Severus Snape loathed Valentine's Day.

Well, truth be told, he loathed every day, but Valentine's Day took the cake for the 'Worst Day of the Year' prize.

Once upon a time, (actually, it was in first through fifth year), he and his ex-best friend, Lily Evans, would mock Valentine's Day and all of the mushy-gushy couples along with it. He looked forward to the day just so he and Lily could make fun of the pathetic lovers.

But it was seventh year now.

Lily didn't speak to him anymore.

Which is why Severus Snape was spending Valentine's Day locked in his dormitory, moodily reading through his Potions text thinking dark and depressing thoughts.

Well, most of his thoughts these days were dark and depressing.

But these thoughts especially.

"Snape," a voice snapped him out of his reservoir. Severus looked up from his book to see his acquaintance, Avery, enter the room.

"Yes?" Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Mulciber and Black are waiting in Hogsmeade for us," Avery said, referring two of their other 'friends', William Mulciber and Regulus Black. Snape gave a suffering sigh.

"Why?" he asked.

"I don't know everything," Avery said nastily, beginning to exit the room. "But we're meeting them on the side corner of the street Dervish and Bangs is on. Maybe we'll curse some Mudbloods."

Snape gave a another sigh as Avery slammed the door behind him. Making his way to his trunk, he took his winter cloak out and pulled it around himself. He had no idea what Mulciber could want them for – all he knew is that it was Mulciber, and therefore could not be pretty.

"What is it?" Snape had arrived in Hogsmeade to see Mulciber, Avery, and Black leaning against the brick building that was Dervish and Bangs. Mulciber looked at him under heavily lidded eyes.

"The bloody Gryffindor Golden Boys are at it again," Mulciber sneered. Snape knew immediately who he was talking about – Regulus's older brother, Sirius Black, with his friends James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, were the bane of Snape's existence. Potter and Black had a personal vendetta against him for some reason.

"What did they do?" Snape drawled, carefully taking off his gloves.

Regulus raised an eyebrow. "What didn't they do?"

"True," Snape smirked inwardly. "Shall we teach them a lesson?"

"We shall," Mulciber stood up straight and began to work purposefully towards the center of Hogsmeade.

Snape followed – but when the foursome approached the entrance to the Three Broomsticks, he stopped cold.

Through the window, he saw James Potter sitting in a booth – with Lily Evans. His Lily Evans. Lily was laughing at something Potter had said. He had his arm around her and her head leaned gently into his shoulder.

Snape felt a boil of rage come up out of him – and crushing sadness. He knew Lily would never forgive him for what he said, but he never expected her to go on a date with Potter. Potter, why Potter? So bloody ironic.

"Snape, you coming?" Avery called. Snape half-glanced at him – his three companions were approaching where he could see Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew were standing over near Zonkos, unaware of the Slytherin boys approaching.

"Coming," Snape called back, giving the window one last glance – Potter kissed Lily on the cheek. Snape felt like punching something. Preferably Potter.

I bloody hate Valentine's Day, Snape thought as he hurried after his friends.