Chapter 34 Another woman to be jealous of
At first, James did not notice that Peter was missing. Since their suspension, Wormtail had been going off on his own with the map.
The map was gone, so Peter must have it.
The evening before he missed class, James remembered seeing him before curfew in Gryffindor tower. James had a lot of homework so he was not even sure if Peter was in bed or not by the time he turned in.
Severus's shoulder and ankle were bruised, but his foot was fine. He could walk and hold his wand so no one would know that he had been injured and try to take advantage of his current infirmities.
Shingleton would know, but her self-absorption blinded her to others. Her older brother acted like a right ass by stopping him and putting on the Head Boy act, thanking him in the hallway in front of people.
At least he didn't try to embrace him like Longbottom did. Hopefully next year's Head Boy would treat him like dirt. There weren't many candidates. Gryffindor had no sixth year male prefect with the removal of Lupin last year, and unless the new Gryffindor quidditch captain was male, that gave them only a pool of four. Wilkes from Slytherin still treated him all right.
The school and its populace were in countdown mode to the holidays. Lily had offered some broad hints as to what they could do. Severus would be happy to spend some time with Lily, without Potter turning up.
Severus had everything ready. He did not plan meticulously because felix felicitus was supposed to guide him. Besides, if Lily had ideas of what she wanted to do, it would be harmonious for him to agree, if they weren't ridiculous.
When it was finally determined that Peter Pettigrew was missing, rather than out of bounds, Severus was questioned multiple times.
It was rather insulting to be frank. If Severus wanted to do away with someone, it wouldn't have been Potter's pudgy pal, it would be James Potter himself. Severus had hardly seen Pettigrew outside of the classes they had in common since he got back from his suspension.
Slughorn must have gotten too many bottles as gifts because his suggested scenario was outlandish. Severus challenged Pettigrew to a duel after curfew, and Pettigrew showed up? How likely was that? Firstly, Potter would not let Pettigrew go alone. He'd probably have to drag him actually. Secondly, that night during detention Filch, Singleton, and Pomfrey had seen him at different points in the evening. Of course, Severus had to be intentionally seen to cover his tracks. Right. Why not pull the cork out of another one? Duels were for show-offs. People like Dumbledore dueled so everyone could applaud and cheer. When Severus got into a fight, everyone would make fun of him with their jeers, clapping in rhythm and chanting 'Snape, Snape, Snivelly'. Followed by the crowd's disappointment and boos when he overcame Black or Potter.
Lily smirked as Severus was caught under mistletoe again. The school decorations were random with their trapping ability. Lily had only been stopped once so far this year, and had not been trapped in previous years. Severus had not been either, but seemed a favorite to come to an abrupt halt in hallways this year.
He complained that it was not fair since some of the ceilings were too high to spot the snaring sprig, and he alternately called both Flitwick and Dumbledore foul names.
It only took a quick kiss on the cheek to free someone. Mary had beaten Lily twice to liberate Severus. Lily was not sure Severus even noticed since he grumbled sourly after each incarceration, no matter who gave him a peck.
This time, it was only Severus and Lily in the hall near the library so she grabbed his face in both hands and silenced him with a solid smacker. No tongues or snogging. That was rather crude when she saw someone doing that in the halls. Sev had a point. What were they thinking by putting up magical mistletoe? Prefects were allowed to take points for overly passionate displays, but Lily felt there would be less temptation without the parasitic, poisonous plant encouraging it.
Drat, Potter found them again. Lily smirked at his gobsmacked expression. What did he expect? Lily to leave Severus stuck under mistletoe for the rest of the day?
Why did Peter have to take the map with him? Foul play did cross James's mind, but Wormtail had an ace up his sleeve with his animagus form. He could escape from plenty of situations, and would probably write James over the holiday. He had known Peter had been very unhappy, but leaving school and without a word? Peter's only enemy was Snape, and Snape had to be a lot angrier at James than Peter, who was safely back in their tower before he disappeared, rather than presenting a tempting lone target to Snape.
James was floored when he rounded the corner searching for Evans and Snape. Evans kissed Snape on his groaty lips.
James made a face trying to keep the bile from rising from his stomach and spewing out his mouth. It was that disgusting. From Snape's foul demeanor, James suspected it was him that had been caught by mistletoe. Good. Snape didn't enjoy it. Evans should have abandoned him there for everyone to laugh at as they passed.
Sirius and James had done extensive testing of the mistletoe in previous years. It didn't work if you had a class to attend. It would not hold someone who had not had their first kiss yet, and that did not include mothers. Thanks to Peter they knew that one. So someone had kissed Snape? Perhaps some strange Slytherin torture like do this horribly abominable thing, or you'll have to kiss Snape. The magic also would not keep someone unless there was a suitable partner in the vicinity to free them. That didn't necessarily mean someone would. Sirius would intentionally stand under mistletoe, including some that he carried around with him, acting like he had no choice, to lure girls in to kiss him. The joke was on him though, when he really was caught, and his mates had to draw straws to see who would have the dishonor of letting him get to dinner, when no ladies would believe he was actually trapped. It was so funny the way Remus closed his eyes before his face was even within a foot of Sirius's … those were good times. James missed that.
Feeling saddened to the point where he did not feel up to his original mission to prevent Snape from teaching Evans the Dark Arts, James returned to Gryffindor tower and went up to his room. Peter's things had been removed and sent to his parents, but the second bed was still there for his return. They'd know if Peter was alive or dead, right?
