Title: Ties of Friendship, bonds of Fate
Pairings: Future JamesxLily and RemusxSeverus
Rating: K to start but future M.
Notes: Bound to you Pre-quel. Pre-Harry Potter Era Hogwarts, Marauder era AR/AU.
Chapter 1- Lines Drawn in the Beginning
Severus and Lily were making their way back to their compartment when they ran into a group of four boys. They had been discussing which Houses they hoped to be Sorted into.
One stepped out and held out his hand, "James Potter. Who are you and where did you come from?" he reached out and pulled a white swan feather from Lily's red auburn tresses. "Are you part Veela? Because you look too beautiful to be just human…"
James Potter had wild black hair and honey coloured eyes, while his clothes were clearly expensive.
Lily laughed, "Lily Evans. This is my best friend Severus Snape."
Severus felt a puff of pride, her best friend? That was music to a boy starved for attention…his father was a drunk who took pleasure in beating himself and his mother. What had his mother ever seen in a perpetually drunk and unemployed no-account like Tobias Snape?
James Potter eyed him up and down and sneered at him, "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Well, he didn't need to look like that at him…it wasn't like this Potter knew anything about him. "Likewise." Severus said coldly.
Beside Potter was a slightly taller boy with wavy black hair and stormy grey-blue eyes that reminded him of the ocean during a storm. He smirked, "Black, Sirius Black. I'm from an old and distinguished family. James is a cousin of mine. My grandmother and his mother were cousins."
A thin but already gaining muscle boy stood behind them as if he wasn't sure he really belonged there, held out his hand, "Remus Lupin."
He had honey coloured hair and eyes that had the decided shade of amber. That was an unusual colour but one that was rather suited to him. He didn't have the polished arrogance that Black and Potter did. Severus accepted the hand, "Nice to meet you." His pleasure was genuine.
Remus gave Severus a look; something flashed in his eyes and then was gone. "The pleasure is all mine."
Black and Potter gave him disgruntled looks.
Potter gestured with his head, "The quiet one is Peter Pettigrew. He's shy but he's a decent sort."
Lily gave him a tight smile but when she looked at Peter it was genuine, "Hi."
The Peter character mumbled something unintelligible.
"Why do you hang out with someone who dresses like a house elf and looks like someone dropped a cauldron of spoilt potion on him?" Black asked.
Severus stiffened, he hated when someone discussed his waxen appearance and stringy hair.
Potter laughed.
Lily glared, "Who I befriend is no one's business but my own. There's a saying, 'love me, love my friends. It would do you good to apply it in some way." She said scornfully, "I hate it when someone's nice to me but rude to Severus. He's got feelings like everyone else."
Potter blinked at her, "Then why does he not speak for himself? Does he get off on being defended by a girl?"
Severus sneered right back, "I don't see the point in crossing words with someone who lacks the ability to understand words can have thorns. Perhaps, you weren't raised as well as you appear to be. Unless you were spoilt for it sounds like your parents are ancient if your mother is of an age with Black's grandmother."
Potter's face got red with anger, "Don't you go saying anything bad about my mother. She's the best one in the world. I bet she's worth ten of yours if your mum lets you be seen in public dressed like a house elf. What does one expect from someone with a no account name like Snape? You must be a Muggleborn."
Severus' lips twitched with anger, "My mother was a Prince! A family at least as old as the Potters."
Lily put a hand on his arm, "It's not worth it fighting with narrow minded little boys."
Potter stiffened.
"So what if we have Muggle relatives?" Lily glared at Potter, "I bet my parents at ten times prouder then yours ever could be." She led Severus back to their compartment holding onto his arm.
Black and Potter glared at him and he could feel their gazes like daggers. Remus' felt different. He glanced back to see the boy looking at him as if he wanted to follow.
XoooooX
Professor McGonagall who'd signed their Hogwarts' admission letters had led them into what she called the Great Hall and it looked huger inside then the inside of the Evans' church. St. Anne's was the most elaborate piece of architecture that he'd ever been inside, it wasn't often he went to church with the Evans, just a couple times a year. Mrs. Evans insisted he attend with them on Christmas and Easter, it was nice to be with people like the Evans. How Petunia ended up like she did with such wonderful parents he'd never understood.
She called names alphabetically for what she called 'Sorting'.
First of the persons he'd met already that was to be Sorted was Black.
"Black, Sirius."
It was what seemed like a long time before the tear in the brim of the hat that resembled a mouth yelled out, "Gryffindor!"
The green and silver table hissed, booed and glared.
Good…he hoped they'd end up in different Houses.
The next name called that he knew was Lily.
"Evans, Lily."
Lily skipped up to the stool, sat and placed the hat on her red hair gingerly.
It seemed to barely touch her head before it yelled, "Gryffindor!"
