Second chance a new choice

The first meeting

Thursday evening, as Severus finished dinner, he checked the time. They'll be starting in thirty minutes. He stepped just outside the Great Hall. I suppose I should go... Couldn't I stay in, brew potions instead? But I promised... And Lily and Lupin will be with me.

Severus sighed and headed for their meeting place.

"What exactly are we supposed to do?" said Lupin as Severus walked into the deserted wing beside him and Lily. "I've brought some elementary books on Defence, Charms, Transfiguration, and so on."

"No idea," Severus muttered. "Is this a social gathering? Reading club? Or something else?"

"Well, whatever it is, I think it's a great idea." Lily smiled. "And it's nice she asked us. Maybe having Gryffindors come to them for once will make a difference."

"Setting your hopes just as high as her," Severus quipped. "Don't expect too much."

Warm light and an unfamiliar smell sneaked from the crack under the old classroom door. The three entered to the hinges' quiet squeak.

Inside, tables and desks huddled in corners, leaving only one table to stand at the room's middle. Candles burned with soft light, and on the table sat two pots of tea, a dozen teacups, and fresh-baked cookies and brownies.

Ah. No wonder that odor's foreign. Tobias wasn't much for candles and pastries to mark what few birthdays he remembered. And Mother... well... she had other things to think about.

Around the room lay a cozy scatter of pillows, and among them Penelope sat with two girls her age and one boy.

"Severus!" Penelope lit up. "I'm so glad you came!" One glance at Lily and Lupin in their red Gryffindor robes and Penelope stood, but shuffled from one foot to the other. "I'm... Penelope Pauperitt. So glad you wanted to come." She glanced at them twice punctuated by long stares at the floor.

"Lily Evans. Thank you for inviting me." Lily smiled and offered a hand.

Penelope allowed a smile too, and though she took Lily's hand with hesitation, she shook it enthusiastically. "Thank you," Penelope said in a near whisper. "Thank you, so much."

"Miss Pauperitt!" Lupin burst as his taut nerves slacked. "I'm so glad to meet you—the creator of such a thing!"

"It—it's nothing special." Penelope blushed. "Honest. And it's Penelope." She reached out a shy hand.

Remus took it and gave a firm shake, a smile spread on his face. "Remus Lupin. You can just call me Remus. And what do you mean, 'It's nothing'? It takes courage—lots of courage—to reach out like this! And wisdom, to see it's needed. Why, you must be the smartest, bravest person in school." He kept shaking her hand.

Penelope's face flushed with embarrassment. "I–I'm afraid you're a little early." She rescued her hand. "We don't have many people here yet. I don't think Slytherins have ever met in such a large group before."

"That's all right." Lupin beamed. "Who're your friends?"

The three younger Slytherins shrank into the corner.

Severus shadowed Lupin as they approached the others. Should I stop him from getting too close too fast? They must be terrified, caught in a room with two older Gryffindors. Other houses don't usually give us much other than hate and contempt.

"Oh." Penelope faced the corner. "This is Matthew Flint—a fourth-year, like me—Claire Goyle, from fifth-year, and Diane Diggory, also in fifth-year."

"So pleased to meet you all," Remus declared.

Goyle? "Are you related to Geronimo Goyle?" Severus said.