Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K Rowling, except I was inspired by something that Nomad put in "The conspiracy of Silence". Here you go, the first installment, enjoy!


Ch 1

A tall, pale, ungainly boy with black, straight hair sat in a compartment reading a rather large book. He didn't look up as a chubby boy w/ thin straw colored hair walked in, struggling with his bags.

"Ummmm, excuse me." He said as he tried to adjust his bags so that he wouldn't drop them... never mind. It was too late. The bags and all of their contents were all over the floor. Now he looked up, black eyes searching for the cause of the disturbance. The other boy swallowed.

"Hello, my-my name is Peter Pettigrew and I was wondering...." His voice trailed off and the black haired boy simply raised his eyebrow as he waited for him to finish. He swallowed. "I-I was wondering if I could ride with you, in here.... please?" The pale boy had slowly stood and walked over to him.

"Will you stop stuttering if I let you?" He asked in a soft voice. The other boy nodded.

"Fine then." Peter smiled as he scrambled to pick everything up and shove it back in his bags. "What's your name, you know since we'll be sharing a compartment?" The tall boy sighed.

"If I tell you THEN will you shut up?" Peter nodded again, leaving the other boy to wonder if it was giving him some from of brain damage. Probably. "My name is Severus Snape." Suddenly two boys ran into the compartment and locked the door after slamming it shut. Severus was seriously wondering if he was EVER going to get to finish his book. No, probably not. The two new boys were panting against the door.

"Bloody hell, James, did you see that gits face?" The taller of the two asked. Suddenly they seemed to realize that they weren't alone. The one with the glasses... James was it?... smirked at Peter, who had his underwear in his hands.

"'Lo, my names James Potter, and this is Sirius Black." Sirius gave a doggy smile at Peter and Severus.

"I'm Peter Pettigrew and this is Severus Snape," Peter said as he shoved his underwear in a bag. James smiled and nodded. Sirius clapped Severus on the back.

"How you doing, Sevvy? You don't mind if I call you that do you?"

"Not if you don't want to die," Sev said softly. Sirius laughed.

"Hay, James, he's alright,"

Sev grit his teeth as Sirius put an arm around his shoulder. He knew that it was only a friendly gesture but it invaded his personal space. Hadn't these people ever wondered why you shake hands with people? Didn't they know that it was to show people that they had to keep the three-foot distance? Snape now made up his mind that he was going to associate with these people as little as possible. Cheerful people. He shook his head. The other three had started some conversation as they helped Peter put his bags away. Sev sat down and started to read again, glad that they were no longer talking to him. Then there was pounding on the door. Peter went to open it but James grabbed him Sirius stood next to the door and made his voice sound high-pitched and girly.

"Yes, who is it?" He asked.

"Who's in there?" an extremely annoyed sounding voice asked from the other side. Sirius snickered and somehow composed himself enough to say, still in the girl voice.

"Why just a few of us girls. We're going to do make up and hairdos, want to join the fun?" James was doubled over in silent laughter because Sirius was now doing hand motions, the same type that he use when he was doing impersonations of his sister.

"Black, is that you in there? Open up right now!" The voice yelled.

"Or what are you gonna do about it, Malfoy?" Sirius asked, a frown settling on his face.

"Open the door now, or I'll-"

"You'll what, tell your daddy? Oh, I'm shaking in my shoes. Shove off, Malfoy," James stood next to Sirius nodding, like the other kid, Malfoy, could see him.

"Go count the ceiling tiles, Malfoy," James called with a laugh.

~ Good God, ~ Sev thought but kept his book in front of his face, good cover on short notice. It was a good thing that he had because at that moment the door was blasted open. A blond boy stepped over its remains and looked around. He looked like the wizard version of Richie Rich and he could probably pull off the part if asked.

"What? Malfoy, you can't do that!" James said in dismay. Sev looked over his book slightly to watch the fun without ever really having to be seen. Malfoy and two large boys stood yelling at James and Sirius about throwing Dungbombs at them. This went on for about five more minutes before wands were drawn, though Sev wasn't sure how much they could do without having classes first. Then again though he couldn't talk; he was already fully trained in many different potions and inactions, or what other less secure people might call curses. He gave a wry, tightlipped smile. He'd always been drawn to the books in the very back of his uncle's library, the Dark Arts books. He wasn't sure why, perhaps it was because all children at one time or another are always beckoned by things that they shouldn't around. Not that anyone had ever told him not to read those books, he wasn't sure if his uncle didn't know or if he'd set it all up that way. It was no matter, the fact was he'd read them and understood them and was now a walking curse dictionary. He looked critically at the two new people who entered his compartment, a boy and a girl. The boy was thin, rather shy-looking and had brown hair, the girl had fiery red hair and Sev was betting a temper to go with it. She was obviously Muggle-born and the boy beside her... well, he was questionable. Perhaps a half and half? That would explain why he seemed so nervous standing in front of them all.

