Finally! Term starts tomorrow. No more sitting around with just Lupin for company. Severus scratched the top of one hand as sweat slicked his palms. I can see Lily again. She can yell at me all she wants. I don't care. Severus waited outside for the thestral-drawn carriages to arrive, students in tow.
I can't believe I'm happy for school to start. How many times did I contemplate wrecking the train midway through Scotland when I taught?
Every other year coming back was a two-edged sword—I got away from that useless toe rag Tobias but returned to the Marauders' daily torments.
I can't focus anymore—boredom's addled what wit I have left. So many incoherent thoughts—I can't get anything useful out of them.
"Severus." Lupin joined him. "I can understand you don't like my friends, but I hope you won't be mad at me for staying friends with them."
"Quiet, Remus. You're going to be in enough trouble for sticking to me."
"Oh… Severus, are you worried about me?"
"Hardly." Severus snorted.
"May I ask, why?"
"Because now you'll be the one to pay when I find toads in my bag instead of books." Severus smirked. "You'll have no excuse for allowing such childish behavior anymore. Even if your friends do it, I'll blame you for not stopping them."
"I can't watch them every second. Besides, you could just send Lily after them. At least they respect her."
"They're your so-called friends, Remus Lupin." And Lily's likely too angry with me to stop the Marauders, anyway.
Lupin's nervous laugh betrayed dread for what was to come when his friends arrived.
Leather-winged horses topped the horizon and halted at the grounds' entrance. Severus reached to caress the nearest thestral.
"You can see them?" whispered Lupin.
"Obviously." I've seen too much death not to.
"Sev! Sev!" Lily shoved through the crowd of students that flooded from the carriages.
"Over here," Severus called and waved.
Lily pushed between two boys, nearly making Regulus Black fall flat on his nose as she stormed past, arms outstretched. She enveloped Severus in a tight hug.
He stiffened, relaxed, and returned the gesture.
"Don't you ever do something like that to me again!" Lily scolded. "Merlin, you scared me! You know that?"
"I'll try my best not to," said Severus.
"Moony!" Potter, Pettigrew and Sirius Black pushed toward Lupin.
Black plucked Lupin from the ground as though he weighed less than a feather. "Moony, you survived! That's amazing!" He wrapped Lupin in a bear hug.
"Easy, Pad. He didn't survive just for you to smother him," said Potter.
Black set Lupin down and draped one arm over Potter and Lupin's shoulders, drawing them closer. "I was worried. You know life without me is quite ghastly."
"More like peaceful," Lupin grumbled, but his smile belied his words. "I actually got some work done for once."
"How horrible!" Potter feigned shock and disgust. "Padfoot, I think he's gone insane being trapped at school with Snively!"
Lupin's smile vanished.
"What?" Black said, worried.
"Please, stop calling him that," Lupin said with a glance toward Severus. "Please…"
Lily took Severus' hand as the Marauders faced them. When her grip on his hand tightened, and the Marauders stepped back, fear in their faces, Severus knew exactly what they saw—Lily's warning glare, filled with fury.
"Fine!" Potter relented.
"Come on. Let's go." Lupin dragged Black away from Severus. Pettigrew tripped after them, and Potter stayed only long enough to give Severus a puzzled look.
"Hey, guys, wait up!" Potter called as he jogged after the other three.
Severus' hand throbbed. "You can let go now."
"Am I hurting you?"
"A little."
"Good!" Lily squeezed harder. Her nails scraped into his skin just long enough to force a pained gasp from Severus. Then she let go.
Severus shook and rubbed his sore hand. "What'd you do that for?"
"What do you think, Severus Snape?"
"I told you, I'm sorry."
"And that's why I'm talking to you at all. I thought you were better than that." She shook her head. "Let's get inside." Lily took his good hand and pulled him after her, but as they entered the dining room, she let go again—to Severus' disappointment.
Lily took a seat at the Gryffindor table, and Severus joined his fellow Slytherins.
Thank Merlin Malfoy graduated. Severus scooted as far away from the younger boy next to him as he could, but the table was so crowded he couldn't go far. Narcissa Black sat across the table, and when Severus noticed who sat one seat to his right, he stifled a shudder. Barty Crouch Jr.'s light blue eyes already gleamed with madness. He's two years below me. How could I have forgotten? Malfoy wasn't the only future Death Eater in Slytherin. Mulciber and Wilkes are the same year as me. Narcissa's a year above me, and Regulus Black is a year below.
Severus paid minimal attention as the first-years were sorted and Dumbledore began his speech.
"We face dark times," Dumbledore said. "If we do not cling to friendship—to cooperation and unity, then we will fail. Find faith in each other. Fight for the greater good."
How many of these speeches have I heard? Severus slumped a little in his chair.
The Great Hall door boomed open. Every student stared as a tall, slim man entered. Light brown hair fell into gray eyes, and his every feature was so sharp Severus dreaded to come too close, lest he cut himself.
