Chapter 90: Flame of Fury (3)
It was nothing short of a miracle that Severus managed to sleep at all during that week. Never before had he felt such overwhelming happiness. It seemed as though his most cherished dreams, which had been his solace during years of neglect and abuse, were finally beginning to take shape. He didn't care about the mocking of his classmates, who were constantly teasing him for dwelling in another dimension. He didn't even care that he had messed up during DADA class in front of Gryffindors by incorrectly answering Professor Thorne's question about the Kappas they were revising. It was hard enough not to embrace Lily right there and then, and he was very proud of the degree of self-control he was exhibiting.
Furthermore, he was also utterly impressed by Lily, who showed incredible acting talent and didn't break her platonic friendship demeanour even for a second.
"I can't wait for tomorrow!" – he whispered to her after class, then swiftly departed before she could respond.
The next morning, Severus spent hours attempting to improve his appearance. Unfortunately, there was very little he could do for his clothes, which looked warn and shabby, and he had no friend to lend him a decent outfit. Consequently, the young wizard spent a considerable amount of time in the shower and even attempted to cut his own hair, only to end up with a worse hairstyle than before. Thankfully, he managed to salvage the situation by tying his uneven black strands into a ponytail. Though his skin appeared far from healthy, at least he had no pimples at the moment, and he shaved off whatever traces of peach fuzz he had on his face.
In a rare display of generosity, Ethan Wilkies allowed his classmate to use a bit of his fancy perfume. Severus completed his routine by brushing his teeth at least three times before setting out for Hogsmeade, trying to ignore his shaking hands and accelerated heartbeat.
While Snape was certain that what he saw in the mirror was far from handsome, he was at least confident that Lily would have no reason to doubt his hygiene, which was another nasty rumour he needed to contend with thanks to Potter and his crew. He wished he were taller, more muscular, better dressed, or richer, but there was nothing he could do about it at the moment. Thus, Snape took a deep, calming breath and entered Honeydukes for the first time ever.
Fifteen minutes later, he emerged from the store, cradling a beautiful white box filled with Lily's beloved Ice Mice. The young wizard regarded the three Sickles he had paid for the gift with pride, seeing it as the first of many times he would spoil his red-headed goddess. He vowed that it was just the beginning of the beautiful life he would ensure she would have with him.
Since it was still early, Severus decided to take a walk around the village. Partially because he couldn't stand still due to the excitement, but also because it was very cold and windy, despite the cloudless February sky.
As the time for their date approached, Severus retrieved the letter and the box containing the Ice Mice from his pocket, mentally rehearsing the eloquent response to Lily's confession that he had crafted, eager to share it with her.
The village was bustling with a crowd of his classmates and older students moving between the most popular shops. Lily wasn't waiting in front of Magic Makeovers, but after a quick search, the boy found her two shops down, admiring a box full of Puffskeins behind the window of Paws and Talons.
"Hey." – he said awkwardly, feeling his beautifully composed speech slipping away from his mind.
Lily turned around and smiled amicably.
"Oh, hi, Sev! How are you doing?"
"I…" – the boy stammered indecisively – "I'm ready!"
"Ready for what?" – asked the girl, confusion clouding her emerald-green eyes.
"For our date!" – the Slytherin boy almost shouted, his teenage voice betraying him at the most inopportune moment, drawing the attention of the passing students.
"Severus, I don't understand…" – mumbled the red-haired witch, embarrassed – "You've been avoiding me all week! Did we have plans for today? What do you mean by date?"
"I received this letter from you on Valentine's Day… I thought…" – Snape's voice faltered, choked with desperation and humiliation – "There was even a kiss mark at the bottom."
Lily glanced at the piece of parchment her friend was holding in his trembling fist, her expression softening with empathy.
"Sev, this isn't from me! The handwriting does look like mine, but it's really not, and I don't even have this colour of lipstick! It wouldn't match my hair or skin tone. I'm truly sorry! Perhaps we can…"
"Is there a problem, Evans? Is squeaky Snivellus bothering you?" – James asked, approaching the two students, followed closely by Sirius and Peter.
"Stay out of this, James Potter!" – Lily hissed, her tone laced with irritation.
"Hey, no need to be rude! I just wanted to check if you were okey. Snape here looked like he was about to whisk you away to some crypt and drain your blood dry!" – James smirked.
"Mind your own fucking business!" – the Slytherin tried to sound threatening, but his voice betrayed him again, affected by the bitter tears of disappointment he was fighting.
"Quite the tough talk from someone who sounds like a rubber duck in a Muggle bathtub!" – James chuckled – "Come on, Evans, why not join us at The Three Broomsticks? It's safer than hanging here alone with him! I'll even treat you to a butterbeer!"
"Lily, are you ready to go?" – Greg McMahon's voice cut through the argument, prompting the other boys to jump and stare in disbelief at his calm, handsome face.
"Yes, let's go! I could definitely use a cup of tea!" – exclaimed Lily, eagerly following the fourth-year as he led the way towards the nearby teahouse named The Charmed Teapot.
"You're dating Greg McMahon?!" – shouted James Potter, completely shocked.
"It's none of your business who I'm dating, but no, we're just friends!" – Lily snarled, turning back, her eyes flashing. Then she added softly as she moved past Severus – "We'll talk tomorrow, okay? I'm truly sorry!"
"It's alright." – Snape almost whispered, averting his gaze from the girl of his dreams walking away with the boy who Severus envied the most in the entire school.
Blinking to clear his eyes of tears, the Slytherin noticed Catherine Plantier as she exited Honeydukes, laden with bags likely filled with expensive clothes and unnecessary items. Anger simmered beneath his skin as he gritted his teeth, pondering life's injustices. How could an arrogant, ignorant Mudblood like her have everything she desired, including friends, while he was destined to spend his life alone and poor?
'She's not better than me in any way, but she has gold!' – the Slytherin thought bitterly, staring at the unsuspecting Gryffindor – 'And she can use that to hide her unattractiveness with pricey clothes and even make up.'
The young wizard sneered condescendingly at Catherine's black cashmere coat and fashionable jeans. She wore boots with a small heel, and her long straight black hair cascaded freely under a bright red beanie hat, matching her vibrant red lipstick.
Severus' black eyes widened with the sudden realisation, glancing quickly at the fake love letter still in his hand. There was no mistake! He had been so gullible! Lily had never worn anything red because she claimed it made her look ridiculous. Plantier, on the other hand, loved all shades of the damn colour and she was now proudly flaunting her victory over him.
"Fucking bitch, you're going to regret this tenfold!" – growled the young wizard fiercely, as he swiftly headed back to Hogwarts, leaving his smashed dreams behind.