Author's Note: Okay, so I'm trying something a bit different with this fic. I really wanted to write it in first person, but rather than leaping between Hermione and Severus POV, I've decided to write two versions of it. The second is titled "When A Phoenix Cries: Severus" and will be updating in parallel to this one from this point on. The primary plot will follow Hermione but if you fancy getting a peek into Severus' head, hop over and check out the companion fic. The chapter numbers won't line up, but the chapter titles will. Please note that, due to this arrangement, some chapters may run significantly long or short as the content dictates. If I've not explained this adequately, feel free to ask any questions in your review or PM me and I'll try to clear it up.

Severus POV fic should be up within the hour. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter III - Back to Hogwarts

I was almost dancing through the diner that night. I hadn't realized just how depressed I'd become until faced with the knowledge that I'd soon be returning to Hogwarts. Even as a Slytherin, I'd be surrounded by other people, I may make a few friends, and I'd be learning! For the first time since I'd found myself in the past, I felt like I had a future.

I didn't work Monday or Tuesday at the diner and I managed to switch my shifts with another docent for the museum. Mr. Rosewood lamented my leaving and offered me a position for the following summer. I told him that I'd keep it in mind though I wasn't sure what the next year would bring. In truth, that was more to placate him than anything. I didn't expect to be returning to any muggle workforce after graduation unless I had no other choice.

The weekend passed quickly as I spent the entire thing paging through books. It really wasn't that difficult since I already knew most of it. I just had to identify anything that looked a little bit unfamiliar and review the few things that I hadn't used much since fifth year.

By Monday morning, I felt confident that I was prepared.

The Hogwarts wards admitted me as promised and since I was a few minutes early, I walked up to the castle slowly, reveling in the warm morning air and all of my familiar old haunts that I could see from the walk. Looking up at Gryffindor Tower was a bit depressing as I'd not be returning there.

Dumbledore greeted me warmly when I entered the startlingly empty great hall, and introduced me to the handful of teachers that were present. McGonagall was there, as was Slughorn, and Madam Pomfrey, though she was simply introduced as Poppy as she was only an apprentice at present. There were also a few that I hadn't met before. Madam Wynsor, the mediwitch in charge of the hospital wing, was a kindly older woman of around Dumbledore's age with very warm brown eyes and a motherly smile. Professor Birch was the Herbology professor, a lanky, middle aged wizard with eyes the color of soft, healthy grass and a mop of light brown hair that was messy enough to remind me of Harry. Professor Fame was the Arithmancy professor. He carried his weight as well as he carried his advancing years and was polite enough though he seemed terminally distracted, as though he was constantly running complex calculations in his mind.

"Miss Wilkins will be in your house, Horace," Dumbledore smiled warmly.

"Is that the case?" Slughorn chuckled happily. "We're happy to have you, Miss Wilkins. Tell me, do you play Quidditch at all?"

Hermione grimaced, "No, Professor. I've never been much of a flyer."

"Oh," he visibly deflated. "That's too bad. We're in need of a new keeper…"

"She's an exceptionally bright witch, Horace," Dumbledore twinkled. "I've no doubt she'll be a credit to the Slytherin house."

It took absolutely everything I had to avoid cringing at that thought, and the suddenly predatory look in Slughorn's eye didn't help any. I remembered being one of his "favorites".

I was extremely glad when the meal at last ended and Dumbledore conjured the table for my testing. I'd spent the entire meal politely dodging Slughorn's evidently well-intentioned questions. I had managed to shut him up for a whole five minutes when he'd asked about my family and I'd told him bluntly that my parents had recently died.

I at last settled down at the table with an unfamiliar instructor to begin my first OWL. Defense. I was glad that it had come first and wondered if Dumbledore had planned it that way so that I could address it while my mind was still as fresh as possible.

I flew through the written portion in half the allotted time, which allowed me to spend more time on the essay at the end. I'd come a long way in Defense since my fifth year, and personally I suspected that Harry's exemplary skill had made mine look worse than it was. I was determined to get a better grade this time, and while I suspected that I was perfectly capable of it, I wasn't taking anything for granted.

