Trust and Betrayal: A Prequel

6. Crossing Paths: Autumn 1975 - Sixth Year

Lily
"You're certain that your pumpkin juice wasn't spiked with an illegal dose of Love Potion? The culprit can be caught and severely punished, you know."

Lily laughed, enjoying Remus' combined looks of incredulity and scepticism. "I'm certain, Remus. I'm in full control of all my senses!"

It was a cool and blustery November morning, the sky's grey clouds sitting just atop the trees in the Forbidden Forest, and Remus and Lily were walking down the hill against the wind towards their next class. Remus hitched his scarf around his neck more snugly.

"Well, I was astounded when James told me that you'd asked him to go with you to Hogsmeade tomorrow. He was making such a fuss that I had to drag him out of the library before Madam Pince could decapitate him to stop the noise." Remus paused. "So, when did you have this sudden change of heart?"

Lily looked at him, bemused. "You sound disappointed, Remus! I thought you'd be glad I'd finally come around. Or happy for James at least."

"I am happy. Surprised and confused. But happy."

Lily wasn't sure he was being entirely truthful, but was unable to explore it further because they'd arrived at Professor Kettleburn's class. Care of Magical Creatures was conducted in a large outdoor space adjacent to the Forest, enclosed by a wooden fence. Along the perimeter of the enclosure were animal pens of various sizes and shapes, as well as a large shed containing a well-stocked variety of feeding, grooming and protective equipment. As they entered the class space, they saw several cages already set on top of one of the long, rough-hewn wooden worktables. Professor Kettleburn was distributing long-armed protective gloves to the small group of N.E.W.T.-level students. The only other Gryffindor in the class was Peter Pettigrew.

Lily looked inside one of the cages and saw a small, blue-speckled bird staring back at her, apparently equally curious about the pair of green eyes looking at it.

"But, Professor, they're so tiny! Why the heavy-duty gloves?" she asked when handed her pair. Lily blinked at the bird. The bird blinked back.

"They probably have giant teeth," muttered Peter.

Professor Kettleburn was an old wizard. Not nearly as old as Albus Dumbledore perhaps, but his students could tell he'd lived a long life; he had the scars to prove it. His several missing fingers also spoke of an interesting and event-filled history with the animals he used to teach his students. Kettleburn was a small man, clean-shaven, with long, grey hair tied in the back. His students thought he always looked tired, due to the prominent, dark circles under his equally dark, brown eyes. Despite the visual impression of age, Professor Kettleburn moved about with strength and purpose, both useful qualities when it came time to reign in some of the larger and more dangerous of the Magical Creatures under his care. And, unlike most of the teachers, he did not wear robes to class, but dressed instead in a chambray shirt (in warm weather) or a bright blue jumper (in cool weather) and heavy, grey, wool trousers covered by a long, weathered, leather apron. Completing the uniform, his feet were shod in knee-high leather boots. Practical and efficient. That was both his style and his class motto.

"Mr. Pettigrew is correct. Five points for Gryffindor," stated Professor Kettleburn. "While most avian creatures do not have teeth, these do. Which you will see demonstrated shortly."

Peter looked surprised; he almost never won points for the House. Lily gave him a thumbs-up and a smile. Peter smiled back and reddened.

"These creatures are Jobberknolls," the Professor continued. "Found in Northern Europe and North America. Small but strong."

"Sort of like Kettleburn," murmured Johnny Macmillan under his breath.

"Also correct, Macmillan."

The Professor also had prodigiously perfect hearing.

"Jobberknoll feathers are used in making Memory Potions and Truth Serums. They eat insects, which we use to distract them when they're being de-feathered, our task for this morning. Work in pairs. Get a basket for the feathers and a cupful of fire ants. Better use your wands to scoop those up."

The students scurried to the shed to get their supplies, all wondering how many feathers could possibly be taken from such a small bird before it went completely bald.

"The Jobberknoll's feathers grow back instantly, so you should gather enough to fill each of your baskets."

The Professor could also, apparently, read their minds.

"Right. Everyone ready?"

The students nodded.

"Good. One of you open the cage and pull out the Jobberknoll--make sure you hold them a full arm's length away from your body. They'll peck and bite your arm, so make sure those gloves are on tight. With your other arm, use your wand to feed them ants a bit at a time. That should keep them still. Your partner will start plucking feathers. The ones along the back are the best. Don't bother with the fuzzier ones around the neck; they just muck up the potion. Proceed."

Once the Jobberknoll pruning began, Lily picked up her conversation with Remus from where it had left off.

"So if you're happy for James, why get all tetchy that I've asked him out?" Lily asked, carefully plucking off the tiny blue feathers.

Remus was distracted as he tried to feed the fire ants to the wildly squirming bird. "How can anything this small be so hard to hold onto?" he grunted, sweating in spite of the cold wind.

