Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chapter 53 - Harsh Reality

Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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It infuriated Severus that anyone would dare invade the sanctuary of his home, especially his old enemy.

He pulled his arm back to fire off another curse at Sirius, but before he could speak, Lily gripped his hand and shouted, "Wait!"

Sirius giggled in austere amusement.

Severus glared at his darling as if she had just struck him while he hissed in a questioning reply, "'Wait......'?"

"Don't you think we should at least ask how he found us first?" Lily frowned.

"Ah, Lily, you're as bright as ever!" Sirius chirped from his position on the floor.

As much as Severus hated to admit it, he knew his wife argued wisely.

He frowned at Lily while he slowly lowered his arm.

"Sev, Sweetheart, I know this is hard for you." She pouted, "Why don't you let me do the talking? A moment or two.....Just a moment or two, alright?"

Severus remained silent but as he gazed into his beloved's beautiful green eyes, he gave her the slightest of nods to signal his reluctant approval.

He possessively wrapped Lily in a protective embrace while she called over to their intruder, "It's been a while, Sirius."

"It has indeed, Lily." Sirius replied with a bright smile that showcased his rotten teeth, "How long exactly?.....Twelve years now? A bit more? Forgive me, the days all blend into one when you have to pass them in Azkaban."

"Perhaps that time has taught you the value of friendship and why you shouldn't betray those you claim to care about." Lily shot back as an angry scowl formed on her face, "James and I were over by the time you......did what you did....That doesn't make it less evil! Besides James, my baby paid a price for your sins too!"

"......My sins, Lily?" Sirius huffed.

He growled as he struggled to his feet.

Lily instinctively clutched onto Severus, who tightened his grip on her waist and pointed his wand at Sirius, silently prepared to send his old nemesis to the ground once more.

"Lily, you were the brightest witch of the age during our Hogwarts years." Sirius chuckled as his dark stare bore into her, "Everyone said it, everyone knew it was true. Surely Snivelly here hasn't ruined that brain of yours, has he? You don't really mean to tell me you honestly believe I'm the one who betrayed James?"

Severus and Lily exchanged silent frowns of curious doubt as they glanced at each other.

Sirius threw up his arms in a gesture of pure exasperation.

His ragged sleeves elicited a small cloud of dust from his filthy prison uniform as he scoffed again, "I'm telling the truth! Go on, Snivelly, see for yourself! Read my mind, give me Veritaserum! I'll do whatever it takes to prove my innocence!"

"How did you find us?" Severus snapped.

Sirius shrugged, "A tracking spell, of course. Come on, Snivelly, I know you're not that thick either. What's happened to the both of you?"

"This cottage is under layers and layers of powerful cloaking enchantments." Severus retorted with a distrustful scowl, "It would be impossible to penetrate those protective devices with something as simple as a tracking spell, Black."

"Not if it's based on bloodline." Sirius shrugged.

Severus's mouth fell open slightly as Sirius went on, "I still have James's Invisibility Cloak.......Wouldn't you know it had a single one of his hairs left clinging to its edge? After I escaped from Azkaban, I used that hair to find James's son.......It brought me straight here. You may want to check your magic, Snivelly, if anyone comes looking for James Potter's child with a trace of him, you'll be found in an instant."