louder than sirens, louder than bells {OPEN}

[fishpetals]

Who: Lily and you.
What: Apothecary nonsense.
Where: Auturgy.
When: Throughout September.
Warnings: None so far.

From the outside, Auturgy looks like any other apothecary. Anyone who's anyone knows that the brilliant witch inside is one of the best in the business though, and certainly the best in Diagon. The most brilliant witch of her generation, Albus Dumbledore had called her when she was still in Hogwarts, and that shines through now. In any case, the shop's hours are tailor-made for the curfew of a muggle-born witch or wizard but even some of the snobbiest purebloods shop there, having to admit that if they want quality, they have to come here. The inside of the shop is homey, smelling of spice instead of fumes, and the pet bed by the door has in turns a large black dog, a squish-faced orange cat, or both.

There are potions along one wall, ingredients along another, a squat shelf of potions books, and two displays with potion-making tools for sale just in case. Lily brews behind the counter, chirping glass birds sound when you open the door, and while until now she's always worked alone, there are a few new employees that may be tinkering around assisting her and in turn assisting any customers. There are special order forms that can be filled out and the proprietress will get back to you with prices and a time frame as soon as possible.

Comments

[escare]

[ That swirling pit of irritation and annoyance simmers hot in the pit of his stomach, a low but very much felt burn that he can't quite dispel, not with the hard swallow of his saliva and not with the deep breath he takes when he straightens his spine and offers the younger-than-he-remembers man a small, slightly forced smile of politeness. ]

I - uh. I can check for you if you'd like.

[ The words taste a little bitter on his tongue. The very last thing he wants is for his mum and Snape to converse. He knows a little bit about the history between them, that Harry's mum knew Snape in her childhood, and that they were actually quite close.

He isn't sure how that could have been possible, only that it was. He attributes this more to Lily Evans' credit than Severus Snape's. ]

[darkart]

That won't be necessary.

[ The implication being that if he decides Lily's taking long enough for there to be a problem, he'll just go upstairs himself.

Severus makes his way across the shop, gaze idling over the shelves; he wonders if there is a familiar order, something like he does. But the finer details escape him for the moment - his mind too preoccupied keeping all else in order, and keeping clear of more self-indulgent, darker thoughts. (Why does Lily employ her doppelganger's child? Is she so attached to Potter, still? Severus hates the thought of that sentimentality, that potential for yearning. He doesn't wish to see himself in some other, more intimate role-- he knows what he is, what he did-- but Merlin, why Potter.)

He is an inky shadow, offensive angles of his face no better-looking at this young age than in his thirties, drawing closer to the counter and Harry behind it. His clothes are finer in this world than the last, something Severus rolled his eyes at when he opened the wardrobe, but such is this new life. An elevated pure-blood, Minister Riddle's agent. ]

How old are you? [ he asks, hand alighting on the edge of the counter like a spider creeping into the light. ] Not too young to trip an age line and send you to me, I hope. I would hate for Miss Evans to lose an employee.

[ As ever, it is difficult to pinpoint what emotion Professor Snape is presenting. Backhanded friendliness? Subtle threat? Something deliberately enticing and thus deliberately revolting because of it?

There is always a sort of menace. As present as the oil in his hair, or the stains on his nails. ]

[fishpetals]

[ there's a gap long enough for harry to reply but it isn't much longer before lily comes down the stairs. it will become patently clear to harry that this isn't just a shopping trip or a social visit - lily is leaving the shop, judging by the fact that she has a satchel with her. (enlarged on the inside of course, she's not going to cart a giant bag to hogwarts just to make sure she can change her clothes over the weekend.) she looks a little harried as though she finished up getting ready in a rush, her hair in a messy bun held in place with her wand and some hopeful wishing (and magic).

anyway she takes the last couple of steps more slowly than the rest and turns the corner to enter the main area of the shop with an apologetic smile and that ruffled look. ] Severus. I'm sorry, Mordred was being insufferable.

[ in the way of cats that want to be independent until they realize you're leaving and then they want your constant attention, lily's familiar has been demanding her recognition all afternoon.

there's something off about the aura in the room but lily just scrutinizes them both a moment before smiling again and shaking her head. ] Harry, I'm going to need you to watch the shop for the rest of the day and close up for me. I've already spoken with Dean and Neville about the rest of the weekend. I'm going to be working at Hogwarts, but I'll be back Sunday evening. I should have said something earlier, but I was in such a rush today getting ready.

[escare]

I -

[ Harry is, indeed, about to respond to Snape's comments, but before he has a chance to get more than a starting sound out, his mum comes down the stairs looking a bit rushed. She starts to explain something to him, something about minding the shop and closing up - which he can do no problem, he's done it before and watched his mum do it several times before that - but it isn't really any of that that bothers him.

No, it's the fact that she's clearly leaving her shop with Snape. She's going to Hogwarts with Snape, one of his least favourite people in the entire world. ]

Yes, sure, of course. No problem. It's just - are you - you're going with -

[ He doesn't want to say him??? but the implication is p r e t t y clear. ]

[darkart]

Professor Snape, [ is provided

oh so helpfully. And then Severus makes a noncommittal noise, absolving her kneejerk apology in a kind of normal human being way that is at once completely uninteresting and absolutely baffling. There is perhaps no one else on earth who he wouldn't glower at for making him wait fifteen seconds - at least no one that Harry's seen him interact with. Ever.

A n y w a y. Besides that, he remains aloof. They are not supposed to be friends, they are not supposed to be conspiring. Severus is here in a professional capacity, because it's his projects that require her temporary presence, because a non-faculty muggle-born needs an escort through the Floo Network, because it's only sensible to be the one to take care of it.

The look he gives her is opaque. Formal. The hesitation before he speaks is so minuscule it would take someone who actually knows him to notice-- ]

If all's in order, let's be on our way.

[ The Leakey Cauldron is still an inexplicable hub of the universe, even in this world, and it's the only non-government building in London that's hooked up to the headmaster's fireplace. Much better than having to go through the Ministry. ]

[fishpetals]

[ lily can't even apologize for apologizing; she makes a face at herself internally—this timeline's severus had let her apologize whenever anything went off in their correspondence and so it's taking some getting used to for her to not say i'm sorry whenever appropriate.

anyway. severus plays himself so well that it makes something twist in lily's gut and she swallows once but smiles at harry before nodding. ] Yes. I'll be going with Professor Snape to Hogwarts. I need an escort and he's kindly [ which is hilarious sounding if one considers the idea that he's meant to be the severus that coldly shut out lily evans after hogwarts. ] volunteered for the job.

[ she sighs, rocking on the balls of her feet. ] I won't be gone long, just take special order requests for anything not in stock. I'll make any of it when I get back. If it's an emergency they can go elsewhere. If not, they can wait.

[ a breath and she smiles again, shifting her bag— ] Mordred is set for the weekend, so don't worry about him. Just mind the shop. I'll see you Monday, Harry. [ when she turns toward severus, something curious happens - her hand brushes along his elbow briefly, squeezing before dropping again. it's a split-second but it's there, and to anyone looking that doesn't know her well, it would look like lily's just getting his attention after rambling on to harry. ] Let's go.