So here is the second chapter. Thank you for all the reviews. I'm going to be introducing some more characters this chapter, maybe even some fellow Death Eaters! Hope you enjoy and please leave me a review!

Severus sat on the Hogwarts Express staring blankly at the window. The train hadn't even left the station yet and the platform was filled with life. Parents calling to their children, scrambling last possession. Telling them they loved them, kissing them, hugging them. Being generally affectionate, something that Severus' household had always lacked. He hadn't even spoken to his father this morning as he left the house for another term. His mother had brought him down to London. Driven him down to near Kings Cross, bid him farewell from the car and left again. She almost seemed relieved to see him go.

He supposed really he couldn't blame her. This summer, like so many before, had been horrendous. Torrent of abuse after torrent of abuse from Tobias directed at his only son, his only child. Severus had been battered and bruised as usual, but lacked the escapism the summer usually brought, Lily Evans' house and her parents. Both so alike to the parents on the platform. Constantly expressing love for their youngest. Their talented daughter. The one who was a witch. The one they were so proud of. Severus supposed they were proud of Petunia too, but he never actually saw that seeing as she always made herself scarce when he made an appearance at the house. Although Severus was confident she couldn't be anything like as

talented as Lily. She was a muggle after all. And he better stay strong to this viewpoint. He could hardly claim any muggle had talent to You Know Who. Mind you, You Know Who was unlikely to be enthralled by the idea Severus thought a muggle born was talented.

He had made his way through busy London to Kings Cross, made his way to the platform with ease and then selected a quiet compartment. Normally he might share this compartment with Lily. But as she wasn't around and he didn't have the energy or the inclination to look for Avery or Mulciber, he sat by himself. He didn't really need them anyway. He was a lone wizard. And beside, the less people he cared about the better. The more you

care, the more you have to lose, he thought to himself. Of course Severus

couldn't know now the son of his Lily would one day utter those words. Except that boy would have so much to lose, so many people surrounding him to love him.

Frankly, Severus had no one.

Of course he wasn't afforded the luxury of spending the journey alone, not long before setting off he was joined by a group of fourth years. He only recognised one of them as part of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Jack Peakes or something like that. Great, Severus thought to himself, exactly what I need. A journey surrounded by rowdy Gryffindors. One of which is in cahoots with James Potter. Yes, really ideal.

He reached in his bag and pulled out a copy of Advanced Potion Making. He hadn't had much of a chance to look at it over the summer. Mainly because his dad hated magic and Severus did not want to see the argument ensue after being caught with a school textbook. The book was second hand but did not yet have any notes written in it.

Severus pulled out a quill and turned to the first page.

"This book is property of the Half Blood Prince"

He'd fashioned his nickname over two years ago now. One summer whilst spending time with his mother he'd eventually found out her maiden name. Oh how he wished he was a Prince instead of a Snape. Princea noble pure blood family. His mother was the last Prince left in this country. And she had smeared the name by meeting a muggle. Not that that could be undone now. He was half blood. Everyone knew that. How many Snapes were there in the wizarding world? But everyone knew he had some magic blood in him, only that would make him worthy of Slytherin. So he was proud of that. He was a member of the sacred 28, even if only by half.

A girl opposite him was watching him with narrowed eyes. She was following his hand as he wrote the letters in his usual pointy script.

"Why would you write in a book?" She asked.

"Um, so I know it's mine?" He didn't really want to answer her but gave her the most sarcastic one he could think of.

"What about if you want to sell it on? Or give it to a friend? A younger sibling?"

"Well we can't all be as generous as you," he sneered.

Selling it on, yes that would be an option. But he didn't really have

any friends, well not any he would want to gift something to. And he didn't have any younger siblings. And who did she think she was talking to him?

"And we're not all as lucky as you not to have to!" Snapped the boy sat next to

him.

Severus ignored the last comment. In what sense of the word was he lucky?

I spent most of my childhood and early life being abused by my dad. My one

friend now hates me. Still at least I have joining the Death Eaters this summer. I could wipe the three of them out with one curse.

Severus went back to his book, annotating potions he had already brewed in the extra time he had spent in the potions lab. He pored over new concoctions

considering possible changes that may be made. He wondered what Slughorn would have them working on first. Severus excelled in most subjects but was

particularly gifted in potions. And of course Defence Against the Dark Arts. He had already perfected a number of spells. One of which, Levicorpus, had been brutally used against him. But he was still the only known user of Sectumsempra.

As he considered possible counter curses for this one, he heard the compartment door slide open. He hadn't been expecting this little reunion quite so soon.

James Potter stood at the door of the carriage. Dark hair messy and up on end, silver rimmed circular glasses and his familiar smirk. His eyes roved over Severus. It was one of the rare occasions where James didn't have back up now.

No Sirius, no Remus and no Peter. Severus took a guess and decided it was

somewhat unlikely that James would attempt anything without his cronies to

support him. Besides, he didn't have enough of an audience right now for him to bother. James lately seemed far more interested in whole school humiliation. No, he was more likely to just taunt than turn him upside down. Nevertheless,

Severus found himself gripping the wand in his jeans pocket.

"Good summer, Snivellus?" He grinned at Severus.