At last, Severus and Lily sat quietly in the library as Hogwarts disgorged the students to go home on the train. There were others still in the building, but there was enough space for them to pretend it was just them. At least for now.
There were books between them, and they held hands over them, looking into the other's eyes. Severus felt he did not spend enough time looking at Lily's eyes. If they were together, married, he could wake up every morning seeing them, and go to sleep every night gazing into them. Although to some that might sound rather simple-minded, especially to Lily who claimed she was busy and had too much to accomplish before she'd have time for him, it should not be so hard to achieve. Why should he wait years for this? He was decided. Lily would not be forced to live the sequestered lifestyle that Mary MacDonald described once she fulfilled her life dream of being a bride. It sounded rather boring. He understood Lily had no intention of keeping house and bearing children, as soon as she graduated from Hogwarts. What was so difficult about Severus not having any firm plan, except that they'd be together? Everything else was rather unimportant.
Regretfully, Lily reminded him, "We have a lot of homework to get through. I think we should get cracking on it, and not put it off."
"All right, Lily" Severus responded, still craving to stare at her, but not wanting a rift to form before the Hogwarts Express even pulled away from Hogsmeade Station. Lily could be a complete ass and waste their opportunity together by refusing to talk to him for days, or even the entire holiday.
They did accomplish much, with occasional glares from the librarian who had posted that he'd have the library open at this time, and a couple students searching for their own books to complete their homework. With both of them fetching and reshelving books, they moved around their table during the afternoon, so Severus did not initially think anything odd about Lily sitting next to him, and reading from the same book as him, until her naughty fingers started getting to work in his lap.
Overall, Severus was resigned to what Lily wanted and when, but he would like more say or even a hint into what she had in mind. He muttered, "The library is closing soon."
"I know."
"I acknowledge your intention, however I cannot respond well since I need to go to the desk to sign out books, and perhaps negotiate stairs to the dungeons or dinner."
"What do you mean, Sev?"
"I don't mind you touching me there, Lily, but if …" he sighed, then said, "If you get me hard, it's noticeable and difficult to walk like I normally do."
"Really?"
"If you want to test it out later, that's fine. I thought I should say something with time being so short."
"Um … all right," Lily responded. She kept her hand in his lap, but stopped fondling him through his trousers. "You do want to … uh, later?"
"Yes." He closed the book, and then added, "If you want to."
Lily frowned as they gathered up the books they wanted to take with them. Severus had ideas, really good ones in fact, when it came to doing things to her body. Things she had never even dreamed of feeling. At first, it sort of scared her. Especially with what Petunia said about her and Severus. How did Severus know what to do? Was it 'guy talk'?
Helen and Mary had quite a bit to say about men's bodies. How did Petunia learn that sort of thing? Lily had heard her enough times on the phone to know she talked about boys, but not about their things. Just kissing stuff, mostly who was seen kissing who.
What else did Severus know? Would he expect to do all that with Lily over the next couple weeks? Would they finally shag? Was she ready for that? Was Severus? At times, he was quite reluctant to go further. Although afterwards, Lily was glad he restrained himself. Sometimes her brain just turned itself off, and let her body do whatever it wanted. That was rather frightening.
Exiting the library with their books, Severus asked, "Did you want to have dinner in the kitchens, or eat in the Great Hall?"
"We get to eat together in the Hall?"
"We should. It depends on how many students and staff stayed."
"The Hall then so we can check it out. Can we bring the books, or do you need something from the dungeons?"
"Either way. I need to check my schedule with Mr. Filch, and can pass by his office."
"But it's the holidays."
"Sure is. I'm sure Mr. Filch will wish me a fine one and give me time off," Severus responded with a laugh.
"Why wouldn't he?"
Severus continued laughing. "I will suggest that, but since I was already starting at curfew time, it shouldn't interfere with our studies together."
Lily rolled her eyes at him. She wasn't worried about their studies. "You remind him about how hard you work, and that if you were home, he wouldn't have you to push around."
Descending the stairs, Severus spoke more loudly as they separated, "It's not so bad. He doesn't watch me the entire time. Filch knows I'll get the assignment completed."
"It's so stupid. Can't you just go to Madam Pomfrey while there's no one here and do what she wants?" she called down.
Lily thought she heard Severus respond "Hell no." Really, what was the big deal? Probably a hundred students saw him undressed this past June.
She arrived in the Great Hall prior to Severus. Lily might be the only prefect left at the school. It was just a handful of young students.
A little Slytherin girl showed up following Severus. She could give him scowling lessons. Since they were all here together, she might as well make the best of it.
Slughorn entered with a fatherly arm draped over Cresswell's shoulders. He was a Ravenclaw, a year or two under her and Severus. He announced, "Very good. You're all here. Cresswell here has volunteered to be in charge of you lot."
Lily huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. He wasn't even a prefect.
"You can all take meals in the kitchen, near the Hufflepuff common room. Just tickle the pear to get in. Do not take large quantities of food back to your rooms.
"Now for houses, let's see. Cresswell for the Ravenclaws, Chittock has the Hufflepuffs, you are alone for Gryffindor, Evans, and uh … Snape for Slytherin."
Lily snorted. That was mighty big of Slughorn considering there was only two Slytherins.
"You go to bed early or late?" Severus asked the girl.
"Why?"
"I merely wanted to suggest that if you don't get caught after curfew, I'll see you in the common room when I finish detention. Mine starts at curfew."
She folded her arms over her chest and muttered, "All right."
"You still have detention?" Lily asked.
"That's what Filch thinks."
