Severus winced at Lily's conclusion about his job. As far as he knew the job was fairly innocent, he would just do some things in the evening for the store owner--none of them dangerous or bent towards extinguishing Muggleborns or Muggles.

"Lily, it isn't like that. I know it isn't the best option, but it's the only I've found right now. I'll keep looking for something else, I promise. Not everything in Knockturn Alley is horrible, it's just..." Severus tried to thing of some sort of analogy.

"It's a bit like a magical Spinners End--no one wants to go there, not much of anything decent happens there, it's rather dark and rough, but not everything having to do with it is horrible. Take me, for example. ...Well, you at least don't think I'm horrible. I suppose maybe using myself was not the best example."

Severus held onto her hands.

"I don't want to upset you, and I don't want either of us to be in harms way, but I need this Lily. I'm tired of having nothing in my pockets but holes. I'm going to look for something else in the meantime, but it isn't so easy. Not everyone is kind as you, Lily. Most people look at me, and they see nothing worth having. When I was given a chance, I ruined it because I couldn't deal with people--they're just--jerks." He added.

-x-

James laughed at Lucius act as a fashion consultant.

"Right, I should do something with this mop." James said, messing his hair up again after Lucius straightened it. He was joking, as both of them knew there couldn't be much done with the stubborn black chaos atop James Potter's head.

"I'll see you later." He took Lucius hand, leading him out of the room of requirement, and gave him a goodbye kiss. "And by the way Lucius, you always look best to me."

Lily took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She gave him a worried look and finally nodded. "Sev... if you're sure. If you're sure it's innocent then I believe you. But the second it gets shifty, you quit- these are really scary times, Sev." She frowned.

"I... I know, Sev- I know you want to make money." She murmured. "...Did you ever consider tutoring groups of students in potions? I bet you could make a ton of money doing that. But... if you're sure about this job in Knockturn Alley, then... you do what you have to do." She gave him a look, one that said she wasn't pleased with the situation one bit.

"And tonight, when you're done- I want you to come find me right away. I want to know if went alright. I'll be in the library."

-

"I like your mop." Lucius said as they left the room of requirement. He kissed him back. "Thank you for my date- I had a wonderful time. I can't wait to see you play later. See you in a few hours!" He squeezed his hand, slowly parting from the other teen.

He moved swiftly down the halls, keeping close to the darker corridors to avoid attention as he didn't want to speak with anyone. He was able to slip into Slytherin without much of a problem either, heading right to the showers to get cleaned up. He took his time, using the privacy of the showers to think of what to wear for his shopping trip- and going to watch James practice.

The happy thought was a welcome one as he ran his fingers through his long wet locks.

"If I posted fliers for tutoring, I was sure I would have every student in Hogwarts flinging themselves at me, and I don't think I could possibly handle that. I understand that I have such a magnetic personality..." Severus raised an eyebrow at her. "If you could find any students willing to come within ten feet of me, then I could try tutoring in potions. I'll put some fliers up, and see if I get responses." Severus leaned forward and kissed Lily's damp forehead. "I promise I will find you tonight, when I return."

--

By the time practice rolled around, James was back to his usual self. He took a bit of time to show off, rolling his broom, flying figure eights, some general show-boating. Once practice really got going though, James was focused on nothing but the game. In the back of his mind the leftovers of that strange dream tried to reach forward towards the front of his mind with ghostly fingers, but James refused to be distracted.

"You never know, people are terrified of our exams. They just might. Have a little faith, Sev. It might work out." She was happy that Severus was going to try, at least. "Don't worry about the double date, I don't want you to worry about being late for work or anything, especially if there is nothing to worry about after all. We'll reschedule when you come home from your shift." She leaned over and kissed his lips in return. "I have to go get ready to meet Malfoy. When you're ready to go, there's a passageway out of here- pull down the third torch on the wall in the dorm room. It'll open up a door that'll lead you to the second floor. I'll see you tonight-- I'll be in the library."

