December bled into January, and soon enough classes resumed at Hogwarts. Severus had been hard at work perfecting spells, wondering if they did to humans what they did to inanimate objects. He was able to hang books and other things in the air upside down, and he even slashed the cover of his transfiguration text with one of his spells. He had spent the remainder of his winter break doing this as well as avoiding Narcissa Black. If there was one thing that made him uncomfortable, it was that girl.

What he didn't count on, however, was the odd feeling he had whenever the students returned to school. He passed Elise in the hallway as he had done so many times before, yet it felt odd- downright wrong, even- to completely ignore her as they walked down the halls. They had, after all, shared a moment that many don't in a lifetime. And she had kissed him, for whatever it was worth. Severus tried to forget about this little aspect; it just complicated things much more than he was willing to admit.

After term started, however, the two had their usual rendezvous to being the intensive studying that would encompass their world in the months leading up to OWLs. It was just as it had been- Elise poking fun at him in her general, good natured manner, and Severus sacrificing jesting in the name of relentless study.

On a chilly February evening, the two had set up shop in their abandoned classroom in order to study potions. Elise played with her hair while Severus wrote the ingredients to an obscure potion from memory.

"Honestly, Severus, can't we just take a break?" Elise asked, sighing.

"No, we can't. What is the point of meeting every week if we aren't going to study?"

"To Talk! To catch up! I don't have any idea what's going on in your life right now, and you've no idea what's going on in mine!"

"O.W.L.s are going on in my life right now," Severus answered, not even turning to face her.

"Sirius asked me to Hogsmeade…for Valentine's Day." Severus halted his writing and finally turned to face Elise.

"What?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"Sirius Black…he asked me the other day at breakfast to go with him to Hogsmeade. I-I haven't given him an answer yet, I wanted to check with you first,"

His insides were reeling. His fair Elise, in the hands of that no good bastard. It was all he could do to keep from vomiting all over the floor.

"I-um-what makes you think you need to check with me in order to go out with that-that git," he spat nastily.

"Actually, Sirius is quite a nice guy, even if his head is stuck up his arse sometimes. He asked me very sweetly, Potter wasn't even around him. And James, of course, has asked Lily about four hundred times and she keeps saying no, so I might tell Sirius no just to be with Lily but…I can't deny that I was thinking about saying yes."

Severus silently seethed, but he didn't want Elise to know his true feelings toward her. After all, they had made that touching vow to be friends.

"Well, what do I care if you run off with the fool. Have a lovely Valentine's Day," he said quietly, staring at the floor.

Elise's face remained unchanged. "I just wanted to know what you thought of the idea."

"Oh I think it's a brilliant idea. And do you think he will let you come near me once you start dating or whatever it is you plan to do. You can pretty much kiss these little study dates goodbye, because he'll keep you under lock and key, Elise," Severus huffed.

Elise rolled her eyes. "Always one for the dramatics, Severus. Just because I may accompany him to Hogsmeade doesn't mean I want to run away with him and have his babies, for Merlin's sake. I'm just saying, I'd like to try it out, see what happens. And don't worry, I'll make sure that these continue. I'll think up an excuse, something. You're one of my best friends, Severus."

"Oh dear, hand me a tissue, I think I'm tearing up," he remarked sarcastically, and Else playfully hit him on the arm.

"I swear, sometimes I just want to kick you." He turned to look at her, tempted to say something in return, yet he held himself back.

"Moving on to the Torifikus potion-"

Elise groaned and sat back down, dreading another hour of Severus's mindless droning.

On Valentine's Day, Severus was in a right foul mood. He'd watched everyone leave for the trip to Hogsmeade, and yet he stayed behind. He wanted to put the finishing touches on his newest spells and perhaps try them out on some unsuspecting first years. As he was practicing the precise wand movements, there was a tap at the fifth year dormitory door.

"Enter," Severus said distractedly, trying to concentrate.

"Um, Severus, this was just delivered from an owl, and I thought I'd bring it to you," a flowery female voice said. Severus looked up into Narcissa's big eyes.

"I-er-thanks, Narcissa," he said quietly, taking the bit of rolled up parchment.

"I'll be seeing you then," she said, turning to leave. Severus was relieved when her foot steps disappeared. He wasn't the least bit surprised that she had not accompanied everyone else to Hogsmeade.

Curious, he unrolled the bit of parchment and gasped when he saw the familiar scrawl.

