Author's Note: In this story, each chapter is from a different character's point of view, which will be listed after the chapter title. As of now, it will go in a continuous Severus-James-Lily loop. Enjoy! :)

•Harry Potter and affiliated Characters copyright JK Rowling. But the storyline is my creation ;)•

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Chapter One: Betrayal [Severus]

Steam, glowing a strange blue hue, spiraled up toward the ceiling, making its way toward the windows that stood open a crack. On its way, it softly illuminated the pale face of a young man, who stood contentedly stirring the liquid that produced it. By looking at him, you would notice that he was in the throes of young manhood, in that awkward stage where gangliness is all too common and beauty often eludes some. This particular young man was affected by both. His sallow skin glowed against the spirals of steam, and a hooked nose protruded from an intent face, dark hair hanging limply on either side. Nevertheless, he looked right at home at the edge of the room amongst the other students, waiting until the bell indicated the end of Potions. For now, Severus Snape was content.

"Ten minutes, chaps! Put in the final touches of your Draught, and I will be along shortly to collect your vials." Professor Horace Slughorn peered up from his spectacles, surveying the crowded classroom that was Fifth-year Potions. Each student, both Slytherin and Gryffindor, displayed some degree of concentration on their faces. Smiling, his eyes landed on Lily Evans, her red hair disheveled, and he walked over to her desk. "Ah, Lily, doing well, I see! How is your Draught of Peace coming along?"

She glanced up at him, her startlingly green eyes cutting through the steam-filled room. "As good as it can be, Professor Slughorn." She smiled a little.

"Very well, then!" The pudgy professor nodded approvingly. "Why, you're one of the brightest students I've ever had, my girl!"

At this, Severus's eyes turned toward the gold-and-red-clad Gryffindor, and he frowned slightly. Having heard every word Slughorn had said, he wasn't too happy—considering that Potions was most certainly his best class, yet his professor had eyes only for Lily. Turning his head back to his cauldron, he began stirring it with more fervor than was strictly necessary. He glowered into its depths.

Noticing this, Lily hurriedly added, "I suppose, Professor, but I don't think my potions could ever match Severus's. He's much better than I am." The students' eyes met, and the Slytherin showed a hint of a grateful smile. Blinking surprisedly, Slughorn turned toward the youth.

"Oho! Yes, yes, of course! You two would make a fine team, Miss Evans."

At this, the Slytherins snorted. Slughorn was well-known for promoting, if not inter-house unity, then at least inter-house friendliness. Predictably, this made no difference, as the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin was not easily severed. The opposing sides of the room glared at each other, and Lily and Severus quickly broke eye contact. Suddenly, a voice loudly spoke up from the Gryffindors.

"Nah, you wouldn't pair up with that greaseball, would you Evans? Otherwise, I'd be forced to hex you, and I really don't want to do that. I'd like to keep your pretty face the way it is so I'd get to look at something nice after laying eyes on Snivellus every day." James Potter snickered loudly, and his partner-in-crime, Sirius Black, barked an unpleasant laugh.

Lily's eyes grew cold. "Just because you're a lousy, conceited git, Potter, doesn't mean you have to hassle everyone else! Go crash into the Whomping Willow or something-that'll do you just fine! And if we're lucky, maybe you'll end up in the hospital wing for weeks on end so you're out of everyone's hair!" During her tirade, she had whipped her wand out from underneath her cloak, and it was poised underneath the desk, quivering with controlled anger.

Alarmed, Slughorn rushed between the two. "Ten points from Gryffindor, Potter, and if I hear one more word, it's detention for you! You too, Black—I'll hold you as an accomplice. Now, put that away, Evans, we don't want anyone to get hurt. What was that, my girl?"

Lily, who had muttered something rather profane under her breath, quickly straightened up and met her Professor's eyes, unabashed. "Nothing, Professor." Her composure restored, she refused to look at James Potter. Instead, she glanced at Severus and gave a small smile for him. Grudgingly content with her answer, Professor Slughorn checked the time.

