Lily, Remus and Harry had spent the day together. The topic of yesterday hadn't come up, but everyone was waiting for Severus, who had made himself sparse. They were on their way to the library, and despite the gravity of the situation, they were all excited to start. They barely entered when Severus left the way they came, saying nothing other than "Follow me."
They stopped in a disused side hallway and Severus pulled out three tear-shaped phials filled with a silvery-gray smoky liquid. "Drink this." he said, matter-of-factly handing them out.
Harry held it in his hand. "What is it?"
"Do you really want me to spend an hour explaining the intricacies of ward inoculation to you, Peltier?"
Lily seemed impressed, Harry shrugged. "Guess not."
He downed the potion and grimaced at its tangy metallic taste, it felt like swallowing mercury boiled in vomit. Wasting no time, Severus took the lead again, and they ended up back down in front of the Grand Staircase… and made their way up again.
"Getting a serious case of deja-vu." Harry said.
"Will you stop whining? Consider yourself lucky, if it wasn't for Lily I wouldn't have even thought about showing you this."
Harry smiled at Severus' adversarial familiarity. They went up to the floor right above the library, and Severus stopped.
"Now for the fun part."
Harry almost had a heart attack as he saw Severus phase right through the railing and into the void, everyone gasped. To their surprise, he was standing mid-air slightly above them.
"Try not to look down, you'll fall and break your neck." he said, and ascended further.
"Incredible." he heard Lily utter. He was inclined to agree.
It took nerves of steel not to panic as they all went up to their unknown destination, feet hesitating on invisible steps. Severus stopped at a painting, and Harry noticed that in the hall filled with portraits, it was a landscape of a hilly meadow, in which stood a lonesome stone cottage.
"Iunctus." Severus uttered, and as he did the painting formed into a gateway ten feet tall, revealing a passage as its features melted into open space.
Their paces echoed, and as they went further the passage became wider, more ornate. Hogwarts heraldry was carved beautifully into the torchlit stone, sumptuous reliefs showing depictions of events Harry could only guess at. A light emerged, in the distance he could see windows shining brightly.
As he took in the room, he could only observe what he saw with awe. In the middle of it stood a white marble fountain, trickling crystal water into its basin at the mouths of four iconic beasts. It was lined with four stained glass windows playfully picking up rays of sunlight, displaying similar iconography. Two men, two women, surrounded by snake, badger, raven and lion. At the center wall between who he assumed were Salazar and Godric was the most curious sight of all. A beast, head of a lion, head of a badger, dark wings and a snake as a tail, engraved in gold and silver upon a crest four feet wide.
"Chimaera..." Lily whispered, as if to give him an answer.
Emotion gripped Harry as he remembered a particular bookworm's endless rambling. Once upon a time she had told him a silly story. That when Hogwarts was founded all lived in harmony, four brilliant Houses led by the greatest of the age. That the castle had been built not as four in competition, but in concert.
"Severus, this is unbelievable." he said. His eyes were wet with amazement and joy.
Remus too was taken. How could one not be? At the heart of Hogwarts all this time lay a breathtaking reminder of its forgotten purpose.
Around the oasis of beauty and calm, were arranged couches, chairs and lounge seats enough to fit the students of four sibling Houses. Three stunned friends took a seat on a black leather couch covered in leopard rug. Harry couldn't stop himself from taking Lily's hand as they sat.
Severus took a seat in a chair adjacent to them, hand pensive on his chin. Lily put an arm around Remus and for a while longer they sat in silence.
Lily laughed. "Thank you Severus. In one gesture you just turned acquaintances into friends for life."
Lily stood up, taking both her friends' hands as she did, Severus joined. It felt cheesy, it felt silly, but Harry couldn't stop smiling, and it was the same for the three others as Lily put her hand in the center of their circle. Soon they joined her.
"Together." she said, requiring no answer from the grinning trio.
-sSsSsSsSs-
In hushed tones they had talked about the room's remaining secrets, and it did have more to give. Adjoining the sitting area were two workshops. One for potions, one for spell creation, each with their respective impressive libraries. Near the east side there was a spiral staircase leading up to extravagant dormitories. Severus had showed them the command for the dimming charm that brought the whole room to a starlit stillness. Over the dorms was also a balcony, strangely unnoticeable from the outside.
