Clingy Sister

Severus Snape instinctively knew some thing is wrong when six days passed, still he did not hear a peep from Marauders. It is doubtful they learned their lesson with the stunt he pulled in summer. It is hurtful to their prospects, but not so hurtful they will completely give up the rivalry.

He's been frequenting library with Lily, he stopped going to any and all Slytherin gatherings.

Not that he stopped developing dark arts, it's just that he's gotten incredibly better at hiding them.

After all, he was swinging towards light when he died. It sounded very dirty when put like that.

Regardless, marauders haven't done a thing for six days and it's increasing his paranoia to new heights.

So, when he saw a glimpse of movement in the corner, he hexed first, thought after.

Unfortunately for him, it's just that dumb hufflepuff girl. She looked worse for the wear too.

He knew he should have left her there and gone away. If he was just a sixteen year old slytherin, that's exactly what he would have done.

Unfortunately, his teacher instincts chose this untimely moment to make a comeback. He hurried over to her.

"I made a friend." the girl told him with out preamble.

"Are you injured, miss Dolcow?" he asked in his teacher voice before he could help it. He did not see any bleeding, but she did not look good.

"Not much." the girl told him.

She definitely looked worse for the wear.

"Do visit hospital wing, miss Dolcow. I believe the school nurse will be a better judge of that than a third year who can't tell difference between polity and interest." he admonished her in his most acerbic tone.

"Oh my! Who are you, and what have you done with Severus?" Lily exclaimed from behind him.

"I don't know what you mean." Severus answered in his most apathetic voice.

Lily smiled at him brightly.

"Did you just send that hufflepuff to hospital wing out of concern?" she asked in a lightly teasing tone.

Severus shrugged in response.

"Hey, wait a minute. Isn't that Marriet Dolcow? Is she really your sister then?" Lily asked curiously.

"What?" Severus asked in a disbelieving tone.

Lily did not respond.

"Lily, I think I just heard you asking me if the that ugly hufflepuff is my sister. Did I hear wrong?" he asked.

"No, you most definitely heard me correctly." Lily answered.

"Why in the world would you ask such a question? " Severus asked bewildered. After all, every rumor has to have some grain of truth.

"Well, Mary heard it from a Ravenclaw who heard it from a Hufflepuff that heard Slughorn informing her she is your sister."

Severus mulled over her words for a second before the answer occurred to him. It's the Marauders. They can't hex him directly with out repercussions, so they are choosing to strike at him from afar. Even he has to admit this plan is a bit ingenious.

He hasn't been back for much time, even so he hasn't remembered any Marriets from his other time. He did not forget names and faces easily. A hufflepuff that ugly is bound to be known to entire school, have enemies spread through out all seven years. Especially bored, bullying, toerag enemies. Now, he is honor bound to respond, provided he accepted rumor, or, reject her and face ire of the likes of Lily.

He is going to loose which ever way. For now, damage control is the best option.

"She is not my sister. I don't know where the rumor began, but she is most definitely not my sister." he assured Lily.

"Then why did you help her on the train?" Lily asked.

"I did not help any one on the .." Severus paused there.

"Do you by any chance mean returning a wand that's rolled towards my feet? " he asked.

"Oh Sev! You returned a wand?" Lily laughed.

It took some time for her to get her laughter under control. She explained the situation once she composed her self. Apparently, it's a way of catching boy friends. Especially for the younger years. Knowing that did nothing to reduce Severus's consternation. He should be having words with these young women. When he said as much to Lily, she laughed some more, at him sounding like such a old man.

Then, Severus said some thing that ended all the laughter in a single blow. He should have and could have done at a better time. By doing it now, if she rejects, he can amend it to being a platonic affair.

"Lily, will you go with me to hogsmeade this weekend?" He was more nervous now than when facing the dark lord.

Some how, it felt like if he did not ask now, he would never be able to.

"As friends?" Lily asked in a cautious tone.

Severus almost caved in under the pressure and said yes to that. But, his thirty odd year old obsessed self decided it would be screwed over if he caved in. it told him she will never look back at him if he backtracked now.

"No. As a date." he confirmed.

The silence stretched.

Lily was surprised. She knew or at least heard the concept from her friends often enough. They all thought Severus had a crush on her, but she always denied them fervently.

She had never been attracted to him. But, you never know with out trying, she supposed.

"Yes, Severus. How ever, if we ever breakup, promise me you will stay my friend." Lily said extending her hand.

Severus put his hand in hers.

"I promise Lily." He said with brightest smile she has ever seen on his face.

This time, he promised to him self, he will never ever let Lily go.

Little did he know, his fate is already moving to break that promise.