Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Six o'clock in the morning, and Selene turned the sign that hung from the door so its “Open” face would look towards the outside.

The first customers started to come just minutes after she had opened her store. Each one with a different problem, and each of them a regular.

She ran the apothecary on the south east of London, not as far from the Thames and the East End as one could like, but enough to be visited by some high class’ solicitors every once in a while. Sometimes their masters had some weird blotch on intimate parts that require no one from high society, not even doctors, to be aware of. Yet, most of her regulars were normal people, factory workers who needed ointments and remedies to ease the pain to continue with their daily routines. Maids and wives that needed special herbs to calm the kids’ colds, and sometimes they needed treatment for their own discomfort. Headaches, tummy aches, a sprained ankle or wrist, unguents for burns, drops for the constant eyesore. Everything they needed, Selene would provide.

She started early in the morning so factory workers would be able to pass by if they needed anything in the early hours of the morning, but she closed just as early. By five in the afternoon her store was closed and everything would be tidy up by then.

Still, during the times where the store would be closed, Selene let her customers know that in case of an emergency they could visit her. One time one newlywed neighbour slammed her door at 6 in the afternoon because his wife had burned herself with oil while she was trying to prepare beignets. It turned out that the girl had never cooked in her entire life but tried to do a special recipe she saw on a french magazine to surprise her husband, luckily he arrived just in the moment the oil made contact with her skin and drove her directly to Selene’s door, the girl became scarred for life, but thanks to the rapid reaction her marks were diminished as possible.

Still Selene made herself clear that emergencies should be emergencies. When encountered with a young man with just a slight cough at three am she made sure to throw him out and make him come back at a decent hour.

But mostly, it was because of her father.

Tobias Snape was the rightful owner of the house and the store connected to it, he was the original apothecary, the one who taught his daughter the magnificent world of chemistry, of how plants and herbs when mixed correctly could became a whole different thing, how one could do so much good in the world with it, and so much evil.

At the ripe age of fourteen, Selene had to take control of the family business. Tobias had been an alcoholic for most of Selene’s life, but when he learned the effects of opium he became an addict too. He would spend most of their earnings on opium houses and harlots, he would barely stay at home, but when he did it was necessary to keep quiet.

He never arrived before six in the afternoon, so she made sure to close everyday before that time, in case he presented himself at the door. And when a customer came in with an emergency they would only be attended if they knocked the back door in a special way, three consecutive knocks, then a pause and two more, it was necessary to have a distinctive way of knocking since it could be any wanderer or robber trying to enter during the long hours of the  night. And it was necessary to be at the back door, because the back door was just right to Selene’s bedroom, and further away from her parent’s room.

Selene knew that most of her customers were poor and could barely afford their medicine, and as much as she tried to not charge more, her father’s addiction consumed almost all of their profit and made it impossible for her to lower the prices. She maintained the prices low, but enough for them to live, to keep the store and for her father’s addiction.

Most days weren’t filled with emergencies, there were doctors in the area so she attended mostly the most desperate patients. So, mostly she had her usual visitors, a solicitor from a rich family came every monday for a cream that treated “internal rash”, a young wife arrived every friday just after her husband was off to work to restock her rosemary unguent for hair growth, and much more cases similar to them.

Today was just as any other Wednesday, at eleven Lily’s figure would cross the door as she always did every wednesday and friday. With her pretty ruffles and luscious hair tied up in an intricate style. Honestly, Selene couldn’t understand how high class women had so much time to put that much effort into their hair. 

But it was pretty, it looked fantastic on Lily, as everything always did. As she entered the store at exactly 11 past 10 Selene couldn't help but notice how her emerald gown hugged her curves and highlighted her fire looking hair in an exquisite way.

Many times Selene wondered if Lily was a goddess made mortal, nobody could be so pretty without some divine intervention.

Sometimes the envy she bottled up in her insides would overflow and attempt to unlash, to curse her life, her face and her plain figure, because Lily had everything she yearned for. She was beautiful, she had money, she didn’t have to work, and even more importantly than the rest, she was kind and effortlessly graceful.

Selene never came out as kind, even when trying to be, many times she tried smiling back at people only for them to wince, afraid of the look on her face. She wasn’t amiable, nor someone you befriend just by looking at them. Her whole aura avoided people coming closer to her.

Although that might be because of her looks too. 

But every time Selene’s insides tried to bring her self pity into the light, she would bottle it up again, throwing it to the bottom of her heart to never let it escape.

“What excuse brings you here today? Some salts for when you faint at the sight of your beloved fiancé?” Selene’s mockery was the usual, Lily and her often enjoyed playful banter, never with something serious enough to actually cause damage. So when she saw Lily’s troubled green eyes instead of hearing a powerful laughter, Selene panicked. Lily had been betrothed forever, so the subject became some sort of joke between them, never before Selene received such a reaction. On her first season out, on the very first ball, she danced happily on the arms of one of the most handsome bachelors to ever exist -according to Lily, since Selene hadn't even meet the man- and at the very next day he asked for her hand in marriage, who was graciously given by Mr. Evans, him being desperate enough to enter the nobility that he didn’t even care that the man he was betrothing his daughter with was barely eighteen years old, just like her, yet the man was soon to be a earl, so who would care? Five years passed after the event and Lily continued to be a single maiden, and James Potter, her betrothed, didn’t appear to want to hurry into the marriage. “I’m so sorry, are you okay? Did something happen?”

Lily said nothing, instead she went to Selene’s side of the counter and threw herself to the chair her friend had been occupying before restocking the shelves. She still did not talk, so Selene opted to approach her, luckily there was no one in the store at the time. “Liliana, I would never know what’s wrong if you don’t tell me directly”

“Everything is wrong, Selene! Everything!” She was joking, because she slammed her face against the corner of the counter, letting her arms hang free on her sides. It was a sort of joke-truth. She wanted to lighten the mood about what was troubling her, as she often did.

“Want some tea?” 

“Please” Lily answered, it came more as a plea, she did not raise her head from the table.

Selene rang the bell and called her mother to make them some tea if she could, Eileen quickly followed the command. Not because she felt like an employee in her own house, but because she tried to make Selene’s work hours lighter, she was the one to bring food to the table after all. In less than ten minutes the old woman appeared with a tray filled with goodies and a tea set.

As quick as she came she disappeared, not wanting to intervene in the friend’s conversation.

Then, when both held a cup of tea and ate some of the homemade biscuits, Selene commanded her friend to tell her what was troubling her that much.

“You’ll think it ridiculous”

“I will not do such a thing” Selene responded defensively. But that was a lie, the dark haired woman often disregarded her friends' issues as nothing more than a stone in one's shoe -not directly to her friend, of course, but to her insides-. She knew it was wrong to think like that, but Lily’s usual problems tended to be about the colour of her dresses for a soiree, or which type of pastries were better to eat so as not to get fat. Lily tended to have several issues with her figure, apparently in “polite” society a plump looking woman was out of fashion, Selene called it bullshit, if one could eat as much as one could want, then one should enjoy it. And it seemed just insane that someone like Lily wouldn’t be popular and in fashion, what had bodies had to do with dresses anyway? They were made taking one’s measurements, it was supposed to be for the person wearing them, the style and colour could be adapted to every type of body, that shouldn’t be a detriment factor.

But she guessed it was something she could never understand, because she couldn’t afford to be fashionable, she had to be practical with her expenses, and she was thin. She might never be able to be in Lily’s shoes because of that important fact. She didn’t know how it was to be bigger as Lily didn’t know what it was to be ugly.

