A/N: I'm sorry for not keeping up with my previous updating schedule. I got lost with my other fic and real life issues. I prefer not make any promises here but I'll try to be more consistent with the updates. I shouldn't take much more chapters to finish this.
I must say that Percy's part are not coming the way I first imagine it. I hope this don't wreck the rest of the story.
Thanks to those who reviewed. Any comment is highly appreciated.
CHAPTER 4 – IN THE MIDDLE OF THINGS
ALBUS
Back in his room, Dumbledore conjured a comfortable chaise and sit by the window. His headache was trying to open a hole in his skull but the implications of his hosts comment kept coming back to him.
Yes, he was at the forefront of the Wizarding world for a long time. And he did played the various pieces… people! as needed to conduct the situation back to its right track. After all, he had the greater good in mind! Some people was hurt, he knew that. He was sorry for this but the need of the many outweighs the need of the one, and the end justifies the means.
Dumbledore sighed and closed his eyes but he couldn't relax for long before an owl fly into the room and land over the old man's knee. The owl offered his leg with an attached letter in quite an imperative way. With a sad sigh Dumbledore took the letter and the owl flew out without a second glance.
He opened the letter and was surprise and angry again. Dumbledore stood up and walked to the wall where a fireplace seemed to be just a decorative piece, being full of flowers. With a flick of his wand the flowers disappeared and a fire was in their place. Opening a small box over the mantle, Dumbledore took a pinch of Floo Powder and threw it into the fire. He then put his head in and roared the address he wanted to access.
"MINISTRY OF MAGIC! MINISTER BONES'S OFFICE! ALBUS DUMBLEDORE CALLING!"
After feeling his head pass through the wards in the fire, Dumbledore was able to see the Minister Office and Amelia Bones turning in her chair to face the fireplace.
"Dumbledore! To what I own the pleasure?" The greeting was educated but there wasn't much welcoming in her voice.
"Madame Bones…"
"Minister, if you will, Dumbledore," she corrected him.
"Well, yes… Well…" The man felt a bit out of place but took a deep breath and went on. "Well, Minister, I'm calling to ask what seemed to be the problem in the Ministry."
"Problem? We don't have any problem here, Dumbledore."
"Well, then… Why did I receive two owls today from the Department of Magic Education and from the new Department of Magic Children Welfare?"
"I don't check each and every action from all departments. What are these all about?"
"They are asking me about changes in Hogwarts's curriculum and about the orphanage that Harry wants to found."
"So?"
"Why they are asking me about that, especially when I'm on a holiday?"
"Well, I don't know…" Amelia Bones seemed to stop and think about it for a minute. "Maybe they are asking you now because you made other decisions for them in the past."
"Of course I did! But that was then! I'm on a holiday now! There isn't any war or a big danger now! Other people should be able to make these decisions now!"
"Well, Dumbledore, after years with you making all decisions – behind the scene or not – it should take a while for people to relearn to make their own decisions or even trust others decisions."
"But Minerva McGonagall and Harry Potter are the persons responsible for these issues. They can make those decisions!"
"Maybe the persons that wrote to you from those departments are afraid that you would overrule their decisions. So asking you directly will save them time and work."
"Why would I overrule their decisions?"
"Because you have done it before."
"Yes, but… But…" Dumbledore made a quite good impression of a fish, opening and closing his mouth without being able to say anything.
"You did that in the past, Dumbledore."
"But we were at war! There were reasons… It was for the greater good… The means…"
"You can explain it in any way you want, Dumbledore. But what people see is that you did it. Even if you did have good reasons for all of your actions, nobody else knew what they were. They only saw the actions and the results."
"But… I… But… Well…" Dumbledore went back to open and close his mouth, once again not knowing how to respond.
"I believe that Minerva and Mr. Potter are more than capable to make decisions and good ones at that. Bu it's know that sometimes they don't see eye to eye with you, Albus, and that when you want, you overrule them. That's why people rather go directly to you. Less trouble ahead this way." Amelia said regretfully.
