Severus Snape was staring. This was not a wholly uncommon event; Snape stared at potions books with intense focus, at bubbling cauldrons with something akin to affection, and at his fellow students with undisguised disdain. But this particular stare was nothing like his usual expressions.

On a typical boy, it might be described as wistful.

Severus Snape was staring out of one of the windows of Hogwarts while James bloody Potter, in the grand tradition of adolescent boys everywhere, was acting like an idiot in an attempt to impress a girl. That this girl was as far above him in wit and worth as is a star above the mud never seemed to cross Potter's minuscule mind.

Severus Snape was staring into a realm of sunlight and innocent flirtation that might as well have been on the dark side of the moon for all the chance he had of reaching it.

Severus Snape was hating.

"Caught you, filthy sneak!"

Severus whirled at the sound of the voice, turning to confront a rodent-faced boy with a rage no less frightening for all it was tightly leashed. His gangly form moved with deceptive speed, his wand ending up pressed beneath the spy's chin as he snarled, "Careful, Pettigrew. Your bully boy Black is down in Hogsmeade, which means there's no one here to stop me from turning you into a cabbage and making a pot of soup."

Pettigrew began to snivel instantly, shrinking back against the wall and blubbering, "S-s-stop it, Severus! I'll tell --"

"Tell whom?" Severus hissed, his eyes closing to dangerous slits. "Lupin? Potter? The former has taken sick, if you haven't noticed, and the latter is so besotted he has no more time for you. Which is doubtless why you're skulking around the castle like a rat. They don't even miss you, do they? I doubt they've even caught on that you've taken to following Malfoy around when you think no one is paying attention." He laughed icily. "I always pay attention."

Pettigrew muttered indistinctly.

"What?" demanded Severus.

"...tell James you were watching because you love Li--" Pettigrew never finished that sentence. Severus' free hand closed around the other boy's throat and slammed his head against the stones of the wall with such force that he crumpled soundlessly to the floor.

Severus stood over the prone from of Pettigrew, breathing heavily. He mastered himself quickly, however, straightening his worn robes and tucking his wand back into his sleeve before turning back to the window.

Severus Snape was staring, and he did not care to be disturbed.