39 p2

Cygnus had been wrong. Lord Voldemort did not like his servants to give him bad information.

Addressing the aristocrat, gasping on the floor after a brief touch of crucio, he demanded, "How could you have made such a mistake? The goblins wrote back to Crabbe. He is not the heir."

"My lord, the problem is not my records. It's the goblins. When there's no will or immediate family, they take it upon themselves to find the lowliest possible scum to inherit as an insult to wizards. They despise us. Manipulating our wealth is the only outlet for their frustrations."

"What is the name of this lowly scum?"

"I do not know, my lord."

"I suggest you better find out. We can use that gold, unless you'd rather contribute more to our cause, dear Cygnus?"

"I would if I could, my lord. Nothing is more worthy, but I do not control the Black vault."

"Then I suggest you find out who my new favorite is."

"New favorite?"

"Whoever inherited the Lestrange fortune. Pay attention. Crucio."

Crabbe shuffled his feet nervously, hoping he would not be next. He had already suffered after not inheriting that vault. Mrs. Crabbe was not happy.

Voldemort watched the spittle fly out of Cygnus Black's mouth as he screamed and gasped. The cup was in that vault. Undoubtedly it was safer now since Bellatrix was the only one who knew who gave it to her to put in the vault. All it was now was one more piece of junk.

He had seen that vault years ago, when the elder Lestrange was his schoolmate. He smirked at the remembrance of the boy's boastful attitude, and how he hoped to impress him with his piles of wealth. What was wealth compared to raw power? Power to decide who lives or dies? Power to prevent his own death, and to cause the death of others.

He flicked his wand, ending the curse. Voldemort still needed Cygnus for now.

The most notable thing about the feast was Slughorn was back again.

The Slytherins had tired of mocking Regulus. The fun was over, and now it was kind of sad. Really sad in a pathetic way. Perhaps Mrs. Black had one of those nervous breakdowns after her eldest son was an out-in-the-open murderer, rather than the usual Slytherin way of doing things, and her husband was murdered in Knockturn Alley, while probably visiting the brothel or worse. The Black family had fallen so far, that it was now within Slughorn's social reach.

No more Lestranges either. Slowly but surely all the old families were being snuffed out, while other families made their fortunes off their demise. No one knew who the Lestrange vault had gone to yet. The goblins were discreet, but the Ministry was full of leaks. Any day now someone would claim their properties and file changes for the deeds to be transferred. When that happened, they'd all pull out their lineages and try to figure out if it was someone worth befriending, protecting, or murdering.

Lily was oblivious to what was being whispered over on the other side of the Hall, and somewhat at the other three tables, but with less focus on murder and becoming false friends.

Regulus had sat with Barty and Severus, along with some of the other boys that Severus would give homework help with an intentionally lesser degree of sarcasm. Their speculation quickly died, and they moved on to their summer plans. The only one that seemed remotely interesting to Severus was Barty and his mother were going to stay at their summer, seaside cottage because his father was too busy to notice whether they were home or not.

Mulciber butted into their conversation when he came down to take one of their untouched platters of food back to the older boys, and suggested that Snape could now spend his summer wanking all day because his parents were gone.

Severus did not bother to respond since Mulciber's only skill was wanking. The group agreed once he was gone with the food that was probably an ideal day for Mulciber, and that's why he achieved a whole two OWLs. Better he wanked than impregnating something. Hopefully, the Muclibers would soon join the Lestranges as another extinct wizarding surname.

The lads then kidded Regulus that he better start right after graduation at restoring the house of Black. Joining in the fun, Reg kidded that he had precious cargo in his loins and would have to give up flying, and entreated Barty to do the same, since it was unlikely there would be another Crouch if his parents were living in two separate residences.

Severus retained the same demeanor throughout their discussion. The possibility of land and properties intrigued him, but others knowing who gained them did not. Also, while at school he did not need a house, and Spinner's End was a roof over his head when he wasn't. Since he did not know if he could obtain any apprenticeship yet, it would be premature to burden himself with whatever there was.

What hurt though was the talk about future families and children. Severus did not consider himself to be some great bastion of the proud Snape name with a duty to have strong sons to carry on some nonexistent family whatever, but there were women who would marry Black and Crouch knowing that their primary duty was to bear them children.

Would Lily marry a man like that, after all her talk about her future contributions to healing and wizarding kind, and put his family's needs and the task of having an heir and probably a spare first, and then raise them before her daydreamed goals even resurfaced in her mind? By then, her contribution might be having her house elves bake up some treats for her to deliver to invalids at St. Mungo's, and throwing a stack of galleons at some cause that caught her interest.

After dinner, Severus attempted to tell Lily he was still tired to request that they do something less physical, perhaps lengthy snogging, but she claimed he needed more exercise while walking them around the castle before she chose where they would hide out till curfew.

It was during their long stroll around the sixth floor that Phi signaled him discretely that their observer had returned, or at least Severus hoped it was the one that had been following them for months because he was ready to try some new spells that he had found for trapping invisible perusers who were not ectoplasmic, but not harm them or he'd be the one punished.

When Severus slowed down and started muttering at his stupid bird, Lily said, "Come on, Sev. Can't she find the clock tower from here to let herself out?"

He hissed, "No, Phi's keeping an eye out for us. It's close."

Lily's eyes widened as Severus cast something at her, but she felt nothing. She looked down and saw her clothes appeared fine, and didn't pay attention to what Sev was doing until the entire hall behind them thickly filled with crystallized webbing, and he continued casting spells in quick succession. Only the difference in the wand movements let her know it was multiple spells, since Sev had a bad habit of doing most spells nonverbally so she couldn't learn any of them. Stupid git.

She strained to make out what was forming in the middle of it all as various substances stuck to the form. Peeves was shorter, and would not normally be standing with his feet on the floor. This was tall with a pointy hat, taller than a student's cap.

"Headmaster?" Severus asked, while still keeping his wand on the object.

"Quite. It's taking me a bit to work through that one binding you cast at me, Severus."

"Finite incantatem."

"My thanks, dear boy. You certainly got the drop on me there."

"Have you followed us before, sir?"

"I wouldn't say followed, maybe tagged along."

Lily's lip curled up. What a dirty old man, following around couples in the school. Yes, they might be up to out of bounds things, but he was watching? Albus Dumbledore was ruining her life!

Bad enough he was responsible for these scars on her shoulders that got her in trouble with her family. Got Helen killed. Got Mary's hand bit off and turned her into a werewolf every month. And now he was sneaking around to watch her shag Sev? Severus was jumpy enough as it was, but now this loggerheaded toerag goes and proves him right that they are followed?

She'd never get into Sev's trousers again. "I must protest this, headmaster. This goes beyond decency. C'mon, Sev."

Severus was confounded. Dumbledore was following them? An immature or troublemaking student, Peeves, some Gryffindor trying to relive the Marauders' glory days, but the headmaster? Why? If he wanted to give detentions or suspensions or expel them, he didn't need to catch them doing anything. He could just do it. Dumbledore did the complete opposite for the Marauders for years. It wasn't until they killed someone that he couldn't pat them on their heads and hand them candy for being a pack of rambunctious boys. Expelling students without cause would be just as easy for him. It's not like Severus had family that would complain.

Lily repeated, "C'mon," and pulled on Severus's arm.

"I cast spells in the corridors, Lily," Severus reminded her. Since he already had unending detention, was he about to be sent home on a suspension, or was this the excuse they needed to expel him?

"Who cares? You didn't even muss his robe."

"I concur about that restraint," Albus added. "Quite gentle since you did not know who your adversary was."