"I wouldn't do it now…"
"You would do it whenever you thought necessary. It would be better if you continue to make all decisions or if you stop to make them all together, Albus. Half way won't solve anything." She said seriously. She observed the lost expression in the older man face and felt a bit sad herself for the entire situation. But it was his doing after all and he was the only one who could solve it.
"And it would help if you answer those letters too. Work is waiting for these decisions. Good day, Albus." And Amelia Bones finished the conversation closing the connection, making Dumbledore's head be pushed out of her fire.
The Headmaster almost fell on the floor, still surprised with the entire conversation. He shook his head and picked a bit more Floo and repeated the process to throw it in the fire and put his head to call the next location.
"Hogwarts! Headmaster's office! Minerva, are you there?"
"Yes, Albus, what do you want?" The Deputy Headmistress appeared to be emerged in work and not too happy to be interrupted.
"I received a letter from the Department of Magic Education…"
"Oh, good! And what is your decision?"
"Minerva, I'm on a holiday. I hoped you could deal with all the school's issues until I came back."
"Well, I too thought that it would work like that. But that…. person on the department won't accept my decision on this change without your confirmation." Professor McGonagall had her lips so tight that it was like she didn't have a mouth at all. It was more than plain how much she was upset with the situation.
Dumbledore sighed. "I'll write to them and I'll make perfectly clear that your decisions stand."
"Huff! As if…" Dumbledore could hear the comment whispered by the woman. He chose to ignore it and went ahead with his next question.
"What about Harry?"
"What about him?"
"I received a letter from the new Department of Magic Children Welfare about the orphanage he's planning. About rules and so on."
"Well, I believe it would be quite the same. After all, you DO know best, don't you, Albus?" The question was quite sarcastic.
Dumbledore chose to ignore the comment again.
"Where is he? I would like to talk to him about this."
"I don't know where he is. I know that he was quite upset about the… unwillingness of the new department to hear him out."
"Oh, my…" Dumbledore sighed. This wasn't good. Harry Potter upset was not a pretty sight. "And what he did?"
"Nothing. He just said he would take some days to rest. He probably will be back when the Weasleys come back from their honeymoon. Hermione will be able to help him out." Minerva McGonagall couldn't hide how much proud she felt for the young woman.
"Yes, yes… Miss Granger is quite the force when her mind and heart are at it."
"MRS. WEASLEY!" Professor McGonagall corrected forcefully. Then she sighed, tired, and asked: "That will be all, Albus? I have a lot to work to finish."
Dumbledore was surprise with her attitude but he prefers not to deal with it right now.
"Ah… Yes, Minerva, I think so. I'll answer the Ministry. Good day." And he closed the fire connection still a bit miffed with the entire conversation.
He shook his head and walked back to the chair by the window. Nearby a coffee table hold the two letters from the Ministry. Dumbledore stared at them sadly and sit in the chaise tiredly.
'What now?'
HERMIONE
"RON! How could you! Viktor, I'm so sorry!"
"No problem, Hermione. I can understand the surprise."
"What are you doing here?"
"The Bulgarian Quidditch team is taking some time off before the Preliminaries games for the next World Cup. A tropical island is the best place to relax, do you not agree?"
"Absolutely!" Hermione answered happily. She turned completely to the player, giving her back to her husband. "But this IS quite a surprise!"
"I am happy to see you again, Hermione. Would it be possible for us to talk? I would like to know how you are now and what happened since we stopped writing to each other."
"She is married!" Ron screamed from behind the young woman.
"Yes! But there are so much more to talk about!" Hermione moved to block the red head.
Viktor looked from one to the other and decided to keep his attention on the girl. He offered his arm in an invitation.
"You want to lunch with me? We can talk then."
"Of course!" Hermione took his arm and told Ron she would see him later without looking back in his direction. Then they walked away with Hermione smiling brightly to the other man.
Ron stayed in the same place, gobsmacked. 'What just happened!' He asked himself.