Lily quickly threw on some clothing- jeans and a tee shirt- before heading down to meet Malfoy in front of the great hall. "Now, I want this dress to be something really special."

"Define special." Lucius sniffed as he walked out of the castle with Lily. "Because that's fairly vague, Evans."

"Well... like... sexy, but not poofy. Not like a typical ball dress." The grass and leaves crunched beneath their feet as they headed down toward Hogsmede. "I want to er... show Sev that I can have a dark side too. But not just by wearing black!"

Lucius rubbed his chin in thought as they started for the dress shop. "I... I think I might know what you mean." He said slowly. They walked into the shop- full of all sorts of different gowns in many different colors. After moments of looking, Lucius frowned. "I don't believe they'll have it here. This is... eh... a bit of a different clientèle than what we're looking for."

Lily put down a dark blue dress. "I suppose you're right. Everything's a bit too.. poofy and sparkly. I don't want to look like a princess."

"You'd be a horrible princess." Lucius snorted as they left the shop for another.

"Yes, that's more of a role for you, isn't it."

He glared at her and she returned it with an innocent smile. Shop after shop they searched, until they sat out on a bench looking exhausted. "I don't think we're going to find it in Hogsmede. It's all far too... wholesome."

"Do we have time to go and try another place?"

Lucius checked the time and shook his head. "No- no, I have to get back to see James practice. We'll try again tomorrow night- maybe at Diagon Alley. We can go and have something made." He shrugged as they started back to the castle. "Coming to watch?"

"No..." She trailed off. "I'm going to meet Sev in the library later. I'm going to catch up on some studying before then." She said with a shrug. Along their way back, the clouds began to darken- but not for rain. In the sky was the faint shape of a strange looking cloud. She squinted at it. "Malfoy- what the hell is that?"

Lucius looked over to where she was pointing. "....I'm not sure." He finally said. "It looks like some kind of symbol. I can't make it out." The conversations from earlier in the showers from his old friends who no longer wished to associate with him came back to him. They mentioned a meeting of some kind- Lucius was only half paying attention. "I... I think someone's calling a meeting. We should go." He muttered and grabbed Lily's arm- pulling her along until they were back at the castle.

"But we should have went to see what was up!"

"No- no we shouldn't have." Lucius scowled. "If you see that in the sky again, don't go to it. It can't mean anything good!"

"That's exactly the point!"

"No it's not! Stay away from it, Evans- I'm serious." He lowered his voice. "If it's the people I'm thinking of, they'd think nothing of turning you inside out."

"Fine, fine." She mumbled. "See you tomorrow."

"Right." Lucius parted from her and made his way to the Quidditch pitch to watch James. He took a seat on the grass, looking up in the sky to watch James really play. He folded his hands neatly in his lap. James was very talented- that was for sure. The incident on the way back to the castle was quickly forgotten as he watched his lover play.

Later that evening, Severus felt the portkey pendant heat up against his skin. He gripped it, and when he opened his eyes and the spinning stopped, he was on the floor in a small shop. It was a bit dark, and smelled odd. It felt off...it just didn't feel right. Snapes' stomach lurched, but he tried to write it off as just being an after affect of the transportation.

"Ah, you decided to show up tonight, then?" The owner said, lowering his hood and revealing an unpleasant face. He yanked Severus up. "Watch the shop. We're having a meeting upstairs. A private meeting, understand?"

Severus nodded mutely, and stepped behind the counter. His eyes darted to some of the various things in the shop--dark things that intrigued him greatly--and he wondered what that meant that he should be so drawn to and intrigued by dark things. He startled, and turned towards the stairs, watching as men came in, some in pairs and some one by one, all clamoring up the stairs wearing identical black cloaks. A shiver twisted up and down Severus' spine. What were they doing here? What sort of meeting? Were they...

