Chapter 6: Summer After Sixth Year

A/N: I am coming very close to the end of this story – we will have one or two more chapters – and I am determined to be finished and posted before 7/21. For that reason, I am posting this chapter before receiving notes from my betas and Brit-picker. Keladry Lupin, DeeMichelle, and MagicAlly will return their notes and I will come in and make their suggested corrections. In the meantime, Minuet99 was kind enough to give the text a quick beta, and sshg316 had some terrific suggestions regarding the storyline. If anyone finds a glaring error, please don't hesitate to e-mail me at severuslysubversa@gmail.com so I can make the corrections. Keep in mind that the speech of the intoxicated persons is incorrect on purpose!

Chapter Six: Summer After Sixth Year

Using a long branch he had found in the Forbidden Forest, Severus pushed the knot on the Whomping Willow. His heart was thundering in his chest, his ears filled with its pounding and with the gasping of his breath. He knew he had done this before, that it had been a bad idea, but he could not prevent himself from doing it again. He had to descend into the tunnel, had to find out what Potter and Black were getting up to – had to obtain the revenge he so richly deserved for all the wrongs they had done to him. He crouched to enter the opening in the tree roots, noticing for the first time as he did so the enormous shaggy black dog watching him from several feet away, its unnaturally pale eyes bright and unblinking in the preternatural light of the full moon.

Descending into the tunnel, Severus whispered 'Lumos!' as he had done on each of these repetitive, fruitless trips into the belly of the Whomping Willow, his back hunched over a bit so his head would not bump against the tunnel ceiling. An unearthly howling began then, but he went forward, his wand held aloft, casting a weak light before him. The howling was growing closer as he continued and was now interspersed with snarls and growls, as of a ravening beast. He knew he ought not to go forward, but it was as if he had no choice but to continue on, his terror increasing with every step. Sweat beaded on his face in the close confines of the passageway, and the downward slope of the surface forced him to hurry when he knew he ought to slow down, to turn back.

Finally, he realised that he was seeing some light ahead of him; he was reaching the end of the tunnel. The walls and ceiling gradually widened, and he was able to stand completely as the passage opened towards the source of the light. The beastly sounds had halted, which he found worrying, but he wasn't sure why. When the howling stopped, he became aware of another sound, as of muted footfalls approaching the way he had come.

'Snape!' a voice called, a quiet shout.

Glancing back, Severus saw a figure running toward him.

'Snape, go back!' the voice hissed.

Suddenly, the figure materialised from the gloom, and James Potter was upon him.

'Fuck off, Potter,' Severus spat. 'I'm going to see what you and your little friends have been up to!'

Potter grabbed Severus by the collar and jerked him backwards, even as Potter hurtled past him. 'GO BACK!' Potter bellowed.

Furious at being man-handled, Severus turned to argue, only to be jumped from behind and knocked flat on his face. He felt his right wrist snap as he tried and failed to break his fall.

'Dammit!' Severus swore as four clawed paws scrambled over his back. He heard low-throated growling and wondered how the beast which had been ahead of him had got behind him. Rising gingerly to his knees, he snatched up his wand with his left hand and cradled his aching wrist against his chest. From directly before him came now the growling of two creatures. Still crouched, Severus raised his head, and his mouth went as dry as the dust beneath him. The great pale-eyed black dog had leapt past Potter and had flung itself bodily at the huge creature which had appeared at the end of the tunnel – undoubtedly the original source of the howling. The massive, hairy beast caught the dog with a mighty paw and threw it from him as if it was a rag doll; the cur yelped as it hit the wall.

'Get out, Snape,' Potter called one last time, his eyes glued to the wolf-like creature with the tufted tail. 'Go! Now!'

Good God – a tufted tail?

Severus staggered to his feet, and in the fraction of a second his eyes had been turned away, a magnificent stag had replaced Potter and was rushing the snarling monster. The antlered head was lowered, catching and pushing the snarling, snapping werewolf back, away from Severus.

With an enraged roar, the werewolf swiped at the stag, and it lurched to one side, its flank colliding with the wall. In that moment, the amber eyes of the monster became fixed upon Severus, and the creature bounded past the black dog and the dazed stag, landing upon Severus and sinking its fangs into his throat.

With an audible cry, Severus sat straight up in his bed, drenched in sweat. His hands grappled his throat, reassuring himself that he had not been bitten - the bite always took place in his dream, but had not occurred in reality. His heart was pounding so fast and his breathing was in such short panting gasps that he felt as if he'd been running a race.

Throwing the bedclothes from his body, he pulled his clothes on and climbed out the open widow of his ground floor bedroom. The nightmares came almost every night, now, and he could seldom get back to sleep. He couldn't bear to simply sit in his room and wait for morning. Striding across Prince Glen's lawn in the dark, his wand at the ready, his senses strained for the sight or sound of danger, he reached the old bell tower unmolested and climbed up to the belfry.

From here, he could keep watch.

---

Pepper reached the front door first, with Lily directly behind her, and pulled it open to find Remus Lupin standing there.

'Hi, Pepper,' he said, seeming genuinely pleased to see her. 'Hello, Lily,' he added, smiling over Pepper's shoulder.

'Come in,' Pepper said, stepping back to allow the brown-haired boy to enter. She watched with a pinched expression as Lily linked arms with Remus.

'It's lovely to see you without the entourage,' Lily said, smiling up into Remus' face.

Pepper ground her teeth and turned on her heel, heading back for the lounge. She had seen the helpless look of adoration in Remus' face when Lily had turned on the charm. It was disgusting, truly. She flung herself onto the sofa and picked up her magazine again. Blue, the cat, looked up when she came into the room, and he sauntered over and leapt into her lap. Pepper began to pet him, thankful that Blue, at least, preferred her to her sister.

Lily and Remus entered the room behind her and seated themselves on the sofa as well. After a few moments of chatting about their hols thus far, Remus said, 'I actually came for a reason, Lily.'

Pepper cut her eyes over to Remus' face; he was looking very earnest.

Lily smiled at him again. 'Well, then?' she invited.

'Remember when you came to see Severus in the hospital wing the last week of term?'

Lily nodded. 'All of you were there – except for Peter. Are you going to tell me what happened? Severus wouldn't give me a straight answer.'

Remus glanced cautiously at Pepper, who immediately trained her attention back on her magazine. Lily followed his glance and said, 'You can speak in front of Pepper – we don't have any secrets.'

Pepper didn't roll her eyes, but she wanted to. Lily kept plenty of secrets from her. She had never confessed to her romance with Severus – and it had to be a romance – why else would Severus have given her the fire opal ring? Still, it was a nice thing for Lily to say – and it would save Pepper the trouble of eavesdropping on them. She looked up at Remus, managing a bland, disinterested air.

'Of course,' Remus said diffidently, smiling kindly at Pepper. 'You know why I was in the hospital wing, right?'

Lily nodded and patted Remus on the arm. 'Yes, I know. Don't I always come to see you when you spend a night there?'