The minutes passed but Ron didn't moved until a beautiful brunette using a colorful sarong approached him and touched his arm, smiling.
"You want some company? I can introduce you to other guests so you won't be alone."
"Huh?" Ron never thought about himself as terrible intelligent – that was why they had Hermione after all; or even quick and smart in his answers – that was Harry's way to disarm some enemies and some hot situations. But right now Ron felt even more lost.
"You know, there are other girls here and they would love to meet you."
"Girls!" Ron finally paid attention to the woman by his side. "I'm married! I can't go on meeting other women!" He answered quite outraged.
The girl in the sarong took a step back.
"I'm sorry, but when I saw that girl leave you to go with the famous Quidditch player I thought you had lost your gamble. I only wanted to help."
"She's my wife! She's not with that slimy-dark-thick neck of a git!" Ron screamed.
The girl looked to Ron and then turned to look at the buffet table that offered lunch to all the guests around the pool. Hermione and Viktor were quite visible, laughing and talking while holding plates in their hands but not eating much.
"Well… She seemed a bit more interested in him right now." The girl stared at Ron again. "You didn't do anything to make her mad, did you?"
"NO!" Ron answered immediately. "Well… She was complaining because I called her Mione…" He said deject.
"Oh, a love nickname! I think it's so sweet when couples give each other nicknames!"
"Well, Hermione didn't like the own I invented for her."
"Maybe she doesn't understand what it means," the girl said, trying to help.
Ron shook his head, completely lost. He could see the other couple a short distance away. Viktor took the plate from Hermione's hand and put it together with his plate in a nearby table. Then he put an arm around her shoulders and walked away with a smiling Hermione staring into his eyes. Ron's face become redder and redder, almost like in a competition with the young man's hair.
"I will beat him to a pulp for touching her!" He said between his teeth, lost in anger.
The girl held his arm and proved to be stronger than her appearance when she was able to hold him in place.
"She chooses to be with him. You should not interfere. I don't believe she would like if you cause a scene."
"But… She… We… But…" Ron was really lost. "She is my wife. This was suppose to be our honeymoon," he added deject.
"I'm really sorry," the girl in the sarong said. "Sometimes, after the deed is done, some regrets appear. Maybe she just wants some time to enjoy things a bit. And afterwards she will come back to you and all the enchantment will be back."
"Enjoy herself a bit? Why she wouldn't enjoy herself with me?" Ron was trying to sort things out in his mind. "Enchantment? I don't know about any enchantment. We start as friends but then…" While he was trying to understand what was happening and the explanations the other girl was trying to offer, something clicked in his mind.
"Enchantment! THE GIT! That's it! He put Hermione under a spell! I'll kill that overbearing Bulgarian Quidditch falsification!" Ron yelled and tried again to advance toward the direction the other couple had taken.
Once more the girl stopped him.
"Wait! It's not possible! Mr. Roarke would never permit it!"
"I don't know about Mr. Roarke! But I won't permit that some slimy git try to manipulate my wife!" And Ron rehearsal some menacing steps forward.
"No! You don't understand! Mr. Roarke has means to detect this kind of thing! Nobody can be put under a controlling spell here! Not without the boss knowing!" She was still hold Ron's arm.
Ron stopped pushing forward abruptly.
"This Mr. Roarke would know? I have to talk to him!"
"Mr. Roarke is the host here. He was at the garden when you arrived."
"Oh…" Ron tried to remember. "He was the talk guy with a big smile and white robes?"
"Exactly."
"Well, let's find him and put an end to the evil plans of that Bulgarian git!"
"That won't be possible, Mr. Weasley."
Ron turned in the direction of the voice to find a small man, also dressed in white robes, talking to him.
"What you mean 'it's not possible'?" Ron's face was again starting to flash red.
"It means that Mr. Roarke is busy right now and won't be able to talk to you." Tattoo answered seriously.
"But I need some help here! I can't let this git put his hands all over my wife!"
