Title: Acceptance
Characters: Severus Snape, Marauders, etc (Harry Potter), AU!Spike and Andrew (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Cat and Jory (OC), Ash (borrowed OC)
Pairings: Snape/OC
Rating: PG-13 for language and teen angst. x)
Beta: WhiteHound
Summary: The beginning of his fifth year, Severus meets the first person to ever willingly accept him. Inspired by "Snape's Worst Memory" (OoTP), KindaLush (a livejournal community) and Laerry's young Snape artwork (on DeviantArt) Also, check out her comic version of Snape's Worst Memory! It's brilliantly done!
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters from the Harry Potter and Buffy worlds.

The Feline on the Train

The train rolled along the tracks with increasing speed as it left the platform, clattering along noisily. Students could be heard in the corridor, laughing with friends and talking excitedly. The beginning of a new school year meant reunions of friends, and reunions mean cheery conversation. They goofed around loudly, a few chasing each other down the corridor. People called one another's names and embraced, ecstatic about the new year.

Severus shut the door to his solitary compartment with a slam and an irritated scowl. The glass shut out most of the noise, but giggling voices still rang in his ears. Mad shrieks and roars of laughter seeped through the barrier. Things would quiet down soon enough, he decided as he sat down, as soon as everyone was settled in their own compartments. He picked up the book from the seat next to him and opened it, burying his angular nose in Advanced Potion Making by Libatius Borage.

As he'd predicted, once people were in their compartments with their doors shut and they weren't quite so hyper about seeing each other, the train became much quieter. The only sounds he could hear were those of the train moving steadily and his own book when he turned pages. A few minutes after the train had become quiet, Severus heard his compartment door open. Startled, he dropped his book and scrambled for his wand. His first thought was Potter and Black. They rarely came to bother him on the train, but there was a first time for everything.

However, the voice that said quietly, "Oh…sorry," was female. And when he lifted his head, hand still groping around for his wand, an auburn haired girl with two black streaks that framed her face was standing in the doorway. She offered a small, apologetic smile. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Heart still thundering in his chest, Severus stared at her, wondering why she'd come to his compartment. He certainly couldn't remember seeing her before. As he quickly looked her over, he noted that she already had half of her uniform on. The blue and bronze tie loose around her neck told him she was a Ravenclaw. It didn't surprise him that he didn't recognize her; the only other students he really knew off-hand were the Slytherins in his own year and the foursome that constantly tormented him.

"Would it be alright…if I joined you?" she asked, appearing to choose her words carefully. "The other compartments are full to bursting." She offered another little smile, which only lasted a moment before it fell away.

He blinked, then nodded slowly. Yet another smile curved her lips, although she averted her eyes as she sat down. Severus watched her carefully as her eyes darted around him.

"I'm Cat, by the way," she told him, looking up to meet his eyes.

"Severus," was all he said, reaching for his book and looking away from her.

"It's nice to meet you, Severus."

He froze, hand on the book. The words seemed to echo around him, and he lifted his head to look at her, sure he'd heard wrong. He straightened up, pulling the book close to him and feeling suddenly insecure.

"What?"

"I said it's nice to meet you," Cat repeated, smiling politely.

Politely. Of course, she was just being polite. Severus nodded and opened his book again, resuming his reading.

They were both silent for a very long time. The light filtering through the windows grew more golden with the afternoon sun. Neither one of them spoke to each other. Each time that Severus bothered (or dared) to look up at Cat, she was doing something different. At first, she was just gazing out the window, apparently daydreaming. The second time, she was doodling in a small notebook, frowning. And the third time, she had to look away hastily because she was watching him with a curious expression on her face.

"What?" Severus demanded as she pretended to be very interested in her silver rings.

Before she was even given a chance to answer, the old witch with the trolley stopped by their compartment.

"Anything from the trolley?" she asked, beaming at them.

Severus only glanced at her, then looked away, frowning at his potions book. He tried to lose himself in the words again, but was distracted by Cat rising to take a look. He watched her in his peripheral vision, pretending to still read. She quietly chose a few snacks to buy, before turning towards him.

"Do you want anything?"

He looked up at her and shook his head. "I don't have any money." Immediately his eyes went back to the book, but she spoke again.

"That's not what I asked."

Blinking at her, Severus noticed that she was smiling kindly. With a slight frown, he considered his stomach. He was a little hungry, and he hadn't had chocolate in a long while…

"Er…a chocolate frog, I suppose," he said, shrugging to appear disinterested.

While they ate, Severus decided to put his book down and let her talk to him. She spoke rather cheerfully, but also cautiously, he noticed. As he bit into his chocolate frog, he wondered why she acted that way. The things she was talking about weren't exceptionally delicate topics. Rather, she was discussing candy and other snacks.

"I always loved spice cake," she was saying as she halved her cauldron cake and handed him a piece. This gesture puzzled Severus, and he eyed the treat in his hand as though it might be poisoned, but she acted as casual as ever. "My mum and I used to make cakes a lot."

"Is your mother a witch?" Severus asked, his voice quiet and calm.

"No," Cat shook her head. "None of the people on my mum's side are. My grandmother'd have a fit if she knew. She thinks I'm at boarding school."

"What about your father?"

"Dunno. Never met him." Cat shrugged and tilted her head back to drop in a piece of the cake without getting crumbs everywhere. "What about your parents?"

"Mum's a witch, father's a Muggle," Severus replied simply.

"Oh," Cat said with a nod. There didn't really seem to be anything else to say about the matter.

Then she suddenly looked very amused, and Severus became nervous. He'd seen that look many times, usually on the face of Black or Potter, and it was never really a good sign. He drew back as far as he could, scowling.

"What are you smirking at?" he challenged defensively.

"You have chocolate, here," she said, gesturing to the spot on her own face, which was just below her lip.

Relaxing somewhat, though now feeling foolish, he tried to get the chocolate off his tongue. It wasn't often that he had chocolate, and he wasn't keen to waste any of it. Cat giggled a little, shaking her head.

"No, a little more to the left. Other left. No, I…hehe. Let me…"

She rose and moved to sit next to him, still giggling. Still sensitive to being laughed at, Severus frowned at her as she grinned. Her thumb lifted and it took all of his will power not to jerk away as she gently swept under his bottom lip. The intimacy of this action settled in as their eyes met, and hers widened a little. She pulled her hand away, looking embarrassed. Severus couldn't say he felt any better about the situation.

"I, um…" she started, then, for some reason, leaned closer.

Cat smelled of chocolate and spices, and he found himself closing his eyes. Her breath fell softly upon his lips, and he was sure that they shouldn't kiss just yet, but this was someone accepting him, so why not…?

Laughter exploded in the doorway of the compartment, and Severus' eyes flashed open. The air was suddenly colder as Cat had leapt back from him. He twisted around to see James Potter and Sirius Black were beside themselves with amusement, roaring with laughter. Potter was actually clutching at the compartment door, doubled over, while Black had thrown his head back.

Severus shot an infuriated look at Cat, teeth clenched.

"You!" he snapped. "You're with them!"

He didn't give her a chance to respond, snatching up his bag and shoving angrily past the two boys laughing at him. As he stormed off towards the toilets, he heard them shout after him.

"IT'S ALRIGHT, SNIVELLUS, YOU'LL FIND LOVE ONE DAY!" They roared with laughter again, and Severus locked himself into the bathroom, trying to shut them out.

As he glared at himself in the small mirror, a few angry tears rolled down his cheeks. He slid to a sitting position, leaning against the door, and buried his face in his hands.