My Dearest Severus,
It has been many months since I have spoken to you. I have recently come to the knowledge that my father has been keeping me locked up under the imperius curse in order to keep me here. He does not know that I have thrown it off. When he finds out, I most likely will be under again for a while. I cannot find my mother, and this only leads me to believe that she's been killed, although I cannot say for sure. I do hope you're being a good boy. If I remember correctly your O.W.L.s are quickly approaching and it's very important you do well. I have to ask you though, please, for me, don't come after me. I'll be fine. I just want you to know that I am alright, that I am alive, and that everything is alright. I love you so much, Severus. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life, the sweetest little boy, and you are going to grow up to be a wonderful man. I hope someday we can meet again, but until that day I must go before I get caught. Be strong for me, My Severus

Love,

Mother

Severus bit his bottom lip and slid down to the floor, awestruck. His mother. She was alive, and that bastard was keeping her hostage! He knew there'd been something amiss that day when his grandfather had come to make his life hell. He sighed deeply, unsure of what to think. He decided to go outside and walk around. He put on his coat and made his way outside, trying to decide the appropriate way to react to the letter. Snow suffocated the grounds that were so lush and green in the summer months. Severus sat atop a stump on the edge of the forest, lost in thought.

With all his being, all the wanted to do was leave school and run to his mother's rescue. The wounds still ran deep with the rejection she had shown him that day, even if it had been controlled by his grandfather. He could see the disgust on her face as she looked at him, as she cast his frail body aside with her suitcases. He remembered his tear stained face as he cried out her name is sheer terror and despair. And, he remembered her not looking back. It had all been a lie, he felt the sting of her rejection as though it had occurred just moments before. He pulled the note from his pocket and began to read it again, looking for clues or any hidden messages.

He did not notice the group arriving back from Hogsmeade until he heard the merry chatter of his classmates when they were feet away. He looked up and decided that he too had best get inside. Head buried within his mother's cryptic words, he followed the group, and didn't notice that the mass of people had stopped moving. He unceremoniously ran into the person in front of him. He began to apologize absentmindedly when he realized it was none other than Elise.

"I uh- sorry," he stumbled, trying to maintain his supposed anonymity toward her.

"Right," she replied quietly.

"Whoa whoa whoa, you greasy git, you had better apologize more sincerely than that. That's my girl that you just ran in to," Sirius Black's voice rang out. His worst fears brought to face him, Severus turned to look into Sirius's angry eyes.

"It was an accident. I said I'm sorry. I need to be on my way now," he replied distractedly.

"I don't think so, Snape. Get down on your knees and apologize to the fair Miss Aguirre."

"That won't be necessary, Sirius, I'm quite alright, it was just an accident," Elise pleaded.

"No, it is," James Potter put in. "Go on, then." He pointed his wand at Severus's feet, and he fell to the floor. Enraged, Severus rose from the ground.

"Do it again," he hissed. "Do it again, you bastard."

"Fine!" Sirius said, making Severus fall again. His mother's note fell from his hands, and Sirius bent over to pick it up.

"Sirius! Stop it! Severus, are you alright?" Elise asked, but Severus ignored her.

"BLACK!" he yelled. Sirius turned to face him, and James appeared at his side. Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew stayed back behind them, not helping either party.

"You want this back from…let's see…ah, mother. How nice."

"Levicorpus!" Severus bellowed, and suddenly Sirius Black was in mid air, hanging upside down. Elise screamed, and everyone else who was still outside turned to stare.

"What the fuck!" James Potter swore, watching his friend flailing in mid air. "Bloody hell, let him down, you git, let him go!"

"Don't you ever say anything about my mother, or anyone else close to me for that matter. You leave me alone, or next time, I'm going to do something a lot worse. Do you understand me?" Severus snarled. When Sirius did not answer, Severus wiggled his wand, making Sirius's body jump as well. Sirius finally let out a stifled yell.

"YES!"

Severus let him drop to the frozen ground in a heap. Sirius, got up, his face beet red, and began to charge after Severus. James held Sirius's shoulders back so that he couldn't take revenge.

"It's not worth it, Sirius!" Remus Lupin yelled, and he narrowed his eyes in Severus's direction. "You'd best get out of here," he said. Severus glared at the lot of them and turned to look at Elise, who cowered next to Lily. Severus nodded his acknowledgement toward the ladies and then stalked off to the dormitories.

He hadn't felt so good in months.