Why We Fight

Red Raven

Story Summary:
A mess-up in Potions sends Draco and Hermione to the past where they meet a couple much like them. Hermione & Draco, James & Lily.

Chapter 34 - In the Name of Friendship

Chapter Summary:
The Halloween Masque, Sirius gets jealous, and Draco and James have something to tell Lily.
Posted:
05/03/2007
Hits:
2,459

Part 34:
In the Name of Friendship
(Saturday, October 29, 1977)

Severus nervously smoothed his costume as he examined himself in the mirror. He had decided to dress as a 1700s Muggle pirate with his dark hair freshly-scrubbed and pulled back from his face in a ponytail with a black ribbon, a black captain's thigh-length 1700s style jacket, a black poet's shirt, black breeches, and knee-high scrunched boots. He swallowed hard and moved to change but decided against the idea. He could do this. As a final addition, he added the blunted blade to the scabbard at his right side.

Severus left the dormitories and went to the Great Hall. Live bats flittered through the air, not low enough to tangle in anyone's hair, but they still had some of the students gazing skyward in fear. The sallow-skinned Slytherin really had no idea why people were so afraid of the little creatures; he thought they were rather cute. Candles floated in the air and lightning lashed through the stormy sky of the Great Hall's charmed ceiling. He took a seat and listened to the band as it warmed up, waiting for his date.

"Well, hello there, Mr. Snape, I hardly recognized you." Severus turned to face Professor Flaherty, who was dressed as a monk. Severus had always loved Potions, but even he had to admit that being in Flaherty's class was more torture than pleasure. "How is your Potions project going with Miss Evans?" Flaherty asked. A look like he'd sucked a rather sour lemon crossed Severus's face. "You do know that it is worth half of your grade, Mr. Snape."

"I realize that, Professor Flaherty," Severus bit off.

"Very well, then," the man stated, walking toward Dumbledore who was dressed in a bright, orange-and-yellow Hawaiian-print shirt, orange Bermuda shorts, and yellow flip-flops. The Headmaster was sipping on pumpkin juice with a little umbrella in it and smiled warmly as Flaherty approached. The two talked in undertones, looking occasionally toward Severus. Flaherty nodded and looked once more toward Severus before disappearing into the crowd.

The black-haired youth suddenly felt rather uneasy.


Hermione swallowed hard as she stared at her costume. "You don't think it's too much?" she asked Lily.

"I think it's just enough. You look absolutely perfect, Hermione," Lily stated.

The brunette examined herself in the mirror, smoothing her hands down the full, bell-skirt of her dress. She sucked in a deep breath. It had been two years since the last time she'd dressed up like this, and she was feeling exceptionally nervous again.


"Who should I go to the masque with?" Sirius questioned as he straightened the feathered hat he wore.

Remus rolled his eyes at Sirius. "The dance is in ten minutes and you still haven't got a date?" the werewolf questioned.

The black-haired Beater shrugged and adjusted his cape. "Yeah, there's a gaggle of girls waiting for me to choose. Not sure which one, though. Which one do you think would make Hermione the most jealous?"

"Densaugeo," Draco muttered, eyeing the fangs he was sprouting from his canines. When he was satisfied with their size and pointiness, he ended the spell. "Give it up, Padfoot; she just wants to be 'just friends.'" He was extremely disappointed in himself for the strange joy that started to swell within him at this realization. He looked to James. "You know, I'd make a better vampire in my body."

"Oh, shut it, Whiskers, you'll get it back when I'm done with it," James stated as he pulled on his leather gauntlets.

Peter wrinkled his nose and shoved the feather out of his face. "Do you really have to put it that way? It just sounds...well, it doesn't sound right," he said.

"So, which one am I again?" Sirius asked.

"You're Porthos," Peter said. "I'm D'Artagnan, Prongs is Aramis, and Moony is Athos."

"Why am I Porthos?" Sirius questioned.

"He's got all the girls," James replied before Sirius's reflection could make a comment on how good Sirius looked. The reflection had been complimenting him every few minutes, and Sirius didn't need his ego to get any more swollen.