There was no maximum length for the essay, so I completed a full two feet of parchment. I could have gone further, but the rather alarmed instructor had advised me to wrap it up in the next two inches when he'd noticed the length.

The practical portion wasn't difficult either since I'd had so much more time to practice the spells since the end of my fifth year. When I'd completed Expelliarmus, Impedimenta, Incarcerus, and Lumos to "perfection" – the instructor's word – I asked if I could do any more advanced spells for extra credit. He let me choose which one, so I summoned my patronus.

He seemed greatly impressed by that, watching my silvery otter hop around his feet with evident glee.

I was tempted to do a few more, but I didn't want to push my luck and go from being talented and enterprising to an annoying know-it-all.

As the day progressed, I continued to feel confident about my successes. Potions was the last test before I broke for lunch and I noticed with some trepidation that Slughorn showed up in time to observe my practical test.

I made a calming draught and I was certain that it had turned out perfectly even before Slughorn began singing my praises. The best part was that the fumes helped to keep me calm while I was brewing it.

And so my entire dinner was spent listening to Slughorn go on and on about how brilliant I was and what promise I had in a future as a potions' mistress. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled through the entire bloody meal.

I discovered that day that exams didn't make me as nervous as they used to. I suspected that that was in part due to the fact that I was a sixth year graduate taking OWLs for the second time, but I realized that it also had something to do with the predicament that my life had become. It was hard to get too worked up over exams in the face of the fact that my entire life had been turned upside down by a meddlesome phoenix, I may never see my parents or Ron and Harry again, and I was going to be twenty years old when I was born. Oh, and of course Voldemort was building followers and preparing to try to take over the wizarding world even while I took my tests.

By the time I got home that night, I did nothing but fall into bed and pass out.

I woke up at a quarter to seven and gaped at my clock before throwing myself out of bed and casting charms as quickly as I could to fix my hair and clean my clothes and press the wrinkles out of them. Then I apparated directly from my house to Hogwarts. Thanks to my books on wards, I had figured out how to create wards that allowed only specific people to pass through them. Mine allowed only me.

As soon as I appeared at the castle, I started running and I ran all the way to the Great Hall before I paused, doubling over with my hands on my knees as I tried to catch my breath in the couple minutes I had to spare before entering.

"Miss Wilkins?" a familiar sharp voice inquired.

I straightened up and nodded, glad for all the running I'd done over the last couple months as my breathing was already beginning to slow. "Hello, Professor McGonagall."

"Are you okay, dear?" the surprisingly young professor inquired.

"I'm afraid I had a bit of a lie in this morning," I smiled, "but I made it."

McGonagall's lips curled into the smallest smile, "I see that. Well, come on in. We won't find any food out here."

I nodded and fell into step with her.

"You have Transfiguration first thing this morning," she noted with a sidelong glance.

"Oh great!" I said enthusiastically. "I love transfiguration."

She smiled another small but kind smile. "Have you had much luck with it?"

I couldn't help but laugh. To her curious look, I gestured to my robes. "This started as pajamas."

She actually chuckled softly at that. "Well, I suppose I won't hold it against you that you're in a rival house, then."

My smile faltered as I remembered that. Professor McGonagall had always been like a surrogate mother to me. Now I was stuck with Horace Slughorn.

"That was a joke, dear," she said quickly.

"Oh, it wasn't you," I assured her. "It's just… Well, I've read Hogwarts: A History. I always imagined myself a Gryffindor. I argued quite profusely with the sorting hat, but to no avail."

She laughed again, "Don't worry yourself, dear. I'm sure you'll make an admiral Slytherin."

I sincerely hoped not.

Transfiguration was a breeze and Arithmancy went smoothly. Those were followed by Muggle Studies, which I completed with significant ease. Blessedly, Professor McGonagall seemed keen to talk to me today, saving me from some of Slughorn's attentions.