So Selene tried to be open and understanding with her friend. She might not consider her stuff important, but if they caused her pain then it was important, case closed.

Yet what Lily told was definitely, in everybody's book, something quite big.

“I need James to put an end to the engagement”

Selene looked at her friend, before blinking once, then twice, and she actually doesn’t know how long she stared at the redhead, but apparently quite long for the other began to lose her patience.

“I beg your pardon?” Selene asked in astonishment. Lily had never been a particularly rebellious person, in all the years they knew each other she had been the ideal debutante and more than ideal daughter. She never dared to go against her father’s wishes, that is basically the reason she accepted the betrothal to Potter without complaint. He wasn’t the worst prospect but she barely knew him at the time, it wasn’t an ideal engagement yet it was for the better, as Lily said at the time. Trying to act mature for her age.

But now the one in front of her wasn’t the adequately pleasing young heiress, this was Lily, the brave friend she met when both were barely out of their cribs.

If Selene was honest with herself and also with her friend, she would take notice of Lily's changes as she grew older. When a kid, Lily used to be of a chaotic character, always running around and doing as she pleased. She would eat cakes as much as she wanted and throw a fit any time she seemed slightly annoyed. But that side of her personality was buried down when it was time for her to be presented in high society.

The Lily who ran about without care, who burped not caring of her viewers, all the things that made Lily happy by just being herself slowly faded away.

Even Selene noticed her abrupt changes, even if with her Lily tended to be her truest self.

Not many times Selene and Eileen were invented to dine with the Evans. Mostly when Lily’s father was out of town for business. And many of those times they were unable to attend because of Tobias.

Yet, in those few times they were able to attend, that mask on Lily’s visage would show up. She would not be herself even around her family and friends, her manners would be impeccable and only polite conversation would be discussed on the table. Nothing about weird rashes and fungi, nothing about the uptight debutantes who tried not to breathe inside their too tight corsets. Not even mocking the fake faints they’d perform in order to catch a bachelor’s attention. Selene never witnessed any of those things, but every tale about it that came from Lily’s mouth was enough to entertain them a whole afternoon.

At the time Selene would think, if Lily wouldn’t be herself, not even in a casual soiree, only with their mothers and herself as a witness, what type of acting should she perform to endure those tired soirees? She could only imagine.

What a waste of oneself.

But this Lily, making the most rebellious statement she heard in the past five years was the Lily she grew up with. The Lily she loved and worshipped.

“I thought you were in agreeable terms with Potter” Selene added before her friend started to defend her declaration.

The redhead rolled her eyes, “It’s Lord Potter, Sel. You cannot refer to a baron without care!”

“I thought he was supposed to be an earl?”

“He’s to inherit that title once his father passes away, God forbid it.” Selene raised one eyebrow, not believing her word, and Lily crossed her arms, irritated. “Lord Potter is a perfectly healthy man, I do not wish for him to pass so early in his life”

“Why would your fiancé die? Isn’t he about our age?”

“I’m referring to Lord Potter, Sel- Lord Fleamont Potter!” She clarified before laughing it off. Selene’s wicked smile gave away the ruse and quickly Lily started to laugh wholeheartedly. “You shouldn’t make me laugh about such delicate topics of conversation!”

“But you agree about the ridicule of the titles? How am I supposed to know who I’m referring to if everybody is a Lord and almost all share surnames? Your fiancé will be just ‘Potter’ and his father will be ‘Lord Potter’. For the sake of this conversation and my own mental turmoil. If not, I'll be asking every time to which Lord Potter you are referring to.”

“Can we not just call them the earl and the baron?”

“No, I don’t even know which one is more important than the other. My interest in nobility ranks are as wide as your interest in double entry.” 

“I still cannot understand why a lady should care to learn about accounting!” Lily’s father had made her take several classes of finance management, even if she despised them. It was quite uncommon for a woman of high society to learn such subjects, but considering the Evan’s way to make their fortune it was something to be expected.

Mr. Evans was a rich merchant who firstly made some money on metal and gold mines in the Americas. He then came back to the continent to improve the market of said assets. He was an intelligent man for business, yet was blinded by his desire of being accepted by the nobility. According to Lily, people like her and her family that had to work for their money would never be at the same level of those whose wealth and position was provided to them by birth, the so-called ‘divine right’. They could be bankrupt and overall have less riches than the Evans and still considered themselves as above; they were closer to God, according to the law, and londoners’ eyes.

“Perhaps to make sure her husband’s solicitors don’t drive them to ruin. And you are no lady.” Selene didn’t expect most of the nobility to actually learn to manage their finances, they had people to do that for them, but that was just a prejudice, she knew nothing about them.

“Well, a soon to be lady”

“And you just inform me about your wishes to shatter in pieces your engagement.”

“A miss, then.” Lily crossed her arms once again, irritated. “Since when have you become so judgmental?”

“I’m not, my only wish is to mock you. I have no business telling you how to live your life.” 

“You’re my friend, your opinion about my life is important to me.”

“I do not doubt so. But as your friend, my wish is for you to find your happiness as you see it fit. Not tell you who to marry, or even if you should.” A sudden thought crossed Selene’s mind, she took a small sip of tea before putting down the cup. This wasn't time for pleasantries, she knew Lily came to talk about important business but she kept deviating the subject. Was she afraid of what her friend may say?

“I appreciate your words of affection, but I am afraid they are useless in my conundrum.” 

“Then explain yourself.”

The redhead sighted as she accommodated her body on the chair she was sitting in. Selene was standing on the other side of the counter, her back to the door. Lily appeared indecisive about what to say, or most likely, how to start explaining herself. “I- I’ve never been truly happy with the engagement.” Selene only nodded, letting her friend explain herself further. “It wasn’t that Potter was a bad match, on the contrary, he was basically all that me and my parents could want. He has a fortune so he's not after me because of my dowry, although that’s quite obvious giving the fact we haven’t tied the knot.”

“I guess it is a common occurrence for bachelors to engage themselves with an unexpecting debutante with enough dowry?”

“You cannot even imagine how often those situations occur. Usually the man would put the girl into a difficult situation to force the family to accept the union if they were against it. Such as taking the girl to a secluded space or kissing her in front of witnesses. So yeah- that wasn’t my case. If Potter needed the money we would have been married long ago… I believe the issue is that he just doesn’t want to marry.”

At that, Selene gave her befuddled expression, a man who willingly entered into an engagement didn’t want to be married? It didn't make sense, but at the same time it did, Selene knew that Lily’s family had asked many times for a date, yet the man had given evasive answers. “What makes you say that?”

