A Joke

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Lily's bedroom was warm and cozy, filled everywhere with stuffed animals and dolls.

Standing before a mirror taller than she was, Lily carefully put on a hair clip while asking Petunia, who was sprawled on her bed, "Petunia, are you really not coming today?"

"Severus didn't mean it last time. He didn't even..."

Lily kept chattering in defense of her friend, but Petunia only toyed lazily with a doll and did not answer.

Petunia and Severus had argued again.

Or rather, after the "attack" Callan had stopped that day, Petunia's opinion of Severus had become almost impossible to change. Every time they met, the two of them went at each other, trading merciless little jabs.

"Severus?"

Petunia snorted. "Since when are you that close to him?"

"Because we're friends," Lily said, pouting. "And he has told us so many interesting things. It is only his name. It doesn't mean anything. We called Ashworth Callan from the very beginning, didn't we?"

"Friends? I don't think so."

Petunia's face went red, and she ignored the second half of Lily's argument. "You should have seen the way he smiled the first time you called him Severus. Even Callan couldn't stand it and told him to restrain himself. And when he left, I saw him walking all wobbly, like Dad when he's drunk."

"What else would he be if he wasn't a friend?" Lily asked innocently. "You know what Severus's parents are like. If someone lives in a family like that, making friends must be a very happy thing."

For some reason, Petunia's face turned even redder. She sulked and ignored Lily.

Lily glanced unconsciously at her little cabinet. Besides the toys her parents had bought her before, two new things sat there now.

One was the cloth card Callan had given everyone. Not only Lily, but Petunia too kept hers carefully. Every time they came home, Petunia checked it once before she could relax.

The other was the apology gift Severus had given after the "attack." Lily's was a green heart-shaped cloth patch, the edges on both sides shaped like wings. Her name, Lily Evans, had been stitched in the middle with more green thread. Lily still remembered Severus's face at the time. He had gone so red he looked as if steam might come out of him.

Petunia's gift had been worse. It was only a small square of cloth, and the letters of her name were not nearly as pretty. Callan had spent quite a while explaining on Severus's behalf before Petunia calmed down.

But Lily always felt those explanations had not been entirely convincing. If there had not been enough time, why had her own gift come out so pretty?

And when had Severus become that good with his hands?

Lily suspected Severus had used his mother's wand, but no matter how she asked, he only blushed and looked nervous, refusing to say more.

As for Petunia's gift, Lily had persuaded her not to throw it away the moment they got home. But Petunia had put it in her least favorite box, the one she only opened when she wanted to toss something inside. One of her bad report cards had been placed there once. Other than that, the box had never been opened.

"Petunia, are you really not going?"

Lily climbed onto the bed as well and propped her cheeks in both hands. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Callan will be there today too."

"Callan, Callan," Petunia muttered. "Callan reading books. Callan practicing that levitation thing. Callan doing everything except talking to us. What am I going for? To listen to you and that boy talk? It is boring."

"Petunia."

Lily's voice softened with guilt.

"Not going! Not going!"

Petunia covered her ears. "Go by yourself. Go on a date with your little boyfriend. No matter what you say, I'm not going."

"Petunia!"

Lily cried angrily. "He is our friend, just like Callan. How can you say that?"

She puffed out her cheeks in anger. After staring at Petunia, who had closed her eyes, for a while, Lily turned and left in a huff.

"Mum, I'm going out."

"Where is Petunia? Don't you two usually go together?"

"She doesn't want to go out today. Hmph."

"Ha. It seems my little princesses are sulking at each other. Go on, then. Come home early."

"I will, Mum."

Before long, Lily was making her way through town. She soon reached the area near the playground and crossed the hedge with practiced ease.

In the green woodland beyond, Snape wore his altered shirt. His coat had been set aside, and two more magic books rested on top of it.

He sat on the grass, bored, looking toward the hedge.

On the other side, Callan leaned against the trunk of a sturdy tree. His legs were crossed, and dappled shadow lay across him. He was holding a book with the words Dark Magic on its cover and reading with complete concentration.

Ever since the "attack," Snape had stopped deliberately bringing up Dark magic. But he had not given up. Every time he brought books, besides the basic standard spellbooks, he added a few books on Dark magic. Those books were read only by Callan. Lily and Petunia were absolutely not allowed to touch them.

