Chapter One
The summer before the soul died…
One never knows when, where or in what manner they will see the last of the earth.
On the contrary when you bind yourself, your body and your should to a being that those around you revere as God, it will give you a good indication of the time limit you have.
Not very long.
This is what Severus Snape considered as he strode through the darkness up the drive of Malfoy Manor. At a mere sixteen, Severus had set himself a task that was almost the complete epitome of the phrase, foolhardy. Yet he had composure in the face of death that would have put the bravest of men to bitter shame.
He passed a pair of rogue peacocks, never able to fathom as to why the Malfoys' insisted on them. Another twenty meters further he had reached the grand entrance to the Manor.
The current Lord of the monstrous house was Abraxas Malfoy, a cold, pointed old man, with long white blond hair and sharp blue eyes. He was the truest description of a Malfoy.
How Severus detested the man.
His ideals of blood purity were matched only by that of the Dark Lord himself, this caused many an uproar when it came his and Lucius' friendship. Severus was only a lowly half blood after all.
The only thing that granted Severus any tolerance was the fact that his mother, Eileen Prince, who had married the muggle Tobias Snape, murdered her abusive husband "in the name of purity and repentance".
This ofcourse was a lie, it had been Severus who killed Tobias, and he did it in revenge for the constant rape that his father had inflicted on him his eldest son.
So with the support of her family, the De Héritier Clan, behind her once again, Eileen was sentenced to life in Azkaban for murder in the first degree.
That was one week ago.
"Bastard!" Spat Severus under his breath as the memory of his father entered his mind's eye. He rapped on the dark, stained oak doors of the manor and waited for a response.
Dobby, the Malfoy's house elf opened the door tentatively looking to see who it was.
"Who is it Dobby?" Called the familiar voice of Lucius Malfoy from somewhere in the house.
"M..mm..m.Mister Snape….sire." The obviously shaken elf managed to say bowing low, nose scraping the luxurious carpet.
Suddenly the doors swung open, flooding to front landing with a bright warm light.
"SEVERUS!" Lucius cried, swooping down a grand staircase at the end of the massive foyer.
Severus smiled softly as he watched his friend hurry down the stairs, his black robes billowing behind his perfect frame.
He came to a halt before Severus; he was the spitting image of any well-bred Malfoy.
"Ready my old friend?" He said to the younger boy in the doorway. Only a hint of concern in his eyes.
"Yes." Severus replied, his well-rehearsed confidence never failing him.
Luc placed his hand on Sev's shoulder with a nod. "Well let's not keep them waiting."
The Great Hall of Hogwarts was brightly lit and full of the many hundreds of students that graced its corridors in the school year.
The infamous Marauders sat at the Griffindor table smiling at eachother deviously it was time to make the year interesting…
Sirius Black, was the tallest and the most handsome of the group, with dark hair and playfully roguish eyes. Remus Lupin, undoubtedly the smartest and quietest. He had amazing amber eyes and sandy hair. Peter Pettigrew, the smallest and unappealing of the troupe, he was already balding and had a mousy air to him.
James on the other hand, was tall, lean and athletic. He had dark blue eyes and a mop of unruly black hair that he constantly brushed his hand through.
They were the most feared and attractive people in Hogwarts, even the teachers were intimidated by their over bearing existence.
So when five people had burst through the doors of the great hall, just as they had been about to perform one of their many beginning of year celebration pranks (it was already week three of the term), they were less than impressed.
The five strode down the hall causing all students to drop their golden cutlery and abandon their dinners to stare at them as they made their way to the head table, where the professors were seated.
Leading them was Lucius Malfoy, an ex-student, having graduated three years before.
Following Lucius was Ivan Mulciber, his long dark blond hair swept across his face with streaks of green and silver. He had made the adjustment in the summer.
Next followed two others, one a girl named Claire Alvarez, she walked with a stunning
Beauty and grace that would surpass a royal heiress. Beside her, was Malakai Fernell, he was built, yet short. He had brown spiky hair with the most brilliant purple eyes ever seen.
But it was the young man that bought up the rear that caused the silence.
Severus Snape, the creepy, scrawny, slimy and greasy half blood of Slytherin was striding down the hall, head held high, hair clean and cut into a jagged style that framed his face perfectly. He had built up over the summer and was wearing brand new school robes, not his usual second hand ones.
He now held an aura of power and intensity that forebode any disturbance to his being.
The transformation was utterly amazing.
When they reached the head table, Albus Dumbledore, the school's Headmaster and Horace Slughorn the head of Slytherin and resident Potions Master greeted them.
"Well, Well," Said the slightly confused head master with a wide smile. " What do we have here?"
"Headmaster." Lucius said bowing slightly
"Lucius my dear boy!" The old man cried "how positively splendid! What brings you back to our humble school?"
"I'm merely delivering you some students, no doubt you have noticed their absence." Lucius replied silkily.
"Yes we had noticed," Said Slughorn, looking at the four behind the young Malfoy.
"Well they each have their re-enrolments, I hope you will be able to cope with them this year."
With that said, Lucius bowed, turned to nod his good bye to the four Slytherins and strode from the Great Hall, leaving in his wake, the stunned silence that had been their entrance.
Dumbledore and Slughorn exchanged looks of unease as the students took their places at the Slytherin table, the noisy chatter continued.
It was going to be an interesting year indeed…