Chapter 29 - 28

Chapter 28 Even The Stars Look Brighter Tonight

Helen and Mary were driving Lily crazy. Both were smitten with their fellows from Slytherin. Lily thought that was wonderful, considering how far they had gone during the last Hogsmeade weekend, and whatever else they've been doing since then after they left the library every evening.

The problem was their radical mood swings. Some days they were trying to include Severus and Lily in their plans, other days they were angry with either Lily or Severus. Usually Severus, and their blokes weren't helping one way or the other so then there would be problems on that end too.

Lily found it ridiculous. They could have taken the opportunity to feign some friendliness towards Severus in the past five years, when he was only Lily's friend, but they hadn't. So now that they had reconsidered, or until Lily got someone else – another on and off project of theirs when they were especially ticked at Sev – they expected Severus to reciprocate.

Severus barely answered questions from his own roommates, why would he get chatty with hers? Lily felt Malcolm and Evan had the best idea which was to leave Severus alone. If he wanted to participate in something, he'd tag along. Usually when Lily thought it was a good idea. It did not work every time, but if they convinced Lily, Severus would follow unless it was a tremendously bad idea.

He considered any situation with prolonged physical contact a bad idea right now. Lily understood his explanation, in fact, she was not the least bit surprised when Severus claimed he would not be interested in resuming until she decided about his wedding proposal. He was deaf to any argument she presented about other students and their dating activities. As time wore on, Lily got tired of his stubbornness.

She considered telling him 'yes' in order for them to get back to the occasional snog and whatever else caught their fancy, however Lily was concerned when Severus would not admit one way or the other whether he even enjoyed it. They were still holding hands, embracing, and Lily could get in a brief kiss here and there, but anything further and he'd leave, unless it was in class. Obviously, Lily couldn't do much in class, though she did molest him a couple times in Potions, now that they were at the same table in the back of the room.

Prof. Slughorn had Potter and Black at the table in front of his desk, and he spent a lot of time staring at them. Lily doubted that anyone could pressure Prof. Slughorn into doing something he did not want to do because he had been at Hogwarts for a long time. There was no way they could even threaten to get rid of him. Besides, wasn't he comfortable here? Everyone knew where to send his gifts of candy, tickets, memorabilia, photos, clothing, and whatever else. Lily supposed he could do something at the Ministry; he had helped many of his former students get employment there.

Even stranger was Remus Lupin. If Lily hadn't seen it in Herbology twice a week, she'd think Severus's paranoia was getting the better of him. Lupin was chatting away like he was standing next to one of his Marauder mates, rather than Severus. He didn't talk about typical Marauder things like passing gas, toilets, dungbombs and quidditch. Lupin talked about the weather, food, holidays and homework and asked Severus a lot of questions. That's what was strangest of all. Lupin only directed his questions at Severus, not at Lily. Severus didn't answer, but Lupin kept talking and asking.

Severus told her he'd talk to him in Ancient Runes too. Kept sitting beside him and would walk next to him after class until he went down into the dungeons. During Charms and Defense, Lupin stayed with the other Gryffindor boys, so Lily did not understand. Even if Lupin had some sort of argument with his mates, why would he try to make them … jealous? … by talking to Severus. Wasn't that like a boyfriend / girlfriend type of ploy? Wouldn't he also need Sev to cooperate? So far, Lupin had not charmed his way to even see the perimeter fence with posted warning signs promising nasty consequences around Severus's defenses.

Others were picking up on the peculiarity of it. When Lupin purposely singled Severus out for a greeting in the library when they were at their usual table of six – the three Gryffindor girls with their three Slytherin fellows – Severus merely glared. However, once it appeared that nothing more was going to happen as Lupin kept going, Mary giggled that perhaps Lupin fancied Severus. The four of them discussed it with very broad assumptions, that Severus chose to ignore.

That was another thing that annoyed Lily. They had some theories about Severus. For someone they had totally ignored for years, it appeared that Mary and Helen were now trying to make up for it even if they had no facts on which to base their suppositions. When Lily would not help them out by getting further information to fill in all the blanks, she swore they figured out how to annoy her by formulating answers that had to be the furthest thing from the truth possible.

Since they were obsessed with families, the torrid tale of romance between Severus's witch mother and muggle father that they concocted had Lily ready to shove quills into her ears till they bled. Lily did not know how they met and got together, but there was no possible way any woman could be swept off her feet by Severus's father. And Severus's mother? A woman so overcome with passion that she was ready to face any odds to flout society's rules to be with her muggle lover? With Helen and Mary walking around with their heads in the clouds over Evan and Malcolm, they thought everyone else was motivated by their hearts now.

Of course, hearing such nonsense before bed got Lily thinking about Severus. He was not romantic, but Lily wouldn't call him practical either. Did he have any firm motivators? Severus liked being smart, but there were plenty of opportunities to show off that he let pass him by. Fame, infamy, notoriety? Even though they kidded about Chocolate Frog Cards, they were for children. There were also some that were just the loser cards like Herpo the Foul. Bad enough having a name that sounded like herpes, but than to have 'the foul' tacked on. Severus said he wanted to make her happy. Well, Lily would be happy if he stopped being such an obstinate git. It had been weeks since their trip to Hogsmeade.

At breakfast the next morning was another sappy love note from Potter. Lily tore it to little pieces again. What was his problem? She tore each one very obviously at the table for him to see while she glared at him. Lily was not going to fall for any of his nonsense, either written or verbal. He thought a couple weeks of being a model student would make her forget that he was a first class bum rag? Potter may be able to smile, wink and joke around with others to get his way, but not her. Of course, Black and Pettigrew going berserk, because she dropped Magical Creatures, in their common room meant some of his little gang felt they still owed her some payback. In addition to any points she took from a Gryffindor. Lily was not as ruthless as some of the other prefects, but the Gryffindors were looking a lot sharper these days with hair combed, shirts tucked in, not a single belt loop missed, shoes shined … it was almost as if they were trying to exhibit some house pride. Lily also liked how clean their common room stayed without the four of them flinging stuff like they lived in the zoo's ape house.

Healer Pye had said that they were less green, but Lily did not notice a difference as she looked over at Severus. Last night was his first night on the non-oily concoction. His hair looked clean from here. The little club of younger Slytherins that still ate with him were excited about something. Lily hoped that Severus did not get into an altercation with Mulciber, Avery, or those other Slytherins that were sitting in that death eater club meeting that one time they held one publicly here in the Great Hall. Lily still couldn't believe that they were still persisting with whatever started this because she still doubted it was over one black eye. Even though Severus said they mostly talked school work either during meals and late nights down in their common room, Lily was pleased there were no girls in the group. She did not think another girl could easily come between her and Severus, but Lily would rather not have to worry about something like that.

Curious about what they were up to, Lily decided that maybe Severus would like to head down to Potions early, or else she might have to wait till Charms to find out what happened.

Yes, they were definitely acting suspicious, Lily thought, as the whole group looked her way as she walked along the Slytherin table, and Regulus's blonde friend handed something back to Sev that he put in his bag. That boy looked a little odd and a bit flushed. Lily never saw him with this gleam in his eye, and he was licking his lips and talking at the same time.

"... wish I could be there to see his face," he was saying excitedly.

As Severus rose to join Lily, Regulus asked, "He reads The Quibbler?"

"He might now," was the giggling reply.

In her mind, Lily agreed with the tone of Regulus' question. The Quibbler was a magazine that would not be found in most homes in wizarding Britain. Although she had only seen one issue, and brought it to Severus as a joke, it was pure speculation at best, lies if one were to be unkind.

When they got outside the Great Hall, Lily asked, "I know you've probably mentioned his name before, but who's Regulus's friend again?"

"Um, Crouch. His father is the head of Magical Law Enforcement. His son doesn't see eye to eye with him, but his father's at work all the time with things as they are right now so that's probably the main cause of his bitterness. His perception is his father puts the Ministry before his family."

"Magical Law Enforcement that would take a lot of dedication. And with all the problems, even if they don't spell them out in the Prophet, well, they'd be really busy. Do you think they have a tough time getting applicants? It's probably a job that could mean putting your life on the line."

"Perhaps. There's cases now with whole families being attacked so safety anywhere is just an illusion."

"So you have a copy of The Quibbler and it has something that may be upsetting?"

"It's not upsetting to me, Lily."

Lily rolled her eyes at her friend. He was so bored when they were in hospital that he wrote a letter to the editor and they started corresponding. "Well, are you going to tell me, Sev?"

He shrugged, "You've already heard my views on the Ministry."

"All of them negative."

"I know you don't agree, Lily, so is that sufficient?"

"Is it something I should be concerned about?"

