" What happened? " Lily asked when she and Severus came rushing into the hospital wing, they had left for a few moments to give Harry privacy with his housemates and friends.
They talked amongst themselves more of the curse and of what Harry had said, and it made sense, James was with Lily, cursing her, and Pettigrew could've been around cursing Severus. All the more reason for her to learn Occlumency so that it wouldn't happen again.
They heard shouting then the next thing they knew, the smell of lavender and jasmine whiffed through the doors and the sound of rain.
When they entered the hospital wing, there was no rain but they could hear it and there was no candles burning or perfumes sprayed.
" Accidental Magic. " Severus concluded.
" Harry? " Lily asked.
" Harry. " Severus confirmed.
" This is your fault! " Ron shouted at Snape.
" I'm going to ignore your outburst Weasley in favor of the recent events that's happened in the last 24 hours and not take points from Gryffindor or give detention days before you are to leave for home. "
" Leave him alone Ron! He's done nothing but help me and protect me! Why can't you see that? He's not a bad guy! "
" He's always the bad guy! "
" No, he's not! Just because he looks dark doesn't mean he is! You're misjudging him like I used to and many others before! "
" Enough! " Snape shouted now, " Weasley, you are of line. Detention with me and 30 points from Gryffindor. "
" 30?! "
" Care to make it 50? Then shut your trap and leave. "
" Git. " Ron muttered but Snape heard him,
" 60 points, detention, and 100 lines. "
" What?! "
" Leave Ron! " Hermione shouted now.
" Fine! "
Harry flinched at the slamming of the doors, he focused his breathing, listened to his accidental summoning of the rain and the smells.
" Harry? " Severus asked.
" I'm fine. I'm fine. " Harry replied, still focusing.
" No, no you are not. " Severus said coming to sit beside him, Lily got on the other side of him, both being mindful of injury.
" No, I'm not. " Harry admitted and broke down again in tears. Severus and Lily held him as he cried, not just for what happened last night, but for everything before that. He was never allowed to cry, he wasn't even allowed to ask questions. He was made to live in a cupboard for 10 years of his life with an aunt and uncle who hated him because he was different than them, because he wasn't normal like them, they raised their son to be the same way.
He was told to lie about his bruises, his scars, his clothes. His glasses weren't even from a doctor, his aunt got them from a charity bin. He wasn't even normal in the magical world because of a evil wizard who set out to kill him as a baby. Now that evil wizard was back and still wants him dead.
His father was a bully along side his godfather, well his other godfather, his father cursed his mum to hate her best friend and fall in love with him and what did that make Harry? His father basically raped Lily and he was the result of it.
Did his so called father even love him? Or was it just going to use him? What of Sirius? Did he know? Would he have raised him to be just like James Potter?
That thought made him sick.
" Easy sweetheart. " His mum comforted as he threw up on the floor, barely missing her bare foot.
" I'm sorry! " He cried.
" Shhh, it's alright sweetie. It's alright. It's all going to be okay. " She continued to sooth and comfort him, both she and Severus gently rubbed his back, Severus was as Lily gently rocked him side to side and gently ran her hand through his hair.
It took several more minutes before they were able to settle Harry down and gently lay him down on the bed as he had fallen asleep again from wearing himself out.
" Sev. Take me to Sirius. "
" Lily. "
" No! I want answers and he and Remus who would know if James planned anything. "
" He may not have told them. Besides, it's not safe for you... "
" Sev, please do not be my knight in shining armor right now, you know I'm very capable of defending myself. "
" You don't know who friend or foe is, I know the faces of the Death Eaters, there is one here now, he won't try anything in the open, but if he catches you alone, Lily please, just until you have your strength back. "
" You'd still have my back even after I got my strength back Sev. But I don't need my strength to give Sirius Black a talking to and maybe a good kick to his bollocks once I'm done. "
" Only if I hold him still for you. "
" Fair enough. Hermione, could you stay with Harry for us while we go and say hi to an old friend? "
" Of course. "
" Thank you dear. Sev. " Lily gestured for him to lead the way.
" Stay close. " He replied as Lily changed her clothes magically to a pair of blue jeans, white tank top, and took a pillow to transfigure it into a pair of black boots and socks.
Once she had them on, she was ready to go.
---
Sirius and Remus were sitting at the dining room table having a late breakfast when the kitchen door burst open and in burst Lily Potter nee Evans along with Snape at her heels.