Remus took Lily's hand and gave it a squeeze. 'Yes, you do,' he agreed. 'You're the most accepting girl I know.'

Lily gently removed her hand from his, and Remus continued. 'James, Sirius, and Severus all received their injuries at the same time.'

Lily shook her head. 'I asked Severus if he had been duelling with them again, but he wouldn't tell me – he didn't explain anything to me, really.'

Remus took a deep breath and released it slowly. 'Let's go back a bit. Do you remember the night you and Sirius met on the Astronomy Tower?'

Pepper's ears perked up, and she cut a sharp look at her twin. Lily and Sirius? Granted, Sirius was a very handsome boy, but Lily had always seemed to despise Sirius as much as she did James Potter. Honestly, did Lily have no self-control? Was she going to snog every boy at Hogwarts before she left school there? Did all witches conduct themselves with such a lack of decorum? Well, Pepper would never behave that way – although she sometimes thought she would like a chance to.

Lily had the grace to blush. 'How could I forget it? I thought he was going to let James throw him off the Tower! He never even drew his wand!'

Remus looked very grave. 'It was very bad of Sirius,' he said soberly. 'Sirius knows James fancies you – he ought never to have asked you out.'

Lily became absorbed in fiddling with the band of her wristwatch. 'He didn't ask me out, precisely.'

Remus let that pass, but Pepper was dying to question her about it. If Sirius didn't ask her out, what was Lily doing alone with him on this Astronomy Tower? Pepper could make a shrewd guess as to their occupation.

'The point is,' Remus said, 'that James found out about your ... assignation from gossip in the common room.'

Lily looked up indignantly. 'Gossip from whom? No one knew I was meeting Sirius except for Alice Frobisher – and I know she wouldn't tell! Not after as many times as I've covered for her sneaking out to see Frank!'

'No,' Remus said, 'it was a group of third-year girls who were talking about it. They heard it from Calladora Yaxley.'

Lily's mouth dropped open. 'That grass of a Slytherin girl? I gave her lines three times last year!'

Remus grinned. 'I guess she wanted a bit of revenge, then.'

'Well, how did you find out about all of this? And what does it have to do with Potter and Company all being in the infirmary at the same time?'

Remus frowned. 'Sirius was pretty angry about James finding you two together that night. They had a huge row – not just on the Astronomy Tower, but later, in our dormitory. James basically told Sirius to get lost, and Sirius was furious. Next day, he questioned the third-year girls, tracked down the Yaxley girl, and scared her into admitting she heard about it from Severus Snape, in the Slytherin common room. Yaxley said Severus didn't tell her personally; he was chatting with his gang, and she just overheard him.' Remus studied his hands, the backs of which were marred with scars of old injuries which looked to Pepper like scratch marks. After a moment, he said to Lily, 'I don't really believe in coincidence where Severus is concerned.'

Lily laughed sourly. 'Neither do I. He must have done it on purpose, knowing that Calladora Yaxley would spread the story far and wide. But how does Severus find out about everything I do?' She stared fretfully out the window for a moment, her lower lip clamped between her teeth.

Remus tactfully kept silent, but Pepper couldn't contain herself. 'He cares about you, thick-o!' she scolded in a fair imitation of their mum's best recriminating air. 'You should be thankful.'

Lily grimaced at Pepper, then spoke again to Remus. 'I still don't see what this has to do with all of you being in the hospital wing.'

'Right,' Remus said. 'Well, Sirius was very upset to be at odds with James – it's not just friendship with them, you know – it's almost as if James is the only family Sirius has, because he's not at all close to his brother, Regulus. And, being Sirius, he blamed Severus for the argument, rather than admitting that his own behaviour led to James' anger. As the days went by and James wouldn't accept Sirius' apology, Sirius started looking for ways to get back at Severus. He finally came up with the perfect plan; he only had to wait for the next full moon to put the plan into action.'

Remus stood, suddenly seeming to be too antsy to keep his seat. Beginning to pace, he said, 'Severus hates us, you know, Lily. With some good reason, I will admit. Every time there's a problem between him and us, he goes to his Head of House, trying to get us into trouble. Sometimes it works – sometimes it doesn't. After that incident last year – the one where you tried to intercede and Severus called you a bad word – Severus took his case to the headmaster. He wants us out of school. He watches us all the time, looking for something – anything – to have us expelled.'

Remus paused for a moment in his pacing, looking back at the girls. Pepper was watching him as if he were a program on telly – she had forgotten Lily was even present. Seemingly satisfied that he had their attention, Remus continued his story. 'Sirius knew Severus would jump at the chance to get us into trouble. He wrote a note to Severus, telling him how to reach our secret hideout – the place I go to, once a month – and told him to go there after moonrise on that night.'

Pepper interrupted. 'But Severus would never be stupid enough to go somewhere that Sirius told him to go,' she objected. 'He hates Sirius. He would never trust him.'

Remus nodded at Pepper, as if she was a student who had given a good answer in class. 'You're absolutely correct, Pepper. So, he charmed the handwriting to appear to be Lily's.'

Lily started up, outraged. 'He did what?' she screeched, her green eyes flashing fire. 'Oh, Sirius Black, you slimy git! Just wait 'til I get my wand on you!' She pinned Remus with her gaze. 'What did they do to him when he went there? What does he think I sent him into?'

Remus returned her look resolutely. 'He found ... me.'

Pepper frowned, turning her attention to Lily. What was so awful about Severus finding Remus? As she watched, Lily's expression went from confused to comprehending to horrified.

'Is he –?' she whispered, swaying a bit on her feet.

Remus took hold of her arms and held her steady. 'He's fine, Lily – he wasn't harmed.'

'But he was in the hospital wing!' she cried, her hands pressed against his chest.

'Listen to me!' he entreated Lily. 'Sirius was so full of himself – he couldn't keep his mouth closed. He bragged to Peter what he had done, and Peter shared the joke with James, thinking James would be pleased to know they had finally got properly revenged on Snape. James went after him, Lily – James pulled Severus out before he could be hurt.'

'But James was in the hospital wing, too – and Sirius – they were all hurt!'

Remus looked rueful. 'James didn't pull Severus out before there was some ... excitement. Severus fell and broke his wrist; Sirius had a concussion, and James' shoulder was dislocated. But Madam Pomfrey had them all sorted out within a day.' His amber eyes flicked once in Pepper's direction. 'No one will have any lasting injury from what happened that night. It was just a prank.'

Lily threw Remus' hands from her arms. 'Just a prank? Severus could have been killed! Oh, what doesn't Sirius deserve I should do to him?'

Pepper pushed Blue onto the sofa cushion and stood as well. 'Do you realise that you're making no sense?' she demanded. 'Why would Severus going to some hideout where Remus was cause him to die? That's just stupid!'

Lily took a deep breath. 'I'm sorry, Pep – I had no idea what Remus was going to say. We should never have discussed this in front of you.'

Pepper crossed her arms. 'Don't be sorry – just tell me what you're talking about.'

