Every Breath You Take - Thursday, 24th of August, 1978

[Severus Snape]

Severus had accepted a position at Hogwarts and would be leaving soon to get started as the assistant to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He was honored to have been offered the position, and truly looking forward to the chance to prove himself - not to mention the respect the remaining students would be forced to give him upon his return to Hogwarts which he had never once been given in all his time there. Yes, it would prove to be a glorious return indeed, but like all new beginnings, it would mean the end of something else.

The announcement in the Daily Prophet had caught him off guard, and the idea that Lily had not only fallen for that Potter boy's tricks but had actually gone so far as to marry him was devastating to Severus. He knew Potter couldn't treat her the way he would have, if only she had given him the chance. He made one mistake and she had shunned him, but James Potter and his arsehole friends could be complete monsters on the regular and she looked the other way? It was utterly unfair. He just needed to find a way to show her he wasn't what Potter had convinced her he was. The actual plan was still in development, but it seemed his days of watching Lily Evans....Lily Potter now, he supposed, were coming to an end. At least during the weekdays. Severus was expected to stay near the castle during the week, to help with the students as needed but mostly to grade papers and help to acquire any materials the professor would require for lessons. This was to be a goodbye, of sorts, and despite him not having spoken to Lily in a great long while, he would miss seeing her face most days.

Diagon Alley was crowded with children being escorted by their parents to finish up their back to school shopping, which made it that much harder to keep an eye on her. He lost sight of her near the Owl Emporium, but managed to track her down again nearer the Ice Cream Parlor. He couldn't tell what she was after today, not yet anyway, but as she turned his direction Severus busied himself looking into the nearest shop window, watching her from the corner of his eye and hiding behind long, unwashed hair.

Tagged: Lily Potter & open
Outfit: lurking in the shadows

[Lily Potter]

She loved James. She really, really did. With everything she was Lily loved James. She loved him more than anything and being married to him was incredible…but…she just wanted a couple of hours to herself. Just a collection of minutes to breathe, and remind herself, that she was more than the new Mrs. Potter. She was still Lily first, wife second, and she didn’t need an escort to do her shopping. The redhead had intended on popping into the Alley, accomplishing all of the errands on her list in a reasonable time, and returning home before James could get too upset with her absence - he was going through quite a lot, they all were really, she didn’t want to be gone for too long, just long enough to let out some energy. But things never do go to plan, do they?

It was him. Which wasn’t a totally uncommon occurrence, seeing Severus Snape out and about in the wizarding world, their community was small in the greater scheme of things. What was uncommon, or what she hoped was uncommon, was that he appeared to be tailing her. Her first instinct was to try giving him the slip and getting back to her husband as soon as possible. That would be the smart thing to do, the rational thing, it would be what James would want her to do. Lily wasn’t always completely rational. Part of her acknowledged that Severus was…dangerous; he could very well be on a mission to kill her or worse. That was a very real option, and yet Lily could not bring herself to believe it probable. So, her curiosity won out. Was he even following her? If so, why? They hadn’t spoken in years and she had made it very clear she wanted nothing to do with him. If he wasn’t trying to kill or capture her then what did he want? Only one way to find out. 

The newlywed went about her day as she had planned, crossing things off as she went and paying no mind to the sulky figure on the street that shadowed her. Very well she had to admit, she only caught the glimpse of him here or there, sneaky bastard. A plan began to form along the way, it was risky, but it was the best she could think of on such short notice. Step one: be obvious. Standing outside Fortescue’s with an ice cream cone and chatting with Tris Malkin seemed like a good way to get noticed. Lily resisted the urge to look for him, she didn’t want to be obvious like that. Step two: lure him away. Easy enough. The parlor was one building off of Knockturn Alley, her not-so-perfect place for this not-so-brilliant plan of hers. Still, she went with it, pausing at the mouth of the alley to stare at the sign before heading in, laying the bait. Once around the corner her free hand pulled her wand from her sleeve at once and her feet picked up pace, her heart rate skipping to keep time with her anticipation. She didn’t go far in the alley, she was only a few shops in when she dropped her ice cream in the street and squeezed into the alley beside Noggin and Bonce. Step three: ambush.