Severus waited for him to get to his point. The old coot could keep following them since it was his school. Anyone else answered to someone. Well, he guessed the teachers could spy on students. Probably the reason why some of these characters were at a school in the first place.

Lily crossed her arms over her chest. If he thought he was going to punish Severus, Dumbledore had another thing coming. He asked for it prowling around like that. That freaking toerag Potter had an invisibility cloak. All those years of acting like he was so clever, and then his secret was found out. She heard they were expensive. Like his stupid Nimbus broom. Proved someone didn't need brains to be rich. Sirius Black was the same way. Rich, spoiled and didn't give a damn about anyone.

She supposed Dumbledore was the same way, despite his reputation of being one of the good guys. Good guys weren't dishonest sneaks. They could all claim they were bold, courageous and clever till they got caught. In a way she was happy that Severus trapped him. She'd rather know he was telling the truth than thinking he was going crazy from lack of sleep and his unresolved guilt over his mother.

"You did cast spells in the corridor," Albus started, sensing both of them were hostile, rather than pleased with how cleverly they caught him. It was true, Severus had enemies. Protecting himself, with such finesse to determine who or what it was first, before casting something harmful, did not deserve a punishment. "However, I recognize that you led me to an unpopulated area to protect your fellow students, and your cautious approach to an unknown follower was highly appropriate, rather than the 'hex first, ask questions later' that others take, my boy. Obviously I cannot encourage students to attack me so how about I award twenty points to Slytherin for your good judgment? And five for Gryffindor too, Miss Evans."

Severus's eyes narrowed. What was the old man up to now? Was he going to drag this out till a day before he took his NEWTs and then expel him? If Lily had not been with him, perhaps he would have killed the bastard. He had appeared helpless, but appearances could be deceptive.

Lily sneered. Did the headmaster actually think he could cover up getting caught being a dirty peeping tom by awarding points? She'd tell … Prof. McGonagall. They could start with her, and if she didn't care, then maybe the Board of Governors of this crap pile.

Lily could ask Mary. She'd know who else, probably some Ministry people. They were seventeen, so if they wanted to have a private consensual moment together, they shouldn't have some creep watching them or anyone else that caught his fancy. Egh, did Dumbledore fancy the way she looked? Nasty pervert. Why couldn't he have followed them on the night the six of them went out to look at the Whomping Willow? Three times as much fun then.

Albus was befuddled by both of them. Severus had already proven not to be moved by the school's system of rewards and punishments, but usually Miss Evans took pride in her accomplishments. Perhaps because he awarded Slytherin more? Mr. Snape appeared to have done all the work.

"Let's go," Lily said, grabbing Severus's arm. They could go to Prof. McGonagall right now. Obviously, neither of them were in the mood for any lovemaking after that. She wrinkled her nose in disgust just thinking about being watched. Tagging along, her arse. He was intentionally stalking them.

He allowed Lily to lead, but did not know where she was marching briskly towards. "Where are we going?"

"Prof. McGonagall's office."

"Why?"

"To tell her."

"What for? Dumbledore can do whatever he wants."

"No, he can't."

"Are you trying to get expelled, Lily?"

"He can't expel me."

"He can't?"

"What for? He's the one in the wrong."

"Only from your point of view. If called upon to defend himself, I'm sure he could tell a much different tale of what he was doing."

"What?"

"It's called lying."

"We should tell Prof. McGonagall. She may not approve of what we do, but the headmaster sneaking around to watch us is not right either. We're probably not the only two either."

"If you must. However, if it looks like she already knows, or doesn't care, you shouldn't press it with her. I don't believe he ever saw you undressed, if that's any consolation."

"That's probably why he was so persistent. Maybe him and Slughorn got some kind of contest going on."

Severus was revolted. Slughorn and Mrs. Black was some distant, implausible combination, but Slughorn luring students into his quarters for dinner parties and dangling his promises of a leg up to do something else with them? Is that why he liked the good-looking ones with the eager to please attitude? Did Dirk Cresswell suck him off, bend over, or both?

He grabbed her arm as she started pounding on the office door. "Don't be demanding. Prof. McGonagall does not take orders from students."

"I know," she snapped back, but toned down what she was rehearsing in her mind.

"Miss Evans," Prof. McGonagall greeted as she opened her door to find a prefect outside. "I don't suppose you caught Mr. Snape out of bounds?"

"No, he caught Prof. Dumbledore. That's why we're here."

"The headmaster?"

"Do you know he sneaks around the school invisible following students?"

"He is the headmaster."

"Following couples then? Male and female students to watch them?" Lily suggestively added.

"Miss Evans, I do not like what you are implying."

"He's been following us around since Valentine's Day. We didn't know who it was."

"Come in," Minerva invited them with a frown. Albus did say he was keeping an eye on Mr. Snape since his parents' deaths. Obviously there was some miscommunication.

"The first time we noticed someone was the Saturday after Valentine's Day. We stayed at the castle while the rest of the students went to Hogsmeade. When Sev's familiar noticed someone else in the room, it got befuddled somehow and could no longer fly."

Since Prof. McGonagall looked at him, he added, "My bird had trouble with Peeves, but whatever it was did not register as having an ectoplasmic base, which would be poltergeists, ghosts, haunts and the like, even when they are not visible."

It was clear to Minerva how Miss Evans could misconstrue the headmaster's intent. Following them on the Hogsmeade Valentine weekend when they obviously stayed behind together? Albus might pretend to be clueless about such things, but he really had to face facts.

"Since then, Sev's bird noticed that we were still followed, but was quiet about it so we didn't tip off our pursuer."

"You did not do anything about it?"

"It seemed premature to cast a couple bubble headed charms and let loose garrotting gas to deal with it, Professor," Severus sarcastically commented. "I cast various detection charms, but I suppose the headmaster has a number of repellents on his person, giving me poor results."

"Tonight, Severus pounced and trapped him. He was unapologetic, and will probably keep spying on students when they think they are alone," Lily insisted.

"The headmaster would surely have warned you of his presence if the two of you were doing anything inappropriate."

"I don't think so. Why would he choose the two of us to follow otherwise?"

"That would be for him to explain," Minerva replied. "As a prefect, I must remind you that you are a role model to younger students."

"This is part of protecting them, if some dirty old man is spying on them in the baths or whatever the headmaster gets up to."

"Stop! I will speak to the headmaster. He was not following you around to watch you engage in illicit activities."

Lily would be love to know what kind of crazy tale he told McGonagall. He purposely followed her into a room with just the two of them alone as a silent observer. That was not simply crossing their path while invisible.

Albus Dumbledore did not have any wild tales to tell Minerva McGonagall. She was rather smug when he concurred that he had been rendered helpless by a sixth year. If Albus did not know any better, he would have thought she swallowed a canary on her way to his office.

By the time she left, he agreed to disagree that he had gone about keeping an eye on Snape the wrong way. Miss Evans and Mr. Snape had not been doing anything embarrassing, however Minerva was adamant that continuing to follow the same students while invisible was a gross breach of their privacy.

Although Miss Evans had not admitted what they could have been observed doing, Minerva was almost definite they did more than talk, eat, and play a friendly game of chess. Albus was such a nitwit.

Concerned that his students had the wrong impression of what he was up to, Albus found Severus where Argus said he'd be in one of the upper corridors cleaning.

Phi gave her person the signal that one of his enemies was approaching, and he responded by looking at the mirror she angled for him, while pretending to be playing with it.

The riot of color identified the headmaster easily. Visible, but still a nuisance.