"For heaven's sake. I'll hold, you pluck." Lily took the bird from Remus with her right hand and, holding it out in front of her, stared at the little blue creature. "Now hold still, would you? It doesn't hurt and you know it." Lily could have sworn it looked back at her with disdain, but it did seem to calm down and take its breakfast with less of a struggle.

"I'm not tetchy, Evans. I'm just..."

"Hmmm?" said Lily, keeping her eyes on the bird.

Remus sighed. "I don't know. Hurt, I guess. That I didn't know your feelings had changed. That you didn't tell me."

Lily looked at Remus, who was focussed on his feathered task. She was surprised and touched, realising that she sometimes forgot how deeply Remus felt about her--about their friendship.

"I'm sorry, Remus," she said softly. "Truly." He looked up at her and shrugged in that oh-it-doesn't-really-matter sort of way. "I didn't mean to leave you out of it. I only just realised myself that James might be worth getting to know better."

"Well, I could have told you that ages ago!" Remus smirked. "So what happened?"

"He told me he was going to change--to take himself a bit more seriously. And I think he has!"

Remus grinned and shook his head in disbelief. "James? More serious? Not possible. Our very best ideas have sprung from James' deranged mind!"

It was Lily's turn to look sceptical. "With Sirius making them go from bad to worse."

Remus nodded in agreement. "Well, naturally! But let's stay with James' contributions for now, shall we?" Remus started ticking off his fingers. "Levitating Angus Boot over the Giant Squid until he confessed that Sirius was the most handsome boy at Hogwarts."

Lily laughed, remembering this. "Oh, poor Angus! He wouldn't go near the lake for a year!"

Remus continued. "Charming Beaters' bats to block the entrance to the Hufflepuff girls' bathroom by swatting anyone who got too close." Remus closed his eyes as if picturing the scene. "Several near accidents as I recall. And let's see... ah, yes. Transfiguring tadpoles into bits of Slughorn's crystallised pineapple that reverted back as soon as he popped one into his mouth."

Lily was having a really hard time holding on to the Jobberknoll, unable to stop laughing as tears filled her eyes.

"And of course..."

"No, Remus! Stop!" Lily had to push the bird back into its cage because of the sudden, urgent need to grab hold of a serious stitch in her side.

"And of course, most infamously, the time he... um... 'found' some Veritaserum and managed to put a few drops into Professor McGonagall's pumpkin juice at breakfast. When Professor Dumbledore asked her how she was feeling that morning, she admitted to him that she had always--"

At that moment a terrible scream erupted from Peter's end of the table. They all jumped to see Peter dropping his bird in horror; the tiny creature lay inert but continued to make the loudest, most terrible, unending, incomprehensible noise.

Professor Kettleburn marched over to examine the stricken Jobberknoll while the students held their hands over their ears and Peter, visibly pale, shook with fear. "Seems you've strangled it, Pettigrew. Got to be careful how you hold these creatures, class. Don't want to kill them. That's the other important thing to know about Jobberknolls. The only time they make a sound is at the moment of its death, when it regurgitates every sound it's ever heard. Backwards."

********

Saturday morning broke as bleak as it had the day before. Lily awoke to see grey skies outside the window across from her bed and hoped that the rain would hold. She turned to look at her small bedside clock and was startled to see it was ten o'clock. They were leaving for Hogsmeade in less than an hour! She leapt out of bed and pulled out at least a dozen different shirts, jumpers, and trousers and laid them on her bed, trying to decide what to wear.

Annette came into the bedroom munching on the toast she'd cadged at breakfast and sat on her bed, watching Lily with amusement.

"Since when do you fuss over your clothes, Evans? Trying to impress someone?"

Clothes started flying around Lily. "Of course not! I'm just so... bored with everything I own!" she said with some frustration.

Chewing, Annette prodded, "Potter got your feathers in a ruff, Evans?"

Lily stopped, closed her eyes and shuddered. "Please don't mention feathers, Annette."

Annette looked confused.

"Never mind. No--well, yes," Lily admitted, sitting down next to Annette and, tearing off a piece of her friend's toast, popped it into her mouth.

Annette smiled. "It's good to see you flustered for a change, Lily! And James is lovely--you'll have a great time."

Lily looked at her sideways with a toast-filled smirk. "Well, you seemed to have had a great time with him last Hogsmeade visit, so I guess you should know!"

Annette coughed, nearly choking, her eyes tearing. Lily pounded her on the back.

"You know he only did it to make you jealous, Lily," Annette said, wiping her eyes. "Can I help it if I decided to not care and enjoy it anyway? It WAS fun! James is a yummy kisser!"

Lily got up quickly and, going back to her own bed, focussed on the pile of clothes, hoping Annette wouldn't notice her furious blush.

She did, of course.

"Evans!" Annette squealed. "You've been holding out on us!" She leapt across the space between their beds and landed in a heap in front of Lily. "Details! Details! When? Where? For how long? Where were his hands?"

"Not now, Annette!" Lily laughed, in spite of her embarrassment. "Look, help me put together something decent to wear and I'll give you a complete, detailed account of everything that's happened later this evening, okay?"