[Severus Snape]

His strategy to not be seen appeared to work, and he continued to watch her from his periphery as he played up his interest in whatever this storefront window was showcasing. He wasn't even sure which shop he was stood in front of, he was so intent on watching her. His ploy to win her over was still in the very early stages, and thus he had no plans of actually making contact with her, but when she headed almost vehemently for Knockturn Alley Severus grew curious and perhaps a bit concerned. Sev himself had visited the darker side of the wizarding London, for mostly upstanding reasons - a potion that required ingredients not sold in Diagon Alley, to inquire about the pricing of a tattoo at the parlor, or to meet a friend for a drink at the Wyvern - but mostly it was seedy happenings taking place there. A witch as fiery and wholesome as Lily could easily happen upon trouble, not to mention whatever reason she had for willingly shopping there. It was a given he would follow her, but as his steps quickened to keep up with her he prepared himself for an actual interaction. If she was in trouble he wouldn't hesitate to save her.

He caught sight of her glorious red hair turning the corner just as he reached the top step into the alley. The air seemed to soften as he slinked down the steps, the noise from the bustling shopping centre dissipating as the walls of Knockturn closed in and blocked out the sun. This place always had a more delicate sense of peace for Severus, despite the shady dealings that were often associated with this part of town. Moving to the side of the steps and glancing around the corner before moving into the walkway fully, Sev froze. She was gone. His brow knitted together in confusion at her absence. Had she disapparated suddenly or was she taken? Could she simply move more quickly here where she was not burdened with dodging and slipping around the hoards of magical folk that crowded Diagon? He hesitated at the curious lack of Lily for only a moment before moving fully into the walkway and briskly moving forward in attempt to find where the witch had disappeared to.

Tagged: Lily Potter & open
Outfit: lurking in the shadows

[Lily Potter]

Her heart beat a frantic, panicked song against her chest, but outwardly she was silent, still as the grave, calm, and most of all ready. She was ready for him as he appeared in the alley, paused -was that worry creasing the skin between his brows? Lily resolved not to care if it was- before he carried on at his clipped pace. He was tall and dark as he made his way toward her hiding place, the sound of his feet connecting with cobblestone was rhythmic, but she wasn’t intimated as someone else might have been. She knew Severus Snape better than anyone and she refused to be frightened of him. In the moment, she couldn't afford to be scared, she needed all of her wits about her if she planned on getting out of the mess she was about to get herself into unscathed. A beat, two, then he was passing her and she didn’t hesitate to take her chance. “Offendo.” she said firmly, revealing herself in a precise slash of her wand and wave of red hair.

She kept to the right to the wall, her wand trained on him always. It was just a tripping jinx, but it was enough to give her the upper hand…for the moment. It would be a gross under sight to think she could easily overtake her former friend, he was formidable in battle. Jeesh, James was going to kill her for this. That thought made her smile, he was going to be furious, but hopefully, she would gain some knowledge from this encounter that would make it worth the risk. His eyes were the black abyss when they met her green ones and her grin dropped at once. The redhead half expected the assault of memories she used to get every time she looked at her childhood companion but all she saw in her minds eye now was them as they were, grown adults, standing on opposite sides of an un-crossable line. Lily took a deep breath, tightening her hold on the length of Willow that was her only defense against her former friend. “Snape.” she said in greeting, not sounding as cold as she would have liked. So in her next words she infused as much disdain as she could manage. “Care to explain why you’re slinking around behind me all day?”

[Severus Snape]

He stepped over a haphazardly discarded ice cream cone and worry flooded him even more. He moved quicker until his feet flew out from under him, a familiar voice announcing her appearance as his face met the cobblestone walkway.

 He let out an audible groan before shuffling to his feet and whipping around in her direction, wand drawn in case there was anyone dangerous accompanying her. She spoke again, and he lowered his wand, seeing she was alone. “Snape.” Once upon a time she would have called him Severus, but now she named him in a manner similar to that which her husband and his cronies had done throughout school. James Potter had turned her against him in every possible way. Not even his name had been left unaffected on her lips.

“What are you doing down here? This place isn’t safe for someone like you, Lily.” He stepped closer, wand in his hand but at his side, with no intention on using it on her. He knew she wouldn’t fall for his attempt to play that he’d only just seen her coming into Knockturn and followed for her safety. She had already called him out for following her ‘all day’ and Severus knew she was smart enough to see through any lies he might have attempted. Evading would be his best bet, but his mind worked silently to come up with some excuse other than the truth; that once he started work, he would miss her.