Severus continued with his work for a couple minutes, refusing to acknowledge the galling old man until he chose to address him.

Albus had noticed Severus's attire before. He continued to admire the boy's striking disregard for fashion. Bold in its statement about the unimportance of materialism. Quite audacious for a Slytherin, especially with Horace's fanatical belief regarding clothing making the man. Horace was definitely kicking himself over missing this gem. Unpolished, unrefined, yet unbreakable. Unbreakable was the original Greek word for diamond, or something like that. Prof. Upsilon had been on his mind too much lately since he frequently usurped Horace's seat during his absences. He expressed the opinion that Severus was a natural philosopher.

"Ah Severus, my boy."

Was Severus supposed to believe that the irresponsible fool accidentally stumbled across him seconds ago while strolling about the castle? He may have a winking and elbowing relationship with the Minister to overlook his unreliability, but Dumbledore would never have that with him. In constant remembrance that this man could do whatever he wanted to Severus, he muttered a reply, "Headmaster."

"Mr. Filch is going to run out of things for you to do at the rate you're going."

"I doubt it, sir," replied Severus, resistant to the headmaster's jovial tone.

"Well, I wanted you to know that I was not intentionally following you to cause concern."

As the silence grew between them, Severus answered, "All right." He knew the crackpot would rather not have been detected at all. Why bother stating the obvious?

"Also, I wanted to repeat that your choice of spells was impeccable. I recognized a number of them. Detain, detect, and expose without injury. I'm sure you thought of many possibilities, perhaps even a first year with an invisibility cloak who would be unable to defend himself."

Severus did not respond to such a transparent taunt. He and the rest of the school heard Potter was caught with an invisibility cloak by Flitwick. So he had it since he was a first year? Figures that the headmaster would benignly allow an eleven year old to sneak about out of bounds. Man was a complete boob. After all that occurred with those four Gryffindors, he still remembered them fondly, rather than contemplating he may have made a mistake with his overly forgiving attitude towards his favorite students.

"Is everything else good with you, Severus? I noticed you left the school for Easter break."

"I am licensed to apparate now."

"Of course. Did you go home or somewhere nice to enjoy the fine weather? After such a icy winter, who would have thought the April would be so pleasant?"

Home or somewhere nice? Did Sirius Black send him some insults to try out? He grunted, "Home."

"You live in a very lively neighborhood with a distinct air of intrigue."

Severus was not sure what Prof. Sprout had told the other staff about his home. He suspected she had talked because Prof. McGonagall's interest in him started shortly after that. The only explanation he could come up with to match the headmaster's description was that someone must have stepped on a discarded syringe, in the vulnerable velvet booties with tassels that the bastard currently wore, and gotten caught up in the grip of the dregs of whatever drug remained in it.

"Close to Miss Evans?"

"Yes."

"Her family is very nice."

"Yes." Severus thought it unlikely that the son of a bitch was contrasting them to his parents, considering they were dead. However, insulting his dead parents would come naturally to a Gryffindor. The taunts regarding his mother from the ones that still idolized the Marauders were weak, since they had no real information to formulate something that had some bite. He reminded himself there was nothing he could do to Dumbledore now. He needed to wait. The miscreant was only guaranteeing that when his revenge came, it would be painful and drawn-out.

Unlike a sudden burst of accidental magic, unbeknownst to both of them, sending a sudden pain in Albus's left knee and he fell to the floor. The pain was not abating once his weight was off of it.

Cautious of some sort of trick, Severus inquired, "Sir?"

Phi took wing to scout for someone or something else nearby that was in hiding. If something stealthily attacked the enemy of her person, that did not necessarily make it his ally.

"My knee."

Severus had already determined that was the probable cause for the screaming from the way the headmaster was holding it. "Would you like assistance to the Infirmary, sir?"

"If you could help me up and lend me your shoulder, I'm sure we could manage."

Trap. Physically assist? End up with a knife inserted between his ribs to pierce his lung, or perhaps from behind to be twisted in his kidney? Is that what happened to Pettigrew? Snuck around one time too many, found out a secret of the headmaster's, and then the blackmail attempt went wrong?

He set his chalk to writing a message to Mr. Filch on the ceiling. After the stone lintel and Mr. Filch's agreement that the school was crawling with nasty students after hours, they figured that there should be some way to let the caretaker know if Severus needed to willingly leave where he was working.

Levicorpus did cross Severus's mind. The left ankle, using the indication of laevus, would be particularly sweet, considering the headmaster held his left knee.

The man could be faking. The man lied about so much. Potter faked quidditch injuries to get the girls cooing over him, and then would shrug it off to duel with him. Dumbledore did not even pretend well by doing something. He had simply been standing there. Dunderhead.

"I don't want you touching me," Severus said as he jerked his wand and nonverbally lifted the headmaster bodily, rather than using only his left ankle.

If Albus's knee wasn't so painful, the tone of his student's voice when he said such a thing would have wounded him.

Phi could not circle well in the corridor, but liked when they reached the stairwell. Now she could cover more. She let her person know that she only saw one other person in the vicinity. He was entering the stairs from a corridor lower down, so he was unlikely to be the attacker.

Severus called, "Shingleton." Dumbledore could kill them both, but he might like the head boy.

The Head Boy looked up and responded, "Snape. What are you up to?" He did not immediately assume the worst since the Slytherin had aided his younger sister. He had a terrible reputation, but that was mostly because of the idiot Gryffindors who considered reading books during meals to be a crime.

"Ah, Mr. Shingleton. Mr. Snape is helping me to the Infirmary."

Gaspard Shingleton took that as a positive sign. The headmaster was conscious and believed Snape was assisting him, rather than about to drop him over the edge into the center of the stairwell. He started up the stairs, since anyone else they met may get the wrong idea when they first spotted this. "Were you injured, Headmaster?"

"Rather silly, my knee gave out. Quite painful," Albus replied. "They may be expanding a line on the London Underground. I have a scar just above my knee that is a precise map of it."

Severus rolled his eyes. The jackass forgot he was in dire pain and launched into some tangent like he was having tea with Slughorn. If this stint of getting the headmaster up to the Infirmary worked out, perhaps Slughorn would want to be conveyed around the school in this manner. He was too important and fat to have to walk. Slughorn and Sirius Black's mother must be like two whales beaching themselves. At least if Lily continued to eat her way through everything that got within reach, she might plump up enough to drive away other fellows. He didn't recall anything that he read about those cursed scars causing a desire for food and sex, just rare meat, but something about Lily had changed about the time she was attacked. Severus did not blame her. It was something he needed to live with. His life was about enduring, rather than enjoying. Right now, he was enduring the senseless discussion between the head boy and the headmaster while being their silent lackey, rather than enjoying a demonstration of why Hogwarts' staircases should have railings installed.

Singleton got the Infirmary door so Severus was able to drop the headmaster on the first bed without entering the room. He muttered, "I'll be getting back to detention now," and let the door swing shut in his face, while the head boy took care of whatever needed to be done.

Madam Pomfrey came out of her office. "What happened to you, Albus?"

"Something with my knee."

She tsk'd and took out her wand. After a couple waves, she commented, "You popped it out of place. Racing up and down the stairs? You are getting close to a hundred."

"No, I was standing around, talking to Mr. Snape."

Poppy raised her eyebrows and asked, "He have something to do with this?"

Gaspard did not like the tone in her question. He doubted Snape attacked the headmaster, unless Dumbledore came strolling along the hall singing about how much he loved Potter and Black.

"No, he didn't. He helped me get up here."

