thanks so much! (:

OKAY. so I know it's been a month..but my net has been down. and I've had to get on SS on my phone, which is torture, but so is not being on SS! so I've suffered through it! but now that my internet is kind of working again..here is the next chapter!

Ch. 5 - Annoying Lily 101


James walked back into the house feeling glum. He shot a glare in the direction of Remus. Remus stood up, walked over to the window, and watched as Lily went home; she would apparate once in a deserted area.

“Remus, what’d you have to go and upset Lily for? She left yesterday seething at me as well! She’s going to bloody hate my guts…” he raged at Remus, who turned to look at James with worry written across his face.

“I have reason to believe that Severus is a Death Eater,” was the only reply.

“WHAT?!” came a shout from the back room, and Sirius appeared a second later, looking curious. He ran his fingers through his hair and leaned against the wall. “No…”

“I could see it, actually,” James said, scratching his chin in thought. Then his eyes widened, fear penetrating. “Wait…then Lily is in danger!”

“Well, I’m not too sure. I am only guessing. I mean, he has always dabbled with the Dark Arts, she doesn’t know where he works, and he is gone for more than a day at a time…what does that sound like?” Remus thought aloud. He, too, seemed to be in deep thought...it was all too fishy.

“Well we should tell her!” exclaimed James desperately, looking rather panicked. He kept looking from Sirius to Remus, his eyes popping out with fear. Sirius merely rolled his eyes. He stood up straight again and plopped down on the couch. He looked quite unconcerned and began to examine his nails.

“No, she knows. She just isn’t letting us know that…it’s obvious,” he said casually. Both Remus and James turned to stare at him incredulously.

“She doesn’t know…Lily wouldn’t put up with that!” responded James in a very loud, angry voice. He was on the verge of yelling for some reason, as if he felt the need to defend her. Sirius looked up at him and shrugged.

“Suit yourself…”

Remus soon left on the excuse that he had promised to stop by Peter’s house to visit. Sirius absolutely refused to go, and James was in too much of a gloomy mood to go. Peter Pettigrew, a friend of the fellows, still lived with his parents until he had enough saved to buy a place of his own.

James’ head was reeling. What if Snivellus was a Death Eater? What should he tell Lily? She obviously didn’t know…she couldn’t know…Lily wouldn’t put up with that. He sighed, his thoughts drifting to darker images. What if he somehow caused something horrible to happen to her? James’ mind burned with anger. No. I won’t let that happen…I’m in love with Lily…he admitted to himself, his eyes beginning to burn. He told Sirius he was going to his room to think. He slammed his bedroom door behind, fell onto his bed, and closed his eyes. His mind drifted lazily off…doing anything but dwelling on what he had just thought about, what he had just admitted to himself…
….

Severus’ cloak billowed around him as he awaited Mulciber. His old pal from school was almost done doing what they had set out to do for the Dark Lord. Severus checked his watch, wondering what was taking so long. He then heard a high pitched scream, coming obviously from a woman, and then, suddenly, a silence. He sighed, looking quite uncomfortable. He kicked the dirt with his shoe, making a heart with the initials 'S&L.' He smiled at his work of art. He could almost feel his cold heart warming a bit. Mulciber suddenly ran out the house, cackling like a mad man. Severus quickly kicked the heart he had in the dirt and looked up at his fellow Death Eater with an evil grin.

“Got the information?”

“Of course. But the Dark Lord is busy right now…he told me to wait. He must be doing something important…I managed to steal some of her gold,” he replied slyly while jingling a very plump bag of gold. Severus dug his hands into his robe, shivering a bit.

“Let’s go back to my place…share a drink. We’ve accomplished something very good…” he said softly. They apparated to Severus and Lily’s house.

Mulciber waltzed in, eyeing the place with slight distaste. The house was very neat, bright, and cheerful. Pictures of Lily and Severus littered the place, and the home had the smell of apples and cinnamon. Not the place he had previously imagined Severus lived in. Severus sat down at his table and beckoned Mulciber over.

“Split the money in half. Lily will be happy I’ve made some gold…” Mulciber slumped down in his chair. He threw a bag that jangled onto the table. Severus dumped its contents onto the wood surface and counted it carefully. He knew better than to try to trick Mulciber out of money...the guy would kill him in the blink of eye, even if they were friends. Eh, Severus decided he needed new friends. He separated it in half, placing his own pile into his pocket. Mulciber lit a cigar and placed his share back into the bag.

“She‘s yours?” Mulciber asked as he pointed to the nearest picture of Lily. Severus smiled, warmth spreading into his icey eyes. He was pretty sure that his pal had met her before; perhaps he just humoring Severus.

“Yes. Lily.”

“I remember her from Hogwarts. She know?” Know what, exactly, he didn't say aloud, but Severus knew what he meant.

Severus didn’t answer for a long time. Then, “Yes.” Mulciber cackled again.

“Does she know exactly what we do?”

“Well…no,” replied Severus, who was rolling the sleeves of his cloak up. Mulciber began to twirl his wand around his fingers. They said nothing for a long while, Mulciber slowly filling the kitchen up with smoke and Severus staring at the picture of Lily.

Then, quite suddenly, Lily popped into the living room. Severus had jumped up with his wand at the ready, pointed straight at Lily. Mulciber had dropped his own wand, his eyes widened with fear. Her apparation seemed to have scared them.

“Merlin’s knickers, Lily, it was only you,” mumbled Severus, apparently irritated. Lily didn’t smile, or even say hello to Severus. She was staring at Mulciber with a look of pure disgust on her face. Mulciber returned her glare with puffs of steady smoke from his cigar.

“Glass of wine, Lils? Just made some gold,” asked Severus, who poured himself a glass as well as Mulciber. Lily shook her head and eyed the cigar with intense dislike. She strolled into the kitchen and rummaged around the pots and pans. Soon, food was cooking on the stove, her wand stirring a soup. She slumped next to Severus, looking very tired indeed.

“What’d you do all day, Lils?” asked Severus kindly. Mulciber snickered as he blew a cloud of smoke into the air.

“I visited James. He’s been needing help finding a job…don’t start now, Sev,” she snapped, as Severus’ expression became distorted with hatred when James’ name was mentioned. Mulciber clicked his tongue as more smoke clouded the kitchen.

“Scum, blood traitor, he is,” he added in roughly. Lily turned sharply to look at him, her green eyes ablaze.

“Excuse me, but I am a muggle born. If you are going to insult anyone that has any affiliation with muggle borns, I would suggest you to get out of our house. Severus may like you, but I do not,” she said all of this very quickly, and her eyes flickered nervously when she was done. Severus held his breath; he was nervous as well. Mulciber simple chuckled and blew puffs of smoke at her face.

“So sorry to offend,” he apologized, his voice filled with the sound of mocking sarcasm. Lily tensed up.

“Would you put that cigar out, please? It is quite disgusting, which I suppose makes sense that you like them, seeing as your filthy as we-”

“Lily!” shouted Severus, rising out of his seat, his sallow and pale face lined with seriousness. Mulciber was looking quite deadly. He crushed the cigar in his hand, and when he opened his hand the ashes were gone. He stood up, his cloak jingling, and strode to the door.

“Of course, I will oblige you, Evans. I would watch your temper, if I were you, muggle born.” he returned at her, his eyes filled with malice and his voiced oiled like grease. He opened the door, and, just as he was about to walk out, he turned back and added, “And Severus, keep your woman in line.” And with that, he left their house leaving behind a very shocked Severus and a very angry Lily.

___

hope this was good! heeheee. donchaa looovveee Mulciber?