Tagged: Lily Potter & open
Outfit: lurking in the shadows

[Lily Potter]

Lily had a momentary lapse in alertness due to her former friend's comical plummet to earth -what red-blooded witch wouldn’t let loose a little chuckle at her success-, a side effect of her well-executed plan and perfectly placed jinx, that could have cost her dearly, thankfully, it didn't. She was able to compose herself completely before he righted himself and they were facing off, the feelings she had been trying to contain on seeing him lashed out, all amusement erased from her mind.  “Someone like me?” she snapped before she could stop herself. Rage and sorrow filled her all at once. Someone like her. A mudblood. Didn’t belong here, not in this alley or in the magical world at all. Coming from him the reminder stung and all at once she was next to the lake, fifteen and naive and getting her heart broken. No! She couldn’t let him get the better of her, he wasn’t worth the sadness or anger. “You didn’t answer my question.” she said, keeping herself on track. Lily usually had a better reign on her emotions but this…this was Severus, he infuriated her as no one else could. Well, maybe James, but she loved James and could never stay truly mad at him. The former snake, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. She disliked him just as much as she ever loved him and she loved him no more.

She took a step forward, the fingertips of one hand still press against the stone wall, the other hand gripped her wand firmly and she leveled in threat. “Why have you been following me? And don’t-” she had to pause to unclench her teeth and rein back in more of the frustration. “dodge the question. Or lie.” When he wanted to be, Severus could be an exceptional liar.

[Severus Snape]

She snapped at him, playing into that fiery redhead stereotype that so perfectly encompassed her daring nature. Lily was angry, but Severus could have laughed. He didn't, he wasn't an idiot, but her outrage was almost adorable until he realized what she had inferred from his innocent remark, and instantly felt a pang of guilt sweep over him. "That's not what I meant. Not because you're..." Sev panicked, trying to organize a hundred thoughts at once and having very little success. "It's dangerous here, is all. A tripping jinx isn't going to stop someone with ill intentions." She stepped toward him threateningly, in the same vein as a chihuahua would attempt to intimidate a German shepard. Sev stood his ground, tilting his head down to look at her as she moved closer to him. "I only wanted to make sure you were okay." There was truth enough in his words. What was the point in following her if not to ensure she was happy and safe? It stung, of course, to know she was happy without him in her life, but he didn't expect it to stay that way forever. Whatever his plan would become, the goal was always her happiness, and his as well.

Tagged: Lily Potter & open
Outfit: lurking in the shadows

[Lily Potter]

Stop looking at me like that Snape!

    It’s almost like he likes this.

        Because he does…


Well, she didn’t. She didn’t like this one bit. Being this on edge, feeling like she was younger, in a different place emotionally and mentally, she didn’t like the backslide to a darker time. Lily worked to keep them in the here and now, to stop him from baiting her into complacency. To demand an answer to her question. And his answer almost surprised her, almost. So what, he couldn’t say the word now? He had no problem shouting it for all of Hogwarts to hear a couple years back. She knew he hadn’t changed his views or the company he kept. What would stop him now? Of course, she knew, she knew what held him there, gave him that look too deep in his eyes. But she wasn’t kind enough to feel pity for it. Regret was his burden, not hers. His decision, not hers.

“You are someone with ill intentions and it stopped you just fine.” There was no need to remind him of the arsenal she held within this wand or how many of those spells could be deadly if she chose. Or to explain that the only reason she was in this alley in the first place was because of him! She was not here to defend herself to him. She was only here to discover why he had been lurking behind her all day, and she received her answer. Whether she really believed it or not would remain to be seen but for the moment she took his words at face value. “Severus,” Lord, his name tasted like iron on her tongue. “Hear me when I say this: I do not need you looking after me. Nor do I want it. Stay away from me.”

[Severus Snape]

He wanted to argue with her, to prove himself but he wasn't foolish enough to think she would listen to him. Not now, at least. Not like this. There were real villains among them who truly did wish the likes of her harm, but Severus was not among them. He could never hurt her intentionally. The memory of his childhood misstep followed him even now, tormenting him in the pained look on her face as she incorrectly took him for calling her a mudblood yet again. He had learned his lesson severely but she was still reeling from it, all these years later. He could wait, he was a patient man at times and she was worth waiting for.

