SMOKE AND MIRRORS PRELUDE:

BEHIND THE VEIL

PART ONE: ACCEPTED

Harry Potter always thought that he belonged with his dear Uncle Snape. Ever since he arrived in Spinner's Lane at the tender age of one, in Snapes arm. But, Harry didn't know that everything that Snape did, wasn't because he loved him, because he was told to do so.

Snape never liked Harry, even when he wasn't born. This was because of an intense dislike of Harry's father James.

FLASHBACK: When they- Snape, and James- were boys, they had a good relationship. But Snape was always discontent with the fact that James was better than him in everything. One day in July, little Severus got his letter accepting him into Hogwarts. He finally thought that he'd beaten James in something.

Outside, he ran across the orchard and into the Potter's yard screaming, "Cousin, Cousin! Come look what I've got!"

James, heard Severus and ran outside right away.

"What is it Sev?" James asked, worried.

"it's a letter from Hogwarts, the school where our dad's went! I got my letter! isn't that great!?" he went about waving the letter in his face. At the precise moment, James's family owl, Rowler, came swooping in and a letter landed in front of the boys' feet. On the letter, it said, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Sev, look! I've got my letter as well! Now we'll be able to go to school together!" James said, gleaming. He ran inside, to show his mum, and Severus walked back home.

Distraught that James got a letter as well, he thought that the next seven years of his life would be a living hell. It was bad enough that he had to watch him strut about in their neighbourhood, now he would have a whole new place, and a whole school to impress.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Well, that day came, September 1st, the day when little James Potter and Severus Snape would embark on their magical education. Since they didn't know anyone, they shared a compartment, but later joined by 3 boys. They too, were going to be first years, and were about just as excited as James and Sev were.

"Hello, you're first years too aren't you?" one boy said, he had straggly black hair and for eleven, he was pretty good-looking.

"Yes, I'm James Potter, and this is my cousin Sev." James said.

"well, hello James, Sev. Nice to meet you. This is Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. And I'm Black, Sirius Black." he said pointing to the other boys by his side.

Remus; James and Sev took to be the Squirrelly boy on Sirius' left, that had an odd sort of twitch. That left Peter, he was a little lump of a boy, and seemed to be a scavenger.

The entire train ride, the five of them talked and talked.

"Soooo, Sev. What does that stand for?" Sirius asked.

"It stands for Severus." Sev said proudly.

"nice" Sirius said wide-eyed.

Next, a prefect by the name of Winsted Proudshot came to their compartment and told them to change into their robes.

Excited that they would be coming to their destination, they changed in a rush. So much of a rush that Peter forgot to put on his trainers and had to change again. They all felt the train roll slowly to a stop. The excitement that they all felt, had now turned to fear and panic. Everyone was let out of the train one compartment after the other, and they could tell which ones were the first years, they were all standing around, not knowing what to do or where to go.

Then a bellowing voice came over the normal chitter chatter of the older students, " firs' years! Firs' years this way!" James, Sirius, Sev, Remus and Peter all looked around for who the voice belonged to. They found none other than Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper. He looked quite young, maybe in his early or mid-twenties, but he stood over eight feet tall, which made him easy to spot among the 3-5 footed first years.

Hagrid led them over to a series of boats. There must've been a hundred on the glistening lake.

"Firs' years, listen up!" Hagrid yelled. "I want, no more than five to a boat, we don't want the giant squid to get you!" he chuckled.

All of the first years face were identical, they didn't know if he was kidding. Even more afraid than when they arrived, they set off across the Black Lake and towards Hogwarts castle.