Emerald and Hazel

Chapter 29 - The Confrontation

Lily's P.O.V

It's the day of the Yule Ball. I'm so excited, even more excited I'm going with James and Marlene is going with Sirius and Mary is going with Remus. Peter declined any suggestion of asking anyone to the ball in the end but we all agreed we'd go as a group and Sirius offered Peter one slow dance with him.

Lisa Honey will obviously be wearing the violet dress that James suggested - hopefully she's changed it to whichever one Stephen Parkinson (her new boyfriend) said he liked best. The Slytherins will slander anything that wasn't done or decided by them, although I doubt anyone but other Slytherins will listen to them. It doesn't matter though, tonight is about having fun, this year has already been so stressful and filled with so many bad moments I want everyone at Hogwarts, whatever their house, to have fun tonight.

I've worked so hard on making sure things go perfectly tonight I can't wait for tonight.

Severus' P.O.V

I'm not getting cold feet, I'm not. I know Lily has worked hard the ball and seeing her face when it all goes wrong won't be nice, but it's for the greater good.

'Why does your face look like that?' Lucius' voice echoes your throughout the abandoned bathroom.

'What are you talking about?' I say in a monotone voice.

'Your face. You look like you're worried Snape. You're not having second thoughts,' he steps closer to me trying to intimidate, 'are you? Because now would be a terrible time to get cold feet.'

'Don't be an idiot, Malfoy. I'm neither worried nor having second thoughts. Are you?'

He smirks at me but it doesn't mask the loathing he feels, 'I'm no coward, Snape.' He says, and turns away from me.

'Only a few days ago you made clear you wanted no more to do with this and then you changed your mind again quicker than you did the first time.'

'Because, Snape,' he sneers, 'I realised you're incapable of pulling this off without getting caught and implicating us both. I'm only doing this to ensure you don't mess it up, which may be inevitable but at least I can say I tried.' His tone condescending and mocking. Does he think his insults will get to me when he I have no respect for him?

Nevertheless his mere presence irritates me so I'm more than glad to take the opportunity to leave. I walk silently through the castle hoping to make it to the common room without interruption.

'Severus!' I must be imagining voices or hallucinating because I can't think of a single reason why Lily would be in front of me right now.

Before I can answer or get a chance to speak at all she's pulling me by my robe into an empty classroom.

'Severus. I know it was you, I know it was you and Malfoy.' I don't ask what she's talking about, because my face, even void of all emotion, has confirmed it.

I stay silent and wait for her to continue speaking.

'I won't tell anyone, but only if you stop whatever you and Malfoy are plotting.' I'm filled with instant dread and regret. Before I can reply or apologise or say anything at all she starts speaking again and tears springing into her eyes. 'Severus, why are you doing this? This isn't you.'

The silence between us is palpable and I feel my face contort in anger.

'Why him Lily? Him, of all people.' I say, but my hurt comes out as anger and disgust.

'Who?' She asks completely clueless as to what I'm talking about.

'Potter. Lily, Potter.' The hurt in my voice now evident.