Knight of Pentacles, Queen of Wands

Ch15: The Devil

Damn Black anyway. He had ruined everything. Dumbledore should not have found out at all, and Severus had no doubt that Black had found a way to contact him while he was talking to Lily. It seemed never ending, his misery. Severus felt that he really should have anticipated Black reacting in this way. However, he had allowed himself to become distracted over a woman who, well, he really no longer had any way of defining exactly what she was to him these days. Lily's information was good though, better than he had even expected. It would have to be enough.

Grimmauld Place was in an uproar when he arrived. The elder Blacks had apparently had a row with Regulus over his inability to reel Sirius back into their clutches. Orion Black, in particular, was quite irate. It only got worse when Regulus extracted the Dumbledore connection from a reluctant Severus. This piece of news had been enough to cause Orion Black to retreat to his study only to have to be escorted by his harpy of a wife to St. Mungo's not half an hour later, claiming that his weak heart was once again causing him grief. They both glared at their son on their way out.

"It seems I can't do anything right, Severus," Regulus stated morosely while staring at the Floo where his parents had just gone through. "One knows their family has reached the height of dysfunction when Imperio is a suggested course of action for how to deal with each other."

Regulus smiled wryly. However, Severus could see the real pain there. It made him uncomfortable. None of them were supposed to be anything other than superficial toward anyone. It was practically an unspoken rule of Slytherin. Being emotional was a weakness. Severus changed the subject.

"I think the Dark Lord hasn't made all of the Horcruxes he intends to as of yet."

It was exactly what Regulus needed to refocus.

"I agree, Severus. From what I gather, he likely has five. Though, I do think he'd like to have more eventually. The locket, the diary, the cup, the ring, and I'm sure he has another."

Severus snorted. It was just their luck to not have a clue. If only he could remember things from his previous life better!

"It's likely at Hogwarts, if anywhere. We need to get Gryffindor's Sword."

"Surely, that's not a Horcrux! I've an idea though. Old Slughorn wishes to retire. Father mentioned that my name came up specifically when they were speaking about potential replacements over tea. Mother doesn't think being a teacher is prestigious enough these days, but I admit that molding the minds of the next generation does hold a certain appeal to me. What if I were to go to Hogwarts to interview for the position?"

So long as it wasn't him going to Hogwarts, Severus didn't care. He barely held in a shudder at even thinking about his days of teaching. If heaven was King's Cross station, then hell must be having to teach at Hogwarts.

"Better you than me," he muttered.

Regulus laughed at his response.

"I'd daresay you'd at least have complete control over your classes given your taciturn nature. At any rate, you did mention that your red-headed witch had access to an invisibility cloak. Perhaps we could use it while I make the distraction?"

"She's not my anything. And why would you ever even want to teach anyway?"

Of all the things to be worried about, Severus couldn't wrap his mind around it. He had never wanted to teach and only did so because he had been forced into it. He assumed Dumbledore must have had something on the entire faculty to get them to stay. It had always baffled him. He had to ask.

Regulus shrugged dismissively.

"Mother doesn't approve completely. Then there's Sinistra. You remember her don't you?" Regulus gained a dreamy smile on his face. "Aurora Sinistra just began teaching there and I think she has a thing for me. And even though she's pure-blood Mother doesn't approve of her completely for whatever reason."

Of course, trust a Black to have such a ridiculous reason for doing something.

Regulus immediately arranged his interview for the next afternoon by Floo. He'd even contacted Lucius, who was on the Board of Governors. Lucius had agreed to help look for a Horcrux, as the Governors would be touring the school the next afternoon, though he made it very clear that the two of them would owe him quite a large favor for doing so.

Getting the cloak from Lily would be troublesome. Severus knew he was taking a risk even going back to see her, a risk that could land him in Azkaban. Dumbledore could have the Order watching her house for him. He Apparated directly into her room.

"Oh, God! Severus! You can't be here."

Lily was wringing her hands and pacing.

"Sirius told Dumbledore everything. He- they- they think you've been using me and I've been none the wiser. But I think Dumbledore is suspicious of me even still. They're looking for you and with you taking off like you did...if they find you they'll turn you over to the Aurors."

Severus expected as much and waved her concerns away with a simple shrug of his shoulders.

"I said I'd protect you, Lily. I've told you already not to worry about me. I'm used to looking after myself."

"Is that all you can say? If they catch up with you, we're done for, Sev. If you're to be believed then you and your friends are our only hope here."

