Chapter Text
2004, December.
Severus paced the playground nervously. He had walked to and fro so much that his footsteps were wearing grooves in the falling snow. It wasn't like him to be nervous - he was Severus Snape, for gods sake! He was the Dark Lord's right hand man!
Well, in the Dark Lord's eyes, anyway. Ever since he had told him the prophecy and found out who the Dark Lord was targeting, he hadn’t actually been very loyal to him.
Speaking of the prophecy…
He had received an anonymous text message the day before, asking to meet here. Just the location - an old, rusty, and abandoned playground near Spinners End - was enough to give away the sender. Because who other than stupid, sentimental, dear old Lily would choose such a place? And who else would have his number? He had only given it to a few select people (none of them being Death Eaters, because ew, muggle technology).
So yeah. In conclusion… it wasn’t so anonymous.
A rustle in the bushes pulled Severus from his thoughts, and he drew his wand by instinct, pointing it in the direction of the noise.
Even though he knew what was coming, he still wasn’t prepared.
“You actually came.”
Lily was looking better than ever. Her hair shone a fiery red in the sun, and her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled, showing off those perfect white teeth.
Severus tried, he really did. But his gaze travelled down anyways, fixing momentarily on the slight swell of her belly. Not very prominent, but just enough to be noticeable if you had seen her at her regular weight.
He had known she was pregnant. Of course he had known - word got around. But…. judging by the size of the bump, it had been about two months. It was currently December.
If the child was on time, it would be born in July of the next year.
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…
“Why have you called me here?”
His voice was a bit sharper than strictly necessary, and Lily’s smile faltered ever so slightly.
“I…. wanted to ask a favour of you.”
Severus’ eyes softened ever so slightly.
Then Lily looked up at him, her eyes wide and pleading.
“We’re going into hiding, Sev. Dumbledore is casting the Fidelius Charm, and Peter is the Secret Keeper. But… I don't trust him. They keep saying that it’ll be okay, that he can be trusted and everything will be fine, but…. I'm not convinced.”
Considering Severus had seen that rat at the meeting the other day, he thought she was quite right.
“You do realise I’m working with him.”
It was a statement, not a question.
“Why have you chosen to tell me all this?”
Lily’s voice was soft and honest as she replied.
“Because I trust you.”
Severus went silent, guilt eating him up from the inside.
“I can’t trust anyone else, Sev. There's a war going on, members of the Order are falling every day… I don't know what else to do.” She continued, eyes filling with tears.
Then she grabbed his hand, making him flinch slightly.
“Protect them, Sev. Please. Protect my baby.”
Severus stared at her in shock for a good minute. Then he yanked his hand back.
Protect her child? Potter’s child? While actively working for the Dark Lord? That would be suicide. Not to mention that even so much as looking at the child would probably make him mad.
“Lily-”
“Please.”
A tear slipped out, trailing down her cheek, which was flushed pink from the cold.
“If I don't live. If James and Sirius don't live. They can’t go to my sister. You don't have to love them, you don't have to coddle them, just… protect them. Please."
Severus just looked at her - her teary, pleading eyes, her shaking hands.
“I don’t need help from a filthy little mudblood like you.”
It was the least he could do.
“Fine.”
A glorious, albeit watery smile formed on Lily’s face.
“Really? You promise?”
Promise. Severus almost scoffed. Even at her grown age, she was relying on a promise.
“That’s it? No Unbreakable Vow? Nothing? You’re betting your child's life on a promise?”
She just smiled, holding out a hand with her pinkie finger extended.
“A pinkie promise. Not just a promise.” She wiggled her extended pinkie impatiently. “Go ahead. Promise?”
Despite everything, despite the gnawing guilt he felt. Severus felt the corner of his lip quirk up ever so slightly as he hesitantly raised a hand and linked his larger, rougher pinkie with hers.
“Promise.”