It seemed to be Snape's silent way of protesting. It was also his way of hoping, however faintly, that he could change Callan's opinion of Dark magic.

Even if the chance was only a sliver.

Callan accepted them all. He neither said much nor lectured again. In this quiet, tacit way, he and Snape continued their silent contest.

But that reaction only made Snape more and more discouraged, because Callan seemed completely unaffected. He never showed any deeper interest in Dark magic.

To Callan, Dark magic appeared to be exactly what he had once claimed it was: not especially worth studying.

Every time he finished reading a Dark magic book, he returned it straight to Snape without a hint of reluctance.

For the rest of the time, he either continued practicing wandless magic or picked up books on ordinary spellwork.

Whenever that happened, Lily would hand over whatever book she was holding, whether she had finished reading it or not. As far as she was concerned, she would have plenty of time to read later.

For now, the interesting stories of the magical world attracted her far more.

"Hi, Severus. Hi, Callan."

Lily greeted them happily. "Petunia didn't want to come today. It's only me."

When Snape heard Lily say his name, he smiled slightly. He still could not fully control himself, but at least he was better than the first time. Blushing faintly, he stood and handed her a book.

Callan only waved without lifting his head, treating it as a greeting.

Lily was already used to that. She had never met anyone who studied as seriously as Callan, and being around him made her feel quietly pressured to keep up. But one look at Severus was enough to ease that pressure.

'There will be plenty of time later.'

Lily set the book aside without opening it. Instead, she sat across from Snape, tilted her head, and asked curiously, "Tell me about the Trace again, Severus."

Snape had not stopped smiling. Remembering what his mother had told him, he explained carefully.

"The Trace lets the Ministry detect magic used around underage witches and wizards. Once we start Hogwarts, we're not allowed to use magic outside school until we're seventeen, or else..."

Their conversation moved from the Trace to warnings from the Ministry of Magic, then the Statute of Secrecy, and finally wands.

After thinking for a moment, Lily said, "But I have used magic outside school."

"We're different," Snape said with great authority. "We haven't started Hogwarts yet, and accidental magic before school is treated differently. Otherwise, Callan would have been caught who knows how many times."

When he said that last part, his tone sharpened a little, as if he badly wished Callan would be dragged away.

Thump.

"Ah, Severus."

Callan spoke in a strange, deliberately sweet voice. The Dark magic book in his hand had somehow drifted near Snape and "accidentally" bumped the back of his head.

"Sorry, Severus. Could you throw me that book on standard spellwork beside you?"

Ever since Snape had revealed that silly, blissful smile, Callan had often used Snape's first name to tease him. Every time, he said it in an exaggerated, artificial tone. Snape hated it, but he could not beat Callan, which only made him hate it more.

"Callan!"

Lily complained, half annoyed and half amused. She stopped Snape before he could try to murder Callan with the book, picked it up, and tossed it over.

The book floated slowly into Callan's arms anyway.

Lily felt a burst of envy, but because of Callan's warnings, she still did not dare practice like that rashly. She was afraid something might go wrong.

"Ah, sorry, Lily."

Callan used the same strange tone again, his eyes sliding toward Snape on purpose.

Snape's face went red. He looked ready to die of anger.

Lily pouted at Callan, then immediately turned back to Snape. "Are letters really delivered by owls?"

"Usually," Snape said after silently cursing Callan until he finally calmed down. "But you are Muggle-born, so the school will send someone to explain everything to your parents."

At that, Snape suddenly hesitated.

"It will be the same for me," Callan said lazily, clearly hearing the hesitation. "And I'm Muggle-born and an orphan, so the school will definitely send someone."

"Callan!"

Lily snapped at him. She did not quite know why she was angry. Perhaps she did not want him speaking so lightly about something sad. Perhaps she wished she could spare him the pain of being an orphan. After all, she considered Callan a friend, and she did not want her friend to be hurt.

"It is fine."

Callan laughed. "To be honest, compared with having a father like Snape's, I would rather be an orphan."

"Callan!"

This time, Lily was truly angry.

Snape only fell silent. He did not refute it.

"All right, all right."

Callan raised both hands. "I won't say it again."

After glaring at Callan for a while, Lily turned to Snape with concern. "How are things at home?"

Snape frowned faintly. "Fine."

"They stopped arguing?"

"Oh. They still argue."

As Snape spoke, he unconsciously tore a handful of leaves to pieces, clearly unaware of what he was doing.