"Well, Mr. Weasley, as the assistant of Mr. Roarke, I can try to resolve any problems that might appear here in the island."
"SO! Let's go, little guy! We must find them out and discover what kind of spell the git used on Hermione!"
"First, Mr. Weasley, I would prefer you didn't refer to me as 'little guy'. My name is Tattoo." The fierce expression convinced Ron he wouldn't like to defy the statement.
"Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't remember you name."
"It's all right, Mr. Weasley. We hadn't spoken early. But in concerning with your wife, I must say that she's not under any kind of spell."
"What you mean! She's acting odd! She's not herself! My Hermione would never go around half naked and letting that Bulgarian git put his hands all over her!"
"I'm sorry to be the one to have to clarify the situation, Mr. Weasley. But this trip is part of your wife's fantasy. She wanted to experiment new things and try out what she didn't had the time or the courageous to try before."
Ron felt gobsmacked again. He could feel his chin hitting the floor.
"You mean that… My Hermione… She's…. What…" He couldn't form a complete thought.
"Mrs. Hermione Granger-Weasley is doing exactly what she wants and what she planned to do when you came here, Mr. Weasley."
Ron let himself fall sited in one of the chairs by the pool. He couldn't close his mouth and he couldn't understand all that was said.
"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you that, Mr. Weasley. I thought that your wife would have clarified the situation before this situation aroused. If you need anything else, please, come to us. We would like to make your stay here as pleasurably as possible." And Tattoo walked away, a bit sad with the result of this conversation.
Ron just stayed sited, still incapable to grasp all the meaning behind the information he just received. The girl in the sarong sited by his side, putting an arm around his shoulders in a friendly way.
"It's like I said, sometimes a girl needs to rethink what she has done. She will talk with him and laugh a bit. Afterwards she will come back to you, happy again."
"What did I do wrong? Why she' having doubts now?"
"Probably it's nothing to do with you. It's just her. You two are really young. Maybe she's afraid of loosing something."
"Why I'm not afraid?" Ron turned to the girl with a very sad and lost expression in his face.
The girl felt her heart jump. Sometimes it was really hard to keep apart of the guest's problems and not interfere in a very definitive away. But Mr. Roarke always reminds them that the people who visit the island are there to resolve their own problems and doubts. If someone else enters this mix, the result would be even worse than what they had to start with.
"Some decisions and believes are easier for some people. I bet your wife is the type to analyze everything, right?" After the nod from Ron, the girl continued. "People who think too much have more difficulty in accept decisions made by the heart."
Ron stared at her for some time and then nodded in acceptance to her
PERCY
He couldn't decide what to do, so he decided to wait and see what might happen.
And the time passed in a strange way for Percy.
He watched the come and goes of his family with a certain worry and the Ministry seemed to change little except that Fudge started to talk to him more often and instead of an inquiry that Percy expected for what happened do Mr. Crouch, he was offered a promotion to Assistant directly under Minister Fudge!
Today Percy was going to Kings Cross together with his parents to pick up his brothers and his sister, back from Hogwarts. Percy was really worried, weighting his options and all the political motivations behind his promotion.
With all his ambition, Percy wasn't naïve enough to believe that his actions during the Triwizard Tournament would go unchecked. Even for the sake of property and the public, an inquiry was needed. But Fudge has brushed it away, saying that "the Wizarding society doesn't need to know everything. We, the government, are here to protect them from undesired knowledge."
But being a scholar, Percy had to ask himself: what is "undesired knowledge"? If Fudge was interested in protecting him, Percy, a young and unknown employee of the Ministry, what he would be capable of doing for himself, or someone higher on the political ladder?
With his head absolutely full of these unwelcome thoughts, Percy walked with his parents through the barrier of the platform nine-and-three-quarters.
He was quite impressed with the serious faces on the children. Even the twins seemed a bit disconcerted and they thanked Harry Potter before the Weasleys walked away from the station. Percy couldn't help himself and had to look back to the dark haired boy left behind.