"You have quite the talent for transfigurations, Miss Wilkins," she noted, having stopped by to watch my practical portion. "Do you intend to continue at the NEWT level?"

"Absolutely," I assured her.

"Having seen what I did, I'm sure you'll pass," she assured me. "I'll be glad to have you."

"Thank you, Professor," I smiled.

"What classes are you planning to take?" Dumbledore questioned from the other side of McGonagall. "Obviously you won't be able to take all that classes in which you're taking OWLs."

I nodded my agreement. "Yes, sir. I'd like to take Transfiguration, Charms, Arithmancy, Defense, Potions, Ancient Runes, and Herbology."

He looked thoughtful, "An interesting list. More than most NEWT students undertake, though that doesn't surprise me."

"I like to stay busy, sir."

"Well, you'll certainly manage it with that list."

"You understand how demanding NEWT classes can be, Miss Wilkins?" Professor McGonagall asked with some concern.

"Yes, Professor," I nodded. "I've always enjoyed studying. I don't expect it will be a problem."

Slughorn chuckled and took advantage of the way I'd been leaning forward to talk to Dumbledore to slap a chubby hand across my back. "Enjoys studying! I love this girl!" he declared.

I muffled my resulting cough and tried to smile through my grimace. My headache wasn't severe today, but it seemed omnipresent, as it often had since I'd arrived in 1977. The fact that the headaches seemed to be decreasing slightly in severity helped to assuage my fears regarding any true danger indicated by them. I expected that perhaps I was merely adjusting to my new place in time and that they would eventually go away entirely.

I completed my exams after lunch and sat down to dinner with my professors one last time before returning to Muggle London. I couldn't help but notice how very empty my house felt now. It made me wonder what would happen when the school year ended. Would I go back to being alone? I had hoped that I might make a few real friends that I could take away from the year, but being placed in Slytherin didn't give me much hope. Thinking back to my own time at Hogwarts, I couldn't imagine any Slytherin worth knowing, much less befriending.

I made a trip to Diagon Alley after work on Wednesday morning and purchased some of my school things so that I'd have something to distract myself. I wouldn't actually get my list until my OWL scores came back in another week, but I felt confident enough in my scores to shop for the classes I'd told Dumbledore that I wanted – I knew that he wouldn't have forgotten.

At Flourish and Blotts, Mr Renfield was happy to take back the books I'd purchased to prepare for my OWLs, and quite eager to redirect my attention to the seventh year books for the classes that I wanted.

I shrunk my stack of books and tucked them into an expanded pocket, turning to call another thanks to Mr. Renfield as I neared the door. My back collided with something warm and rather soft and I lost my balance.

A pair of long, slim hands closed around my waist, steadying me. I spun around, spouting apologies. "I'm so sorry, I…" I trailed off when I got a good look at the young man I'd nearly trampled. He looked about my age and at first I nearly thought it was Draco Malfoy. His platinum hair was long though, and I realized that I was face to face with a very young Lucius Malfoy.

"Not at all," he dismissed my stammered apology, his voice as rich as I remembered it, but for once not tinged in malice or disgust. "I don't believe that we've met, Miss…"

I swallowed hard and forced my lips into a small smile. Hermione Wilkins had never met Lucius Malfoy. There was absolutely no legitimate excuse for me to loathe everything about him. I'd have to be nice until he gave me a reason to hate him. Surely it couldn't take that long. "Wilkins," I managed, my voice stronger than I'd feared. "Hermione Wilkins."

"Hermione," he leered. "What an absolutely lovely name. I'm Lucius. Lucius Malfoy."

I didn't let myself react to his name, hoping it would irk him to think I'd never heard of him. "How do you do, Mr. Malfoy," I said politely as I started to edge past him.

"Lucius, please," he corrected, moving subtly to obstruct my escape route.

"Lucius then," I allowed. "I'm afraid I really must be going. I have a lot more shopping to do today."

