Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K.Rowling. I do not earn money with them.

Summary: Marauders era – Severus has to spend his summer holidays at the Potters' house.

"Old fogey", a small voice could be heard in the corridor which led to the next class of a boy who had grown out of his current clothes a long time ago and who - after several more insults about a swollen-headed coot with its meddling ideas about killing said boy while placing him with the most unendurable molester of the world - stopped in front of a slightly decayed door of the Transfiguration classroom.

Now that the black-haired boy was about to see his tormentor anew, he could not suppress the growing feeling of alarmism. In only three days he would be forced onto a train to hell, sitting with his most beloved friend, eating on the same table as his dearest condisciple, oh Merlin, how was he supposed to sleep with the knowledge of his tormentor being able to attack any moment?

The otherwise so unimpressive face gave a slight clue of nervousness for Severus Snape suddenly developed the extent of this summer arrangement.

The dark-haired loner took his seat on the forefront without paying attention to his classmates.

The lesson had already started and for that he had the chance to distract himself from the current circumstances.

Although Severus was au fait with the subject matter, he listened sternly and carefully took notes, which could not be said about a certain Gryffindor in the last row who was in the process of receiving a handful of pink folded love-letters from various girls and who himself was about to write a hasty letter which was rumpled and thrown to Severus' direction who startled for having been hit on the back of his head.

"Now, let's see what Snivelly thinks 'bout our flat share" James smirked while thinking of some cruel plans to get back at Snape for the violation of his holiday.

Said bursa slowly turned around to throw an angry look at Potter who himself made a slight gesture for the Slytherin to read his message.

Irritated Severus bend forward to reach the small piece of paper.

"Excellent", he thought, "not only will the blockhead tantalise me the whole summer, but also he had decided to start right now with distracting me from class" Not paying attention - even in nonessential Transformation class - gnawed slightly at the Slytherin's conscience.

Nevertheless, Severus unfolded the paper ball to reveal the message:

Snivelly,

I don't understand how Dumbledore
and my parents could allow such a
slimy skunk to cock up the best time
of the year, but you'd better guard
yourself!
My parents will meet us at the de-
parture gate of the station at 7PM,
you'd better not be late!

"Well, what a lucky beggar I am", both boys thought at the same time.

-------------------------------------------

"Oh how I hate crowds", an outspent Severus mumbled more to himself than to anyone of the about 40 fellow mates who tried to get into the Hogwarts Express all at the same time trough the same door.

About ten minutes later all the chivvying kids were inside of the already rolling train and it didn't take very long until a much swatted Slytherin couldn't find an empty compartment.

"Perhaps you could sit with James and his friends on the train so that you won't get lost on the station" the voice of a much too old headmaster resounded in his ears.

"No way", Severus spoke out loud in a furious voice.

"It is all but impossible that this blasted train contains exactly 314 seats and the only one left is in Potter's cabin, I'll find another one", at least he hoped.

In the meantime, in the teachers' compartment, the blue eyes of a meddling old man twinkled with gratification.

And about twenty minutes later a dark-haired adolescent with folded arms sat between two of his favourite marauders, the other two on his opposite and a much irritated Transfiguration teacher at the door frame, giving a lecture about loyalty and behaviour, then turned to Peter Pettigrew to retransform his skin from a dark purple back into an adequate colour and finally leaved a totally frightened black-haired sheep to be blown into little bits by the wolves.