"Deal!" Annette grinned and hopped off the bed. "All right then. Let's get started!"

********

"You don't have to carry all of them!" Lily exclaimed while James struggled to balance several packages in his hands. "Give me one of them, at least!"

"Here. Take this one." He handed her the smallest bag from Scrivenshaft's, which didn't make much of a difference.

"You're being silly, James!" Lily pulled half the packages out of his arms and into her own. "I think you emptied out half of Zonko's! What are you going to do with all of this stuff, anyway?"

"Figure out how they work," James replied as they continued walking down the High Street. "I think I'd like to be an inventor some day. Make useful things. Or things to make people laugh, which is the same thing, really!"

The weather may have been dark and foreboding, but Lily hardly noticed, especially when James continued to say astonishing things like this. Despite the cold, she felt warmed by him as they walked next to each other. His laughter was like sunshine that illuminated the space they shared. And then there were those shivers that ran up her spine every time his hand brushed against hers. She was having a wonderful afternoon.

"An inventor?"

"Sure! Why not? My great-grandfather, Ernest Potter, was an inventor. You know those Nose-Biting Teacups?"

Lily was speechless.

"Yep! Great-granddad himself! The source of the Potter family fortune!"

Lily looked at him, trying to see if he was kidding. He wasn't.

"Well, the real money came from the Helpful Hedge Clippers. Same principle as the teacups, though: they bite hedges instead of noses. See? Funny and useful!"

********

Lily and James decided to put off Honeydukes in favour of the Three Broomsticks, to give their arms a rest and their bodies a chance to warm up. As they moved on, Lily noticed someone walking against the crowd, moving in their direction, like a solitary dark cloud. James noticed it too.

"Surprised to see Snape here," James remarked idly. "Never seen him on a Hogsmeade day. Looks like he's having his usual jolly good, snarky time."

Lily glared at him.

James hung his head. "Sorry. Old habits. Die hard."

Severus had stopped in the middle of the street, just as Lily and James drew up with him. James took that moment to grab hold of her hand, in a protective--or possessive--gesture.

Lily saw Severus glance rapidly between her and James and felt an intense cold sweep through her. It might have been the wind, but she didn't think so.

"Hello, Severus!" said Lily in a cheery voice she knew sounded false. She'd never felt awkward like this and didn't know exactly why she did now.

"Lily. Potter." Severus practically spat out their names.

"Well, got to go now!" James said quickly, pulling Lily past the other boy. "Have fun... doing... whatever it is you do to have fun!"

Lily didn't say anything, but she looked back over her shoulder to see Severus standing stock still in the middle of the street, glaring.

James scowled. "I know he's your 'friend,' Lily, although for the life of me I don't understand how or why. At his best he's just... creepy."

Lily sighed. "I can't explain it to you, James, but with me he's... different."

"Well, that's because he's probably in love with you!"

Lily pulled her hand out of his with a sharp jerk. Her voice was dangerously low. "James Potter. Severus is my friend. I will not hear a bad word about him from you. Think whatever you want, but keep it to yourself. Do you understand?"

James blanched, swallowed hard and dropped to one knee, strewing their packages about the street without a thought. He placed one hand over his heart. "I swear by Great Granddad Ernest that I will never utter a peep about Snivel... er... Snape to you for as long as I live."

Lily couldn't help but laugh. He was just too... well... earnest. "Get up, James, you're blocking the door!"

He looked behind him to see a crowd had gathered in the doorway of the Three Broomsticks, unable to get past James. Madam Rosmerta, the proprietor, pushed through the crowd to see what the hold up was all about.

"Unless you are injured, Mr. Potter, please remove yourself from my doorstep immediately!"

"Sorry!" James was up in a flash, packages retrieved, and stepped aside as the grumbling patrons walked past.

********

The Three Broomsticks was, as usual on Hogsmeade visit days, filled with students from Hogwarts, mingling with an assortment of local residents. James and Lily found a table in the corner and piled their packages up out of the way before removing cloaks, hats and gloves.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" James pulled a small jar out of his cloak.

"What is it?" Lily asked, squinting at the jar. There was no label on it.

"Don't know," James shrugged. "One of the first-years gave it to me. He said that Dumbledore had prepared it for Rosmerta and asked if I would deliver it. I'll be right back."

Lily watched James go round the wall to the edge of the bar where she guessed Rosmerta was standing. James was, indeed, right back.

"Whatchoo both having?" A young girl about their age stood over them, wiping her hands on her apron and chewing gum.

James rumpled his hair and flashed a smile. "Haven't seen you here before!"

"I'm Esmeralda. Rosmerta's me auntie. Needed extra hands 'cause you lot are here. So whatchoo want?"

Lily smiled sweetly and kicked James under the table.

"OW!" James yelped. "What was that for?"

"Not too nice to fancy on one girl while with another, is it?" said Esmeralda, blowing and popping a big, pink bubble.