The boy seemed tired and a bit lost, he even looked like he had aged from the last time Percy saw him at the end of the Second Task. Harry was sited in his truck, lost in thought. Percy run a bit to keep up with his family, also lost in thought.
His mind and ambition was telling him to go with Minister Fudge but his heart kept screaming about everything he had seen. Maybe there was much in the ways of physical proof, but Harry Potter had never lied before and he HAD saved Ginny's life…
The next months were a blur and a confusing time for Percy. He accepted the promotion and started to work close to Minister Fudge. He kept asking him questions about Dumbledore and Harry Potter and when Percy couldn't or wouldn't answer, the man was not happy. But when the Daily Prophet started to write about the questionable sanity of Dumbledore and Potter, Fudge jumped at the opportunity. All kinds of restrict information started to leave the Ministry and end up at the hands of reporters. Percy was seriously offended with the lack of responsibility but again, when he tried to investigate Fudge himself told him to let go. "It's for the good of the Wizarding World, Weatherby."
The repeated errors with his name were what set Percy off. He might still have doubts about You-Know-Who return. He might even don't like Harry Potter as much as the rest of the family. He might begrudge Dumbledore's interfere in everything. But the lack of respect showed to him was something he never suffered before! Why a Malfoy would be treated with ultimate respect and humility even when he should be under investigation and he, Percy Weasley, a loyal and hard-working employee of the Ministry was dismiss without a second thought?
The next time Fudge called him "Weatherby" sealed his decision. Percy went looking for Dumbledore and talked about his doubts in both sides of the story.
Dumbledore was his usual understanding grandfatherly figure and asked Percy to keep an open mind and do what he though was right. That was really the point, wasn't it? Do what was right and not what was easy.
From that day on, Percy found himself immersed in a web of lies and a dance to escape suspicious. He started to have long talks with Professor Snape about the art of spying. And he started to see things that never before he took notice of. The constant visits of Malfoy Sr. to Fudge and how something against Dumbledore or Potter always happened afterwards. The little white lies going out the Ministry and the complete gullible of the Wizarding world. The fear that penetrated the air anywhere those who believed in the return of the Dark Lord tread. The mass escape from Azkaban prison and how the Ministry seemed completely ineffective about the situation.
The time equivalent of the Hogwarts school year passed even more strangely. The Under Secretary Umbridge took the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, even without any qualifications. Then came all those stupid Educational Decrees and his father injury. Percy wasn't really a part of Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix and didn't know what was all about, but he was again divided between the unseemly attitude of them to guard something inside the Ministry itself and the wrongness of Fudge's choice to ignore everything that was happening around him.
The things kept piling up. The way Fudge tried to expel Harry Potter and end up with an order of prison for Dumbledore. The teachers being persecuted inside Hogwarts! Percy believed in authority in all levels. But the undermanned way of dealing with all things were really greeting his nerves.
The twins leaving the school after a confrontation with Umbridge almost mad Percy give up the entire situation. He was incensed that his brothers were threat with a whipping from that… that Squib Filch! It was his father; all healthy again, that talked him out of it.
"The Wizarding society needs people to trust, Percy. If you felt outraged by this situation, then you have the right feelings about the government. You are needed. Sometimes we have to go through the mud to get to the garden."
Not a very inspiring image, but Percy understood. So he kept doing his job and he kept a watchful look at Fudge.
The end of the school year topped it all. His brother and sister followed Potter and three other students and they were able to break through all the protections of the most guarded department in the Ministry of Magic.
Percy didn't see the end of the battle of the Department of Mysteries but he saw the results. The mess on various rooms of the DoM and the destroyed statue on the Atrium.
Back on the kitchen of the Burrow, just like the end of the Ron's fourth year, after the Triwizard Tournament, Percy sat at the table with a cup of tea on his hands, confused thoughts and his father once more in front of him.
"You saw the Atrium, Percy?"
"Yes… A mess…. The statue… I don't know…" Percy looked at his father. "You know what happened?"