Severus tried to appear calm, nodding to the men as politely as he could manage, when some of them cast him wary or mean looking glances.

Finally there was a long lull where no one arrived, and the downstairs was eerily quiet in the fall of evening. Shadows made strange patterns against the walls and floors. In a cage behind the counter, a massive three-headed black snake opened all of its mouths, and hissed, its crimson eyes flashing and scarlet tongues flicking out to taste the stale air in the shop. Severus moved a bit closer to the snake, peering at it. It had the faintest silvery diamonds down its back, they glimmered just slightly like fine threads of spun silver when the low light hit its scales just so. Each wide, angry mouth, had two sets of fangs, dripping with a puss-like poison. The snake banged its heads against the bars, springing at Snape, who stumbled back. He could see a thin trail of blood winding from one of the heads nostrils: it was certainly vicious.

Severus swallowed hard, and went back to the counter. He found a rag beneath, and began to polish the battered old surface over and over, not sure what he was to do. He kept hearing Lily's voice in his head, telling him to leave, he just couldn't bring himself to do that just yet.

For awhile longer Severus polished, and then he just watched the hands on the wall clock. The hands were made of bones that eerily resembled human finger bones. He touched his own fingers, and flexed them, as if to make sure they were still intact. Severus scanned every bit of the room that he could from where he stood: there were so many dark objects, stones, shrunken heads, thing that looked like shriveled human or animal body parts, rows and rows of books with titles reflecting dark things within, a few wands in glass cases, shelves of potions, and rare, prized ingredients.

Severus moved towards the potion case, looking over each one, the size and shape of the bottle, the color of the contents if he could see them, the labels. He shouldn't have wandered from behind the counter though--he was told to stay put. He glanced towards the stairs, following the steps upwards. He was itching to know just what was going on up there--he wanted to know, though he knew he shouldn't find out. He should just leave.

Severus stayed kneeling by the potions case, listening to his own breathing, and trying to listen harder to see if he could make anything else out. He could hear the wind picking up outside, causing the building to creak, and perhaps the smallest, faintest, sound of voices. He certainly couldn't make out what they were saying. For that he would've had to use some sort of magic, something other than his own to ears, and that was not going to be risked.

Severus crept towards the stairs, as quiet as he could be. He didn't even know if he could make it up the stairs without them creaking and giving him away--he was mad for even thinking of trying. There had been many times when Severus had sneaked out of his house at night, some of them to visit Lily. He had learned that he could be very quiet by walking on the outside portion of the steps, rather than the middles, where there were more likely to be creaks. Severus took a deep breath. He knew he was going to do this.

Severus removed his shoes, and sat them aside. He would be quieter in just his socks. He crept up the stairs carefully on this tip-toes, carefully testing the steps before he put his weight onto them. One of the steps looked to rickety to trust--most certainly it would squeak and groan no matter where he stepped--so Severus stretched his long legs and managed to climb over that step entirely. His heart hammered hard, and nervous sweat curled down the sides of his face. He took the last step; he had done it.

Severus was upstairs, and now he crept so carefully up to the door. They had probably put wards on the door, but Severus tried anyway. He pressed his ear to the door, and listened hard. He could hear the conversation within; his mouth dried out and his throat constricted. These people were the ones to be afraid of, the ones who many Slytherins Severus knew intended to join up with after they graduated, the people who spent night out slaying Muggles, Muggleborns, Bloodtraitors, and any others the deemed 'undesirable'.

He could hear them planning future attacks. They spoke of locations, dates, who would lead the party--

"Whose leading tonight?" One of them asked, and Severus froze. They planned to go out tonight. They were going to kill tonight. If they opened the door and found him kneeling in front of it, listening in, his blood would be shed too.

Trying to remain calm, Severus backed away from the door. He went down the stairs as quietly and quickly as he could, surer and surer with every step that he would alert them with the wail of old wood giving beneath his feet, or the thump-topple of himself rolling down the stairs when he tripped in his haste to flee.

