This chapter is short, but it is one of the more important ones in the story. Hope you like it!


Interlude

Hogwarts, December 1971

Severus glared hard at the book before him, attempting to focus on the words filling the page, however was too distracted by the older Slytherin who sat next to him; who was, oblivious to the younger boy's discomfort, also pouring over a book.

Since the day Severus had started at Hogwarts three months ago, Lucius Malfoy had been welcoming to him; taken him under his wing, to put it properly. He had been startled by the Head Boy's kindness; though he hadn't admitted it to Lily, and the conversation had still not come up regarding it, it did matter being muggle-born. Severus knew it very well; he hadn't stopped thinking about it since the day he had last seen his brother. So when the highly respected pureblood had attempted to befriend him, Severus had welcomed the opportunity with undisguised eagerness.

Consequently, the other Slytherin's in his house, heavily influenced by the behaviour of a Malfoy, were also accepting of him and he soon found himself welcomed into a band of purebloods.

Despite this, Severus was uneasy. He was terrified. Terrified that one day someone would discover his true heritage; just one mention of it from Lily to some other Gryffindor and it could be around the school by morning.

And now, with Christmas break coming up, Severus was sure that someone was bound to discover his secret. The thought horrified him. He was aware of Lucius' developing initiation into the Death Eaters; he was not a man to be lied to. Severus knew all about the kind of curses that could be cast against him; the punishment he could endure for his deception.

So now, here he sat with Lucius Malfoy, and he was going to confess. He had to. Maybe he could plead for some mercy if the truth was to come from him?

Severus cleared his throat, nervously, "Excuse me, Lucius?"

"Hmph?" Lucius grunted a response, not looking up from his book.

"I, uh, I have something to say," Severus said, relieved he was managing to keep his voice even.

"Go ahead," Lucius said, still not looking at the first year.

Severus took a deep breath and gave a wary glance around the common room, checking for eavesdroppers. Only one other person remained in the common room; Narcissa Black, who was too far away to overhear the conversation. Despite that reassurance, he spoke quietly; "I'm a mudblood."

Severus noticed Lucius' eyes, which had been moving across the page, freeze. For a moment a deadly silence fell over them.

Severus shifted, barely able to disguise the uneasiness he felt.

After a long moment Lucius closed the book in front of him and placed his hands over it. He turned his eyes to the terrified boy before him; "No. You're half-blood."

Severus' unease immediately went to undisguised surprise at the older boy's statement. He knew!

"How, uh, who…"

"I knew your brother," Lucius interrupted, "He and I were good friends."

Severus was stunned further by this admission, "Oh. I…I didn't know that."

"No, I didn't imagine you would have," Lucius said, leaning back in his chair. The two were quiet for a moment; Severus had no idea what to say in response to the statement. He hadn't seen Cadence in over a year and the two of them hadn't exactly parted with loving words.

"It was your brother who put me forward to the Death Eaters," Lucius went on, quietly.

Severus kept slightly wide eyes on the older Slytherin.

"He was in the year above me, as you probably knew," Lucius said, without emotion, "He told me about you. That you would be coming here this year."

Severus was a little surprised at the revelation: his brother hadn't exactly seemed proud enough of him to boast about him to other purebloods.

"Were you aware that he was killed the month you arrived at Hogwarts?" Lucius asked, curiously.

Severus shook his head; no. He had no idea that his brother had been killed. He wondered if his mother knew. He felt slightly sick as he thought of his death. For the past year he had sworn his undying hatred towards his brother; even hoped that death would find him. But now, with the knowledge that he was indeed dead and that he had thought enough of him to speak of him to his friends, he felt guilty. And surprisingly distressed.

"I am sorry," Lucius' quiet voice said, "I had thought your mother would have informed you."

Severus swallowed the lump in his throat he didn't know was there and shrugged, "Maybe she wanted to wait until I came home. A Christmas present," he added, tensely.

Lucius said nothing.

Severus took a deep breath and went on, "So, is that why you…uh…why you speak to me?" he asked, not quite sure what to call their relationship.

"Yes," Lucius said, without pause, "He told me about your skills. Your knowledge in the Dark Arts. He also told me that you would go far; that you're sympathetic to our cause."

Lies.Severus thought but was too relieved to voice any objection.

"Even though I'm half-blood?" Severus questioned.

Lucius smiled and nodded, "Severus, you're brother was a great wizard. And a good friend. And if you become even half the man that he was, I shall be very proud to know you."

Severus held his look for a moment before lowering his eyes with a smile.

"The fact that your half muggle is nothing to the fact that you're a half-blood Prince," Lucius stated, firmly.

Severus raised his eyes to the older boy at that. Half-blood Prince; he liked that.


Review Responses:

Adlerauge: Thanks for the review! It's always good to see new reviews :)

Bemoan: Thanks for the reviews! I agree with you; we didn't get enough Severus and Lily in canon (though, seeing as J. K. Rowling didn't seem too keen on Snape, I'm glad that she left it so wide open for our own interpretation of their friendship). I didn't think it was likely that the two of them cut off their friendship and never spoke another word to each other again; I think that would undermine their friendship and I don't see Severus willing to sacrifice his own life for someone who had cut him off without a second glance. I'm also glad you like Regulus; he is going to be one of the more important characters in the story.