Lily shook her head. 'I can't. It's a secret, and it's not my secret to share. I can tell you that there was a Dark magical creature there; it could have killed Severus, or done him lasting harm.' She looked back to Remus. 'But James pulled Severus out of danger?'

Remus gave her his attractive crooked smile. 'James saved Severus, at great personal risk. The Dark creature could have hurt him just as easily. Even Sirius made an effort to help, once he saw James go to help Severus.'

'Why on earth wouldn't Severus tell me all this when I went to see him in the hospital wing?' Lily wondered.

'The headmaster said it created a life debt between them,' Remus admitted. 'I don't reckon Severus was very happy about that – to owe a life debt to the person he most hates in all the world.'

Pepper was fuming. A Dark magical creature? What a load of codswallop! She had never seen a magical creature, and she did not believe in their existence. It was all some stupid dramatic row between the boys, with Lily at the middle of it. Pepper refused to think about how thrilling it would be to have two boys fight over her; she couldn't bear to spend another minute dwelling on Lily's unfair good luck. She flounced back over to the sofa and determinedly picked up the magazine, trying desperately to look as if she was no longer listening to Lily and Remus.

'I want to thank James, Remus – will you take me to Godric's Hollow?'

Pepper managed to wait until the front door closed behind them before hurling her magazine across the room.

---

The next afternoon, the girls took their bottles of Coke out into the back garden, settling down on the lawn furniture in their shorts and sleeveless tops to enjoy the sunshine. When he arrived, Severus was so stricken by the sight of them there, together, that he did not immediately remove his Disillusionment Charm.

Pepper sat very primly in her chair, knees together, ankles crossed, only her smile as she answered a comment of her sister's indicating any relaxation on her part. She still wore her hair in the style Lily had stigmatised as a "Farrah-flick", with the hair sweeping back from her long, thin face in a very unnatural way, held in place by some Muggle hair potion. Although bones jutted from her clavicle and wrists, her legs were rather nice, with particularly delicate ankles. She wasn't pretty – would always be unseen, most likely, when in company with her sister – but she had a slender body, and for some men, that was enough to make her attractive.

Beside Pepper, Lily lay in a boneless heap in a chaise lounge, every line of her body proclaiming her leisure. The dark red hair, which usually hung half-way down her back, was twisted on top of her head and pinned in a careless manner, permitting loose tendrils to curl about and frame her face. Lily's body was curvaceous, with ample breasts, a small waist, and flaring hips above her smooth, shapely legs. To Severus, she was beauty personified, and seeing her made his groin ache.

Feeling a bit like a voyeur, he removed the charm. Pepper's hand flew to her chest, as if to slow her heart rate. 'You startled me!' she complained.

Lily simple rose from her place and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. 'How could you not tell me about the terrible trick Sirius Black played on you?' she said, her cheek pressed to his chest. 'I swear I wasn't the one who wrote that note!'

Severus resisted the urge to crush her to him, contenting himself with patting her on the back, supremely conscious of Pepper's eyes upon them. 'Yeah,' he said, 'I worked that out by listening to Potter and Black scream at each other.'

She released him and stepped back with a cheeky grin. 'I'll bet it was like listening to an old married couple quarrel,' she said. 'Come in – it's time for tea.'

---

Pepper sat at the kitchen table and watched Lily and Severus making their tea, using magic at every possible juncture. She found it fascinating. Now that they were all seventeen, Lily and her other sixth-year friends could use magic whenever they wished. They also now could travel without broomsticks or fireplaces. Magic could be useful for some things, Pepper supposed.

Severus had grown so tall that she and Lily only came up to his shoulder. He seemed to be moving with more self-assurance now, and when he teased Lily, there was an expression in his eyes that made Pepper burn with jealousy. Oh, what she would give to have a boy look at her that way just once in her life!

It was lovely to have him there, though; when all three of them were together, she felt a certain sense of comfort that no longer existed when she and Lily were on their own. Lily was so full of herself and talked so much about all that unnatural wizarding business that Pepper felt as if they barely knew one another any longer. She wished that she could prevail upon them to go with her to the Kingdom, but she knew it would not happen; Severus had never, to her knowledge, been back there since that day last summer when she had found the abandoned ring in the clearing. Lily would go with her, but had no patience for flying the flag or exploring the grounds; Lily had said they were too old to play there like children any longer.

Severus placed the steaming pot of tea on the table before Pepper and seated himself, whilst Lily put a plate of sliced pound cake beside the teapot before taking her place. Pepper waited until they were settled, then said, 'Shall I be "mother?"'

Severus and Lily both smiled at her and agreed, and the three of them settled to a lovely, companionable tea; it seemed to Pepper as if they all felt truly at home for the first time in a long while.

---

The next Saturday afternoon, Severus was sitting on the sofa in the Evans' lounge between the girls when the front bell rang.

'I'll get it!' Pepper said, popping up from the sofa.

'All right,' Lily said, keeping her place.

Pepper came back smiling, her arm hooked possessively through James Potter's. 'Look who's here!' she said brightly.

James stopped just inside the doorway, his eyes settling on Severus. 'Snape,' he said, inclining his head politely.

Severus sneered from his place on the sofa. 'Potter,' he spat.

James turned his attention then to Lily, and his expression softened visibly. 'Hi, Lily,' he said.

Lily smiled at him radiantly. 'Hi,' she replied.

James cleared his throat and said to her, 'I wonder if I could speak with you about the thing we were talking about before?'

'The ... thing?' Lily said, confused.

James tilted his head towards the hallway. 'Yes – you remember ....'

Lily stood, comprehension dawning. 'Of course!'

'Perhaps we could take a turn down the lane?' James said. 'It's a beautiful day.'

Elsie Evans materialised in the hallway as Lily said, 'That would be nice – let's do that.'

James smiled down at Pepper, disengaging his arm from hers. 'You'll excuse us, won't you, Petunia?'

Pepper crossed her arms in what appeared to Severus to be a protective gesture and shrugged her indifference. James held his hand out to Lily, who took it, and the two of them exited the room. Mrs Evans stepped in, eyeing Pepper with some concern.

'He has manners, James Potter,' Mrs Evans said, slanting a disparaging look at Severus.

Pepper laughed scornfully.

Mrs Evans turned her back on Severus. 'Why don't you call that nice Mr Dursley from your father's office?' she said to her daughter. 'He's called four times this summer and you haven't spoken to him yet.'

'I'll think about it, Mum,' Pepper muttered. 'Really, I will.'

Mrs Evans huffed. 'See that you do, Petunia,' she said as she left the room.

Pepper flung across the room and sat down next to Severus, her face stormy.

'Who's Mr Dursley?' Severus said. 'He sounds like an undertaker.'

Pepper sniffed. 'That just shows what you know,' she sneered. 'He's a sales assistant – twenty-three years old – and he fancies me.'

Severus lifted one inquiring brow. 'Then why do you waste your time on Potter?'

Pepper closed her eyes and turned her face away. 'Don't talk about it.'