Severus got to the bottom, grabbed his shoes, and hurried behind the counter. He heard the door open upstairs, and gales of laughter, as he slipped one shoe on, and then the other. He straightened up when footsteps came down the stairs, loud and boisterous, heavy boots and the swish of thick cloaks as the dark battalion descended.

"We're going out for a bit." The keeper said, sneering. "Mind the shop." He patted Severus' cheek. "We'll want drinks when we return. Lots of 'em."

Severus waited until the men were out of sight. For the longest time he just stood there, frozen, the conversation from upstairs playing over and over in his mind. He felt sick. He wanted to run all the way back to Hogwarts--he needed to leave. He'd promised Lily he would leave if things were bad, and they were bad. They were the worst that they could possibly be.

Severus bolted for the door, but then stopped with his hand on the handle. He had heard the men discussing future attacks, not whatever they had planned for tonight. He had no idea where they would be. It was possible he could run into them on the road back to Hogwarts. He couldn't apparate to Hogwarts. Severus had no choice but to stay until the Death Eaters returned, and celebrated their latest bloodbath.

-x-

James finished practice, and tossed his Quidditch gear off. It had been a pretty good practice, and he had managed to remain fairly attentive. James made his way off the pitch and found Lucius, embracing him.

"Did you and Evans find the dress you were looking for? You didn't choose something that will put Sni--Snape into a coma, did you? Though...I do think Sirius would be amused."

James ran a hand through his sweaty, mussed up hair.

"There's nothing quite like the feel of the wind through your hair, chasing the snitch up amongst the clouds..." James trailed off, something coming to mind that he hadn't really registered earlier. "Lucius...did you see something strange in the sky earlier, by chance? It was some sort of shape...almost like a face...with...without eyes." James trailed off, looking to Lucius nervously. "I don't know, I was probably just still out of my head a bit about that bloody dream I had. It must have been just a regular cloud, my mind was playing tricks."

James took Lucius hand, and kissed it.

"I hope Evan's didn't wear you out too much shopping today--I'd still like to spend the evening with you. We don't have to do anything special, we could just lay in bed and have a chat." James grinned, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "You can tell me all about how handsome I am---of course, I already know, but you can still say it."

-x-

Severus returned to castle late that night, as quickly as he could. He went straight to the library to find Lily.

"Lily! Lily--I've got to--to see someone. I don't know who to tell--ah--maybe Slughorn, or Dumbledore--they--you--they were--oh bloody fuck." Severus sat down on the nearest thing, clutching the portkey. "I meant to leave it. I forgot to. I'm not going back...someone needs to stop them."

Severus babbled a bit more, and then finally got a hold of himself. He took a few deep breaths, and filed through his thoughts in order to make them more coherent, but he just didn't think he could at the moment.

"I need to speak with Professor Dumbledore."

Lily was in the library for the rest of the night- researching for class- studying for N.E.W.Ts, and trying like hell to not worry about Severus.

He's 17, Evans. He's got a good head on his shoulders. He's not a fool, and you told him what's important- if it's bad, he'll go. She kept glancing to the clock in the library. Each hand moved as if it were encased in sand. She sat in her chair, trying to get her mind off of everything as she flicked through her school books with an increasing disinterest.

That big mark in the sky still had her attention. Malfoy mentioned a meeting. It must have been an ominous one, for certain. He looked worried, Malfoy never looked worried. Something must be happening. She got up from her spot and started to pace. She wondered if the man Severus was working for was going to that meeting.

Pacing took up some time- not enough however. She scowled at the clock, trying to remember if Severus said what time he was working to. She hoped he didn't catch hell for anything.

When he finally showed up, looking rather close to hell, she paled considerably. "Sev! Wait- wait, hold on- wait." She said trying to make out what he was trying to get across. She eyed the portkey and leaned in, looking at it. It resembled the shape she and Lucius had seen in the sky. "Sev, take that thing off right now! Ooooh, I knew it! I KNEW it!" She fumed and grabbed at her red hair in frustration.