"Oh, yeah, I can see why I'd be him," Sirius said, giving his reflection a cheeky grin.

"You look perfect," the reflection gushed, and his fellow Marauders rolled their eyes.

They exited the Head Boy's room and looked toward the Head Girl's room. "I wonder what Hermione's wearing," Sirius mumbled.

"Padfoot, you're pathetic," Peter stated. They headed from the head common room and headed to the Great Hall.

"Oh, looky, there's Snivellus," Sirius stated, looking toward the table where the dark-haired youth sat. "Doesn't he just look spiffy?"

Before any trouble could start, an ethereal figure entered the room. Lily Evans wore a vibrant, emerald-green Greek chiton, matching Greek sandals, vines wrapped around her forearms, and woven into her red hair. The emerald-green shade made her peaches-and-cream complexion glow and made her red hair seem even redder. Her green eyes -- Harry's eyes -- were accentuated with glittery green make-up surrounding them in the shape of leaves. The silken material that comprised her costume made her seem to float. The five Marauders stared at her in wonder.

Draco elbowed James hard, and James finally came out of his stupor enough to walk over to his date. "Lily, wow, you look...you look absolutely gorgeous," he managed.

Lily blushed prettily and took his proffered hand. "So do you," she replied.

"So what are you dressed as?" he asked, brushing a chaste kiss over the back of her hand. "If it was an angel, then you succeeded."

"That was bad," she said with a giggle.

"I know," he admitted.

"I'm a nymph," she said.

"A nymph?" he choked out, eyes glazing over with lust.

"A tree spirit," she clarified. James looked a bit crestfallen.

Across the room, Narcissa Black -- who had decided to dress as Morgana le Fay -- stared at Draco's body with Lily Evans with murder in her blue eyes. Lucius, who had settled for silver dress robes, stared across the room at another entrant to the Great Hall.

A petite, beautiful girl with honey-brown hair in elaborate curls pulled back from her face with silver barrettes that dangled baby's breath and silvery-white ribbon into her hair, had just entered the Great Hall. She wore a silvery-white ball gown with an intricately-beaded bodice, long sleeves that puffed at the top, and her full bell skirt swished provocatively as she walked, giving a glimpse of the glass slippers she wore. Who was that girl?

The four remaining Marauders stared at the entrance to the Great Hall with awe. "Who's that?" Remus started.

"She's absolutely dazzling," Sirius stated.

"Wow...is that really...?" Peter asked.

"Hermione," a voice came from behind them. They turned to watch as Severus walked past them and to the girl. Severus gave an elegant bow and kissed the back of her hand causing her to blush. She lifted her skirts slightly and gave a small curtsy. He grinned and offered her his arm.

"No way..." Draco said. "That can't be...I mean, Hermione's...and she's..." He had a quick flash of the Yule Ball, her being arm candy for Viktor Krum in those periwinkle dress robes. That was right; she could be beautiful.

He stared after Severus and Hermione as the black-haired teenager led her to a table, pulling out a chair for her. She sat down and Severus pushed the chair in for her. Draco felt something rise inside him that he couldn't name. He'd known Severus his entire life, the future Potions professor was even his godfather, but at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to hex off Severus's overlarge nose. But why?


"Hermione, you look stunning," Severus said, his sallow skin turning crimson.

"This is a good look for you," Hermione stated. She brushed a stray strand of hair from his face and tucked it behind his ear. Severus shivered noticeably.


Draco reached for his wand and moved to act on his desires. "No, no, you've got to be kidding me!" Sirius cried, slumping into a nearby chair. He shoved the feather from his hat quite violently out of his face. Feeling rather sheepish, Draco replaced the wand and slumped down nearby. "She dumped me for...for Snivellus!? I mean...I know she was going...b--but...this...is too much." He left the table, followed by a bevy of buxom Hufflepuffs.

"I need some air," Remus stated. He gave Draco a scathing glare and left the table as well. Remus exited the Great Hall and walked out onto the grounds. The moon was no longer full, and he could feel it pulling on him, playing with him. The moon had been full a few days ago: a lifetime ago for the werewolf.