"Ah, you just had to say that condescendingly, didn't you? My friends, my interests, nothing about me has ever measured up to your exacting standards, has it?"

It had come out before he had even thought about what he was saying. Something that mostly only happened around Lily, he'd found. All the cleverness in the world couldn't make up for his stupidity when it came to her. Severus honestly considered himself his own worst enemy in that moment. At least he'd got her to stop wringing her hands.

"Now who's being judgmental? I've only ever wanted to see you happy, Severus, but to me it only seemed like so much self-destructive behavior on your part."

"Yet you've always made excuses when others do the same," he stated bitterly.

"Well, others weren't my best friends at the time! And your interests have always been just a little too dark."

Severus sneered. If Lily thought he'd be cowed this time around then she was mistaken.

"Well, the obvious omission of my friends in your response only points to the fact that you're aware of your own glaring hypocrisy considering who your friends are," he hissed quietly. "As far as my interests go, they do happen to extend beyond that one area of magic, and the dark arts are hardly all evil."

"You were so obsessive about it when we were in school, though."

That was obviously her last trump card, said as a last ditch effort, and in that defeated sort of tone. It was then that Severus finally understood where Lily was coming from. Her refusal to forgive him, when up to the point of the Mudblood incident she had seemed like a most forgiving person, and ending with her cutting him out of her life. She didn't just fear for him, she feared him. It was an odd revelation to find himself having. He supposed he was rather obsessive when it came down to it, though he much preferred the term devoted.

"You're afraid of me," he whispered.

Lily looked down at her white shag carpet intently, her cheeks stained red.

"Not so much now, but then...it was rather too intense for me. I didn't really understand you."

Severus couldn't resist asking.

"And now?"

"I'm getting there, I think. You had to grow up sooner than I did. I've just now realized."

Severus smirked at her. Wasn't that surprising? He was under the impression that she thought of him as little as possible. He couldn't dally about though.

"You do still have Potter's cloak, don't you?"

Lily folded her arms and glared. "After what he said to me, he has years of groveling to do before he even gets to look at that cloak again. Why?"

There went his hope. It was expected, but still disappointing, to hear her express that she was willing to give Potter the opportunity for anything, which meant the wedding probably was still going to occur.

"I need it, because I'm going to Hogwarts. Don't worry, your precious Potter will get his cloak back."

Severus couldn't help it. He was insanely jealous of James Potter for always being given a free ticket when it came to her forgiveness.

"Severus! Merlin, I can't believe you! Nobody is ever able to talk sense into you, are they? You'll only get caught."

Severus just stared at her intently and she stopped talking.

"Where is it?" he whispered.

"My trunk," Lily curtly responded.

He saw her hand grasp her wand but he pulled his before she even got the chance to finish drawing hers. Of course Lily would try to hex him when she was angry. She was always fairly reactive, and he had pushed her buttons beyond their limits lately. He was only surprised it hadn't happened before now.

"Don't cause me any trouble now, witch. While your concern for me is touching, it won't stop me from doing what needs to be done," he drawled sarcastically.

Lily was fuming.

"How dare you! For all I know, you really are just using me!"

And didn't that make Severus truly angry! He put his wand to her throat and backed her against the wall.

"Yes, because I'll only ever be Death Eater scum to you, won't I? Slytherins only ever lie to people, so the possibility that any of us could ever tell the truth about our intentions is beyond the pale. Here I thought you were different than all the rest, Lily. It's rather disappointing to find out that you and Potter probably deserve each other," he spoke quietly to her.

He was actually satisfied to see a look of guilt cross her face, however fleeting it was.

"You're just jealous," she said haughtily.

Well, of course he was jealous. He would never deny it. Not anymore.

"Which is exactly what you wanted, isn't it? You like having that sort of power, don't you?"

He couldn't help it when his voice took on a husky quality- but he certainly noticed her reaction to it. Lily's eyes actually darkened and became glazed. It was desire if he ever saw it. He was sure of it. It surprised him once again, just like it had that night.

"Sev, I..." Lily began to ramble.

He waited until she was looking directly into his eyes and moved his mouth very close to hers. When he was absolutely certain she would let him kiss her, he spoke.

"I'll return it to you tomorrow, I promise."

Severus then backed away, staring intently at her all the while, retrieved the cloak from the trunk, and Apparated. Lily looked flushed and devastatingly attractive in her increased anger at his antics. It was a hopeless cause because he'd likely die or go to Azkaban, and she would still end up with Potter, but damn, was it ever addictive to get a rise out of her in this way.