"I wasn't with the others, but I talked a bit with Moody at St.Mungo's." Mr. Weasley ran his hand over his already disheveled hair. "You-Know-Who was sending dreams to Harry…"
Percy gulped and toughed his hold on the tea cup.
"During the last test of the OWLs, looks like Harry had a vision and believed that his godfather was being torture by You-Know-Who himself inside the Department of Mysteries."
"But… But is impossible! He would never been able to get inside the Ministry undetected!"
"Well, I know that and you know that, but Harry didn't know. In his defense I must say that he tried to confirm his vision. He managed to contact the place his godfather was through the Floo but…" Again Mr. Weasley stopped the tale and took a deep breath. "But a house-elf told Harry that he wasn't in the house, that he had left and the house-elf didn't know where he went."
"A house-elf? Of whom we are talking about?"
"Sirius Black."
"Sirius Black! You knew where the criminal was and never told the Ministry?" Percy made a movement as if he would stand but freeze when he felt his father hand over his arm.
"Calm down, Percy. Yes, I knew where Sirius was. He and I both are in the Order of the Phoenix, helping Dumbledore. Sirius was innocent. If he had a fair trial he would never been send to Azkaban. But Fudge wouldn't listen. He didn't listen when Dumbledore found out about Sirius innocence, like he didn't listen when Dumbledore told him about You-Know-Who return."
Percy felt like the last of his world had crumble around him. So many things were upside down. So many lies and so much distrust. Then something his father said suck in.
"Was? What you mean by 'was'?"
Mr. Weasley gulped and Percy could see his hands shake.
"Sirius died in the Department of Mysteries. He dueled Bellatrix Lestrange and end up falling through the veil in the Room of Death." Another deed breath. "Remus said that Harry was absolutely distraught. But there's more. There's always more with Harry Potter. But we will have to wait until we can talk to Dumbledore."
Percy kept his eyes on his tea cup.
"Things will get more serious now. Fudge can not play with hate news and a blind eye anymore, Percy. Now, more than ever, will be the moment to make your choices."
With a last fatherly hand over Percy's shoulder, Mr. Weasley left the kitchen to go to his bedroom.
And almost an exact year after he done that, Percy was once again sat at the table, his head in his hands, and his mind in turmoil once more.
"What now? Dumbledore and Potter were right. Fudge was wrong. And once more I can make my head and my heart agrees in anything."
That was another night that Percy wouldn't get much sleep.
SEVERUS
Severus was not surprise that he was sorted on Slytherin again. Or that Black, Lupin and Potter were Gryffindors again. The biggest twist was Pettigrew.
Since the three future Marauders spent the trip in the Hogwarts Express with Snape, they didn't met or befriended the small sniveling Pettigrew.
And since Snape wasn't with Lucius Malfoy and his gang, they accepted Pettigrew – a lesser pureblood representative, but never the less, a pureblood – in their mist, as a useful lackey.
And that was the reason why, this time around, Pettigrew was sorted in Slytherin. Snape recognized the pattern: the rat choose to stay close to those who showed the willingness and the power to protect him.
On the first time around – the real time – Black, Potter and Lupin should have encounter and protect Pettigrew and he probably begged to the Hat to put him in Gryffindor to stay close to his new found protectors.
This time Malfoy's gang was the one to offer protection first. It would cost Pettigrew much more in the end, but he couldn't know that after all. So, the rat asked and was easily and put in Slytherin.
In retrospect, the house of the cunning ones was the best place for him, no matter how much Severus regrets to have to acknowledge this.
While the first year of school passed him by, Snape could recognize how the other Slytherins treated Pettigrew. He was their servant, almost a house-elf. They didn't go too far in fear of the teachers' reactions, but did enough to humiliate and billeted the boy.
Watching this happening, Snape couldn't stop himself of wondering what possess the rat to join the Death Eaters the first time around and to betray his friends of the time.