"I didn't write anything that you haven't heard me say."

"That Lovegood fellow printed one of your letters?"

"No, an article. Too bad he doesn't pay authors. Just gives them a free issue of the magazine they are published in."

Lily stopped where she was. "You wrote an article against the Ministry, and it got published?"

"More a recent practice that the Ministry instituted, not the Ministry itself. I'm sure at some point they would have come to their senses and backtracked and covered up, but I'm just suggesting some common sense be used ahead of time."

"Your common sense is not the same as other people's common sense, Sev."

"Because I think?"

"Very funny. Let's go in and then you can show me."

"It was actually the Ministry that made it a bit more sensational," Severus said as they went to their table. There were a couple students already in the classroom, looking over notes and equipment out. "To show the impact of Magical Law Enforcement and Aurors now allowed to use the Unforgivable curses, Lovegood went and asked for the statistics of how many times they were cast by Ministry officials. They wouldn't tell him.

"When Barty wrote his father, to just inquire if they were even tallied or just part of the case records, he got a scathing reply. It seems he thinks only uh … 'dissidents, malcontents, and freethinkers' would ask such questions."

Lily made a face. Severus had this all mixed up. Of course the Ministry would know who cast what. They were called Unforgivables for a reason, and if they cast them, they would still need to answer or at least file some sort of report. If she knew who Lovegood was when he came asking questions, she'd probably tell him to go … jump in a lake. He's a crackpot, and if Severus kept associating with him, he'd be labeled a crackpot too.

Severus took out the copy of The Quibbler and slid it over to her. Lily's mouth dropped open. It was the cover story! And the cover illustration, well it looked pretty damning. Of course, Lily recognized the inspiration behind it … a smiling, good-looking, dark-haired wizard holding his wand with a green light shooting out of it at a young robed boy who was holding his mother's hand, had a little caption next to his head that said 'whoops!'. Behind the boy and his mother, there was a sinister-looking cloaked figure who appeared to be getting away. In bold lettering on the bottom of the cover, the question was asked - 'Unforgivable for Ministry of Magic to state not accountable for Unforgivables?' Afraid to look, Lily flipped it open anyway to the table of contents, and there was Severus's name.

Staying calm because there was nothing that could be done now that Severus's views were in print, Lily asked, "May I borrow this to read later?"

"If you want."

Lily slid the magazine into her bag. She did not want to be caught reading The Quibbler. While she set up her equipment, Lily consoled herself because until she found that issue in the hospital, she had never seen that magazine. No one read it. No one would take it seriously. If they did, and found out that Severus was still a student, they'd realize it was a joke. It wasn't to Severus, but didn't Hogwarts students spend all their time pulling pranks?

Maybe Severus would never do anything like this again if no one made a big deal out of it. Lily did not want to see him disappointed, but she did not want him to get noticed for being some kind of … hippie anarchist. Her father hated hippies with their free love and power to the people rhetoric. Without government to run everything for them, they'd be stuck wherever they came from waiting for a train.

When Lily got to it later that morning in the privacy of her dorm room, Severus had written about the ideas he had over the summer about lack of control, oversight, and accountability. Even though she knew Severus had written this, Lily noticed that his usual sarcasm was missing from the article. He even put his abrasive attitude into homework essays. Maybe that's why only that barmy arithmancy bloke liked him.

Lily had only left the room for a couple minutes, and returned to find Mary reading Sev's magazine.

"That's not something you'd be interested in."

"I thought it was Witch Weekly. Doesn't seem like you're taking our advice, Lily, or Severus would lighten up."

She sighed. Why did they think Lily doing things with Severus would change the way he acted towards others. "It's not Witch Weekly."

"I can see that. You never told me that Severus writes."

"He doesn't really. That's um … just … something he had on his mind."

"I think he should write more. Give someone other than you a view into that inscrutability."

"Severus worries too much."

"He should be. Did you hear Pettigrew?"

"I try not to."

"He was shooting his mouth off how him and his mates are going to be aurors and get even with all of us."

"Aren't they going to play quidditch?" Lily asked. She heard something like that in all of Potter's ramblings about whatever.

"Pro players all have that expensive Nimbus broom. Potter won't be anything special."

"They can't be aurors. That's a real job. Aren't their parents rich?"

"I know Black and Potter's are. Yeah, none of them are the working type. The Ministry does not go for their employees lounging around snacking and telling stories all day. That's for the Minister only."

"And wasn't there a couple years of training in that pamphlet?"

"Probably. I don't remember, except it was too many hard NEWTs. I'm not going to kill myself with that kind of course load when all I want to do is get married. I have to be somewhat smart, but Malcolm's arithmancy is some sort torture that goblins must have thought up. They are frightfully clever with math."

"Goblins do arithmancy?"

"No, but they can count really high and know how things like percents and fractions work."

Severus's disdain for how ill-informed wizardkind was must be rubbing off on her. Count really high, indeed. With Helen wanting to play professional quidditch, and Mary's lifelong dream being just a wife, Lily was not inspired by her roommates' goals, but everyone was entitled to have one. Her own mother was a homemaker, and never once admitted any regrets that she may have done something else. Petunia worked a little for more pocket money, but that was to dress smart to attract a good husband. If Lily was not a witch, maybe she'd be thinking of that. Though, she'd probably do something outside the house. She did not like how dependent her mother was on her father. Lily's father always took care of things, but if a woman made a poor choice or something happened to the man of the house, then where would she be?

Was that why she was resisting Severus? He was not lazy, but did he even have any clue on what he was expected to do? His father was no example … maybe not, his mother didn't do anything, so Lily guessed his father did something. Severus couldn't help that his parents were such a mess. Could they even be considered worse than parents that spoiled their brats, and then bribed people when they ran wild and destroyed property and hurt others? Lily wouldn't want to marry someone like that.

Lily was worried. Mary was thoroughly reading Severus's article. Even if Pettigrew made some wild claims, there was no way people like the Marauders worked for the Ministry. Their parents couldn't buy them jobs, could they? It would be simpler to buy them someplace to live to get them out of the house. Oh gosh, living with the Marauders? She heard it took a small army of house elves to clean their common room after one of their celebrations. How many did they need to keep their homes clean? Lily would go crazy if she had to do that. Clean all night to have some toerag roll out of bed in the morning and then start all over with having to make the bed, pick up his laundry, clean up the bathroom after they mess that, and then probably have to make them breakfast for them just to throw it around … it would never end and probably not even earn one 'thanks'.

"Severus is onto something with this. We have rights too."

"It's probably more controlled than he makes it sound."

"Why won't they tell us then? And why would they cast cruciatus on anyone? Or are they going to imperius someone during a big duel only? It's also not clear who they are allowed to cast the killing curse on. If there's some trouble in Diagon Alley while I'm busy shopping, and they put one of those anti-apparition jinxes on the whole place, I'll be the only one not allowed to use it to defend myself. It reminds me of Muggle Studies where we learned how the Americans all carry guns so they can take the law into their own hands, and they challenge each other to gunfight duels that occur right in the middle of their streets."

Lily didn't know why wizard and witches chose to show off how much they knew about muggles by giving their interpretations of what was happening to a muggleborn. They always ended up looking foolish. It was a blessing in disguise that they couldn't watch telly in Muggle Studies. They'd probably think that muggles spoke like a Shakespeare play, and then raced around in their automobiles squealing to a sudden stop, jumping out and sliding over the bonnet to shoot each other from some cop show. Helen and Mary would probably be able to follow a drama. Lily's mum was a loyal Corrie fan since it first started in 1960. Although raised with it, Lily felt it was a little simplistic because she could miss months of episodes while at Hogwarts, and be caught up almost immediately with a quick rundown from her mum.

"It sounds worse like that than it really is."

"No, Lily. There's no reason to some of things that Death Eater lot is doing. Just because we're at Hogwarts doesn't mean it isn't happening out there. Why do you think Dumbledore's always flitting off? He beat that Grindylow way back and now he wants to relive his glory days."

"Grindelwald," Lily corrected.

"Well, if he spends too much time away from here, and they can figure out when he's gone, I think we could be in danger here at the school."

Lily shook her head. The Daily Prophet not reporting everything or leaving some things vague were leading to outlandish rumors about masked men, glowing skulls, snakes and armies of inferi and werewolves. If they were all true, there'd be no wizards left alive in England but them.

Seeing Mary roll up the magazine, Lily said, "That's uh, Severus's copy."

"I'll give it back to him later in the library, Lily."

"What are you going to do with it?" Lily's hope that there were only two copies of the issue – one for Lovegood and one for Severus – wouldn't do much good if Mary went waving that one all over.

"You don't want Helen to see it?"