"Tell him different then."
"He does not work for me. It's the other way around, Lily."
"Well tell …" Lily paused, looking around. Slughorn would probably give Severus to Filch full-time, now that he had no classes to attend. "... how about uh, that um, Prof. Abacus?"
"Prof. Abstractus," Severus corrected. "He's gone home."
"Oh darn," Lily said. "What will you do when you're in the mood for a rousing bout of Arithmancy, Sev?"
"I won't have time. Mr. Filch and I are starting a band. Mrs. Norris is our vocalist," Severus replied, sitting down to where the food had appeared for the students at the Hufflepuff table.
"And I left my bagpipes at home, drat," Lily replied. "I bet we'd be bigger than the Rolling Stones."
"If it wasn't for that darned secrecy law."
"Are there magical instruments?"
"Self-playing ones. The others are the same. Maybe a bit out of date to the muggle world like a lute."
"I don't really play the bagpipes, you know," Lily admitted.
"Thank goodness."
"Hey. There's some really good pipe and drum corps that play parades."
Severus looked thoughtful, then responded, "I don't think you've ever invited me to a parade."
"You don't need me to go to one," Lily replied. She may spend summer holidays with him, but they did not go to the center of town or public places together. Petunia would kill her. Why did she even care anymore? If she wanted to go see a movie with Sev, well, not if Petunia still worked there, but uh, to the ten-pin bowling alley with him, she would.
Flippantly, he asked, "How would I enjoy it without you?"
"Well, if it was a parade in honor of your chocolate frog card, I'm sure you'd make do."
"You wouldn't come?"
"Depends."
"If there was a pipe and drum corps?"
"Oh, definitely then."
Severus sat back, waiting for Lily to finish eating. Her constant consumption of meat and adding gravy to everything else was rather revolting. She'd want to kiss him after this, wouldn't she? He supposed it could be worse. Dumbledore and Slughorn were probably single because no woman wanted a sugar coated tongue in her mouth. They probably did obscene things with food, or ate in bed. Waking up with lemon hard candies stuck to your arse must really cool the ardour. More likely it was their self-centeredness that drove prospective suitors away over the years.
While mopping up more gravy with a piece of bread, Lily asked, "What's Cresswell doing at the head table?"
Severus shrugged, "Maybe Slughorn invited him."
"What a kiss arse."
"Eh, who cares? He'll be stuck up there listening to Slughorn ramble on about Senor Bunghole in Mexico and his amazing burro who carries crystallized pineapple into the Andes to the Peruvian quidditch team, that Slughorn knows each and every one intimately when they had a sugar orgy at the last World Cup."
"Sev! And Mexico is not close to the Andes."
"Maybe the burro's talent is it craps portkeys."
"Ugh!"
"He had some sculpture of uh … is a llama a real animal? At his holiday party."
"Who?"
"Slughorn."
"What? But … why … he forgot to invite me."
"Me too," Severus said with a grin.
"No, I mean it. He's invited me before."
"Did you miss not going?"
"He invites interesting people. You know, adult wizards and witches."
"What kind of job do you think he's going to obtain for Cresswell?"
"I don't know," she said, looking at the fawning Ravenclaw who was laughing at Slughorn's stupid tale. "Probably some Ministry flunky job. Look how he brown noses."
"Oh yeah," Severus said, then lowered his voice for Lily's ears alone. "That's a smashing robe you have on, headmaster. Is there room under there for me to hide out kissing your arse all day?"
Lily gasped, then gave his arm a smack. "You are too much sometimes."
"Come on. Look at how he dresses. He desperate for compliments."
"Do you think there's sequins on his drawers?"
Severus laughed. "Maybe a clever glow in the dark charm."
"With arrows," Lily said, repeatedly pointing towards her center and down.
"Is that my target this evening?"
"Sev, don't" said Lily, embarrassed and looking around.
"I think people believe we do homework."
"Or Dark Arts," Lily replied.
"Or something in the dark."
"I like seeing yours."
"If you must," Severus replied with a dismissive jerk of his chin.
"I like it. A lot."
"I wish you'd stop grabbing in Potions."
"We're in the back of the room."
"Working."
"I wait till you are in between steps."
He leaned back and asked, "Are you ready to leave, or did you want to wait to see what's for dessert?"
"Do you ever eat dessert?"
"Huh? Um, most of the time I don't, but I can wait."
"Maybe I can't. I want to get my hands on you."
"All right, so up to Ravenclaw?"
"Out in the open?"
"Cresswell's probably going to be stuck here a while. The staff drinks during the holiday break so they stay at their table all evening."
"What?" Lily asked, and looked at the Head Table. They seemed behaved, but there was more cup raising than eating going on.
"Drink. Especially Hagrid."
Lily redirected her attention to the games keeper, and took note that he was gulping down a great quantity of liquid.
"I think when school's in session, he goes to the Hog's Head some evenings and then just heads back to his house."
She stood, saying, "Let's get going."
Severus followed, also glancing behind them as the staircases moved. Potter had gotten him in the habit of watching for others. There was so few left in the school, that anyone else on the stairs would be suspicious.
They went to the far window overlooking the castle at night.
Lily took a breath and said, "So you want to show me what happens if I um, get you too interested in the library?"
"If that's what you want to start with, Lily."
"Relax," she murmured, putting her lips against his neck. The shaving charm kept it smooth, no matter what time of day it was. Lily might like to try this when Severus had stubble, just to feel it once. She felt him swallow then take a deep breath through his nose. She went easy on him, and only put one hand in his lap, while she used to other one to trace his opposite cheek and jaw, continuing to mouth the side closest to her face.
