Chapter Four:

Halfway through Herbology class James' eyesight began to come back to him. He wished it hadn't, for two reasons. 1) He couldn't bear having to see Snape every time he looked at his side and 2) the looks that people were giving him made it all the more unbearable.

If he weren't worried about that pain he would rip Snape off his side and drop him somewhere.

He fingered his spade staring intently at the place where they met. Snape noticed this and snapped his fingers in James' face.

"Don't even think about it, Neanderthal. Not only would it be unsanitary but we could possibly bleed to death before Madam Pomfrey reached us," Snape hissed pouring soil around the base of his roaring tiger lily.

"Even death has to be better than this," James moaned, poking his plant in a bored fashion. It hissed and attempted to bite his finger. He pulled away just in time. "Nasty little bugger aren't you? But I bet not even you deserve being stuck to this." He nodded at Snape. The flower looked at Snape reproachfully, roaring in agreement.

Snape watched this conversation from the corner of his eye. He slammed his spade down, lodging it into the worktable. James acted as if he was the only who one was being tortured by this. Like Snape was treating this as some sort of picnic.

Bloody hell. This was probably the most unbearably tortuous experience of his entire life. And just between me and you there have been plenty. Like the time Bellatrix asked him on a date just because she had been dared to sleep with him. Everything had gone great until he overheard one of her friends asking if Bellatrix had done it yet.

He had been so humiliated. So humiliated in fact that he left the school grounds later that evening and got drunk at the Hog's head. That in it-self was another bad experience. But we won't go into that. All that will be said is it involved an ugly hag and a few go-go dancer wizards.

Lucius sat next to him filing his nails while Snape did all of the work. He didn't mind doing it all because Lucius was useless when it came to plants and he would rather pass than have less work to do. Of course whenever Professor Sprout walked passed Lucius would pick up a shovel and dig up a little bit of dirt. Just for good measure.

"So how is it going being attached to Mister Steroid?" Lucius asked, checking his nails to make sure everything was in order.

"It's an absolute joy," Snape answered, rolling his eyes. "I always wanted to be in the same stall while James used the toilet." James' elbow slammed into his arm knocking a pot out of his hand. It shattered across the stone floor. "Ouch," Snape hissed grabbing his shoulder.

"Is everything okay over there?" Sprout asked looking up from a plant that had begun to make weird coughing noises.

"Yes, Professor," James answered, staring angrily at Snape. "Severus just dropped a pot."

"Oh, okay." She looked back down at the plant as it coughed up a mitten.

Glaring at James Snape pointed his wand at the broken pieces. "Reparo," he muttered and the pieces flew back together. He picked the pot up off the ground and set it back on his desk.

"What was that for?" Snape seethed. James just ignored him, chatting away with his Ravenclaw partner.

Snape knew it was futile but he tried to pull away from James anyway. All he succeeded in doing was hurting his and James' side. Angrily he crossed his arms and willed himself to wake up. This just had to be a bad dream, that's all. He pinched his arm. Nothing happened. He sighed resignedly and began to pack up his bag before the bell rang.

James looked over at him. "I have flying next period." He pulled off his dragon hide gloves and shoved them into his bag. "Since I sat through your class you can sit through one of mine."

Snape's eyes narrowed. James knew how much he despised flying class. "Can you tell me exactly how you plan to ride your broomstick when I'm stuck to your side?"

Around them everyone else started to put their stuff away. Sprout told them to write an essay about tiger lilies. "With particular emphasis on their endangerment."

"We aren't flying today. The Professor told us we were getting a free period today because he needed to prepare for Saturday's Quidditch match." James tried to stand but Snape anchored him down. He fell back onto his stool angrily.

"It would nice if you asked Sev before making decisions. You two are connected together for the time being. What is it that you're stupid pumped up flying teacher says? Oh yes, 'Teamwork. Work together and life is much easier for everyone.' So be a team James. Remember there is no 'I' in team,' Lucius said, stroking the tiger lily. It made a dive for his finger but he pulled away hissing loudly. He looked up at James and grinned. "Of course if I hear that you are being mean to my Sevvy I may have to pay you a little visit." He reached across Snape's lap under the table and rubbed James' leg. James' face went stony as Lucius licked his lips.

Snape repressed a snigger as he stared at James' mortified face. The bell begun to toll loudly. The sound of stools scraping a stone filled the greenhouse as all the students got up. Lucius stood up and shouldered his bag. "Have a nice day boys."

"See ya, Lucius," Snape said as his friend moved out the door.

Snape and James stood up together and swung their bags onto their shoulders. James stared at Lucius' back. "What a little fag," he muttered, walking in step with Snape.

"What is your obsession with calling everyone fags?" Snape asked as they moved into the grounds. Word had gotten out about the accident and everyone stared as they walked passed.

"Hold in there, James," someone shouted.

"I don't call everyone fags. Just the ones who are."

Snape rolled his eyes. "For your information of gone out on several dates with a girl. I'm just really busy with school to do it as much as you."

James laughed. "Busy with school. Merlin, Snape. You need to have some fun once in awhile." He turned sideways so they could move through a doorway.

"Yes, school. Unlike you I am not a gifted athlete. I am going to have to rely on my brains to get me through life. You have the looks, the skill, the family. You're set for life."

"Is that what you see me as? A pretty boy who never has to work?" James asked, his face the most serious Snape had ever seen it.

"Yes," Snape said simply.

"Well I'm not. I work just as hard as you but not as much. And unlike some of the guys on my team I know my skills and looks won't last forever. Life isn't easy for me either."

Snape tried to come up with a snarky comeback but he couldn't think of any. For once in his life James seemed like a normal human. "So what are you going to with your future if not Quidditch?"

James looked over at Snape as they neared the quidditch pitch. "I don't know yet. I want to have a family and live in the house with a white picket house like the next guy, I guess."

"I don't want to live in a house with a white picket fence. And children, never. I don't have the temperance." Snape laughed imagining a bunch of greasy hair children tugging on his robes and begging him to play with them.

"James!" called a voice. Sirius Black sauntered up to them slapping his friend on the back. He ignored Snape. "How's the burden?"

James looked over at Snape and shrugged. "I've dealt with worse in my life."

"Not much though," Sirius laughed and James laughed with him. It seemed he had forgotten the real conversation they had just had.

Snape just shook his head. He understood perfectly. He pulled a book out of his bag and sat down on the bleachers with James. James was instantly swarmed by a group of his friends.

Snape ignored everything they said and concentrated on learning the steps to brew a potion that would soothe menstruation cramps. Bellatrix had asked him to brew her some.

"If I was stuck to him I would probably have killed myself by now," someone muttered.

'Good riddance,' Snape thought. 'That would make one less idiot in this world.' He pulled out a notebook and began to jot down all the ingredients he would have to purchase.

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