Curly Red Hair

~ Chapter Two: Grudge ~

Inside the Hogwarts Express...

He had been working on the potion since he had finished his OWL exams. Of course, it came with a price and his sunken cheeks, waxy complexion and dull black hair reflected just how much of an effort he had put into it. How funny that I should spend days just to concoct a perfect potion for my revenge. On a Mudblood, Severus thought with a sardonic smile.

It was time for him to deliver his 'gift' but the only way he would get the girl to drink the potion would be to spike bottles of pumpkin juice. He mentally planned which batch of drinks he should tamper with. There was always the possibility that Lily might buy a non-contaminated bottle but to Severus, it did not matter. He was a very patient boy and was willing to enact his revenge on the redheaded Gryffindor when he came across her again. In his heart, Severus Snape was truly a scientist and he was curious to see how his potion would affect his victims.

While the plump witch entertained several Slytherins who were deciding what they should snack on, Severus silently used a spell to unscrew the caps of a dozen bottles. That done, he quickly reached into his pocket for his unnamed potion and placed a drop into each opened bottle with a small pipette. His eyes flicked to the witch; she was oblivious to the fact that her merchandise was being tampered with. He charmed the caps to refasten themselves and quickly left the area.

It is good to know that I could be invisible,

he congratulated himself as he sat in his seat and promptly began to read a book.

**********

Lily was truly thirsty and she couldn't wait for the old witch with the trolley to pass her compartment. Therefore, she made a bold decision to leave the security of her fellow Gryffindors in search of refreshments. Normally, she was patient enough to wait for the trolley but her cramps made her desperate to distract herself from the pain.

She ignored the Marauders as she entered their compartment and was quick to enter the next. Fortunately, she didn't have to go far since the woman was in the third compartment over.

"What do you want my dear?" the witch asked with a smile.

"Uhmmm ... juice, three Chocolate Frogs and two of those wands please," Lily said cheerfully.

"Here you go, dearie."

Lily paid the woman and tried to put the sweets into her pockets. Two girls giggled as they watched her pressing her cheek into the bottle of ice-cold pumpkin juice. She grinned back at them, uncapped the bottle, and drank a portion of it slowly. She sighed in relief as she felt the cold travel down her throat and settle in her stomach. She suddenly felt strange. What is it? She frowned and then shrugged. Probably just the cramps.

It somehow slipped her mind that she would have to pass James and his crowd before she could get to her own seat. It was only when her brain registered that she was looking at him that she finally remembered. James was standing, chatting with Sirius about their vacation plans. Sirius is staying with James? She was standing two feet away from the boy who had bargained that he would stop picking on Severus if she accepted to go out on a date with him. Why must he stand when he could sit opposite Sirius? She was going to have to pass very close to him if she wanted to get through the door.

She saw Sirius nodding his chin in her direction and at that signal, James turned. Lily was surprised to see his eyes flare. He looks so awestruck. She had never seen anyone ever look at her like that ever. The boy looked dazed and she saw that both Sirius and Remus were looking at her oddly, and Peter too! She shuddered. The latter was looking at her in a way that made her feel like she was being mentally stripped. Shut off that thought!

"Uhmmm ... Lily?" It was Remus and he was still eyeing her strangely. "What happened to you?"