Dear Lily *COMPLETE*

Dear Lily

I paced around in the bushes frantically. Waiting for Lucius to turn up so that he could secretly let me in and I could begin on my master escape plan. Mission bloody Impossible it seemed like, I know I have been in tight spots before this but this was the tightest web I have ever spun. Isn't there a saying about the tangled webs we weave in order to deceive? Whoever thought that one up knew what he was talking about.

Eventually he turned up dressed this time, in a rather fancy set of robes, he had dignity and poise, I couldn't wait to see that taken away as he was so proud and happy. He had got out of Azkaban and he was free and he had seen the beauty of Hermione Granger, I wonder how Draco would feel at having her as a step mother and I was laughing with the thought, it would serve prat junior right!

He was not smoking now. He let his arms hang down by his sides, he approached me with a confident bounce and I saw his eyes glitter, the sun was playing with him and it was his favourite playmate, I preferred the raven moon.

"I really am going to be ever so grateful for this, Severus," he said smoothly. "You have no idea how attractive she is do you!"

"No," I replied cynically. "All women are dogs!"

Lucius slapped me on my shoulder with that manly squeeze he liked to give.

"When are we going to open your eyes to the beauty of this world, Severus?"

"I prefer to stay asleep," I said.

Lucius laughed again. Will you get me down to those cellars you blonde buffoon?

"Come on then," he said. "I want my loneliness to be sorted out as soon as possible. By tonight she won't be Mrs Greyback anymore and she'll be mine."

"And what a charming couple you two will make!" I replied sardonically. I will make her wish come true. She’ll be Mrs Hermione Snape tonight.

He led me to the cellars. We used the secret passageway Harry and I used the night we first rescued Hermione. His cloak was swishing down the steps, I wished I could let that hair fall away from his head and make him go bald but I couldn't. I was a Slytherin, I was an Occlumens, I AM GOING TO LIKE LUCIUS EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!

He then opened the door to where Bellatrix's private stores were kept. He stood in the doorway and picked up a few bottles and ingredients, he handed them to me.

"These should do it," he said. He gave them to me. I looked in horror. He wasn't expecting me to brew THAT potion, was he? "If you don't mind but I'll stay and watch. Potions was my favourite subject as well as yours."

"Oughtn't you be up top," I replied as coolly and calmly as I could. "Our Master might worry if you’re gone for a whole day."

"Our Masters not in. Just make sure when your ready to call Kreacher, and he'll come to tell me that you’re finished."

Thank Merlin for small mercies. Not in. This would be perfect.

"Of course," I said. He looked in my eyes, and I looked straight at his. "It will be done, you can trust me with this can't you?"

Lucius looked upwards at the ceiling. He sighed and then down at me.

"I don't trust anyone, Snape, but I certainly like you, which is why I am giving you this chance," he said. "And tomorrow morning you might just see a happy announcement, and I'll have you to thank for it, perhaps you can be best man."

"I don't think so Malfoy," I replied. "Our Master might get suspicious."

"Yes," he sighed. "He just might!"

He then left regally swishing his cloak up the stairs. As he glided up the winding snake like stairway and I heard the click of the door. I immediately replaced these bottles.

"Whoever invented bloody love potions ought to have had their senses addled before they got the chance!" I muttered to myself. "Ah!" I said. I lightly fingered the bottles and ingredients and sighed, I was back where I belonged, in front of a cauldron mixing up trouble! I picked a root of this; the juice of that and what not and then brewed it up. I could have done with a bottle of Felix Felicis right about now; I'd have glugged the whole bottle down my throat. But then even that might have failed. Yes, I said straight, you have to chance on more than luck to get this right. It was always better to keep your wits and senses about you when doing this.

It took ages; this particular potion took an overall two hours to get right. DAMN! I thought. I heard footsteps coming down the stairway. I had to hide the cauldron and myself in a very convenient shadow beneath the stairs. It was Draco Malfoy of all people. What did he want? He was fingering the chains and sighed speculatively.

"Dracy, what are you doing?" I heard Pansy's simpering voice. Oh the joys of being a spy!

"I was just imagining what Mrs Greyback would be like mutilated beyond compare!"

"I thought you said she's not that bad," Pansy said. "Especially as she's now on our side."