“It’s in his actions, Sel. He’s very charming and nice, he’ll go to my house to dine every friday, we’ll take strolls down the park and we get along very well, he would even buy me presents, and yet he still doesn’t marry me. How many girls do you know to have an engagement that lasts half a decade?- Actually don’t answer me, you’ll say something along the lines of ‘I don’t know many people’ because you never know when a question is not worth answering” Funnily, Lily was right. “It’s infuriating because his indifference towards the issue has led me to grow resentful of him. In the past year- No, in the past two years I would say. Every time he would come to visit me I would be bored to tears because of his presence, or plainly irritated. It’s just not fair! I haven’t danced in a ball since I was seventeen years old, because of my betrothal! I cannot dance with anyone but him because every man in the saloon knows I belong to him, even if we are not actually married, and he wouldn’t even dance with me very often because he doesn’t like to attend those events! I cannot even meet a man I might actually like and who fulfils all of pappa's requirements because I’m already on the way to the wedding. But who knows for how long!” During her fervent speech Lily would stand up and start to pace around the room, everytime she got too irritated she'd move her arms around as if trying to prove how obnoxious that situation was.“I don’t even enjoy his company now, and obviously he doesn’t enjoy mine. The gifts he gives to me are mostly books filled with the most pompous and ridiculous subjects, but I'm expected to read them to make conversation with him. Who on earth cares about the specific types of mould that grows on English shores? Yet he never asks me about my own interests and several times I have to repeat myself because he doesn’t seem to be listening.” When finished Lily proceeded to sit again, exhausted. She had been thinking about it for long, and it was easy to tell, all tenderness she might have for the man already ran out thanks to his indisposition. 

The troubled gaze in Lily’s eyes worried Selene, she was in a position she could in no means be helpful, the only thing she could do was to listen. “Have you- Have you talked to your father about it?”

“With what use? He’s adamant about his decision. Mamma has repeatedly asked him about it, to put some pressure on the Potters, but he believes it useless. He said we might just wait for him to make the decision, nothing good would come from a man cornered into a marriage.”

“But he was the one to ask for your hand.”

“Yes! And that is what I hate the most! I didn’t trap him in some kind of game to make him propose to me, he was the one to take me dancing and he was the one to present himself the very next day at my door. And now I’m the laughing stock of the ton because not even my fiancé wants to share a dance with me.”

“I know my knowledge of manners of polite society are anything but vast, but wouldn’t it look bad on you if he didn’t marry you?”

“Ah” Lily’s cheeks tainted with shame, her skin coloured almost the colour of her hair. “Yes, that’s something that absolutely could happen, if I can actually convince him to break the engagement. But I prefer to live in shame than marry a man who I do not care for.”

“Are you going to talk to him?”

“Heavens no! I wouldn't dare. He might force me to marry him on the spot if I bring the subject.”

“This man sounds like a complete ass.”

“You have no idea” Both laughed, it was the only thing they could do in that kind of situation. The weight didn’t lift from Lily’s shoulders and Selene grew even more worried about her friend, she was the daughter of an unhappy marriage, she wouldn’t wish anything similar to her mother’s situation to Lily.

Some customers arrived and Selene needed to take charge of them, usually Lily left after only an hour passed, not wanting to bother her with her work, yet this time she did not.

She still needed comfort but words wouldn't be enough.

It was way past noon when Selene disoccupied herself, as she worked Lily occupied her time looking into the books she kept over the table, when none was around Selene made sure to study some more, there was always an herb or plant she didn’t quite understand all its qualities, and depending on the tome she could learn more of how certain products behaved with others.

“Are you staying to eat with us? My mother will be pleased for you to stay, as you did in the old times.” Selene reached the sign at the door and turned it around. Lily bit her lip in an anxious manner. She didn’t want to stay but also didn’t want to leave. “Tell me what else is in your mind.”

“You are going to get mad.”

“Since when do you care about that?”

Lily inhaled, preparing her body and soul for what she would express “Everything I told you are not the only reasons why I want to end my betrothal.”

“What else is there? I found your arguments quite compelling.”

“For you they may be, not for me. I was determined to accept all of it, you know? I would do it for my family, mostly for pappa, but also for Petunia, she hadn’t been handling the past seasons very nicely, and being sister in law with a soon to be earl would definitely help her. Knowing that I was helping my family was enough, I didn’t even think about what I was missing until- Until I met him.”

“Who?” Selene was flabbergasted, they were the closest friends and she’d never heard before about a man in Lily’s life, beside her fiancé of course. “Lily, are you having some kind of rendezvous with another man?”

“I knew you’ll criticise me!” Lily’s words were hurt yet true. Although she did seem ashamed by her reactions and by her actions. “But it doesn’t matter, you’re stuck with me. This man is a solicitor, I have known him for as long as I have known the Potters but our relationship has always been polite, nothing untowards. That was until last year.”

Selene’s body shivered under the possibility of Lily doing things she was not prepared to face with this nameless man! Lily lived in a bubble, she did not know how troublesome was the life of single mothers, and even if Selene herself had not experienced sexual relationships with others or god forbid it, a romance. She was well aware of the consequences of doing those things carelessly. “Have you-?” She dared not to ask if her friend had already had sexual relations but considering the way Lily’s visage paled, it was quite clear her friend understood the question too.

“God no!- What do you think of me?- No! Well- the urges were there but no, Remus is very gentlemanly and wouldn’t dare to take those types of liberties with me before we are wed, hopefully.” Selene knew that name, it resonated inside her mind but couldn’t possibly find its owner. It wasn’t a common name around London, but she wasn’t capable of putting her finger on it. It might just be a casualty. “The most problematic of the whole ordeal is that he is Potter’s solicitor. And not just that, they are friends, Sel. Friends since both were just out of leading strings and now I’m terrified because if Potter learns the truth he could punish Remus for all of it.”

“But you claim Potter has no interest in you.”

“No man would desire to be made the laughstock of the ton. Can you imagine what people say? ‘Lord Potter was abandoned even before reaching the altar by his lightskirt fiancé’ I’d be such a scandal.”

“I thought you didn’t care about the repercussions as long as you can have what you want.”

“I do care about the repercussions, but mostly when I’m the one performing the criminal act of ending my engagement. If he does it by his own accord, everyone would just say that he wasn’t satisfied with me, and I’d become the victim in the whole ordeal. It would taint my reputation, that's correct, but it wouldn't cause such terrible damage.”

“Besides the fact you already have a suitor waiting for your hand?”

“That does help, you are correct. But I found myself at a loss here. I cannot directly talk to him about this subject, as I’ve told you before, I fear he would become vengeful towards us given the circumstances”

“Then how do you pretend to convince him to give up your engagement?” Lily’s lips turned up in a wicked smile, and her eyes focused on hers. That could mean nothing good. “I don’t like the way you’re booking at me.”

“I think all of this situation would come to an end if he became interested in someone else. That’s why I need your help.”

“My help?” Selene's voice came out strangled, almost as a shriek. “What do I have to do with anything?”

“You are someone who can capture his attention! If you do  as much as dance with him, all the ton would immediately start gossiping about it!”

“But Lily-” Selene pleaded, she did not want to get stuck in such an ordeal “Even if I did as much as talk to the man, and by some divine intervention I would make him dance with me, that could only turn your father anxious about your engagement and probably press on the subject. The only end of that situation that I see is that you’ll become married to the man you claim to despise even sooner!”

“No!- That is where you’re mistaken. Because he doesn’t want to marry, Sel. Don’t you see? If he sees too much pressure on my father’s part he’ll call off the wedding.”

“But I cannot understand this. How is my intervention necessary? I would think a huge part of the debutantes would happily try to dance with some Lord. Why should I intervene?”

Lily sighed heavily, as if she’ll be explaining things to a child. Selene despised that, she abhorred condescension. “All of the ton knows he’s betrothed already. They wouldn’t dare to make a move, and the ones who actually are brave enough to are swiftly rejected. It is of bad manners for a woman to asks for a dance”

“So riddle me this, if I’m not allowed to ask him for a dance, then how do I make him dance with me?”

“You charm him, of course!”

“Surely you are jesting.”