She sucked in a few deep breaths trying to calm herself down. "Okay... okay yeah, Dumbledore- we need to tell him right away!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him up- running with him straight toward Dumbledore's office- hoping he would be in at this time of night.

-

Lucius hugged James back, holding on to him tightly. He pulled back, his face looking conflicted. For awhile he didn't say anything. He brought his hands up, resting them on the sides of his face. "You flew beautifully, James. You really did. You'll... you'll do so well at the game this weekend. I'm not worried. We didn't find a dress- we're going to sneak to Diagon Alley tomorrow night and try there."

He looked at James again, biting his lip. "That thing in the sky--" His breath hitched slightly. "I think that's a symbol for people who are meeting up. I half heard some of my fellow house mates talking about it while I was getting ready. They were talking low, so I paid it no mind. They're... the same people... the same ones who are giving myself and Sev a hard time. I can't imagine they had pleasant things to say at such a thing, James."

He looked positively frightened, his gray eyes flickering in fear. "I don't think it's a good idea if I return back to Slytherin tonight, James."

Severus hurried along with Lily. He had taken the necklace off, but still held it in his hand. He thought Dumbledore would want to see it. He and Lily reached the office. Severus didn't know the password for the gargoyle.

"Get out of the way, damn you." He muttered. "This is important! Lily, do you know the password?"

-x-

James glanced up to the darkening sky, looking worried. He moved closer to Lucius as they walked back towards the castle.

"Then we'll stay in the Come and Go room tonight." James said, quietly.

He couldn't wait to get back to a nice large, cozy bed, with piles of pillows and blankets, and just stay under them for hours with Lucius, talking and maybe touching a little, until they both drifted to sleep. He wanted to reassure Lucius that as long as James Potter had anything to do with it, that Lucius would be alright. That dream from last night relayed James' own fears and doubts, but he decided he wasn't going to show them anymore. He must be brave and strong for his Lucius, he would not let him down. He did not like to see that flicker of fear in Lucius' beautiful, silvery eyes.

Lily looked hopelessly at the gargoyle and began to spout off things. "Jelly beans, socks, hopscotch, Godric, Christmas, bats!" She pressed her lips in extreme agitation as none of them worked. "Garlic, house elf, friend!"

Nothing.

"Ooooooooh this is no TIME for passwords! People's lives are at stake!" She kicked the stone statue and her face instantly screwed up in agony as she hopped around holding her foot.

Dumbledore stood quietly behind the two students, having gone for a hot cup of tea from the kitchen. He cleared his throat. "Severus. Lily. What in the name of Merlin are you both doing up at this hour, shouting things at my gargoyle?" He eyed the pendant in Severus's hand, pressing his lips together- deciding to wait to hear the explanation. "It must be quite important."

-

"Okay." He stammered. "Evans wanted to see- Merlin, WHY must she be so curious? WHY would she ever want to see that?" He stayed plastered to James's side, throughly bothered by the whole thing.

Once they were in the castle, safe and sound in the room they had to themselves the previous, blissful night- Lucius relaxed. He removed his shoes and cloak, heading straight for the large bed. He climbed on it, undoing his hair from the ponytail and combing his fingers through the silky locks.

He took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. The action made him feel a bit better. He was here, with James, everything was going to be fine. "Come and join me, James. I may like having a big bed, but this one is far too large for one person."

"Lily--your foot..."

Severus looked up at Dumbledore, and then down to the pendant he had in his hand.

"I think we should talk about it in private." Severus said, motioning towards the gargoyle. "I don't feel comfortable discussing it openly in the hallway. It's very important--I didn't know who else to tell."

-x-

James climbed into bed next to Lucius, sighing at the feel of the cool sheets and soft pillows. He kissed Lucius, and stroked his hair.