Severus saw the tears on her cheeks with some dread. Crying girls were not his speciality. 'Just don't be stupid about it,' he said roughly. 'Potter waltzed in here and walked out with your sister right under your nose.'

Pepper turned on him angrily, her eyes red with tears, her face pale and blotched, her lips pulled back over her horsey teeth. Severus had seldom seen her look less attractive. 'He walked out with her right under your nose!' she retorted furiously. 'Don't you care?'

Severus glanced down, the curtains of his hair falling forward to shield his expression. 'Why should I?'

'You don't care what your girlfriend does? Or who she does it with?'

Severus' head jerked up and he glared at her dangerously. 'What do you know about that?' he asked silkily.

Pepper shrugged, attempting disinterest. 'Nothing from what she's said, if that's what you mean.'

Severus felt the faint hope plummet; he had been foolish to imagine Lily might have confided something of her feelings for him to her twin sister. 'That's my look-out. You tend to your own business,' he said, his face showing nothing of the rise and fall of his spirits.

'Well, why don't you just go, then!' Pepper cried, leaping to her feet, her hands placed petulantly on her hips.

'Are you chucking me out?' he asked lazily, making no move to rise.

'Why would you want to stay? She isn't here!'

'Do you mean to say that I'm not welcome to come to see you?' he inquired.

'You're not going to use me just to be near her, the way he did,' she hissed. 'I'll see you in hell first!'

Severus chuckled. 'Language, Miss Evans,' he taunted softly.

Pepper gasped, as if a bit amazed by her own heat. 'I mean it!' she blustered.

Severus sat forward suddenly, resting his forearms on his knees, his intense black gaze fixed on Pepper's face. 'Do you believe that I'm the sort to take advantage like that?'

Pepper's brow puckered. 'Aren't you?' she asked.

He laughed briefly. 'Probably. But I wouldn't do that to you. You're my friend.' His voiced dropped in volume. 'You were with me in Bolton. I won't forget that.'

Pepper sat down suddenly, her bravado gone. 'That's a really decent thing to say,' she murmured.

Severus smirked. 'It is, isn't it? Don't get used to it.'

Pepper giggled and punched his arm; Severus grabbed her wrists to prevent further attacks, only to have her completely subside, her wide hazel eyes fixed on his face, her breath coming in little panting gasps. She seemed ... excited. He felt strangely drawn to her in that moment, his body responding to her surrender in a way which confused him mightily.

Hastily, he dropped her wrists and stood, suddenly awkward. 'I'd best be going,' he said, avoiding her eyes.

'You'll be back tomorrow?' she asked with breathless expectancy.

'Your mum hates it when I show up on Sundays,' he said. 'Another time. G'bye.' Concentrating on his destination, Severus turned on the spot and deliberately Disapparated with great determination, feeling as if he had just escaped a very dangerous situation.

---

Pepper sat on the sofa in the lounge, her heart racing wildly, looking at her wrists, where she still felt the grip of his long, slender fingers. Good heavens! What had that been about? She had never been this ... discomposed before, not even two summers before, when James had given her those long good-bye hugs. She pressed the palms of her hands to her cheeks, which felt as if they were on fire. She needed to think – and she wanted to see him again. Soon.

---

Severus entered the bell tower and threw himself down on the mattress in the unused caretaker's room, his brain in a whirl of confusion. What had that been? He'd never felt such a thing for Pepper before – he's never felt that strongly about anyone but Lily – and these emotions were different than the ones he felt for Lily. Where had they come from? What was the meaning of it?

Regardless of the reasons, there was a problem to be dealt with. After warding the door against intruders, he unbuckled his belt.

---

The previous April

Severus returned from his Easter holiday at the home of the wealthy Slytherin alumnus, Lucius Malfoy, on the Saturday night before classes were to resume for the Summer Term. It was a bit nerve-wracking to visit in such a posh place as Malfoy Manor, but Professor Slughorn had told him Malfoy would be a good contact to make; so far, old Sluggie had been bang on the mark. Malfoy had procured a summer job for Severus at Ye Old Apothecary in Knockturn Alley the year before, and Severus had been promised the job again for the coming summer. The putative shop owner was Libatius Borage, the author of the textbook used by the sixth-year N.E.W.T. level Potions class, but Borage seemed to take his orders from Malfoy. Severus had learnt a great deal the summer before working with Borage, and he was grateful to have a job lined up again. If Borage continued to be impressed with Severus' ability, he might offer Severus an apprenticeship after Hogwarts.

There had been some interesting people in attendance at the Malfoys' home both last Easter and this; the difference between the two visits was that on this trip, Severus had been introduced to the guest of honour, Lord Voldemort. The great man had held Severus in private conversation for nearly thirty minutes, speaking with great intelligence about Potions work and flattering Severus about his prowess in brewing. Lord Voldemort had hinted that there might be a job for such a gifted potioneer in his lordship's own organisation when Severus attained his N.E.W.T.s. The casual mention of the types of respect and gold earned by Lord Voldemort's associates was very tempting to Severus – as was the unmistakeably Dark aura about the older man.

Severus had just dumped his trunk in his dormitory and returned to the Slytherin common room to do a bit of light reading before the fire when the two fifth-year prefects stumbled in. Nicholas Flint and Portia Greengrass were a couple, and they were all over one another the moment the portrait closed behind them.

'Take it elsewhere, Flint,' Severus sneered. 'If Slughorn finds you intoxicated in here there'll be hell to pay.'

Portia hiccupped and the two idiots began to laugh, as if it was a great accomplishment. 'We're not intoxerated,' she objected. 'You should see that Gryffindor slag, Evans – she's completely pissed.'

Severus sat forward. 'You were drinking with Gryffindors?' he said disgustedly. 'Have you no standards?'

'Well, the fifth-years who stayed to study for O.W.L.s just had a little party – to celebrate,' Flint explained incoherently.

'Celebrate what, exactly?' Severus said. 'You don't sit your O.W.L.s for another two months.'

Greengrass giggled. 'Shelebrate studying. But the Prefects horned in on the party – the Evans bint drank half a bottle of Firewhisky all on her own.'

Severus stood. 'We can't have the Mudbloods snagging all the best drink,' he said smoothly. 'Tell me where she is.'

Flint nodded vigorously. 'Good show, Snape. Go take it from her. Party's in the Room of Requirement.'

Severus had no problem entering the Room of Requirement to gatecrash the drinking party. The fifth-year Slytherins hailed him as a fellow well-met, but the students from other houses were not happy to see him. He obtained a Butterbeer from one of the Slytherins and wandered about the room, seemingly aimless, until he spotted Lily. She was sitting in a corner with a Ravenclaw sixth-year Prefect on one side and a Hufflepuff seventh-year Prefect on the other; she was obviously a bit the worse for drink, but she wasn't falling down drunk.

'Evans,' he said.

Lily looked up, her eyes brightening when she saw him. 'Yes?' she answered, reserved before others, as they had always been.

'Far be it for me to criticise your herding abilities, but I definitely saw a gaggle of Gryffindor second-years out of bed.'