"Do you not go to Hogwarts?" he asked curiously, ignoring my attempts to leave.

I took a step back, relenting for the moment to his persistence. "I've been taught at home, but I'll be starting Hogwarts this year."

"Are you a seventh year?"

"Yes," I said, trying not to seem as impatient to be away from him as I was.

"So am I," he smiled as though it were the most delightful coincidence.

"Imagine that," I sighed.

"Do you know which house you're in?"

"Slytherin," I admitted grudgingly.

His smooth smile broadened, "My kind of girl. I'm Slytherin as well."

"I guessed that," I nodded.

He looked curious.

"Your cloak pin," I nodded toward the silver serpent with emerald eyes, its fangs holding his cloak on.

"Smart girl," he congratulated.

"Observant," I corrected. "Very little intelligence was required to make the leap."

"And witty," he practically purred.

"It was very nice to meet you, Lucius," I smiled, certain that it didn't touch my eyes but unable to care. I closed my hands around his forearms and physically turned him aside so that I had a clear route to the door.

I did not look back, slipping quickly into the crowded street and beyond his sight. I had not even considered that I may very well know some of my classmates. I wasn't sure why, but I hadn't. I didn't want to think about who else I might know. Lucius Malfoy was bad enough.

I stopped by Madam Malkin's next since I knew I'd be needing school robes and I wanted to pick up some more casual stuff as well. Apart from books, I hadn't really allowed myself much for luxuries since I'd been in 1977, instead saving as much as I possibly could. Now, well, I didn't want to waste the money, but neither did I want to start my last year at Hogwarts in threadbare clothes. I bought one set of school robes and several bolts of fine material that I could transfigure into more robes at considerably less cost. After being distracted by a very pretty set of dress robes, I bought some even finer material with plans for dress robes, and a few extra bolts of durable material that I'd use for casual robes. I didn't imagine that spending the weekend in muggle clothes would go over very well in the Slytherin common room.

I deliberately avoided buying anything emerald green, but I ruefully sidestepped crimson as well. It really wouldn't do to be seen supporting Slytherin's rival even if I was certain that I wouldn't go out of my way to support Slytherin either. Of course the charms for changing the color of my clothes were relatively simple, but it was the thought that counted.

I decided that I'd have to wait on my letter to buy my class specific supplies. There really was no sense buying a caldron, for example, until I knew which size and material that Slughorn wanted for his seventh years.

I missed the magical world so much that I ended up stopping at Florean Fortescue's, which was evidently very new. I got an icecream and sat outside to eat it slowly in the warm sun, watching the witches and wizards going about their business along Diagon Alley.

Finally, I knew that it was time to get back. With a sigh, I paid my bill and apparated back home. I enlarged the items that I'd purchased and settled down on my little sofa to begin reading my school books. I couldn't conceive of starting the term without having read at least the first few chapters of each.

~.~.{o}.~.~

Between reading and working, the days passed quickly for me and soon there was an owl pecking at my window. Breath catching, I threw myself out of my seat, nearly sending my book to the floor as I rushed to get the window.

"Hello there," I greeted the owl, quickly locating the tin of owl treats that I'd bought. I gave the owl two and snatched up the letter. As expected, it was my OWL results.

I was convinced that I'd done well, but I was still ridiculously nervous as I tore the paper open.

I scanned down the list and couldn't help but squeal with delight. O's, all the way down. Of course, they were fifth year tests, but I was proud of myself anyway, particularly considering just how many OWLs I'd taken and in how short a time. Twelve outstanding OWLs. That was going to look fantastic on my résumé. Now I just had to get my NEWTs to look close to that good and I'd be in great shape for whatever I decided to do after Hogwarts – assuming the war allowed.

