Knight of Pentacles, Queen of Wands

Ch4: The Emperor

Lily visibly relaxed.

"Well, all right then. The Headmaster will know what to do about your situation."

"Lily, my situation warrants a stay in Azkaban," Severus pointed out reasonably. "There's no reason why Albus Dumbledore wouldn't send me there straight away."

"I don't think he would."

She seemed so sure of herself. Of course, rumor had it that the Headmaster had an organization known as the Order of the Phoenix, and Severus knew that it was real, based on his recently acquired knowledge. He had no intention of joining.

"I really don't want to join the Order." It didn't turn out so well for him the last time, after all.

He never knew that Lily could draw a wand so quickly.

"What do you know about the Order of the Phoenix?"

The little witch could be quite demanding and Severus snorted in amusement.

"Enough to know that I don't want to join. I think I can be more effective by not being a Gryffindor hanger-on," he sneered contemptuously.

"What about anything, Severus?" Lily asked with narrowed eyes. "Do you intend to go back on your word?"

Severus really, truly didn't want to sit around to meet Potter and throw himself on Dumbledore's mercy, no matter how truthful he'd been with her. Although, he really would stay if he couldn't convince her otherwise. Perhaps it was time to dissemble.

"I didn't mean for you to take advantage. I was speaking generally of the fact that I'd do anything reasonable that you asked of me. What you're essentially asking me to do is tantamount to suicide."

The red-haired witch looked genuinely perplexed at Severus' words as if she hadn't thought through the likely consequences.

"Oh my God!" she whispered to herself. "What do you want me to do, Severus? How am I supposed to know what to do? I don't want you dead, but I don't want you to remain a free Death Eater either."

Lily looked lost and Severus felt entirely to blame for her feeling that way.

"You don't have to do anything," Severus reassured her. "You're not responsible for me at all."

"But don't think I won't tell someone about what you're doing," she warned him.

"Not Potter?" Severus queried.

If she really intended to tell James then she would have mentioned him right away. Both Evans sisters had the unbecoming tendency of being tattle-tales.

"What?" She looked startled from her train of thought.

"Shouldn't a witch think of her fiancé first and foremost when it comes to things such as this? Especially her fiancé who's practically an Auror?"

Lily quickly gained a look of righteous indignation.

"Of course I'll tell James!" she shouted at him.

"Miss Evans, I'm positively shocked that you'd keep secrets from your fiancé. It makes one wonder what else you've been keeping from him."

Severus didn't know what possessed him to bait her like he was doing. He liked seeing her in full spitfire mode. However, he was genuinely interested in seeing her response.

"You have no right!"

Her wand hand looked as if it were itching to hex him.

"Indeed, I do not."

He knew that she craved the attention she received as James Potter's fiancée. She went from obscurity to popularity overnight when she deigned to notice perfect Potter.

"But can you honestly tell me that there isn't a part of you that regrets the path you've taken just as much as I regret mine?" Severus asked her seriously.

"I..." She stopped speaking. "No. There'll always be a part of me that misses my best friend."

Severus smiled sadly. He rarely smiled and it always transformed his face ever so slightly into something wonderful to see.

"If it's any consolation, I feel much the same."

They stared at each other for a long moment before Lily motioned for him to get up.

"You should probably go now. James will be coming over soon."

He nodded tersely and moved toward the front door. He planned to walk home and he was determined to never return here again. She'd tell someone that wasn't Potter and he'd have to leave Spinner's End to stay away from the Aurors that would surely follow.

Of course, simply leaving would turn out to not be such an easy feat as James Potter chose that moment to Apparate into the foyer of the Evans' home. Severus somehow knew his luck wouldn't hold out. It was the way of things with him. He was beginning to wonder if he had been cursed.

Potter, of course, looked flummoxed at seeing Severus Snape in the home of his fiancée and immediately jumped on the offensive. Severus was faster and had his wand out in short order.

"Snape! What the hell are you doing here?" Potter roared.

"Just visiting an old friend, Potter. Nothing you need concern yourself with."

"My fiancée is my concern, you greasy git!"

Potter was still as pompous as ever. No surprise there.

"I believe Lily is allowed to speak to whomever she wishes, whenever she wishes," Severus replied smoothly.

If there was one thing that Severus Snape knew how to do and do effectively, it was how to bait the self-proclaimed leader of the Maruaders to his advantage. James Potter had a tendency to stick his foot in his mouth at the most inopportune moments.

"Not where you're concerned!"

Severus smirked at James as he heard Lily's voice come from behind him.

"James Potter! I don't need you being a controlling idiot. It isn't helping."

"Lily, what is he doing here?"

James had discovered that he wasn't going to get anywhere with Severus and turned his glare to her. Of course, Severus assumed it was a glare because his glasses were quite adept at obscuring his eyes from direct view.

What Severus Snape never counted on in a million years was Petunia Evans coming from seemingly nowhere and interjecting herself into the conversation. It was a testament to how much she resented Lily, loathed James, and wanted to see their perfect start to their perfect lives come tumbling down like a house of cards. There was a disturbingly large part of Severus that wanted to kiss her for her meddling ways, though he covered it well.

"Well, if the way they were both snogging earlier was any indication, I'd say you have some competition."

Petunia Evans had a look of malicious glee in her eyes as she saw the effect her devastating announcement had on the occupants of the room.

"The hell you were," James whispered menacingly. "I'll kill you. You don't touch her."

James Potter reacting so was a huge shock to everyone concerned except Severus. He knew all about this side of James Potter; the carefully hidden side he only showed to those he loathed with a passion.

"Potter, despite what you might think, I was only here for a visit," Severus said in a sardonic manner.

It was a testament to how truly angry James Potter was that he completely ignored Severus and turned toward Lily.

"Go in the other room, Lily. I'll deal with you later. You'll not go near him again."

It was this statement that caused Severus to push his wand against Potter's neck. Nobody threatened Lily Evans in his presence.

"I don't think you'll deal with her at all."

If there was any time that Severus was glad to be a Death Eater, it was then. He really did know more curses than most people. He was especially proud of the fact that he had a particular proficiency for developing a few of his own. It was simply a matter of which curse to use.

Lily was understandably livid with everyone in the room. Her sister was a jealous cow, her fiancé was a jealous git, and Severus Snape was a vindictive Death Eater. Severus could hardly blame her for telling them all to leave and then retreating upstairs to cry. When Lily's parents came to see the ruckus, Severus decided to count his losses and Disapparate. Forget the walk.