She sighed, and maneuvered his kneecap back.

"Oooh! Besides, Severus had me trapped earlier tonight. If he wanted to harm me, he could have then."

"What do you mean trapped?"

"Ah well, Minerva told me already I was being bad. I was following him and Miss Evans while disillusioned, and he stopped me dead in my tracks and exposed me."

"Did you suspect him of something?"

"No, I'm concerned about him."

"Isn't it a little late for that?"

"Right. I forgot you were in on that too, Poppy."

Gaspard had no idea what they were talking about, other than concern over Snape. Both Snape's parents died a couple months ago. The prefects discussed it, when Evans wasn't around. Death Eaters is what he heard. The story was kept out of the paper because it was so devastating, but the Lestrange brothers died during the fight. Little young for He Must Not Be Named to be targeting his family because he was a blood traitor.

So what if he was friends with Evans because that's the only student that lived near him? He lived in a muggle neighborhood, or that's what he heard. What other friends was he going to have? Potter and Black for years accused anyone who talked to him of doing Dark Arts and attacked them. He also roomed with four of the wealthiest students at the school. Severus Snape was no Peter Pettigrew kissing arse, laughing at every lame joke, and applauding every bowel movement his rich friends made.

Turned out it was Sirius Black that was the murdering coward, and he probably had Pettigrew killed for knowing too much. Black was out there right now, working for He Must Not Be Named. No accident that Snape's parents were targeted, nor that Black's family were the ones killed at the scene of the crime, along with his favorite cousin, Bellatrix, dying from mortal injuries she got from the same muggles that killed her husband. Must have been a bloodbath for muggles to fight back against wizards. Fight or die.

"In on it?" Pomfrey countered. "I am concerned about a student who you forgot about."

"I'm sorry for that. Truly I am. However, how many times must I say I didn't know it was important?"

"Hobnobbing at the Ministry is more important than Hogwarts? You and Horace better get your priorites straight."

"I'm here now, and I have been attempting to talk to Severus."

"Perhaps you fail to realize he's not interested in talking to you now."

"He's not much of a talker. It takes time for him to get comfortable with someone."

"His mother's dead due to you, Albus. That's not something that's easy to forgive."

"That's a rather strong thing to say, Poppy."

"I have no evidence to the contrary, do I?"

Albus lifted his eyes to the ceiling and asked, "My knee all better now?"

"I'll give you something for pain and swelling to take before bed. It can pop out again so rest it. No creeping about the school trying to catch couples snogging."

"I was not. Did Minerva tell you that?"

"Why would she? You said yourself you were following Mr. Snape and Miss Evans. What do you think they do?"

"They talk and play chess."

The next time Poppy gave a class for the students on where little wizards and witches came from, Albus had better attend. Play chess. What a numbskull.

Gaspard had something new to think about. He knew Dumbledore was distracted by He Must Not Be Named, and Slughorn had also been taking time off from teaching, which was a major problem since Gaspard needed his Potions NEWT. They did something to Snape. Something to do with his mother. No wonder why Sprout took Snape out of two classes for the morning, rather than his own head of house. He wondered what Frank would say once he told him about this.

Regulus was unhappy. Uncle Cygnus was doing nothing, or was not letting his nephew in on his plan.

His mother let Slughorn hold a dinner party at her house before they returned to school for some people he wanted to impress.

For no reason, he got seated next to the boring potioneer who shared his name, Regulus Moonshine. The man was a loser. He was a potion brewer, who had done nothing except get himself saddled with an apprentice based on Slughorn's recommendation, and the apprentice was about to start her sixth year of apprenticeship in July because he would not certify her as a master until she actually mastered the craft.

He had to make Slughorn pay. Snape seemed his best weapon, but how to use him? The sixth year was hard to motivate, unless it involved that mudblood, Evans, and perhaps her werewolf friend, MacDonald, now that Evans was packing on a few too many pounds. The only advantage Regulus noticed was her tits grew bigger too.

Money? Snape already annoyed Slughorn at school simply by existing. What could he do over the summer, if Regulus's mother would not allow him to invite the half-blood over? Getting himself invited to Snape's was not going to help, it would just get him out of the house so his mother and that gigolo could carry on even more outrageously.

That's what he appreciated about Severus Snape, now that his horrible brother, Sirius, was gone and no longer got distracted from bullying his little brother by the ugly half-blood. When the rest of Slytherin made fun of him, and then his mother, he did not bother joining in. Barty hadn't either. It was hard to tell if Barty even listened since he was starting his one year countdown to his OWLs.

Snape was late getting back from detention tonight. He had been quiet earlier today, and Regulus was not sure if it was his usual silence. His cousin and her family had killed his muggle father, and that had been what the younger students wanted to talk about, or rather who was going to inherit their wealth.

Regulus still had no idea why Bellatrix and the other Lestranges would have been there, even two months later. Uncle Cygnus pretended they had gone rogue, and took it upon themselves to attack muggles randomly, but what were the chances with all the muggles in England to end up at a pub in the middle of nowhere? As likely as dear Sirius, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew innocently stopping in there for a drink last summer.

For all he knew, Snape could think it bloody hilarious that Reg's mother was under whatever spell Slughorn put her under. He had loads of reasons – Sirius, Bellatrix, Sirius, getting Slughorn out of the school to get a Potions master next year who might notice that he got into the NEWT level class, and oh yeah, darling Sirius.

Although Regulus had his own reasons for associating with Snape, he never did anything harmful to him, other than some nudges and taunts to prod him in the right direction. Regulus had even given him the robe off his back last June when the Marauders had gone too far. His brother really was a bastard.

Between that and taking a turn once a week to guard the bath while Snape was in there, Regulus had gotten more than enough of a look to know what kind of shits his brother and Potter were. He had a few brushes with incendio from his dear brother, except his parents cared to get him healed. Hogwarts didn't.

Regulus knew from personal experience when Sirius made the back of his underpants go up and over his head till they caught on his chin when he first got on the train that first day. Hours of agony, unable to sit and McGonagall telling him he'd have to wait till after he was Sorted. Then Pomfrey shrugging at him and a few other boys that crossed his brother's path on the train, getting off the train, and anywhere near the Great Hall that night. Admittedly, Slughorn did give him something for his balls and bleeding arse crack. Barty had tied Sirius's shoelaces to Pettigrew's the next morning at breakfast. Pettigrew had gotten up first, fell on his face, and then the Marauders had blamed Snape. His brother and his friends had been so stupid. Snape, Snape, Snape.

Here Snape was, at last.

Dressed as fashionably as Filch. Merlin, was he hideous. Thank goodness chunky mudbloods and werewolves were slutty enough to throw themselves at him and his meaty muggle dick. Perhaps that had been his muggle father's charm to snare a witch? If he didn't have those two tramps, he'd have a lot of time on his hands to think about making lists of enemies, and probably making all of Slytherin house miserable, now that the Marauders weren't around.

"All right, Snape?" Regulus called.

"Suppose. You, Black?"

"Are you going to be up for a while? I wanted to talk to you."

"What about?"

"Earlier today," Regulus said, getting up and approaching Snape who had made no move to join him. "I know firsthand how insensitive our classmates can be. If they talked longer about it, I would have insisted they stop."

"It's fine."

"No, it's not. You help them, and me, so we can respect any boundaries you set, if we still want your help. Next year, I know you'll have NEWTs, but reviewing it with me when I'm a fifth year taking OWLs will be a huge help."

"You got Crouch."

"I cannot relate to what Barty says when he's in study mode. He's a good student, but he's no good to me as a study partner."

