Potions and Snakes

“And how is your family taking your new-found bliss? I’m sure Tuney was  as ecstatic as she ever is.” He smiled, thinly, no joy or happiness in the expression. Let her get mad at him for bringing up childhood jealousies and nicknames. Hatred and anger was better than nothing at all when it came from her. 

Once he mentioned Tuney, Lily swore she saw spots. What did he want? Was he going to hurt her family? Her hand snaked around to her hair where her wand was holding up a messy bun. “Don’t you ever mention her again. Don’t you ever think about her, let alone come near her. Get out of here before I call for help. In case you’ve forgotten, my father is the police chief and I have some helpful connections in the ministry.” 

“How is Tuney, after all this?” he asked as if he had not heard her. “Married at last, or has that fallen through as so many other things in her life?” Cruel, yes, but the woman deserved it for the amount of misery she spread. And Severus had long ago stopped bothering to be anything but cruel.

“How domestic,” he said, his face carefully blank. He started to pull his Occlumency shields up, sinking his thoughts into calm water and slowly, methodically, freezing the emotions they held. It wasn’t worth letting himself get angry–he could do that later, when she wasn’t around, looking so alive. Perhaps he’d pick another fight with his father.

“Some people do,” he conceded. “And yet Potter seems as obsessed as ever. Tell me, does he truly love you, or is it just the bliss of victory that keeps him close?” That had been a part of discussions they had had, before he’d made that mistake–did Potter even see her, or just see someone who didn’t bow to his whims? And now here she was, flaunting possible matrimony to the man. It made Severus want to hit something. 

She gulped back the fear, reminding herself that James loved her. She didn’t need to worry about his real intentions. It was Severus she should worry about. Crossing her arms, she lurked closer. 

“James loves me. If he just wanted me as a trophy, he wouldn’t move out of his apartment with his friends for me.” Lily narrowed her eyes. “Or is that all people are to you? Trophies and pawns to be used at your whim?” Her head tilted to the side. “Too bad I saw through your little game. Looks like you could really use a friend right now.” 

“And how is your family taking your new-found bliss? I’m sure Tuney was  as ecstatic as she ever is.” He smiled, thinly, no joy or happiness in the expression. Let her get mad at him for bringing up childhood jealousies and nicknames. Hatred and anger was better than nothing at all when it came from her. 

“Believe it or not, Evans, I live in this town as well,” he drawled, unable to make himself angry. Sure, he lived in this town, but decidedly on the wrong side of town. Not like this happy little suburb.

“Finally moving in with Potter, eh?” He was speaking without really thinking about it, suddenly unable to be silent around her. “I’m sure your flat will be an excellent recreation of the Gryffindor common room. Are the other miscreants sharing with you?”

His mannerisms told her he didn’t really expect to be in this situation, but that made no sense. If he had come here when James were here, he should have expected much worse. Of course he knew that, so he had to take a low-blow at her boyfriend. 

“Actually, I am, yeah. Turns out some people can mature. I think he might propose to me sometime soon. Maybe even tonight once we’re all moved in.” The smirk that spread across her face was not voluntary, but there was something so sweet about the dumbstruck look on Snape’s face. It served him right. Once upon a time, he promised blood meant nothing and now here he was, likely with a tattoo vowing to take down his inferiors. 

Not that Lily was only with James for revenge on Severus, she genuinely loved him. Revenge was only an added bonus. 

“And for your knowledge, the only people in our flat that we will be decorating in muted pastels, will be us and our kitten. You see, Severus, when people grow up, they tend to move on from their schoolyard fixations.”

“How domestic,” he said, his face carefully blank. He started to pull his Occlumency shields up, sinking his thoughts into calm water and slowly, methodically, freezing the emotions they held. It wasn’t worth letting himself get angry--he could do that later, when she wasn’t around, looking so alive. Perhaps he’d pick another fight with his father.

“Some people do,” he conceded. “And yet Potter seems as obsessed as ever. Tell me, does he truly love you, or is it just the bliss of victory that keeps him close?” That had been a part of discussions they had had, before he’d made that mistake--did Potter even see her, or just see someone who didn’t bow to his whims? And now here she was, flaunting possible matrimony to the man. It made Severus want to hit something. 

It was cold for August but that didn’t stop him from being outside. Anywhere was better than inside, just waiting for his father to come home. Even the little muggle town he had grown up in. It would be weeks yet before the second round of owls came bearing acceptance or denial from the variety of apprenticeships and jobs he had applied for and it was hard to sit and wait in that house, empty of his mother and wondering when his father would be back.

Which is how he found himself wandering around dressed in horribly ratty muggle clothing. Grumbling, he didn’t bother paying attention to where he was headed, his thoughts preoccupied. Eventually, though, he found himself on a familiar stretch of road–Lily’s road, where her family lived.

Looking up from the ground he found her house, observing what was obviously a lot of work going on. A moving truck was out front, the back partially loaded. Was Petunia finally going to school, or had she married that horrible man? Vernon, his name was. Or something equally repulsive. Watching for a moment, he found Lily’s figure easily as she added another box to the truck.

Was Lily moving? Where would she go? With Potter? Frowning, he thought about turning around and leaving but couldn’t force himself to move. This might be the last time he saw her. The tattoo hidden by his sleeve and her own relationship with Potter saw to that. So he stood and watched, trying to pretend he felt nothing.

Instead, Lily recruited her family to help her out. It wasn’t like she had that much to move. Most of it were books or clothing. Here and there she’d have a small piece of furniture, but James’s family riches ensured they could fully furnish their little home without breaking their backs.

As she set her box of movies in the moving van, she felt a pair of eyes boring into her. Lily whipped around to see him. Her old best friend. The man who she originally thought she’d be moving into a flat with after Hogwarts. The very same man who called her a slur in front of all their peers. 

She narrowed her eyes, crossed her arms, and stormed up to him. “You’re not welcome here.” 

“Believe it or not, Evans, I live in this town as well,” he drawled, unable to make himself angry. Sure, he lived in this town, but decidedly on the wrong side of town. Not like this happy little suburb.

“Finally moving in with Potter, eh?” He was speaking without really thinking about it, suddenly unable to be silent around her. “I’m sure your flat will be an excellent recreation of the Gryffindor common room. Are the other miscreants sharing with you?”

Some ideas: 

Death Eater/Order recruitment happening in Hogwarts

Easter break/plans

Summer break/keeping in touch

Secret admirers are always fun

currently I’m using atymom to tag it, might change later because that’s a weird acronym??? I’m bad at naming things OTL

Some ideas: 

Death Eater/Order recruitment happening in Hogwarts

Easter break/plans

Summer break/keeping in touch

Secret admirers are always fun

Some ideas: 

Death Eater/Order recruitment happening in Hogwarts

Easter break/plans

Summer break/keeping in touch

Secret admirers are always fun