"Yeah, but I'm not going to be all gooey and friendly with her like Potty and Weasel!" He exclaimed. "Do you know what Weasels last words were?"

"As if I'm interested," she said as she wrapped her arms coyly around Draco's neck, her violet eyes looked directly into Malfoy Jrs. "The only thing that interests me is you, Dracy."

He slid his hands down her arms to her neck and kissed her properly. Would they just go already? I fumed, I mean come on bedrooms were invented for a reason. She giggled and she took her hand in his and they ran up the stairs, as soon I heard the door click shut again I let out a sigh of relief, and came out of my hidey hole and then continued on with the potion. It was almost done. All I had to put in was a powdered root of a hickleberry, jeer at the name and you definitely can laugh in the face of death. It must be someone with a very sick sense of humour that named that particular plant. Or was a fan of Huckleberry Finn, whatever it was it was not amusing, despite the name.

A small sprinkling was enough to kill of an entire Roman Legion and I was going to give Greyback MORE than a sprinkling. I put in a sprinkling.

"That's for Remus," I said quietly. I put in another sprinkle. "That's for Bill Weasley." And then I poured in the rest of the jar. "That’s for Hermione!" It was a good thing you could put in any amount of this stuff and it didn't change the overall effect, in fact, I thought with a smile as a shimmering cloud of red puffed up. The more you put in the more it enhances the flavour making it taste really nice! And I wanted Fenrir to have a lovely drink before he died.

As the red cloud rose from up towards the ceiling I decided it was about time to give it a stir. And I stirred it four times clockwise, and then four times anti-clockwise. I let it simmer and as it settled it became a clear liquid, like water, but very deadly, a pint of this and Rhett Butler wouldn't have time to give Scarlett a damn!

I turned the heat off and picked up the cauldron, I picked up an empty phial and then ladled some in a bottle. I then evanescoed the last of it and then picked up the original ingredients, hmm Harry Potter could do with a birthday present from me. 'Uncle' Severus was going to be a nice Uncle!

I was about to start brewing the potion when the door unlocked again. I rolled my eyes and made a dive again for my hidey-hole, I would keep transforming but that uses energy and I am not that energetic enough to begin with. I had slunk further in the shadow when it was not Draco this time but Lucius, for the first time, a well of relief burst forth at seeing him. Even though he was planning to take my woman!

"Ah," Lucius said peering round and finding me there. I forgot he was also very good at hide and seek. "Found you, you lost!" he smiled a dazzling white charming smile. I clambered out the cauldron clumsily clattering on the damp stone.

"You could have warned me," I said grumpily.

"I was wondering had you finished yet?"

"I thought you were going to send Kreacher down here, that was your plan Lucius!"

"Ah well I thought I'd change it you know, she's sitting in the Library. I can't stand a minute longer she is beautiful, she's torturing me just by sitting there!"

I laughed silently.

"A Mudblood torturing you?" I asked incredulously. "Isn't it supposed to be the other way round?"

"You definitely are an obstinate heretic in spite of beauty aren't you?" Lucius asked.

"You have the poison. Now what is Fenrir doing?"

"Strangely having a glass of whiskey," Lucius said. "Trying to look like a dignified husband, taken tips from me I suppose. He's a wolf in sheep’s clothing."

I raised an eyebrow archly at this. Malfoy could hardly be described as a sheep.

"Well then here it is," I said. "And be careful!"

"Snape, I've done this a thousand times," he whispered. "Remember when I slipped a love potion in the then Molly Prewitts glass. She was obsessed with me for days! Then Weasley had to go and spoil my fun!"

"Yes, I remember you telling me that was your crowning glory, didn't it happen in your sixth year?"

"Seventh, I was working my way to getting her to marry me but, ah well, a lovely purebred she was! Weasley had to go and spoil her with those seven brats of his… six now isn't it… Still at least Hermione will never have to undergo that terrible fate. She will be a much better looking woman when she's Molly's age."

I nodded.

"That's your opinion," I replied handing him the phial.

"Speaking of love potions have you done that one yet?" he asked.

"No," I replied through gritted teeth.

"I know you hate brewing them, Snape, but come on please? Just for me? I will reward you for it!"