Severus shrugged.

"I didn't know anything about my cousin either. If you ever thought that."

"I doubted that would be something for her to boast about in advance, especially to her much younger cousin still at school."

Regulus nodded, but mentioned, "Though I admit it's damned strange. Every aspect of it. My uncle, her father, has said he didn't know what they were up to. She's grown and out of his house. Those Lestranges could have come up with the idea."

"If you have no information, why bother mentioning it?"

"Only to reiterate that I am not of the same beliefs." Following the bastard of a squib sired by a muggle? Absolute folly. He had no idea why his uncle had not disassociated himself yet. Better, set an indisputable pureblood up to take things over, while the Ministry is busy with the madman. "You know I'm not like that, Snape."

Severus did not know one way or the other, what Regulus believed. They were loose allies against his brother, and now that his brother was no longer here, they still associated with each other. "Was that it?"

"Uh … maybe not, what are you doing this summer?"

"Going home. I did not complete what needs to be done in the past week."

Regulus nodded in what he hoped would be interpreted as sympathetic understanding. "I met a fellow last night. A potions master, who already has an apprentice, but he may be interested in hiring someone for the summer. Seems he's overwhelmed, even with the apprentice."

"Who?" Severus asked. If it was someone of note in Britain, it was not going to happen.

"Let me write to him, see if he's interested. I don't want you to develop hard feelings since he's likely to be your colleague one day."

"I don't know."

"What does it hurt? The guy's not pleased with Slughorn. I'm not pleased with Slughorn. And I doubt there's any love lost between you and Slughorn. You understand?"

"Try not to make it so obvious to him. He might think you are gold-plating your description of my abilities in order to make a fool of him later for taking me on."

"Don't worry. He's probably looking for anyone not recommended by Slughorn now. He's had the same apprentice, recommended by this school's potions master, for years."

A slight snort escaped Severus, "Maybe he'll take it as an overall indication that Hogwarts does not teach potions properly, and that apprentice is the best that the school has to offer."

"What does it hurt? You were in The Practical Potioneer for theoretical work you completed at the age of sixteen, and the Order of Merlin might get his attention. You aren't talentless. Just that you aren't Slughorn's type because you think for yourself. Nor Dumbledore's because you aren't a brainless Gryffindor."

Severus shrugged, "If you feel like it, Black. Getting me work for the summer won't exactly knock Slughorn on his arse."

"I'll settle for anything that irritates him now. He's oblivious to direct attacks."

"Can't you spit on his food at the next dinner party?"

"Oh Merlin! Sitting next to him is the worst seat at the table. I have to time it to get a burly quidditch player between me and him so he forgets to direct questions my way. Now that he's pretending to woo my mum, I doubt he'll forget me. Probably ask me stupid questions to try to get me to brag about our house or wealth to impress his little crowd."

He remained silent. Severus could not relate to something like that. However, it would not be prudent to point that out to him. Black seemed sincere, and it was undoubtedly heart-wrenching to watch your mother seduced during your father's funeral. Since Mrs. Black did not need Slughorn, he suspected some potion like many others. Slughorn never displayed the sort of charm needed to sweep a woman off her feet in front of Severus. He considered Slughorn a selfish man, much like the headmaster. They'd rather indulge their own whims entirely than bother wasting any love on someone other than themselves.

"At least Barty gets invited with me so I don't have to listen to all the berks trying to outdo each other to get Slughorn's attention. Anyway, I'll write the bloke as you looking for general work, rather than as a potions genius. That way he can decide what you're capable of handling, or deciding you're too demanding before he meets you."

"I have some things to sort out, Black, if you'll excuse me."

"Sure. Good night."

"Night."

Lily had been right. Albus Dumbledore was a total bum rag! She wasn't sure how Severus bathed or went to the bathroom, but he definitely was not letting Lily get her hands in, or even on, his trousers. Maybe he'd feel safer in Hogsmeade, or outside somewhere. The weather was getting nice enough that being undressed in the evening wouldn't be too chilly without warming charms.

They both had a great deal of homework. Lily had to work extra hard on Divination since she totally hosed up February on Sev's chart. She had pressured him to think about anything, but all he came up with was that he was informed about the success of the potions experiment regarding those eyeballs. Her professor did not feel that outweighed the death of both his parents. Lily argued that if her professor had known them, that he might feel differently.

After the words were out of her mouth, Lily felt two inches tall. Her professor gave her a chance to recover by asking about wealth. That was clearly in Sev's chart, and largely the reason Lily claimed good fortune for that month, overlooking the dire portent in his house regarding family. Inheriting a house and its contents, when he already lived in it, did not impress the instructor.

At least she had Mary in Muggles Studies for a laugh. Even Severus started correcting her perceptions. His knowledge was not as extensive as Lily's, but he recognized some things as being totally incorrect. He also had a better grasp of 'street life' than Lily. Though Lily thought he exaggerated about how many muggles took drugs they bought from dodgy people, and told Mary so. Lily did not know any muggles like that. She was also positive that he made up that it was pills, injected liquids, powder they snorted up their noses, other things they smelled, things they smoked, and liquids that were put on other objects that they licked off. When did Sev have time to think up all this crap? With his nightly detention, and Sev also having Runes and Arithmancy, Lily was not sure he had time to sleep.

Lily was also concerned by the amount of mail Severus still received. He did not share most of it with her, but one morning he asked her if she wanted to work over the summer. Some potion bloke wanted to hire Severus, but for seven days a week for six weeks. Forty-two days straight. Severus wanted to write back to suggest he could hire the two of them – Severus and Lily – for five days a week for those same six weeks, and they would split the same salary between them equally.

She took the letter and read it over, "Who's Regulus Moonshine?"

"Someone Black knows. He already has an apprentice so we may not be doing anything requiring any skill. This could help towards obtaining your healer apprenticeship after graduation."

"Hmm, but what would we be doing?"

"Anything. We might be pulling weeds out of his garden. He asked for both my Potions and Herbology OWL scores."

"I don't want to pull weeds. That's dirty and I'll burn."

"For six weeks, you might want to consider performing any reasonable task in order to gain his favor."

"Look who's talking."

"What? I do whatever Mr. Filch puts me to."

"I didn't mean that."

"Are you interested or not? I don't want to be away from you for six weeks, so if you aren't, I'm not either."

"What's the big deal, Sev? It's only six weeks."

"I also think seven days a week is unreasonable, even if he's including a place to sleep."

"Is he going to feed you?"

"That's not mentioned. Since I would be living there, I presume it would."

"Is that a decent wage? Only one hundred galleons?"

"Someone's offering you more, Lily?"

"No, but I don't want either of us to work for less than we're worth."

"You are sitting on so much money that fifty galleons is not worth your time? Apprentices do not get paid straight wages. It's an arrangement between the master and apprentice. Some are only fed and clothed for their apprenticeship."

"If a hundred's a lot, you should take the job and not worry about me, Sev."

"Why not? I think it worth discussing."

"You don't tell me what's in the other letters you get."

"I'm not making any decisions that would involve you."

"How does this involve me?"

"You mentioned that we might be doing things this summer, now that we can apparate. Why would I decide to tie up six weeks of the holiday without talking to you first?"

"All right. Can you put in some of your tricky conditions?"

"Like what?"

"Like which five days and the hours? I don't want to have to work sixteen hours a day for this fellow to think he's getting his money's worth."

"Should I suggest Saturday and Sunday as our days off, since that's when your father is not at work?"

"Yeah, that would be good. Can we apparate home from Mould-on-the-Wold? What kind of name is that anyway?"