Severus closed his eyes. He couldn't help the shivers that shot into his shoulders. This was rather ...nice. Very nice. Lily's mouth and her fingers touching his face so gently. Her other hand was roughly kneading him. He hoped she got tired of treating his cock like her plaything sometime soon. Severus realized it was new to her since Lily did not have one of her own, but after she first touched it, she couldn't leave it alone. Lily grabbed it every chance she got, when no one but him would see her. Perhaps after this demonstration, she'd settle for brushing it in public places rather than urging his body to demonstrate its interest, but having no outlet for it. The library? Potions class? At least she was scared enough of McGonagall to keep her hands on the desk in Transfiguration. They were also high in the back of Charms so Flitwick could look directly under their desks, so he was also safe there.
That got Severus to thinking. Lily had a bit of a risqué streak when it came to this. Would she want to do something in an unused classroom during the break? Although he wasn't much into fantasies, perhaps the appeal of her getting under the desk while he was forced to 'act normal' might appeal to her odd cravings. After her bending down to look at him in the toilet, Severus could not help but think of Lily's mouth. Some of Mulciber's materials on that subject were too rough on the witch, but if Lily wanted to experiment, Severus did not see the harm.
Lily put her second hand down to smooth the front of Severus's trousers. "More than this?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"It feels like it's … um, you know."
"Oh, it can go a while longer," Severus muttered. She was so impatient. What did she want … a tea kettle? "Lily ..."
"Yes?" she eagerly responded.
"It takes my mind a while to sync up with the physical sensations. I don't excel at it like you."
Lily wondered if Severus was making fun of her, but he was still relaxing with his eyes closed, rather than looking like he was joking around.
Now that his concentration had been broken, he opened his eyes when she didn't respond. He looked down and then ran his hand along the front of his trousers. He asked, "How much were you hoping for? This is about five minutes worth of you manhandling me. More than potions, but we had longer than this left in the library."
"I don't know."
"Can't you see the difference?"
"Well, I guess. But wouldn't someone have to be looking at it?"
"It's rather hard to believe, but people do look at me, Lily."
"I didn't mean it like that. I mean look at the front of you."
"If I notice it on other blokes, then they can notice me."
"What other blokes?"
"Here at school."
"Really?"
Severus coughed, "I don't mean start staring at their crotches."
"I would only glance."
"Lily, who looks with her hands?"
"I wouldn't. Besides, I heard your broom is larger than most."
Severus looked annoyed. "Is that your newfound interest in touching me?"
"No, I just meant that if yours is one of the better ones, why would I look at someone else's? Unless I merely wanted to confirm yours is best."
"You sound like a lecher."
"Severus!"
"Why would you say larger is better? From my experience, it's a larger target if someone kicks me."
"For the girl, silly."
Severus blinked, then smirked, "You do realize that shagging involves it entering the female body? Regardless of what you've heard, there is not a tunnel between your legs waiting for a train to drive through. It's rather small."
"Won't it … fit?"
"With your determination, Lily? I'm sure it will. Just in case, I already got two bottles of that mead you enjoyed."
"Why?"
"Relaxes your muscles."
"Oh, so you've already taken it for granted that this," Lily gripped his penis possessively, "is getting into me?"
"No, but I didn't want to have to sneak out to the Hog's Head when you decided that might make a difference."
"All right, merely wanted to be clear that we have that understanding, Sev."
"Have I ever given you the idea that I'd do something like that without your express permission, Lily?"
"No, you don't. Even when you have my permission."
"I would not be keen on an audience."
"Neither would I. When Myrtle caught us that was rather shocking."
"From her tone or speaking voice, I think someone popping a zit in her mirror would be humiliating."
"Ewwe, Sev."
"What?"
"You're not spotty."
"So? Why would I want them? I think I receive enough compliments to turn my head without that."
"What do you do to keep them off your face? A potion? Charm?"
Severus arched an eyebrow at her. She would not take kindly to his suggestion that he did not bathe himself or his food in greasy gravy and guzzle it down by the bucketful. "Shall we add that to our research list, or has MacDonald already shared her secret with you?"
"Mary told you?"
"No, but since she's a witch who's overwhelmingly conscience about her appearance. I'm sure she has multiple ways to deal with any life-ruining blemish."
"Should I be concerned?"
"Right now? After dragonpox, some spot that'll be there a week is barely noticeable."
"No, about Mary?"
"What about her?"
"She fancies you."
"Still? I thought you two were joking around."
"I never said she was joking."
"Why didn't you tell her that we are closer than we act in public?"
"I um, told her I had feelings for you too."
"Feelings? Like in your hand that's gripping and feeling me? Or some vague sort of fancying that MacDonald thinks she has?"
Lily released her hold on him. Really, he could be so … idiotic. "I don't know. I didn't get explicit."
"You've already heard my advice on this, Lily. I have nothing further to say about it."
"But how could I tell her?"
"To avoid a possible dispute, perhaps? I have no interest in anyone but you, Lily."
Lily rolled her eyes, "I know. You always say that."
"There is no room in that for Mary, except as a friend. Strictly a friend," Severus explained, meaning that MacDonald was Lily's friend. Without Lily, he had no use for MacDonald.
"How do you know, Sev?"
"I feel no attraction towards Mary."
"No, I mean me."
"I am positive I feel about no one else the way I feel about you, Lily."
"How do you know? You don't try to talk to people."
