Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own Harry Potter in any way. The characters described are the property of JK Rowling. The relationships described are property of the shippers everywhere. Yay shippers!
Note: This is a collaborative effort between myself and Brittasia. The Sorting Hat's song was based on the original idea from her with a few modifications made by yours truly. This story spans from the Marauders Seventh year until the Trio's Seventh year unless I get carried away. It's been known to happen -shrug-
Forbidden
Introduction: Return to Hogwarts
A storm met the Hogwarts Express's weary passengers as they made their ways to the designated areas; the first years to the boats while all others went to the magical carriages. The brilliant flashes of light caught the eyes of the weary professors in charge of the safe arrival of the students as they ushered them quickly along. There was an unnerving chill in the air as they began boarding; unsettling to the minds of those aware of the changes taking place in their normally peaceful world. The drawn-out boarding did nothing to settle the sense of dread lurking deep within the pit of Severus Snape's stomach. He hugged his sopping wet, oversized robes close to his considerably frail form as he moved his way toward the Slytherin carriage. He was sure to glance at the faces of those he passed by, hoping he would successfully begin a school year without the bloody Marauders causing him trouble.
He released the breath he had been holding when he made it safely and uneventfully aboard the carriage. If he would not have looked more insane than the school already thought, he would have kissed the floor. Perhaps his final year would pass smoothly. He began settling himself when a flash of shimmering platinum seized his attention. Now, it wasn't often he paid any mind to those sitting with him, but this particular instant he did. That very shimmer caught his eye, drawing it further until the glorious cheekbones of none other than Narcissa Black greeted him along with the piercing, icy blue eyes of Lucius Malfoy. A peculiar smirk passed over Lucius' face as he caught Severus' attention; a smirk that meant he knew something.
"Severus," Lucius drawled as he pushed back his interestingly cropped hair. The angle caused Severus to tilt his head to the side. It looked remarkably like a wedge covering one eye; a wedge that reminded Severus of parmesan cheese. He resisted the urge to crack a smile as he nodded to the other.
"Lucius," he replied, his tone rather short. Unlike Lucius Malfoy, who so enjoyed discussing himself, Severus much preferred staying quiet and blending into walls and corners. He was the cobweb no one noticed until someone pointed a finger and screamed…and he much liked that idea. In fact, he preferred being invisible. Unfortunately, the Marauders always seemed to spot him. He shook his thoughts from his head as he looked back to Malfoy.
"Have you heard the glorious news?"
"You've married yourself?" Severus smirked. "What news, Lucius?"
Lucius looked around the carriage carefully, as though someone could have possibly squeezed in beside his ego. He shut the door before gesturing for Severus to lean in. Severus reluctantly did so, satisfying the beginning of a year full of incredulous demands. He had begun to wonder what Lucius would do with himself if he didn't have others to boss about. Probably cease living. "Slytherin house will reign supreme because of it. There is rumour of a dark lord raising an Army to rid the world of Mudbloods. They are calling forth the brightest dark wizards to join his side," the excitement in Lucius' eyes almost terrified Severus. A dark lord raising an army to rid the world of Mudbloods? He wasn't keen on the idea. "A world in which the Pure Bloods only exist. All blood traitors will suffer their…necessary fates as well, of course."
"Oh, Lucius, can we discuss this somewhere more…private? Later, perhaps, when no one can hear you," Narcissa pled, her eyes wide with something resembling fear.
"Nonsense, Narcissa, no one can hear us. Stop worrying yourself. Your brow furrows. You'll ruin your perfect face with wrinkles from it if you continue," Lucius scolded.
Narcissa's eyes met with Severus' before she looked to the floor of the carriage as they took off. Her tone was low, her voice holding a tinge of sadness. "Have you ever wondered what pulls the carriages?" she asked, glancing through the few strands of hair that blocked her eyes.
"They are magical carriages, Narcissa. They are pulled by magic," Lucius spoke with such great annoyance that even Severus was offended. Rather than announcing his displeasure with the tone, he simply looked out the window at the night sky; the sense of dread still sharply stinging his memory…reminding him that Lucius' words could hold a certain truth. He shuddered as Lucius continued arguing with Narcissa about various aspects of her form that she could not control. He wanted to stand up, give Malfoy a quick, mind-numbing slap in the face, and embrace the near-tears Narcissa in an earth-shattering hug, but that would be entirely out of character and so he sat there in silence, wishing the blasted carriages would gain a little more speed so he could escape. Oh, not to mention he had a healthy fear of what the clinically insane Malfoy could do to him if he dared touch his girlfriend. With that thought simmering in his mind, he slouched further in his seat, silently urging the carriage on.
