AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi! You probably haven't seen me in this section before. I'm a little nervous, you see, because this is my first Potter fic, and much more importantly, my first Snape fic. I really hope I don't mess this up. Your comments would really help me out a lot! I need to know if I'm making this too boring, because I do tend to do that. So, please, if you're reading this, then review.

Also, I apoligize now for the Americanisms and the other things I get wrong. But whatever I do, it's for the sake of the plot.

So, without further ado, here's my story!

Severus Snape, age 15 and a half, stormed out of the Great Hall. He held his books close to his chest and fought back the tears of embarrassment and shame and detailed his plots for murdering Sirius Black and every Gryffindor that stood in his way. This was the second time that week that Sirius had made a fool of Snape at dinner and it was near a point where he couldn't take it anymore. And the worst part was that instead of helping him out, his fellow house members just laughed with everyone else.

"What did I ever do to him?" He muttered bitterly. He sniffed a bit and began walking up the stairs. "And why in the hell does he deserve to have everything he does? All the friends, all the girls, all the fun, while I spend every night alone." He was finding it harder to keep the tears from coming. "What's so wrong with me that everyone hates me?" Finally finding his way to his dormitory, he uttered the password and hurried into his bedroom. He threw his books down violently on the floor and began pacing, running his hand through his stringy hair. He strolled over and picked up the crystal that his grandmother had given him last year because, "He doesn't seem like much of a grandson to me". He looked at it a bit, then smashed it on a wall. His tears were falling freely now. "I'd like to see him try to live my life!" He shouted. "Wouldn't be so cocky then, would you?" He picked up a snow globe that he'd gotten for his ninth birthday, which turned out to be the only birthday of his his parents did remember. He also threw it against the wall. He began to turn over furniture and lamps and anything he saw, ruining much of it. Finally he sat down on his bed, exhausted. "Why me?" He whimpered. He eventually drifted off into a light sleep.

During his episode, Severus had failed to notice a young man watching from the doorway. "Poor fellow." The young man whispered.

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Severus had decided to get up very early that morning, eat breakfast when no one would be there, and spend the next hour or so in the library. His plan had worked well. "Maybe I'll do this everyday." He commented to no one in particular on his way to the library. He'd decided that it was time to read Hogwarts, A History again, just for the heck of it. He slipped the book off the shelf stealthily. He started walking to the table he had left his things at, ducking his head out of habit, when he ran smack into someone.

"S-sorry." He said, flinching a bit. He offhandedly noticed how shiny the person's shoes were.

"Oh! It's fine." The person answered. Severus stole a look at him. "I'm Bishop. Bishop Mockery." He stuck his hand out.

"S-Severus Snape." He answered, shaking Bishop's hand slowly.

"What year are you?" His blue eyes seemed to smile with his mouth and were nicely framed by long lashes.

"Fifth. I don't recall seeing you here-,"

"I'm a fifth too. Slytherin house. Just transferred from Mali, in Africa."

"I'm a Slytherin too." He said quietly, still waiting for the catch. "And I'm surprised that you don't have much of an accent…"

"Well, my family's actually from here. We moved to Africa when I was seven or so, something about finding our roots." Severus nodded. "Not much for conversation, are we?"

"I'm sorry, it's just that – Well, honestly?"

"Yes?"

"I don't have any friends. At all. I mean, not even one that I see in the halls and wave too."

"Oh, surely not."

"Just ask anyone. I'm pretty much a recluse." His pale cheeks pinkened a little.

"I'll make it my duty to get you out of that shell then, Severus."

"No, it's fine. I've only got two years left anyways."

"I'll-,"

"It was nice meeting you, Bishop." He said, ducking his head again. He'd gotten a little uncomfortable with how the conversation was going. He made it back to his table, grabbed his stuff, and quickly left. "Maybe that's why you're friendless, Snape. Can't even make decent conversation without whining…"

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Finally it was time for Severus' favorite class of the day: potions. Professor Spilken seemed to be the only one of his teachers who knew him by name, and it thrilled him. He was the best potion maker in class, he'd been told many times by him, and it felt great to know that he was finally good at something. He walked into class, taking his usual seat in the front row, and sat patiently until the teacher began his lesson.

"Good morning students. You will find your supplies on that table over there. Your instructions should be in front of you now. Please work quietly and I will check on you all periodically. That is all."

Snape wasn't bothered at all by the fact that he didn't have a partner, and Spilken wasn't either, knowing he didn't really need one. He walked over to get his supplies and noticed the boy from the library was also in this class. The boy noticed him and came over.

"Hey, Severus! Didn't see you in here."

"No, you wouldn't have."

"Oh, you're too hard on yourself."

"Wait a second…do my eyes deceive me?" Severus cringed as he recognized the voice. For the love of God…let him be talking to someone else! He thought.

"No, James, I think someone's actually talking to our dear old Sev!" Sirius and James were standing behind him but he didn't dare turn around. Bishop obviously noticed his distress.

"And you would be…?" He ventured.

"Charming. He can even speak on his own." Sirius said with a grin.

"I'm James Potter, and that's Sirius. Trust us, you really don't want to associate with that dolt."

"And I gather you would rather me spend my time with tactless Gryffindors?" Bishop replied.

"Hey, your funeral, mate. Just trying to give you a heads up." They wandered back to their seats.

"You don't have to stick up for me. I've learned to tune them out by now."

"How long have they been like this?"

"Oh, about since our second year. Dunno why, really."

"Listen, d'you have a partner? We could, you know-,"

"If you're just reaching out in sympathy, I don't need it." Severus said coldly.

"I've got to have some kind of friend by the end of the day. Otherwise, what will I tell my mum?" Snape half smirked at this, mildly wondering what it was like to have a mother that cared about their son making friends. "There's something other than a frown. We've made an improvement." He said with a grin.

"C'mon, let's start this before out ant legs stop wriggling. We'd be in a fix if they weren't fresh enough." Severus said, attempting some humor.

"You know, I think I'm a good influence on you. And I hope to the heavens above that you know what to do, because I haven't the slightest idea."

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"Have you had any luck, Kelly?"

"A little. I found the guy at least, and I think I'm getting him to trust me some."

"You're taking this a little lightly. You realize that he has the potential to be more vicious than his cousin? You realize we need that on our side?"

"Yes, yes, I know. You've told me that before. I've got some ideas on how to get him quicker."

"Care to share?"

"Not particularly."

"Well, then this is good night."

"Good night, Maggie."

*Click*

Bishop Mockery lay down on his new bed, exhausted from his first day at school. He never thought he'd pass for a 15 year old, much less a Bishop, but apparently no one gave him a second look. And with that Snape boy on his side, he could really move up in his Lord's inner circle.

To be continued…

Again, please review! Please? Please? I really, really, really need it on this story. I'm insecure about it. You can even flame me! Just as long as I know that *someone* is reading this…