Severus woke up on the first day of term feeling grouchy and irritated. His sleep had been interrupted so many times by an assortment of dreams, Lily flitting in and out of them. One dream crossed his mind making him half smile

He was down by the lake with Lily. They were having a picnic. Nothing special just food they took from lunch. The sun was shining on the two of them. Severus didn't have a care in the world. Neither did Lily. Both of their OWLs were over, leaving them free to relax for the rest of the summer. They were holding hands. She was coming closer. He gazed into her beautiful bright green eyes. She was closer still

Severus snapped back to reality. Of course at the time he was picturing so vividly in his dream was a mere week after they had stopped speaking, after the horrible afternoon on the grass with Potter and Black.

Speaking of can't do any wrong characters. Julius Sharpe and Matthew Flint were talking loudly across the room. They were Slughorn's absolute favourites he was sure. Except maybe Dan Sayes. But what did he care about him? He was Gryffindor. No Sharpe and Flint were certainly just as smarmy as Potter and Black. And just as likely to harbour some other romantic feelings for one another, Severus thought to himself. Yes the goody two shoes of the Slytherin house. Probably half blood or less too, Severus thought darkly. Flint and Sharpe were perfect examples of Slytherins who would never become Death Eaters. Hero worshipped by the school. They had the popularity he, Avery and Mulciber could never achieve despite their new status as the future Death Eaters, something not even old Sluggy could hide his disappointment in.

Severus got hurriedly ready for breakfast and followed Sharpe and Flint up for breakfast.

"Morning, Snape, good summer?" Sharpe enquired as he turned back to look at Snape. Julius Sharpe had dark hair that he kept combed over but with a tendency to fall in his face. He had defined features and dark eyes which seemed to light up on his favourite topics. Severus couldn't see it, but he knew that Sharpe was ever popular with the girls in the school. In fact, in fourth year, even Lily had mentioned an interest in him to Severus. He had pointed out the usual, Sharpe was from a dark wizard family. Lily wouldn't want to be associated with him. Sharpe's father had in fact been involved with Grindelwald many years before. Not that this was a well known fact but Severus was well read. He hadn't simply made this up to vie for Lily's affections. He was genuinely one of the few to know the truth about Sharpe. Of course, making stuff up to keep Lily interested in him wasn't exactly out of Severus' realm.

Severus shrugged in answer to the question. "It was okay," he muttered. "How about you?"

"Oh it was excellent!" Sharpe replied. "My dad got me a new racing broom. Matthew came over to try it out."

Sharpe was of course referring to Matthew Flint. Flint was a fair flyer himself. Better built that Sharpe. Good looking and serious about studies but generally a bit of a prankster. Certainly not above getting involved in a joke at Severus' expense.

"Are you thinking of trying for the Quidditch team this year, Snape?" Sharpe enquired almost immediately when Severus failed to comment on the broomstick.

Severus was immediately forced back to first year. Flying lessons. He had felt on top of the world, soaring around the school on the second lesson in.

Some students hadn't even managed to properly get off the ground yet and here he was soaring with the best of them. Sharpe and Flint were there. Bole, and Sayes. And of course Potter and Black. Messing around the tallest tower, being screamed at by Madam Hooch. Perhaps if he hadn't enjoyed the idea of them being in trouble so much it wouldn't have happened. Perhaps if he and Bole hadn't been laughing so hard he wouldn't have smacked into that wall and fallen Severus floors to the fall in a crumpled heap with a broken broom. Oh how they'd all laughed. Lily had been the first one there of course. Trying to help him up. And Sayes had been there too, always willing to prove himself the hero. He'd spent most of the rest of that day in the hospital wing

So in reality, no he wasn't going to try out for the Quidditch team.

"Yeah, think I'll give it a miss, Sharpe," he muttered.

"Oh, it's just I'm captain now," he exclaimed excitedly. "Puts me on the same level as Bole with his prefect badge!" He added smugly.

Oh and there it was. So he had no real interest in if Severus was joining the team. He just wanted to show off. Just another example of how disinterested the rest of the world was with Severus' life. Any chance that anyone cared about him kept disappearing. He walked up the stairs with fresh determination. I'm going to join the Death Eaters before anyone else. Before Mulciber and Avery, for once I'm going to be the best at something. I'm going to become the Dark Lord's favourite even if no one else gives a damn.

Maybe Severus was naïve, if he really knew the Dark Lord, he know he had no human attachment to anyone. But in Severus' position, the idea of any kind of favouritism was aspirational.

Severus was confident he was easily one of the best in his year. He excelled in Defence Against the Dark Arts. But as with all other lessons, someone else was just that bit better. Or someone else was the teacher's pet. Meaning he rarely, if ever, got a compliment there. Not that Severus needed or craved attention. He was a lone warrior and he was determined and set on his destiny. People would respect him a lot more in the next couple of years though when he had the power to destroy the lot of them.

With that thought in mind, Severus half smirked as he walked past James Potter and his friends, having a lively debate over their toast.

"Alright, Snivellus?" Black called loudly.