"No, it isn't," agreed Lily.

"So you two going to have something or not?" Esmeralda looked around the room and sighed impatiently. "Butterbeer--like the other kids?"

James wrinkled his nose. "I hate Butterbeer. Gillywater, I think. Lily?"

"Yes, I'll have the same. With a splash of rum punch, please."

"Right." Esmeralda turned. "Students..." she muttered under her breath as she walked off to get their drinks.

As Lily and James turned back to face each other, they didn't notice that a few of the patrons around them had started to scratch themselves. Furiously.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus

"Next Saturday. Hog's Head Inn. 1:00 pm. L.M."

At breakfast in the nearly empty Great Hall, Severus sipped his tea with one hand and stared at the parchment held in the other, as if looking at it hard enough would reveal more of its intention. The message was brief and terse, an expectation of obedience. The signature of a self-assured man with a sense of style and flair for the dramatic.

Severus crumpled the parchment and cast a small spark with his wand to its edge. The missive was instantly consumed in a sudden, bright flash of flame; its blackened remnants floated around him like a travesty of snowflakes.

Interesting. To be whole and tangible in one moment and obliterated in the next. It took so little to destroy it. Just a little spark. Gone.

Remembering where he was, Severus quickly glanced up to the staff table to see if anyone had noticed this sudden bit of arson. Only Professor McGonagall was there, taking tea herself and immersed in a book. She didn't look up. Relieved, Severus brushed the charred pieces of parchment off his robes and stood to leave.

********

Severus' favourite days were those Saturdays when most of the students went off to Hogsmeade. Since he was one of the few older students who chose to remain at Hogwarts, these were among the rare times Severus felt he could let down his guard a bit without worrying that someone was around the next corner with another hex, curse or insult.

Today, to his surprise and chagrin, seemed to be the exception.

Black.

And his little sycophant, Pettigrew. Walking down the corridor in his direction.

Pulling his guard back up quickly, Severus made sure his wand was firmly in hand. He strode ahead and held his breath as Black and Pettigrew drew closer. Black, much taller, was leaning over to speak to the shorter Pettigrew, who was nodding in some agreement. As they passed him, Severus was surprised that Black only cast him the merest of sneers and grunted.

As they bounded up the staircase, Severus mused with some irony that this was probably the shortest encounter with Black he'd had in the whole of his time as a student at Hogwarts.

What are they doing here? Why aren't they in Hogsmeade?

Severus started down the stairs to the dungeon and the Slytherin common room.

Must be plotting another of their mindless pranks.

Imbeciles.

********

Severus sat on his bed, holding his cloak in his hands, trying to decide whether meeting Malfoy was a good idea or not. Actually, he knew that being forced into a meeting with a known Death Eater couldn't possibly be a good idea. Bunching up his cloak into a ball, Severus frowned. He didn't like being backed into corners like this, forced into responding whether he liked it or not. But...

But...

Malfoy wanted to meet with him. He'd been noticed--by the Dark Lord.

Talked about.

Selected.

Thinking about it this way, Severus felt a sudden rush of heat to his face. To be singled out for any reason was both embarrassing and unfamiliar. And yet, it made him feel, for a moment, more alive than anything else had. Ever.

"Just keep your ears open and see what you can learn. It can be helpful having a Mudblood for a friend. Don't you agree, Snape?"

Severus stood and put on his worn, wool cloak, made worse for wear by the intense wrinkling he'd just inflicted upon it.

I can give him just a bit. Enough to make him happy. Lily will be all right.

********

The early afternoon had darkened with thick clouds that promised rain. Severus walked rapidly to compensate for the wind-whipped chill that permeated his lean body, passing through his not-warm-enough cloak. He concentrated on his feet and the marks they made in the hard dust road that led towards Hogsmeade, to see if he could distract himself from the cold and to control the beating of his heart that seemed to quicken in his chest the closer he came to the village. As he was about to round the bend into the Hogsmeade High Street, his focus was so intent he almost didn't hear someone calling his name.

"Oi! Snape! Snape!"

His breathing was laboured as he stopped in his tracks and lifted his head to see Regulus Black with a woman that Snape did not know, standing off to his left beside a rickety fence.

Reggie was waving him over, and Severus cursed. It was damned cold and he wanted to get to the Hog's Head, not to stop for a friendly chat! He didn't want to be late for his meeting with Malfoy and he really wanted to warm up. Then Severus noticed the woman looking at him curiously, and roughly calculating the situation, he sensed this was someone he shouldn't ignore.

"Reggie," Severus acknowledged through chattering teeth.

Reggie seemed very happy--beaming actually--and tucked his arm affectionately through the arm of the woman standing beside him.

She was, Severus guessed, in her mid-twenties. She wore an elegant, expensive black cloak, lined with green satin and clasped at her throat by a gold snake brooch, encrusted with emeralds. Her jet black hair was pinned back from her face, which featured a pair of dark, hooded eyes. Severus guessed she'd prove dangerous to any man who dared to look into them too deeply.