"You're safe here, alright? I would do anything to keep you safe. Don't you worry about Evans, she's fiery. She knows how to handle herself."

James settled down into the bed, holding Lucius loosely. He loved the feel of the other teen next to him, even his scent. He slipped his fingers through Lucius', holding his hand.

"It's fine- It's fine!" She grabbed it and leaned against the wall. "The pain is a reminder to not kick large stone objects like a fool." She winced hard.

"Ah, you are quite right Severus. We need to speak in private about matters like this." He said solemnly and walked over to his gargoyle. "Pigeon feathers!" He said and the gargoyle moved for them. He ushered both of his students into his office, motioning for them to sit in the large cushy chairs facing his desk.

"Please sit." He said and sat his tea cup down. "I see the nature of this visit is very serious. Where on earth did you get that pendant, Severus? I feel as if I do not have to tell you the importance of speaking truthfully about it's origin." He paused to take a sip of his tea. "As you're both aware that we are in the midst of very dangerous times."

-

Lucius looked at James, seeing the sincerity on his face. He sighed gently and held his hand. "Listen, James... Those in my house wanted me to join. They were pestering me about it endlessly at the start of the school year but I told them no. Evans is my friend, I couldn't. And Severus too- he wouldn't either, but I don't think they approached him yet. Things are moving fast, it's getting fairly scary- they were so close to the school. We need to resume our defense practice." He said seriously and squeezed his hand.

"I'm sorry to be so bleak, I'm just... concerned." He leaned in closer to James, looping his arms around him. He trailed his fingers down the middle of his back, pressing his lips to his neck.

"I will think of more pleasant things now, however- I am with you after all. And we need to celebrate your excellent practice."

Severus told Dumbledore the whole story of how he had gotten the job, the man had approached him in the alley after he'd been let go from the diner. He explained what his duties were to have been, and how he missed the first night, but went tonight. Severus told Dumbledore exactly where the shop was, and how all the cloaked men had come in for the meeting. Severus was worried that once he got to the part about what had taken place in the actual meeting, that he would leave something out.

"I think it would be best if I could show you--that way I know I haven't left anything out. Do you have a pensieve?"


-x-

The memory began with Severus polishing the counter, looking up at the clock with finger-bone hands, his curiosity taking him to the potions cabinet. The memory showed Severus sneaking up the stairs and eavesdropping, including everything he had heard, and his near miss at having been caught. There was a long gap when Severus waited anxiously for the group to return, running his options of leaving over and over in his mind, always coming to the same conclusion that he couldn't. He had to keep his cover for the night as a willing worker as not to endanger himself or draw any sort of suspicion, and then he could leave.

His memory included the return of the Death Eaters who were laughing and carrying on in rowdy celebration as they tromped through the door with mud caked to their boots, and the hems and spots of their robes made darker with blood--ribbons of red also splattered across their masks. He had served them drinks and listened to their detailed account of their raids--not just this night, but other nights. They seemed to revel in the gory details of torture--both magical and non-magical doing. The drunker they became, the more graphic they became, even bragging about having tortured victims sexually or defiling the corpses. Severus felt ill, and numb, by the time the group had finally left. A few of them remained, passed out here and there, up and down the stairs, over the shop floor.

The owner asked Severus to clean up. He was so upset by the whole thing--having thought about Lily the entire time--what if it had been her these men had done these horrible things to, what if it had been her blood on their hands, what if she had been killed--Severus couldn't get the cleaning charms to work correctly. He gave up on them and just went to hand cleaning the mud and blood off of the floor, wondering who it belonged to. He couldn't finish the cleaning--it was just too much. He kept looking at the smears of blood on the floor, and thinking of Lily.

Severus left the dirty clothe, washed his hands until they were in pain, and then got out as quick as he could. He had meant to leave the portkey, but as was clear enough, he had forgotten to do so in his haste to leave.