"She might not be interested. It's not quidditch."

"Lily, you should try to be more supportive. How many times have you told us that Severus is smart, and thinks about more than just the next insult he's going to cut someone down with?"

"He might not want to share it."

"Why would he send it to a magazine for publication, if he didn't want it read? Or use some other name?"

"Not many people read that magazine so they uh … might make fun of him."

"Since when does people mocking Snape matter to him? I think he does it on purpose, just to show others for the shallow idiots they are."

Lily opened her mouth, but stopped herself from asking Mary if she wasn't one of those idiots two days ago when she got mouthy about the state of Sev's textbooks. She was getting riled because when her friends became positive about Severus, they went overboard. It would probably be over by this evening when Severus told them all to sod off.

However, Severus did not get all pissy in the library when Mary turned up with the magazine. When they became too much for him, he left. Severus must have been planning his escape because when Lily left the table for less than a minute to get a book, she returned to find him and all his things gone.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Snape was done," Evan replied.

"No, he wasn't," Lily argued.

"Well that's what he said," Helen replied.

"Where did he go?"

"He didn't say," Helen said with growing irritation. She knew that Lily and Severus weren't seeing eye to eye on some issue, but Lily should just make up with him already. Helen didn't need to know Severus well to tell that he was the moody sort that could stay miserable for however long it took. It was surprising they could even be friends with Lily's stubbornness. Although Lily was a real catch for someone like Snape, she shouldn't make him come crawling back asking for forgiveness whenever she didn't like something. One day he might decide to cut his losses. It must be the red hair. All gingers were hot-headed. When combined with Lily's difficult streak because she couldn't admit whenever she was wrong, she could be unbearable.

Lily huffed as she sat down to continue working on her homework. If Severus returned to the Slytherin dorms, she wouldn't be able to follow, and would look like a fool hanging out in the dungeons.

By the next afternoon, Lily should not have worried about looking like a fool. Copies of The Quibbler were in the school. Not just the one copy that Severus had. With all this He Who Must Not Be Named and his Death Eater cronies, was it driving people mad for misinformation so much that they'd read The Quibbler?

Severus and her were sitting outside having lunch before Herbology, even though it was now November and getting too chilly for sitting on the ground, even in the sun. Lily tried to get her cloak around Severus too, but he protested, "Give me a moment to finish eating this first." Severus took two bites out of his apple, and then threw it into the woods. "What did you have in mind with your cloak, Lily?"

"I have to eat more than that, Sev."

"I'm not stopping you. Keep your cloak. I'll be fine."

Lily gave him a little push and said, "Lay down. I'll put it over the top of us."

He did as she asked, but when she lay down next to him, Lily decided she did not want to eat lying down so got back up, nudged Severus to turn onto his back as he was originally, and then knelt on top of him. When she started to get her cloak to cover him more, Severus said, "Higher," and indicated with a pull on her knees so she slid up to his waist. Lily spent almost a full minute arranging her cloak and folding some of his cloak off the ground and onto him.

"Next week, I'll put something else in my bag to lay on the ground," Severus suggested. He'd also refresh his memory on cushioning charms. Usually it wouldn't bother him, but with Lily on top of him, the hard, uneven ground was uncomfortable.

"Maybe if we have a night with little homework, we could come out for a walk before curfew. It's a full moon next week. That'd be nice, and it's getting cold enough that a lot of students are staying in. By the way, why did you leave so suddenly last night, Sev?"

"They weren't interested in doing homework. I have too much to do to let them sidetrack me."

"But Helen and Mary agreed with your point of view."

"They change their opinions day to day. Besides, you'd be even more angry at me, if they didn't shut up."

"Why would I be angry at you?"

"You don't agree with me. If others do not take your side, Lily, you get angry."

"I'd have to let them know my opinion first to expect them to agree with me."

"How long would you spend telling them the right opinion?"

"As long as it took for them to realize that you are being paranoid."

"In order to not waste time defending myself when I had a lot of homework, I left so you'd have their ears all to yourself, Lily."

"That's not fair. You can express yourself."

"I did, by writing it down."

"And I think out of our friends, they'd give you a decent chance to say something without dismissing your point of view."

"Friends?" Severus asked. "How about for now I call them acquaintances?"

"Severus, you room with two of them. How could they not be your friends?"

"Why would you call any Slytherin that sleeps in the same room as me my friend? If Sirius Black was sorted into my house like the rest of his whole family, would that make him my friend?"

"No. I know Sirius Black would never be your friend, and neither would Mulciber and Avery."

"Wilkes and Rosier know I'm not pureblood. I'm only included because of you. It's not going to last either."

"Why do you say it's not going to last? Is there a problem?"

"Not a problem. Their families are already negotiating, and then there's the question of marrying this summer or not. Depends if the married student quarters are archaic."

"What married students' quarters?"

"It's in Hogwarts, a History, Lily. I thought you read that?"

"There's a lot in that book, Sev. Why would students be married? They're students," Lily explained.

"It would be convenient. If they are going to have a formal betrothal, like their families normally do, the school doesn't give them any special privileges. With the different houses, neither of us can just pop round to see the other. How would it look if I was hanging outside Gryffindor tower? Would any of them even let you know I was waiting outside?"

"Don't be ridiculous. You can't wait outside our tower for me."

Severus shrugged one shoulder and said, "So, either the negotiations will go well, or it'll be off. That's what is going to happen first. Rosier and Wilkes also want to join us in Herbology. It will let those other girls subtly know they currently don't have a chance at them."

"What about Lupin?"

"He can buddy up to the girls. It doesn't matter that I ignore him. He won't stop talking. He can keep talking over at another table."

"I suppose. Why would Hogwarts have quarters for married students?" Lily asked, still confused. She'd have to look that up since Severus told her which book.

"Maybe back when witches were married young to old men by their families. The old goats could visit them to claim their rights if the girls were kept separate. Would also keep the married women from giving the unmarried ones ideas."

"Ideas, Sev? You're the one with quite an imagination."

"About what in particular?" he asked. Did Lily mean he thought about sex too much? How could that be his fault? It was Lily's. Maybe Mulciber's, but he tried to ignore whatever was going on over there in their dorm room.

"Anything. You think people are going to attack you for no reason, the government and school are full of incompetents, and you basically trust no one."

"I trust you with some things, Lily."

"Some things?"

"Do you want me to lie to you?"

Lily frowned at Severus. "I thought I was your best friend, Sev."

"You are, Lily. Do you trust me with everything?"

Annoyed, Lily said, "That's not the point. I mean you're … a boy."

Severus replied by quirking his eyebrow at her.

What did he mean by that? He may be smarter at school stuff, but Lily definitely knew a lot more than him about life and how other people lived. Without her, where would he be for any company? Lily supposed if he didn't have her, Severus would have made more of effort to pal around with the Slytherin blokes. He definitely had the potential to overcome that half-blood nonsense. Lily had overcome whatever slight prejudice there was against muggleborns.

"Oh, Herbology," Lily said, reminded that they had a class to because she could see some students heading into the greenhouse.

Lily stopped when she reached the greenhouse door. There was a bunch of people at their table. Lupin, Wilkes, Rosier, a Hufflepuff boy and two Ravenclaws. Over at Wilkes and Rosier's old table, were two indignant Hufflepuff girls waiting with their hands on their hips.

Behind her, Severus muttered, "Better get it sorted before Prof. Sprout says something."

"She's nice, Sev."

"I don't want to put that to the test, Lily."

Although he already knew the extra three students were here to share a table with Snape due to that magazine, Wilkes knew who was boss and said, "All right, Evans."

"Yes," Lily replied. "There's only room for four at a table, and there's eight of us, besides two young ladies over there. So maybe we should sort this before Prof. Sprout does it for us."

Remus had just gotten here before Evans and Snape, but he did know one thing. "I've been at this table for weeks."

The Hufflepuff boy suggested, "Well that settles it. We just wanted one class with Snape. Wilkes and Rosier have him all the time."

Severus was not agreeing, but moved backwards when the fellow tried to grab his arm. Touchy-feely Hufflepuff better cut it out, or he'd be off to the Infirmary to get that hand sorted.

Rosier laughed at Snape getting corralled by the Ravenclaws moving in thinking he was agreeing to go to the next table.

Wilkes agreed, "Too funny."

"But he doesn't -"

"Don't worry. It's just one class, Evans," Wilkes said.

By the end of class, Wilkes and Rosier never wanted to be alone with Evans again without Snape around to be her slave. They were able to insist that Lupin be her servant, or partner, when she started being a bossy swot to all three of them. She probably wore Snape out so much with her demands that that's why he was such a peevish churl to the rest of them.