“Of course not! I’m being completely serious.”

“Then you must be mad! How can you believe I would manage to do such a thing?”

“You’ll do just fine! Believe me!”

“You are getting on my nerves, Liliana! Your plan cannot be more ridiculous than that. Me? To charm a Lord? To convince him to waltz with me or whatever dance they do in these times? It’s just insane!”

“You can do it!”

“I believe not!”

“Can’t you not try at least? For my sake? You have nothing to lose, but if by some divine intervention, as you say, you succeed, that could only bring me happiness.”

Selene’s mind stopped working just for a second and decided to contemplate her friend. She must surely be joking, for whatever reason she believed Selene could manage such a task? And wasn’t pretending to be from the nobility a crime? Although she doesn’t need to pretend to be a highborn, only a relative of one…- She put an end to her ramblings, she was already adjusting Lily’s plan in a way it would be less damaging. 

But as she looked into Lily’s green eyes she figured she would accept anyway. 

Lily was her weakness, anything she needed Selene would provide, fight her in this topic would be no use, she’ll accept in the end.

“I don’t suppose you came here without a plan in mind, so just spit it out.”

“Are you going to do it?” 

“Yes- Against my better judgement. But please retire for the day, I have stuff to do. Come tomorrow at noon.”
Lily’s strong arms hugged her until she came out of breath. Selene just let her, and not reciprocate it, only to show a little bit of her disgust by the whole ordeal. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Lily’s eyes were filled with tears, happy tears one could assume. “I cannot explain how much I appreciate it!”

“It might all be for naught.”

“It does not matter, at least we’ll try to set me free.” With a big smile she departed, leaving her alone once again.

Selene had so much to do.

Chapter Text

By the morrow, Liliana Evans showed up at her door as the same time they had settled the day before. She entered wearing a full grin that showed her pretty white teeth.

“I’m with a customer, I’ll attend to you shortly, Miss Evans.” Selene exclaimed as she bandaged a young woman’s hand. Marcy, she liked to be called, a worker of the night, apparently she had just finished with a customer before arriving at her door, her wrists in a terrible state. 

“He had dominating tendencies” was all the information she got from the woman. She did not ask anything further, it was not her business who she sold herself to or what she did with them.

Marcy started to ask for her help barely weeks after she first started in that line of work, many men used her without care, brutalist morons who believed themselves entitled to do whatever their distorted minds desired with the women they bought. The beginning was especially hard for Marcy, her hair was still too short and she hadn’t managed to control the tone of her voice yet, the men were particularly cruel when her ‘real’ voice escaped from her lips, punishing her for not engaging in their fantasies completely.

Lily stood by the door, uncomfortable and curious of the woman she was attending to, Marcy still had most of her makeup on, heavy red blush over a particularly pale face with way too red lips, it was apparent that she was a harlot.

Considering that Marcy’s injuries weren’t too complicated to attend to, she had applied the balsamic pomade on her over her own counter, and was currently bandaging the sore place. But Lily’s gaze was focused on her patient’s back, as if enthralled by her existence, and the other woman trembled under the scrutiny of her eyes. “Marcy, may you follow me to the back to continue with your treatment?”

Whether it was because of her trust in her or because she was accustomed to do as she was told, she followed with nothing more than a questioning expression planted on her face. “Miss Evans, please wait for me for a moment.”

The redhead, ashamed for being caught staring, only nodded and pretended to be interested in something else.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t believe anyone would enter at that moment. Did she make you uncomfortable?”

“No! No, please don’t believe a miss would do such a thing!”

“You can be honest with me, Marcy”

“And I am, I’m used to being stared at.” She laughed it off, Selene did not like it yet said nothing, she focused on finishing her task at hand. She looked at her face for a moment, trying to guess if she truly was not uncomfortable with Lily’s intense gaze, but instead she noticed a cut in Marcy’s lower lip, next to a forming bruise, it was hard to tell with the white powder she put in her skin.

After pleading with her to clean her face, Marcy finally accepted and let her see, in her jaw a subtle wisp of a beard showed up, a dark brown just like her hair. Just over it was a huge red spot, starting to turn into a dark purple. “That must have hurt.”

“Not that much, is my arse that hurts the most.” She was keen to make those types of commentaries, even if her vocabulary was mostly better than most of Selene’s usual patients, she still tended to use vulgar expressions in front of her, though she paid no mind.

“Your jaw seems to be alright, and more than the pain you will be perfectly okay. As you already know, what this jar contains is for your private parts, while this cream has to be used on your wrist, the damage was not too deep but use it to calm down the itch.”

“Thank you, doc. How much do I owe you?”

“I’m not a doc, and you know it’s nothing, save your pennies.”

“I’ll save me some penis.” Marcy murmured and laughed to herself, Selene pretended not to have heard her.

“Take care.”

“Thank you. Good afternoon, doc. Good afternoon Miss Evans.” She left after giving an awkward curtsy on Lily’s way, and she only curtsied back, shyly.

Nevertheless, she did not ponder on her bad behaviour nor in her interest in the woman that had just left, because the redhead went straight into business.

“Selene! We have much to talk about!”

The other only sighed, before rubbing her temple. “I’ll put the kettle”

—

“I don’t know what game he is playing, but I know he would not make an offer. Even if he is charming with me, and gentle when we speak, I know he is not interested in that way. I see in his eyes he’s bored most of the time.”

“You believe he's using you for other ladies not to bother him.” Selene stated, as a matter of fact, they have been repassing the reasons behind Lily’s madness of a plan. It did not make anything better, but at least she could have a bigger picture of the whole ordeal.

“That is exactly what I think! Thank you! But mamma would not believe me, and pappa would not listen! So, this is where you enter. Not a single lady had come near him over the years, so if we made him interested in you, I could be free!”

“I'm sorry to interrupt your excitement, but how can we possibly do that, Lily? I assure you I have no way of enchanting a man, and if anyone in this world had to choose between the two of us, we both know the answer.”

“I knew you would be pessimistic, but that is why I have a plan, dear Sel! And it is charming to his father!”

“His father?” Selene gave her friend a deadpan stare, surely Lily was mocking her. “Care to elaborate?”

“His father is Fleamont Potter”

“I know his father is Fleamont Potter, Lord Fleamont Potter.”

“No, you don’t, because you haven’t made the connection yet.”

“And that is?”

“Isn’t one of your most valuable possessions “The Guide of Chemical Philosophy” of F. M. Potter?”

“Yes-?” After a single second, Selene understood where her friend was going with all of this. “You must be jesting for sure. Lily, I cannot believe it! The father of modern chemistry is the father of your forever suitor?”

“Yes! And I will introduce you to him. He is the sweetest man, you will talk to him about your stuff, he would be enchanted by your knowledge and offer you a dance with his son. He always does that, but nobody actually agrees since- you know, and Potter never agrees either… I do believe Lord Potter doesn’t want me as his daughter in law, since he always offers every lady he finds agreeable a chance with his son. But in all honesty, I couldn't care less.”

“This is a ridiculous plan, then why would he accept?”

“It’s brilliant! And don’t fret, I am positively sure he will accept! It’s going to be amazing!”

“This is not going to work, Lily. First, even though I do know how to dance, sort of, thanks to you and your painful lessons whilst we were younger, I still don’t know how to behave in those situations. I might speak when it’s not my turn, or even insult someone with a single gesture. Two, I highly doubt that your maybe-to-be-father-in-law would find me charming enough to offer me his son. And three, I don’t have a dress to wear on such an evening, it is plain simple that I do not belong in those affairs.”