Lily was on her feet instantly. 'Show me,' she said, handing the bottle of Firewhisky to the disappointed-looking Hufflepuff. 'McGonagall will have my head if she catches them.'

Severus abandoned the Butterbeer on a table as he and Lily left the room together.

'How did you know I was there?' she asked.

'What makes you think I was there for you?' he sneered.

Remus Lupin rounded a corner, and his expression lightened considerably when he spied Lily. 'Thank Merlin,' he said, 'I thought I was going to have to come in after you.' He nodded to Severus, but did not speak. 'Listen, Lily, McGonagall is on the war-path – she rumbled a couple of fifth-years with half-a-pint of honey mead. You've got another hour until your curfew. Don't go back until you're sober.'

Lily stood up straight. 'I'm sober,' she averred, swaying a bit.

Remus looked to Severus pleadingly, and Severus nodded. Remus gave a partial smile and continued down the hallway. Lily turned to watch him as he turned into another corridor.

'I'm fine,' she insisted.

'By all means,' Severus said snidely, 'go back to your dormitory so McGonagall can expel you.'

Lily grabbed his hand. 'Never mind,' she said. 'Let's go to the Astronomy Tower – it will clear my head.'

Severus knew they were not likely to find the Astronomy Tower deserted, but the lure of being alone with her was strong. 'Five minutes to clear your head,' he said, 'then off to Gryffindor Tower with you.'

Lily smiled at him engagingly and led the way to the Astronomy Tower and up the stairs. Severus exited the door behind her, finding, as he had expected, the shimmer of no fewer than three Notice-Me-Not spells scattered about. Lily ignored the other occupants and walked straight to the ramparts, standing with her hands on the stone walls, her head thrown back, taking deep breaths.

Severus stood a few paces behind her, his arms crossed firmly over his chest. He wanted to go up behind her and put his arms around her, to nuzzle her ear and hear her throaty chuckle of acceptance. But other than one rather tempestuous episode in the Potions lab the previous November, he had not touched her since the night she had rejected the Plight Troth ring. She went about with a different bloke, it seemed, every day; no one had won her favour for more than a week. She was sunny-natured and kind, and people were drawn to her as flies are drawn to honey. She was also lovely and enticing; Severus could not comprehend being male and not wanting her.

He had thought, after she rejected his offer to plight his troth to her, that they would be estranged. He had certainly stayed away from Harrogate for the rest of the summer hols. But when the first of September arrived, her smile on the Hogwarts Express had been as radiant and welcoming as ever. She was obviously fond of him, but she was enjoying her popularity too much to tie herself down to him. He could understand that, from an intellectual standpoint. He would keep an eye on her, keep her from harm, and when they left school, she would be ready to talk about their future together.

He never permitted himself to wonder how the acquisition of a Muggle-born girlfriend would affect his relationship with Lucius Malfoy and his ilk.

Then had come that one-off November Saturday afternoon in the Potions lab; Lily had been in a bit of a wild mood, her eyes too bright, deliberately provocative. Unable to resist her challenge, in short order, he had found himself with the teasing wench backed up against a wall, the palms of her hands flat on his chest, his arms bracketing her, preventing her escape. His vows to never again give in to her lures were as dust in the wind of his desire for her, yet he had stopped short of kissing her or touching her, merely standing within an inch of her, his half-lidded black eyes glittering at her in the candlelight.

Lily had been the one who broke the stalemate, reaching up with her hands to tug until he finally lowered his lips to hers, igniting the combustible fascination which existed between them. They had not stopped – might never have stopped – had not the untended cauldron on the fire melted, forcing them to give their attention to the project which had brought them together. When the potion had been brewed, Severus had attempted to reinitiate the interrupted proceedings, but Lily had kept her distance, evading his every advance, until she had escaped his presence. During the next week, she had avoided eye contact in Potions class and avoided Severus wherever possible outside of Potions class. It had not been difficult to decipher her message: in spite of her flagrant seduction of him, she had no desire to further their relationship.

He had managed to keep his distance for nearly six months, but the idea of Lily inebriated in the presence of those who might take advantage of her sent him on the prowl. He sought only to return her safely to her dormitory – nothing else.

Lily turned her back to the stone wall and faced him. 'You came there to find me.'

Severus raised an eyebrow but did not speak.

'Thank you,' Lily said. 'I drank too much.'

Severus studied her expression, but saw no guile. This was his friend, Lily, with no flirtation or wiles to attract. After a moment, he inclined his head in acknowledgement.

'Sometimes,' she said, 'I do stupid things.' She smiled self-deprecatingly. 'I don't think that surprises you.'

He shrugged. 'If I thought about it, it might.'

Lily stepped up to him then, as if she was sure of her welcome in his arms, and she wrapped her own arms around his waist, pressing her face to his chest. Severus found he was incapable of repulsing her; as if of their own accord, his arms uncrossed, making room for her, and then enfolded her in a chaste hug.

'Don't try to fool me,' she whispered, turning her cheek to rest against his jumper, her chin tilted so that she could look up at him. 'Don't pretend that you don't care about me.'

Severus did not answer her, trying to ignore his body's reaction to her proximity and the scent of her perfume.

'We can't be together, here,' she murmured, one of her treacherous hands rising to thread through his long, lank hair. 'But we won't be here forever.'

Severus closed his eyes, trying not to love the feel of her hands in his hair, trying not to believe her words, desperately wishing not to care.

'I've never known anyone else like you, Severus,' she whispered, her other hand sliding up his back to twine in his hair, 'no one makes me feel the way you do.'

Hating himself for going back again on his own resolution, Severus lowered his head and kissed her, attempting to convey in that act the words he could not say to her – would not say to her – for no matter how much he needed her and longed to possess her, he did not trust her.

She flowed against him like water, her body moulding to him, her lips parting beneath his, inviting him to kiss her more deeply. With iron-clad control, supremely conscious of the danger of discovery in such a public place, he disengaged from her.

'You have ten minutes to make curfew,' he said, stepping back. 'You should go now.'

Lily stared up with him, her green eyes still muzzy with drink; Severus had never, in their times together, been the one to step back from an encounter, and she seemed rather impressed. Rather than speaking again, Lily stood on tip-toe and brushed his jaw with a kiss, then she departed the Astronomy Tower, leaving him to stand beneath the starry sky with her words echoing in his mind.

---

Lily smoothed her hair with her hand, feeling uncommonly nervous.

'You look really pretty,' James said.

Lily dropped her hands and looked up into James' eyes; he was not nearly so tall as Severus. She liked this calmer, more humble version of James Potter, who had proclaimed to her that the near-miss of Severus and the werewolf had given him a great deal to think about. James seemed somewhat lost this summer in the absence of Sirius Black, who had been called away to attend the deathbed of his Uncle Alphard, then had stayed on, as his uncle's sole beneficiary, to settle the estate. James was still not entirely happy with Sirius, after the practical joke on Severus, but neither was he entirely happy without Sirius' company. He had easily drifted into calling every day at the Evans' home, spending hours in conversation with Lily about everything under the sun. He was gentle, kind, funny, patient – and utterly besotted with her.