It seemed to take ages for the carriages to make their destination. As the students clamoured out of them, Severus caught a familiar gleam of auburn hair and smiled. He said nothing, knowing the consequences, but he did continue to beam as he gathered his bags and his owl and quickly hurried towards his room; it was his luck and careful persuasion that got him his own. He had never been fond of having roommates. He enjoyed his personal space immensely and needed it to stay personal. He opened the door and tossed the bags on the bed, knowing the feast in the Great Hall and the Sorting would be beginning the same time it always did…which meant he had less than twenty minutes to unpack and hurry to his seat. His lack of possessions made the process a bit faster, as he only a few different articles of clothing and one set of robes. He set his school bag carefully on his dresser so he would not break the bottle of ink inside as he always did every year prior. He took a glance in the mirror and attempted to brush his inky black shoulder length hair into submission. When he thought it looked something like presentable, he hurried to the Great Hall and took his seat at Slytherin table, but not without peeking over at the Gryffindors. He caught the eyes of Lily Evans, those deep swirling pools of emerald, and felt his heart skip a beat as she nonchalantly waved to him. He nodded to her, urging his heart to calm itself before the entire school could hear its drumming. As Dumbledore made his way to the podium and began his yearly speech, Severus found his mind wandering. He had never before noticed the slight tear in the hem of Rowena Ravenclaw's gown, towards the back by the slight train. Nor had he noticed that there were slight glitches in the enchanted ceiling when the Headmaster found himself a bit too exited. There were various marks and etchings in the table top, causing him to wonder if anyone bothered checking the tables on a regular basis. As the Headmaster's speech came to a close, Severus found his attention returning with the applause of his peers. He joined in their praise before tugging at the sleeves of his robes nervously. He hated sortings. As the sorting hat began his song, he felt a strange burning sensation in his forehead. He followed the feeling and his eyes soon met Lily's. She blushed and turned her attention back to the hat, causing a slight flush to appear in Severus's very cheeks as he too turned back to the annoying hat.
Another year, another year
we try and welcome all with cheer where you land time soon tells for we can guide you oh so well so from there we come to four great houses
Now listen close, your time is near
To join the families you soon hear
First we have the Gryffindors, brave and bold
But only on rare occasions do exactly as told.
Next there are the Ravenclaws, brighter than the rest
Always holding themselves high above the rest.
Then there are the Hufflepuffs, we cannot forget you
Loyal and dutiful, a wonderful friend for you
Lastly we have the Slytherin house,
Coy and sly, the last ones to trust.
Here leaves me to choose your fate,
So let's not dolly and end the wait!
As the hat concluded his song, everyone applauded as the sorting process began. The first twenty or so were sorted immediately into Gryffindor, urging chantings and hollerings that were soon silenced by the professors. Gradually the numbers dwindled and each house gained an almost equal number of first-years. The feast began as new instructors were urged to introduce themselves to the uncaring crowd. Of course, the Ravenclaws paid close attention, the overachievers they were. After the feast was drawn to a close, the Headmaster resumed his place at the podium to announce the Head Boy and Head Girl. Severus quirked his brow, wondering why he did not announce them before everyone stuffed themselves and was quite ready for an early rest.
"I know you all are anxious to return to your rooms to prepare your minds for classes tomorrow, but first we must announce the great honours of Head Boy and Head Girl," the old man pushed his glasses up his nose with a curious twinkle in his eye. "From Gryffindor house, this years Head Boy will be…" the drawn out pause called for a few snickers and groans from the Slytherins. Of course Head Boy had to be a Gryffindor. "Remus Lupin!" The silence preceding the applause was deafening. Half of the students that were not first years had no clue who Remus Lupin was, much less that he was in Gryffindor. But those who knew him began the deafening applause that even Severus joined in with. He did not mind Remus. In fact, they had begun to become quite friendly towards the end of their Sixth year. "Our Head Girl this year comes also from Gryffindor house…Lily Evans!" Severus could not contain the applause. For some reason he has suspected Lily would be Head Girl, but he still could not deny that he had hoped to be Head Boy. After the necessary congratulations were issued, the First Years were instructed and lead to their rooms as everyone else hurried back to speak with old friends in their respected Common Rooms. Severus Snape, however, much preferred sitting at his desk to begin his note taking for his classes the following day.