Chapter 1

Long, greasy dark hair hung like curtains around his face as Severus Snape leaned his gaunt frame over his potions textbook. To the outside observer, he appeared to be obsessive and engulfed in his reading choice. His hooked nose was bent low to the ancient pages and his black eyes traveled back and forth, reading the faded ink. Eyes still glued to the page, he thrust his hand from his black wool robe out on to the counter of where he sat in the dark, gloomy potions classroom. His lithe, long fingers felt for the feather of his quill which he took hold of a pulled upright to the pages of his text. He muttered incoherently to himself as the edge of the quill scratched the page, adding to the already scribbled and lined paper. He did not notice or note anything else in the vicinity around him but his task in front of him. The classroom in the dungeons was musty and cold, so cold that students could see their breath even in the September air. Other students' heads were raised and observant as they listened in-depth to the stout and pudgy Professor Slughorn prattle on about felix felicis. Severus continued to scribble in the margins of his Advanced Potion-Making tome as footsteps resonated slowly from the hallway outside the large heavy doors. The footsteps echoed closer and closer until they halted inside the room. Professor Slughorn's voice ceased its chatter and was replaced by curious silence. The shift of heads made a simultaneous sound of necks turning and eyes craning to view the sight at Professor Slughorn's side.

"Ah!" Slughorn chuckled, holding a piece of parchment in his rounded hands while twisting his gingery long mustache. "Is it a Miss Brannigan, I see?"

"Yes." A fluid, American accented voice added in the hushed, dank dungeon.

It was then that the quill scratching stopped. The feather ceased its movement and the hooked nose rose from the shelter of the sheets below. The curtains of hair parted slightly as the dark eyes lifted up and peered from their black inky lashes. He stared blatantly at the sight in front of the room. She stood casually in her Hogwarts uniform-well, mostly Hogwarts uniform with a knee bent and body leaning against the potion master's desk. His lips twitched and then transformed into a frown as he studied her body language detecting the girl's disregard for decorum. Lazy American, his thoughts sneered as he gazed at her a minute longer. He pulled his pessimistic eyes down over her form accounting each detail. Dark chestnut, glossy locks bobbed bluntly just at her chin and bright, cheerful aquamarine eyes sparkled mischievously rimmed with dark eye makeup. She was slender with creamy tanned peaches and cream skin with long lanky legs that peeked out from her uniform skirt that was a couple inches shorter than regulation. He grimaced as he saw Gryffindor colors on the gray vest that she wore but also confusingly sighted a tie with small American flags poking out at the top of her white button down shirt.

"Please take a seat in the back!" Slughorn chimed with a hummingly cheery tone.

The girl looked around with those damn sparkling eyes and Severus froze. He felt the blood drain from his face as he twisted in his seat to look down at the empty seat beside him. He turned back and saw the spark of recognition on her face as she sighted the empty spot next to him. His heart thumped in his chest as the girl's long legs glided down the stoned floors. She passed by a handsome Sirius Black and James Potter who Sirius regarded with low catcall. The girl's lips propelled into a smirk but sauntered on ignoring the appreciation with which Slughorn muttered with a smile, "Now, Mr. Black…" before turning back to his potions lecture.

"Is this seat taken?" The girl quipped even though Slughorn had obviously indicated that she was to take the selected seat. He regarded this notion, not familiar with kindness from strangers. Although he gathered this notion, he was still hesitant as he nodded silently at the person in front of him. The seat next to him scraped quietly along the hard floors and a presence shadowed the space to his right.

"Wow, you're really into Potions." The girl uttered, her jaw slack, staring at the swirly ink across the text in front of Severus. Severus' ears flamed crimson under the silk of his hair as he slammed the book closed with thump. The girl's mouth closed before Severus could remark in his head that she appeared like a gaping fish. She appeared to be un-jilted at his actions and continued on in a soft American tone, "My name's Riley."