"Oh all right, Lucius, as it's you," marvellously pleased with myself that he misinterpreted my reluctance to brew it.

Lucius smiled. He then swept upstairs.

"Oh!" I yelled out.

"Yes Snape?" Lucius asked impatiently.

"Where is Fenrir drinking his whiskey?"

"Why do you want to know?" Lucius asked. A suspicion began growing in his mind.

"Little detail," I replied. "I want to know where he's drinking it just so that when I am down here I can picture the scene perfectly and smile at being the one to have helped in getting rid of him."

He closed his eyes in relief.

"He's drinking his whiskey in the conservatory reading the paper," Lucius replied. "A simple slip and then he'd die!"

I had the plan of the Manor in my head and decided to transform as a cat. I did it when Malfoy had swept around the corner, I zoomed up the stairs with such speed I didn't think Malfoy noticed. Mind you at the moment I don’t think he'd notice an earthquake as he was so wrapped up in himself.

I got to the Library and jumped up on Hermione's lap. Thanking Merlin she was alone. She was reading a Dark Arts Potions Book; she put it down as soon as I jumped on her lap. It was cosy and warm but I couldn't settle down on it. She picked me up angrily and stormed out of the room. She took me to the copse. It was chilly out. She placed me down on the ground where I transformed back into myself.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" she fumed angrily.

"Saving your dignity," I replied. "I have Ministry backing and Auror status now."

I walked straight past her. I found the mirror; thankfully no one found that either. Are you sure you're not helping me Lily?

"Harry!" I whispered harshly and urgently. His face shimmered into view. Hermione gasped behind my back.

"What is it?"

"Get the Order here immediately," I said. "I've got Hermione, Lucius Malfoy is right this minute poisoning Greyback; I need backup!"

"Roger over and out!"

"Stop saying that this isn't funny!"

"Do you hear me laughing?" Harry asked in all seriousness. "I have had the remaining Order members poised in various areas of London waiting for my Patronus as a signal to apparate there."

"Good thinking Harry," I said. "Now get them here please?"

"Wotcher!"

I rolled my eyes and said goodbye, he said farewell to me.

"What in the name of Gryffindor is going on?" Hermione asked.

"It's a long story," I replied. "When the rest of the Order get here we'll decide what to do then, in the meanwhile we have to hide here."

"Please tell me what's going on Severus?" She asked wearily. She shivered, as she was dressed for the warmth of the inside and the fireplace. She was not dressed for anything else. I took my cloak off and wrapped it around her shoulders. Lucius was right, she could torture any man with the way she looked.

"All right, but I'll be as quick as I can," I began. "The Ministry granted me legal Animagus status so I could come and rescue you. I thought the plan would take days, maybe a couple of weeks, I didn't expect it to be happening this fast."

"It still isn't making sense," she said. "What was that about Lucius poisoning Fenrir, what for? Why?"

"Because he's become fascinated with you himself," I replied. "Gods! Where are they? What's taking them so long?"

"WHAT!" She exploded.

"Keep it down, Mia, they'll hear you and we'll be dead ducks!"

"Why didn't you inform me of this yourself?"

"We had to keep you innocent of the facts because of the Unbreakable Vow, in no way whatsoever were you to be implicated in this."

"Didn't you think I might have wanted to know just a tiny detail?"

"No detail in this plan is small, Hermione, not one!"

"How did you get Lucius' help anyway? He swore he'd kill you as soon as look at you!"

"I charmed him, Mia, I am a Slytherin after all," I said. "He's a selfish ego maniac and I played on that weakness of his character."

"But how -!"

"Silence," I hissed. "I can hear some crackling."

I turned around and right behind us stood Lucius Malfoy! His eyes glinting maliciously and evilly. Gone was the sparkling ice-cold winter smile. He didn't like to be made a fool of, especially by an ugly, greasy git like me!

"A selfish ego maniac?" Malfoy said as controlled as a viper on the attack. "You played me like I was your INSTRUMENT?"

He snarled the last word out. Hermione had stood up. Lucius looked at her.

"I am not blaming you sweetheart," he said all smiles again. "After all you were entirely innocent of the plan, and are entirely innocent of Severus Snape."

He prowled towards her keeping his gaze on her.

