Note from the author: I don't own Harry Potter (wouldn't it be awesome if I did though? lol) So these characters are, sadly, not mine. They belong to a wonderful author who takes good care of the babies! (go J.K. Rowling!) I also don't read every fan fic out there, so if my idea is similar to someone else's...I didn't mean to! oh, yeah, this is also my first fan-fiction, so, be nice -whimper-

Flawed Reality

Chapter One

Mad World

And I find it kind of funny

I find it kind of sad

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had

His head was bent down, peering over his parchment, hand moving with rapid speed, attempting to take every bit of notes which the professor wrote down on the board. He could, in the background, hear the sniggers of some of the other students, but he paid them no heed, his mind focused upon his work. He'd grown used to being mocked in the school; after living through 3 years of it, one does become accustomed to it. He was an outcast; disliked simply because he was different from the rest. Everyone else seemed to fit in so well here, everyone had their own groups and friends... everyone except him, that is. For some reason this place just didn't fit him well.
His lean body shook slightly at a rolled up piece of parchment hit him firmly in the back of his head. He slowly turned back, brow perking slightly as he locked eyes with James Potter. James was tall, wore thick glasses and had hair that could never really be straightened. It was unbelievable to Severus that James would be quite as popular as he was. Perhaps it was because James seemed to do so well at everything, without even really trying. Severus was so different from James. Severus had to try at everything to even be half as good as James... or well, he had to try at most things. There were, though, two subjects that Severus seemed to have a bit of a knack for. He'd developed an abnormal love for both Potions and Defense Against Dark Arts, god only knew why. Something about the two classes seemed to spark an interest in the outcasted male's head, and because of that, no one could beat him at it. Or, well, most people couldn't... James still somehow managed to surpass him, as usual.
"Mr. Snape..." McGonagall's voice could be heard easily, her sharp eyes directed in the direction of Severus, his head turning to slowly face her. His voice was meek and raspy, and it caused some quiet snickers from others in the room, "Yes ma'am?"
Professor McGonagall was young, probably in her mere early twenties. Numerous young males seemed to have developed a crush on the teacher, who was just starting out her first year. Severus, on the other hand, was not one of them. Severus had an abnormal hatred for his transfiguration teacher that ran deep in his soul. She'd humiliated him more times in that class than he could count, which was sad, considering that they were merely one month into the school year. "Turn your book into a cat, please," her voice was crisp; her slender hand motioned out toward him.
Severus shifted and cleared his throat, aimed his slender, wooden wand toward the book, and spoke out the spell clearly. "Felinius!" Indeed, the book changed... somewhat. As stated before, Severus wasn't all that good at Transfiguration. The book grew ears, and eyes, and fur, and a tail as well... yet, the brown, shaggy cat was still shaped as a square.
Severus simply stared at the book-cat, lids blinking slowly at the deformed animal which he'd created. By then the majority of the class was cracking up, and if he listened close enough, he could hear James laughing the hardest.
McGonagall rolled her eyes and turned her back to the class as she started back toward the front of the room. Her frame was slender, her long mahogany locks pulled into a tight bun. Her hips swayed slightly with her gait out of simple habit. "You need a bit more practice, Severus Snape," she spoke once more, as she tilted her head back to the still giggling classroom, "And hush, all of you." The room instantly quieted.
Severus simply rolled his eyes and exhaled a sigh, staring at the blinking book before him as it exhaled a quiet meow. Another piece of parchment landed in his direction, but this one was folded carefully, with the words 'To Severus' written carefully on it with delicate hand. He blinked a couple times, unsure what exactly to do with it. Open it? What if it was simply a cruel joke? The parchment could have some sort of a curse on it. Perhaps, if it opened it, the paper would burst into cruel laughter. He wasn't sure what to do. The blonde boy who sat beside him glanced over at him, his brow perking, voice soft enough so no one else could hear, "Do you plan on opening it, Severus, or am I going to have to do it for you?"
Severus glared lightly at Lucius, who was one of his few friends in the school, "I can do it..." he paused before slowly starting to open the note, but just as he did...
"Severus Snape! What is that you have in your hands?"
Severus' cheeks turned a deep shade of rose at the voice of McGonagall. "..N-...nothing ma'am..."
James Potter spoke up next, "Aww, did little Severus actually get a note?!"
McGonagall instantly took the note from the boy and walked back to her desk, setting it there. "Five points from Slytherin."
Severus exhaled a heavy sigh as the other Slythins in the room cast glares in his direction. And there marked the end of another day in this hell-hole. Occasionally, he wondered why he kept coming back here... what it was about this place that made him return year after year. Perhaps it was his obligation to his parents. They wanted their son to become another great wizard... yet that certainly didn't look like it would be happening. Well, perhaps it would, as long as he never had to...eh...do any spells....