything from the waist up," Spleen said as he closed the curtain.

Severus looked at Lily who was taking the seat next to the bed. "What?" she asked. "It's not your trousers, Sev."

As her friend shrugged out of his robe and was pulling his school sweater over his head, Lily added, "And I heard that you got stabbed. Can you point out where that was?"

"That?" Severus asked, while unbuttoning his shirt. "That was like three years ago."

"Has there been an increase in stabbings since I went to school here?" the healer inquired.

"I don't know," Severus answered, while shrugging out of his school shirt, exposing his deplorable undershirt. Lily frowned. If anyone needed new underwear, it was Severus.

Rather than removing it, he pulled up the front and pointed, "This is the worst, here on my stomach."

Pulling at the already stretched out collar, he continued, "Then there's up here where I was splashed from the other cauldron when it dropped onto my table."

Lily couldn't see anything because Severus's back was to her. She stood up and came around to get a look, but his undershirt was already back in place. She could see some darker green peeking out on his collarbone.

"Perhaps, I should take you back to St. Mungo's."

"I have detention tonight."

"For what?"

"Getting assaulted in Potions."

"The school knows you are in some altercation and gives you detention, but leaves you with burns?"

"Pain builds character," he mimicked in a falsetto voice while sneering.

"Then you really are going to St. Mungo's, Snape. I want to update your file properly, besides checking out your respiration. I can still hear you wheezing a bit. Any marks from that old character-building stab wound?"

"Back of my left shoulder," he answered. Holding his thumb and forefinger apart, adding, "The one that's this long."

Spleen decided to push up the sleeve rather than pulling the neck over. Guessing he found the right one, he asked, "And if this happened at school, why do you have any mark at all?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Although he knew his patient was being intentionally dense, it was a relevant question, and certainly would change the direction of the inquiry that the hospital had opened up with Magical Law Enforcement. They were allowed to open it without the patient's consent when they were not yet seventeen. Snape's refusal to give information on how he was repeatedly injured made them suspect his home. Since practically everyone went to Hogwarts, that had not been considered as the source of Snape's injuries.

"Get dressed. I'll get you clearance to floo back to the hospital with me." Turning, he asked, "So Evans, any scalds, burns, or eye gouges you'd like me to take a look at?"

"Not today."

Lily's exam was rather quick, and she did not need to get undressed. With her chart being updated, more of the same potion for her skin was prescribed. He had brought a couple bottles with him anticipating this, and gave them to her.

"All right then. Let me get you signed out of here, Snape, then we'll get you sorted."

While they waited for Healer Spleen to return, Lily said, "I have another prefect meeting after this, or else I'd insist that I come too, Sev."

Severus shook his head slightly, "That's all right. I just want it to stop hurting, Lily. Burns always seem worse somehow."

This was the first time today that Severus admitted that he was in pain to her. Did it hurt him that much, or was he starting to tell her things that he wouldn't before? He would usually sulk at a distance, cover his face with his hair and refuse to discuss any injuries.

Spleen returned, making a face at them, before saying, "You know, I am a healer. I expect some respect rather than being treated like an ignoramus. So we'll head over to St. Mungo's where my expertise means something. If you can sit tight for a bit there before I get you sorted, Severus, I think I can raise the stakes for them around here so you might be able to get some timely care in this petty fiefdom. If I get treated this way, I can only imagine the level of concern that goes on in this place."

Lily looked at the healer. Was today all just a dream? Or maybe this evening, that's when things seemed really strange. A coordinated effort to stop the Marauders from doing whatever they wanted, and someone wanted to ensure Severus was able to get emergency medical care, just in case Black or Potter tried to remove one of his limbs next?

She silently waved goodbye. She could overhear Pomfrey noisily sorting out a cabinet while muttering about Slytherin fakers so decided to leave.

Lily would have told Severus what the meeting was about, but she didn't want to raise his hopes unnecessarily.

She drifted out of the Infirmary to meet the others at Prof. McGonagall's office. She was going to have to spend all weekend on homework, since she wasn't getting a single bit of it done tonight, and had another three classes tomorrow. After just one week back, Lily was beginning to admit seven classes was too much.

