Before Harry Met Sevy

Chapter 22: Warnings
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The timetables were handed out at breakfast the following morning, and Severus saw to both his delight and disappointment that he had no classes with the Gryffindors until the following day. Though it meant little chance of seeing the dynamic duo, he had hoped to talk to Lily again about the conversation from the train. He'd not had a chance after dinner the previous night, and he knew she would be expecting an explanation as to his absence. He cast an apologetic glance in her direction as she caught his eye from across the hall, and then filed behind his classmates to go to History of Magic.

As it was, he met up with her after classes, beneath the beech tree by the lake. She smiled up from her grassy perch as he approached.

“How’d you like the entirely Gryffindor-free day?” she asked with a smirk. “It’s your only one, you know.” He grinned back at her as he seated himself beside her.

“I know,” he sighed blissfully. “An entire day devoid of Potter and Black. Things couldn’t get much better.”

“Have you looked at tomorrow’s classes?” she asked hesitantly. He nodded. The entire day was to be spent in class with the Gryffindors. “Any reprieve is good, I guess,” she mused. They sat in silence for a long moment before Lily spoke again.

“You didn’t stick around much after dinner last night,” she commented. Severus nodded in acknowledgement.

“I had a lot on my mind,” he stated, relaying to her his responsibility for the next term. He was met with silence when he was through. “Well?” he prompted.

“I don’t think you should take everything Lucius does at face value,” she responded quietly. Severus narrowed his eyes. Lily, however, did not back down. “I know he’s your friend, and I know you want to trust him, but –"

“Why shouldn’t I trust him?” Severus challenged, his blood beginning to boil. He suddenly thought back to the Christmas party, when Lucius had shown him his own scar. The conversation he’d overheard now seemed trivial – Lucius and Braeden were undoubtedly looking out for his best interests – making sure he knew the people his father had always yearned to know.

“Severus, you asked my opinion, and that’s what you’re getting,” Lily said softly. “I’m sorry that it isn’t what you wanted to hear, but I’m not going to lie to you.” Her reply was met with stony silence. “I don’t know what you want me to say,” she admitted. “Maybe Lucius is worthy of your trust, but I just don’t see it.”

“What happened to seeing the good in everyone?” Severus retorted.

“Well,” she paused, evidently thinking about his comment. “The good in Lucius is that he makes you feel like you belong.” If those words weren’t surprising enough, her next had his head spinning in confusion. “That’s why I don’t trust him.”

“What sense does that make?” he questioned. Lily simply shook her head.

“Never mind. I don’t want to fight with you.” She forced a smile. “You didn’t tell me how your visit went, aside from - well anyway, how was it?” He looked at her in astonishment.

“How can you go from being angry to asking about my stay with Lucius?” When he was angry, he stayed good and angry for a long time afterwards.

“I’m not angry with you,” she explained. “Just – worried.” There it was again, the idea that he didn’t know how to take care of himself. For a moment, his anger resurfaced even more than before, and he turned his head towards the lake before she could notice. He was startled to see that the sun had already begun to set.

“We’d better get to dinner,” he advised as he stood.

“Will you find me after?” she questioned, grasping his proffered helping hand as she stood as well.

“I can’t,” he replied, feeling a bit guilty. “I’m supposed to meet with Lucius to discuss the first years.”

“Won’t you do that at dinner?”

“I’ll try,” he promised.

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Lucius started the discussion before Severus had a chance to even sit down.

“This is the most opportune time to observe our new recruits,” he commented as Severus set in to his dinner. “Be sure to pay careful attention to their actions.” The boy turned his attention immediately to the shy boy at the end of the table. He was chatting with his dorm mates, apparently having made them his friends.

“They seem to all be getting along well,” Severus intoned. Lucius nodded, but said nothing. Severus turned again to the first year boys. Their comfort with each other made him think of his own dorm mates, seated at the opposite end of the table. They had been correct in saying the next term would be different – Severus had the sinking feeling that when Lucius left, he would be infinitely lonlier. While it was true that he got on with most of the other members of the group, Lily and Lucius were his only true friends. Should he attempt to bridge the gap between himself and the other boys in his year? He knew when the thought made his stomach lurch that it would not happen. Even were he to be civil to them, they undoubtedly harbored a grudge which would only worsen with time.

“That boy – Minch, isn’t it?” Lucius’ voice cut through Severus’ thoughts, and he followed his friend’s gaze to the small boy he’d observed earlier.

“Jonathon, I believe,” Severus agreed.

