Chapter 1
"Greasy haired git."
"Filthy half-blood!"
"Nancy boy."
"Scum."
Severus ignored these epithets as he walked to his Potions class that he took with the fifth year Slytherins, even though he was only a third year. He enjoyed Potions, it was a sublime and subtle discipline; it required restraint and prudence. It wasn't full of the foolish wand-waving of Charms or the downright idiocy of Divination. Today the class would begin their work on Amortentia, the world's strongest love potion. Maybe, I could slip Lily some of it, he thought. Crack! Severus' feet flew from beneath him as he found himself on the floor, with laughing students looking down at him as they walked past.
"Gotcha, scum!" called the voice of Sirius Black.
Severus wanted to hex him to a jelly, but he had already been given a detention for using magic in the hallways. James Potter, who had hexed Severus the previous day was the Golden Quidditch Boy, so naturally, no detention for him. Severus was just glad Lily wasn't around to see him sprawled on the floor. He began to gather his books, which had flown everywhere.
"I believe this is yours."
Surprised, Severus looked up. A tall, blonde boy was holding his Potions book. The boy was in his Potions class, a fifth year, as Severus was the only third year in the class. He knew the boy came from one of the wealthy families and that he was a prefect, but Severus, who didn't keep up the who's who of Hogwarts, didn't know anything else about him.
"Yes, thank you," Severus said, getting to his feet. Severus made a show of arranging his books as he began to walk to class. He didn't want to make eye contact with the other boy, who would look down on him, like everyone else. He had quite enough teasing and taunting for today.
"You're forgetting something."
Severus, who was looking at the books in his arms, so he wouldn't have to look elsewhere, turned to find the boy walking next to him. "Oh, thanks," Severus said, as he took his quill from the blonde. "Name's Lucius Malfoy," Lucius said, as he stuck out his hand. Startled, Severus shifted his books to one arm and shook the boy's hand, "I'm, I mean, my name is Severus Snape," Severus said, as he noticed that blonde's grip was that of one who was accustomed to power and authority. Severus knew his own grasp was not as strong and he didn't like it. As an introspective person, Severus was aware that his contemptible handshake sent an undesirable message. He was unable to do anything about it; the damage had been done. He knew the only way to salvage the situation, was through the strength of his intellect.
"Looks like we're going in the same direction, Severus," Lucius said, resuming his clipped pace. "It seems it is going to be an interesting class, today. Amortentia, the love potion…the things I could do with that."
Severus knew the blonde boy wanted a response to his rambling. Severus was not one for small talk, but he knew he needed to make an effort.
"Erm, yes. Amortentia, is considered the world's strongest love potion, but it doesn't create love, it only causes desire," Severus said, as they neared the Potions room.
"And what, do tell, is wrong with that? Who needs love? Desire, my gloomy friend, is all that is necessary," Lucius said, jumping in front of the other boy. Severus was caught up short and he jerked to a stop. The fifth year was energetic if nothing else. "The happiness would take my breath away; no thought could match that ecstasy."
"What," Severus said; he was out of his depth. He was going to be late for class if he didn't away from the incoherent, strange blonde. How had he gotten to become a prefect? Severus brushed off his diplomacy skills. "Listen, I need to get to Potions. So, um, since we are in the same class, perhaps we should keep walking."
"Class, class, class, such a stickler for the rules," Lucius said, as he resumed walking next to Severus. "Where is the romantic in you? I just gave you lines from Shakespeare and what do you say? 'I've got to go to class.' I'm sure the girls just love you."
Severus felt is his face warm; he didn't like the direction of this conversation. He knew his face was slightly tinted, but he was sufficiently self-regulated to control any signs of embarrassment. Severus wanted to get to his class and get away from…what did he say his name was? Malfoy? The third year made no response.
"What? Gone silent on me? Have I struck a nerve?" Lucius said. He was thrilled to see the stress that he was causing the younger boy. Lucius relished making others uncomfortable, especially in the area of relationships, which many individuals were not good at managing.
As they came to the door to the Potions room, which opened at their approach, Severus leaped into the room and rushed to his seat like a drowning man grabbing a life preserver. He was finally away from the talkative boy. Gratefully, Severus took his seat at his lab table, at which he usually worked alone. Then, to his horror, the blonde sat next to him. Severus didn't like to work with anyone, especially today, considering the potion and topic of the day's class.