"It's closer than London, but I can ask about floo connections. There's one public one in the local pub. I've already checked my directory."

"Where'd you get that?"

"The Ministry. Write like you are a tourist visiting, and they'll deluge you with pamphlets on what to do and how to get there."

"Hey, you did not share those with me. I might want to look those over so we can take our little trips."

"All right. There's also a sort of bus, but I'm not sure if we can use it all the time. It's for 'stranded' wizards and witches."

"I guess they don't define stranded?"

"No."

"So hours … um, what's reasonable? He might expect we're young and full of energy."

"How about I specify no more than twelve hours per day, or fifty hours per week? That way if there's something special happening, we are flexible. Maybe include frequency of breaks too?"

"So if together we are working a hundred hours per week, that would exceed what you'd work alone in seven days? That way it sounds like a good deal?"

"Until he sees you eat," Severus laughed.

"That's not funny, Sev," Lily protested. She had been gaining weight. Might be because she was getting older and her womanly curves were just filling out. That's where her clothes were getting tight.

"Oh, come on. It was more of a comparison to me, than in general. If he does not have separate rooms for both of us, should I even suggest we can share? Or don't?"

Lily bit her lower lip. This fellow could take her as some loose woman. Besides, if she got into a fight with Sev, would it be fair to throw him out?

"I can try to phrase it professionally," Severus added. "It won't be until we're actually there that we'll get a feel for how private it is. The potioneer listing in the library says he has a family, so there could be children running all over hollering."

"After that sneak Dumbledore, I doubt that would be a big problem," Lily muttered darkly.

"Should I reply offering both of us then?"

"Sure, I'll let my parents know."

"What was your OWL in Herbology? You got an O for Potions, right?"

"You did not memorize my grades? Really, Sev. I got an E for Herbology, and an O for Potions."

"Too much has happened since last summer for me to remember everything. Did you know Crouch plans to sit all twelve OWLs next year? No wonder why he's giggling like a goon half the time."

"Aren't some of those classes held at the same time?"

"I thought so. You're in Divination while I'm in Arithmancy."

"Well, those two are complete opposites, so I can see why no one would take both. That's probably what's pushed him over the edge."

Severus sighed. Lily was always picking on Arithmancy.

"Jobs. Wow. So what are we going to spend the money on?"

"We don't need to spend it right away."

"Why must you be so practical, Sev?"

"You aren't going to want to wear the same dress robe the rest of your life."

"Oh yeah, so we're going to look around Gladrags at Hogsmeade this weekend?"

"We can."

"Do you have any money, Sev?"

"Yes."

Lily frowned at him. Where did he get money? The apparition class supposedly wiped him out. He was selling those books, rather than letting her father give him a loan. Why did he have to be so difficult? It was not going to inspire her to marry him when he would not take money when he needed it. Willing to work was good though. Just that he was being a bit odd with not wanting all the money for himself. Maybe it would help her get an apprenticeship, but if she was asked to pull weeds by hand, that was going to be Sev's job. She pressed, "Enough for dress robes?"

"I'm not sure, but if I don't, I'll find out then. Besides, aren't yours going to cost more? Witches are fashionable. Most wizards aren't, or at least I have some difficulty picturing myself in something with goldfish swimming along the hems."

"When did Dumbledore wear that?"

"Not yet, but he may wear something like that any day now."

"He's such a toerag."

"Is there anywhere else you want to visit in Hogsmeade?" Severus asked.

"Maybe. I don't know. I'm so frustrated about us not being able to ... you know with him following us."

"Perhaps it will make us stronger. We spend time together doing other things for now."

Lily frowned, "Yeah. Lot of tests coming up, even if this is the year between OWLs and NEWTs, it's no time to slack off. And you know what, if this Moonshine is a peeping perv like Dumbledore, I might just hex his eyeballs out."

"Since we're surprising him with this idea to hire both of us, I doubt he planned on watching."

"Why not? You are very interesting, Sev."

"Maybe to you."

"I want to keep you all to myself."

"What about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you want me to be only yours, Lily, are you conversely only mine?"

Lily tutted, "Why do you have to bring that sort of thing up, Sev?"

"I thought that's what you were talking about."

"I don't mean it as seriously as you do."

"Do you mean it at all?"

"Sev! Of course I mean it, in a fun way. Not the forever way."

Slowly he responded, "I'm not understanding what you are trying to say, Lily. If I am fun, a good companion and you love me, why can't it be forever?"

"Because I need to meet more people. There could be someone that's a better fit for me."

"What is wrong with me?"

"Nothing's wrong with you that uh, you know … I mean I do tell you, but sometimes then I understand it better later so I'm not always right."

"Is there something that is currently an obstacle?"

"We're only seventeen, Sev. I'm interested in being a healer, and you are uh, interested in Potions?"

"They aren't so different, Lily. Both of us will need apprenticeships. Even if I did nothing except follow you around, you'd still need an apprenticeship with someone."

"Well, we'd have to wait till after that, wouldn't we?"

"Why? That gives us less of a reason to be together, is that what you want? So you'll have time to meet these other people?"

"I don't know. I mean, as an apprentice, I might not meet many people. It might not be till later."

"In other words, maybe twenty years from now, or you'll always be looking to meet new people?"

"No, I don't even think it'll be twenty years. I just want to be sure first."

"Is there something I could improve for you? Other than blinding the headmaster?"

"Um well, why are you getting so many letters?"

"My letters? You already know I correspond with Lovegood. Longbottom's last letter is going to take time to answer because it was odd for him. Usually it's a lot about him, but this time he wrote asking direct questions about me."

"You don't have to answer them."

"I'm not going to answer all of them. Most of them are speculative anyway. I think he's fishing around to give himself something extra on top of auror training. He called it a case study, or something like that. I've also picked out a solicitor so I'm corresponding with him."

"Why do you need a solicitor?"

"Since I have some property, I thought it was responsible to have my documents in order."

"That's all right."

"That's about it. There were probably more owls than I needed because I was looking for a wizarding solicitor that could also handle muggle matters."

"Oh, so that explains it."

"Did you want to read my letters?"

"No, I don't need to do that, Sev."

"So what besides me receiving letters is bothering you?"

"I don't know, Sev. You do so much that I don't know about."

"What are you suggesting? Should I write down everything I do, or you want to live with me?"

"Live with you? How can I do that? You're in Slytherin."

"I mean outside school."

"I don't want to live in Spinner's End."

"If this employment does not pan out, maybe I can find us something for the summer."

"All summer?" Lily whinged.

"Lily, what do you want? You are not clear."

"I don't know."

"Do you at least understand my problem then, Lily? You don't know what you want, and I can't adjust to it."

"I know. You've told me this before, Sev."

"I think we should spend more time together this summer, including some time overnight. Is that unreasonable?" Severus figured if Lily had sex all the time, she'd stop thinking about why she did not want to be with him.

"No, that seems fair. The only thing that worries me is what you said about somewhere other than Spinner's End, if we don't get this job."

"You mentioned the seaside. I'm going to give you the papers from the Ministry for other places. We may not be sharing, if this Moonshine does not accept both of us, so we may not be able to count on that."

"That's fine. I understood that. Hotels cost money."

"I think it's my turn to say 'I know'."

"I don't think my parents are going to give me money to shack up with you somewhere."

"I wouldn't expect them to, since it'll be just the two of us."

Struck by a sudden idea, Lily said, "They may be going on vacation this year, after Petunia's wedding. They are just waiting to see what the final bills are. Maybe you can come with us. Mum will be easy to convince."

