Set During Chapter Ten

"The Beginning Of The End"

Severus's POV

FLASHBACK

It was nearing the end of March as I found myself defeated and at a loss. I had thoroughly exhausted all of my resources and avenues of apology and had now found myself sitting in the Slytherin common room feeling extremely put out at what to do now. I knew the moment that the words Mudblood had left my lips last June to Lily that it was all over, but after apologising at every opportunity and being chastised for it by her new lovely friends, I thought she would at least reconsider. I stared sadly down at my long thin fingers that plucked at a few stray strands of my tattered robes. How could she just throw away several years of friendship like that over one silly little comment?

I replayed all of the times we had spent together and found myself outwardly sighing. I had turned into exactly what she was told by everybody that I was; a no good Slytherin who thought they were better than everyone else. I glanced around at the small scattered selection of Slytherins that occupied the common room at the moment. Well I am better than everyone in this room, that was sure. And I was definitely better than the people she called friends, them show off Gryffindors and their damn stupid need to cause unnecessary nuisances. My thoughts faltered however when I found myself thinking of Lily again. Was I better than her?

"An owl left this on my bed by mistake" A sharp voice cut through my thoughts as I turned in my seat by the fire to see Quill Green standing over me holding what looked like a letter between his aristocratic palms. "See to it that it doesn't happen again" He sharply snapped at me as he tossed the letter in my direction then began striding away, speaking only once more to add insult to injury. "I don't want anything that is associated with you coming into contact with me and dirtying my genes, got it?"

I snarled at his retreating figure before it disappeared up the staircase to the boys dormitories. Who did he think he was speaking to me like that? I was thoroughly sick of all these pure bloods looking down on me because of my curse of a muggle father. It seems that even away from that place I should call home he was still torturing me. My scowl only deepened as I thought of my father, however all thoughts soon vanished from my mind the moment I saw the slanted script on the envelope of the letter that read; Severus Snape.

I glanced around at my surroundings a few times to assure that no-one was was in the near vicinity of me before I quietly and swiftly tore open the the envelope which exposed an expensive sheet of parchment. He rarely ever wrote to me, and when he did, I knew it was something important. Something that needed my undying attention and secrecy. My eyes scanned the note quickly as my fingers curled the sides of the thick paper expectantly;

Severus,

It has been a while since we have last been acquainted. I hope you are still as enthusiastic about your studies and interests as the last time we had spoken? I heard off some acquaintances of mine that you finally managed to shift that muggle friend of yours, and thought that you would like to meet for a celebratory drink this weekend. I will be in the Hogshead at 4pm Sunday. It would be most wise to come alone.

Lucius Malfoy

I re-read it once more before I tossed it into the fire next to me and went to bed. I had known Lucius Malfoy for long enough already to understand that meeting him wasn't a request, but an order. To what he wanted to discuss in such secrecy was beyond me, and to say that my curiosity was not piped would be lying.

So I found myself sitting in the back corner of The Hogshead Inn on Sunday, waiting for my acquaintance to arrive.

"Ah, Severus you made it," came the long polite tones of Lucius Malfoy as he approached my table. His hair and height had grown several inches since the last time I had properly saw him which had been two years ago, but his eyes were still as sharp and as calculating as ever.

"Lucius" I greeted him with a small nod as he sat opposite me in the corner. His eyes never left mine as he began taking off the dark green leather gloves that adorned his hands, his snake like walking stick hanging off the back of his chair.

"I gather you have many questions as to why I have asked you here" he stated. His lips curled into a small smile as he clasped his hands together under his chin.

I nodded my reply of yes just as the old barman appeared with a bottle of fire whisky and two glasses.

Lucius waited until he had left the table before speaking once more. "I have invited you here to ask of your interests in the Dark Arts" he paused only to pour two small glasses of fire whisky before pushing one over towards myself. I eyed it apprehensively before shooting it back just as he began to speak again. I listened intently wondering just what my interests had to do with anything. "It has come to my attention that you have talents, shall we say, in that area, and I know of someone who might have some use of them."

My face didn't reflect the fear that now coursed through me as realisation hit over who he was referring to. I held my hand steady and my eyes blank as I nodded at him to continue. A small, smug smile forming on his thin lips just as the though of what Lily would think of me popped into my head. I quickly shook it off however, as soon as I realised I was doing exactly what she thought of me. If I was to be the bad guy to her, then I would consume myself in doing so and do all that I could do to succeed in it. There was no room in my life for people like Lily Evans any more. I would made sure of that.

FLASHBACK