If there were any other secrets the room still contained, which it undoubtedly did, Severus hadn't found them. The sitting area was conjuration charmed to present snacks and beverage for its guests and they shared an afternoon break.
Severus had mellowed significantly, and he wasn't alone. Harry felt like the room had somehow changed all of them for the better. They were more focused, more tranquil.
Sharing snacks, Lily had asked how he had managed to uncover it. Severus had answered that by pure chance, his hand had slipped through the railing after imbibing one of his test draughts, and he had fallen on solid imperceptible stone. It had taken him two years of parsing code words to find the way past the portrait. Then Lily had asked how he'd never been caught. He told her that the invisible staircase and the portrait were charmed. As soon as one passed the railing, anyone who wasn't immune to the wards couldn't see them. And then Lily had asked if that's why he disappeared most of his time. He had quietly nodded.
By Severus' suggestion, they had dubbed it 'The Unity Dorms'.
That evening two Slytherin and two Gryffindor dined together, talking openly and without animosity. Harry almost didn't believe his ears as Remus and Severus joked about the time professor Flitwick had caught his hair on fire by a student's stray wild spell. He felt overwhelming pride as he looked into Lily's eyes that evening, her face was beaming with a singular expression. Hope.
-sSsSsSsSs-
As he woke up, Harry saw the fluffiness of fresh snow outside his window. He hadn't felt so well rested since he got here. Going downstairs he saw Melissa. Normally the common room would be bustling with all kinds of morning rituals, he realized that up until now he had kept to a simple 'good morning'. That and he still owed her an apology.
"'Morning." he said sitting down and pouring some tea.
"Good morning, Peltier." she answered.
Somehow without the usual background rumble, her voice was reminding him of his past. The curls, the high-pitched proper tone. They could be sisters.
"Hey, I'm sorry about getting you involved in that misunderstanding."
Melissa looked at him, furrowing her brow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean with Severus, he wasn't really aware of the whole situation."
"Oh? I didn't notice. I thought he asked you to talk to me?"
"That, wasn't entirely accurate. But he didn't seem unusual, to you?"
"Not that I would know what Severus is usually like, but no I don't think so. We talked a lot about his studies, he was really excited when I told him I was assisting my father until recently." she said smiling.
It was Harry's turn to be surprised. "Oh? Well good, I think."
"You're awfully chatty today."
"Yeah. Sorry if I haven't been too friendly up until now."
She grinned at him. "It's all right, as long as I don't have to hear you ramble about quidditch constantly. Not everyone likes that barbaric sport, you know."
Harry failed to hold in uproarious laughter. "Promise, I won't do that."
It was truly uncanny.
-sSsSsSsSs-
It was still early, they planned to meet at 9:30 for a trip to Hogsmeade. It was Lily and Remus' idea to take a real break for Christmas, nobody protested. Meanwhile Harry went for the Unity Room, perhaps Severus would be there, and it was as good a place as any to just relax. Entering the open space of it, he noticed the light had not changed from yesterday, while it had been overcast in the dorms.
"Charmed." Severus said from a reclining chair in the east corner. He flicked his wand and the scenery outside changed to rain, snow, golden brown fall leaves, and back to summer.
"Summer light is better for reading." he added.
"This place..." Harry said sitting down beside him.
He grabbed a biscuit from the porcelain tray, letting his mind wander.
"Come here with a purpose?" Severus said without taking his eyes off the tome in his hands.
Harry frowned for a second wondering if he did, it's true that ever since the four of them had gathered, he had felt the need to clarify things with Snape.
"I'm not sure," he said washing down the biscuit with some tea, "I guess I had this feeling we had to talk."
Severus sighed. "Put yourself in my position, would you want to have that talk?"
"I have, I wouldn't." Harry replied.
"How so?"
Harry snorted. "I mean I've stood in those shoes and yeah, I get it."
"I sincerely doubt the oh so great Harry Peltier would know much about rejection." he said condescendingly.