"But not for much longer. I am leaving soon."

"Your dad doesn't like magic?"

"He doesn't like anything."

The two fell silent for a while. The only sounds were the leaves rustling around them and Callan turning pages not far away.

"Will being Muggle-born make things different at Hogwarts?" Lily suddenly asked.

Snape hesitated.

'Will being Muggle-born make things different?'

'Of course it will.'

Even setting aside pure-blood families and their belief in blood purity, and even setting aside the loathing for Muggles he had still not fully shaken off, Snape had heard a few vague things from his mother about the Dark Lord.

He seemed to reject Muggle-born witches and wizards. He had done many things in both the Muggle world and the magical world, apparently to purify wizarding blood.

Snape looked at Lily's pale face and dark red hair.

"No," he said.

Then, worried, he glanced at Callan and quickly added, "It won't make any difference."

Callan's eyes stayed on his book. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, but he did not interrupt.

"Good," Lily said, letting out a breath.

Clearly, she had been worrying about it for a while.

"Yes," Callan added. "Very good."

Snape's face went completely red.

"You'll learn all kinds of magic, Lily," Snape said, as if trying to explain something. "I've seen it. I have been watching you..."

His voice grew softer and softer.

Lily was not listening. She had stretched out on the grass, arms and legs spread, gazing up at the dense leaves overhead.

Snape looked at her with longing, just as he had that first time at the playground.

Then Callan suddenly sounded surprised.

"What? Severus, did I hear that right? You've been spying on her?"

Snape froze solid.

Lily propped herself up curiously. "Callan, what are you talking about?"

"He didn't say anything! He is making things up again!"

Snape panicked completely. He grabbed his coat, his face flushed red. "I... I'm leaving."

With that, Snape ran. He even forgot his books.

"Severus!"

Lily called after him, but Snape almost stumbled, caught himself, and kept running without stopping.

"I will return these books to him later. I know where he lives."

Callan sat across from Lily, picked up the other book beside her, and continued reading as if nothing had happened. He showed no shame at all for being the culprit.

"Callan, what did he say?" Lily asked, bewildered.

"Nothing. I scared him on purpose."

Callan smiled. Then he suddenly asked, seemingly out of nowhere, "Lily, what do you think of Snape?"

"What do I think of him?"

Lily grew even more confused. "He is my friend, of course. Just like you. And later we will be classmates too. What else would he be?"

"Hm."

Callan frowned deeply. After considering it for a long time, he was still unwilling to give up.

"If, and I mean if, you had to choose between me and Snape as a boyfriend, who would you choose?"

"Boyfriend?"

Lily was startled. Her green eyes widened. "I have never thought about that. But if I had to choose..."

She propped her cheeks in both hands and blinked again and again.

Callan was about to finish the last book by the time she finally answered.

"I would choose Severus."

"Oh?"

This time Callan was the one who was shocked. He forgot about the book at once and asked, "Why?"

"Well, if I have to give a reason..."

Lily blinked. "I think Severus would treat me better. And you only read books and study magic all the time. Who would want a boyfriend like that?"

"That was deeply hurtful."

Callan clutched at his heart and pretended to be wounded, making Lily laugh.

"And..."

After she finished laughing, Lily hesitated and added, "I think you are a little frightening sometimes. On the day Severus accidentally tried to attack us, when you said those things to him, you scared me."

"Is that so?"

Callan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Lily nodded silently. That day had clearly stayed with her.

"Well, being afraid of me is normal."

For a moment, Callan seemed like a different person, someone Lily no longer recognized.

"Because..."

Callan lowered his voice, slowly leaned closer to Lily, and stared into her green eyes.

"I have killed someone."

Lily froze for a moment. Then, not long after, she laughed and pushed him away.

"What nonsense are you talking about, Callan? Severus really was right. You do like saying strange things."

Callan immediately laughed along with her.

"That is what you get for not choosing me. I am obviously much better than Snape. I am more handsome. I even made the clothes he is wearing, and you still chose him. Hmph."

Callan turned away with a pout.

Lily laughed and laughed. It took her a long time to calm down.

Callan returned his attention to the books. Lily did not disturb him. She only lay back on the grass and silently watched the clouds drift through the sky.

"Callan, you were joking, right?"

Callan glanced over at her. "Of course I was joking. I am a child. How could I do something like that?"

"I am not a Dark wizard."

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