Prof. McGonagall admitted them. In attendance were Prof. Flitwick, both the Head Boy and Head Girl, Wilkes, and the two Ravenclaw and one Hufflepuff prefects that also took NEWT level Potions with them.

"Prof. Slughorn is unavailable till next week, but I understood the urgency to resolve this matter," Prof. Flitwick explained. "My Ravenclaws feel that the atmosphere of their class is not conducive to learning with two dangerous students present who flout basic safety for the sake of a few laughs."

Lily felt her lip curl up in a sneer. Slughorn wasn't available? Since when did heads of house become unavailable for days? She didn't blame McGonagall for not hanging out in their common room, because frankly it was a stinky cesspool once the boys got comfortable, but Lily felt she would be accessible, if needed.

The Ravenclaw Head Boy spoke up, "If all the prefects present, from all four houses I might add, verify the perils this class is asked to endure for the sake of a NEWT, we hope that you will take this under serious consideration to improve the conditions."

"Or else my parents go to the Board," the Ravenclaw female prefect swore. "We need these NEWTs, but not at the risk of our lives."

"We are here to listen to what you have to say," Prof. McGonagall intoned. This sort of house unity was in short supply these past few years. It was unfortunate that it was the behavior of her own house that was bringing the others together. She would have punished these boys more severely some time ago, if it wasn't for the Headmaster's leniency. If he continued to give them a second, third, and fiftieth chance at turning themselves around, what message was he sending out, other than there was no real punishment forthcoming?

"This isn't about house rivalries," Wilkes began. "Evans has been with me in Potions for years, and she's never once caused trouble … except maybe for her old partner now and again, but none of us is in danger from her throwing things around the room, or wanting to set something on fire for kicks.

"I'm a Slytherin prefect, and my head of house does not believe me over Black and Potter. I'm not talking about points even. I'm arguing about what's right, and to protect myself and my fellow students. There is a tangible safety hazard having either of them in class with us."

"Exactly. Black got into a fist fight with a student for attempting to put out another student that Potter set on fire this morning. And it was my fellow Hufflepuff. It wasn't a house rivalry thing. Someone was on fire. What house someone's in isn't important when someone's on fire."

"Wasn't Professor Slughorn present?"

"Yes, and he didn't care. If it's not someone that's showering him with gifts and kissing his arse, then he's not even worth taking a piss on to put that fire out."

Prof. McGonagall and Prof. Flitwick were aware that Horace had his favorites, but saying that he'd intentionally ignore a student in need was stretching the truth more than a bit.

"Let Potter go to the Infirmary because he got a little burn knocking over another student's cauldron when he pushed him into it."

"What abou-?"

Lily interrupted, "Severus is at St. Mungo's right now. That's why he's missing his detention that Prof. Slughorn gave him."

"Mr. Snape was in my class this afternoon," Prof. Flitwick said in confusion.

"He was refused medical care at lunch. I escorted him there myself, and Madam Pomfrey told him to wait till his check up this evening because 'pain builds character'," Wilkes complained. "She wouldn't even look at him."

"How did he end up at St. Mungo's?" Prof. McGonagall asked.

"When the healer checking our dragonpox saw the potion scalds, he wanted Severus to return to the hospital with him," Lily explained. She wanted to say a lot more, but she didn't want them to forget the facts. Sev was burnt this morning, waited till lunch, was denied care, and when a healer did look at him, hauled him in to hospital.

"For now, I can excuse Mr. Snape from detention. I will also make recommendations to Prof. Slughorn regarding the enforcement of safety rules in his classes," Prof. McGonagall announced.

"We insist this be acted upon swiftly," the Slytherin Head Girl said, speaking for the first time. "Too much is allowed to just slide. They are attacking female students again, after the lack of reprisals last year. Two of my house ended up with more punishment than those goons."

"All four of them, even though two weren't present, will be in detention for a long time," Prof. McGonagall assured them. She had zero tolerance for this, but without the Headmaster's approval she couldn't expel anyone. No one saw Pettigrew actually cast a spell at Evans.

"Will there be any chance of real corrective measures?"

"Yeah," the Hufflepuff prefect piped up, "What if Evans had been alone out there? No Slytherins, no fourth years … just her and those two brutes."