It had been before he had found out that James was going to be murdered.

This entire time, Draco had known, and he hadn't told. And Hermione! She was in on this, too, and she was supposed to be Harry's friend. Harry…James was going to be a father. Who would have ever thought that James and Lily would marry and have a child?

He swallowed hard, in total disbelief that he'd decided to take the Unbreakable Vow. He shouldn't have. If it cost his friendship with James, it was worth it. James would be alive. He'd have his family. Remus straightened up. James had said he wasn't to tell anyone; he didn't say anything about not trying to stop it. The sandy-haired teenager stood straighter and squared his shoulders.


Peter stared after the werewolf with confusion. "What's up with him? Oh, right," he said. "He sometimes gets this way when it's so close to that time of the month."

Draco ignored Peter. "Why do I feel this way...l--like I want to really hurt someone?" Draco asked himself.

"Because you haven't gotten over her yet?" the chubby boy suggested.

"B--But she's everything I detest!" Draco defended. "She--she's an annoying, buck-toothed, frizzy-haired Muggle-born know-it-all!"

"Okay. Buckteeth...don't see it. Frizzy hair...again, don't see it. Muggle-born, yeah, but so? Know-it-all...and you're not one?" Peter stated.

A low hiss of air escaped Draco's lungs, and he banged his forehead on the table hard a couple of times. Peter stared at him. "Oh, Merlin, I--I think...I think I like...her..." Draco groaned.

A little smirk crossed the rat-faced boy's face. "Who?"

"Her! Hermione!" the blonde stated, gesturing wildly toward the vicinity of Hermione and Severus. "What in the name of Merlin's great silver beard am I doing thinking that!? My father, he--he's going to--to disinherit me after trying at least two of the Unforgivables on me a--and other curses that aren't unforgivable but bloody painful! If not, at least, making an attempt to--to try the Killing Curse! Mum won't let him, of course, 'cause she--she wants to jump my bones. Oh, Merlin, no..." Peter shuddered.

Once he regained his composure, Peter continued. "So you never dated Hermione?" he asked. "I didn't think so."

"What do you mean you 'didn't think so'?" Draco demanded. "We were so...careful."

"Well...maybe if you looked at each other with anything other than hatred when you first said you were dating, I might have believed it," he said pointedly.

Draco stared at the brunette. "Okay, fine. We lied. So Padfoot wouldn't hit on her...and she started dating Padfoot...so, marvel at the concept."


Lily and James stared at Draco with amusement. "Um, what's he doing?" James asked.

"It looks like he's having a nervous breakdown," Lily stated, arching a brow. "Oh, well. Would you like to dance?"

James looked from Draco to Lily and grinned. "I think he can handle himself," he stated. "I'd love to dance." He smiled and led Lily onto the dance floor.


Severus looked nervously at Hermione, sucking in a breath as he tried to draw up the courage to ask her. "Uh, Hermione, would you, um, maybe...would you like to possibly...?" he stuttered.

The brunette gave him a soft smile. "You can ask me, Severus, I promise I won't bite," she said.

"Would you like to, uh, dance?" he asked.

Hermione beamed at him. "I'd love to," she replied. With a nervous smile in return, the tall, dark-haired boy led her onto the dance floor. Surprisingly, Severus Snape was a good dancer.

Shadows grow so long before my eyes
And they're moving across the page.
Suddenly, the day turns into night
Far away from the city.

"'Baby, I Love Your Way,'" Hermione said.

Severus coughed. "Excuse me?"

Hermione laughed at the pallor his naturally-pale skin had taken on. "It's the name of the song. My parents liked to neck to it."

"How old is this song?" he asked.

An arch of a brown brow and a quick lie. "Just because they're married doesn't mean they don't snog..."


But don't hesitate
'Cause your love won't wait, hey.
Ooo, baby, I love your way every day,
Wanna tell you I love your way every day,
Wanna be with you night and day.

"Look at him! He's all over her!" Draco cried. "It's--it's not fair. The first time he actually gets a girl and he--he practically...humps her in public."

