6

Chapter 6 Discofox and the Serpent

Regulus left shortly after McGonagall, with a quick promise to bring a house tie to Severus while he waited to take his test.

Frank hesitated a moment to inquire, "All right Evans? Snape?"

Lily thanked Frank, and Severus was polite enough to give a nod.

Frank also reminded Severus that he'd also meet up to give him some clothing, then followed his adoring Alice out of McGonagall's office.

Severus stood up to also leave, since this was the Head of Gryffindor's office, but Lily asked, "Can't we stay here till it's almost time to take the test, Sev? Prof. McGonagall did offer to let us stay and finish lunch." Lily indicated the practically full platter of sandwiches and pitcher of pumpkin juice.

In response to Severus's momentary indecision and deepening frown, Lily added, "And I really don't think I could face anyone right now … after what happened."

His expression turned to one of concern immediately, and Severus sat back down in the chair closest to Lily. With a serious tone, he agreed, "Yes, it was horrible." Both his hands twitched, before he placed them on his knees and stared deeply at Lily and waited.

Lily became thoughtful as she looked at her best friend. It was better to keep him out of sight right now because the students at this school could be amazingly brutal, however she didn't want to lie to him. What happened to her was dreadfully cruel, but the treatment he received was inhumane. A wave of emotion rose in her chest. She swallowed audibly in an effort to tamp it down.

"Would you like some water or juice?" Severus asked trying to provide a distraction from Lily possibly breaking into tears.

"Uh … a bit," Lily replied, in an effort to get Severus to stop studying her. Usually he was a good person to talk to regarding anything, except when it came to emotions and feelings. Lily realized years ago that conversations with Severus were different, but she did understand that even though he was stunted emotionally, he had the capacity to understand more than anger and revenge. Those were the primary feelings he used to keep himself masked from the rest of the world.

"Do you think letters will be sent to our parents? Petunia's accusation of freak will take on a whole new meaning."

Severus handed a glass of juice to Lily. "Maybe they won't tell her, or give you a chance to explain it first." He then sighed and added, "I'd endure an entire summer of more discofox, if it meant Petunia not picking on you, Lily"

Lily laughed aloud at Severus's reference to the muggle dance that Petunia and her friends were learning last summer. Much to Petunia's horror, her girlfriends discovered that her little sister, Lily, had a boy round.

Severus was not intimidated by the older girls into cooperating, but took perverse joy in Petunia's reaction to them even noticing that grubby Snape boy from Spinner's End. Especially since he was stinking up her mother's kitchen looking for a handout, and not staying where he belonged.

"You're not fooling me, Sev. Having all those girls wanting to dance with you," she teased.

Showing a degree of disgust, Severus defended himself, "I didn't like it, and the only girl I'd ever want to dance with is you, Lily. Besides, it wasn't all that many. Petunia only has a handful of friends, and they just didn't want to dance the boy part. Except Tunie," he added with a smirk because she was the only one who wouldn't dance with him.

Rather than probing on how much Severus wanted to dance with her, Lily commented, "It's almost time for us to line up downstairs for the test."

Severus gave a slight nod, and held open the door for Lily. He was closing it when a snippy voice sounded, "Heard they saw the fabled Slytherin serpent outside near the lake earlier."

"Five points from Hufflepuff, Jorkins," Lily snapped at the 7th year. "Get to wherever you're going instead of hanging around here."

Lily huffed and glanced at Severus as she started down the hall. His head was tilted forward so his hair hid his face. She just knew it was the reason why he wouldn't let it get cut short and somewhat fashionable.

It was embarrassing to think that all some people would look at is thatbody part. Lily did register she saw it, but her eyes were more on his sharp ribs and wondering why Severus had any bruises, when he was safe here at school, rather than in his parents' care.

Prof. McGonagall monitored the fifth years in the hall waiting to take their practical DADA OWL. Lining them up in alphabetical order, regardless of house, keeping them spaced apart, preventing talking, and even telling them all to keep their eyes forward.

Regulus arrived first, but sensing McGonagall's mood, he waited in the shadow of a stairwell till Frank arrived. Frank beckoned Severus over to a corner behind the others, with McGonagall's permissive nod, so that both he and Regulus could pass on clothing to get him back in uniform.