“But that is settled! You are going to wear one of my dresses! I have a garnet gown that totally washes me out, you will look astonishing in it!” Selene noticed how she purposefully avoided responding to the two fist issues.

“We hardly have the same figure”

“Ask your mother to fix it, she was a seamstress after all, It will be no trouble” That was indeed true, when Selene was still an infant Eileen used to work as a seamstress, until Tobias was able to afford the shop. 

“I have no more excuses, at least none you will consider and listen but I cannot fathom this as a good idea”

“Then it's all settled! This is so exciting! Finally you will accompany me to a ball. It's like one of my childhood dreams!" Seeing her friend so thrilled about the prospect only brought happiness to Selene’s heart. She had also fancied the idea of attending a ball, dancing with charming men and wearing pretty gowns. But those childish dreams that cared no more since she had to make sure they had enough money to put food over the table.

*

Her mother altered the red coloured gown as best as she could. And even Selene dared to say she looked good in it.

She never considered red as a colour for her, always preferring muttered tones for her not copious amounts of day gowns. Gray, brown and some washed out green tones, she knew they did nothing for her complexion, but that was the least important thing, they were the cheapest ones since most women preferred other colour tones for their wardrobes.

Her complexion was sickly, bony even. But with enough rouge on her cheeks and lips her resemblance was more of a normal woman. She looked vivid and healthier.

Compared to Lily she was nothing, of course. Lily with her lush body and rounded cheeks was the living example of beauty and health. Even so, Selene could see herself in the mirror and not retract in disgust for the first time.

Eileen did not ask the reasons behind her daughter attending a formal evening, not that she paid no mind to her daughter's whereabouts but she was so enthusiastic about it that she did not care about the reasons behind it.

Right now the older woman was stitching in some places on Selene’s back, to adjust the material and give her a more hourglass silhouette, the padding over her hips made wonders for that specific goal, she did look as a woman with wider hips. Although her bosom was mediocre, tightening the corset made it appear like she possessed some, although barely so.

“You look fetching, my dear.” Exclaimed the woman when she righted herself after finishing.

“I don’t feel like myself.”

She had made sure to warn every customer that she’d be absent for the first time ever that afternoon, surprisingly so, everyone she told took it lightly, making remarks on how she had the right to take a break. Still Selene remembered to put a sign at the door to inform everyone else.

Lily picked her up by 7 o’clock, riding in her family carriage. When entering she realised that they were not alone in it.

“Selene, dear! It is a fine evening is it not?” Mrs. Evans' enthusiastic demeanour took her aback, it surprised her so much she almost slipped on the vehicle’s steps. Somehow Selene never expected the presence of the woman in the soiré she was about to attend. But of course she was supposed to accompany her daughter, she was Lily’s chaperone, her matron; young misses from respectable families did not go around visiting other people’s houses on their own.

With the sole exception of Selene’s shop, apparently. Although, Lily always arrived in their family brohm, accompanied by both one maid and a footman. The maid always stayed in the vehicle and only once she had entered the premises, that occasion being a desperate need to use the privy.

“Good evening, Mrs. Evans” Selene’s even tone did not betray her surprise, yet Lily quickly reassured her worries once she finally entered the cart. The door closed and the driver rapidly started moving. Selene was not accustomed to use that type of transportation, she mainly used tram cars when having to go anywhere, they were too pulled by horses but its shape made her feel somehow more at ease. The Evan’s carriage was way too tall and its wheels way too slim, every movement and misschape in the road made them tilt in the most nauseous way, almost as a boat swaying on a troubling sea. She doubted she would be able to contain her lunch before their arrival.

“Mamma here knows everything about our deal.” Lily’s excited voice said, it took Selene out of her stupor and her worries about the unsettling movement of the cart.

“And are you okay with all of this, ma’am?”

“Yes! Of course! I have never been enthusiastic about this engagement actually. It was my husband who was adamant about marrying Lily to that boy. I cannot go against my husband's wishes, as you might expect, dear. And no matter how many times I’ve told him to break this odious engagement he just wouldn’t listen. He’s focused on marrying Lily off to a man of the nobility. If only I would have cared about such things.” Lily’s mother, Marigold was the third daughter of a duke; she had no title since that would pass to her sister’s husband and first son, it was required for her to marry to a noble to maintain their reputation, she did not care at all about it and married Lily’s father just a month after meeting him. Love at first sight she always claimed.

“I still don’t know how this is ever going to work.”

“It is most likely that it would not.” Mrs. Evans said easily, not worried at all about the possible outcome. It surprised her. “That Potter boy is a thickhead for sure, but it would not hurt to try. Present such a pretty young woman such as yourself to him and not being at all tempted to at least know you, it’ll settle all this business.”

“What is that?- Are you suggesting-?”

“Oh, I knew you were clever.” The older woman laughed but first covered her lips with the back of her hand, modesty over all. “Yes, Liliana here and I are almost tempted to bet on it.”

“It came just with an idea, it was ludicrous so to say the least, and I was almost terrified to say it out loud. But according to my understanding- and the gossiping papers, James Potter is no man to hold a mistress nor one to visit brothels or entertainment houses.” Lily leaned towards Selene, almost to whisper a secret and afraid the servants could listen. “And the same year we got engaged, just a month before, he received a very good friend of his on his bachelor lodgings. Apparently this friend, the former heir of the Black family, had fallen from grace and his parents desinherited him, nobody actually knows the reason behind it, since the Blacks are so secretive.”

“So all of his doings are just an act?”

“We are not quite sure, yet. But today, his reaction to what we are going to do, will be the last straw, or so to speak. He had never been interested in any girl but Liliana, and yet- his interest is quite… How could I put it-? pure. I’ve never met a man capable to hold such pure intentions for so long.” Her green eyes fell upon hers, pleading. “So it all falls on you. I know it must sound ridiculous to you, and what I am about to ask is nothing but unfair. But if it does work, we will have a reason, an argument, to go against my husband's wishes and convince him to do as we are asking him to. If not-”

“If not, I’m going to Gretna Green” Lily stopped Selene before she could react, knowing her friend would not agree with her resolution. “You will not stop me, Sel. I know you will try. But if this is what I must then it shall be so. I will not marry a man I don’t love only because of my father's ambition.”

Lily was right, Selene will try to persuade her to not do it. Because she knew first hand how much a marriage as such could bring.

Her mother was nobility of some sort, she didn’t quite know her relations, since Eileen never liked to speak about the subject, that’s the reason they were friends with the Evans, because Eileen and Marigold were childhood friends, they even were debutantes together. 

Then time came and both married for love, one with the full approval of her parents, since the man she was marrying was loaded. The other only encountered disdain on their part, her family disinherited her because of her bad decisions. Tobias was a poor man, with barely enough money to provide for himself, with higher education than the rest of his peers yet with the same prospects as anyone of his class.

They ran off to Gretna Green, since apparently Eileen was betrothed to a lord she despised. When coming back her family despised her for dishonouring them, for her reputation, for the scandal, and because she came back pregnant.

Her prince charming was anything but. After witnessing his life had not gotten better but worse, he simply lost it; his love for Eileen long forgotten.

Ressentiment only grew with every glance, disdain was all they knew.

Selene did not wish that life for her friend, to wake up everyday regretful for what she had, for what she made for herself.