-x-

James nuzzled Lucius' neck, but stopped and listened to Lucius explain.

"Merlin." James mumbled. "Things are just...just crazy, Lucius." He held Lucius tighter. "They won't like that you told them no, will they? They'll expect it of you." James stroked Lucius hair, and then his skin, over his chest and belly, and then curled his arm around Lucius just holding him.

"They can't force you or Severus to do anything." James said defiantly. "And you're not being bleak--you're right. We need more practice, we must be prepared. We must be prepared to fight for the people we love."

Lily reached over and took his hand, squeezing it slightly as she leaned in to watch the scene in the pensieve. She swallowed hard, watching the men stomp around in their dark cloaks and boots caked in mud and blood. She shut her eyes, thinking about it silently- mudblood.

Their boots were caked in dirty blood. The irony made her stomach churn. She wanted to throw up, looking a bit green and shaky by the end of it. She had let go of Severus's hand to run both of hers through her thick red mane. They could have very well have killed her, or anyone else undesirable.

What did that mean anyway? She glanced to Severus- he had stood up to his housemates who were not fans of hers- did that make him undesirable too? What about Malfoy, who was openly seeing James- facing scrutiny of his house- was he another undesirable too? All of them were in great danger. She shut her green eyes in frustration.

"Why- why do they have to hate us?!" She snapped looking up at Dumbledore. "We've never done anything to them!"

"That is the great mystery of hate, Lily." Dumbledore said quietly once he was finished looking at the pensieve. "Severus, I am certain you will have nothing more to do with this shop, it's far too dangerous for you to go back there. What you have seen helps enough. I will alert the aurors- and a few other allies- there will be an increase security for all students for the rest of the year. You two may return to your respective dorms- or... mayhap, you should return to Gryffindor with Lily, Severus." He reached into his desk and handed him a gold piece of paper giving Severus written permission to be in Gryffindor for the time being. "You might want to stop and get a calming draught from Madame Pomfrey too. Try to have a good night."

Lily nodded to him and slowly stood up, looking to Severus. "Come on Sev- let's go." She murmured.

-

"Of course they expect it of me, I'm a pureblood and in Slytherin. I'm exactly who they're angling this whole thing toward- but I don't want to join. I... I don't feel the need to. You're here, you're all I need. I don't need some sort of stupid crew to be in to belong."

He let out a soft sigh when James's hands drifted over his body. The gentle touches were relaxing him in to a sense of security. "...They'd want Sev because he's very talented in the dark arts. He's the other sort they're trying to recruit. The talented."

He leaned in, knocking foreheads with James. "No one is safe, James. The whole school is at risk now." He bit his lip thinking about it. "Maybe... maybe we should start up a dueling society again- kind of like what we did in the forest. They were all the rage when my father was in school."

"They'll be stopped, then?" Severus asked in a very quiet voice, even for him. "They'll be stopped before they carry out any of their other attacks?"

Severus put his arm around Lily in a display of affection he wouldn't normally be prone to showing around others--but he felt fiercely protective of her--and he wanted her to know it, and to feel her close to him, safe and breathing.

"I think a calming draught would do us both well." He said to Lily. "Thank you, Professor." He said, sliding the permission slip into his pocket.

Once he and Lily were out of Dumbledore's office, Severus kept his arm around Lily, deciding that he didn't plan to let her go any time soon. He hugged her close, and stroked her hair a bit, hoping to calm her--he didn't know if such actions could even help, how could they against something so horrible? His fear was burning away to anger a silent anger, which began to flicker within his dark eyes. He walked with Lily to Madam Pomphrey's, keeping her close. He loved her, she was the brightest light in his life, and these disgusting arsehole nor anyone as far as Severus was concerned--would take her away from him.