" What the hell is going here?! " Sirius demanded looking at Lily in shock.
" I'm back Sirius. And I want answers. Now. " Lily replied, her green eyes cold and glaring.
" Answers to what? And how do I know you're the real Lily. "
" Ask me. "
" What did the Marauders do to Snape 5th year? "
" Really? That's what you're going to ask me? You and James Potter embarrassed my best friend in front of nearly the entire school and no I will not tell you how you two embarrassed him because it was awful. "
" Lily, you're really back? " Remus asked getting up and going to her, he slowly brought her in for a hug, she hugged him back,
" It's good to see you Remus. " She greeted him, before pulling away to face Sirius again, her glare back,
" I know you know what James did to me Sirius. The curse is gone and I am back to how I used to be, the woman who hated James Potter and hated you and Pettigrew for what you did Severus. My best friend Sirius. I understood a bit more of the way you were, you were hurting, Sev was hurting too, maybe not the same way you were, but he was still being hurt. Hogwarts was his only relief, or at least it was supposed to be until you, James and Pettigrew ruined it for him. You had no right to make him feel like you did because you were hurting. "
" Lily, James never harmed you. "
" No? Then explain to me why I suddenly 'fell' in love with him? Explain how I was suddenly happy with him and why I always turned away from Severus, who I knew would never hurt me. Explain it! James had to have been cursing me, and Pettigrew was cursing Severus, now start talking! You owe me that at least! Unless it was you that was cursing me. "
" I would never do that! And James never said anything to me about it! I swear! I will admit it was strange, but I figured you were doing it to get back at Snape for calling you a Mudblood. "
" Of all the people we all knew why would I go to James? And why would I get back at Severus by going to James? "
" You don't know? Lily, he fancied you, he still fancies you. He got jealous every time James flirted with you. I thought you knew he fancied you and that was why you went to James. "
" Again, why would I go to James? "
" Wait, you knew how he felt? " Remus asked.
" Not until now. "
" But then, that would mean... " Severus began, his eyes widened.
" Yeah, I was in love with my best friend. And we will talk more about this later Sev. Right now, I want answers, one of you knows something and I want answers, now. "
" It's called 'Somnum walker'. " Remus said.
Lily turned to him with wide eyes, " You knew Remus? "
" Remus! "
" So, it's true. You did know! " Severus shouted at Sirius.
" I overheard James and Peter talking about creating it, I never thought they'd actually do it. " Remus explained, " But I didn't know that Sirius knew about it too, how could you do this Sirius? "
" Just like he tricked me into going to the Shrieking Shack later that year. "
" That's how you were hurt? I thought it was because of the Whomping Willow. You could've killed him Sirius! Does that not mean anything to you?! My son is never coming near you again. You had a chance Sirius and now it's gone. I know we'll come here for meetings, but you are to stay away from my son, both of you. "
" Lily... "
" No Remus, you knew this whole time and never spoke up until it was too late. You are just as guilty as them. Once again, your silence keeps your friends, but it cost something in return. "
" It was never mean to go on as long as had. " Sirius said.
" I had a child with him Sirius! How much further was it was supposed to go! The only good thing that came out of this is Harry! Did you know that Harry was supposed to go Severus had you been found unable to? "
" What?! That slimy snake was supposed to raise my godson?! "
" You are 35 years old Sirius not 15, grow up! Severus was never a bad guy, you made him out to be one because of the House he was put in, well I have new for you in case it's escaped your notice, not all who come from Slytherin are evil or bad. Pettigrew was Gryffindor and look at what he's done! Severus saved your life last year from the Dementors, yours and Harry's and how do you repay him? By treating him like dirt because he's just Snape. " Lily argued,
" Well just Snape happens to mean something to me and to Harry. He has become a father figure to my son, he has been best friend since we were 9. We love him and if you can not accept this...Sev, let's go before I do something stupid. "
" Alright, but I would like to know what that curse does. "
" It's similar to the Imperio Curse, it means 'Sleep walker', it alters how a person feels, thinks, and you can even make them say something you want them to say. It can be cast nonverbally so that the person or persons affected won't know they've been cursed." Remus said.
" So, it's another version of the Imperio curse. Wonderful. " Lily replied sarcastically, " Come on Sev, we're leaving. "
" Couldn't agree more. "
" Pussy whipped. " Sirius muttered.