Ice seeped into Severus' veins. Graham Spinner—Death Eater—how well I know you. But how have I forgotten until now?
This year he tried to scout recruits to fill the Death Eater ranks, even touted the Dark Lord's grandeur. If I remember right, the Marauders—well, now I know it was them—found Spinner out. He tried to escape, took two first-years hostage and threatened to kill one of them—to prove his sincerity. Severus rolled his eyes. The Marauders' ploy worked—thankfully. Pettigrew's rat form was enough of a distraction for Spinner, and Black—as a dog—tripped him on his way out. Lupin appeared from beneath the invisibility cloak and attacked Spinner from behind. That's when Potter leapt from the bushes and stunned him before tying him up.
Quite well done, I'd say. Spinner got the Dementor's Kiss without much of a trial. Severus shuddered. No one deserves a Dementor's Kiss—no one… Well, may Umbridge, but she'd probably give them indigestion.
"Ah, Mr. Spinner," said Dumbledore and motioned Spinner into the hall. "Please, welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Once Dumbledore's attention left him, Spinner smirked and eyed the Slytherin table like a hungry lion ogling sheep. He caught Severus' eye and grinned.
So, the Death Eaters are targeting me. Should I send a Patronus? Warn Dumbledore about Spinner? No, too many messages to Dumbledore will draw attention—and it would hardly make a difference, anyway. Spinner will have a chance to prove himself. Perhaps I should just let history take its course, allow the Marauders to handle it, like they did last time. But that would endanger those two first-years—and perhaps others, not to mention me. I'm not prepared to do that.
The opening assembly ended, and Severus followed the rest of Slytherin down to the dungeons and into their house where he spent the rest of the evening in thought. His dorm mates, in lieu of spending the evening with him, were down in the common room.
At least I can focus now, with something of import at hand. But what's a good solution? I suppose, for now there isn't anything I can do. I'll have to wait and see.
The next morning Severus met Lily at the Hufflepuff table—their unofficial morning ritual. Though still angry, she wasn't as hostile.
When the daily owl post arrived near the beginning of breakfast, Lily and Severus received small, green envelopes lettered in gold—invitations to the year's first Slug Club meeting.
Severus sighed. I suppose I have to go. Otherwise, Slughorn would be within his rights to expel me for stealing his potion ingredients. After a couple months, I should be safe. By then the incident will be so long past no one will take Slughorn seriously if he mentions it.
Along with their invitations, both received schedules.
Good. Ancient Runes instead of Arithmancy. At least I've a new subject to study now that I've switched those two. I couldn't take two years of repetition.
Lily's schedule was almost identical to his. Potions, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Ancient Runes and Herbology.
Thank Merlin N.E.W.T. level classes aren't separated by house. I'll have most of my classes with Lily.
"Looks like we're heading to Charms together." Lily pointed to their first Monday class.
"It would seem so," he said.
Breakfast over, they headed to Charms and met all the Marauders, minus Pettigrew, on the way.
Lupin greeted them cheerily, but Potter and Black tried to ignore them out of respect for Lupin—at least, until Lily's attention wandered, and Lupin went ahead.
Black caught Severus' eye and formed a silent "Snake."
Potter's face held equal distrust as the Marauders hurried after Lupin.
In class, they studied how to put a personal touch on a charm, mold it into an extension of one's magic. This lent the ability to do any charms befitting the occasion without the use of words or long sequences of thought.
Too bad it only works with simple charms. I've been doing this kind of magic for years, anyway. We'll move to dueling soon, but what's the point other than to freshen up on basic dueling tactics?
Charms ended, and Severus headed to Ancient Runes.
Glad I switched Arithmancy for this. He took a seat. At least I feel like I'm learning something, even if it isn't much. Basic rune knowledge is a prerequisite for so many advanced potions—and even more so for my favorite old hobby, spell invention.
Portions of the class proved interesting, but much only repeated things Severus could do in his sleep.
Potions was a joke. But Defence Against the Dark Arts this year would never be boring. Not with a Death Eater for a teacher, especially one who watched Severus in and out of class.
As the day passed, Severus resorted to a dozen different maneuvers to keep Spinner off his tail. Dumb, easy things often proved best—like a sharp turn and quick step into a classroom. Spinner always passed his hiding place, and Severus stepped out ten minutes later, only to walk the opposite direction.
Thursday evening a few weeks later, Severus sat at a table tucked into the corner of the Slytherin common room. No Lily tonight. I suppose it's good she makes other plans sometimes. He flipped a page in the book he brought with him to avoid too many stares. No Lupin either since we're not studying Ancient Runes. I wish I were in the library, or outside, but I suppose I can't always do that.
I could always think up more ways to give Spinner the slip.
A shy Slytherin girl, a year or two below Severus, approached.
Great. Who's this?
"Um… H-hi," she said.
Severus raised an eyebrow and barely glanced up from his book. "Evening."