“Let's hope it doesn’t come to that.” Selene inhaled, preparing herself for their command. “What do you need me to do?”

Mrs. Evans grabbed both of her hands with hers, giving her a reassuring smile. “I know all of this is too much, dearest. And I deeply thank you for your participation in this madness.” Lily extended her hands too, but instead she moved to sit next to her and embrace her in her arms. “We need you to try to seduce him.”

Somehow she did expect it, yet the surprise came nonetheless. Her eyes widened and her breathing stopped. Were they so desperate that they truly were asking her to throw her virtue away for her friend's future?

Selene was about to protest before Lily spoke.

“Not like that! Please, we would never ask you that!”

“Then what?”

“I know it's distasteful. But to offer yourself to him. But nothing more! We cannot do it and we do not trust nobody else to do it for us. Since he doesn’t go to brothels we cannot ask a harlot to do it, even if we pay her.”

“And I did ask him to.” Lily’s words astonished her, a young woman such as her must maintain her purity intact until her wedding night, even though it was well known that not all of them followed that rule. “It’s not like I wanted him to, but I had my suspicions about him. He did not even consider it. He simply laughed it off.”

“That’s why we believe he, you know-”

“That he enjoys the company of men.”

“Yes, but at the same time, it could be that he just doesn’t feel that with me. And it might be that with you either, yet a man who rejects not one but two young women that are basically throwing themselves at him, it doesn’t sit right with us. And- We do not wish to use his inclinations as our card, we don’t want to expose him to society, not even to my husband, since we don’t actually know how he will react to such news.”

“I understand.”

Both Mrs. Evans and Lily sighed, exhausted. “So the plan is actually quite simple. We will introduce you to his parents, as a cousin visiting our state in the city. Ideally they will have a soft spot for you. I know you don’t believe yourself charming, but both Potters, lord and lady, are quite the intellectuals, and we trust you might be able to capture them by talking about your work. But refrain from saying anything about owning an apothecary or anything, stick mostly to your studies.” The younger redhead stated, before her mother continued.

“If not- If that doesn’t work in the slightest, and you don’t get a dance with him; that being our ultimate goal. We can make him depart the salon and go to a more quiet place. Liliana and I will lead him there so you can ask him that… ”

“Of course that, even if he does accept you don’t have to do anything. If he does accept then it will be clear that he has no interest in me whatsoever, and we know it will make our case to my father a little bit stronger. Telling him that both saw him with a young lady we do not know. we will be observing around so nobody gets closer to you and we will interrupt when you give us the signal.”

“And what signal that could be?” 

“Knocking! Three knocks and we will interrupt.”

“Why don’t you both tell him that he has been seen with other women?”

“I will not allow it. If we must break this engagement then it must be for an actual reason. I might not like the boy, but he is a good match. I have my reasons to believe he might not be interested in women whatsoever, but my biggest problem will be if he is just not interested in Lily.”

Selene nodded, understanding. She knew that Mrs. Evans did not want her daughter’s future to be anything close to Eileen’s. The raven haired woman sighed.“This is madness.”

“We know, truly. If you don’t want to do it you can go back, don’t fret for me.” Selene looked at her friend’s eyes, filled with regret for making her do all of this and yet… Filled with hope.

What could she lose anyway? Nobody will know, nobody knew her in that place. And the next day she’ll go back to her old life.

“I will do it.”

As she pronounced those words the carriage door opened, the light of thousands of candles illuminated the insides.

Chapter Text

Lord Fleamont Potter gave the appearance of a kind man, the heavy wrinkles around his eyes were proof of his smiley demeanour, and his voice, although deep, was not condescendent nor terrifying, it only gave him the appearance of the gentle old man. He was way older than she expected him to be, she knew James Potter was in his early twenties yet this man in front of her was in his sixties. His first and only son came to him when he was old enough to be a grandfather to some. What was even more shocking was the age of his wife, she was only five years younger than him, one could assume a man of his age with a young son could only mean he weeded a child to bear his offspring, but this was not the case. Both Potters were old and in love, they awaited for the blessing of a child and it was given to them at the ripe age of forty-something.

He was kind and charming, when Selene introduced herself to him he did not seem scandalised by her presence or by the rudeness of her actions. A single woman must never introduce herself to a man, she must wait to be introduced first, an extremely important detail Lily and her mum had obviously neglected to inform her, and they also neglect to introduce her before the man asked for the young lady accompanying them.

“Selene is a big fan of yours, my lord.” Lily hasty said, trying to pique the man’s interest in her friend and to justify Selene’s actions-

Selene’s face reddened with shame, yet used the opportunity to speak. “I am, my lord. I have read all of your books- almost all of your books, I am afraid I haven’t been able to get your latest one yet. Since it is on ‘male only’ libraries.”

“Are you interested in science, miss?”

“She is! She is a genius, tell him, Sel!” Lord Potter was as annoyed as Selene was with Lily’s intervention but it did not deemed his interest. His kind demeanour became tense with Lily’s behaviour, it became apparent to Selene that the man did not approve of his soon to be daughter in law.

It was an act, she could plainly see it, Lily was not the type of bubbly person to interrupt others nor to jump around as if she were a kid, it was the performance she gave to the Potters to see if they would finally discard her as their son’s fiancé.

It did not work, just like it had not worked in the years prior.

“I would not call myself a genius, only curious.” the black haired woman said, with a calm voice she found herself quite proud of. She had controlled her nerves.

“Ah, but curiosity is where geniuses start. Tell me, what is your favourite subject? I am afraid I have never been in front of a woman interested in science, except of course for my dear wife.” Mrs Potter was not at present, her husband signalled her way across the ballroom, talking excitedly with other older ladies, as if on cue, Mrs Evans took Lily’s arm and hastily ran away mentioning only how they must salute the woman, leaving Selene behind next to the old man.

Selene understood that it meant she needed to make her move. “I am partial to chemistry, yet I am quite interested in biology. And more than anything how both merge within the human body.”

They succumbed in different talks of science of all kind, some things Selene never heard about and was blunt enough to tell the older man about her ignorance, who gladly took it as a way to transform the casual chit chat into a dissertation of the importance of the research that was being made of possible cure for cholera and its monumental progress in the world of medicine. Selene did approve most of his points and added information she knew would help the path of the discussion. The man felt exhilarated for being accompanied not only in mind but in knowledge. 

“And how does a young woman such as yourself become that interested in topics such as this? I've been told most young women your age are more keen on topics I find quite dull.” His smile was full, his cheeks coloured in a soft pink after just a cup of champagne. 

She knew he had no intention to belittle young women in general, since women of Lily’s social status were indeed encouraged to learn of topics mostly for the maintenance of one's home and mostly for entertainment of others than to their own enrichment of the mind. Not that learning piano forte or languages was in any means something ridiculous, but it was learnt with the pressure of entertaining others with the woman’s good graces, her ability of perform for others and not so much for her own satisfaction; it did not matter how talented a daughter would have come in the arts of music or even creating breathtaking paintings. Those talents were reserved to stay indoors and refused to be contemplated in their fullest glory, completely different if those women brothers acquired just half of their ability and talent. 

Men made a career of it, for women it was to amuse others. 

It was no crime to think a woman was more simple than a man, it was quite the supposed reality in this time and age after all. 

But it just did not sit right with her. Selene knew that for Lily neither, nor for her mother nor Selene’s own mother.

And she knew they were not alone in that line of thinking.