Peter wondered if he was looking at the same scene that Draco was. Hermione and Severus were about a foot apart, dancing formally like the old couples that his Squib grandmother liked to watch on The Lawrence Welk Show.


"Moon appears to shine and light the sky
With the help of some fireflies..."

Before he actually knew it, James was singing softly under his breath as he maneuvered Lily around gracefully, the chiton floating around her ankles. Her pretty face was alight with happiness. "I didn't know you could sing," she said. James paused in his singing, blushing slightly. A teasing smile crossed Lily's lips. "I didn't say stop..."

James continued, singing so she could actually hear him.

"I wonder how they have the powder shine, shine, shine;
I can see them under the pines."


But don't hesitate
'Cause your love won't wait, hey.
Ooh baby I love your way every day,
Wanna tell you I love your way every day,
Wanna be with you night and day, uh, yeah.
But don't hesitate
'Cause your love won't wait.

Severus stared across the room at James-in-Draco's-body. "So, how do you feel about this charming new development?" he inquired.

Hermione looked over her shoulder with a small smile. "They deserve to be happy," she said.

Severus's brows arched. "Are you telling me you don't feel the least bit uncomfortable?"

"Actually, no," Hermione said. "They're going to make an adorable couple."

Severus simply stared at her.


I can see the sunset in your eyes,
Brown and grey and blue besides.
Clouds are stalking islands in the sun,
Wish I could dry one out of season.

James looked toward the table where Draco sat, their eyes met, and James gave a nod toward the gardens. "Would you like to take a walk with me?" he asked.

Lily nodded and smiled. "I'd like some fresh air," she admitted.

But don't hesitate
'Cause your love won't wait, hey.
Ooo, baby I love your way every day,
Wanna tell you I love your way, ooo,
Wanna be with you night and day.
Ooo, baby, I love your way every day,
Wanna tell you I love your way, ooo,
Wanna be with you night...

The strains of the song faded as they walked hand-in-hand out the doors and walked the school's grounds. The waning gibbous moon cast its silvery glow on the emerald lawn, bathing the two. Summer was hanging on for dear life and a warm breeze ruffled their costumes. "You know I wasn't sure what to think of you when you first started school here," Lily said. "Hermione wasn't too fond of you even though you were supposed to be dating."

"Lies," James said simply.

"I figured out as much. She seemed a bit too easy to let you go. If I had been her, I would have held on tight," she said. "I've been thinking a lot lately."

"Thinking is good."

"And, well, this is awkward--" she blushed brilliantly "--I think I love you, Draco Aquilus."

James's heart rose to the very heavens but crashed quite hard when he realized that she had just confessed her love to a time-traveler whose last name wasn't even Aquilus. "Um, Lily, there's something I need to tell you as well." He struggled with the words for several minutes before letting actions speak.

He kissed her. The Potion wore off. The kiss ended, leaving them both breathless. She pulled away reluctantly with a small smile on her rose-pink lips and found herself face-to-face with James Potter, the bane of her existence at Hogwarts. She shoved him away. "What the hell?!" she demanded.

"Lily, I can explain everything," James said. She pushed past him and ran to the castle. "Lily, wait!"

Tears were blinding her as she jostled past the guy in the doorway and headed toward the stairs, and Draco grunted as she collided with him. "Ow, bloody hell," he muttered. James looked toward the stairs, and Draco handed him his glasses.

"Lily, let me explain!" James insisted.

"All this time. All...this...time, it was you!?" she demanded as the three entered the Head Common Room.

"Yes!" he cried.

"And you!? You were in on this, too?" she demanded, pointing toward Draco. The blonde nodded. "How could you do this to me?"

"Lily, James loves you!" Draco cried.

"I don't even know who you are!" she screamed, slamming the Head Girl's door hard behind her.

Draco and James exchanged a look. "Well, that went well," Draco said after a few moments.

James looked at Draco grimly. "Couldn't have gone any better..."


The song is "Baby, I Love Your Way" by Peter Frampton.