"Not the seaside with them. She'll pry too much into why I won't go swimming."

"There's something I don't like. You and your conditions."

"What? You've had me undressed enough times to know why I should not wear barely anything in public. My conditions are to avoid problems I can foresee."

"It doesn't matter to me what you look like."

"It does to me."

Lily sighed.

Bored to tears, James sent more letters to other professional quidditch teams. He wouldn't be able to pick where he was going to live until he knew which teams wanted him as a starting chaser.

The Potter solicitor was not moving fast enough on getting Remus out either. It took over a week for the Lupins to admit they wanted help with an appeal. What was wrong with them? James was Remus's friend.

Next week, James was supposed to go with the solicitor to Azkaban to meet with Remus and his parents. He could not wait to see his best friend again. They were going to have so much fun once Remus was let out.

Lily sighed. After twenty minutes of wrangling to get the color just right on these perfect robes, they were more money than her father had given her. She had a little of her own, but she was still short. Would the stores in Diagon Alley have something like these, or was she going to have to write her parents with the hope these would still be here?

She did not like Severus's choice. They were black. All black. Even the buttons were covered in the same black fabric.

In a bad mood over her own robes, Lily groused, "We're going to a wedding not a funeral."

Severus's eyes met hers in the mirror. The corners of his mouth turned down, but he did not reply. He turned towards the saleslady and murmured something Lily could not make out.

The shirt that was under the jacket sort of thing was transformed to the same green as Lily's robes and eyes. "Better?" he asked.

"It would be, but I'm not getting these."

"Why not? I thought you said you loved them, Lily."

"Too expensive."

"Those robes do look very nice on you. How much more do you need?"

"Too much. Another sixteen galleons."

"I might have enough."

"Where'd you get that?"

His eyes shifted slightly and one of his eyebrows twitched, before he asked, "Can we discuss that later?"

Lily frowned. Did Severus rob or blackmail someone? "You are going to have to let me pay you back."

"That's fine."

"You are going to need shoes too, Sev," Lily commented looking at the old pair of laced up boots he was wearing. Those were not his worst pair though. When did he get better old boots?

"I don't know if I have enough today for both our robes and shoes."

"How much are yours?"

"Why would it matter to you? I like them."

"I wasn't saying I did not like them, but maybe um … you know they are sort of plain."

"I don't want something stupid."

Severus's eyes did not have to indicate what he meant. The nearby Gladrags sock display was a tribute to offensiveness.

"I'm concerned about you overspending," Lily said, stepping closer to see the two of them together in the mirror. The shirt did make a difference. Subtle, since it could only be seen at his collar and cuffs.

"I should get a couple other shirts, perhaps?"

"White, if it's not too stark. Maybe something different for you? Purple?"

"Purple?" he sneered. Looking around he spied a maroon, sort of blood red, but enough blue hinted into it to keep it from being mistaken as a dark Gryffindor. "That," he pointed to it.

Lily's nose wrinkled, but when the saleslady transformed the shirt he had on to that color, Lily could see it was impressive in sort of a dark wizard, or Severus the Slimy, sort of way.

"Hm, I might have to get a robe with some of that color in it," she whispered to him. "Maybe not the whole thing because of my hair, but definitely noticeable."

"Maybe black with it at the hems with another complimentary color? That way it won't be close to your hair or eyes."

"Severus, do not talk about clothes around other people. I appreciate your input, but between this and you talking about Petunia's wedding gown, it's freaky."

"Why? Didn't I tell you this green color would be good for you?"

"It is, but boys do not talk about clothes."

The saleslady interrupted, "The young lady said you would be interested in shoes?"

"Do you have any with steel toes?"

Lily laughed, "That's more like it."

"Steel toes, sir?"

"Yes, metal to keep the wearer's toes safe."

"Like a protection charm to keep your feet dry and warm?"

"No, to save them from being crushed under large blocks of stone that fall out of castle ceilings on them."

"Ah, a joke?"

"No, I go to Hogwarts. The place is a dump that's falling apart."

From nowhere, someone said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk."

It was that blonde reporter from Parkin's funeral. The same one that bothered him when he was grouting bathroom tile. She was behind a rack of robes, pulling out a notepad. "How often have these large blocks of stone fallen or almost fallen on a student, Severus?"

Puzzled that he had not seen her here, or heard the bell on the door, Severus muttered, "Only once on me and another student."

"Do you think something structural at the school may have been the cause of death of that boy in December?"

"Perhaps, but not likely."

Lily added, "He was frequently out of bounds. Pettigrew may not even have been at the school when he got hurt."

"Pettigrew? That name's familiar. Is he one of the boys that attacked muggles in a pub last summer? The same pub that Death Eaters killed your father and many others in February, Severus?"

"Yes."

"Any relation between the two incidents that you've noticed?"

"Merely unlikely the two incidents are not related. I was not at the location during either attack on muggles so I would not know."

"Wasn't it Black's family that was killed there?" Lily accused.

"Yes, his cousin and her relations were Death Eaters," Rita agreed. Bellatrix Black. Even now that she was dead, horribly and in pieces dead, Rita did not feel vindicated. She'd rather torture Bellatrix, but without her around, she'd settle for her family. "The Black family motto is toujours pur, or always pure. Not hard to imagine who they support."

"Regulus is all right," Severus mentioned.

"Yes," Lily agreed.

"Well, in that case, let us pray he lives to adulthood. His brother won't stay disinherited if he kills off the other heir, will he? If Sirius Black is capable of murder, that is. He fled the country before his trial to avoid Azkaban."

Lily thought about that. Sirius was rather nasty to his younger brother at school. Would he go as far to kill him though? He sent the whole lot of them to a werewolf so Lily would not put anything past Sirius Black. Did he even feel any remorse, while he ran off to get married? James Potter was as big a toerag as ever, only a month ago.

"That would be between the Blacks," Severus commented. Why would this woman care what he thought? Sirius Black was a killer. Any dunderhead knew that. He was in here to buy clothes, not talk.

"Do you feel the school is doing enough to protect students from Death Eaters? I noticed Horace Slughorn closely escorting young Regulus. Since your father may have been targeted by Death Eaters, has Mr. Slughorn taken the time to equally protect you, Severus?" Rita asked while acting like she was looking around for the potions master, who was as large as the rack she herself had been hiding behind.

"I should get back to making this purchase, rather than keeping this lady waiting," Severus said, intentionally turning back to the saleslady.

Rita raised an eyebrow at Lily. She was friendly and forthcoming, and from the matching colors, Snape's full-figured girlfriend. Evans had not been this fleshy at Parkin's funeral. Fat Gryffindors in girdles. She seemed more the mouthy sort, than a girl of action. Rita liked loose-lipped people. She complimented Lily, "That is a lovely robe. It suits you perfectly."

"Thank you. We're going to a wedding in July."

"Anyone I might know?"

"Frank Longbottom and Alice Oakby."

Rita smiled, even though Augusta Longbottom was an opinionated vulture. "How lovely. You two have any plans?"

"Us? We are a bit young."

"Holding out for someone wealthier?" Rita hinted. No self-respecting girl would borrow sixteen galleons from a hard-working, poor boy such as this. He was not going to have those pockmarks forever. His ugliness was slowly becoming part of his charm in Rita's eyes.

"That's not a very nice thing to say."

"Saving your life only once not good enough for you?" the reporter guessed. She doubted the problem was Snape since he obviously would give this floozy every coin he had. "I know how you Gryffindors are. That was six months ago, but what has he done for you lately?"