Even if the Marauders played a bit with Wormtail, they were always available to help the weaker boy with classes or any kind of trouble around the school. Unlike the Slytherins. Pettigrew couldn't have been so dim witted to not notice the powerful friendship he had with the other three Marauders.
Remembering his encounter with Black, Lupin and Pettigrew in the Shrieking Shack back on Harry's third year at Hogwarts; Snape couldn't avoid agreeing with the other two Marauders. Wormtail should have died before betraying one of his friends. They certainly would have died for him in a very Gryffindorish way that Snape loathed himself for admire.
The second earth shattering moment in Severus's fantasy was when Potter and Black invited him to be part of their little gang to prank around the school, hell bend in discover all its secrets and play around as much as possible.
Severus Snape was invited to be the fourth Marauder! This went far beyond his wildest fantasies for the possible changes in behavior or relationship with those boys.
So, Severus Snape, the epitome of Slytherin, joined the three Gryffindor boys and experiment the freedom of running wild during the school year.
Time had little meaning inside his fantasy. The year passed quickly and suddenly Snape was older and in the middle of his second year at Hogwarts. His friendship with the other Marauders had flourished as he never would have dreamed of. And around him things did changed. The rivalry between the houses weren't as pronounced as he remembered. There wasn't as many prejudice attitudes as before.
After another day playing Quidditch and talking with the Marauders, Severus went back to the Slytherin common room with such a bewildering expression that the others felt save to approach him. Usually Snape had such a forbidden frown that not even Prefects find need or interest in bother him. This shouldn't be a problem because the first time around Snape was a snarky precocious git too.
"You spend an awful amount of time with those Gryffindors, Snape."
Severus kind of wake up to face the fourth year Bellatrix Black.
"Know thy enemy," was Snape's answer.
"I know one of them and there's nothing worth knowing there," replied Bellatrix.
"You may think you know your cousin Sirius, but you have no idea what the Gryffindor Black is capable of," Snape responded walking toward his bedroom.
"He's right, Bella. It's best to know your enemies from the inside. How their minds work, where they are strong or weak." Malfoy's voice was smooth and patronizing.
"It's better to tread with care when you don't know which road you're traveling," was the last response from Snape, delivered with a cold stare before he disappeared in the way to his bedroom.
And time went on. The years in Hogwarts continued to advance without a perceptive change. Snape felt like he was growing up all over again. And he was learning so much more about himself and the world around him.
Snape recognized that pureblood children, especially the ones from Slytherin families, didn't usually have a very happy childhood. Everything was about politics and connections. After they went to Hogwarts, they didn't look for friends but contacts. They lost their innocent about the world quite early on.
Severus was finally able to say out loud – or at least out loud to himself – that he envied James Potter. Because Potter has loving parents that didn't ask him to be their tool in the political world. Because Potter has a nice and happy childhood, with friends and games, and so little worries about the adult world.
Snape knew he envied Sirius Black for his courage and force of will for stand up to his family and be able to choose being different. For choosing a different path than the one expected of him.
Even Remus Lupin with his "fur little problem" had a childhood as good as possible, because his parents made everything they could to give Lupin the chance of a normal and happy life.
When Potter and Black came to him, Snape, for confirmation of their suspicious about Lupin, Severus was a bit surprise and more than a bit envious of the unshakable support the other two boys were ready to offer the little werewolf.
More than his prejudice toward Gryffindors and Potter, Snape had to make a lot of effort to accept to keep up with Lupin and to try helping him. But then Severus had always – very secretly – dreamed of become an Animagus. In the company of these "new marauders", he finally achieved his dream and learnt how to become a raven.
The liberty of spread his wings and fly quickly become one of the most treasured feelings and memories of his fantasy.
And watching the difficult transformations without Wolfbane made him soft toward Lupin's problem. In the end the friendship engulfing the four boys was helping to cure any and all pain that Snape cared. He was really amazed how complete faith can help someone to thrive for better things.
So, this time around, when the Marauders made their infamous map, it read:
'Messrs. Corax, Moony, Padfoot and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP'