Taming the True Fire (HP)

Severus Snape loathed Slughorn's parties. He had attended plenty over the years, but once there, he might as well have been wearing an Invisibility Cloak. His housemates never spoke to him unless they wanted something, and, given the current state of affairs, it was a relief if they kept their distance. True to his threats, Rodolphus and the rest of the Basilisks had turned Severus' life into a waking nightmare. From frog eggs in his food to dragon manure on his toothbrush, there was no safe haven left in Hogwarts for the young wizard.

Today, he'd hoped for a moment with Lily, some fleeting reassurance amidst the chaos. But she was glued to her Gryffindor friends, offering nothing more than a brief smile when their eyes met. She hadn't made any effort to speak to him, and Severus's heart sank at her indifference. To make matters worse, the unexpected arrival of the former Slytherins filled him with an ominous sense of unease. He had caught Rodolphus whispering something to Rabastan, followed by both brothers casting sharp glances in his direction. That was all the warning he needed to leave the rose garden. Seeking refuge, he slipped behind the Greenhouses, determined to avoid whatever torment his housemates were planning.

Unfortunately, even here, safety eluded him. Not long after, Catherine Plantier appeared, her arrival forcing the boy into the shadows of the Rowan trees. He was far too mentally drained to deal with the vexing Gryffindor and her inevitable sharp tongue.

'She looks like she's hiding from someone.' – he thought, observing the young witch from his concealed spot. She paced nervously, her eyes darting around as though expecting an ambush – 'Honestly, I'm surprised she even showed up to the party after everything that happened.'

Occupied with his own troubles, Severus hadn't paid much attention to the swirling rumours, but he was fairly certain Plantier had been thoroughly humiliated and mocked after Bellatrix left her butt-naked in the middle of the corridor. The Slytherin knew his own cutting remark had added fuel to the ridicule, but he couldn't bring himself to regret it. His anger at her audacity—flashing her wealth and daring to claim she did it for his benefit—still burned hot. Yet, a small, unwelcome voice in his head whispered that he'd said it because, deep down, he had yearned to see more of her tears.

This thought disturbed him. Severus prided himself on his logic and control, and the idea that he might have acted out of such odd impulse made him uneasy. He was adamant that he wanted nothing to do with the Gryffindor girl. If it were up to him, he'd avoid her entirely.

Thankfully, Catherine finally left and after some time Severus emerged from his hiding spot. He settled onto one of the stone benches in front of Greenhouse Three, letting out a long breath as he closed his eyes and let the breeze wash over him for a while. Days like this brought a rare kind of peace. In moments of stillness, he could almost hear the wind whispering faint words he couldn't quite decipher. Over the years, the voice had grown clearer, which unsettled him more than he cared to admit. He hadn't mentioned it to anyone—being labelled as the boy who heard voices would only make things worse.

"Coming to a party and then avoiding all the guests is a bit counterproductive, don't you think, Severus?" – Lucius Malfoy's voice cut through the quiet, startling the fourth-year.

Snape opened his eyes, frowning up at his friend. "Between being socially awkward and being beaten, hexed, and left helpless somewhere, I prefer the former." - he retorted, his tone sharp.

"Yes, I've heard about your trouble with the Basilisks." – the blond wizards sighed heavily – "Honestly, Severus, you make it incredibly difficult to protect you, let alone build up your reputation. Why do you always end up neck-deep in these predicaments?" 

"I warned them to leave Lily Evans alone." – the younger boy replied with a casual shrug – "They should have known what would happen if they so much as touched her. I merely followed through on my warning."

Lucius raised a pale eyebrow, leaning back slightly as he considered this. "As far as I understood, the Evans girl was attacked because she's Greg McMahon's girlfriend." - he said thoughtfully.

"They already broke up." – Snape corrected immediately, his voice tinged with irritation – "And the reason hardly matters. That prat McMahon obviously has a thing for younger Muggle-born witches. I'm fairly certain he dumped Lily because of Plantier—though Merlin knows why…"

Lucius' brows arched higher, his thin lips pressed into a tight line of dissatisfaction. "Are you sure?" - he asked sharply - "I saw Catherine sitting at Evans' table. They didn't seem to be on bad terms."

Severus hesitated for a moment. "Well, Lily refused to believe me when I told her I saw Plantier and McMahon looking fairly… intimate." - he admitted gloomily - "But I did see him kiss her on the forehead."

The former Slytherin's expression hardened as he processed the information. "Keep that to yourself." - he ordered, his tone brooking no argument - "I won't have Catherine get hurt because of whatever fleeting connection she may have had with that ridiculous aristocrat."

Severus's brow furrowed, surprise flickering across his face. "Why do you even care?" - he snapped, his own irritation catching him off guard.

Lucius's eyes turned cold, his voice cutting. "That is none of your concern." - with a dismissive gesture, he changed the subject - "Now, tell me—what has our virtuous lord been up to these past months?"

Severus bit his tongue and dutifully recounted everything he had observed McMahon doing, sparing no detail.

"Interesting…" – the blond wizard murmured once his former housemate finished – "This should suffice for now. I must admit, I'm surprised Duke McMahon comes and goes so freely. It seems their bond with Dumbledore is far stronger than I anticipated."

Malfoy reached into the inner pocket of his robes and retrieved a small black purse, handing it to Severus with a faint smirk. Without meeting Lucius's gaze, Severus tucked it into his own pocket, his expression carefully neutral.

"You've done well, Severus, and the Malfoys always reward loyalty." – the former Slytherin remarked with a smirk, his sharp eyes catching the nervous ticks in his companion's pale face – "I'm sure you'll put this gold to good use. And there's more where that came from, provided you maintain this standard of… excellence." His smirk widened, the expression both condescending and calculating. "You should not be ashamed to work for me. Quite the opposite—you should be proud of the things we'll accomplish together. Focus on what's best for you, and no one will even care that you're half-blood. I have great things planned for you, Severus."

Snape scowled, his mind racing as he dissected Lucius' words. He knew his former housemate well enough to recognise that the he never gave compliments without an ulterior motive. He was certain there was a hidden purpose lurking behind the thinly veiled praise.

"Are these plans connected to the Dark Lord?" - Severus demanded bluntly, his tone sharp and probing.

Lucius chuckled, his pale features relaxing into an almost amused expression. "You should learn to be less direct, my friend." - he said with mock reproach, casting a casual glance around to ensure no one was listening - "Still, your instincts are impressive, considering your lack of ties to proper pure-blood families."

He paused, his expression turning more serious. "Yes, I've already pledged myself to the Dark Lord, as have several of the Basilisks. His vision is one of salvation for Wizarding society, Severus—a cause worth dedicating oneself to." – the blond wizard leaned in slightly, his grey eyes gleaming - "You're still young, but when the time comes, I'll ensure a place for you among us—a position most could only dream of."

"What's the catch?" – Snape asked straightforwardly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Catch?" – Lucius' grey eyes widened in an unconvincing blend of surprise and hurt – "We're friends, aren't we? I've always appreciated you for who you are, and I want to continue having someone as talented as you among my closest acquaintances. You don't believe me? Shall I prove my good intentions? I'll make Rodolphus and the rest leave you alone—not just about Lavinia, but in general. How does that sound?"

"Too good to be true." – the fourth-year admitted, though the temptation to accept Malfoy's offer tugged at him.

Lucius's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Ah, but I can make it happen. Of course, it would be helpful if you lifted the curse from the girls. That would strengthen your case as a potential future Basilisk."

"I don't care about Lavinia or her wrenches." – the black-haired boy replied sharply - "I'll do it as a favour to you, but I doubt that alone will ever earn me a place among the Basilisks, even with your support." He kept his tone as disinterested as he could, though his guarded expression betrayed him.

Lucius leaned back, clearly pleased. "One step at a time, Severus. You've made your point—no one will forget it anytime soon. Now it's time to show a little grace. Let Lavinia and the others show their faces without needing three layers of makeup. We all make sacrifices, after all." - his voice dropped slightly, growing more calculated - "Speaking of sacrifices… take some advice from me. It's time to let go of your relationship with Lily Evans."

Severus' arms dropped, and his scowl deepened. "There's absolutely no chance of me doing such a thing!" - he snapped, his voice simmering with anger.

The other wizard raised a hand, his tone calm but edged with authority. "Hear me out. Your blood status is… less than ideal. By clinging to a Muggle-born, you're only making things harder for yourself. I'm not saying you should abandon your desire for her entirely, but there are other ways to pursue what you want without being tied to her publicly."

Snape's dark eyes flared with defiance. "I'm not interested in anything but having Lily entirely for myself!"

Lucius sighed with exasperation. "Fine. It's not that I don't understand the allure some of those Muggle-born witches possess." - he admitted, casting a quick glance over his shoulder toward the party, where he had left one very angry and confused black-haired girl - "However, I must insist you tone down your feelings for her, just a little. It will improve your social standing—and it's a far safer option for Evans."

Severus mulled over Lucius's words, his brow furrowed in deep thought. After a long pause, he nodded slowly. He hated the idea of pretending, but if it meant keeping Lily safe, he was willing to play along.

Malfoy's expression brightened with satisfaction. "I'm glad you see reason." - the blond wizard said, clearly pleased - "I know it's difficult, but in time, you'll thank me. A few years from now, when your future is secure and everything is falling into place, you'll realize this was the right decision."

He paused briefly before adding, almost casually. "I heard your father passed away. That must be a tremendous relief. With the Muggle gone, you can finally stop associating yourself with his filth."

The fourth-year didn't answer immediately, his emotions in turmoil. Part of him felt a grim satisfaction that the abusive wretch Tobias Snape was six feet under the turf. But another part, a darker and more troubling one, suspected he might have had a hand in hastening the man's demise. The thought left a sick knot in his stomach.

Lucius took Severus' silence as agreement and pressed on, his voice smooth and persuasive. "Perhaps now that you're free from that shameful presence, you could visit Malfoy Manor." - he suggested, watching with satisfaction as Severus's eyes widened in shock - "You could even bring your mother. She's a pure-blood, after all, and it would be wise for our families to establish a good relationship—especially considering our future collaboration."

Snape merely nodded as Lucius draped an arm around his shoulder and confidently guided him back to the party.