Marauder Era

Author's Note: This is the first chapter of my first hp fanfic ever. It's based in the time that James and Sirius and Remus were at Hogwarts during their fifth year with a few twists…

Lily looked around the dungeon feeling confused. She wished that Shashia and Jordyn had gotten double potions with her. As her green eyes scanned the room she saw a boy she recognized from the common room that morning. He was dashingly handsome, with long dark hair that curled slightly where it ended at his shoulders and deep intense dark eyes. He lounged in a chair at an empty table wearing a bored, slightly arrogant look. Lily didn't see any of the other three boys she'd seen him with that morning. She clutched her school bag a little tighter and strode towards him.

"Is this seat taken?" she asked when she stood opposite him at the table.

"Nope." He said hardly looking at her. "Just me here." He sounded almost bitter, as if he felt he'd been deserted.

"I'm Lily, Lily Evans." Lily offered as she sat down and began to arrange her things.

"Sirius Black." He said still staring boredly at the dungeon ceiling.

Lily might have said more but just then the looming figure of Professor Slughorn, the Potions Master, lumbered into the room. "Good afternoon students," he boomed. "And welcome to Potions."

As Professor Slughorn detailed their assignment, Lily paid him avid attention, but she noticedd that Sirius barely even looked at the front of the room. 'Arrogant twit.' Lily thought. She turned her attention back to Slughorn and ignored Sirius for the rest of the lecture. When Professor Slughorn finally said get to work, she turned back to the table and pulled out her cauldron and book. Across the table Sirius mirrored her actions with that same bored air.

Sirius watched Lily secretly as she carefully measured her potion ingredients. He couldn't remember seeing her around before but then he didn't know everyone in Gryffindor. James probably did, but he didn't. She seemed to have a natural flare for potions. Her hands deftly swept through the process. But Sirius noted with some interest that she added ingredients or changed measurements here and there. He was so intent on watching her that he hardly read the instructions for the potion they were supposed to be making. Instead he mearly collected the right ingredients and through them in his cauldron in a haphazard sort of way.

After what seemed like no time at all Slughorn's voice boomed once again through the dungeon room. "Time is up!! Please bring me a vile, one vile only, of the potion you've created for grading. Then you may pack up."

Lily energetically filled her vile and carried it to Slughorn's desk. Her potion, Sirius noted, was the exact shade of crimson that the book had said you should aim for. Grumbling to himself he looked down at his thick, sludge-colored concoction. Hoping it would help he chucked in a handfull of what he hoped was moonlily.

Three feet from the table Lily tried to call out to Sirius not to throw in that ingredient but it hit the liquid before she could get the words out. With a collasal bang, a billowing cloud of acrid smoke blossomed out of the Sirius' cauldron. Choking Lily continued forward figuring that was the last of it. Indeed the cauldron was quiet for a moment. The smoke began to dissipate. Suddenly a loud hiss could be heard issuing from the cauldron. The hiss was followed by tiny balls of fire which came arching out onto the table top. Lily grabbed her things and ducked under the desk as the firefall grew stronger. Sirius ducked down to after a fireball had narrowly missed his head. To Lily's annoyance she saw that he was laughing hysterically. She busied herself with using her wand to remove the scorch marks on her bag and potions book.

Slughorn seemed oblivious to all that was going on at Sirius and Lily's table. He counted the number of vials and when he found himself one short went through the names. "Mr. Black!" He called looking up. "Where is your vi—" The rest was lost in a second bang, in which Sirius' cauldron exploded. "GOOD HEAVENS!!!" Slughorn exclaimed. "What is going on???" He inched cautiously over to where the spilled potion was still emmitting weak puffs of flame. With wave of his wand the potion disappeared. A second wave and a stream of water extinguished all the sizzling spots on the wooden table.

As if on cue, Sirius leapt out from under the table, still laughing. "Did you see……I mean thanks, Professor." He began to gather up his things, but everyone could see the barely surpressed grin on his face.

"Do you think this is funny, Mr. Black?"

"No, sir." But Sirius looked for all the world as though it were funny.

"Potions can be dangerous if brewed incorrectly. This class is not playtime. But then you and your friends, especially Mr. Potter always did seem fond of causing mayhem." Slughorn said sternly. "Ten points from Gryffindor."

Sirius just stared as Slughorn turned and walked away. He grabbed up his bag and rushed from the room as soon as the change bell had rung.

Lily snorted. She really hated students that disrespected their teachers and didn't take their lessons seriously. But then again, Professor Slughorn had said that he was the troublemaking type. All in all, she decided, he was person to avoid hanging around with too often. Gathering her things she headed from the dungeons. As she climbed out of the stairwell she saw Sirius again, striding towards lunch in the Great Hall. As he crossed the entrance way not far from her he bumped into a skinny boy with greasy black hair.

"Would you watch where you're going, Snivellus." Sirius snapped. The boy bristled.

"His name is Severus." Lily called out. She wasn't really sure where the knowledge had come from, since she was quite sure she'd never seen this boy before.

Sirius turned to her and stared for a moment. Then comprehension dawned on his face. "Lily Evans…" he said as though contemplating the name. "I know you." He laughed. "You're Snivelly's girlfriend…"

"Severus." Lily corrected again. "And I'm not his girlfriend."

"Sure you're not." Sirius winked at her. "Don't worry Evans, you're secret's safe with me."

Lily sighed in exasperation, but Sirius was already walking into the Great Hall.

"Thanks." The boy muttered. He was tall and lanky for his age and looked as though someone had badly neglected him. "I should have stood up to him…The filthy blood traitor! He and his no good friends are nothing but trouble. I should have….."

"You're welcome." Lily said. The way he was ranting and threatening disturbed her and she really wanted to catch up with Shashia and Jordyn. She started off towards the Great Hall.

"Hey, Lily, wait."

Hoping that it was Shashia or Jordyn she turned around quickly. She was surprised to see Severus trotting up behind her. "How did you know my name?" She asked confused.

The boy laughed. "Don't be silly. I've known your name since you told it to me when we were 10. "

Lily was now thoroughly confused. "I'm sorry but I don't know you."

"Lily, don't joke. It's me. Severus Snape. We're best friends. We have been since I started watching you and your sister Petunia."

Vague, shadowy memories filtered to Lily of a much young Severus telling her all about the magical school called Hogwarts where they would go to learn about magic. She remembered her older sister Petunia telling her to stay away from 'that Snape boy and his lies' and calling them both 'freaks'. But the memories felt as if they belonged to someone else. "I'm sorry, Severus. You seem like a nice guy, but I don't remember you. I have to go find my friends." With that she turned and walked off. Ignoring his cries of 'Lily!! What are you talking about!? Have you been Confunded!!?? Come back!!