“My father, Lord Potter. He was the one to introduce me to the world of science and to motivate me into further study.” Because if she did not study or did the potions, samples, and unguents there was no way they could have bread on their table. But Lord Potter did not need to know the full extent of her reality. 

“How fascinating! I have been saying for ages that parents must-” His rambling was interrupted as a man came into their little bubble and exploded it. 

She knew him, not in person, but Selene knew perfectly well who he was. The Duke of Kent, his grace Tom Riddle. Tall, handsome and somewhat imponent. He had a graceful way of walking that few men could brag about having. His hair was shorter than what fashion dictated in the moment, but he was also older, he was most likely the age of Selene’s mother, probably 20 years Selene senior, probably even more considering he could look younger given a good life he must surely have lived.  His eyes were unremarkably in colour, a plain brown, but somehow its shape gave them that look of a hungry beast. 

He was a powerful man who owned a large part of the commerce not only in Kent but also in London, a businessman that was never seen before, a nobility man who actually wanted and thrived in work.

Most of Selene’s clients are his employees, he did not care much about safety in the workplace, but his were not the worst places to work. It was something almost mythical to have an employer who actually cared about its subjects, so she tried not to blame him.

Most physical labour was prone to incidents after all.

“May I interrupt you, Potter?  I am eager to continue our discussion of the other day, yet you seem quite taken with this young lady to pay me any attention.” His words were not overly polite, his demeanour was above all, bored. But his eyes searched for hers, even if he directly referred to lord Potter his brown eyes were fixed on hers. 

Lord Fleamont Potter’s demeanour changed, uncomfortable. He started to rearrange his clothes in a nervous manner. “I’m terribly sorry, Riddle. I don’t think I remember our latest discussion for me to follow it.”

“I can remind you of our conversation but I doubt a young lady should be witness to such conversations.”  It was her cue to leave, to just disappear and call it a day, but it would be Lord Potter’s words who cemented her feet in the ground avoiding her escape.

“Bah! Nonsense, Riddle. This young lady right here is Miss Selene Snape.” Selene, as on cue, bowed to the new addition to the conversation, saluting him with more courtesy that she did with Lord Potter, Riddle was a Duke and if she was not wrong he was of higher station and must be greeted as such. “and if the past twenty minutes I have been chatting with her are of any enlightenment, she’s one of the few brilliant minds in this room. Considering my darling wife here, of course.” An old lady came trotting to the man, she was jovial looking, a smile plastered on her visage, gorgeous amber eyes. She was old and a beauty, probably in her prime she was the angel who tempted every man and woman who dared to look in her direction. Selene herself had issues looking away from her beautiful face.

“May accompany you, your grace in your heated conversation? I’ve been seeing you from afar and I’ve noticed that my husband has barely looked in my direction, I assume by being too engrossed in an interesting conversation?” The woman’s voice was calm and composed, but just as her husband she tensed at the sight and presence of the duke. She looked at Selene after saluting the man in an informal way, they already saw each other before in the evening, her amber eyes fixated on her, she did not look at the state of her dress, nor the way her hair was styled, but directly at Selene’s eyes. Searching for something. 

The woman, if she remembered correctly, was Euphemia Potter, the daughter of a baron or maybe an earl who married up by snarling Fleamont Potter. A woman such as that could marry anyone quite easily, she had an innate kindness in her but asurrance as well. For Selene that could only mean that Lord Potter had something no one else had, probably a brain, he most certainly was smart enough to let his wife be herself and pursue her interests. 

Maybe Lily would not be in such bad hands if his son was anything like him.

“But of course, my sweetheart. May I introduce you to Miss Selene Snape.’ His hand pointed towards her in a swiftly manner, Selene did a rapid curtsy in her nervousness. Men might be more easily deceived but this woman here was obviously observant, she will instantly see her lack of manners and the obvious non resemblance between Lily and her. ‘She is the cousin of our soon to be daughter in law.” Even if he didn’t intend to, his voice tone changed just as he mentioned Lily, it was not anger nor resentment in his voice, but plain disappointment, Lord Potter cleared his throat, uncomfy.

“And pray tell, what was it that you were discussing?”

“That, dearest Euphemia may be my prerogative, since this husband of yours completely forgot the last discussion we had and I intended to continue forward. Even though I believe it not to be a topic to discuss amongst females.” Lady Euphemia opened her mouth in protest but was quickly silenced as Riddle held his open hand in front of her, as if shutting a small child. “Your husband already told me in different ways how you and Miss Snape here are adept to follow up, and I refuse to enter into that discussion once again.” The man drank from his champagne, obviously exhausted from talking at such length, and quite obviously annoyed by the continuous interruption. “What we were discussing, if that's the correct use of the word when both parties are almost shouting at each other their arguments, was about this new investigation I'm sponsoring. About the damages done by white phosphorus on the skin.”

“If I recall correctly, Riddle. Our disagreement was not about the investigation per se, if not the way the investigation is taking place.” 

“What do you mean, love?” Lady Potter’s voice was curious but assured, she shifted her weight to lay a little on top of her husband, her toes must be hurting in her shoes.

“Riddle here is financing experiments done on living beings, humans. Poor people who have no way of saying no to that type of procedures-

“And would you prefer my employees to suffer because no further investigation is being performed? Do you know the extent of the losses of not just lives but money when a single worker cannot perform as they should!?”

“Money is not important when it comes to human lives-!”

“I believe the topic of the discussion is being lost with your shouting.” Selene interrupted them both. “I do believe that an investigation should be taking place if this element puts at risk the lives of people, but should they be subjected to human beings? Isn’t that just dangerous to all those involved?”

“Of course you would feel that way, miss, since you’re a woman whose sensibilities barely afford you to stand twenty minutes in the sun without collapsing for the effort.” Selene heard Lady Euphemia gasp indignated, could it be that that happened to her? That she collapsed on the sun for exhaustion and Riddle was now making fun of her?

“You are right, my lord. I am a woman, furthermore I am sensible. But I am yet to realise that a philosophical question such as that would be so easy to answer for your sex. Is it not widely discussed in high scientific circles after all? The morality behind using human beings as subjects of scientific experiments is not, in my womanly appreciation, an uncomplicated subject. One may think it is alright as long as we have the consent of the patient, but what if such a person is not in their right mind? If perhaps they are too desperate to obtain money for their family, or even vices, to the point that they are willing to allow the partial or complete destruction of their body in order to acquire the payments they are to receive? I am aware we need these sacrifices to achieve knowledge. At the end of the day, it is exactly that which allows us to walk into the future. But we cannot blind ourselves to the question behind it. Is it right to use another person for your own enlightenment? Is the greater good worth a human life?” Selene breathed, her long speech barely allowed her to draw a breath. She looked around and they were speechless, Lord Potter’'s eyes opened so wide, she was tempted to laugh, lady Potter moved from her husband's side to hers, Selene did not if it was to turn her away or to reassure her. Riddle on the other hand, smirked. 

Was he laughing at her-?

“In all my years I have never heard a young lady speak with such assurance to herself.” Lord Potter spoke. She felt cold, afraid of the next words he was about to utter. Was she going to ask her to leave? Is he going to reprimand her for speaking with such liberties as a woman- and even worse to society standards, an unmarried woman? She needed to excuse herself, to apologise for her impertinence, she felt her face reddened and her heartbeat on her ears, much worse than when she arrived. 