"They lack your charm."
"Charm? What do you mean by that?"
"I don't find them interesting."
"You should try to give them a chance."
"How many chances should I give, Lily? Potter's following you around for weeks now. I don't know if I'd call my lack of outright hostility towards him a chance, but I am respecting your right to give him another chance. I don't agree since he has not treated your repeated overtures with good intentions in the past."
"I wouldn't use Potter as an example. He's persistent in his … delusions."
"Persistent? Persistently on probation. No one can even be assured that if he does them major bodily harm that he'd even be reprimanded."
"You're right."
"So perhaps you see my concern that someone like that is shadowing you? He may not have done you any injury since the beginning of the month, but your 'use of the dark arts' will be just cause for him to 'defend himself'."
Lily recalled, "That's what they said about you. It was all right to attack you because you were a Death Eater."
"If You Know Who is recruiting first year students? Can't be bothered to train them up himself, and sends his minions to Dumbledore for schooling?"
"Well, you know how stupid they are."
"You were searching for my … I don't know, Death Eater membership card?"
"With the secret handbook, the Ministry could infiltrate his organization."
"More likely, you'd play spy."
"Maybe."
"You probably would to track down Sirius Black."
"Black?"
"A lot of his family supports him. Sirius may too. They certainly assisted him with avoiding any repercussions around here. Do you think they'd do that for someone who truly despised them?"
"Did you hear that from Regulus?"
"Regulus is not talking about his brother, except to express his loathing."
"When he's talking to you, I can imagine. What do you think happened to Pettigrew?"
"Oh well, I'm not as clever as Slughorn on that matter. Can I say I don't know?"
"You have no theories?"
"Theories on Pettigrew? He's a liar, cowardly, hides behind others, only acts when he knows he won't be caught and will win. Perhaps he's haunting a primary school playground pushing tots off swings."
"I mean for real, Sev."
"How would I know? He didn't write me some mocking note giving away his plan. For all we know, he went back to find the most beautiful woman he ever saw, kicking himself for being a fool for never taking the time to introduce himself because he was afraid a muggle would laugh in his weaselly face."
"Huh?"
"Oh come on … last summer, he went to have a bit of fun, and saw this beautiful princess sitting in a muggle trophy case of some sort under all those bright lights. Pettigrew was distracted, nervous, and unsure with Black and Potter ready to laugh at any wrong move he made. Months later, he still woke thinking of her sheer beauty so decided to do something about it and set off to find your sister, Petunia."
"Petunia in a muggle trophy case?"
"That glass booth at the cinema. It's rather odd looking."
"No, it's not. Most of them look like that. Petunia wouldn't give someone like Pettigrew the time of day, if he even asked."
"Ah, but he doesn't know that. He is only aware of her entrancing good looks, and the image he's built in his mind of approaching her, and sweeping her off her feet with his command of magic."
"Ha, Petunia, impressed by a wizard?"
"Yeah," Severus laughed. "She'll cut him down so quick, it'll be like a virtual dagger through his chest."
"Talk about heart break. But really, what do you think happened to him? This nonsense about him running away to join Black is stupid."
"Maybe Black invited him to cheer whenever he performed an act on his wife. Potter said he was in your tower after curfew. So he left sometime between curfew and breakfast. Either of his own free will, or was unwillingly taken by someone with access to your tower."
"Let's go with free will then."
"Since he didn't pack his things, Pettigrew did not run away. He was probably out of bounds somewhere in the castle, grounds, Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade or wherever else the Marauders get to."
"That is a lot of places."
"They think he only had two cloaks, and they were both here so in the castle is most likely. There's floo access too, besides the possibility someone mailed him a portkey."
"So even though Petunia's overwhelming siren-like allure still called him after months, Pettigrew would not have set off without proper clothing. They did search the castle?"
"Yes, with Potter's help. Do you remember how he didn't follow us for two or three days?"
"Maybe he found a new secret room or passage and couldn't get out."
"Wouldn't the ghosts or house elves have heard him calling while they searched?"
"Perhaps, or perhaps it's really well hidden. Remember that story about Slytherin's secret chamber, Sev?"
"Oh yes, finally someone clever enough to find it arrived at Hogwarts, and it was Peter Pettigrew. All his research in the library finally paid off," Severus sarcastically intoned.
"I don't mean he found that room, but there's plenty in the castle that's been forgotten."
"Once we're done with homework and looking up your acne spells, we could work on that. I can ask Filch some questions. He is rather knowledgeable about the building, but his secret passages are probably a caretaker secret."
Lily rubbed her hands together in mock glee, "At last, you're finally getting into the spirit of things, Severus. Can't you smell it? That's called adventure."
"We can get together some supplies, in case we get lost. Maybe I can negotiate something with Filch to do twice as much the first half of the break, to have the second half off."
"Hey, that's a great idea."
"He hasn't agreed to it."
"But it's better than you being all gloomy."
"Gloomy? I'm not gloomy about detention. It's repetitive, but I've learned some things. I also know a little more about the castle which might aid us on this adventure of yours."
"It's our adventure."
"Hmm," Severus replied. Lily clearly forgot their last adventure with the werewolf. Gryffindors had some sort of memory lapse thing going on, besides being liars who rewrote history to make themselves look good. With him at least, they'd have light, water, food, rope, chalk, and the unimportant things that Lily would leave behind. "We should research charms that are appropriate for finding trails. Knowing merely direction won't aid us in some parts of the castle."
"All right," Lily absently agreed, thinking ahead to how much fun this would be.
