Lily's Charm- Severitus fanfiction

Saturday

1996

“I wish you were coming with us,” Ginny sighed as she pulled away from Harry on the sofa.

Harry brought Ginny back into his arms. “Me too,” he agreed before kissing her again.

Ginny smiled. “I could stay here,” she offered in a teasing voice but Harry’s heart skipped a beat anyway at the thought. The idea of the two of them here together, alone, was certainly a pleasant one.

“You could.” he answered in all seriousness and Ginny leaned closer to him, nestling into his side.

“I can stay if you want me to, Harry.” Her tone this time was solemn as well, and Harry knew she was giving him a chance to back away from the commitment he’d made.

Harry sighed. He hadn’t spoken to Snape since he and Remus had walked into the Potions classroom with Harry on Thursday evening. As soon as Snape had reversed his Disillusionment Charm, he’d informed Harry that Voldemort was calling.

Fear had gripped Harry instantly and Snape had assured him quietly, “I will be fine.” And then his father had continued, his voice hardening, “Do not leave the Tower. Is that clear?”

Harry had nodded shakily, his heart beating faster as his father studied him briefly and then Snape was Flooing away, his face a blank mask.

Harry stayed up most of that night, alternating between pacing and re-writing the same two lines of his Potions essay. His friends had tried to stay up with him, until Harry had finally ordered the dozing Gryffindors to leave the common room.

Ginny of course, had refused to go and so Harry had eventually sat down on the sofa, pulling Ginny to him. He had wrapped an arm around her as she put her head on his shoulder, whispering quietly to her to sleep. Ginny had obliged and though Harry hadn’t meant to, he soon fell asleep as well. When he’d awoken early the next morning, he and Ginny had been inexplicably covered in one of the blankets from Harry’s bed and there was a small vial, labeled Essence of Clover in a tidy, familiar script, sitting on the low table in front of them.

Harry had seen the Potions Master in the Great Hall yesterday at dinner but had not dared to make eye contact with him. And even though Harry had been touched by Snape’s gesture, he was incredibly nervous to see the man. He had no idea how he was supposed to act around him anymore…he was even less sure about what he should call him when he saw him next…if indeed he managed to call him anything at all.

“Harry?” Ginny prodded, breaking into his thoughts.

“Sorry,” Harry smiled. “I’ll be all right,” he tried to assure her as she studied him.

“I’ll be here when you finish with Snape,” she promised and Harry smiled at the thought, just as Ginny’s friends came loudly down the stairs from the dorms. Their chattering stopped immediately as they saw Harry and Ginny together on the couch.

“You’d better go, Gin,” Harry said resignedly as he pulled her to her feet. Ginny stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss and Harry blushed as the giggling started. Ginny rolled her eyes and with a little wave to Harry, she allowed herself to be shepherded from the common room by her friends.

Harry sighed and flopped back onto the sofa, wishing that he hadn’t agreed to spend the day with Snape. He was in the middle of debating whether or not to just stay in the common room when Ron’s voice rang out in exasperation, “Why does it take so long for girls to get ready?”