A Particularly Exquisite Vegetable (day 22 Surprised - Regency AU)
A Particularly Exquisite Vegetable
The Greengrasses were popular and they enjoyed company as much as their guests enjoyed their feasts. So the whole of the Hogsmeade Assembly gladly accepted the dinner invitation to celebrate the engagement of Miss Lyra Bones to the Greengrass's heir.
Lily found herself seated next to Mr Snape. She was not happy about it. His condescending and frankly rude remarks after she’d literally saved his skin from a sure beating by Mr Potter and the younger Lord Black, still stung.
Really, having heard some of the abhorrent opinions of the man, she would not have bothered, but at the time she had not known him well. She had simply stepped up for a man, who looked to her, in physical appearances, to be the weaker party.
This evening she was no longer surprised when he stated his concerns for the felicity of Mr Greengrass, since he considered Miss Lyra to be in possission of several serious defects of temper; she was headstrong and had a foolish interest in inappropriate subjects such as Philosophy and the running of her future husband’s estate.
Lily suppressed the urge to quote Socrates to him or mention how her father used to discuss every decision about his tenants with her.
When she pretended he wasn't actually here at all, she found Mr Snape to be less intolerable.
Mr Snape, however, did nothing to make it easier for her to ignore him.
“The potatoes are without a doubt the best I’ve ever tasted. Surely, you agree, Miss Evans?”
“Hmm... I suppose they are…well done,” she answered, wondering if the man was a secret potato fetishist. He seemed to be happy enough with her answer so she let her mind wander to more palatable subjects. Like Lord Potter, who she now noticed, sitting only a few places to her right.
Meanwhile, Mr Snape kept his inane and one-sided conversation going.
“I’m proud to tell you I’ve been personally invited to the Deed’s club. Of course, I am not about to get blackballed, unlike those two scoundrels, Lord Potter and Black.” Lily looked up at Lord Potter at that, she wondered if he could hear what was being said about him. The thought almost made her speak up against Mr Snape’s disparaging remarks. She didn't want Lord Potter to believe she was in agreement with Mr Snape, but he was not to be silenced, if anything he seemed to have found new energy to unleash his next words.
“I realise that you, my dear Miss Evans, are well aware of the success I am about to become. Which brings me to a delicate and private matter. Lord Riddle, has advised me to find a suitable wife, a woman such as yourself, to be the proper and dutiful mistress of my home.”
Lily choked on her potato.