Chapter 4
The Slytherin common room is… quiet. It’s dimly lit, only illuminated by the fireplace and a couple of candles on the tables scattered about. Lily is suddenly made aware that the Slytherin dorms were underground and underwater when a giant tentacle (courtesy of the giant squid) plop on to one of the ornate windows that barely provide any light. There are a couple of bookshelves that line the walls, and she can really imagine Sev sitting in one of the couches just reading.
Narcissa ushers her to the center of the room and raises her wrist. Suddenly, all of the Slytherins in the room turned toward them. One by one, they nod in understanding.
“Huh, guess the ritual worked.” Lily said.
“Yes, I supposed it did.” Narcissa smiled. “Come, there are people I want you to meet.”
They all head toward an oval table near the fireplace. “Lily dear, this is Bruce Mulciber, Charles Avery, and Evan Rosier. Severus’ roommates.”
She had seen the three of them before. How could she forget the faces of the three Slytherins she told Severus to stay away from? They all looked at her skeptically, and she wasn’t surprised, because she was probably sporting the same look of skepticism they had on their faces. Out of all of them, Mulciber had the biggest build – he was pale, had a pudgy face and short black hair, and she was reminded of a mini wrestler when she looked at him. Avery held himself with an air of elegance, he looked like a Slytherin version of Remus minus the scars, and she decided that he was much taller than the werewolf. Rosier had his hands clasped together and was pointedly avoiding her gaze, his curly hair covering his face.
“Um, a pleasure, Evans.” Rosier said shyly and offered a hand to shake.
Lily quirked an eyebrow. She looked to Narcissa, who was basically forcing this interaction to happen. She sighed and greeted Rosier to Narcissa’s delight. Severus’ other two roommates didn’t really seem interested in knowing her, so she focused her attention to the boy in front of her instead. At least he was making an effort.
“Now that that’s out of the way, take a seat everyone. We have much to discuss.” Narcissa proclaimed and gestured for Lily to sit beside her. This was so weird.
“We all care about dear Severus, and I do hope that the next couple of days will be worse for Lucius as well, so we have to figure out a way to pass everything off as normal, so the teachers won’t think we’re up to something.” Narcissa mused.
“McGonagall is already on to us as it is, she’ll definitely think we’re up to something if Lucius suddenly falls apart.” Audile muttered.
“Any word on the Dark Lord? Does he know of Severus’ current predicament?” Bellatrix interjected.
“Last I heard, he’s given up on Sev. Whatever spell Regulus forced onto his brother must have worked.” Mulciber said, absentmindedly rubbing his forearm. No doubt that was where his Mark was.
Francesca breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s one less thing to worry about. Anyway, Evan and Charles, you know what to do. When Severus gets out of the hospital wing, just keep an eye out.”
“Lily dear, now that you’re in on this, I don’t suppose you can keep the Gryffindors in check?” Narcissa suggested.
“Believe me, that outburst earlier was more than enough. I can’t believe you had the gall to scream at two Purebloods like that.” Avery said.
Lily just crossed her arms. “This blood status thing is fucking bullshit. Everyone bleeds the same fucking red. Someone had to keep them in check.”
The Slytherins all stopped to look at her. “What?” she asked.
“We’re just- well, unused to that kind of language you see.” Said Audile.
“Oh, um, sorry about that.”
“It’s a welcome development, don’t worry. The look on all of your faces, honestly!” Bellatrix laughed.
Lily smiled. This was all surprisingly fun for some reason.
“I hope you aren’t going insane, Bella.” And that was Lucius Malfoy.
He looked every bit the Pureblood heir he was, and not the sobbing mess he was a while ago in the Hospital Wing.
“Evans.” He greeted.
“Malfoy.” She answered.
“Well, how is Severus, dear?” Narcissa interrupted.
Lucius sighed. “He might miss morning classes tomorrow. Madame Pomfrey says his core needs time to stabilize. He just needs to rest, and we do what we can to help him.”
The Slytherins and Lily nod at his words, eager to help.
-
After formulating Operation Make Everything Seem Normal, Lily and the Slytherins (and that’s a band name if she’d ever heard one) try to get to know each other better. She liked the peace that the silver and green common room provided, despite its extremely ornate and definitely breakable furniture. Mulciber and Avery had retired to their dorms, while Lucius excused himself once again to check on Severus, and he implied that he would be spending the night there even if Madam Pomfrey had told him no. He was stubborn like that, Lily realized.
“Ah, love. Quite a beautiful thing, is it not?” Narcissa hummed.
Lily grew curious. “You’re okay with him being in another relationship? Aren’t you and Lucius betrothed?”
Narcissa laughed, and it was probably the purest sound Lily ever had the pleasure of hearing. “The betrothal is a duty, my dear. It is not love. What Luci and Sev have is something special, and who am I to stop it, really? Of course, our customs are very much opposed to their relationship, so when we leave Hogwarts their love is doomed to nothing. I’d rather see my future husband truly happy before he has to play the role of Lord officially and say goodbye to this pure joy forever.”
“That’s… depressing.”
“Ah, life is depressing indeed. We find what little joy we can, despite our customs and the hold of our families. It’s hard to break away from the old ways, I suppose. Especially since our families have fostered their magic to be pure for generations, I do believe there is some merit to the pureblood nonsense they keep pushing for. However, that does not mean I subscribe to that ideology – I think there is magic in everyone, just some more than others.”