"Snape! I'd like you to meet my Auntie Bella--Bellatrix Black. Actually, she's my cousin, but I've always call her 'Auntie'!"

Black. The Slytherin Blacks.

"Very nice to make your acquaintance, madam," Severus replied politely, extending his hand to her, which she touched. Just briefly.

"Auntie Bella, this is Severus Snape. He's in my House. A sixth-year."

Bellatrix cocked her head slightly to one side, as if she could see him better that way. Then she nodded and smiled knowingly.

"Ah. Mr. Snape. My pleasure."

"I was just showing Auntie Bella the Shrieking Shack! Have you heard the noises that come from there, Snape? Auntie Bella said she doesn't believe it's haunted, and that it was a perfectly ordinary house when she went to school!"

Bellatrix ignored Reggie and kept her gaze on Severus.

"You've been spoken of highly, Mr. Snape. Are you on your way to see Lucius?"

Reggie looked between his Aunt and Severus with some surprise.

"Are you, Snape? I've just met him myself! Auntie Bella introduced me and told him that I'd be perfect for--"

"Regulus, dear," she interrupted a bit harshly, squeezing his hand. "It's bad manners to brag--especially in public." She was smiling, but Severus saw Reggie wince in pain.

This exchange triggered many thoughts and questions, but Severus didn't have time to consider them at the moment.

"Yes, I am," he replied to Bellatrix. He thought his feet had already died in the cold. "In fact, I have to excuse myself, as he's expecting me."

"It's quite all right. I'm delighted to have met you, Mr. Snape." She put her hand on his arm and looked at him directly with another enigmatic smile. "I'm sure we'll have the opportunity to meet again." She turned back to Reggie. "Shall we go?" Keeping her arm locked with his and turning quickly, she nearly knocked Reggie off his feet as she marched him down the road that led back to the school.

Severus almost felt sorry for the boy, although he wasn't sure why. He shrugged and stamped his feet to force the blood back into them.

********

Moving as quickly as he could, Severus thought he'd make it on time until he saw them coming his way. His body stopped cold in the middle of the street as if he'd forgotten how to walk.

Lily.

With James.

Worries about the cold evaporated as a wave of heat suddenly flashed through his body. His breathing became thin and his throat burned as he expelled the air from his lungs. His thoughts became entangled, and he struggled to sort them out into something coherent. As they came closer he willed his body to move away, but it refused. Lily. With James. Bile rose in his throat as the images of James torturing him over the years--and laughing--flashed through his mind, one after another. Severus forced himself to swallow.

"Hello, Severus!" said Lily in a voice he'd never heard her use before. She sounded like an imitation of herself. For some reason, this infuriated him. Lily had never been false to him--until now.

"Lily. Potter." Severus wasn't sure how he'd found his voice, but there it was. Normal sounds formed into words, but his mouth felt as dry as dead leaves. Inside his head, he heard screaming. The way he was holding on to her, James looked like he'd just won a prize. Presumptuous and pompous egotist! Was he planning to put her on a shelf and display her like a school trophy?

"Well, got to go now!" James said, pulling Lily roughly forward. "Have fun... doing... whatever it is you do to have fun!"

Severus watched as they moved down the street and saw Lily turn her head, looking back at him over her shoulder. Or someone who used to be Lily. He didn't know who that girl was.

********

He wasn't sure how he'd finally arrived inside the Hog's Head Inn, but the warmth of the room and the strong smell of spirits jogged his brain into some semblance of coherence. Severus looked around at the dilapidated room and the odd assortment of unsavoury patrons. The place was filthy; Severus tried to imagine the elegant Lucius Malfoy in this establishment and failed utterly.

"Lookin' for someone?"

Severus, already shaken, jumped in startled response. Behind him was a tall, thin man with a dirty apron. Probably the barkeep. "What?"

"I asked if you was lookin' for someone."

Severus tried to force his rapidly beating heart down out of his throat. "Yes. Mr. Malfoy. But I don't see...."

"Back there." The man shrugged and pointed to the back wall. Severus looked, but didn't see anything except a painting of a man and a horse. The man was picking his teeth and the horse was laying down to rest, chewing on some painted grass.

"Lift the painting," the barkeep said and walked back to his bar, muttering. "Must be visitin' day."

Severus walked up to the painting and looked at it. The man in the scene spat on the ground and looked at him.

"Well? Just going to stand there? I haven't got all day!" the painted man said gruffly.

"What else have you got to do?" asked Severus. Speaking with the painting was helping to calm his nerves. "With that horse it doesn't look like you're going anywhere soon." The horse snorted. The man started yelling, indignant.

"Insolent backside scratcher! Youngsters with no respect for the elders! Why, if I ever spoke like that...."

Severus silenced the painting's diatribe by lifting it up from the bottom, revealing an entrance that hadn't been there a moment ago. He went inside.