Lily was aghast. Black and Pettigrew? Yes, they would, wouldn't they? Probably explain they raped her as a favor so Severus wouldn't want her anymore, and expect pats on the back from all the Gryffindor fellows for a job well done. Her heart said that Severus would not abandon her, but how could she ask that of him, if that ever happened? Lily couldn't imagine anyone loving her as unconditionally as Severus, except her parents.

She was so involved in her own thoughts, that she missed the end of the meeting. All the other students were leaving. Remaining where she was till they left, Lily asked, "Prof. McGonagall, can I drop out of Care of Magical Creatures?"

Lily had not invested any time into the class other than reading the text and attending two classes so far this year. This was the least painful course for her to drop, and would remove the temptation of being attacked while alone. There was no class heading down the hill because it was lunchtime after her class. This was not cowardice, it was practicality.

Severus sat in the hospital pajamas on a bed in St. Mungo's scowling at Alastor Gumboil from Magical Law Enforcement. He had done nothing wrong today, but now had to answer all these questions before a healer would touch his injuries. If he had known this, Severus would have stayed at Hogwarts. If Potter and Black could wriggle out of attacking a pub full of muggles, why would anyone care that they threw hot potions on him in school? Slughorn would verify any story they made up.

The only recompense he received were a couple bottles of stout, before Spleen was finally cleared to heal these scalds.

Although physically better, Severus felt all these procedures were wasteful. If nothing else, somewhere along the line this whole thing was going to get all turned around and it would somehow be his fault. And now that the Ministry was involved, it would be worse than what went on at Hogwarts.

Annoyed by McGonagall and Flitwick being so difficult, when she had already made up her mind, Lily reached Gryffindor tower a couple minutes after curfew. She was mad enough that she might just do her homework inside the portrait hole waiting to take points from any toerag that thought they were above the rules.

Peter Pettigrew was kneeling on the floor in the middle of the common room in just his briefs. Only female students were in the common room, which was as clean as it was in the morning after the house elves had scrubbed it overnight.

"Evans!" he squeaked, hoping for a reprieve.

"Here you are, Lily," Helen proclaimed. "Wormtail has been waiting for almost an hour to sincerely apologize to you." The girls snickered at the intentional misuse of Pettigrew's Marauder nickname.

Seeing no reason why he shouldn't, Lily crossed her arms and waited to hear it.

A couple well-placed stinging hexes didn't force the words out of his mouth, so Mary used the old Marauder favorite, the super stretching wedgie jinx. Even magically enhanced waistbands cannot withstand the force of that classic.

Pettigrew yowled while the ladies laughed. Maybe now he wouldn't think it so funny to cast it on little first and second years.

Lily felt a moment of pity when she saw Pettigrew was crying and trying to simultaneously cover both his worm and his bum with his hands, but would Black and him have cared if she cried after what they did to her? No, they would have kept laughing, and laughing, and told moronic jokes about it for weeks, and laughed some more.

"Well, toerag? I don't have all evening to watch you blubber."

Smirking, Helen said, "Maybe you won't sneak out of detention tomorrow, Pettigrew."

"You snuck out to avoid getting punished on your first night?" Lily asked indignantly. Everyone was right, there was no penalty for them. They just strolled out of detention now. Obviously the students could only take matters into their own hands at this point, if the school would do nothing to protect them.

Pettigrew mewled, "P P P Padfoot …"

"We're real Gryffidors and not scared of your thug friends, Pettigrew. They shouldn't have started this with one of us. And just remember, they are the ones that upped the stakes this morning by setting another student on fire. We'll make sure you boys wake up all nice and toasty in your beds, if you even point your wands at us again."

"Let's see your parents fix that with a sack of galleons or their Ministry friends."

"Won't have any hairdos to get mussed on your crispy corpses when you get buried with your sodding Nimbus brooms."

Crying harder, Pettigrew choked out, "But I did … did … didn't ..."

"He who laughed loudest, is now going to cry loudest, if you don't get on with it, Wormtail."

Forcing the words out, he cried, "I'm sorry. So sorry, Evans."

His words did nothing for Lily. She didn't know why she had thought they would. Pettigrew didn't mean them.

"Yeah," she replied, "And that'll be ten points for streaking in the common room, Pettigrew."

"What?" he weeped.