"Secret and hidden passage detection too, along with password breaking spells."
"Right."
"Since you are a prefect, we might be able to approach a friendly teacher like Flitwick with an outline of our plan, and develop some communication. Charm something to send an alert, in case one of us gets hurt."
"Or maybe a longer message. If we find something exciting, we won't have to worry about racing back for curfew."
Severus cocked an eyebrow at Lily. She was optimistically planning long-lost discoveries like Gryffindor's armory, and he was thinking of contingencies in case something befell them. Weren't they just talking about Pettigrew disappearing here in the castle? That was someone who did not take risks. Lily would probably want to cross some bottomless chasm on a threadbare rope bridge that was ancient when Merlin strolled about Cornwall.
Somewhere in all this, he wanted to have sex with Lily to loosely bind her to him in a noncriminal fashion that would not change her wills and desires. The connection would be very strong due to the change he made in the formula, but Lily could always leave him. She just would be very unhappy about it, especially since so much of her relationship with a male revolved around carnal desires.
Pretty much all his hopes of civilized interactions on that level with Lily were crushed. Severus did not envy his parents' ability to do it anywhere and anytime, or the various denizens and visitors of Spinner's End who did it out in the open. They were little better than animals. If it made Lily happy, he'd cooperate. If he was told years ago that all he needed to do was let her look at and feel his privates to mesmerize Lily into a drooling degenerate, he'd have said it was a lie. He was not reassured by her comparative assessment that his was bigger, therefore better.
Severus was not against the idea of making love to Lily. He would not be interested in marrying her otherwise. He'd rather it be more intellectual, if that was possible.
Suddenly becoming practical, Lily asked, "How much homework do you have for Arithmancy and Runes?"
"Enough," Severus admitted. "I can work on it tonight after detention, and also check on the double detention with Filch to see if he's amenable. With the library opening later, would it be all right if we meet at nine in front of the kitchens? I'll work till I'm tired, and then sleep later since no one's about."
"Except that girl."
"Right, I'll leave her a note in the common room. If I'm doing double detention, I don't want to keep her up waiting for me."
"That's nice of you."
"I guess. I wouldn't want someone keeping me waiting for hours, and then when I finally gave up, claim I was never there."
"Do you know why she's here?"
"For the holidays, I suppose? Greengrass got into some tiff with her friend and got uninvited at the last minute. That's why she's so surly looking."
"What kind of friend uninvites someone for the holidays?"
"Nasty Slytherin ones who wait till she burned all her bridges first, then make her look like a fool."
"You seem to know a lot about it."
"She followed me up to the Great Hall, yakking up a storm."
"Don't any of your friends invite you over for the holidays, Sev? Prior to this dragonpox year."
"Huh? I suppose if I expressed an interest to you, you'd invite me over, Lily, but that would have the same cost of a train ticket as going home."
"I mean your male friends from school."
"No. I don't … they wouldn't. I'm not the right sort to invite into their homes. They are here to make friends with children from other respectable, pureblood families, not me."
Lily frowned. She detected that Severus almost repeated his cliché that he had no friends, other than her. Besides Wilkes and Rosier, Regulus Black and Crouch ate with him. She could understand that Black couldn't invite Severus to his house. Well, maybe he would in some sort of sick Slytherin revenge thing and rub their bare bums on Sirius's pillow. Boys were so immature. Actually, Lily would like a few minutes unsupervised in Sirius Black's room to tear it up too.
"I'm here this year, Sev. You'll still have fun, even if I am cutting into your reading time."
He leaned his mouth to her ear and replied lowly, "Of course," and then nibbled on her ear lobe. He'd rather do lots of other things than talking about Potter, Pettigrew, and Black.
When Severus started licking behind her ear, Lily got all tingly.
They got in a long, uninterrupted snog that had Lily cursing Severus's detention when he had to go.
Since it was James's first day home, he woke early. He'd gradually stay up later and sleep later in the morning as the holiday wore on. Last night, he had posted a letter to Peter, but the owl came back an hour later, with it undelivered. It took two days to return when he tried it last week. Was Peter somewhere unplottable or hidden? If only owls could talk. Now that would be a highly useful animagus form.
James spent breakfast studying the sports pages thoroughly. They should dedicate more than two pages to quidditch. Most of the paper was full of crap.
His fork clattered to the plate as he dropped it.
Lily had gone to the Great Hall in the morning for tea and to receive her morning edition of the paper. She was annoyed that she had not thought of that last night, when she agreed to meet Severus later.
Other than the Great Hall, she did not know where else she could have it delivered. Lily could write to suspend delivery, but she felt as soon as she did that, something important would be in it.
Today there was.
In the obituaries, Peter Pettigrew was dead due to 'previously sustained injuries'. What the hell did that mean? Where did he die and how?
Without thinking, Lily headed downstairs to the dungeons to talk to Severus. She could not wait over an hour till nine to see him in the kitchens. She stopped at the entrance to the Slytherin common room. Lily paced and made a face. With only Severus and one other student, Lily was not going to hold her breath. Severus also made it sound like Slughorn only visited his favorite students, so she did not count on him showing up.
Greengrass was the first to open the entrance. She was surprised to see Evans waiting outside their common room, but knew that Evans was close to Snape. They ate together last night after all.
"Could you please let Severus know I need to speak to him?"
"Like wake him up?"
"Yes, please."
