For the Love of Lily

Chapter 9

James was walking down the corridor coming back from Quidditch practice when suddenly Lily ran into him. Her face was streaked with tears. He quickly folded her in his strong arms, stroked her hair, and told her everything would be ok.

"You were right," she finally managed to say.

"Right about what, love?"

"Severus."

"Tell me."

She began telling him about The Pure Potion, and how he tried to hide it from her. That devil! He'd better realize that he's going to have to deal with me now!

"Let's go back to the common room and we can talk some more," James suggested

Lily nodded her head in agreement. James kept his arm tight around Lily until they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Chocolate Frog," he said and the portrait opened, revealing the Gryffindor common room.

He let go of Lily to help her through the opening, and led her over to the sofa. She collapsed into his arms and began crying again. I tried to warn her that this would happen, and now look what happened! Severus is gonna pay for this one! Lily stirred in his arms. He looked down and saw that she was asleep. There was no way to get her up to her bed, so he just let her sleep in his arms.

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Severus slammed the book shut and stormed out of the library. He couldn't believe what had just happened. This is all Potter's fault. He told her that I was scum. He reached the Slytherin common room and almost ran into Lucius.

"Snape, watch where you're going! Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"I'm going to my room to plot a way to get back at Potter!"

"What did Potter do to you that requires you to get back at him?"

"He stole my girlfriend from me!" Severus exclaimed before he realized that Lucius didn't know about him and Lily.

"I didn't know you had a girlfriend. Who was it?"

Severus just stood there not responding and not making eye contact.

"Well! Who was it? Oh no! No! Don't tell me it was that girl that always hangs around with Potter. What's her name? Lily Evans, yes, that's it."

Severus stood there not saying anything. I'm never going to tell Lucius about Lily. Never!

"So it was Lily, because if it wasn't you'd say it wasn't. You're a Slytherin and you dated that filthy mudblood Gryffindor! Didn't you care what that would do to Slytherin's reputation?"

"It's over now! So you should be happy! Nobody will ever have to know if you don't tell them!" Severus finally said. "Now if you'll excuse me I've got stuff to do," and with that Severus entered the common room, leaving Lucius outside staring at the wall in disbelief.

Upstairs in his room, Severus rummaged through his trunk until he found the book of curses his father had given him when he entered Hogwarts. Let's see what would be the best way to get rid of Potter? Severus was so deeply engrossed in his book that he didn't see the dark shape enter his room.

For the Love of Lily