"You don't know what you need, Lily, not if you think Potter can give you everything you deserve. Sure, gold's nice enough but where is he now as you're resorting to childish jinxes when you think you're in trouble?" He emphasized the word, stressing the point that he was not a threat to her. Not now, not ever. "People are being murdered, kidnapped, and here you're slinking off to Knockturn Alley and who's the one looking out for you now? Unless that ugly old loon is Potter," he said, thumbing in the direction of an old man with a crooked jaw and raised scars etched across his face, muttering to himself as he climbed the stairs to the White Wyvern. "Face is an improvement, though." A dig at her new husband wouldn't help anything, but Severus could only resist so much.

Tagged: Lily Potter & open
Outfit: lurking in the shadows

[Lily Potter]

“You are insane. Insane!” she shouted when words finally found her. She was initially so shocked and enraged at what he was saying she could only listen. Somewhere around the end of his little speech, her education kicked in again and she huffed. “Do you hear yourself Severus? You sound like a crazy person. A crazy, stalker person. Those people are being kidnaped and murdered and Merlin knows what else, the people doing that are your kind. Your friends. You.” Lily tried to understand how he couldn’t see it, the hypocrisy, the insanity of it all. But it was a pointless venture, she would never comprehend. She gave a sidelong glance at the poor soul he pointed out, before settling her fiery gaze back on her ex-friend.

“Careful Snape. Your jealousy is showing. James is a hundred times the man you are, a million times better looking, and whether you like it or not, he is my husband. He doesn’t think of me as less than because of my blood status. He loves me unconditionally. And I love him just the same.” It may have been below her, because she knew those words would hurt but she couldn’t help herself. If Snape wanted to believe in his twisted reality, that was his prerogative. She would not encourage his delusions.

[Severus Snape]

Lily was shouting at him, causing others in the shadowy alley to take notice of them. Severus glanced around anxiously, hoping no one paid any mind to the words she was yelling. He argued, speaking over her not only to dispute her accusations but also to muffle her words from any eavesdropping ears. “You’ve no idea what you’re talking about, Lily. You give too much credence to rumors and hateful tales from Potter’s friends.” Severus had only earned his mark a few months ago and knew that the allegations she was making were based on biases for his friends, friends he’d made in spite of their dwindling friendship, than any real knowledge of his work for Lord Voldemort.

A wizard in a hooded cloak had stopped and was staring at them as they yelled in the middle of the alley, and Severus could feel the stares from overhead as patrons of the White Wyvern looked down from the rickety railing at them. This was not a safe place for them to be having any kind of discussion, let alone this particular one. “Lower your voice,” Severus hissed but Lily carried on screaming about how attractive she found Potter and Severus snapped. “If you love him so much, then bloody go home to him! There’s no reason for you being here, Evans!” The hooded figure was moving closer to them and whether it was out of curiosity or something more sinister, Severus didn’t want to wait to find out. He grabbed her by the arm and began to pull her back toward the stairs that would have taken her back into the light of Diagon Alley, if only she would let him help her.

[Lily Potter]

He would never change. No matter how hard she had tried to make him see, understand, how foolishly backward his thinking was, he never would. Severus would always be bound by his own will to have everything he wanted, no matter how conflicting those things were. He wanted her to be safe, yet he was creating a world in which she never would be. She remained firm in her resolve and did not play into his madness. “I’m insulted. You believe me to be incapable of thinking for myself. I don't need James or our friends to point out very obvious things to me. Any imbecile can see what you are.” she was shouting again by the end and had to remind herself to rein in her temper, which was close to that white-hot faze she could barely control. Snape seems to do that to her…even when they were friends.

She glanced around as he did and though she did not verbally acknowledge how right he was, she tightened her grip on her wand and did not raise her voice again. Though it was probably too late for subtlety. “You go home!” she hissed back, feeling like she was twelve again. “Merlin Severus, you’re are infuriating. I actually had a reason for being out today that did not involve stalking someone.” Carefully, trying to be aware of as many surrounding threats as possible, Lily began sidestepping her way toward the exit. If need be she would make her exit from here, but she would feel more dignified if she got to stalk away. “I’m only here now to tell you to stay away. Stop following me, I don’t want your false protection.”