Severus ignored him and stared resolutely at his book. He wasn't starting a fight with Potter before they'd even got to

school.

"Missing Evans?" James taunted.

Severus felt his face burn and was determined not to look up and give it away.

"See the thing is, Snivellus, you've only got yourself to blame," James continued, after failing to get a

response. "You and your potty mouth. Always getting you into trouble. I heard even Professor Dumbledore doesn't like you."

Severus had no idea what point James was trying to make but was starting to find it more difficult to ignore him.

"No it's everyone, Snivellus. School wide as I understood it."

Severus sighed and turned a page in his book.

"Aw you're brushing up so the teachers like you?" James cooed. "See I don't need to do that, I have something known as charisma."

"I don't really care if people like me or not, Potter," he said coldly. "I'm more interested in my future."

"Your future?" James half laughed.

"Three years running around with the Death Eaters then I'm guessing a lifetime in Azkaban. Bet your mum and dad must be so proud of you."

"Okay, okay, stop." The girl had spoken again. "Listen, you're not even out of Hogwarts yet. We're supposed to be strong as a school. Professor Dumbledore said so. Fighting amongst ourselves isn't going to help anyone.

James and Severus turned to face the girl looking a little perplexed at why she was getting involved.

James was the first to speak. "Well, anyway. Jack I just came to tell you that Quidditch trials are second weekend back. George is still captain and he asked me to tell everyone on the team last year. You know with him being head boy as well, he's not had the chance" Wow, James made himself seem so important. More George left you to do something he couldn't be bothered with.

Jack was busy thanking James so Severus turned back to look out the window.

He wondered if Lily would keep going to the games now they no longer spoke. They used to go together, usually cheer for rival teams and laugh about it together. He remembered the Ravenclaw v Hufflepuff match in second year. They had been together in a top box. Neither of them knew a thing about Quidditch really, so they had just made up rubbish suggestions of what their team should do.

"Ravenclaw should just keep flying through the hoop with the Quaffle," Lily had laughed.

"Yeah but only after Hufflepuff caught the Snitch and they never realised!" Severus had joked.

He missed laughing with Lily. So much.

After what felt like an eternity, James left the compartment.

"I'm sure your parents are proud of you," the girl offered as the only piece of encouragement she apparently had.

"Thanks," he muttered, turning back to his book. Yes, that seems likely. My dad hates me and attacks me at any moment he has and my mum is just pleased to see me leave the house. Neither one of them said well done when he got his 12 OWLs in summer. Maybe neither of them had noticed.

"I wouldn't be too nice to him," Jack Peakes finally spoke to him, or more about him. "I hear he has a problem with muggle borns."

The girl's eyes narrowed.

"I look, I don't-" he started. But why was he bothering? Why was he trying to make these kids like him? They were Gryffindors for a start.

The girl raised her eyebrows. She reminded him a bit of Lily, the way she used the same facial expressions to convey when she was unhappy.

Speaking of Lily, he still hadn't managed to catch a glimpse of her this whole train journey.

Severus finally arrived in the Great Hall. Lucien Bole, a Slytherin boy in his year, was sat next to him and baking conversation. Bole played on the Slytherin team and had slick, blond hair. He was from a powerful pure blood family and wasted no time in making this fact known. He was one of the few Severus felt confident discussing his mission to join the Death Eaters with. Curiously however, Bole's own parents did not seem to be Death Eaters.

"Of course, it will be perfect when we join. This time next year the entire school will fear us," Bole continued.

Snape nodded, he figured he and Bole would join together, probably with Avery and Mulciber. The other two boys sat opposite them.

"How do you think we'll conceal the mark from the teachers though?" Avery asked seriously.

"Wear long sleeves?" Snape responded sarcastically. He became very aware that from the high table, Professor Dumbledore was watching him. Almost as though he was listening. Severus of course, was a master of occlumency. He was less sure whether the other three had acquired this skill. Unwilling to be hauled into the headmaster's office on the first day of term, Severus nudged the others to indicate they should be quiet.

Bedtime finally arrived. Despite scanning the hall persistently, he had failed to see Lily Evans that night. Maybe she hadn't made it back to Hogwarts? Was she okay?

His mind drifted back to the last time he had seen her. He'd ran into her and her mother in a shopping centre. Severus had simply used it as a new place to wander, having no money of his own. Lily and Mrs Evans were laden with bags. This was just another indication of just how different the lives that they led were.

Lily had clearly spotted him almost immediately and he made a move to go another direction. However, his move had been moments too late. Mrs Evans had been calling him over.

He walked over, hands in pockets, prepared for one of the most awkward conversations he could experience.

"Oh it's so lovely to see you, Severus," Mrs Evans exclaimed. Strange, Severus thought to himself. After his encounter with Mr Evans he was amazed she was speaking to him at all.

"It's good to see you too," he had half mumbled back.

"Richard told me about your OWLs. I hear congratulations are in order!"

"Thanks," he mumbled again.

"I think it's such a shame you two don't get along any more." And there it was, back to his fall out with Lily. He wanted to blame Lily, she didn't want to speak to him anymore. Not the other way round. Even if he had caused it, why should he be fully responsible?

This dark thought continued to haunt his dreams until he eventually woke at 5am, panting and covered in a cold sweat.