The following day, I made another trip to Diagon Alley to collect the rest of my supplies. I was suddenly very glad that I'd been saving every spare knut all summer long, and that I'd worked two full-time jobs. Slughorn's class alone was going to set me back considerably. Crystal phials, brass caldron, silver knives, the most accurate scales, dragon wing gloves… None of that was cheap. I'd need an abacus for Arithmancy, a wakeful eye monocle for Ancient Runes, and the thicker dragonhide gloves Herbology.

Trying not to wince, I purchased the items and piled them all into my new trunk before shrinking it down to put it in my pocket. At least I didn't have to buy a wand, I reflected. And if I'd spent more than half of my savings, well, my expenses would be minimal throughout the school year. Hopefully I could find a job when I graduated. At worst, I expected I'd be able to find a job at a shop in Diagon Alley or something of the sort to get me by when I'd graduated.

I decided not to worry about it too much for now. I had almost a year before I had to face that, and it definitely couldn't get any worse than the beginning of my summer had been when I'd been completely broke, homeless, and friendless.

Now that I had purchased everything I'd need, my time suddenly seemed precious. I had so much more reading to do! I didn't linger this time, instead heading directly home and pouring myself into my books.

~.~.{o}.~.~

September 1st seemed to come out of nowhere. I placed the strongest wards I could find around my home, hoping that nothing would happen to it while I was gone all year. With any luck, I'd still have a home come spring. If not… Well, I'd built something from nothing once.

I was glad that I had a knack for the reducing spell as I shrunk down virtually everything that I owned and packed it into my school trunk. I wouldn't be able to shrink the trunk when its contents had already been shrunk, but at least they all fit.

I did one more quick walk through the familiar and homey rooms to be sure that I had everything, then used a lightening charm to reduce my load and carried the trunk out to meet the taxi I'd hired to take me to the train station.

I loaded the trunk into the backseat myself and gazed out the window, watching the muggle world go by and feeling my heart lightening with every block.

King's Cross station was another study in refreshing familiarity. I quickly loaded my trunk onto a trolley to avoid drawing attention from the muggles as I carried the cumbersome thing through the station. I'd purposefully arrived fully twenty minutes early in hopes of finding an open compartment. The only one of my classmates that I'd met was Lucius Malfoy and I thoroughly intended to avoid him at all costs.

Once I'd passed through the barrier, I levitated my trunk and stowed the trolley. Leaving the trunk with the others to be loaded onto the train, I climbed on board, a smile stretching my lips even while a pang of sadness gripped my heart to know that I wouldn't be meeting Harry or Ron for the ride. My head was throbbing mildly from all the packing I'd done that morning, but I'd become so accustomed to that that I hardly even noticed it anymore.

I quickly chose a compartment and settled down by the window. I dug into my pocket for the book I'd brought to read on the way and enlarged it. I'd chosen Slughorn's textbook for reading material since I had a feeling that he was going to be expecting more of me than any of the other teachers. Plus, it was interesting.

I'd read only a handful of pages when the compartment door opened. I turned to see a wide-eyed boy – probably a third year – staring at me nervously. "You can join me if you'd like," I offered with a reassuring smile.

He smiled then too, nervously, and slipped inside, tucking himself onto the opposite bench as far from me as the compartment allowed. I repressed the urge to make small talk about the school, reminding myself that this boy was supposed to know more about the school than I did. Instead, I just went back to reading. Two pages later, the door opened again and a few more kids came in, eyeing me uncertainly before they settled down and began chatting with the first boy.

I found myself watching them over my book. They talked animatedly about their summer and how much they'd missed each other and everything that the new year would bring. It reminded me painfully of the friends that I no longer had.

Forcing myself to ignore them, I went back to my book.

A few minutes after the train left the station, the compartment door opened again, this time to reveal a girl that must have been a second year. "Hermione Wilkins?" she squeaked.

"That's me," I nodded.

The girl took a couple quick steps into the room and held a letter out at the full extent of her arm.

"Thank you," I offered as I took it, cringing when I saw the seal. I'd mostly expected this, but that didn't mean that I had to like it. I opened the letter and was not surprised to find that Professor Slughorn had invited me to join him.