Audile lightly slapped her on the arm. “Cissy, you’re being philosophical again.”
“No, she’s right.” Rosier quietly interjected. “Severus’ magic is different, and it isn’t like ours, but it’s powerful. I don’t know why, but um, it feels oddly similar to yours Miss Evans.”
Lily blinked. “Call me Lily, please. Honestly, there’s no in-between with you lot is there? One minute you shove me off for my blood status and the next minute you all are extremely polite, especially you Rosier! Goodness, how do you live like this.”
“Lily dear, I told you, it’s how we were raised. Anyhow Evan, what do you mean Lily and Severus have similar magic?”
Rosier clasped his hands together nervously. “You all know how I can sense these auras of magic, for lack of a better term, and well, both of your magic - it’s like powerful but calm, like a bright chartreuse in the air.”
“Ever the poet, Evan.” Francesca laughed. “It could be because they both grew up in the same place. Does magic relate to proximity in some way?”
“Probably. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is, magic could have nothing to do with blood, as Narcissa said. I think it just weaves its way into someone’s soul, or heart, or spirit, or something, but it’s never a singular thing that determines its power.” Evan replied.
“Good, we’re all in agreement then. If only the Dark Lord thought the same, we wouldn’t be in this situation.” Bellatrix said.
“Have you all met him then? The Dark Lord?” Lily asked.
The Slytherins fell silent.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Bellatrix sighed. “He is powerful for sure, and his influenced had already reached our parents minds. We were disillusioned as well, we only thought he’d be restoring pureblood magic somehow, but we didn’t expect that he’d kill muggleborns and halfbloods to do it. While his goal is something we would have leaned toward, he is twisted. I feel stupid for ever considering siding with that snake.”
“Hmm, yes, stupid enough to like him more like.” Narcissa whispered. Lily looked to her in shock.
“I did not!”
“So his grand plan is to purge the non-purebloods of the Wizarding World. That’s it?”
Bellatrix looked at her incredulously. “What do you mean that’s it?”
“I mean, doesn’t he have anything better to do? Who does he think he is, anyway? Toying with purebloods and all that. I bet he’s an insecure little dolt who never had someone to love him his entire life!”
The Slytherins pause. Surprisingly, Rosier breaks first and starts to laugh. Soon, everyone around the table laughs with him.
“You know, you’re really something Lily.” Narcissa says, wiping a tear of joy off her cheek.
Lily smiles at her. She could get used to this.
-
Lily leaves the Slytherin dorms the way she came, with Narcissa accompanying her back to the Girl’s bathrooms. It’s an hour before curfew, so they both decide to stop by the Hospital Wing to check on Severus.
“I assume you’re both here for my favorite patient?” Madame Pomfrey sighs as she welcomes them to the Wing.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, we are.” Narcissa states proudly. “Though, he really has to stop visiting you here, Madame Pomfrey.”
“Took the words right out of my mouth, Narcissa. Alright, off you go, I’ll call you out after half an hour. Lucius is already spending the night so I don’t want to deal with the two of you any more than necessary.”
Narcissa practically drags Lily to where Severus’ bed is, and she follows obligingly. Before she draws the curtain open, she casts a silencing charm with her wand.
Lucius opens the curtain and ushers them in the small space. Severus still looks very pale, but he’s at least sitting up, and he looks a little bit better than he did earlier. Narcissa sits on the bed and gives him a hug. She tucks a stray strand of hair behind his ear and whispers something to him. His gaze then lands on Lily, and the black ribbon tied to her wrist.
“Hi, Sev.” Lily greets as she claims the seat next to Lucius.
“Hi, Lily. Am I- does this mean, you forgive me?”
Lily’s eyes widen. Right, she was supposed to be mad at him, but that was just her pride getting in the way of recognizing a friend in need. “Of course, I forgive you! I should have a long time ago. Honestly, I should be the one apologizing. I should have been a better friend.”
He hesitantly grabs her hand. “None of that, now. Thank you, for coming back.”
“You’re my best friend. Of course, I’ll come back. Always.”
“Miss Evans has been accepted by our house, love. You’ll get to see her more often.” Lucius snarks.
“You know, then? Of us?” Severus asks her.
“Yes. I’m glad you’re happy. I was wrong about Slytherin, and I’m grateful for all they’ve done for you. You deserve all our love, Sev. We’re all here for you.”
Severus’ eyes water, and the tears come before she can say anything else. Narcissa gestures for her to come forward and sit with her on the bed. She opens her arms up to Severus and he falls into her embrace, clinging to her with the little strength he has left.
“Thank you.” He whispers.
They stay like that for a while, Severus crying his heart out, face buried on her shoulder. She’s vaguely aware of Narcissa and Lucius talking on the side, but she solely focuses on Severus in her arms. Soon the sobs die down, and Sev is fast asleep. Lily gets up to settle him down, but Lucius stops her. He lifts the covers and gets in himself, maneuvering Sev’s head to his chest.
“Helps him sleep better.” Lucius says, as he kisses the top of her friend’s head like it’s the most precious thing in the world.
She bids the three Slytherins goodbye and goes back to Gryffindor tower, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.