" Care to repeat that Mutt? " Severus asked, though he heard him perfectly well, as did Lily.
" You heard me, you pussy whipped son of bit---! "
" Severus! " Lily exclaimed in shock.
But it wasn't because Severus lunged at Sirius, it was because of what he turned into when he lunged at him,
A inostrancevia, a solid black inostrancevia. With turmeric orange eyes.
Since when was he an Animagus?
" Sirius! " Remus exclaimed as Sirius transformed as well, but it didn't do him any good as Severus ripped his hide open his long sharp claws.
" What the hell did Severus turn into! "
" A Inostrancevia Alexia, it was the largest mammal to walk the earth, and one of the most dangerous. Severus! Get off him! He's learned his lesson! "
" Lily! " Remus shouted as she leaped over the two fighting beasts, if it one could call it a fight as Severus was beating the snot out of Sirius with his claws and paws, she landed on Severus' back and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
" Sev, please stop it's enough. "
Severus stopped at her touch and at her words, he backed off and away from Sirius, she continued to hold him until he calmed down.
" Better? " She asked once she felt he'd calm down, she slowly slid off his back, frowning at the scars she could faintly see there, she gently ran her hand over them, wishing she could take them away, take away his pain and the misery he had felt.
His head was nearly to her shoulder. His eyes glowed against his black fur that looked like vel crow but was as smooth as swede. His whole frame showed how strong he was, it made her think of a muscular pitbull. At his skull, she saw the long k-9's that these beasts were famous for other than their strength and speed.
He was both beautiful and powerful in this form, no other mythical beast she knew would be able to match him, he truly was different from the boy she grew up with.
" Sirius, are you alright? " Remus asked going to his friend who had turned back and was bloody.
" Let me look. "
" No! I'm fine! "
" Sirius, I was training to be a nurse, the least you can do is let me look, no harm remember? "
" Fine. "
After checking him over and deeming his wounds minor and not life threatening, she and Severus, who was now back to normal, left.
" I cannot believe you told them. "
" I cannot believe you were playing dumb. It was one thing to try and ruin their friendship and separate them, it was another to practically force her to marry James and have child, for god's sakes Sirius, he raped her! And what about Harry? He is an innocent child who doesn't deserve this. How would you have raised him had you actually gotten the chance to? "
Sirius didn't answer.
" You would've raised him to be like James. " Remus confirmed feeling sick.
" No! I would've raised him to be the opposite, I knew what he did was wrong, and Harry looks so much like him, I didn't want another James walking about. "
" You hesitated to answer. "
" I never got the chance to raise him Remus, I had to think about how I would've raised him. Lily chose a Death Eater over anyone else we knew to raise her son. "
" A Death Eater who was never truly a Death Eater, he was a spy for us! He was the reason we knew about the attack in the first place! Severus is not the bad guy here Sirius, we are! He had done nothing but protect Harry and he's going to protect Lily too. Lily was regaining herself during those last few months it's why she set up her own will and why she chose Severus to raise her son, she chose him over her own sister, what does that tell you? "
" How many more times does Severus have to beat you in a fight for you to understand he not what you think him to be? Last year he could've left you to the Dementors, taken Harry and left you. Instead, he was the bigger and better man and saved you both from a horrible fate. Lily was right Sirius; he saved you and you repay him by still treating him like you did in school. Harry was also right about being bullied, it's not fun or amusing, it hurts. I'm guilty of it just as much as you are. We weren't having fun, we were hurting someone Sirius. Someone who was already hurting and in pain. "
---
" Are you alright? " Lily asked once they were outside the entrance of Hogsmeade after apperating.
" I'm fine. "
" Sev. I saw the cuts. We need to have them looked at. "
" I can take care of them myself Lily. "
" Will let me do that? "
" Lily...I- alright. But not in the hospital wing. "
Your chambers then. I know you'll have some medical supplies there being a potions master you have some medical training as well. "
" Yes. " He knew why she wanted to help him other than she wanted to, it was to calm her nerves and brewing or doing something with her hands always helped, given what they learned...
He nodded and they went up to the castle, ignoring the stares and whispers that followed them.
---
" Use this, just two drops. " Severus said, handing her a clear liquid with a dropper inside.
" What is this? " Lily asked.