Lily spent the class watching and listening for anything wrong at Severus's table. The other three lads wanted to talk to him about his thoughts on the Ministry using the Unforgivables, once class was working on their projects. They ended up talking to each other, since Severus was not talkative, not even to insult them. Perhaps Severus was right. He wrote his opinion, and left it for others to discuss.

That evening, Severus left the library again to avoid others. Lily did not think many agreed with Severus, but were merely curious. Getting something published, in The Quiddler of all places, was not an open invitation for harassment. She doubted many even read the article from the way they tried to introduce themselves to her friend with what they considered clever openings.

This time though Severus made it a point to tell Lily he was going to the dungeons to continue with his homework.

Remus was up in their room trying to get a handle on his homework for Ancient Runes before they went to detention. If there was one class he should not let his attention get diverted, it was in there. The others were not listening to him about their grand plan for him to befriend their Slytherin enemy. Rather than admit it was a bad idea, they were listening to Peter when he suggested that Remus sit with him in other classes too, like Defense and Charms. After the full moon next week, they were all set to 'cast him out' publicly. Remus was totally against this new phase of the plan. Why would he want to appear friendless everywhere in the school outside of this room?

Besides, Snape did not appear to be looking for friends. Evans was not in Ancient Runes, and until Remus started sitting next to him, he seemed content to stay in the back of the room alone. He had told Remus that pretty much every time he sat down next to him so it wasn't his imagination. Remus just smiled at Snape no matter what he said. It there was a market for books of insults, Snape could become wealthy in no time.

Sometimes Ravenclaws would talk to Snape. Unless Remus was more lost in Runes than he thought, he overheard what he thought was Arithmancy. Ugh. Without help, Runes might as well be Arithmancy. He was going to miss another class again next week. That was the most powerful motivator to kiss up to Snape. He needed a friend that took school seriously. Remus's parents were happy with his OWLs, and he wanted to make them proud with his NEWTs too. He may not have any goals past Hogwarts, but with his condition he had to admit he was one of the lucky ones. Remus was willing to take things one step at a time.

The door banged open and Peter entered, claiming, "There he is. Why didn't you tell us your boyfriend was writing pro-death eater things?"

This constant detention was getting to Peter. If Remus didn't know better, Peter was getting hostile towards him. That was ridiculous because Remus hadn't done anything to Evans or Snape or anyone for that matter to land them in this mess. Frowning at whatever nonsense Peter overheard now, Remus replied, "I think I've already said that Snape does not talk to me, other than to tell me to go away."

"I still think you should grab his bum," James joked.

"Prongs! Remus is doing a good job. We don't need him to make the ultimate sacrifice," Sirius said in disgust. Sirius wouldn't so much as touch a quill after it had been in Snivelly's hands. Touch his person? Did Mrs. Scower have enough power to tackle that sort of grease?

What was Sirius talking about? Peter thought. Remus doing a good job? If he was given the job of kissing up to Snape, he'd have the slimy git giggling in his ear by now. "Lucky for us, I was able to nick a copy of it in the ladies'."

James and Remus showed their disapproval. It was one thing to rat around in the gents listening, but a gentleman did not lurk in the girls bathrooms.

Sirius didn't give that moral implication any thought at the moment because he was waving The Quibbler. "He wrote that the Ministry shouldn't be allowed to fight back against Death Eaters till they got a trial."

"Can I see it?" Remus asked. It sounded a little odd that someone would come right out and say something as simplistic as Death Eaters are people too, and they deserved the same rights.

Sirius threw it over, but it fluttered and fell short so Remus got up to fetch it. The cover did not shout 'Save the Poor Death Eaters'. It illustrated that people could be in between the Ministry and the Death Eater. Remus ignored, or the best he could ignore, his friends who were trying to help him read between the lines because there was no mention of Death Eaters and He Who Must Not Be Named anywhere in this article.

Finishing reading the article before he was forced to slap them all quiet, Remus clarified what he thought he read. "So … if you become aurors, when would it be all right to cast a cruciatus curse on someone?"

"Whenever we think they are withholding information," Sirius said.

"Well, it would have to be really important information, and we'd have to think they knew," James clarified.

"Obviously," Remus agreed. He knew not to take Sirius's impulsiveness at face value. "And it would be all right to put Padfoot under imperius to have him reconcile with his parents and either spy on his family, or if he found nothing, join the death eaters?"

"Simpler to do it to Regulisp," Sirius laughed. "He's the good boy."

"I'd never believe it of Padfoot," James said, joining his friend in a good laugh.

As one of the gang, Peter merrily agreed, "Padfoot? Why not Prongs and I too? Death Eaters. No way."

Remus closed his eyes. Sirius had answered the question, even if he didn't know it. It would be perfectly all right with him if someone cast an Unforgivable on his younger brother. Although Sirius was the only one of them that had a sibling, and reminded them frequently how fortunate they were not to have a little nightmare tagging around after them for years, if Remus had a brother or sister, he couldn't imagine joking that they would be a perfect candidate for an Unforgivable curse.

Lily also had closed her eyes in the girls' dormitory. Severus was not making up stories. Not that she thought he'd lie about something like this, but just got it as mixed up as everything else going on around him. Mary and Helen were interested in marriage. Helen's explanation regarding taking brooms for a test drive was uncalled for, but gave Lily a better perspective on why her friends thought that they should not wait till marriage to do that with their husbands, or perspective husbands.

She was fortuitous that Severus knew Lily so well that he recognized the mead had made her drunk and temporarily insane at the Hog's Head. Over time, she had also considered the way he had explained that he considered Lily too extraordinary to shag on a table at a filthy pub in front of others. Normally Lily got mad at her friend when he was right, but she'd forgive him this time.

Earlier in the library she found the one brief mention that married students quarters were separate from staff and married staff. Now that was interesting. Who on the staff was married? Besides Mrs. Norris.

Other than her friends pointing out that naturally staff could marry without saying who was married. They said that if not, there would be no Sirius Black. It seemed he had some relative that was Headmaster here in the early part of the century, and Sirius was a child of his child, or some such thing. Why does anyone care? Is it just a reason to act like a total toerag? Black's grandfather was headmaster here?

They waved off the possibility that married students were ancient history, and there was no allowance made for them in modern times. They were more concerned with some demands about marriage negotiations. The funniest one was Mary wanted the Wilkes to provide at least one house elf for her new home. If Mary was not working outside the house and could use magic, why couldn't she keep up while Malcolm was at work? Once Lily was seventeen, she believed housework should become easier with magic. No more polishing silver or the copper bottoms of pans, scouring the sink, floors could be washed and dried, and there was probably lots of faster ways to make beds, clean carpets, maybe even clean the drapes without taking them down, and then having to iron them all before putting them back up.

Although Lily was interested in knowing what was going on, her girlfriends couldn't help turning the conversation back to her and Severus. They were brutal with their assessment that Severus would bring nothing to a marriage except his future potential. There was no money, property, or even an employment prospect since he had no connections. The surprisingly new thought they expressed was that was all right for Severus since he didn't have any sort of expectations. He would be happy with anything, and then start from there. It was Lily that was the problem. She'd need a certain minimum allowance for clothes and she had personal goals that Severus would not be able to aid her with, such as obtaining a healer apprenticeship for her. If Lily would not settle for Severus, it would be better for her to distance herself now, as they've told her so many times, and set herself up for a wealthy lad or a pureblood whose family could help her.

Lily tried to express her indignation that she could do very well on her own merits. She didn't need some pedigreed nitwit to aid her, and Lily could do just fine without all the clothes and shoes and whatever else her girlfriends filled their room with. Their trunks were magically enhanced to contain more than a metric ton of stuff, or what they called 'necessities'.

She spent the rest of the night tutting and tsk'ing to herself with intermittent huffs. Lily Evans had no problems. It was Severus, and they were best friends. Not boyfriend and girlfriend getting swept up with this betrothal nonsense. They were sixteen, and only turning seventeen in January. No need for them to think that these four shagging idiots had a bright idea to save themselves the hassle of finding a spot to do all the out of bound things they got up to, and which were out of bounds to protect them from this sort of distracting nonsense.

Albus Dumbledore thought he was spending a quiet Saturday afternoon in his office, when his floo flared green.

"Ah, Dumbledore, good you're there."

"Barty," Albus responded. "How can I help you?""

"Do you have a moment for me to come through?"

"Absolutely, old friend," Albus replied with a wave of his hand to allow Crouch to floo into his office.

Bartemius Crouch, Sr. emerged from Dumbledore's fireplace without a hair out of place or a speck of soot upon him.

Albus came out from behind his desk and indicated a chair for his guest while asking, "Tea, Barty?"