This room was as different from the bar as it could possibly be. It was spare, but clean and efficiently appointed. Wood panels lined the walls and two leather couches leaned against them facing each other. On the wall across from the entrance a warm fire was burning, and in the centre of the room was a large, round wooden table with several chairs surrounding it, as if ready for a crowd--a meeting, perhaps, or a game of cards.

Lucius was sitting at the table with a glass in his hands. He didn't look up as Severus appeared.

"You're late," Lucius said dryly and tossed back the remainder of the drink. "Rot gut," he grimaced. "Dobby!"

There was a crack! and a house-elf appeared.

"Yes, Master Malfoy?" the elf asked, cringing as if waiting for some blow to fall.

"Bring me a bottle of the 1898 Elderwine!" he ordered with a harsh bark. He looked at Severus. "And a proper cloak for Mr. Snape."

"Yes, sir. Right away, sir."

"Sit down, Snape, and stop gawking." Severus took a seat opposite Malfoy. "I'll have to remember to lay in a stock of my own whisky," he muttered to himself.

Malfoy sat back and watched Severus closely. Severus' eyes darted about the room, unwilling to hold eye contact with the older man for long.

"Nice room, isn't it?" said Malfoy with a sniff. "I commissioned it for personal use when I have business in Hogsmeade. I find it... convenient. And private."

Another crack! and the house-elf reappeared. He set the bottle on the table and, with a snap of his long, tapered fingers, the bottle opened and two glasses filled with wine. Dobby set the cape on the sofa and, without another word, disappeared just as quickly as he'd come. Malfoy kept his eyes on Severus, lifted the glass to his mouth and sipped. He allowed himself a small smile, approving the vintage.

"Go on," Malfoy gestured to the other glass. "Drink it up. You look half frozen."

Severus drank. The warmth of the wine began to crack and thaw the ice in his chest. The potency of the wine went right to his head.

Careful, Severus, he cautioned himself.

Malfoy sighed deeply and rubbed his eyes. "It's already been a long day, Snape, so let's get to it, shall we? What has your Mudblood friend told you? Lily Evans."

Hearing her name come from Malfoy's lips sent a spasm through him, and the wine choked in his throat.

At this Malfoy did smile. "This wine is a bit stronger than Butterbeer. Take it slowly, Snape!"

To buy himself another moment, Severus allowed himself a slow, deliberate drink of wine. Lily and James. He closed his eyes, but the vision of them together wouldn't vanish. It was burned there like some permanent brand.

How ironic. My own mental Dark Mark.

"Yes. I have information," Severus said with a bitter grin as he opened his eyes. In that moment, something like a wall went up around his heart. He felt suddenly calm.

Malfoy leaned back in his chair. "Delightful. Let's have it."

And, in a dispassionate voice, Severus told Malfoy everything that Lily had said about her initial interview and test at the Ministry over the summer. He left nothing out.

"Working on a weapon to use against the Dark Lord?" Malfoy asked with mild interest. He didn't seem particularly concerned with this bit of information, Severus noted.

"She doesn't know it as a certainty, sir, but she does get these 'feelings' about things that often seem to be true in the end."

"Well done, my boy!" Malfoy said with a genuine smile. "I think you've done splendidly, Snape!"

Severus wasn't sure what he had done that was splendid, but he was relieved that Malfoy seemed pleased. Happy, even.

Malfoy leaned across the table in companionable gesture. "You know, Snape, I like you. You're unique. I like things--and people--that are unique."

Severus shifted uneasily in his seat, grateful to have his glass of wine to hold onto. As if on cue, Lucius refilled it and continued. "You're a serious student. You aren't foolish, like some other young men of your age." Malfoy shuddered. The image of Reggie Black popped into Severus' mind.

Malfoy continued. "You have talent, but you're modest." Malfoy considered him as he might a particular piece of art he was thinking of buying. "Yes. You have a lot of promise." Malfoy tapped his fingers on the table. "I'm a direct man, Snape, so please don't be offended by some misplaced sense of honour or propriety. I know you have limited--means. I'd like to be your sponsor."

Severus blinked. "Sponsor? I don't know what...."

"A guide, a mentor. I'd like to introduce you to people who could be useful to you. Teach you about the finer things in life and of a bright future that could easily be yours." He looked Severus up and down. "Improve your wardrobe."

Severus was speechless, not quite able to follow what Malfoy was talking about. Or trusting it. "Sir, I'm flattered and appreciate your offer, but I couldn't possibly..."

Malfoy waved his objections away with a toss of his hand. "Nonsense. Of course you can! And no time like the present to begin!" Lucius pushed his chair back from the table and stood. Severus followed.

"I'm getting married in the New Year, and Narcissa and I have planned a combined engagement/holiday party at Malfoy Manor. I'd like you to be our guest during the winter break." Malfoy picked up the cloak Dobby had brought earlier and draped it around Snape's shoulders, clasping it closed. It was heavy and warm.