Severus put his head back down, refusing to let them spoil his mood and determination. He settled himself down at the Slytherin table and pulled toast toward him.

"So, new schedules this morning," Bole commented. He was perusing his copy of the Daily Prophet whilst the large owl, the Bole family pet, sat next to him sipping pumpkin juice.

Of course, Severus had almost forgotten, he would finally see how his options would pan out in a timetable. Discover when he had free for the library and making plans with Avery and Mulciber. And finally, he might have some lessons away from Potter and Black.

Professor Slughorn was walking along the table handing out sixth year schedules. Severus took his muttering a thank you whilst Sharpe and Flint made a point of thanking him profusely.

He had Defence Against the Dark Arts first which he was pleased about and also double Potions on the first Monday back. He had Arithmancy first on a Tuesday and didn't have Transfiguration until Wednesday afternoon. Charms fell on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

He sighed as he looked at his timetable. He was suddenly remembered how he and Lily and selected their options in February last year and realised they had picked virtually all the same subjects. She had not chosen Arithmancy, opting instead for Herbology but it mean in 4 out of 5 lessons he would be with her as they exchanged awkward glances and maintained what he liked to think was a dignified silence. Don't kid yourself, Severus. She's mad at you.
He expected this year due to numbers dropping as people split into subject there would be no chance they would be separated by house either. Although Gryffindor and Slytherin had been together for every lesson he had attended to far in his school life.
Flipping over the Daily Prophet he peered at the headline.
HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED LAUNCHES ANOTHER ATTACK IN MANCHESTER
Severus' family lived not far from Manchester and he perused the article, concerned for his mother. Going to have to get past that, Severus thought darkly. She'll be the first on his hit list if I give away any inclination I care for her. Relieved there was nothing to suggest their area had been attacked, Severus was about to put the paper down when an unfamiliar voice cut across him.
"You must be so proud to think you can be part of that soon, Snivellus," a Ravenclaw boy he expected from him year sneered at him.
"And you are?" he said coldly.
"Oliver Warner, captain of the quidditch team?" he posed it almost as though it were a question.
"And you're speaking to me why?" he continued icily.
"I'm in your group, for potions."
"Group for what?" Severus frowned.
"We're working on a project this year to create a love potion. I'm with you," Oliver looked at Severus as though he was dense.
"Nope," said Severus.
"Well yes we are, there's one of us from each house. We have Sirius Black. And a girl from Hufflepuff I've not met yet."
Severus groaned. A whole project with Sirius Black?
"Why?" he asked out loud before he could stop himself.
"It's about inter house cooperation with the war against You Know Who. Although judging by this," he turned the paper over with disgust. "You're not going to be doing much cooperation."
"It's my choice, what I do with my life, Oliver," he muttered the last word with particular disdain.
"Yes, you'll be so happy when you're a murderer," Oliver turned and walked away.
Bole leant over to him.
"I'd probably take it easy on the Death Eater stuff with him, mate," he said carefully.
"Why?" Severus snapped.
"You Know Who had his parents murdered last year, top aurors. Were too good clearly," Bole continued. "Lost his cool this summer when he ran into some of them himself. Reckon they wanted to recruit him. He used the cruciatus curse on them. Quite effectively from what my father says."
Severus furrowed his brow. What was Slughorn playing at?

Defense Against the Dark Arts was the first lesson of the new term. Severus immediately took a seat at the back next to Bole. Avery and Mulciber, despite their love of this subject, had not received the required grades to continue. Although they appeared to be the only ones. The class was packed.
Professor Sayes, the current DADA professor, swept into the room moments later. Severus thought he would always get on well with Sayes as he had learnt early on in his school years he had been part of Grindelwald's followers. Yet Sayes seemed to show no fixation with the Dark Arts at all. Nor did he have any interest in joining Voldemort, choosing instead to focus on his family and the security of the school. He was certainly Dumbledore's left hand man. As a result, Severus had always felt his relationship with Professor was rather frosty. However, he did have one key strength over the other teachers.
Potter and Black swanned in late, five minutes after the bell had rung.
Sayes immediately removed five points from both of them before continuing with his session. This was why Professor Sayes was one of his favourite teachers. He actively disciplined Potter and Black. He didn't laugh off their behaviour, he didn't let them get away with whatever they wanted. He treated them as he would every other student. In his lessons, they were not golden boys.

