Chapter One
A tall boy, in shabby robes, stood by the brick wall, ignoring and being ignored by all the bustling students around him. His ancient trunk was propped against the wall next to him. Severus Snape watched as his fellow classmates hugged and waved goodbye to their parents. Several of the little first years had a few tears, but other than that most children were glad to be going back to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Severus' parents had left him at the train station long before he actually needed to be there. His stomach growled. He felt pathetic and he hated it.
"Severus? Is that you?" Lily Evans stood in front of him, smiling. Her dark red hair glowed in the sunlight. She hugged him.
"Where are your parents?" Severus asked.
"Oh, Petunia had a fit about coming in here, so my parents said goodbye at the barrier," Lily didn't seem too bothered by it. "So do you want to go get a compartment before they are all gone?"
They hurried to the train and entered the first empty compartment they could find. Severus helped Lily stow away her trunk. His trunk looked even more ancient next to her newer one. They sat across from each other next to the window, watching as more students piled their way into the train. Being sixth years meant that the younger students didn't dare come and sit with them. Severus felt so fortunate that Lily was even talking to him after what he had said the year before. He had called her a "mudblood." The crowd he had been hanging out with in the Slytherin common room had been rubbing off on him and when James Potter had yet again attacked him, it had slipped out. She had finally forgiven him this summer, but Severus knew that if it happened again there would be no third chances.
"How was the trip here, Sev?" Lily asked.
"My father yelled a bit at my mom when traffic got bad. He still hates that fact that I exist, but that's about it." Severus tried to make it sound like a joke, but Lily didn't laugh.
"It's awful that he hates you so much," She frowned. "You are a great kid and he should be proud of you."
"I don't know about 'great'," Severus blushed lightly, "But that's what the old man gets for marrying a witch."
"Is it alright if we sit with you, Lily?" Alice Buxton, a fellow Gryffindor friend, stood in the compartment with her boyfriend, Frank Longbottom.
"Yes, of course," Lily patted the seat in a welcoming way. Alice sat down next to Lily and Frank next to Severus. Severus felt a bit awkward and Lily gave him a reassuring smile. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin becoming friends was almost unheard of, not in these changing times. If any of his Slytherin kind were to see him at this very moment with three Gryffindors… But he didn't care as long as Lily Evans stayed his friend. The train slowly began to move and pick up speed.
"How was your summer, Lily?" Alice asked, moving her long dark brown hair out of her eyes.
"Oh, it was nice," Lily grinned. "I raced on brooms with Sev a lot."
"She only wants to race me because she knows I am no good at riding a broom," Severus said. Alice looked taken aback that Severus had spoken, but quickly recovered.
"I am rather clumsy with a broom, myself," Alice laughed. "Frank is the one with some skill. He could be on the house team if cared enough. Isn't that right?"
"I doubt it," Frank said simply, over his copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Oh, don't be modest," Alice turned to Lily and asked in a friendly way, "So are you two going out?" Severus' stiffened and bit his lip. Lily laughed warmly.
"No, he's my best friend." Severus relaxed, but a sadness crept into him. He knew she didn't feel that way for him. It was stupid to think that a girl like Lily Evans would have deep feelings of attraction for a boy like himself.
"Well I am sure that will make Potter happy," Alice said, trying to cover her tracks.
"Someone say my name?" Severus groaned inwardly. Couldn't the trip to Hogwarts ever be Potter free? James Potter stood in the compartments doorway, shadowed by his best friend, Sirius Black.
"What do you want, Potter," Lily asked acidly.
"Just thought I'd come say hello to you, Lily. I haven't seen you all summer," James smirked and ruffled his black hair. "Didn't you miss me?"
"Not really," Lily shortly stated. James gave a hurt look and turned his attention to Severus.
"And how was your summer, Snivellus?" James sneered. Severus ignored him. "Not to good, eh? Did your nose run too much?" Sirius laughed.
"Why don't you go bother someone else, Potter," Severus snarled, his hand inching to his wand.
"Touchy," James snickered and then the compartment door was slid closed by Lily.
"Gits!" Lily angrily sat back down. The silhouettes of James and Sirius disappeared with a chorus of laughter.
"There jokes don't even make much sense," Alice interrupted the silence.
"Try sharing a room with them," Frank said, putting the Daily Prophet down. "They are always leaving in the middle of the night. I am surprised they pass each year."
"Sneak out in the middle of the night?" Severus asked curiously. His goal at Hogwarts was to get James Potter and his friends expelled. Maybe sitting on the train with one of their roommates wouldn't turn out to be so bad after all.
"Yes, they always seem to do Remus is out of town, though. It has been going on since last year," Frank said.
"How interesting," Severus smiled. Lily gave him a funny look. The sun began to set in the rolling dark green hills outside their compartment window. Lily, Alice, and Frank all changed into their school robes as the train began to approach Hogsmeade. Severus sat staring out the window. Lily and Frank had traded spots which relieved Severus greatly.
"You're not planning on seeing what those dunderheads are up too, are you, Sev?" Lily whispered, though Alice and Frank wouldn't have noticed seeing as they were in their own little world of magic. "I mean, I know they are horrible to you, but you shouldn't go getting yourself into trouble too."
"They'd deserve it though," Severus scowled.
"Don't do anything rash," Lily pleaded with him, her soft green eyes melting into him.
"Alright, I'll try not," He sighed. She punched him on the arm and they laughed.
Severus sat next to a Regulus Black at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall. Regulus was the younger brother of Sirius Black, but he was nothing alike. There only thing in common was their charming looks and Quidditch. Regulus was the seeker for the Slytherin house team. On Severus' right sat Rodolphus Lestrange. They all chatted about their holidays while eating.
"What did you do, Severus?" Regulus asked, grabbing the bowl of mashed potatoes.
"Nothing really," Severus said, dryly.
"That's a shame," Rodolphus added.
"You didn't come up with any good spells?" Regulus asked eagerly.
"A few," Severus had no intention of telling them about it. Not that Regulus had went and told his older brother some of these new spells, but word spreads fast and the last thing Severus wanted was for James Potter to have more spells to jinx him with. Severus stole a glance at the Gryffindor table. He could see Lily sitting by Alice and another of her friends. She was smiling brightly and looked beautiful in the candlelight. He looked back at his plate and began eating again.