" Blood stopper, my own design. And this one is a wound sealer, three drops for it. " He handed her another jar with a dropper and the liquid made her think of lemonade, it was that yellowish/blue hue. but it smelled like menthol.
" You've been busy since we graduated. "
" You didn't get to experiment with your own potions and salves? "
" No, I was being trained to be the perfect little house wife, I had so many ideas, one idea I had was to protect one's hair from the fumes of the potions, who know how awful they can be for your hair. "
" It becomes oily and greasy. "
" Not mention it straightens it. I remember you having a bit more wave and curl to yours. " (think Robin Hood with Kevin Costner, I liked his hair in that movie and when I watched it again it was like seeing Snape and not the sheriff, Do not own)
" I keep it like this now. "
" I liked the curly wave, would've gotten yourself a lot of girls. "
Severus cleared his throat, " Well, I was only interested in one girl. "
They looked at each other for a moment before they looked a light dusting of red on their cheeks before Severus said,
" Shall we get these cuts looked at then? "
" Yes of course, uh, can you take off your coat and shirt for me please? "
He nodded and did as she requested. She paused and looked at his back, her heart broke at the scar there and pain he was in.
" They're not so bad. "
" You shouldn't have had to go through that, no one should. " She replied, " Can you sit down for me? Your still too tall. "
" I'm only 6" 2' "
" And I'm 5" 7' You are taller than me. Have been since we turned 11. "
" Surely not. " He teased.
" Sev, this is you and this is me. " She showed her leveled hands, " 9 years old, " her hands stayed the same,
" 10 years old. " Again, they stayed the same, " 11. " One hand raised higher than the other,
" It has been this way ever since. " She finished with a smile.
" If you say so. " He replied with his own sideways smile.
" I know so. Now hold still and let me check you over. "
" Yes nurse. " He teased.
" Hush you. " She replied with a smile.
Her smile soon disappeared as she cleaned and closed his cuts to mere cat scratches, " This is amazing Sev. " She commented as she watched the medicines work.
" It's not that special. "
" Sev, you created something that stops bleeding or oozing wounds with just a few drops and closes wounds until they're just the size of a cat scratch! How is that not special? "
" It's only for minor injuries such as these Lily; I'm still working on the major injures. "
" It's still amazing Sev..." She paused when she ran her hand down one of his scars.
" That one was a dinner plate He threw. He was aiming for my head. "
" What happened to them? "
" He killed her and went to jail. "
" Oh my god, when? "
" When I was 17. The police waiting for me at the door when I got home. The neighbors told them when I'd be back; away at boarding school my mother told them. They had already taken her and him away. He had killed her in the kitchen, where many of their fights ended up, sometimes it was the lounge, sometimes it was across my room, other times it was right outside, you saw one of them once. "
" Yes. I had been on my way to see you, but you met me halfway while your parents argued, I saw your father strike your mother. "
" What? But I- "
" Tried to shield me from it, that was when I began to suspect that it wasn't just his wife he hit or beat. " She gently rubbed another scar, this one looked like it was from a belt stripe.
" And why you always asked if I was alright after one of their fights. "
" I was worried about you Sev. "
" You don't need to- "
" I know you can hold your own in a fight Sev; I watched you win against Sirius, which was long overdue. But I will always worry, and I will always care about you. "
Her hand was on his shoulder, like it used to be when she'd comfort him with that or a hug. He carefully grasped her hand and gave it a light, but firm squeeze.
" So, your father's in prison now? Muggle or Azkaban? "
" Neither. He was shanked a year into his stay at the jail. Word got out that he killed his wife and one of his old drinking buddies told the, well this would the part where I say the wrong person, but it was the right person about Tobias beating his wife and his son. The next night he was shanked, bled out. "
" Couldn't have happened to a better person. " She replied sarcastically, " How did you find out about that? "
" The police came to my summer job. "
" Oh? That where you got bulked up? "
" Yes. "
" Oh? Do tell what summer job were you doing? "
" Construction, hauling gravel. "
" Hauling gravel did all this? "
" For the most part, now I just exercise to stay this way. "
" Bet you have to keep the women back with a branch. "
" There's no women or woman. "
" Men then? "
" Lily. "
" Okay I'll stop, I know you don't swing that way. "
" Lily, there's no one else. I've only ever loved, love you. "
" Sev I... "