"Don't have a lot of time, Dumbledore," he replied while taking a seat.

Sitting in the facing chair, Albus inquired, "Working on a Saturday?"

Crouch spread his hands wide to indicate the headmaster's office, "Aren't we all, Dumbledore? Aren't we all in these times?"

"So what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if I could check some rumors with you. Riddle was a student here. Slytherin, class of 1945."

"Yes, he was."

He made a nervous gesture with his fingers before he continued, "Could his father have been a muggle, and his mother a squib?"

"Is that important?"

"His motivation, Dumbledore. If he is preaching to his followers about pureblood superiority, that would change everything."

"If he was pretending, I don't think it would make a difference. His followers are so drawn in by his charisma that the truth would not matter to them."

"Why pretend though?"

Albus shrugged, "Why shouldn't he? If there was a group he admired, it would not be beyond Riddle to feign he's one of them. He certainly wouldn't hesitate to steal something he coveted, why not a lifestyle?"

"Ah, but if he was pretending to lure them in instead?"

"To what purpose?"

"I don't need to tell you, Dumbledore, that things are not going well for his group of Death Eaters. None of them can openly claim support for him. They may have what they consider minor victories when they commit some terrible act, but society at large is against them. With the new measures I've instituted, and with the continued support of wizarding Britain, it shouldn't be long now."

"So they will lose then."

"But what if that's his goal? To draw out the type of wizard he most hated by pretending to be one of them and set himself up as their leader? We've caught some, but they haven't a clue who most of the other followers are. The only one who may know is Riddle himself. No one of his followers is as powerful as him. If he escapes, and some of his followers do as well, he can take his time hunting them down himself, or by supplying evidence to the Ministry of the acts they committed."

Albus stroked his chin in thought, and murmured, "Interesting." Sometimes it took a Slytherin to perceive the convoluted plans of another. Crouch was disciplined but also ruthless himself. That was the key to his popularity among the public as head of Magical Law Enforcement. He wouldn't let innocents be murdered in their beds without a fight. Even if he had to personally crush every Death Eater that was uncovered.

He added, "It sounds rather convoluted, Barty, but it would have to be to draw in others and get them to confess how they truly felt. I'll give it some thought." Albus would be up late tonight discussing this with his office full of advisors.

"Of course. It does sound rather incredible, but what else could there be? The fellow's a blood-thirsty lunatic. There may be no reason ever uncovered … or at least one that's believable."

"While you're here, Barty, would you like to visit with your son?"

"I really have to get back to the office, Dumbledore," Crouch replied while rising to go. He stopped on his way to the fireplace. "By the way, Dumbledore, that whole business about student welfare. I've closed it. Now that we have the true measure of that Snape lad, we know why you can't spare the rod on that one."

Albus blinked in surprise, was he being encouraged to use physical discipline? "True measure?"

"One of those impertinent troublemakers always questioning authority. No business talking when he has no clue. A Hogwarts student questioning me? If you want to get him up here, Dumbledore, I'd be able to spare a moment for adding my stripes to that ungrateful behind."

"Mr. Snape questioned you?" As far as Dumbledore knew, Crouch did not personally handle every case, but he was overly involved with his department. That's why he was so busy, with no time for anything else.

"Not directly. Irreverent coward wouldn't dare. No, no … that burdensome publication is now printing tripe from students. Although that Lovegood doesn't let the readers know it's from a child. Presents it like the article is from a concerned wizard."

"Ah," Albus said, understanding where troublemakers were allowed to question the Ministry. Albus had had a subscription to The Quibbler. It sometimes contained some real gems, and now a student had an article published? It must be something to get Barty's attention. "I suppose I better check up on that then, Barty."

"Knew you would, Dumbledore. Can't have these subversive elements at work when the government has work to do."

After Crouch flooed back to the Ministry, Albus returned to his desk while the portraits stirred offering their advice on what they thought of Barty's theory regarding Riddle. There was a copy in here somewhere, he thought while shifting aside his correspondence and a couple Witch Weeklies that contained recipes he'd like the house elves to try. Yes, here it was. The Quiddler. Maybe that would answer something.

Except for a couple forays outside the dungeons to trade library books and to get his own provisions from the kitchen, Severus had been avoiding the rest of the students. Slytherins could at least behave themselves, except maybe Crouch Jr. Severus didn't know what was so funny, but he was breaking out in giggles every time their paths crossed. He was actually quite bright so it seemed rather wasteful to see him frittering it away on some jokes, pranks, or whatever he had percolating in his skull.

He had returned to their bedroom when the others went to dinner on Saturday night. Severus would rather be in the bedroom the whole time, but if he stayed in there too long, Mulciber and Avery would get angry because they could no longer wank loudly around him.

To keep the truce tolerable for both sides, he was mostly sitting in the corner of the common room where the younger boys had their study group. Even though Severus no longer needed to wash the old potion off his skin and scalp in the morning, he maintained their deal to aid them with difficult homework for their lookout services. They switched off so it wasn't as if Severus was overburdening them.

After spending about an hour lying on his bed, staring up at the overhead canopy and thinking, he cut up some fruit and cooked a jacket potato with his wand. Severus was happily minding his own business and dining on his self-prepared feast in blessed solitude, when some grouch opened the bedroom door so hard it slammed into the stone wall.

Severus was disappointed that the door did not bounce off the wall and swing back just as hard into Slughorn, who was standing in the doorway pointing at him, and accused, "You!"

What could Severus say in response? He didn't know what it was now he supposedly did, but it wouldn't matter. He decided to annoy Slughorn by saying nothing, and had the nerve to smirk when the door finally did slowly swing back ruining whatever presence Slughorn thought he had.

Pushing the door open, Slughorn resumed pointing and said, "You are to be in the Headmaster's office at three tomorrow afternoon."

"All right."

Slughorn scowled. Dumbledore invited him and Snape to tea tomorrow afternoon. Why? He was sure he had covered his tracks in the little mishap with that note. Silly of Pomfrey to have held on to it. She was also able to extricate herself from whatever this piece of dirt turned the Ministry on to. Dumbledore should just leave it alone. However, he did know one thing for sure, Snape's attitude would rid Dumbledore of any good will he may have dreamed up on this turd's behalf.

That evening, Wilkes and Rosier confirmed for Lily in the library that Severus was hiding in the dungeons, and was well the last time they saw him.

She was not amused when the four other people at the table exchanged glances. Severus spent five years of school avoiding people and hiding from others. Lily Evans hadn't missed her best friend before.

Severus was in the corridor next to the gargoyle that stood guard over the entrance to the Head's office at three o'clock, as requested. He waited for close to ten minutes, and began to wonder if Slughorn thought that this would be funny.

The gargoyle moved aside, and he heard Dumbledore call, "Severus, my boy, there you are. Come on up."

At the 'my boy', Severus curled his lip, rather than immediately going up the stairs. He had better things to do than play games with the lying old man. He put on a good show and said the right things like he was here for all the students and his door was always open for someone in need, however that was only true for some students. The Snapes were not wealthy or influential, or could even bother to write one letter of complaint so there were no doors open for Severus at Hogwarts, unless he was being led somewhere by a teacher to receive some punishment for daring to defend himself against his betters.

Deciding he might as well find out what he did this time, Severus ascended the stairs. Slughorn was already cozy in a comfy chair and enjoying some iced confection. A happy Slughorn meant Severus was in a great deal of trouble.

The headmaster joined his colleague at the table that was covered in more food than the two of them could possibly eat, unless Slughorn was planning on staying for another hour, Severus thought to himself sarcastically.

Once seated, Dumbledore asked, "Join us for tea?"

If truly given a choice then 'no', but since Severus was not really here for tea, he sat at the chair that was indicated to him by the headmaster's waving hand. Normally, Severus liked tea. Mrs. Evans and Petunia made wonderful food for tea. None of that kind of food was here. There were no little sandwiches, thinly sliced or bite-sized fruit, or even bits of cheese cut cleverly. It was all cookies, cakes and tarts either iced or with crystallized sugar topping artfully arranged on white flowered plates. The combined smell was nauseating. Severus was torn as to whether stay on the edge of the chintz armchair's deep seat, or sit back to get his nose away from their foul repast.

While Dumbledore was busy with the tea pot, Severus took that opportunity to dig his heels into the carpet and give the entire chair a good shove back from the table. While he watched the headmaster, it was almost painful to keep his eyebrows from shooting upwards as cube after cube of sugar was added to the cup. He was unable to stop the quick shudder when the cup was placed in front of him on the table. Doesn't the host ask how the guest likes their tea? Since he was adding a like number to his own cup, it was probably sugar. It was Severus's mistake thinking that Dumbledore would be a good enough actor to play a proper host for tea.