Severus winced.
The red and gold table's inhabitants were grinning and whooping.
A short plump girl with red braids greeted Lily and shook her hand welcoming her to table.
Remus Lupin was called about ten names later; he had a bookish air like Lily. He'd expected Lily to be either a Slytherin or Ravenclaw due to what the books about Hogwarts that Mr. Evans bought Lily said.
"Lupin, Remus."
The hat took time with Remus like it had with Black, finally, it announced, "Gryffindor."
Remus took the hat off and looked at it strangely before going with what seemed like great reluctance towards the table where Black seemed to have saved seats.
It didn't take long to reach 'P' after 'L'.
"Pettigrew, Peter."
If anyone was a Hufflepuff, Severus thought sourly, it had to be that person.
To his annoyance he was wrong yet again.
Pettigrew was Sorted into Gryffindor with Black, Lily and Remus.
Next was obviously Potter.
That boy was supreme arrogance as he sat down and placed the shabby looking hat on his head.
The hat shouted as it touched his head, "Gryffindor!"
Was everyone in this year destined to be in that infernal House?
Finally, it was his turn.
"Snape, Severus."
Lily clapped from her place at Gryffindor's table while Potter and his friend Black scowled.
Remus gave him a shy smile.
Severus strode up to the stool and sat before he placed the hat on his own brow with reverence.
"Hmm…" said a voice in his head.
Severus started surprised.
"It's just me, I'm the Sorting Hat. I can see everything in your head. You're smart, very smart. You'd do well in Ravenclaw. You're also braver then you know, you'd make an excellent Gryffindor. Too much character for Hufflepuff. Aw but the ambition you have…that settles it."
Severus felt a rush of anticipation.
"You're a Prince. I remember Sorting your antecedents. You'll do them proud in," then the hat yelled, "Slytherin."
Severus took the hat off to handed it to the next kid before heading over the green and silver table, which was as far from Lily as could be. This was not at all what he'd hoped for…
Lily clapped for him but seemed sad and a bit lost.
Which was understandable, they'd been best friends since they were six. They had been inseparatable for five years much to Petunia's annoyance.
Remus reached across the table to squeeze her hand.
Severus felt the unfamiliar sensation of what could only be jealousy…
They were separated…it felt wrong.
Then a much older teen tapped his shoulder and glanced at the person sitting beside him and they moved.
"Lucius Malfoy," the man drawled, "I'm a Fifth Year and Prefect. It's rare to get a Muggleborn in our House."
Severus scowled, "I'm not a Muggleborn."
"You would say that!" said a scathing voice from across the table.
Severus glanced up, eyes narrowing.
It was a girl, she looked a few years older then he was, probably two. She had long black hair and those familiar stormy eyes.
Malfoy glared, "Watch your tone Bellatrix. You have no cause to believe he's a Muggleborn or a liar."
"He's right," came a voice down the table to his left, "You've forgotten your manners Bella. Mother would be appalled."
"Name a wizard with the name 'Snape' Annie. You can't because there are none."
Severus swallowed, and then set his shoulders, "You're right Bellatrix. There are no wizards or witches in my father's line. However, my mother's part of the Ancient Line of Prince."
"Oh really?" the girl called Bellatrix said shortly. "What's her given name then?"
"Eileen." Severus said in a cold voice. "Your appearance reminds me of that Gryffindor. I met him on the train."
Bellatrix's stormy eyes flashed, "I'm nothing like that good-for-nothing blood traitor. I'll be writing to his mother. Aunt Walburga won't stand for having a Gryffindor in the family."
"Isn't Potter a cousin as well?" Severus couldn't help adding insult to injury.
Bellatrix sneered, "He's also half Potter, despite having a Black mother. Everyone knows the Potters have been Gryffindors for ages. I can't understand what Great Aunt Dorea's father was thinking allowing her to be Bonded Great Uncle Charlus."
"It's useless to speculate. What's done is done. Hopefully, even a Gryffindor like Potter can keep Sirius in line." That was the older girl Annie…
With a name like Bellatrix what sort of odd name did her sister Annie have?
Lucius tried to change the subject, "So if your name isn't known to have wizards and your mother is a Prince that makes you a Halfblood."
Severus nodded.
There came a loud clapping of one set of hands and a loud clearing of a throat.
It was the Headmaster…
Dumble…something?
The headmaster gave a speech; it was a bunch of random words as well as some words of welcome were uttered before food magically appeared on the golden dishes that sat on every table.
Severus wondered how he would fit in a House that had such low opinion of his origins. As much as he wanted to be in this House from the Moment he read about it, he wasn't so sure he would fit in here.
How would he learn to exist without Lily?
What do you think? Outstanding? Exceeds Expectations? Acceptable? Poor? Dreadful? Troll?