I sighed heavily. There really wasn't any way to politely decline, so I silently reduced my book and slipped it back into my pocket with the invitation.

I moved forward along the train until I came to the compartment mentioned in the invitation. I slid the door open and noted that I was far from the first to arrive. That poor second year probably had a hard time finding me. I recognized Lucius lounged next to Slughorn and Lily Evans on his opposite side. She really was pretty. Another boy looked familiar, but it wasn't until he smiled at me that I was able to place him. Regulus Black. Sirius' little brother. I remembered his face from the Black family tapestry at Grimmauld Place now, but it was his likeness to his brother that had first stood out. The only other person in the room was a boy hunched down in the corner diagonally opposite from Lily, his long black hair obscuring his face.

"Hermione!" Slughorn bellowed, rising to grip my shoulder like we were dear old friends. "Glad you could make it, my dear!"

I very carefully didn't point out that I hadn't really had a choice.

Lucius was grinning at me like I'd shown up just to see him. "It's good to see you again, Hermione," the prat purred at me. "There's an open spot here by me."

I suppressed the urge to draw my wand and instead, very pointedly, sat between Regulus and the boy who hadn't yet shown his face.

"You're a terrible tease, Miss Wilkins," Lucius smirked, utterly undaunted.

"I see that you two have met!" Slughorn declared as though it were wonderful news.

"She bumped into me in Diagon Alley last week," Lucius supplied. "Flirting ensued. Naturally."

"Lucius evidently can't miss a chance to be rejected," I returned.

Slughorn chuckled merrily, "Ah, the fire of young love!" he declared.

Lucius looked smug while I wondered if I looked as green as I was feeling. I was already praying for this to end.

Blessedly, Slughorn was distracted by more students arriving, particularly a strutting first year named Rabastan Lestrange.

I looked out the window and tried not to tally how many future Death Eaters surrounded me. As the compartment filled, we became increasingly squished together. Regulus edged closer to me, and his left sleeve slid up. I barely maintained my composure when I saw the ugly black mark branded onto his pale flesh. I did, however, adjust myself slightly closer to the quiet boy in the corner. Given how little space there was, "slightly closer" caused my hip to meet his. I felt him tense a bit but he otherwise gave no indication that he was aware of it.

Once everyone was settled, Slughorn began making introductions for my sake and that of the young Lestrange.

He doted on Lucius like a proud uncle and I did my best not to roll my eyes as he described the illustrious Malfoy family. Lily was introduced as a Gryffindor, a credit to muggleborns everywhere for her intellect and impressive talent for potions. Like Lucius, the Lestrange boy had nothing but his family name and reputation to recommend him. When Dirk Cresswell was introduced, I recalled he had been the head of the Goblin Liaison Office at the Ministry in my time. Slughorn did in fact note that the boy was fluent in Gobbledegook. He was a sixth year Ravenclaw – not surprising – and a muggleborn as well. Regulus Black was noted for his position as an excellent Slytherin seeker.

"And, of course, this year's unexpected jewel," he glowed at me. "Miss Hermione Wilkins is new to Hogwarts this year, and I've honestly never seen a more impressive student. She got twelve outstanding OWLs!"

I fought a blush and lost, "I took them a year late," I offered to the room in general, hoping that made me seem slightly less of a know-it-all. Honestly, classes hadn't even started and I was already back to my old stereotype.

Slughorn laughed heartily at that. "You be proud of that, my girl! I don't think Slytherin's ever seen a student with twelve outstanding OWLs before!"

I smiled back at him, though I knew it wasn't a particularly pleasant smile.

"And of course, last but not least," Slughorn concluded, gesturing toward the boy that I was all but crushing. I suddenly found myself praying that he wasn't about to announce the name of another of Voldemort's eventual inner circle. I shouldn't have been surprised that my prayers weren't answered.

"Severus Snape!"

I jumped a little, but was unable to move away as I was unwilling to be closer to the only one in the room that I was sure was already a Death Eater.