Harry rubbed his temples. It seemed like this memory was intent on clouding his mind for the entire day. "Well I do."
"Right." he responded sarcastically.
Harry relaxed into his seat. "I guess the story isn't all that different. Except I only knew her for six or so years, difference is she never knew."
Snape's interest in his reading waned and he didn't quite turned to face Harry. "How come?"
Harry laughed. "You're asking me? I don't know, guess it just never felt like the right time."
"So what happened? You grew apart?"
"No, the opposite I guess. Doesn't really matter now, she's a world apart, I probably won't ever see her again."
They sat in silence for a while.
"That wasn't awkward at all." Snape said, momentarily bursting out heaving in laughter.
-sSsSsSsSs-
With most students gone, it felt like they had Hogsmeade almost to themselves. Starting with a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks, they went on to Dervish and Banges, Dogweed and Deathcap, which they had to coerce Severus out of, stopping at Zonko's and grabbing some crepes from Honeydukes, which they ate outside, overlooking the shack.
"Can you believe they say there's a ghost in there," Severus said munching on his strawberry fudge crepe, "load of bollocks if you ask me.
Harry glanced at Remus, who noticed and surprised him with a tentative grin. A far cry from the somber mood he expected. "I guess people like to make up stories." Remus said.
"I was thinking," Lily said, "we could spend Christmas eve in the Unity Dorms, teachers will be too busy celebrating and preparing to notice us missing."
Severus raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds good," Remus answered, "I have to warn you I didn't get you gifts."
"A bit short notice," Harry said, "besides Severus already gave his."
Remus huffed, and if Harry didn't know any better he would have said Severus' cheeks were turning pink.
It was Lily who adventurously suggested they get a last drink at the Hogg's Head Inn.
"I've always wanted to go, and with two Slytherin we won't stand out." she said with a wink.
Harry's past collided with his present again when the aged proprietor went to take their order. "What'll you young ones have?"
"Pint of brew, thanks." Harry said averting his gaze.
The others must've mistaken his habit for initiative and they ordered the same. Conversation did little to distract Harry from the ghost that had been chasing him all day. He tried to hide his gloom, not wanting to break the Christmas spirit, but Lily seemed to notice.
After their beer Lily ordered a round of Ogden's Old and redoubled her positivity to his benefit. It did help, he was lucky. Having a drink with friends and the woman he loved. The past had been kind to him so far. Colour, warmth and laughter filled the grim establishment and later he could see Aberforth grinning while cleaning some mugs with a stained rag.
The friends carried on the way back to the castle as the sun slipped past the horizon.
-sSsSsSsSs-
"Aaaah! Pay up Severus!" Remus said with glee.
Severus slid a cauldron cake over the chess set in frustration. "I can't believe it."
"Don't worry you'll get better. Rematch?"
"Fine," Severus said repositioning the pieces, "but this is my last cauldron cake."
The both of them had been busy testing their chess skills but Remus clearly had the advantage, not that this would stop Severus from repeating the challenge. Lily and Harry sat together in a couch sipping on hot chocolate. At first Harry had been dubious about their displays of affection, but none seemed to mind them holding hands, Lily gently leaning into him.
"I spoke to Melissa this morning, forgot to tell you." he said.
"About?"
"Nothing much, but you'll be glad to know she didn't even notice something went wrong with our matchmaking plan."
"Really? You wouldn't know seeing how Severus reacted."
He chuckled. "I think he was just angry you lied to him."
"Well I'm glad it worked out."
"You know she is nice. I'm surprised Severus didn't take a liking to her."
"Did you?" she asked half-jokingly.
"She just reminded me of someone."
"Someone important?" she said squeezing his hand tighter.
"You could say that." he said with a hint of sorrow.
Lily put her arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm here, you know."
"I know," he said, "I'm grateful you are."
The evening dragged on. They took turns entertaining with various charms. It seemed like the universe conspired against letting him forget. Most of the charms he knew he learned from her, as many an evening had been spent in the light of a dim lantern, neither able to sleep. He made the excuse to get some air and went up to the balcony, memories flooding over him like the breaking of a dam.