Severus was still unclear by the afternoon as to what Slughorn's joke was when it came to double potions. He was also becoming rapidly unclear as to how the Sorting Hat had made the mistake of putting Oliver Warner into Ravenclaw. He was pretty sure however the Sorting Hat had made no mistake whatsoever in putting Annabelle into Hufflepuff. Frankly, this creation was going to be down to him and Black if he could ever stop shouting to James long enough to do any work.
So Severus Snape and Sirius Black. Not exactly a match made in heaven and with neither of them willing to give an inch and hand over any development to the other, or cease insulting one another, this potion was never going to be finished.
"Snivellus, I don't know why you think you have any authority on love potions," Sirius sneered.
"They don't create real love though," Annabelle said, apparently missing the insult.
"Wouldn't matter to Snivellus," Sirius grinned. "He'd need more than the world's strongest love potion to get a girl interested in him."
"Probably need to stun her first," Oliver smirked.
"I've heard you need to Confund girls to get them first, Warner," Severus snapped back.
"Clearly a touchy subject," Sirius half laughed. "Which girl failed to fall victim of your potion?"
"Trust me, Black, if I was going to make a love potion it would be more than effective."
"Yes but I wouldn't need a love potion. I don't have a foot of grease surrounding my face and a nose I could hang my cloak on."
"But you do laugh like a dog and smell like one too."
Sirius paused, clearly thinking over a response.
"Well if words fail you, Black, we could always make a start on the potion."
"Why do you need to use it later?" Black said evilly.
"Unfortunately your lack of magical knowledge has failed to inform you you can't create a new love potion in two hours."
"Oh have you tried before?" Black was quick with this response. He and Warner were sniggering whole heartedly at their jokes.
"So boys, and lady," Slughorn swept over. "What have we come up with so far?"
"Well," Oliver began. "Severus has decided he doesn't need a love potion. He's just going to knock them out cold."
Sirius sniggered. Slughorn didn't laugh although looked vaguely amused.
"Unfortunately, Oliver my boy, the task is to create a love potion, not a spell."
"Yes but unfortunately Warner doesn't understand the difference. He thinks if he waves his wand a rainbow will come out," Snape was literally glowering at Warner now.
"Now boys, I'm sure we can work cooperatively. No reason why all the houses can't get on."
Well, except the fact that actually I believe Voldemort is right. The riff raff this school let in these days. Oliver might have magical blood, but Annabelle clearly does not. And look where that's got her. But think about Lily. One of the brightest witches in the class. Exception, not the rule, he told himself firmly.
-

At dinner, Severus saw Lily for the third time that day. She was sat smiling and talking to a first year girl who appeared to be crying. He watched her with something of admiration as she comforted the girl, always unfailingly kind and thoughtful. He could see her becoming Head Girl next year. He supposed he should at least enjoy these moments of being to see her. Under two years away and he would probably never see her again. After six years of friendship had ended so abruptly last summer he doubted it could ever be rekindled.

He had seen her, as expected in Defence Against the Dark Arts at the beginning of the day. She was laughing with her friends at the front of the room, well away from where Bole chose to sit. This had meant he had no chance of catching her eye and he had left before her, as Bole had been in a hurry to practice flying in his free.

Once again he had seen her in potions. Again from across the room. She seemed to be getting on well with her group, talking animatedly to Matthew Flint and laughing at his jokes. It had made his stomach turn over in misery. Surely she couldn't be interested in him?

-
"Oh Snape, I haven't told about my summer yet," Julius Sharpe was talking to him. For the second time today. Wondering vaguely what he'd done so badly in a past life to be speaking to him, he turned to look at him.
"What happened?" Severus feigned interest as effectively as he knew how.
"Well, my girlfriend is muggle born. She took me to all these amazing muggle places. We went to the cinema. I have to tell you, even better than the portraits here, they tell a story. And there's loads of them in there. Did you know about the cinema?"
"Yep," Severus said boredly. "My dad is a muggle, remember?"
This conversion did nothing more than to highlight just how differently he and Sharpe were. Sharpe excited by muggle creations. He couldn't wait to get away to get away from muggle rubbish. Nothing ever worked properly. Why faff around trying to build something out of wire and crap when you can cast a spell in two seconds and it does exactly the same? If Sharpe wanted story telling portraits he could bewitch it for him.
Of course the muggle world only served to remind him of Lily even more and his heart turned over. They had all sorts of truly muggle things in their house. A TV which she had encouraged him to sit and watch. A toaster she'd warmed him some bread in. A vacuum they'd mucked around with when they were about ten. Timing how long it took to suck different objects up. Laughing when the Rice Crispies had snapped, crackled and popped in the hose. He didn't really have these contraptions at home. His mother didn't use much magic but she certainly didn't use modern muggle development. For a start, they couldn't afford them.
He thought back to summer after fourth year when he and Lily had sat in her luxurious living room. White sofas with a cream carpet, minimalist decoration and expensive ornaments. Severus wasn't even sure what some of them were supposed to be but they certainly demonstrated wealth. They'd sat in front of the TV that evening. Lily's parents were on holiday and Petunia at a house party. They were cuddled up on the sofa under a warm cream throw. He had genuinely believed something might happen that night. He'd had his arm rested around her shoulders and she hadn't stopped him. They'd been laughing in sync at the television show. They'd been so close. He had wondered then if he she could kiss her. He wondered now if he regretted it. What difference would it have made? He wasn't speaking to her now anyway. And it wasn't even a physical attraction that had made him want to kiss her. It was everything about her, the way she was positive about everything. The way she always had something nice to say about him when he didn't have anything nice to say about himself. Frankly there was no one left to say nice things now...
"Severus, are you listening to me?"