"Why are you being so confrontational? We're two seventeen year olds in our sixth year. There's no reason to rush."

"Too young to be a widow, you mean? Severus certainly has enemies. Enemies who have no qualms about killing seventeen year olds in sixth year."

"Stop saying that sort of thing," Lily replied, looking to see that Severus was still doing something else.

"Striking too close to home?" Rita angled. "Death Eaters, Sirius Black, the Ministry and who knows who else would rather he be permanently silenced."

"The Ministry?"

"Not the Ministry? They like seventeen years olds in sixth year questioning their policies? How do you think they suppressed that Death Eater attack in the paper. From what I heard, Snape's mother is dead due to that. Not very friendly."

"It wasn't the Ministry that did that. Dumbledore was told, and didn't bother to do anything about it."

"Albus Dumbledore?" Rita repeated. This was very interesting. "Why would he do that?"

"Because he's a self-centered old bum rag who can't be burdened with any responsibility other than checking out what's for afters."

Agreeably, the older woman replied, "Well, Dumbledore is a little boy at heart. Why Snape though? He sent Slughorn to the Blacks for weeks, after Orion Black was murdered. Seems that the son of a Death Eater victim might be in more peril, or at least in my humble opinion. Two attacks on muggles in the same remote pub in one year suggests intent to me."

Lily frowned. The last thing she needed was Severus listening to this wild idea about being in danger from Death Eaters. He easily accepted any thought of people wanting to do him harm. Not without good reason. Obviously a lot of harm had been done to him in the past, and ill-intentioned men like Dumbledore invisibly stalked him in the school corridors.

"Dumbledore has his favorites, and Severus is not one of them."

"Such a non-favorite as to wish a student's mother dead?"

"Perhaps not intentionally, but Severus exposed his favorite students as bullies and cowards. Sirius Black was Dumbledore's darling. Along with Remus Lupin and James Potter." Lily held back on Pettigrew's name since he could do no more harm.

"Rather like Horace Slughorn's practice of selecting a few favorites?" Rita suggested. She had not been a Slug Club member. Smug little arse kissers, the whole lot of them.

"Something like that, but Dumbledore only goes for the Gryffindor lads."

"Yes, he would try to rely on that hat picking out the heroic sort, rather than putting any real work into it, wouldn't he?"

"I suppose so. When they began in first year ganging up on others four on one, that should have been the first clue they possessed not a whit of bravery. They were still in the school after ripping open girls' blouses and blowing their skirts up in the air."

"Really? They did this to a couple students?"

"Oh no, they did it to every girl that caught their fancy. Even the head girl last year, Alice Oakby."

"Oh dear, and such a nice girl too," Rita said pleasantly, without the slightest clue if Oakby was or not.

"Right. Prof. McGonagall was looking to expel whoever it was when they were caught, but they wanted to look clever so at the end of the year, they revealed it was them in front of a lot of witnesses. Well, Dumbledore sorted it and nothing was done, so they were back at it this year till the werewolf."

"With such a history of tormenting others, it's little wonder they were so out of control."

"Exactly."

"You two are still talking? I've paid for your robe, Lily," Severus complained, already back to wearing his somewhat nicer Spinner's End clothing.

"But I didn't give you any money."

"When you aren't too busy, we can settle up."

"I got to change," Lily fretted.

"All right then. Thank you for the leads," Rita pleasantly replied.

"What leads?" Lily asked.

"Shhh, but I need to verify the information. I can't just put anything in print and call it news, can I? If I did, my name would be Barnabas Cuffe," Rita laughed.

Yet another of Slughorn's toerag gang, Lily miserably thought. Practically covered up the whole werewolf attack on Hogwarts' students.

Once she was changed, the saleslady folded and boxed her robes when Lily handed Severus the money she had. After he counted it, he said, "I think you overcharged for those."

"No, she didn't. I uh … forgot I spent some of my money, so I was shorter than I thought, Sev. Is that all right? I'm positive my dad will send money to pay you back."

No wonder why Lily did not feel her time was worth fifty galleons. Instead of sixteen galleons, she now owed him a little over twenty-five. Severus knew her father would cover it, but the carefree attitude towards money was annoying. He may not know how many knuts he had in his pocket, but he had a general idea of how many sickles, and knew exactly how many galleons he had with him. "I might have to charge you interest," Severus bellyached.

"Interest? Sev, you are going to get paid back."

"Hey, I can buy a very good time for five sickles," he informed her.

"Five sickles? Oh! Well yes, by all means charge me interest," Lily agreed, realizing that she wanted to earn every sickle Sev had. Leaving Gladrags, she eyed several convenient spaces between buildings, but none were dark enough for her to 'work' in. "Do you see anyplace that's good?"

"For what?"

"Me to earn my sickles."

"Not here in Hogsmeade."

"You're no fun, Sev. So where did you get the money?"

Severus had already given his sudden access to money some thought. Completely hiding it would be deceitful, if Lily was going to find out one day. Besides, some galleons to spend on simple things would be nice. He couldn't tell her about it all because he knew she did not think well of his parents, and Severus did not want her to think his mother was a complete idiot. If he could forgive his mother, Lily had no right to judge her.

Mr. Evans already knew about the life insurance, and his solicitor was working on that. The muggle company would issue a check, and Gringotts knew what to do with those. "Some muggle thing called life insurance. My father had it."

"Really?" Lily asked enthusiastically. This could fix her Divination grade. "Was it a lot?"

"Father meant it for mother since she did not work, so it's enough for me to get through an apprenticeship," Severus replied, trying to make Lily realize that although the money was a stroke of good luck, that its receipt was based on the death of his parents.

"How much? Do we even have to bother working this summer?"

"I rather not pay someone to apprentice me. I'd rather get the recommendations and have them take me on for my own merit. If they take on anyone with money, their reputation is no good to me later."

"Pay? Won't we work while we're apprentices?"

"There's other ways to do it. Paying a large amount of money will find an opening somewhere. Grades or not. An apprenticeship is very negotiable."

"Well, won't the reputation of who they apprenticed reflect on them too?"

"Yes it will, but money means more than reputation to some."

"That's so stupid. So how much is it?"

"Can't you trust that it's sufficient for me? There's enough for us to do some moderate travel this summer, and maybe next summer. I don't want to spend it quickly, since it may be a while before I have another offer of some employment."

"That's right. You will make fifty galleons if that guy hires us. Hmm, do you think we can afford a portkey to go somewhere distant for that last week of August?"

Severus could not believe Lily. Fifty galleons was nothing since she just spent more than that on dress robes. "Maybe. If we'd be traveling by Portkey, we can show up at the Ministry and see what's leaving soon. I'd rather wait to see how much homework we have. If we don't get the job, it should be complete in plenty of time. If we do, we might be finishing up still."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"If you don't like the sound of that, we can always request a schedule, and the prices for private portkeys, if you are dying to go somewhere special. I thought you'd like the sound of an unknown destination. More adventure?"

"I don't know. I'd have to see our choices."

"Until we go anywhere to know the destination, we can't use a portus spell to create our own. The Ministry also has some sort of ban on everyday wizards doing that. Probably just to make more money. It can't be harder than apparating."

"Maybe because apparition wards don't work on portkeys?"

"Unquestionably a good point, but whoever would portkey into someone's house uninvited would hardly be worried about creating an illegal portkey."

"Oh no, you're going back to your old argument that laws only work on people who are afraid of getting caught, aren't you?"

"Am I? Perhaps you should never forget that."

"I don't think I will with all the murders going on, Sev."