James gave her a particularly sweet smile, then opened the door, allowing her to enter, before following her into the hallway of the rambling old house. The entrance hall bore the appearance of an ancient fortress, with an uneven flagged floor, rough wooden beams running up the walls and across the fifteen-foot ceiling, and at the far end of the room, an enormous fireplace which appeared large enough to roast an ox, whole. Lily had only time enough for a quick impression before James took her hand and led her through a doorway.

The change in tone from the hall to the drawing room was vast. Gone was the medieval formality; instead, the room was warm and welcoming, with squishy armchairs covered in chintz, polished cherry-wood tables, and a crimson brocade sofa, upon which an elderly couple sat. For a wild moment, Lily wondered if these were James' grandparents.

'Mum, Dad, this is Lily,' James said, looking at her with pride.

The old man stood, and he was about the same height as Lily. His face was heavily lined, but his hazel eyes were bright. 'Welcome to Gryphon Keep, Lily,' he said, taking her hand between both of his. 'I'm Harry Potter, and this is my wife, Anna.'

Lily smiled at James' mother, allowing the old witch the take her hand, as well. 'We're very happy you could come,' Mrs Potter said. 'James has spoken of you so frequently, over the years.'

Lily flushed, wondering just what James had told his parents about her reactions and responses to him.

Mr Potter saw the blush and laughed, offering Lily his seat on the sofa beside his wife with the sweep of a hand. 'Yes, he's told us that you didn't like him very much, my dear – and his mother has told him to mend his manners.'

Lily sat down next to Mrs Potter nervously, feeling as if everyone in the room was focussed on her. A house-elf entered, bearing a tray of glasses and a bottle of wine.

'Ah, Nonny – excellent timing,' Mr Potter proclaimed. 'This is Master James' friend, Lily Evans.'

Nonny placed the tray on the coffee table and turned to bow deeply to Lily. 'Nonny is pleased to meet Master James' Lily.'

Lily blushed more deeply, wishing she had followed Pepper's advice and refused this invitation to a family dinner at the Potters' home. She wasn't his Lily – they weren't even dating – well, not officially.

James' voice broke into her reverie. 'Could we all please stop embarrassing Lily now? At this rate, she'll never want to come back.'

He darted Lily a look of apology, his eyes with a hangdog expression which Lily found irresistible. She gave him a tiny smile, and his expression brightened perceptibly.

'I told Lily she could see your collection from the War, Dad.'

Harry Potter turned a measuring look on Lily. 'It wouldn't bore you?' he asked.

Lily shook her head, sitting forward slightly. 'Professor Binns, in History of Magic, has told us about the War against Grindelwald, sir. I would be very interested to see anything you have to show me.'

Mr Potter poured wine into the four crystal goblets. 'Then I would be very happy to show you my collection,' he said, handing round the goblets. 'Will you raise your glass with me?'

Lily, James, and Mrs Potter each raised their glasses of wine. 'To the proliferation of the Light,' Mr Potter intoned.

They all drank.

---

An hour later, Lily's head was buzzing with the wealth of artefacts she had seen, both magical and Muggle. She had wandered in awe through the two rooms devoted to these items, many displayed in glass cases, and others sitting out as if bayonets and flags bearing Grindelwald's insignia were commonly found in one's home.

'Lily,' Mr Potter said, 'I imagine you know there was a Muggle war that went forward at the same time as the wizarding one.' When Lily nodded, he continued, 'Grindelwald was a very Dark wizard, and he had been instrumental in bringing the Muggle dictator to power in Germany, just as Grindelwald himself was gaining power all over the Continent. It was a very grim time.'

James tapped on one of the glass cases, attracting Lily's attention to the glittering ribbon, richly embroidered with gold thread, and its diamond and sapphire clasp. 'Dad was given the Order of Merlin, First Class, for his work in the War,' he said, his voice full of pride.

Lily glanced from the elderly man to his only child and back again, touched by the love which obviously existed between them. James left the display case and came to stand between Lily and his father.

'Dad was a member of the Order of Aurelius Ambrosius – it was named for the wizard who was Merlin's father, who was also a great general. That's where Dad met Dumbledore, you know.'

'You know Dumbledore, sir?' Lily asked.

'I do, indeed,' Mr Potter said with a slight smile. 'A braver, cleverer wizard this world has seldom seen.' He cocked his head to one side. 'You're a clever witch, Lily – just the sort we in the wizarding world need on our side, if we are to defeat the forces of Dark with the Light.'

Lily stared at her friend's father. 'What forces of Dark?' she asked.

Mr Potter looked at her very seriously. 'The Dark is a powerfully seductive thing, Lily. Many strong, intelligent wizards and witches – and many stupid ones, as well – are lured into its toils, only to find that the deeper they go into it, the more impossible it becomes to disengage.' He cocked an eyebrow at her. 'Have you never, in all your time at Hogwarts, encountered Dark magic?'

Lily thought for a moment. 'We learn Defence Against the Dark Arts at school,' she said. 'And I know many of the books in the Restricted Section of the library are about Dark subjects.' Lily kept to herself the accompanying thought, that Severus Snape loved those books as teenage girls love chocolate.

Mr Potter nodded gravely. 'There are always Dark influences in our world, my dear. It is up to those of us who know the signs to be vigilant against the proliferation of the Dark Arts.'

Nonny came into the room, then. 'Mistress says you are to come to dinner, Master,' she said.

Mr Potter glanced at his watch. 'Merlin's beard! Look at the time! You children must be starving!' Taking Lily's hand and tucking it into his elbow, he led the way to the dining room.

---

When the front door was heard to close behind James, on his way to return Lily to her home, Mrs Potter turned to her husband.

'Well?'

He nodded. 'She's as sharp as a tack,' he said. 'If she's as good at potions as James says, she would be a vital tool for us. I'll be sure to mention it to Albus.'

Anna sipped at her tea. 'Do you think he'll marry her?'

Harry chuckled. 'They're only seventeen, my love. Plenty of time to think of that later.' He drank a bit of his cognac, letting the fragrant liquid roll about on his tongue before it slid down his throat, knowing that Anna was watching him with growing impatience. At last he turned to face her. 'All right. Yes, he'll marry her, if she'll have him. He's well and truly smitten.'

Anna smirked. 'He'll keep after her until she will have him.'

Harry leant over and brushed a kiss across her cheek. 'It worked for me,' he said.

---

Severus eyed Pepper warily when she opened the front door.

'Hi!' she said brightly. 'Come in!'

Severus stepped into the entrance hall, ignoring the loud sniff of Elsie Evans, who peeked around the corner just long enough to see who had come to call, before she whisked herself back to the kitchen. He watched Pepper, intrigued by his desire to reach out and touch her. Resisting the urge, he simply looked at her.

'Potter is here, visiting her. I can use some reinforcements,' Pepper said wrinkling her nose in disgust.