"Hm, I can show you where," she replied. Snape was all bark with his insults, and had a reputation for returning jinxes and hexes. However, waking him up? This was only the first morning of the holiday, and Greengrass did not want to get on either Snape's bad side while she was trapped alone in Slytherin with him, or Evans, who was the only prefect left here.
"You mean inside?" Lily asked, her eyes lighting up at the idea of entering such forbidden territory.
"I'll make you a deal. You show me the Gryffindor common room, and I'll let you in here. I'll walk you to the right dormitory."
"Won't we get in trouble?"
Greengrass shrugged, "Who's going to tell on you? I'm not giving you the password, and I certainly don't know the password to any of the boys' rooms."
"The rooms have passwords too?"
"Yeah. If not, anyone could walk in."
"That makes sense. All right, um, I guess with me being the only Gryffindor, we'll just need to know where Prof. McGonagall is."
"She eats dinner," was suggested.
"Uh, I'll have to work it out. I really want to speak to Severus now, either way."
"I could tell," Greengrass said, stepping backwards to allow Evans through the still open doorway.
"Thanks."
"It's not all lit right now, but the male side is this way."
"Is it always this cold?"
"The main fireplace warms it up when it's lit."
"I'm sorry. I'll try to remember my questions for Severus … after. My curiosity gets the better of me."
"That's fine. I'm sure I'll have a few questions about Gryffindor tower."
Greengrass led her into a hallway that descended deeper. The doors had bronze plaques with years and last names. "It's this one here. I don't know if he's in, or perhaps in the boys' bath."
Lily knocked and called, "Severus?" She made a face at the plaque. Did Severus somehow get his name on the bottom to prove something? Wilkes was at the top, marked as prefect, but then the three names in between were not in alphabetical order.
"Severus?" she repeated and knocked again.
"What?"
"It's Lily. There's something in The Prophet this morning about Pettigrew."
"What's the name of the street I live on?" was his reply.
"Huh?" Lily replied at the closed door.
"Either you know it or you don't."
"Spinner's End."
The door opened immediately. "You shouldn't be down here," Severus said as a greeting.
Lily looked at him. He was already dressed in his old clothes, and was holding his wand out.
Handing him the newspaper, Lily said, "Look, Sev."
Severus blinked, focusing his eyes on the obituaries. Sleepily he said, "Pettigrew's dead."
"Yes, but did you read it? Something about previous injuries?"
"Yes, I see that."
"Well?"
"How should I know?"
Greengrass interrupted, "It's a magic quill. The paper can't let it write actual details, or else people's families get upset. It has a limited list of causes of death."
"Previously is anything that could be from something he was born with, or he fell off a broom and it didn't immediately kill him," Severus speculated.
"Don't you find it strange? He disappeared from school."
"I'm not disagreeing, Lily. I'm simply tired."
"The Ministry might not even have a body," Greengrass said, warming to the subject. "The quill writes obituaries all the time, before the family even knows."
"That's horrible," Lily said. "It doesn't say where."
"It'll say if he died at home only. There's a lot of impropriety that could be exposed if addresses were supplied." Greengrass explained.
"Impropriety?" Lily repeated.
"You know, like something embarrassing."
Severus stifled another yawn. The girls could talk this all over without him. He was interested in how Pettigrew met his end, but unless he or Lily were in immediate danger or the prime suspects, he felt it could wait till later today.
He had already told Lily he would be up late doing homework. He had worked on Runes till he could no longer see them, which was less than two hours ago. He interjected into their musing of the working of a magical quill, "If you give me a few minutes to get cleaned up, I'll come with you to the kitchens."
"Aren't you ready?" Lily asked.
"No," Severus replied, wondering if Lily thought there really was no difference between his appearance when he just woke, and after he brushed his hair and made some effort to straighten himself out. Though he would not put it past her to think that he had been sitting here like a lifeless lump, ready and waiting for her to come pounding on his door.
The first morning of her first holiday stay at Hogwarts was never too early for a Gryffindor to bully a first year into admittance into their house's living quarters. Lily would probably be twisting Cresswell's arm later today to see Ravenclaw. Severus had seen the envious way she was looking at him last night. He'd better watch his step.
Lily fluttered her hands at him, and urged, "Well, hurry up."
When Severus turned to go to his trunk, Lily and the girl followed him in. His mouth twisted. Insulting the first year for following Lily's lead would only make her angry at him for picking on her new ally. He couldn't blame the twerp since this might be the most exciting thing to happen till the other Slytherins returned.
"What's all this?" Lily asked while he fetched his items.
"Huh?" he said, looking up to see her sneering at the desk he was using. "It's my Runes homework. I have to look it over, and recopy some of it. Then it'll be finished. Please don't rearrange it."
"I wasn't."
Severus lifted an eyebrow at her before leaving to head deeper down the passageway. Greengrass would restrain herself from Slytherin mischief for two reasons. Foremost is he had plenty of time to redo any homework she destroyed and take his revenge. Secondly, what reason did she have for bothering him? He and Evans might be the only two people that would talk to her for weeks. Since Evans had now recruited her as part of her team to solve the mystery, she'd see their intentions were not to torment those weaker than them. Maybe if he got a chance, Severus would ask her if she wanted Evans to leave her alone, when Lily was not around. Greengrass probably was given no choice in the matter.
Lily frowned at Sev's trunk. He had locked it before he left, and her unlocking spell did not open it. For her companion's benefit she explained, "I wanted to see what he got me for Christmas."