She extended her hand out from her black robe and he met her hand with a confused expression at her lack of repulsion of him. He reluctantly extended his hand with a grimace and briefly touched it with surprise at the warmth of her soft hands. She smiled at his confusion, her eyes glittering with a knowing glimmer like she was used to handling people of all sorts. She waited for the seventeen year old boy to return her greeting and when he didn't, she quirked her black, thick natural brow.

"And your name is…"

He stared at her in unapologetic way like she had grown a second head. No one ever wanted to know his name, not even his own housemates inquired after him.

"Severus."

"Cool name." She mumbled, "I knew things would be different here. Even the names are different." She stroked her chin with a black polished thumb in thought.

"So I'm a Gryffindor, I guess, and you are?"

"Slytherin."

Riley chuckled and he watched as she laced her tanned fingers covered with all sorts of silver rings throughout her hair. "Are we opposing houses or something? Is that why I'm getting the glare stare?"

Severus jerked back in response to her words and sat gaping at her insolence.

"Close your mouth, Severus. You look like a big mouth bass." She said with laughter in her voice as her pointer finger gently tapped his chin, causing him to slam his mouth shut.

"I think we're going be great friends, don't you?"

Over the next couple of days the girl kept appearing by Severus' side in classes and in the long hallways of Hogwarts. Severus tried to thwart her efforts of friendship by treating her with a cold shoulder as she chattered on, but nothing seem to sway her or turn her away. It wasn't that he didn't find her attractive or amusing. He found her to be both of these things. The problem was he lacked his own sense of worth and the pain of rejection from Lily Evans less than two years prior ached deeply within him. He had already endured the torture of humiliation from Potter and his friends and stuck to a lonely existence with the exception of the limited tolerance some of his housemates. Friends were not on his high priority list. She was mischievous, bold, intelligent, and intriguing all at the same time.

"Severus!" She called in the hallway after lunch, quickening her pace to meet his long stride. He did not slow down, but watched as the crowd of boys she broke out of from the dining hall all stood gazing longing after her. Some glared in his direction as she approached him. Great, he muttered in his head, trying to avoid the sharp scowls from the jealous looks he received. Severus prided himself on the ability to blend in with the castle so that attention to him was limited or completely avoided.

Riley's smile stretched across her face as she laid her slender hand on his forearm with a gentle touch, warmth radiating from her fingertips. He jerked his head towards her, startled with the effect she had on him even though he pushed all hope from his mind.

"Hey! I'm going to try out for the Quidditch team tonight, want to come watch?" His mouth tugged down to an indifferent line as he gawked at her. He was about to reply with a very negative comment when Sirius Black and James Potter emerged from another hall. Immediately, Severus' mind went to anger as he glared at the two boys coming into view. Riley watched as Severus' eyes followed the image in front of him and she turned her smile to them.

"Riley!" Sirius exclaimed with a boyish, impish grin mounted on his face. He gently nudged James with his elbow and James peered up through his glasses at the rebellious-looking girl and greasy git in front of him. Sirius completely ignored Severus as he and Riley slowed to a stop and stood in front of Riley, handsomely grinning at her, his eyes glittering with amusement. His black hair cascaded wavily down his chiseled cheeks and he stood with a confidence that Severus hated. Any girl would fall for his boyish looks and many had. He stepped in between Severus and Riley and threw a muscular arm around her shoulders guiding her away from Snape's side.

"Trying out for Quidditch this year?" He said continuing her walk with her down the hallway, James on her other side, leaving Severus behind.

"Yes!" Riley spouted, "I love sports! The tougher, the better." She gently turned back and paused before Sirius could guide her further on, much to Sirius' exasperation.

"Severus, you're coming tonight, right?" Severus could think of a million other things that would have suited him better and that he'd rather dedicate his time to, but glaring now at Sirius, his thoughts changed. A smirk crept up his lips, pulling some light into those dark eyes. He could feel the irritation pulsing from Sirius and James, but they saved face in front of the bold beauty at their sides.

"I suppose."