Chapter 32

My birthday was on September 22, which always fell during the school term. Since starting at Hogwarts, my parents had taken to celebrating my birthday the day before I left for school. Of course, Severus always joined us. This year, I turned fifteen, and time seemed to fly by so quickly.

After a lavish dinner, Isaya nudged Hugh towards the kitchen, claiming that washing dishes together was more fun. I noticed Isaya sneaking a wink at me, creating an opportunity for some alone time with Severus. I chuckled to myself. Severus and I cozied up on the living room sofa, chatting. He handed me a small glass bottle—my early birthday present. As usual, it was a potion. I examined it closely, wondering what surprise it held this year.

"Oh—" I covered my mouth, unable to suppress my exclamation. "This is Felix Felicis!" Even with my limited potion-making skills, I knew how rare and complex this potion was. The ingredients were hard to come by, and the brewing process was intricate and tedious. It was so valuable that it was nearly impossible to find on the market, no matter how much gold one offered. "Severus, you already know how to make Felix Felicis?!" He was only fourteen, about to start his fourth year, yet he was already such a genius.

My awe must have been too apparent because Severus looked a bit uncomfortable and turned away. "Yes, I failed a few times. This is the first successful batch, and I divided it into five doses. I'll keep one, and we can add the remaining three to the potion shop's inventory."

He mentioned his failures so casually, but I could imagine how many times he must have tried. Holding the small glass bottle with reverence, I felt a surge of admiration for Severus. Clutching the bottle tightly, I exclaimed, "Severus, you are truly the best potion genius. This must have been so hard. We need to make a good profit from those doses! Oh, I need to store this in the safest box to keep it as a memento… but will it expire if I never use it? That would be such a waste..." I started rambling, and Severus looked at me with an exasperated expression.

The next day, on the Hogwarts Express, I told Lily that our potion shop could now take orders for Felix Felicis. Instinctively, I didn't mention that Severus had given me a dose as a birthday gift, and he didn't bring it up either, as if there had always been only four doses. It seemed Severus hadn't prepared a dose for Lily, and I felt a sense of having a special secret between us. Did this mean I was special to Severus? But then, I reminded myself that it was my birthday gift, so it was naturally special. Severus probably didn't think much of it.

I tried to control my facial expressions to keep these inexplicable emotions from showing.

Severus brought up the potion shop. During a recent visit to the Hog's Head, a customer subtly inquired about Severus's connection to the Prince family, hinting at something. It wasn't the first time someone asked about it. Severus's usual response was that he was a friend of Eileen Prince and had accepted her help in the past, so he was taking care of her potion shop temporarily after she left. His alias, Cyril Prince, represented a title rather than a family name, which at least outwardly satisfied the inquirers.

This time, the customer had brought potions for sale three times before. Each time, the quality was mediocre, and he didn't haggle over the price, making him seem unlike typical potion sellers or enthusiasts. In previous encounters, he had shown no special intentions, but this time, he revealed his true purpose. After hearing our explanation about the surname, he didn't seem skeptical but casually mentioned the Dark Lord and Death Eaters, then asked Severus's opinion on the Dark Lord. This was a clear probe from the Death Eaters.

Severus must have anticipated this and handled it smoothly. He gave a neutral opinion on the Dark Lord, neither idolizing nor condemning him. He also subtly hinted that he might not stay in Britain permanently and might travel to other countries, indicating a neutral stance and a reluctance to get involved in the war. We weren't sure if this probe was directly from the Dark Lord or just his followers seeking allies. If it was the latter, it would be simpler, but if it had already caught the Dark Lord's attention, it could spell big trouble.

We discussed the issue, both feeling a bit anxious. Reflecting on our tenure, the potion shop hadn't sold any highly advanced potions yet. Some of the advanced potions we had were made by Eileen before she left, so there shouldn't be anything particularly suspicious. The most likely point of interest was Severus potentially being an heir of the Prince family, but our explanation didn't reveal much detail. Unless they could find Eileen to verify, it wouldn't be easily debunked. We shouldn't worry too much.