'I am happy to be useful,' he returned dryly.

Pepper grinned at him and grabbed his hand. 'Come on,' she said.

Severus permitted her to pull him into the lounge, where he saw Lily sitting on the sofa, next to Potter, who was brandishing his wand in an odd way, making strange noises, somewhat between a hum and a swish.

'Put that away, Potter,' he drawled. 'You're going to put someone's eye out.'

Potter gave Severus an unfriendly glare, but sheathed his wand.

Lily giggled. 'We should never have taken him to the cinema – it was his first time at a Muggle movie, can you imagine? Now he wants to be a Jedi Knight.'

Severus allowed Pepper to pull him to the loveseat across from Lily and Potter. He slouched down in his seat, torn between the desires to Stun Potter and to kiss Pepper. What was the matter with him?

Blue, the sleek grey cat, walked into the lounge like a monarch surveying his demesne. Potter perked up at the sight of the cat.

'Hullo, Blue,' he said, bending down and offering his hand to be sniffed. 'Animals love me,' he said in an aside to Lily.

'So you keep saying,' Pepper said snidely, crossing her arms and watching as Blue sauntered past Potter's outstretched hand.

Potter moved from his seat on the sofa to kneel upon the rug, extending his hand out farther. Supremely disdainful, Blue continued on his path, altering his course only enough to walk around the kneeling James Potter. At last, Blue reached his goal, and with the lithe grace peculiar to his kind, he leapt into Severus' empty lap, turning in a circle four times before curling up on the denim-clad legs.

Severus, who usually complained bitterly about the cat using him as if he were a piece of furniture, placed his hand upon the animal's fur in a nearly possessive way and stroked it, all the while sneering at Potter.

After a moment, Potter stood. 'Lily, you said you'd come with me to see Sirius' new digs. Let's go.'

'Do you think it's wise to trust Black's directions?' Severus inquired silkily.

Potter made a rude gesture, which gave Severus immense satisfaction, because Lily was offended.

'James Potter, if you do that again, I'll tell your mother!'

Rolling his eyes in disgust at the implied domesticity of Lily's outburst, Severus was relieved, for the first time in his memory, to see Lily leave the room in Potter's company. When they had gone, he looked over to make a snide comment to Pepper, who had been strangely silent, only to find her staring at his hand as he rhythmically stroked Blue's fur. Her fascination with his actions impacted him like a physical blow.

'What are you looking at?' he demanded roughly.

Pepper started, looking up at him guiltily. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, and now he was riveted by her actions.

'Nothing,' she said nervously. She looked down at her hands. 'I've wanted to talk to you about something,' she added.

Severus quirked an eyebrow. 'What?'

Pepper continued to stare at her hands. 'I have a proposition for you.'

The renegade portion of his brain immediately began making suggestions for the proposition, but his expression never demonstrated that. He simply waited for her to speak again, only the increased pressure of his hand upon Blue's fur indicating his agitation.

Pepper took a deep breath and she looked up from her hands, imploring eyes fixed on his face. 'I propose that we take this summer and pretend to be a couple. It will annoy her and him. I want you to go about with me in town when you come to visit – nothing major, just walk down the High Street or go for an ice cream – and hold my hand, or put your arm around me, so that people I know will see me with a boy and know ....'

When she didn't speak again, he said, 'Know what?'

She flushed and looked away from him and whispered, 'Know that I'm not repulsive to boys.'

Severus let Pepper sit in her misery, too embarrassed to look at him, and he felt his power in the situation – his power over her. It was rather intoxicating – especially since he knew he would grant her request. 'That's what you want,' he said. 'What will I get from this little charade of yours?'

She glanced at him angrily. 'Don't you ever do anything without getting something for yourself?'

He sneered at her. 'Why should I?'

Pepper lifted her chin. 'All right. I'll do anything you want.'

Severus looked boldly down her body, allowing his eyes to dwell on her in ways he had never done before. She was too thin, but she was definitely female – and inexplicably, she moved his blood. As he let his eyes drift down her form, he continued to stroke the cat. Pepper's eyes were moving from his face to his hand and back again with dizzying speed.

'Anything?' he purred insolently.

Pepper swallowed visibly. 'Nothing that would make me pregnant,' she whispered.

'I can only think of one thing that might make you pregnant,' he murmured softly, the faintest hit of a tease in his voice.

Pepper blushed again. 'Are you going to spend all your time making fun of me?'

'Not all, no,' he said, his voice pitched to reach only her ears, the hand which was not stroking the cat now cupping her jaw, his thumb sweeping over the soft skin beneath her chin.

Her eyes darted to his again, hopeful.

'Have you ever been kissed?' he asked.

Pepper shook her head in the negative.

'Then it's high time you were,' he said, glad of the presence of the cat in lap to disguise his arousal. He did not know why he was reacting to this girl in this way at this time, but he was rather beyond caring. 'Come here,' he commanded.

Pepper scooted willingly closer. Using the pressure of his hand on the back of her head, he drew her face to his, tilting his head to one side, pausing with his lips an inch from hers to gauge her reaction. The shuddery sigh she uttered as her eyes fluttered closed was enough, heightening his desire to taste her.

'Just for this summer,' he said.

'Yes,' Pepper breathed.

Mindful that this was her first kiss, he began with her gently, softly touching his lips to hers, the fingers of the hand at the back of her head maintaining a gentle pressure.

'Petunia Anne Evans!'

Severus felt Pepper ricochet away from him with such force he knew he would have bruises from the strength with which she pushed off.

Bugger.

'May I see you in the kitchen, please?' Elsie Evans' voice was as cold as ice, and she did not deign to look at Severus.

'Meet me down the lane,' Pepper hissed. Then she stood, straightened her clothing, and went out of the room.

---

Just before her curfew that night, Lily and James Apparated back to her home from Sirius' new flat. Lily had been unable to convince her mother than she was now of age in the wizarding world and without the need of such things as a curfew. Lily had simply been treated to the 'my house, my rules,' rant from her father, to whom her mother had reported her suggestion.

James led her by the hand to her doorstep, hoping, as he always did, to procure a goodnight kiss. Sometimes, Lily permitted it; other times, she did not. There were many things she liked about James – his popularity; his good marks; his Head Boy badge, which would match her Head Girl badge so nicely; his strong personal convictions, learnt from his parents, whom she also liked; stately old Gryphon Keep in Godric's Hollow – but she also liked his sweetness, his gentleness, his tenderness, his deference, and the way she could imagine a future with him.

Smiling up at James, Lily touched his cheek and offered her lips for his kiss. He held her as if she were made of spun-glass, his hands remaining correctly upon her back as he kissed her with reverence. Lily waited to feel something – she wanted to feel something – but, as always when James kissed her, she felt ... unmoved.

'I'll see you tomorrow,' James said.

'Good night,' Lily replied.

He stepped down from the doorstep, turned on the spot, and Disapparated. Lily watched him go, and it was as he disappeared that she detected the tell-tale glimmer of a Notice-Me-Not spell beneath the large oak tree in the front garden. Frowning, she pointed her wand and murmured, 'Finite Incantatem.'