"But sir--"

"It will be an excellent opportunity for you to meet my colleagues and for you and I to get to know each other better!" Malfoy steered Severus out of his private room and whispered softly in his ear. "Oh, and let's continue to be friendly with Lily, shall we? I'm looking forward to learning more about her when I see you next!"

In an instant, Severus was standing inside the Hog's Head bar, staring at the portrait of the man and the horse. Malfoy was gone.

"You still here?" snarled the man in the portrait.

Severus turned, uncertain as to what had just transpired, or what he'd agreed to do. As he walked out of the bar and into the High Street, the rain had made good on its earlier threat. The skies had opened up and there were rumbles of thunder in the distance. Severus pulled the hood of his new cloak over his head like a protective shield.

"Let's continue to be friendly with Lily, shall we?"

His mind reached out, tentatively touching the newly constructed wall around his heart to test its firmness. Yes. He thought it would hold.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Peter
"Any problem getting the jam?"

Sirius and Peter had tucked into an empty classroom down from the Great Hall after breakfast. They were both a little nervous and oddly, feeling a bit awkward. They had never pulled a caper without James and, because Lily would be there, they had decided that this one was best done without involving Remus.

"No. Easy enough to beg a jar of Dumbledore's favourite raspberry from the kitchen, isn't it?" Peter replied with a grin. "Removed the label, scratched off a note from the Headmaster and passed it on to a first-year to give to James first thing this morning."

Sirius opened his pack and rummaged through it. "Are you sure James believed it was from Dumbledore?"

"Are you implying my forgeries are less than perfect, Padfoot?"

Sirius pulled out a small bottle and, bringing it up to the light to look at it closely, he nodded with satisfaction. "Just making certain, Wormtail." He handed the phial to Peter.

Testing that the stopper was on securely, Peter stowed it in his robes. "How did you get this past Slughorn?"

Sirius flopped onto a chair and put his feet up on the adjacent table. He tossed his head back and pushed his hair out of his eyes in that easy, make-the-girls-swoon gesture that Peter was so jealous of. That it was totally unconscious on Sirius' part made it even worse, Peter thought.

"Oh, the usual Slughorn recipe: a dollop of helpful assistance after class, a dash of diversion, and a huge measure of flattery," said Sirius with a wry smile.

"Right," Peter sighed and felt in his robe pockets. "Map. Cloak. Phial. I think that's everything."

Sirius was staring off at no place in particular, playing with his hair.

Sirius never plays with his hair.

"Worried about something?" Peter asked tentatively.

Sirius' feet hit the ground with a thud and he stood up. "Nope! It'll be perfect. Let's go." He strode out of the classroom and Peter followed.

*********

As they headed down the corridor, Peter noticed Snape emerging from the Great Hall. He also saw that familiar Snape-baiting snarl appear on Sirius' face.

Not now, Sirius!

Peter quickly drew up level with him, aiming for a distraction. "How will you know when it's time?"

Sirius leaned over to whisper to Peter. "When I see them running out, screaming like banshees!" He laughed and, as they passed by Snape and turned up the stairs, Sirius sneered and grunted as if to say 'I'll let you off this time, you lucky bugger!'

********

Under James' Invisibility Cloak, Peter and Sirius were able to follow James' and Lily's progress around Hogsmeade fairly easily.

"Ugh. It's pathetic the way he's making himself a fool around her," Sirius muttered after watching James tickling Lily under her chin with a quill in Scrivenshaft's. "You'd think after being around me all these years he'd at least have picked up some better moves! Doesn't he know girls like it better when you're more...."

"Dismissive? Insulting? Obnoxious? Insufferable?" Peter suggested.

"Exactly!" Sirius nodded. "It's always works for me, hasn't it?"

As planned, when Lily and James entered Zonko's, the boys made their way to the Three Broomsticks, and Sirius withdrew himself out from under the cloak.

"I'll be just around the side. Good luck, mate!"

When Peter turned around, Sirius was gone.

********

Peter slipped into the pub in the wake of a customer leaving. Moving carefully through the crowd so as not to jostle anyone, Peter made his way to the far side of the bar and flattened himself in the corner of the room where he could watch the entrance and be out of the way. He observed the easy camaraderie of the other students enjoying this day out of school together and thought how lucky he was to be a Marauder. To have friends like Remus, Sirius and James. Especially James, his first friend. His best friend. And while he liked, even admired Sirius most times, Peter thought it wasn't right that he and James had grown closer-- like brothers, almost. Thinking about it made Peter's stomach ache and a bit of darkness crept into his heart. A little voice in the back of his head spoke so softly that Peter barely heard it: Sirius isn't good for James.

Time seemed to slow to an unbearable crawl as Peter forced himself to remain calm under the cloak while he waited. And as he waited, doubts and worries began to seep into his head. This had all seemed like such a good idea at the time, but what if it backfired? What if James blamed him? What if they got caught? Or expelled? Peter closed his eyes and shook his head roughly to dispel these doubts.