“Sir I- “

Lord Potter grabbed her hands and squeezed with warmth “It is marvellous! Isn’t she not the most grandiose creature, Euphemia?” The woman smiled wide, now squeezing her shoulders in some kind of embrace. Selene looked towards Riddle who stood silent while the others feasted in her supposed magnificence, he only widened his smile, not so much, barely even noticeable, but nodded. Selene noticed how his demeanour changed from charming arrogance to interest. “Miss Snape, I am truly enchanted by the way you so freely express your thinking. And I completely agree with you. It is a hard question to ask and still debatable, to the point I’ve twice almost gotten myself in a duel for the passions it ignites.” Lord Potter laughed, Severine felt the air finally leaving her lungs. 

Her hand felt another grabbing her now, it was lady Potter this time, her smile felt real for the first time since the evening started, Selene was encouraged to speak. “I am glad, my lord, that we share the same lineament in that special subject, but I hope we disagree in the rest, is it not more enlightening the conversation when the two are discussing their sides?”

“You are correct again, miss Snape! How wonderful is a conversation when the others do not simply agree but challenge you!” He dropped Selene’s hands to hold his wife’s. They held each other's eyes, for a moment just in their own universe.

Just a little uncomfortable for the sudden act of affection between the couple, Selene decided to look at the other person at present, even if to the moment he was the most disagreeable. Horrified, she could not think of a single thing to tell him, but the moment was saved when he reached his hand.

“Do you dance tonight, Miss Snape?” He was grinning now, his eyes closed and one could see the creases forming on the edge of his eyes. Tom Riddle was much older than her, possibly the same age as her mother, yet way younger than Lord Potter. He distinguished himself from the older men, he was in all words enticing, she dared to say, even sensual. 

“I do, my lord. Although not quite well.” He quickly wrote his name on two of the oncoming dances, leaving one open in the middle of them. Property above all. 

“Then you must definitely have to dance with my son, Miss Snape!” Lady Potter exclaimed delightedly, interrupting Riddle’s moment alone with her, a worried glance in his eyes Selene was unable to understand. 

Lady Potter, who according to Lily always chastised Lord Potter for offering their son to dance around with young ladies. Lady Potter who, as the gossip papers wrote, was the most excited to form an alliance with the Evans.

How unusual.

“I would be delighted to.” Selene tried to look for Lily, to check if she was seeing her plan working thus far, but with such a crowded place she barely could see her companions. Lily’s curls were divisible by far, yet as far as she was, she couldn’t find her face amongst the crowd.

“James! James, dearest! Over here!” Mrs. Potter yelled to the crowd, not caring for the unsettled glances the attendance threw her way.

“Coming’ mother!” A young man showed his arm in the middle of the crowd and opened his way to their spot. He mustn't have been far away for him to attend his mother's command right away, but surely he had been at arms length to do as he pleases. What that was, Selene had no idea.

It was hard not to back away in the moment. Since the man standing in front of her was astonishing as a living angel. Lord Riddle was handsome and yet this man was just beautiful. His shoulders wide, unruly hair and rounded spectacles covering his eyes. James Potter carried a teasing smile, and even if  Selene would never admit it, it weakened her knees. He was quite crearl, his mother’s son.

As he arrived, he gave a courtesy to all present, focusing more on Lord Riddle’s presence. 

“This is my son, James.” Lady Potter put a hand on his son’s forearms. He was just an inch taller than Selene, and probably a head smaller than Lord Riddle, and it did nothing to reduce his original attractiveness. “And this, my son, is Miss Selene Snape.”

“An astonishing young lady, if I’m permitted to say so!” His father exclaimed, he beamed when the woman’s cheeks coloured red. 

James could not think a single astonishing thing about the woman standing in front of him. She was too tall, almost as tall as him, it did nothing to her figure, too thin- way too thin. Her face was alright, but not enough to be enthralled by it. Her nose was big yet it suited her features but that’s it.

Nevertheless, her eyes were enormous. The blackest he had seen. 

Beautiful eyes.

So black they seemed like the dark sky in a cloudless night.

But not much more than that.

James felt the slight squeeze on his arm, a signal of his mother, of course. She was urging him to do as he was told. It came as a surprise, his mother always let him be and now she was insisting him to do something he was sure she knew he didn’t want to do.

“May I have a dance, Miss Snape?” 

As she reached her dance card he saw the reason behind his mother's interference. 

Riddle was there. 

James involuntarily tsked, annoyed to intervene in something he did not want to be a part of. He annotated his name on the two dances just after the ones Riddle wrote himself in. 

When he focused once again on the woman in front of him, he was beyond doubt sure she noticed his disgust, just for the way she was frowning at him.

His parents may have noticed too because he felt a slight kick on the heel. Courtesy of his mother, of course. 

Riddle on the other hand was all smiles. When did the man learn how to actually plaster an honest smile in his senile face?

“Miss Snape, I think it’s our turn” he extended his arm waiting the young woman to take it and she immediately did, after giving James a final annoyed look. 

“Yes, your grace.”

As they disappeared into the crowd his mother started. “I cannot believe it, James! How dare you treat a young lady like that?”

“It was not my intention to-”

“Not your intention? Well that is not enough, because you have to apologise now!”

“I will, mother-”

His father interrupted him this time “And such a lovely young lady she is! Did you know she’s your intended cousin?”

“Miss Evans’s cousin– What?”

“Not only her family, they have been best friends since infancy! And you treated her with such disdain!”

James focused his breathing to calm himself, he was already on Miss Evans bad side, he knew by the way she didn’t even try to appear agreable every time he met her, but one thing was that and other was to insult her friend. Dear God, why did his parents set him up to this? “And why did you not inform me at once? Now Miss Evans will be furious at me because of my treatment towards Miss-?”

“Snape! Miss Snape, son. It’s not such a difficult task to learn a young lady’s name. And certainly not when that young lady is accomplished and clever!”

“I don’t believe my eyes perceive this young lady as you do, father. Even still, you know perfectly well my predisposition to every ball, I only dance with Miss Evans and yet you two had thrown me into the claws of a dumb debutante.” His tone of exasperation wasn’t well received by his parents, as they only shrugged their shoulders to his complaints.

“This is no dumb debutante.” was all his father said before fully concentrating on Miss Snape in the middle of the room.

She was a sight. She obviously did not dance much as she seemed uncomfortable and was noticeably apologising to Riddle. But in all her clumsiness she still stood proud, her movements were stiff and uncertain, yet as she twirled around, James could see the accomplishments his father was referring to, she was a fast learner, and graceful too.

Too hypnotised he didn’t even notice his mother’s eyes focused on him, not the way his fiancé was looking at him from the other side of the room.

“She is in fact, not a debutante, son of mine. She’s staying with the Evans family for a time given her father’s ill condition. We were not given further understanding on the subject, yet I believe she might have a reason to stay during the season.

When the music stopped and the couples were leaving the floor, Riddle stood next to Miss Snape in the centre, he did not talk to her directly and she didn’t utter a word, but they were looking at each other intently.

Miss Snape excused herself and retired from the saloon. The supper would start soon, her next dance would be after, with James.

James did not know what entitled him to, but he followed her, not trying to be alone with her by any means, but maybe catching her in a corner and making her explain herself. One moment she was enticing his parents with her talk and the next she was seducing Riddle? Tom blasted Riddle? She didn’t know what she was getting into and it was his duty to tell her so.

It was actually not his duty to protect a complete stranger, but he had the need to tell her his reasoning.