"Oh," was the reply, as Greengrass kept her face neutral as she looked at what had to be the grubbiest trunk in Slytherin. Someone else would use it to hide valuable things, but even a first year knew by December that Severus Snape had no valuables. She had to smirk at Evans's noise of disgust before she cleaned off the 'blood traitor' graffiti. Even a thick Gryffindor like Evans had to know what it meant, and that she was the cause of it.
"You can call me Lily, if you like."
"Um, Pandora," Greengrass replied, starting to inspect what the other four, and more interesting, occupants left in the room. Her gasp at the quidditch poster tacked to the inside of one of the posher four poster beds brought Evans over to look.
Lily was agog at the lewd display that would probably have been right at home in the Gryffindor boys' rooms. She was aware that the Holyhead Harpies was an all female team, but … uh, this couldn't be the real team, or so she hoped with the thought that there had to be the slightest smidgen of professionalism even in quidditch. Seven grinning, nude, young, buxom women were leaning forward on brooms while a cheeky wizard behind each of them mounting both the broom and the ladies. Being a wizarding poster, there was movement and it was seamless where it began and ended so it was seven nonstop shags doggy-style. Absolutely disgusting.
Greengrass grabbed her arm when Lily went to rip it down. "We're not supposed to be in here."
"That item is against the rules."
"So? You aren't here to see it. Understand?"
"But ..." Lily stopped. Pandora was correct. Lily went over to Sev's bed, but other than being unmade, there were nothing personal in it. Even when she leaned in and looked up at the canopy.
Only one other had no pin-ups. One had a single large photo of a nude woman and … Lily hoped she did not make a face like that. The last had its curtains closed for a very good reason. It was … Lily had heard of places that foul sorts of men went to see movies or buy more than the mainstream type of magazines, but obviously one of Sev's roommates knew where the wizarding equivalent was.
She pulled Greengrass away, "That's something neither of us should be looking at." She was a prefect and had to set a good example. Lily closed up the curtains, rearranging the folds in what she hoped looked like it was untouched.
Some of the images had burned themselves onto Lily's retinas, and she stood quietly in stunned silence reviewing them in her head. Some of that could not be physically possible, even with magic. Much of it looked akin to torture. Different from the kind of torture that Severus sometimes got up to with her. When Lily said stop and no, it was the kind she didn't mean. Severus knew. How he knew, well, she had no idea. But if any of that was going on, Lily would definitely mean stop. She wouldn't even want to start.
Severus returned to the two silent girls and glanced at them before putting his things away. He could tell they were up to something, but his Runes homework had not been set on fire. That was something good. He also saw he still had a pillow, blanket, mattress and hangings.
"All of you have different beds?" Lily asked.
"Not really. They brought stuff from home."
"Whose is which?"
"Does it matter? Or are you performing some sort of reconnaissance for a Gryffindor invasion?" Severus finished warding his trunk, and asked, "Are you ready to go to the kitchens?"
Greengrass headed out the door. She suspected that bed in the back corner was Mulciber's.
Lily came along too, and asked, "Sev, any more thoughts on Pettigrew?"
He frowned at her and replied, "No." Whoever got Pettigrew out of the school didn't leave their plan lying on the floor of the Slytherin male bath. Lily would not be satisfied even if she was a fly on the wall of the Ministry listening in on what MLE was doing for Pettigrew's parents.
When the rumor started that Peter Pettigrew had disappeared, and probably ran away to join Sirius Black in Europe, Avery and Mulciber cast their eyes towards Snape. Pettigrew said that's who he'd target. They'd try to recruit the brilliant Slytherin, but Snape was so irredeemably tainted. Although in the most liberal of minds, one could not help who their parents were, the half-blood preferred the company of that filthy mudblood rather than proper wizards and witches.
Now Pettigrew was confirmed as dead after days of being held somewhere by Snape. Perhaps they better avoid any entanglements with the sadistic half-blood.
Pettigrew had been a long shot anyway. He would have been just one of the multitude serving the Dark Lord, not someone who would be favored. They perceived him as good with the kneeling, bowing, scraping and general fawning over those greater than him. Obviously they were right. That was all he was cut out to do. They could only hope the stupid Gryffindor did not tell Snape everything before he was eliminated.
Between the horrible day when Pettigrew's death was in the newspaper and Christmas, Lily spent her waking hours being intensely dissatisfied. There was more about Pettigrew in the paper, but it said nothing. Nothing at all. Pandora Greengrass had guessed right that there was no body found. It could even be still in Hogwarts, for all they knew.
Severus didn't think so because of the house elves and ghosts being able to cover the entire school, even sealed rooms. If Pettigrew had been trapped or injured, he wouldn't have been stoically resigned to his fate, he'd be crying his eyes out and making quite a bit of noise. Severus also looked up the ability to survive without water for a week. Lily was disgusted by his discovery of a scientific looking table with temperatures and amounts of water based on wizarding experimentation on muggles. The simple answer was that with normal indoor temperatures, Pettigrew must have found something to drink.
All three of them completed their homework and a book of beauty and grooming tips for teen witches was found. Lily could now stay clean-shaven, fresh-smelling, pimple-free, go curly or straight-haired, and apply some modest charms to her emphasize her attributes.
Lily did admit Pandora to her common room, and showed her the girls bath and her own bedroom that she shared with Mary. Lily wanted to pay her back because she wanted to ask a favor to be let into Slytherin on Christmas morning.
Greengrass was interested in their possible exploration of the castle's less used areas, and together they were working on a list of useful spells and items they should carry along. The Slytherins also found writing charms to sign them in and out of their common room for the other to know, rather than either of them needing to wait to see the other.