"Snape! See me after class!" Professor Grupe belted out causing every student to jump. Severus sighed as he watched everyone exit the room. He had remained seated and was now watching the woman as she walked over to him. She was younger than most of the other Professors. If Severus had to guess she appeared to be around twenty-five or so. She wasn't beautiful in any sense of the word, her features were cut hard like stone, her eyes were a dull gray and she wore her blonde hair pulled back into a bun so tight it looked as if it were pulling her face up and back. "Snape, Headmaster Dumbledore told me about your circumstances and your agreement concerning apprenticeship."

"Yes," Severus gave a slow nod.

"Well, while I do feel poorly about the reasons for your becoming a ward of the school, I must discontinue your apprenticeship. Now, I understand you are quite talented and very close to having the knowledge to sit your NEWTS, however I will not sign off on it." She pulled her robes roughly to straighten them as she gave a long sharp sniff. "I told the Headmaster as much, and unlike the school I taught at previously, there are rules here that I simply cannot understand. Such rules were explained and it is the Headmasters wish to continue on with your training. You shall meet with him for your apprenticeship."

"I understand." Severus nodded as he reached to grab his satchel.

"Are you not at all curious as to how I came to my decision?" Professor Grupe slammed her hand down upon his desk. Stunned into silence, Severus merely sat there looking at her. "I read over Professor Herman's notes and it seems you are too emotional to waste my time teaching you in an apprenticeship. I take it you are fourteen…given your intelligence and your training you should have bottled up your emotions. I thought perhaps Professor Herman was being a bit tough on you, but it was clear as crystal today in class. You're still mooning over that Gryffindor girl Professor Herman wrote about. Well, moon away Snape…" Professor Grupe spun around quickly and stomped her way back to the front of the class.

Severus snatched up his satchel and exited as fast as his legs could carry him. Waiting for him in the corridor was Lily.

"Is everything alright?" Lily asked as she clutched her books to her chest.

"Yes, everything is fine." Severus lied. He couldn't tell anyone about his apprenticeships. As far as they knew he just really liked potions, that's why Sybil felt the need to send him potions ingredients.

"Well, come on we have to meet up with Sybil." Lily turned and began to walk, Severus followed beside her. "How are your other classes? I wish we had more classes together than just DADA."

"Fine, I guess." Severus shrugged. "I have two with Sybil."

"I have every class with Potter and his pack of wild animals." Lily sighed. "If you think they're bad in class or the halls you should see them in the Gryffindor common room. I swear it's like being forced to babysit half of the time."

Severus scowled. He didn't want to talk about James Potter or any of his goons.

"Anyway," Lily swung her hair over her shoulder as she shot him a smile. "Three more years and we won't have to ever see them again."

"You make it sound like it's not that far off." Severus frowned. "Three years may as well be an eternity."

"Eventually they'll grow up and leave you be. You wait and see, as soon as they all get girlfriends they'll be too worried about them to pick on you." Lily was waving. Severus shifted his eyes down the hall and saw Sybil walking towards them. Severus had a hard time imagining those Neanderthals with girlfriends.

"Hi!" Sybil was wiping her nose with her handkerchief. "You'll never guess what I overheard today!"

"What?" Lily squealed with excitement.

"If it's gossip I don't want any part of it." Severus shook his head with a simple smirk.

"This is HUGE!" Sybil cried as she shoved her handkerchief into her pocket. "I'm sure the entire school will be talking about it before dinner."

"Tell me quick before I explode from anticipation!" Lily took hold of Sybil's elbow as they continued to walk.

"I heard that James Potter fancies you!" Sybil allowed the words to spill out.

"Oh." Lily replied, her shoulders slumping slightly. Severus didn't know what to say, he could feel anger in his stomach, building like a bonfire. "That's too bad because he's a jerk." Sybil giggled. As the turned the corner and continued to make their way to the Great Hall, Severus looked towards Lily with a side glance. Her fingertips raised to her closed mouth where a smile played, her cheeks pink…Severus knew. Lily was happy at the news James Potter fancied her.

As they entered the Great Hall Severus moved away from the girls and walked toward the Slytherin table. He had been hungry, but now the thought of consuming anything made him feel as if he would vomit. Instead he looked over to the Gryffindor table. Lily was chewing happily. Sitting beside her was none other than James Potter, who was chatting merrily with her. He watched her reply, reaching over and touching his forearm.

Lily fancies James too.

For a moment Severus, who had never been akin to religion, found himself silently praying that a meteor would fall from the sky and land right on his head. His best friend and his bully…how on earth could she fancy him when he treated Severus so badly? What kind of friend would do that? Severus sneered.

"Bottle it up, Snape." Severus whispered to himself. He wanted to feel nothing, but inside his heart felt like it was being ripped apart. He forced his features to relax, to show indifference. Severus refused to let James bloody Potter see him so vulnerable.