"What's going on in here?" The redhead asked.

"Oh nothing, just teaching these boys some manners," Sirius said with a smile.

"You'll be the one who's learning, Black," Malfoy growled.

"As I've said before, I'm shaking in my shoes," Sirius spat.

"Um, I hate to break this up but we're five minutes away from Hogwarts," the boy said.
"That's why we came in here."

Sev raised an eyebrow. The other boys looked at each other and then Malfoy started out.

"This isn't over yet, Potter. No, not by a long shot. You all are going to get such a surprise some day, just wait. No one makes a fool of Lucius Malfoy."

"Do you ever stop talking?" the girl asked. James smiled at her but Malfoy sneered.

"Associating with Mudbloods. How...tacky of you, James."

~ So now it's "James," ~ Sev thought. ~Now he's all buddy buddy. ~

"Get out, Malfoy, before I dye your perfect hair purple," James growled, wand ready. Malfoy just sneered and sauntered away. He smiled at the other two.

"Hi, my name is James Potter, that's Peter Pettigrew, and that goof is Sirius Black. He was the cause of that whole scene."

"But of course. Come on now, Jimmy, would you expect anything less of me?"

"Si, you know I hate being called Jimmy," He said as he threw a punch at him. Sirius ducked it and ran behind the girl. She laughed.

"I'm Lily Evans and this is Remus Lupin," They all shook hands and the guys got changed. Sev listened intently; one thing he'd learned in life was that you never know when some stupid piece of information will be just what you need someday. Sev got off the train and instantly frowned. Malfoy and his two cronies were waiting for Potter and his new batch of friends.

~ None of my concern, ~ Sev thought and got out of the way to watch the confrontation. Sure enough James got off and he was face to face with Malfoy.

"Get out of my way," James growled. Malfoy sneered.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" a.... pardon the clichéd expression... larger then life man was calling. Sev started toward him.

"Hay, James. We better follow Sevvy," Sev heard Sirius say softly.

~I'm never going to be rid of that name am I? ~ Sev asked himself. The large man led them to boats and then to the castle. They stood in a plain room nervously awaiting the sorting ceremony. Sev had no idea what they were going to have to do, but he was starting to feel a bit nervous about the whole thing. Finally a tall, man with shoulder length brown hair came in.

"My name is Professor Astaroth. I am the head of the house of Slytherin and the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. If you will follow me you will be led into the Great Hall where you will be sorted." He looked at them critically and slowly sneered. "I hope that you will be lucky enough to make it into Slytherin." With that he turned, leaving the students to scurry after him. They followed him into the Great Hall. Sev couldn't help but look up at the ceiling in wonder as he walked. It was enchanted to look like the sky outside. It was better then looking at the other students who seemed to be making bets on who would be where. Professor Astaroth took out a very beaten, old hat and placed it on a stool. Sev blinked as it started to sing:

Oh so very long ago,
When Hogwarts was just a hunch
There came the founding bunch.
They built the school,
There ideas they did pool.
But different were they,
Not long did it stay
The peace that first had been

Rowena was smart,
Godric was brave,
Helga was loyal,
Power Sly craved.

They each had their favorites
Students to train.
Each year they searched
For these types again;

Rowena loved the intellects,
Helga, a friend,
Godric, adventure,
And Sly wills to bend.
They, this problem had to mend.

So Godric took me from his trunk,
And inside me they each put a hunk
Of themselves.
I'll tell you were to go,
And I needn't search high and low.

If gentle and loyal,
You must be a Hufflepuff of toil.
If quick and smart,
Then you'll be close to Ravenclaws heart.
If brash and brave,
Godric's house you must crave.
If cunning and sly,
Then in Sly's house you will fly.

Now is time to take the plunge,
Into me your head should lunge.
I'll tell you were you ought to be,
So don't worry and trust me!

The students all clapped, and some whistled. Professor Astaroth smiled, piece of parchment in hand. "When I call your name, please step forward and put on the hat."

Sev stood and waited. Black was in Gryffindor.

~ Alight, I don't want be in Gryffindor, ~ Sev thought. He, actually was hoping to get into a certain house...

"Snape, Severus." Sev shook himself out of his dreaming and walked up to the hat. As he put it on he saw that Potter and his friends were in Gryffindor and Malfoy was in Slytherin.


~Well, well, ~ He heard a voice whisper in his ear. ~ You're an interesting one. Very ambitious, cunning but that could also send you into Ravenclaw. Not afraid to work to get what you want. Well, considering your heritage you best be a SLYTHERIN! ~ Sev felt a little dizzy as he took off the hat and walked toward his table. He sat down in the chair that Malfoy had pulled out for him.

"So why aren't you with your little friends?" He asked.

"They're not my friends, I choose to avoid social interaction at all costs," Sev said simply.