Lily's Charm- Severitus fanfiction

Trio of Marauders

1979

Severus did not particularly enjoy the cold, wet sensation that traveled down his back as Lily cast the Disillusionment Charm over him, but he made no outward sign; he didn't, after all, want to appear weak in front of Potter, no matter how committed he was to getting along with the Gryffindor.

Severus' stoicism was completely lost on James, however, as James wasn't even looking at Severus just then. He was staring out Lily's kitchen window, wondering just what he'd done to deserve this. He remembered exactly how happy he'd felt when Lily had finally been ready to accept a date with him... only to have that date end more disastrously than he could have imagined.

Maybe if he'd grown up a little sooner and hadn't done his best to torture Snape, Lily wouldn't have despised him for so long. He actually should have done his best to become friends with Severus Snape and then maybe Lily would have seen him as something more than an "arrogant toe rag" far sooner than Seventh Year.

And maybe the greasy git wouldn't have taken advantage of Lily's vulnerability that night if it would have meant betraying a friend. James almost laughed at that notion, however; such loyalty was a bit much to expect from a Slytherin. James shook his head and turned around to find Lily watching him silently.

Snape was no longer beside her, but of course Lily would already have placed the Disillusionment Charm on her husband. A bit disconcerting, James realized, not being able to see the other man, and he wondered fleetingly if Snape had ever used the Charm during their years at Hogwarts. It would certainly explain a few things, James mused with a smirk.

"Ready?" Lily asked, breaking into James' reverie. He nodded, trying not to pay attention to the empty spot next to Lily. He found he did not like not being able to see Snape's facial responses to him, not that Snape ever really gave very much away in that harsh face of his. Once again, he wondered what Lily could possibly see in the man. Whatever it was, James doubted very much that he would ever be able to appreciate it.

With that discouraging thought, James followed Lily, and presumably Snape, out the kitchen door and onto the well-manicured lawn. With a nod from Lily, James turned on the spot, and in the next instant, he and Lily were standing a few feet from his own front stoop.

James' parents had died a few years ago, and being the only child, he had inherited their rather large estate. Sirius and Remus, in between their work for Albus and the Order, lived with him. The trio got along well together there, and James realized, with a pang as he stepped up to the door, that he would miss his two friends.

Lily stepped up beside James and took his hand in hers. Even though James recognized the gesture as a show for the other Marauders, he couldn't help but feel warmed by it. Lily's hand just felt right in his, as if a piece of him had been missing for years and now he felt whole again. He smiled involuntarily and the small smile turned to a full-fledged grin when he heard the almost-muffled growl behind him. Yes, James would enjoy this particular show.

Still grinning, James opened the door with a loud, "Alohomora," and scooped a very surprised Lily into his arms and carried her in, over the threshold. After all, Lily had been raised by Muggles, and had they actually just married, James would want to respect her traditions, wouldn't he? James smirked at Lily as she gaped up at him as he marched into his front hall.

xxxxx

Severus had to stop himself from leaping forward and yanking Lily out of Potter's arms. He took a step back as he had already moved forward to do just that. Severus clenched his jaw in anger and tried to relax his stance; Potter, of course, was doing this only to annoy Severus, and since he did believe the Gryffindor meant no harm toward his wife, he would wait and watch quietly.