"I… was wondering." She bit her lip. "Could I talk to you?"
He gave a slow nod and gestured to the chair across from him.
The girl sat and fidgeted in nervous silence. She was short with straight dark hair that fell down her back in two braids. Oval glasses sat atop her small nose and covered big, almond-shaped eyes the color of melted chocolate. She was delicate, like a dried leaf. One careless move could whisk her away.
"Something you wanted to ask?" Severus said.
The girl flinched then twisted a loose strand of hair. "Yes… Um… last year you… kind of… told them off." With a tilt of her head she indicated the close-knit group a few tables away—the future Death Eaters Severus once followed like a loyal puppy.
"I did," Severus said with pride.
"They don't… scare you?" The girl gulped.
"No. They're nothing to be afraid of."
The girl failed to hide her admiration. "I was thinking… they're always so well organized—and it's like they have half the house in their group. We—the rest of us—are scattered outsiders." She glanced around the room. Those alone in corners who didn't look the part of a bully were far too many.
"And those people," she eyed the group, "they make all of us look horrid!"
She's right, of course, but… "Why come to me with this?"
"Well, I was thinking…" she tugged her stray hair "… maybe we should do something—to unite the rest of the house. You know, stand up to them, show the rest of the school we're different—that they don't define Slytherin. People are less likely to be persuaded to…" she gulped "… join You-Know-Who if they see they're not alone."
It's a good point. "I still don't see why you came to me." He laid aside his book.
"You're not afraid of them," she said. "If you stood up, then maybe… we could follow you."
What in all the Wizarding World is she thinking? "What exactly do you want me to do?"
"Well… We could start a club—to collect people."
Oh, please, no. He shook his head.
"I thought… we could just make it a sort of reading and tutoring thing. I mean… it would be less suspicious if you just offered help with schoolwork once a week. People are more likely to join something like that. And I could organize tea. Hopefully it will encourage people to talk to one another."
"You have high hopes," said Severus.
The girl's smile was far too innocent. "Slytherin is the house of ambition."
Quite right. "What's your name?"
"Penelope Pauperitt. Please, call me Penelope."
"Severus Snape," he said. Though she probably already knew that since she approached me.
Penelope's smile turned sheepish. "Does that mean you're in?"
"I'm not sure."
"Please?" Penelope pleaded, eyes pitiful. "Doesn't it seem the smart, Slytherin thing to do? Try to collect a scattered house so we can stand up for ourselves, show we're not just a bunch of bullies? That not all of us will blindly follow… You-Know-Who?"
Right again. "And you want this to lead to Slytherin being accepted by the other houses? To prevent them being picked on so they can find the courage to fight for the Light in the battles to come?" said Severus.
Penelope's shy smile reemerged. "Got to start somewhere. After all, Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin were as close as brothers once. I mean… it's possible… right? You and Evans…" She blushed and looked away.
"Me and Lily?"
Penelope nodded. "You're always together, and… you don't seem to care she's a Gryffindor. And she doesn't care you're a Slytherin. You're the only two I've seen act like that. But it's proof, isn't it? Proof it can be done."
This is strange. Still… Severus' slow nod betrayed his interest.
"I–I don't want to be a Death Eater! I can be something else… can't I?" Penelope swallowed hard. "What the Sorting Hat said when it put me in Slytherin… it doesn't dictate who I am. Right? What people think doesn't have to be right. I can prove them wrong!" Urgency filled Penelope, and her bespectacled eyes were determined. "Please?" she said. "Help me. I don't want to be…"
Severus folded his hands atop his book. Spinner's here to recruit new Death Eaters from the student body, but… if I can stop him now—stop the others from becoming Death Eaters, and potentially let some of them join Dumbledore's ranks later… "Fine. But it's your idea, so you're going to organize it yourself, little Miss. I'll show up and do my part."
Penelope's eyes lit, and she fidgeted with excitement. "Great! How about next Thursday, six o'clock, in the empty classroom two doors down from Transfiguration?"
She's already thought this through? No, of course, she has. She's a Slytherin—and not one of the dull ones either. "Very well."
"It would be a good idea to bring tutors from other houses too." Penelope tapped a finger on her chin and gave Severus a side-long glance. "You know, to plant the idea of inter-house collaboration right from the start."
"Now you're pushing it," said Severus. Don't expect me to wrangle students for you.
"Isn't Evans top of her class?" said Penelope in false innocence. "You spend all day with her, anyway."
"Fine. I'll ask her," Severus grumbled. "Anyone else you have in mind?"
"Well… I hope to get Hufflepuff," an odd tremble in her voice accompanied the house name, "and Ravenclaw to join eventually, but I suppose you don't happen to know anyone from there…?"
"I don't. Those you'll have to find yourself."
Penelope grinned. "Sure. Thank you!" In her enthusiasm she nearly toppled the chair as she scurried away.
With a frown Severus returned to his book. What on earth have I gotten myself into now?
This chapter has been edited by Dtill359