"I won't let anything happen to you." Severus said, in a cold voice. "I know dark things too. I know spells they've never heard of, and I am not afraid to use them. They can't have you." He held her hand securely, looking fierce and defiant, ready to to hex the first person who dared to look at them wrongly. He and Lily got their draughts, and then walked back towards Gryffindor Tower.

--

"That's a brilliant idea, Lucius. I think it would be perfect, other students need to be prepared too, not just us. They other halfbloods and Muggleborns--anyone who would stand against such extreme beliefs--we can't afford to be taken off guard." James laid kisses along Lucius' jawline. "But just for now...let's put it aside. This is the only place we have where we can be as open as we wish without being judged or having to think about the consequences."

"We will do our best to stop them, Severus." Dumbledore promised and quickly went to work contacting the aurors at the ministry.

As Lily sipped at the calming draught, she listened to Severus quietly. "...Sev... hey. Listen. I... I know, I know that you can do those spells. ...They frighten me." She admitted quietly. "I know they're a part of you, and a part of who you are. I know it's a gift, and I KNOW that you're not one of them. They're just... hard to get used to. Maybe because I come from no magical background whatsoever, I'm not used to the thought of the dark arts." She squeezed his hand.

"Maybe it's because all I've ever seen of dark magic is used to harm people like myself- that in itself is frightening. I'm trying to learn more about it, Sev. I'm going to have to know." She paused in front of the window, looking out at the sky. "I think we're going to go to war, Sev- and very soon. Just outside of the school by Hogsmede, Malfoy and I spotted a cloud in the sky. It closely resembled the symbol on that pendant. Malfoy said I shouldn't go see, but I wanted to. I'm so glad I listened to him for a change."

She pursed her lips together. "I can imagine they'd want you and Malfoy to join them, but I know you won't. I know you would never do that. You're my Sev- the boy from Spinner's End who won me over with your clever, funny remarks." She smiled at him and slid her arm around him.

"Let's get to bed then."

-

Lucius nodded, and shut his eyes. "Yes- yes... well, we won't have to be judged for much longer anyway. Once we graduate, no one will care." He blinked, not having thought of that until just now." He smiled at the kisses along his jaw, sighing in contentment.

In the back of his mind he began to organize the club. They'd have to use James as a draw- he doubted he and Severus would be a good draw just by themselves. He thought of getting Evans to pose erotically for a poster for the club, but imagined the curse from Severus would be quite painful.

"...I have owled my father about us." Lucius said excitedly. "He never writes me back, but he also hasn't sent a howler. I can't wait for you to meet him- maybe over the break... He's the bravest man I've ever met before, James. You two have a lot in common." He purred and pressed his lips to James's neck, nipping and sucking at the flesh teasingly.

Severus curled up next to Lily, and watched her sleep for a while before he finally fell asleep himself. He kept waking up automatically at regular intervals during the night, and he would watch her for a little bit, feeling the need to protect her and make sure she was still next to him and was alright. After he woke up around 5am he just stayed awake, and found a book to read until Lily woke up.

He walked to breakfast with her, snarling at his housemates when they stared and made rude gestures. He didn't even want to sit with his housemates for breakfast. He reluctantly parted from Lily, though he kept a careful watch on her from across the room. He attempted to tune out all the rude and threatening things being said to him and around him. His housemates were obviously trying to provoke him, and he was trying hard to resist. Severus was known for his temper, not his tolerance, but he was trying very hard not to let them rouse him to a show of his anger. He worked on fixing a calm outer shell over his anger.

-x-

James gave Lucius his attentions and conversation into the night, until he was too sleepy to form another word, or to keep his eyes open. He slept well and deeply, and woke the next morning with his face buried in Lucius' gorgeous soft hair.

"MmmLucius...the scent of your hair is the best possible thing I could wake up to in the morning--even better than the wafting smell of pancakes and bacon...though...I am hungry." James' stomach growled in confirmation. He yawned, and stretched his arms up over his head before rolling out of bed.

-x-