Priori Incantatem [HARRY POTTER FANFICTION]

Chapter 50: The Tables Turn

Chapter 50: The Tables Turn

Lily studied Snape covertly, glancing at him from under her lashes. He didn't seem at all well; Snape's already sallow complexion was even more pale and sickly, as though he hadn't been out in the sun or eaten properly since graduating from Hogwarts. His hair was dishevelled and unwashed, his pupils bloodshot, and the circles under his eyes were deeply etched. All in all, Snape looked like he'd been through hell.

Lily had never been more shocked in her life than she had been when she encountered Snape at the small Muggle shop where she went to buy fizzy drinks and Muggle sweets and to pick things up after work. Lily couldn't have imagined anything more incongruous than the sight of Snape standing outside of that ordinary little shop, his black cloak billowing round him, his hood shading his face.

And asking for her help, no less. "What do you want with Professor Dumbledore?" Lily had asked him warily, feeling the familiar nausea curling in her stomach.

"I need to talk to him," Snape spoke softly and glanced over his shoulder. It reminded Lily of a bad spy film, but somehow she wasn't quite inclined to laugh.

"Well, you could always send him an owl," Lily suggested as casually as possible, her mind spinning with possibilities. "He's probably at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays."

Snape regarded Lily coldly. "I am not in a position to run the risk of that owl being intercepted," he said rigidly.

Lily simply nodded as though this had confirmed her suspicions. Scowling slightly, Lily ran through all of the courses open to her. Taking Snape home to her own flat was out of the question; if James were to come in and find Severus Snape in his house, he was very likely to hex first and ask questions later. Nor was she eager to involve any of their other friends in her deception, because there was little doubt in Lily's mind that this encounter with Snape would have to remain a secret. And it probably wouldn't do Snape any good to be seen with her either. But Lily didn't want to go anywhere too private, just in case this did in fact turn out to be some sort of Death Eater trap.

"All right," Lily said finally, coming to a decision. She slung her handbag over her shoulder once more. "We need to go to the Hog's Head."

Snape raised a brow in inquiry, wondering why she was taking him to Hogsmeade's dodgiest pub to meet Dumbledore. But Lily merely smiled, deciding not to enlighten Snape further until she had a better grasp of the situation.

Following the Order's protocol for an emergency situation, Lily had asked the barman in the Hog's Head to get a message to Dumbledore. The barman had eyed her narrowly for a moment, then grunted in assent and started off toward the corridor, motioning to them to follow.

And here they were, staring at each other across a table in a private room in the Hog's Head, waiting for Dumbledore to arrive.

Lily shifted a bit in her seat as a wave of dizziness washed over her. Reaching into her handbag, she removed the fizzy drink she'd bought earlier, popped the tab on the can, and took a fortifying gulp. Snape eyed the drink warily as though suspecting that Lily was about to turn into a bat and fly away through the window to summon Dumbledore herself.

"Want some?" Lily asked, resisting the impulse to keel over and pretend to go into convulsions, though it was tempting to find out how Snape would react if she did.

Snape just glared at Lily, apparently deciding not to dignify her question with a response. Note to self: in future, don't make the mistake of assuming Snape must have a sense of humour, Lily grumbled to herself, sipping her drink again.

After what seemed like an interminable amount of time, the door swung open to admit Professor Dumbledore, swathed in a voluminous hooded cloak and wearing a very concerned expression.