Still, there wasn't much we could do while at school. Fortunately, we had used Aging Potions and some disguises initially. We altered our eye colors with potions and spells to avoid detection. Lily's green eyes turned brown, and Severus's and mine turned blue, with Severus's being a deeper shade. Eyes leave a strong impression; even if facial features were similar, changing eye color could make someone seem entirely different. Severus's dark eyes, now blue, made him look softer, though I still preferred his original black eyes.

Severus mentioned that last term, Lucius Malfoy had talked to him about the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters, explicitly asking if Severus intended to join after graduation. Predictably, Lily got agitated. Severus quickly reassured her that he had refused. To calm her further, he promised never to join the Death Eaters, even for our sake.

I knew Lucius Malfoy was one of Severus's few friends in Slytherin, so Severus would value his opinion. If Severus hadn't had two Gryffindor friends, he might have pursued power and joined the Death Eaters, given his Slytherin background. Now, Severus had to consider us. It was unclear whether we were a burden to him or had helped him.

"Severus, are you still friends with Lucius?" I asked, noticing Lily's puzzled look.

"We were the last time we met, and he didn't mention cutting ties," Severus replied, raising an eyebrow. "In fact, he said he would help ensure my refusal wouldn't cause trouble."

I pursed my lips. "That's pretty slick and smart. Now Severus owes him a favor."

"Yes," Lily mused. "If we were Dumbledore's supporters, given Severus's relationship with us, he might join Dumbledore's side. This favor is his safety net."

"If Severus remains neutral," I added, "keeping a friend is much better than gaining an enemy."

"And as long as they're recognized as true friends by us, they'll be loyal. That's Slytherin for you," Severus said with a wry smile.

"Aha, I like that," I mimicked his smile.

Lily laughed at our expressions.

At that moment, there was a knock on the compartment door. Lily, closest to the door, got up to open it, and I quickly lifted the Silencing Charm.

It was Potter, with only Sirius accompanying him. Potter seemed to have made an effort, his school robes impeccably neat, his hair combed, not its usual messy state. He looked quite formal.

Standing at the door, Potter cleared his throat. "Lily, may I have the honor of inviting you to my compartment for a game of wizard chess?"

Was he trying to ask Lily out? I grinned mischievously, curious about her response.

"Oh, I'm not very fond of wizard chess; it's a bit too rough for my taste," Lily replied evasively.

"Well, we could do something else," Potter said hurriedly. "I mean, like Exploding Snap, or just chatting!"

Lily glanced back at us. I quickly looked away, staring at the ceiling, the window, Severus—anywhere but at her. This was her decision to make. Though Severus's expression darkened, he said nothing.

Lily turned back to the door, hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "Alright, lead the way."

Potter's face lit up, and he gallantly stepped aside, gesturing for her to go first. As Lily left, she caught my mischievous grin and shot me a reproachful look before closing the door.

I burst into laughter. "Looks like Potter is making his move." I glanced at Severus, who still wore a scowl. Hesitantly, I asked, "Severus, does it bother you that Potter is pursuing Lily?"

"Anyone but that arrogant, self-important jerk. How could he possibly be good enough for Lily?" Severus's disdainful tone deepened his frown.

Was it just dislike for Potter? For a moment, I feared Severus might like Lily, causing my heart to tighten. If that were the case, because it was Lily, I wouldn't know if I could let go. Suddenly, I wasn't in the mood for jokes, so I curled up in my seat, fidgeting with my wand. The rest of the journey was spent quietly reading.

Before we arrived, Lily returned to our compartment and playfully pinched my cheeks several times in retaliation. I asked her about Potter, and she shrugged. "As long as he doesn't act like a fool sometimes, he's not that bad."

Severus snorted disdainfully. I patted Lily's shoulder. "You shouldn't accept him too quickly. Make him work for it, and wait until he matures!"

"Yeah, right," Lily nodded absently, then realized, "No, wait, I never said I'd accept him, Sawyer..." She lunged at me, pretending to strangle me.

Just then, the train stopped, and I sighed in relief. "Saved by the bell!" Severus got up to pack his book, and I swore I saw him smirk with amusement.