The enchantment fell, and she saw Severus and Pepper engaged in a horizontal wrestling match. At first, her mind did not register what she was seeing. Severus kissing Pepper? That was nonsensical. Then, she saw one of Pepper's arms sliding down Severus' back to his bum, where she grasped and squeezed his arse cheek.

The rage which flashed through Lily flared with the speed of a match to kerosene. She had her wand in her hand, and a hex was upon her lips when Severus looked straight into her face. His eyes were in shadow, but his very posture was challenging. Incensed, she turned and stormed into the house, slamming the front door behind her.

Clarence Evans came to the doorway of the lounge and glanced down the hallway at her. 'All right, Salty?' he inquired.

'Fine!' she spat and pelted up the stairway to the bedroom.

When Pepper came into the room fifteen minutes later, her hair was mussed, her lips were bruised, her clothes were disarranged, and her throat was marked in three places.

Lily sat on the edge of her bed, her wand trained on her sister.

'What are you doing?' Pepper said nervously, keeping an eye on the highly polished length of willow pointing in her direction.

'No, Petunia,' Lily said, her voice throbbing with fury. 'What are you doing?'

Pepper frowned. 'What are you talking about?'

'How dare you let Severus maul you about that like!' Lily shrieked, coming to her feet.

Pepper's hands went to her bony hips. 'What business is that of yours?'

'I'm your sister,' Lily responded hotly. 'You're making a fool of yourself!'

Pepper's eyes narrowed. 'You don't care if I make seven kinds of fool of myself, Lily Anne – don't pretend that you do.'

Lily's wand arm extended. 'He's mine!' she cried.

Pepper laughed scornfully. 'Why can't you be happy to have every other boy on the planet? Why do you have to have the one who fancies me?'

'HE FANCIES ME!' Lily shouted. 'Me! Not you!'

Pepper blinked at her. 'You're raving,' she said, finally. 'You could have had him, but you chose Potter. Now I have him. Get used to it.'

There was a flash of light and suddenly Pepper was hanging upside down and screaming like a banshee.

'Put me down! Put me DOWN!'

Lily sneered at Pepper. 'No! You deserve it!'

Their bedroom door burst open, and their parents erupted into the room.

'Petunia!' Mrs Evans cried, trying and failing to tug her down.

'Lily!' Mr Evans roared. 'Stop it this instant!'

Lily's wand arm jerked up and Pepper fell in a heap to the floor. Both of her parents rushed to help her to her feet, murmuring to her, but she ignored them, her implacable hazel gaze fixed on her sister.

'I can't believe you used that thing against me,' she hissed. 'Your own sister! I will never trust you again!'

Clare Evans turned angrily to Lily. 'Apologise to your sister at once!' he shouted. 'And give me that wand!'

Lily glared at them with terrific defiance for a moment, then turned on the spot, and was gone.

---

Lily returned the next morning, having spent the night in the Potters' guest room at Gryphon Keep. She was sweetly penitent and apologetic, but she kept her real feelings locked deep inside of herself. She had never been jealous of another girl, and certainly had never imagined she could – or would – be jealous of her own sister. Yes, she had been the one to push Severus away – she had been the one to see other boys, to flaunt her popularity in his face – but he was not supposed to move on! He was supposed to wait for her – to wait until she was ready to be with him! Seeing him with Pepper – knowing how he would kiss her, touch her, hold her – made her feel sick inside.

She knew she was being unfair – unfair to Severus, who deserved a girl who cared for him and would make him her focus – and unfair to poor Pepper, who was not, apparently, the type of girl that most boys would go for.

Her feelings confused her in the extreme. She resolved to wait and see – in some ways, she felt that September first could not come quickly enough.

---

The rest of the summer passed, with Severus coming Saturday and Sunday to visit, indifferent now to Mrs Evans' disapproval. His best behaviour had not won her liking for him; he would make no special efforts now. Severus and Pepper frequently strolled into town, where she insisted upon hanging on him like a limpet. Severus found he didn't much mind it; it was always amusing when they met up with some acquaintance from Pepper's school. Pepper would introduce him, and he would look dissolute and dangerous and remain silent, just as she wanted. Afterwards, he got what he wanted, most often at the Kingdom, although he never took her beneath El Castillo del Viento – he could not bring himself to do it. And, as they had agreed, they did nothing that would result in pregnancy – or in the actual removal of clothing, although Pepper did learn to leave off her brassiere, after Severus told her rather testily that she scarcely needed it.

One Saturday afternoon, after rather heated necking in the back of the cinema (Severus persuaded Pepper to return there frequently and had even been heard to mutter that he would not mind being a Jedi Knight, either), they strolled along, Severus looking Dark and dangerous whilst Pepper clung and window-shopped, when they were suddenly accosted by a fat, neck-less man with a bushy black moustache.

'Petunia?' the man said incredulously.

His amazement could have been due to the changes in Pepper's appearance over the last month. She had stopped plastering her hair with the preposterous hair potion and was simply wearing it long and loose. On this day, she wore a cotton skirt and a tee-shirt, which at that moment bore two wet spots, where Severus had suckled her nipples through the fabric in the movie theatre. It was evident that Pepper had been oblivious to the wet spots before the fat man's eyes had become riveted to her chest; then she had immediately crossed her arms to hide them.

'Oh, hello, Vernon,' Pepper said. 'This is my boyfriend, Severus Snape.'

Vernon hesitated a moment, then offered his hand, which Severus glanced at before shoving his hands in his pockets. After a few more uncomfortable sentences, Vernon moved on, and Pepper pulled Severus into the darkened doorway of an empty shop and kissed him with great enthusiasm – obviously, something about meeting up with The Suitor heated her blood. The end of the summer was coming, when his agreement with Pepper would expire. He wondered if his strange fancy for her would die away, as well.

---

Pepper entered the house and went upstairs to her room, her body humming as it always did when she had been with Severus. She closed the bedroom door and opened her cupboard, kneeling down to extract a shoebox. From the toe of one of the shoes in the box, she withdrew a black jewellers box; from the box, she removed the fire opal ring she had found the summer before in the Kingdom. No one knew she had it – no one had ever seen her wear it – but she had often taken it out and worn it since she found it, and she did so even more often, now that Severus was her boyfriend.

Pepper sat down on the edge of her bed and placed the ring on her finger; as always, she felt a faint sense of relief once the ring was in place. She sighed happily. Dimly, she knew the end of summer was coming and her agreement with Severus would come to an end; she even told herself she was glad of it, that he was unattractive and surly. But truly, her heart sang when she wore the fire opal ring her stupid sister had thrown away; she sat contentedly, time slipping away, gazing at the gemstone and thinking happy thoughts about Severus. She was always at peace when she sat alone and wore the pretty ring.

---

A/N: Aurelius Ambrosius is an historical figure upon whom the possibly mythical figure of Merlin was based; there is no indication that Ambrosius was Merlin's father.