“He’s earned twenty points for his skills in Charms and Transfiguration,” Lucius noted. “He’ll be one to watch – few of the others have done anything worth mentioning, and those who have have not done anything to brag about.” He went on to explain that one of the other boys had already received detention for disrupting a class and one of the three girls in consideration had been caught passing notes, thus incurring Professor Burtram’s wrath.

“Of the others I have heard nothing,” he admitted. “What have you learned?” He looked expectantly at Severus, who in turn grimaced.

“I haven’t –“ Lucius’ expression became stony.

“I had thought you understood how vital it was to choose an appropriate candidate,” he commented lowly. “With seven pairs of eyes and ears, it should be relatively simple to pick an addition. Six pairs are not acceptable.”

“I’ll see what I can do after dinner,” Severus promised.

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Severus met up with Lily after dinner, as he’d promised her, and convinced her to go to Melison’s office with him.

“What for?” she asked initially.

“I’m going to see if he can give me any information on the first years,” he replied. “I promised Lucius I’d try to find out something useful. Besides, I’ll bet he got a few new Potions volumes over the holidays.”

When they arrived at their professor’s office, the door was already slightly ajar. Severus knocked, causing the door to swing inward the rest of the way. He was slightly taken aback at the sight which greeted him. Melison was not alone. Sebastian was seated in the chair directly across from Severus’ Head of House, and both men turned as the two children entered.

“What are you doing here?” Severus questioned.

“I am simply paying a visit to my good friend Malichi,” Sebastian replied. “Though I am glad you decided to stop down. Lily,” he turned to the Gryffindor who had remained silent. “It is, as always, a pleasure to see you again. However, Professor Melison and I need to have a chat with Severus for a moment. Will you excuse us please?” Lily hesitated, but finally nodded.

“I’ll wait in the classroom,” she told her friend. Severus nodded in acknowledgement, and then shut the door when prompted.

“So?” Severus asked expectantly.

“Severus, Professor Melison has agreed to begin your Occlumency lessons here at school.”

“What, now?” the boy retorted.

“Don’t be impertinent, boy. You have yet to read the one book I gave you – once you have done that, Professor Melison will proceed with your lessons. It is still vital, however, for you to read the other books. They shall give you the extra edge you will require to succeed.” He handed Severus the remaining books, though the boy noticed they had all been charmed to look like textbooks.

“I expect to receive satisfactory reports on your progress,” Sebastian warned. “And no reports involving fighting. Is that clear?”

“I’ll try not to get caught fighting,” Severus replied with a smirk. Sebastian shook his head as he left the room. Once he’d gone, Melison spoke.

“What brought you down here, son?” Now that he was standing in front of his Head of House, Severus was hesitant in voicing the reason for his visit.

“Just wanted to say hello, Sir,” he lied.

“How kind of you,” Melison said, his head cocked to the side. “Now tell me the real reason you came down.

“I wanted to ask how your first years did in class,” he admitted.

“My first year Slytherins do not meet until tomorrow morning.”

“Oh.” Severus felt stupid. He should have checked that first! There was a moment of silence before –

“So you’re to pick the new addition this year, eh?” Severus’ eyes snapped to his professor.

“Sir?”

“Don’t play games, son. That little clique of Lucius’ wasn’t begun by him, you know. It’s been a Slytherin tradition for generations.” His professor’s words made Severus feel slightly better about what he was doing.

“Lucius is teaching me what to look for,” he explained.

“I see. Doesn’t trust your own judgment, then?” Severus’ good mood began to fade.

“Are you going to go on about what a bad influence Lucius is on me, too?”

“On the contrary,” Melison replied, leaning back in his chair. “I believe Lucius to have done well by you – thus far.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his desk. “My fear, son, lies with his graduation.”

“How so?”

“If Lucius Malfoy continues on the path he has forged for himself, he will become a great man.”

“But?”

“But I fear he will not be strong enough to resist his father’s will. I have seen evidence to that effect already. That is what you must be wary of, son. Not of Lucius as he is now, but of what he may come to be.” For the second time that day, Severus thought of the scar, and of his and Lucius’ conversation, and he knew that his professor was right.

“Take Lucius’ advice, and his teachings, but be wary of their hidden meanings. What may seem harmless now may prove of great importance down the line.”

“I trust Lucius,” Severus stated firmly.

“Do not allow your trust to blind you to caution.”

“Why are you so concerned about what happens to me?” Severus questioned, his head tilted inquisitively. Melison paused.

“Your uncle’s decision to begin your Occlumency lessons sooner is very wise,” he stated in response. Severus furrowed his brow in confusion. What kind of an answer was that?

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