"I don't know what you mean Lucius," she whispered.

"He's always been a backstabbing traitor, he'll chew you up and spit you out, like he did with Lily!"

She turned to me.

"Lily?" she questioned.

"I thought I told you," I said. Despair had flooded my soul, I felt as if Lucius Malfoy were some sort of new hybrid of Dementor. "I was in love with Lily Evans when we were at school."

"What happened?" She asked trembling.

"I allowed my own personal pride to get in the way and shouted out Mudblood in front of half the school at the end of my OWLs and she didn't talk to me since."

"See Hermione," Lucius said. "One day you could be cooking something for him and if you get an ingredient wrong you might be as I said before chewed up and spat out!"

"And what about you Malfoy?" I snarled. "The amount of girls you had before you married Narcissa, you're not a saint!"

"But at least I know how to treat women Severus," he said. I saw Hermione darting looks between him and me.

"Do you love me?" She asked me.

"I love you, Mia, you know that. My letter told you what I think about you."

"Lucius Malfoy!" I heard Arthur exclaim from behind my back. Lucius turned around.

"Charming set of friends you have Severus," Lucius said to me jovially. "Absolutely wonderful but then I always thought you should have joined the circus!"

He made a grab for Hermione and held her close to him pointing his wand on her cheek, pressing it hard on her.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!" I screamed.

"SEVERUS!" She yelled. Lucius was backing out of the copse only to be stopped short by Molly pointing a wand at his back. I took advantage of his distraction and expelliarmused him; his wand flew out of his hand. Only to be expertly caught by Ginny.

"I want to torture you," Ginny said. Molly prodded her wand harder on his back and Arthur stepped forward and took Hermione out of his grip and immediately she ran to me.

"All three of us have a score to settle with you Malfoy!" Arthur growled. "All deeply personal reasons!"

Then he surprised everyone by shimmering into the form of a bear and lunged forward at a thoroughly frightened Malfoy and started to scratch him. Molly took Ginny's hand and together they thought an Unforgivable, (fairly forgivable considering who it was!) Arthur jumped off Malfoy and turned back into a human.

"WOW!" I exclaimed.

"Oh it was nothing!" Arthur exclaimed modestly. Molly and Ginny ran into Arthur’s arms.

"Where's the rest of them?" I asked.

"Neville and Luna are tackling Bellatrix Lestrange; Remus, Tonks, and Bill were going to tackle Fenrir but I guess they've joined Neville and Luna now that you taken that bit of fun out for them and Charlie and Mad Eye were off to rescue Hermione."

"Best laid plans of mice and men," I said.

"Something like that!" Arthur exclaimed. He kicked some dirt on top of Lucius Malfoy. "Death is the ultimate equalizer Malfoy, now you’re lower than us, where did all your riches and glory get you?"

We walked away from the scene. We went off in search of our friends; Remus was tying up Bellatrix expertly, her eyes staring wildly.

"Why won't you kill her?" I asked politely to Neville.

"I want her to suffer the same fate as my parents!" He exclaimed. "She's no more than a drooling, slobbering wreck now."

"What fate do you want me to suffer?" I asked. I knelt down before him now that he'd grown to be a powerful wizard. "I was there that night and watched it happen."

Neville looked at me.

"If Harry can forgive you so can I. At least you've shown you were sorry!"

Hermione ran to Neville and hugged him and then hugged everyone else.

"Come on," she hissed. "Let's blow this joint!"

I looked at Fenley Gray Manor and agreed.

We all ran to the other side of the garden where the rest of them were. Except Harry.

"Where's Harry?" I asked.

"He didn't come he wanted to stay for communication purposes," Arthur said. "That is to say we kind of forced him to stay. He was ready to join the fight but we wouldn't let him, he got a bit sulky about it really."

We apparated back to Grimmauld Place where Harry was waiting for us and smiled. He looked at me and I at him.

"It is done," was all I said.

He smiled as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Severus," he said. "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship!"

Severus

A/N - WOW! I hope you all liked that ending. Neville surprised me in this one by not killing Bellatrix. Arthur actually means Bear Like, so thats why I had him changing into a bear, besides Bears are extremely protective over their family. Lucius did hurt Ginny after all. And I couldn't resist the Casablance ending!