"Two minutes, everyone! Bottle 'em up, boys, time's up." Peter Pettigrew and his table partner, Brigand MacEwell, were frantically attempting to improve the appearances of their mixtures—both of which differed very unfortunately from the original recipe, which stated that a silvery vapor should be gently flowing from the cauldron. Peter's Draught of Peace was not a Draught at all; as a matter of fact, he had been brewing the recipe written on the opposite page—a Cleansing Emulsion—by accident, and so, it had turned a deep coral, rather than the gentle blue specified. Joshua had not made this same mistake; however, his potion was emitting purple puffs of smoke and a scent reminiscent of rotten eggs, showing that, during the process, something had gone violently wrong.

As Slughorn walked past, he surreptitiously wrinkled his nose. "Fair try, Mr. Pettigrew, but perhaps you would kindly prepare the assigned potion next time? That would make grading much easier. And, Brigand, try to follow the instructions for once, would you? Powdered unicorn horn is used, rather than dragon horn. And you forgot Valerian root, which is a key ingredient." Continuing on his rounds, he reached the Slytherin side of the room, where he soon forgot his exasperation.

"Wonderful, Severus! Just like it should be…simply marvelous. Well done, lad! Five points to Slytherin, I should think." Across the room, Lily grinned at her friend, to which he replied with a smile of his own.

The bell rang loudly. "All right, class, I'll see you Thursday. Dolohov, I want that essay from you by tomorrow morning, understand? Otherwise it's a visit with your old friend Detention. Same goes for you, Avery! Neither of you need a failing grade, let alone a visit with me. Potter, I saw that! Hand that to me, go on."

Reluctantly, James removed his hand from his pocket, revealing what he had stowed away. Slughorn narrowed his eyes.

"Bobotuber pus, eh? Now, why would we be needing that, I wonder?" Instead of looking guilty, James looked at him and grinned.

"Scientific study, professor! There could be enormous benefits for wizardkind if people just explored the qualities of Bobotubers!"

Slughorn merely sighed. "Never mind, I don't want to know. Just don't let me catch you nicking something from my shelves again. Now, shoo, off with you. You'll be late to your next class." Gleefully, he bounded across the room to Sirius, who had stood waiting for him along with his close friend Remus Lupin. Lily scowled, and continued stowing away her supplies.

"Thanks."

Lily jumped and whirled around. "Severus! I thought you'd left! Gosh, Sev, you have to let me know when you're coming up behind me—you're as quiet as a mouse!" She smiled. "But you're welcome." She dropped her voice. "Though I would've done it anyway, mind you. I would've hexed him if Professor Slughorn hadn't been there." Severus grinned broadly in his head, but refused to show it.

"Maybe it's a good thing you didn't. He'd be dead if you'd—wait, did I just imply that would be a bad thing? Potter dead. Hmmm…"

"Sev! You know I said that just because I was angry. I don't really want him to crash into the Whomping Willow…and that's just so gruesome, thinking of anyone dying. Even Potter." She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"Oh. Yeah, gruesome. But what if he were—"

"Sev, seriously! It's not funny—now you're just scaring me. Speaking of which, who are you hanging out with? I mean, Macnair? Have you ever even talked to him? I bet he drowns puppies and picks the wings off of butterflies. He's creepy!"

The young Slytherin frowned. "Who I'm friends with isn't your business."

Lily frowned in return. "Maybe not. But I'm your best friend, Severus, and I don't think you should be hanging out with them. They're going down a road that isn't going to end up anywhere nice."

Severus narrowed his eyes, angry now. "How do you know? You're just a mmm…" His voice trailed off, and his eyes widened in horror at what he had been about to say.

Lily gave him a look to kill, and her wand hand twitched. Instead of drawing it, though, she said icily, "That's how I know." With anger and enormous hurt in her eyes, she gathered her things and swept out of the room without a backward glance, leaving a heavy silence clouding behind her.

Severus's throat was clogged, and he stared after her, full of terrible guilt and self-hatred. He stood there, still, even when she was long gone—and after what seemed like forever, Severus managed to whisper a sad "I'm sorry…." And, at Slughorn's impatient prompting, he, too, gathered his things.

He wiped a single tear from his Potions book before leaving the room.