Then Lily and James entered the pub and all doubts vanished. Lily's face was flushed from the cold and James' face was positively barmy as he looked at her. Peter couldn't see them as they took a seat, beyond his view, in the corner of the pub. A few moments later, however, as expected, James came around the wall with the jar of raspberry jam in his hands and walked towards the proprietor standing by the bar.

"Rosmerta?"

"What is it, luv?" Rosmerta asked, wiping her hands on her apron as she crossed behind the bar to James. "What's that you've got?"

"It's from Professor Dumbledore. He asked me to bring it to you. He said you'd like it."

She took the jar from him, looking slightly confused, and then she gave a wicked grin. "Hmm... well, that's right sweet of Albus! The dear, old flirt!"

Both James and Peter winced as this unwelcome image of their Headmaster flashed through their minds.

"Raspberry?"

James shrugged.

"Well, I do love raspberry! Tell the professor thanks for me, dear!" Peter watched as she stowed the jam under the bar and James returned to Lily.

Once they were both out of the way, Peter pulled out the phial from his robes and gave it a few quick shakes. Holding his breath, his heart pounding, he quickly unstoppered the glass and poured its contents into the Butterbeer barrel that stood next to the bar. A thick, blue film covered the top of the amber liquid. He took out his wand and stirred the brew a few times and the blue colour blended and dissipated into the ale. Satisfied, Peter retreated back to his corner.

In for a Knut....

********

Peter didn't have to wait long to see the results. As the students were served and drank their Butterbeers, he watched laughter turn to sudden silence and smiles vanish under reddened faces. This was followed by gasps and then screams as, one by one, the potion affected their bodies.

The usual application and intent of a Fever Draught was to reduce the heat and chills of an illness-induced fever. However, if accidentally taken--or mixed--with alcohol, it produced an opposite reaction: a rush of heat, followed by profound sweating, a horrible rash and fever blisters. Fortunately, the amount of alcohol in Butterbeer was quite small, so Sirius and Peter expected--or hoped--that the reaction might be less intense and short-lived.

Peter wasn't sure how much worse it could be. He was shaking as he watched. Wailing, crying and panic took hold of the room. Rosmerta looked stricken.

"Esmerelda!" Rosmerta grabbed her cousin, the barmaid. "Floo over to St. Mungo's and get some help!"

Esmerelda looked frozen to the spot. Rosmerta pushed her towards the fireplace and threw the powder into it herself. "GO!"

Esmerelda was gone in a flash of green flames.

Peter looked over to James and Lily, who were watching aghast at the scene unfolding before them.

At that moment, Sirius ambled into the bar with studied nonchalance and walked through the maddened crowd to James and Lily, calm and unphased by the chaos erupting around him.

Sirius sat himself down next to James and laughed. "Oh my, James! This looks bad!"

Peter watched James look at Sirius, first in shock, and then, looking at the flailing students and the scene through his friend's mischievous eyes, James burst into laughter as well.

Peter quickly looked at Lily. She was watching the two friends laughing together and looked rapidly between them as if trying to understand some mysterious and elusive piece of magic. He could actually see her mind working.

"James? Our very best ideas have sprung from James' deranged mind!"

"With Sirius making them go from bad to worse."

"James Potter," Lily whispered, stricken. "What is this? What have you done?" Her face was white, her body shaking.

James' laughter died instantly. Sirius sat back and watched, his eyes glinting. James turned to her, bewildered. "I haven't done anything, Lily! How could you think that--"

"Now, Prongs! Don't be modest! No lasting harm, I'm sure!" Sirius nodded reassuringly.

James whipped his head between Lily and Sirius, panic growing.

"But... I - I didn't! Lily, I swear!"

Lily was on her feet and grabbing her cloak and packages. Her eyes were cold with tears.

"I thought... believed... I'm a fool," she stammered, her voice choking. Lily ran out of the bar and into the storm raging outside.

James stood up and Sirius placed his hand on his friend's arm to stay him. James looked at Sirius, distraught and confused. And then, in the next moment, his face clouded with anger and he shook off Sirius's arm violently, like he'd been stung.

"You did this." It was an accusation, not a question. "Why, Padfoot?" James croaked, then turned on his heels and ran outside into the rain after her. Peter's heart pounded even harder and he was grateful for the cover of the Invisibility Cloak.

Several of St. Mungo's Healers had arrived and began to tend to the students who were still in the bar. As hoped, the worst of the attack had, indeed, abated and the screams had turned to whimpers. Rosmerta was sitting on a barstool tossing back a glass of her best whisky, shaking in the aftermath of the disaster that had befallen her establishment.

With everyone's attention turned elsewhere, Peter removed the Invisibility Cloak and sat down by Sirius, whose face was inscrutable as he stared at the front door. Peter waited.

Sirius tossed back the remains of James' Gillywater and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"That went well, don't you think?" Sirius remarked with a pained grimace.

Peter, completely missing the irony in Sirius' comment, sighed with relief and smiled. "Yes, Padfoot. I think it went very well."