He waited for Dumbledore or Slughorn to get to why they wanted him here since Severus could see them stuff themselves with desserts any evening at dinner. After the obligatory weather talk between the two men, Slughorn bragged about his invitations from his famous correspondents.

Dumbledore interrupted Slughorn's tired monologue regarding how difficult it was to be in demand by so many important people, to ask, "And what about you, Severus?"

He had been paying attention to the conversation, waiting for the real reason he was here, but the insertion of this question among Slughorn's talk of self-importance made no sense. No one invited Severus Snape anywhere. He was quite the opposite. A man with no demands upon his time, other than school. He silently looked up from the table and at Dumbledore, waiting for some clarification. Maybe the headmaster forgot that Slughorn had been speaking, or like everyone else simply became tired of listening to him.

Albus tried to make use of this sudden eye contact, but Severus's mind was as calm as a pool of water. It revealed nothing, but that was frequently the case when legilimency was subtly used and the subject had nothing on his mind. Not what he expected. Snape struck him as someone who was constantly thinking.

Annoyed that his conversation was interrupted for Snape to be as sociable as a stone, Slughorn cleared his throat impatiently and then continued, relating some fascinating news he had received from one of his many protégées.

Disappointed that Severus went back to staring at the edge of the table, Albus was delighted to find that today's custard tarts were particularly fine. The house elves continually surprised him with making his treats so sensational.

After Dumbledore licked his fingers like a toddler, he picked up one of the tarts with those same saliva-covered fingers, and placed it in front of Severus, suggesting, "You really ought to try one of these." Severus glared at the pastry before turning his gaze on the headmaster. Why didn't Dumbledore chew it for him and then spit it in his mouth? He was revolting.

The vivid image that Albus got from Severus this time was quite disturbing. So much so, he no longer felt like eating. If Snape was angry at him, why would he be thinking about Albus doing such a degrading thing to him, rather than with Albus as the victim? It would have been one thing to imagine someone would cause him harm or shame, but the thought was so life-like and graphically repulsive.

Undeterred, Slughorn continued talking between bites of multiple tarts from the plate Dumbledore had suggested.

Somewhat recovered, although still puzzled about Snape's reluctance to enjoy any of this fine fare, Dumbledore interrupted Slughorn purposely, murmuring at the end of one of his fascinating bits of news, "Excellent, Horace, but you know that's not why I've invited the two of you to tea."

Horace gave a slight noise of agreement while sipping his tea and studying Snape. So far, he had held his tongue, and if he knew what was good for him, it would stay that way. At times, insignificant pupils thought they had the headmaster's ear and then proceeded to make fools of themselves prattling on about nonsense or to make ridiculous accusations about the staff or fellow students. Snape had his fun with the Ministry, and by now he should have realized that no matter how plausible his tale, no one would listen to him.

"I saw your article in The Quiddler, Severus."

When Snape said nothing, Albus tried to coax him by asking, "You did write it?"

"Yes."

"I found it insightful."

Horace was frowning. The magazine the headmaster mentioned was not worth reading, but now it was publishing the scribbles of a lackluster student like Snape? He hoped Albus didn't expect him to encourage Snape's dull attempt at recognition.

Severus continued to wait in silence for whatever punishment was about to be meted out. He was entitled to his own opinion, and if someone wanted to publish it, he saw nothing wrong with that. He was well aware of Lily's opinion that the Ministry could do no wrong was popular. Government existed to prevent the general populace from having worries by establishing laws and a bureaucracy to enforce the laws. However if the government no longer served the people, but instead endangered them, Severus could not be the only person that saw that as a problem. Especially when the government felt it was no longer answerable to the public.

Disheartened that this was turning into a conversation with himself, rather than something philosophical regarding the Ministry's rights as opposed to the rights of the everyday witch or wizard, Albus added, "A job well done, my boy."

When it was not followed by scheduling detention or a loss of points, Severus ventured, "I'm free to go?" If he wasn't, his impertinence was sure to get this meeting to the whole point why he was being put through this charade.

Albus refused to be pessimistic. Obviously something was amiss, and once he figured out what it was, he'd give this another try. Now that he read a glimmer of what Snape concealed, he unveiled a clue as to why others thought this boy was significant. Although now he was not sure who these others were. "Eager to get back to enjoying your weekend, Severus? Very well. I'll invite you up again sometime."

Severus gave the headmaster a challenging glare. Threatening him with another of these so-called invitations?

"Get a move on, Snape," Slughorn insisted. The sight of the lad was unappetizing, and there were a couple items that he had not sampled yet.

Once Severus silently left his office, Albus mentioned, "Some deep waters there, eh, Horace?"

"More like shallow and unappreciative."

Albus smirked at his friend. Horace was always a little put out when he didn't recognize everyone's potential in first year, especially one of his Slytherins. Snape didn't have his own charm, and his mother attended school with Tom Riddle. Who remembered any of the other Slytherins when Tom Riddle was a student?

After having his ears numbed by Slughorn, Severus decided to go to dinner in the Great Hall and join the others in the library, if Hufflepuffs learned to keep their hands to themselves.

The youngest Slytherins were especially chatty tonight. The cutest had recovered from being Gryffindor bait earlier in the day for disillusioned prefects. Apparently Godric's house had crept into positive territory, and had been keeping at least five rubies in their glass for a few days. Little Slytherins skipping rope in the Front Hall was just too much for them to resist. It was like a dog seeing a cat. What idiots, especially when they went to get their bullying buddies to assist and cheer them on. Can't be heroes unless their mates see twenty of them jinxing first and second years from the staircases above. Well, more Gryffindors meant more points subtracted, and their house was now at a new low. Unless they were too stupid to realize that negative numbers with more digits were lower. The brave lions were at negative 105 due to five points being subtracted for every Gryffindor that cast something.

Catsup puddings were back for afters. All the sugar in Hogwarts must have been devoured by Dumbledore and Slughorn this afternoon. Self-centered gluttons who thought themselves more deserving than others and wasted his time with their immature games. In a year and a half, Severus would no longer be at their beck and call for their self important shit. For now, they could force him to tea all they wanted, but there was no way he'd kiss their arses.

Wilkes and Rosier already knew his mood, and forewarned the ladies when the reached the library, "Go easy on him, he was trapped in room with old Sluggy and Dumbledore this afternoon."

"What for?" asked Lily.

Severus shrugged, "No reason other than they can order students around. It was almost an hour of listening to poor Slughorn tell his tale of how he's some sort of social butterfly flitting between all his friends."

Lily tsk'd and said, "Stop exaggerating, Severus. Who else was there?"

"Just the three of us. It was simply pathetic. He just kept shoving food into his face while blabbing about quidditch, the ministry, some spells mistress, some Bulgarians, someone in Tibet, and then some students that are in Australia now."

"What about you?"

"Me? What do I care about his nonstop speech of grandness? I wouldn't care if that windbag claimed that he got the Beatles together, and Lennon wrote 'I am the Walrus' as a tribute to him."

Lily laughed, "goo goo ja goob." Slughorn getting the Beatles together was totally outrageous, but if the professor knew how big they were, or even still are, in the muggle world, perhaps he wouldn't mind taking credit for them.

"Really. I didn't gain or lose points, or receive detention." Severus waved his hand in the air and claimed, "I just let the words wash over me."

"That's good, Sev," Lily commented. Severus needed to practice controlling his temper with those he considered to be idiots. Slughorn was high on his idiot list.

The Marauders were besides themselves at how moronic their housemates were. Slytherins skipping rope in the Front Hall? Never trust Slytherins. Now they were lower in points than ever. They wouldn't be out of detention by Christmas at this rate.

This totally sucked. Snape was running rings around them while they had to play with Filch every night. They weren't lucky enough to get some fresh air with Hagrid after the girls caught Pettigrew.

Remus was the only one of the four that tried to reason that maybe it wasn't one person that was the cause of their troubles. The younger Gryffindor boys that ganged up on the playing Slytherins hadn't seen Snape, they only saw a couple youngsters from their rival house, and then a lot of prefects. If they wouldn't hold their housemates responsible for their own actions, since they were inspired by the Marauders themselves, who could they really blame?

He hoped his friends would show some restraint this week while he was indisposed.

It was quiet in Ancient Runes and Herbology for Severus without Remus Lupin jawing at him. Lily had been told that he went home because his mother was sick. Not that he didn't enjoy Lupin being absent, but none of of the other students took as much time off as him.

The last class of the day had just let out and the halls were crowded. Even though he had not been openly attacked since he returned from St. Mungo's, Severus was being observant.