"No one wants to see the worm. It's ridiculous."

"A silly flobberworm."

Still sniffling, Pettigrew started making his way towards the boys' staircase that was being strictly guarded to disallow any of the male Gryffindors from trying to rescue Pettigrew. The staircase itself made such a superb bottleneck that there hadn't been a peep from any of them in the past fifteen minutes, after they made multiple attempts to descend before they realized how futile it was. Besides, it was only Pettigrew.

Sighing, Lily headed up their staircase to avoid looking at the smiling girls. Fighting embarrassing bullying with equally embarrassing bullying? This could not be the solution.

Helen came up soon enough and complained, "Berk came swanning in like a hero because he ditched detention. Evan's got it too for pounding on Black. I knew Black was all talk. When someone backs it up with a couple fists, he's a wuss."

"Hmm," Lily replied while thinking.

"So for Saturday, have you given any thought to what you and Snape were going to do?"

"Saturday?"

"Hogsmeade?"

"Oh, I don't know. Did you uh, need some alone time?"

With a wink, Helen hinted, "Maybe. Malcolm's already turned seventeen."

"What difference does that make?"

"He can buy something a little stronger than butterbeer, and at the Hog's Head that barkeep doesn't pay much attention to who ends up drinking it."

"Um, well, I don't want Severus drinking."

"Not him. Us. We're going to get a room upstairs so no one bothers us."

Lily blurted out, "A room?"

"Yeah, we can hang up there, eat, drink and you know … make merry."

"How merry?"

"Depends."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Lily commented.

"Well, I'm not asking you, mum. Just thought you'd want to know in advance, so we don't get our signals crossed."

If Severus beat up one of the Marauders with his hands or his wand, Lily would not consider getting a room to 'make merry' with him. That was just so … so caveman. You strong man, me appreciative woman. This was the 1970s, and women were free to do anything they wanted.

Lily said, "I'll see what he wants to do."

"You don't have to give him a choice, Lily. He should be grateful you'd even be seen with him in Hogsmeade."

Lily shook her head while she took out her pajamas. She didn't want to hear this nonsense again. Severus was green, and she was green. Couldn't insult one of them, without insulting the other, could she?

The next morning, Lily sat with Severus in the back of Transfiguration again. She was happy that they healed him at the hospital. He was still on the same oily potion because his skin had not improved enough yet to use the cream that Lily was on.

Lily was secretly pleased that Severus was being forced to wash his hair every day. She still had to think up a clever way of suggesting he continue, if he stopped once he no longer had to rub this solution into his scalp every night.

Before they parted ways after class, Lily suggested, "Do you want me to grab us lunch so we can eat outside before Herbology again?"

"All right, I'll meet you in the Front Hall," Severus replied before Lily ascended into North Tower.

Black, Potter and Pettigrew were held back in Transfiguration. Prof. McGonagall told them, "Your privilege to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow has been revoked. Students are dropping out of classes because of your antics now."

"Who cares?"

"The school cares. Better students than you should not have to choose between their education and their safety."

"We got dates."

"I don't care. Now get moving, or I will find something for you to do the rest of today till your detentions."

Grumbling, they left while talking about what stupid ass got them in trouble this time. Snape? Nah, the had done worse things to him before in Potions. Probably some scared Hufflepuff or Chickenclaw. When they found out, there was going to be payback.

They had gotten a bunch of giggly fourth years to agree to go with them to Hogsmeade. After a quick twirl through Zonko's and Honeydukes, they'd be sitting on their laps in that back corner booth of the Three Broomsticks. Buy them a couple butterbeers and they'd be melting in their hands. They weren't taking them out for their conversation, but for the squeals and giggles.

There would be none of that tomorrow, unless they talked up some second years … uh, no. Definitely not, they didn't want giggly twelve year olds who still played with dolls.

Checking the Marauder's Map, they started to plan how they were not staying in the castle, when there were girls going to be waiting for their marauding hands tomorrow. Remus should be let loose by Pomfrey about lunchtime today. He'd have to escort the ladies to their love nest tomorrow that they'd get all set up for a real good time, so they wouldn't miss not being seen on the arms of the most eligible bachelors of Hogwarts by all their jealous friends. Bad boys could always make it worth their time.