"What," Lucius said, smirking at the look of disbelief on the third year's face, "I can't sit where I please? I don't see your name on this seat."
Severus, who was unnerved by this entire interaction, merely shrugged his shoulders as Professor Slughorn called the class to order.
"So, what's the deal with you," Lucius said, as he placed his own potions book on the table, and taking out a roll of parchment. Slughorn was giving the introduction to the Amortentia potion, but Severus didn't need to listen as the professor was giving the general principles for making the potion, which Severus already knew. He was, also, aware of the eyes that were on the back of his head from the other students. Malfoy's continued aggravation of Severus' infinitesimal tolerance levels for glib behavior did not help his mood. The deal with me? What is the deal with you and why are you bothering me? I don't even know you, Severus thought. Severus knew he was going to need to rely on his rather low reserves of patience to get through today's class.
"I, um, I don't get you," Severus said, as he mentally thought that his response what the understatement of the semester.
"What I mean, you underfed thing is that you are quite good at Potions and the Dark Arts, you're in our fifth-year class for that course, too. So, why are you so…moody," Lucius said as he dipped his quill into an ink bottle, to begin taking notes from Slughorn.
"Moody? I'm not, I, what are you talking about," Severus asked, as he turned to face the blonde, giving the other boy his full attention for the first time. Who's he calling underfed, he looks as if could do with a couple of more meals himself, Severus thought.
"Look, you are evidently talented in at least these two classes, so why don't I see you with more people in your year? You spend most of your time either in the library, with your nose in some overgrown, dusty tome or the astronomy tower in the evenings. What are you doing those nights? Stargazing? Hoping for a better life," Lucius said, as he began to take notes on his roll of parchment.
Severus was dumbfounded. How did this boy know all of this? Was the blonde tracking him and if he was, how long had it be going on? More importantly, why did he care what Severus did or how he spent his time? If Severus wanted to risk getting a case of asthma from the dust of a few books or spent quiet evenings in the astronomy tower thinking about Lily, what business was it of this thin boy, this…Malfoy individual? Severus planned to do a bit of research on the boy's family this evening; he would maybe start with newspaper articles in the Daily Prophet…
"Hey," Lucius said, elbowing Severus. Severus snapped back to the class and the drone of Slughorn's voice. "Focus, your eyes got glassy."
"Oh, uh, sorry. Just thinking, I just like to do research and plan for the future. That's all, I talk to a few people, it just that I need quiet to think properly," Severus said. And why am I explaining myself to you, Severus thought.
"Um, well, I can see you don't get to Hogsmeade often to do much shopping in the way of robes," Lucius said. "Third years are allowed to go to the village, you know. There have been two trips already and you haven't been on either of them. Your mother is a witch, so I know you have permission to go to Hogsmeade. So, why haven't you been?"
Who are you to comment on the state of my robes, Severus thought.
Seeing the brewing irritation in the younger boy's eyes, Lucius relented. "Look, what I mean, before you get your undies in a bunch, is that you should take more time to shop for personal things, not just school supplies. That's all I'm saying." Lucius noticed the annoyance fade out of the dark-haired boy's brown eyes and knew this was the right follow up comment. Getting somewhere, Lucius thought.
Severus was adept at dodging questions about his lack of gold. "I just haven't given it much thought, with the amount of homework and studying that I have to do," Severus said.
Lucius knew about the other boy's background. He was poor and a half-blood, yet he had talent. His family hadn't gotten as powerful and wealthy as they were without recognizing aptitude and potential…and harnessing it. Lucius had spoken to his father, Abraxas, about the Snape boy and his father had given his son a begrudging green light to learn more about him. Abraxas wasn't thrilled about Snape, the third year was poor and a half-blood, but the boy's mother had been a Prince and so, part of his bloodline had come from a respected and ancient pure-blood family.
"Well, next week there is a trip to Hogsmeade and we're going," Lucius said, as Slughorn instructed them to begin making the Amortentia potion.
"I, um, thanks, but, no. That's okay, really, I have, um –"
"You are going to Hogsmeade next week. If I need to, I'll drag you by the scruff of your neck to the village! I know where you sleep, need I remind you, we're in the same House," Lucius said, as he stood to get the ingredients for Amortentia. "So, potions prince, what things do we need to make this lovely brew?" Severus was speechless; he merely pointed to the list of ingredients in the potions book, never taking his eyes off the twitchy fifth year. Severus knew he had a problem.