What happened just in front of him, didn't need someone being observant to notice. Some girl's skirt and robe flew up, just as it had to Lily earlier in the month. Severus didn't know her, but quickly cast finite incantem. That resulted in him getting hit with expelliarmus which knocked him to the floor, followed by a levicorpus, while Pettigrew crowed, "Got ya now, Snivellus."

Severus struggled to get his robe off his face to see if it was all three of his enemies. He could hear girls screaming before he was dropped without warning onto the floor head first. Why did he always seem to land on his nose every time that spell was released?

In pain, Severus managed to get his robe off his head, stay on the floor and look for his wand while chaos reigned over the hallway. Other students were now fighting, and it would be dangerous to stand up or move suddenly. He tried to wandlessly accio his wand, but it did not show up. Severus had been practicing that one, but it did not work unless his hand was within a yard of it.

He had gotten over to the wall, either to find his wand kicked up against it, or to avoid other people either getting knocked back with spells, or levitated then dropped. Searching for his wand in a dark niche, Severus's hair was grabbed from behind and his head was pounded down into the floor face first before being jerked up so he could blink at Sirius Black.

"Caught you this time, Snivelly," Black said almost lovingly, with a wicked gleam in his eye.

Dazed but not defeated, Severus repeated, "This time?"

"Attacking girls, you slimy death eater," Sirius explained, while giving Snape a hard slap across the face.

Severus got his hands up and on the pretty boy's face going for his eyes, or failing that perhaps grabbing his hair in return for the grip Black had on his. "I didn't attack any -," he started to say, but Black jerked his head back and into the wall.

"I don't want to hear your lies, Snivellus. I got a month of detention to bash out of your greasy head."

Becoming more addled with agony as his head was knocked against the stone wall again, Severus got a weak hold on Black's hair. Physically fighting was not going to give him the upper hand. It was fortunate the crowd's chants of 'Snape, Snape, Snivellus' hadn't started, or Black would be beating his head in tempo with it. He tried to think. They were inside the school, and there was enough noise in this hallway to get someone's attention. Severus just needed to keep his skull intact till a staff member showed up. Perhaps if his new 'friend' Lupin were here, then … Severus would know his talking was all an act. Could he confuse Black about Lupin? If he got Black angry, he might just start ranting so hard that the beating would stop. "Lupin went home to get out of detention. Can't bear all the trouble you've gotten him into to."

Black barked out a laugh, "Lupin at home? For all your talk of brains, Snivelly, you can't find a bottle of shampoo in the bath. He's still here. He never leaves. You want to know where to find your friend, I'll tell you. Tonight after curfew, go out to that Whomping Willow, at the base of it is a big knot, can't miss it, press it, and presto you can get into the secret passage. Your buddy's …"

"C'mon, Padfoot. I got your wand. We need to get out of here," Potter yelled.

"I'm coming!" Black yelled back. He gave Snape a couple pats to the cheek and murmured, "Say hello from me. Remus gets a little lonely and with detention, I can't sneak out myself." Black gave Snape's hair one more yank to hit him up against the wall again, and then left.

This was one of those times that Severus cursed his tolerance to pain that kept him from passing out. If only he had known people could do that when he was a young child, he may have figured out that skill. Some people were so delicate they could faint at the sight of blood. He hated head pain, not as much as burns, but his father and mother did not hit him in the head with significant force frequently enough to train him to ignore this kind of throbbing. He had his nose broken frequently since starting at Hogwarts so that was painful, but the kind he conditioned himself to just acknowledge and move onto sorting … if he had his wand and a mirror.

Severus tried to remain unnoticed where he was by sitting against the wall. It failed because that little smiling second year Slytherin leaned down in front of him, with those teeth. He had instinctively hated this boy from the first moment, probably because he was just so unnaturally good-looking. That's probably why Severus thought everything he said was an absolute lie because he reminded him so strongly of Potter and Black. "I think I found your wand, Severus," the boy waved Severus's wand excitedly. Was his name Flockheart?

"Yeah, thanks," he muttered, holding out his hand. It was his, but he would have taken someone else's till his was found.

The enthusiastic lad gave him his wand, and commented, "You look a mess. I think I can -"

Severus growled, "Get your wand out of my face, or you'll regret it."

"Uh, right. That was … uh, the way you held off Black from helping Pettigrew. If it were me, -"

"I don't care," he insisted. Holding off Black by getting his skull smashed into a wall. What a dunderhead.

Severus looked around. The Gryffindors retreated due to superior opposition, rather than a teacher chasing them off. Whoever that girl was, she must have been popular.

A wave of self-pity hit Severus, he wanted Lily to fix his nose. He shook it off. He was more than capable to sort it himself, and there was a gents down the hall. He felt dizzy as he got stood. There was blood on his shirt, sweater and tie, but he couldn't have lost that much from his nose. Damn Black. More for him to get sorted.

Left to himself, Severus was able to get his nose fixed and his clothes cleaned in the boys bathroom. His head felt sore to the touch, but there was no bleeding or anything that felt like a large lump. He didn't need this, he had to finish up an assignment due tomorrow.

By the time he returned to the dungeons, Severus decided that maybe he should lie down for a bit and skip dinner. He'd set an alarm charm to wake him so he could go up to the library in a little over an hour.

He was feeling better by the time he joined the others in the library.

"You were in the hall when Glenda Chittock got attacked, Sev?" Lily asked before his bum was even in the chair.

"Some Hufflepuff. Younger than us," Severus replied. He didn't care who she was.

"She's a sweet girl."

Severus stared at Lily. How did she remember all these names? If whoever she was was a sweet girl, why would a prefect need to know her name? That was for troublemakers. He looked away and took out his schoolwork.

"How are you, Severus?" Mary asked.

He barely spared a glance for MacDonald. She had on that Spinner End Harlot too bright a red lipstick again. Did she wear that because she knew Wilkes liked finding it on his body later? Severus had trouble understanding why someone would want to marry her. She didn't seem to have any ambition, except to shag. The more he got to know Parkin and MacDonald, his opinion of them continued to decline. Severus hadn't thought too much of them to begin with since they took Lily away from him. Like Petunia though, he had to be civil for Lily's sake because she liked them.

Ignoring that he had already begun working, Helen wouldn't let the subject drop and said, "Pettigrew said you were hurt."

He grunted, "Not if a member of staff doesn't see it."

"Sev," Lily admonished. "Where?"

"Fourth floor hall near the stairs."

"You know what I meant."

"Nose and head. I tricked Black into getting chatty. Merlin, how he loves the sound of his own voice."

Evan laughed, "Did he reveal all the Marauder plans?"

"Their plans? I doubt they think beyond their next meal," Severus muttered. "No, he was trying to tell me something about Lupin taking some secret passage under that bloody Whomping Willow, rather than spending so much time at home."

"No," Lily said. "He'd need his parents to take him out of school. He can't just go larking off through a secret passage." As far as Lily knew, Lupin was the marginally responsible Marauder.

"I don't know," Severus said. "That's what Black said. And if Black sends me howlers, can't they forge other notes?"

Lily frowned, "And Lupin came back in time to go to Hogsmeade when um ... his gran was supposed to be on her death bed."

Helen asked, "How much homework do you all have?"

"Why?" Evan asked.

"We could go for a walk before curfew to look," Helen explained.

"Near the Whomping Willow?" Malcolm asked.

"Malcolm … on a beautiful night with the full moon shining? Even if there's nothing there, it would be a lovely walk," Mary hinted.

Lily added, "A possible adventure. How about it?"

Evan was not convinced. "It'll be cold."

"I can think of some charming ways to keep you warm," Helen suggested.

After a look at Lily, Severus was to first boy to concede. "I haven't much that needs to be done in the library. Just that you know that this information came from Black, and Sirius Black is a liar."

"You don't have to tell us."

With possible adventure ahead of them, even if only the romantic kind, the six of them efficiently completed their work, and parted ways to fetch their cloaks and then meet up in the Front Hall.

Malcolm led them out the front door, warning the ladies, "Just remember if there's danger, us Slytherins will want to save our arses."

Evan suggested, "Maybe you can join us in retreat."

"It's only Black, and him and those idiots are in detention right now," Helen said.

Mary scoffed, "Even if they set up some sort of booby trap, you couldn't outthink them?"

"They don't appreciate subtlety nor complexity," Severus clarified.

"We do," Lily replied.

They drifted apart into hand-holding pairs, all slowly strolling towards the Whomping Willow.

"It is nice out," Severus commented. The sky was picturesque with the full moon hanging low in the sky so the stars were not overwhelmed by its light. The air was crisp and perfect, without being too cold.

"What do you want to do after the Whomping Willow?" Lily asked.

"Walk around the lake?"