"The brightest potioneer to ever come through my class!" Slughorn declared.

Snape peered around his hair at the room in general, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before returning to Slughorn.

"Severus, my boy, you and Miss Wilkins should get along splendidly. She has quite an eye for potions as well."

Snape glanced at me again but didn't say anything.

Quiet didn't surprise me about my former – future? – potions professor, but the timid posture certainly did. It made me wonder when he'd found such confidence that he portrayed in his classes. When he was a Death Eater? When he became a spy? I didn't know how to feel about this Severus Snape. The last I remembered of him, he'd murdered Dumbledore.

Though Harry had sworn that he'd seen it with his own eyes, I couldn't help but think that he must have missed something vital. Some reason why Snape would do that. At the very least, I expected that perhaps he'd believed that he couldn't help Dumbledore and had perhaps killed him to save him from being tortured by Voldemort. I didn't know. What I did know was that Snape had had so many chances to kill or betray Harry over the years, Harry would never have survived if Snape hadn't truly been on the side of good. It could be argued that he'd been maintaining his cover, but I couldn't believe that. Voldemort would have willingly sacrificed a well-placed spy in exchange for Harry Potter on a silver platter. Of that, I was absolutely convinced.

I also had to remember that this young man sitting next to me was not the same Severus Snape who had killed Dumbledore. A great many years of pain and solitude lay between this boy and that man.

With an effort, I drew myself back to the present to see Snape – no, I corrected myself, Severus – eyeing me warily around his hair. I offered him a small smile and told myself not to stare as part of me wanted nothing more than to catalogue every way in which he looked so different from the last time I'd seen my potions' professor.

Slughorn's little luncheon seemed to last forever. I adopted a "grin and bear it" attitude through most of it, trying to stay out of the discussion whenever possible and giving short, closed answers when I couldn't.

When we were finally released, I all but ran to the toilet, certain that I'd have to deal with Lucius if he found a way to corner me in the hall. The only thing that could make the day worse would be to end up stuck in a compartment with him for the rest of the trip.

I waited until I was fairly certain that Slughorn's party would have dispersed back to their compartments before exiting the loo. Unfortunately, I discovered a small knot of boys my age blocking the hall between me and the compartment I'd meant to reach.

As I neared them, I realized that I recognized them. The short, pudgy wormtail lingered, snickering near the rear, followed by Remus Lupin minus the gray hair and with fewer scars. That would make the long haired boy in the compartment door Sirius Black, and… the haughty voice inside must be James Potter. I remembered how upset Harry had been when he'd learned that his father had been a bully in school. It made me glad that he wasn't here to see this.

"Come on, Snivellus!" James was goading rather loudly. "Do you have something to say about it?"

Snivellus. That had been Snape's hated nickname in school.

Well, hell. Not even at school yet and I already felt the need to protect the man who'd tormented me through my potions classes. Well, I reflected, I'd have felt that way about anyone being bullied. I did not like bullies.

Now I just had to figure out what I was going to do about it. I could swoop in and hex the annoying rats, I reasoned. James and Sirius had been pretty talented from what I'd heard, and probably Lupin as well, but they'd yet to fight for their lives. I was pretty sure that I could take them if I had surprise on my side.

Of course, there were a few drawbacks to that plan. First, hexing four Gryffindors in the middle of the train may very well begin my year with a hefty list of detentions. Second, there was always the chance that one of them would get some hits in. Third… Well, no matter how timid Snape was, I just couldn't imagine a world in which he wasn't prideful. How would he feel about being so dramatically rescued by a girl…?

No, Gryffindor nerve wasn't the solution here. I needed to – dare I say it – channel my inner Slytherin.

Yay! Severus is back! And I know that Lucius was like 6 years older than Severus in canon, but I couldn't resist modifying his age to give him more of a role in this fic. He may not be the only instance of my taking liberties with adjusting ages to fit my whims.

Oh, and I am looking for a beta for this story if anyone is interested.