"That'd be nice. Are you sure you aren't hurt?"

"I laid down for a bit, and I'm feeling better."

"Hold up, we're getting ahead of the others," Lily mentioned. The other couples had stopped for snogging and groping.

"They know where we're going. Black mentioned a knot on the trunk that needed to be pressed."

"You think there is?"

"Black and Potter know so many ways out of the school, it could be a secret passage they don't use."

"If it's way over by the Whomping Willow, I guess so. There's plenty in the school. Do you know they broke into Honeydukes?"

"Broke in? Like they stole?"

"It was before I was a prefect so I don't know how they sorted it. Our common room was covered in the trash from it so that's how they got caught. They even left the crate from their basement where it could be found."

"Why do they mess up your common room? There's only four of them out of how many Gryffindors?"

"Over fifty. It changes year to year."

"I wonder what they do with years where a house only gets a couple students."

"What do you mean, Sev?"

"There's no guarantee that there will be about, I don't know, thirty students a year? And then they aren't just divided by four to get sorted evenly into the houses."

"Don't worry about it."

"I'm not worried about it. Just think it's interesting."

"You find too many things interesting, Sev."

"Just different things from you, Lily."

"What do you mean by that?" Lily asked defensively.

He shrugged, "You knew the name of that girl in the hall today. I just countered the jinx, and didn't give any thought to who she was."

"Why not?"

"Why should I be bothered? She can just go on her way, or if she knew who cast it, she was free of having her robe wrapped around her head to do something."

"But … what are you saying?"

"What would I say about some girl I don't know?"

"If you didn't care, then why did you bother helping her?"

"Because I don't like that spell."

"Oh," Lily replied. It was cast on her. Severus could just come right out and say that's why he helped Chittock. Rather than having her think that her friend was helping people because it was the right thing to do.

After walking in silence, Severus suggested, "We should have waited till Saturday when we could see."

Lily said, "I'm sure you can manage."

"We're being predictable coming tonight."

"Stop worrying. If there's trouble, there's six of us."

"Not if four of us are keeping each other warm."

"I'll keep you warm later on our walk around the lake, Sev."

"Hmm," was his only reply as he took out his wand. Severus nonverbally cast what Lily thought was lumos, but then he shook his wand and the globe flew off the tip and expanded. He cast several of them to illuminate the whomping willow, with them concentrating on the lower trunk.

Lily did not see anything interesting, and didn't think Severus did because she heard him sigh as she followed him as he circled the tree from a safe distance.

He stopped and forcefully cast impedimenta. The willow stopped moving. "Didn't know if it would work on a tree," Severus said as he stepped closer and cast lumos solem and aimed the warm light underneath into a gap in the roots, then onto the surrounding trunk. "That might be the knot, but are we expected to crawl in there? Maybe that's the joke."

Lily looked and did see the knot. She said, "Perhaps. Come back here, and we'll wait for the others." She didn't want to crawl under a tree, but if the others wanted to, she'd go along.

Severus did as she asked. Crawling under the whomping willow and getting filthy was not his idea of fun. Maybe the others would prefer casting warming charms and shagging in the moonlight, so Lily and him would be free to walk around the lake.

The whomping willow stirred before the other four students joined them.

"So what have you two found?" Evan Rosier asked.

"Maybe we found the knot. Impedimenta stops its motion so we can get in and press it. It may be the knot only stops it from moving too."

"What good would that be? It's on the tree," Mary pointed out.

"There's a gap in the roots that we can investigate for a secret passage. I didn't see another opening big enough for us," Severus continued.

"Let's get to it," suggested Malcolm.

Severus cast impedimenta as hard as he could to try to keep the tree still longer in case they were delayed under it. He quickly followed it with more light, trying to light the entire bottom of the tree to allow the others to detect anything he may have missed.

Helen ran over to the same knot he had noticed and pressed it. When nothing happened, she circled the tree, adding more light of her own.

Mary looked into the gap with Malcolm holding her hand and his own lit wand in his other hand.

More cautious than the others, Evan cast some detection charms in the area to determine if it was just the six of them here with the whomping willow.

Severus joined Mary and Malcolm, with Lily joining them also, and filled the gap with more globes of light to determine if the gap was just under the tree or went further. He needed to experiment a bit with his spell to have the spheres move untethered in a general direction. Till now, he had only cast them to fix upon things that were within his line of sight.

Helen finished her investigation and joined them, while Evan continued to guard their backs. It appeared that the lights were dropping down.

Malcolm suggested, "Lily's smallest."

"If it's just a hole in the ground, we're going to have to help her get back out," Severus commented while glaring at Wilkes.

"Could also be a bit of a drop," Mary said.

"I'll go," Lily said. "Severus can light the hole to see if we can see a bottom, and one of you other fellows can lower me down."

Keeping his grumbles to himself, Severus cast another impedimenta at the whomping willow, not trusting the tale of the knot or his colleagues' ability to think. He then knelt down in the dirt, and ended up on his stomach to slide partially into the gap to see what was viewable.

"It could be a tunnel. It's a bit of a downward slope, not a drop," he said, while he felt someone impatiently trying to crawl over him. From the weight, it had better be Lily, rather than one of the other girls.

When Lily's head was next to his, she whispered, "Isn't this exciting, Sev?" She looked at where she needed to go and exclaimed, "I'm going in."

He shielded his face when her feet went past, then followed her in. A second girl might not have enough muscle to pull or push Lily through a tight area or out of an unexpected drop.

Once they were on their feet, but stooped over in the space, Severus sent more light ahead. He called, "We should be able to climb back out without aid from outside. It's a tunnel, with a low ceiling. Not sure how far it goes."

Helen and Mary entered next, Malcolm followed, and when Evan came in, he asked, "Should I nox everything behind us to cover our trail in case someone's following at a distance?"

Malcolm answered, "Do the ones outside for now."

Mary kidded, "For all we know, Black's sending us into a nest of acromantulas, and we'll have to make a run for it."

"They live in Borneo, not Scotland," Lily replied.

"It was a joke. Come on," Mary said, taking the lead.

Helen agreed, "Yeah, we don't have all night. Even with two prefects, we shouldn't miss curfew."

Malcolm checked his watch. "We have plenty of time."

Lily followed her girlfriends, and Severus grabbed her hand. He didn't want her rushing off after them. The fellows were taller and having a slower time negotiating the tunnel. Black wouldn't have given up this kind of information without some purpose.

He got his loose light globes to move faster for them. They could hear Mary and Helen conjecturing about where the tunnel led. If any of them had given thought to the idea that Black would really reveal one of the secret passages, they might have thought to bring a compass or researched charms while they were in the library earlier.

Severus had no idea. The whomping willow was near the forbidden forest and Hagrid's hut. The quidditch pitch was on the other side of the castle. When he first came into the tunnel, the direction was parallel to the forest in the direction of the gates. They seemed to be going straight, but since they were underground that feeling could be deceptive.

When they could no longer hear the girls ahead, Severus doubted they ran out of things to say. They probably were moving faster than him and Lily. Lily was pulling at him to go more quickly.

When the tunnel sloped upward and twisted a bit, Severus was concerned because he had not felt they had descended any further than that initial bit they slid down under the whomping willow. There was an opening, and he gave Lily a boost up after sending his globes which were gathered at the bottom upwards. He pulled himself up into a room after her.

Lily called for Mary and Helen, while standing near the opening looking around with Severus. The walls had peeling wallpaper but there were some Gryffindor banners up. The furniture had pieces thrown about the stained wooden floor, but what remained was covered with red throws. There was also red area rug in the center of the room. All the windows were boarded over, but there were a lot of unlit candles. Most had been knocked down to the floor.

"There's a case of butterbeer in the corner," she pointed out to Severus. She heard a creak from overhead as Malcolm and Evan joined them.

"Where are they?" Malcolm asked.

"I think upstairs," Lily answered.

Evan cast homenum revelio.

Following an exasperated indrawn breath, Severus cast homenum revelio quantitas. They knew Mary and Helen were here. The question was how many others were here in addition to those two. Aloud, Severus confirmed, "Only two, besides us."

"So what's this?" Malcolm asked. "Some Gryffindor shag shack?"

Evan contemplated, "Maybe they went upstairs to look for beds?"

"If they are anything like down here, I'd rather do it on my cloak outside," complained Malcolm.

Lily called up the stairs, "Mary, Helen, I'm coming up. If you don't want me to come up there, say something."

Severus looked up the dark stairs, and cast some more globes of light. He could extinguish them if the girls called down that Lily and him shouldn't come up. There was some kind of sound up there. It could be something sexual, but if the blokes were down here, maybe it wasn't.

Lily shrugged and started heading up.