Chapter 2: Old friends

Iris did not stop walking as she and Severus were entering the cold castle of Hogwarts. The stares garnered by her presence unsettled Severus to an extent. He was so focused on trying to hide himself by slouching low and covering his face with his hair that he didn't notice that Iris had suddenly stopped walking and almost bumped into her.

"Alright Viper, this is where we part. You will head to your hospital wing and get yourself checked up and I am not asking." Iris demanded, but Severus twitched an eyebrow at her confused.

"And where exactly would you be going?" Severus asked, curious as to what else this eccentric deity could possibly do more, wondering if she would be creating anymore trouble or not.

"If you must know, I am only visiting an old friend of mine. I need to speak to him before I do anything else. We don't want anymore people becoming suspicious of my presence." Arianrhod said, turning away from Severus as she began to ascend the stairs away from the hospital wing.

"Pfft… Anymore people? You've already caused the entire school to be suspicious of you with what you did back there at lake, there's no one else you could possibly-"

"Hush now! Didn't I tell you to head to the hospital wing? Why haven't you moved an inch yet?" Arianrhod hushed, pausing to scold Severus.

"I don't need to. I feel perfectly fine already." Severus said, turning around away from the hospital wing and towards the dungeons.

"And where do you think you're going? I told you to head to the hospital wing, stubbornness doesn't get you anywhere, little viper." Arianrhod asked, who suddenly teleported in front of Severus in a blink of an eye to stop him from walking any further away from the direction of the hospital wing.

"If you must know, I am heading to my dorm and I am not going to the hospital wing, you can't make me. I feel perfectly fine." Severus said, folding his arms to his chest mocking Iris with a sarcastic tone using the same words she previously said.

"I said, I wasn't asking you." Iris muttered in a stern voice as her icy gaze stared at Severus' dark orbs.

Severus didn't plan on backing down, but for some reason it was like his body began to move on it's own. He couldn't stop it.

"You said I couldn't make you, right? Want to test that theory?" Iris said, a smirk forming her lips, with an eyebrow cocked.

"What are you doing to me?" Severus asked in a panic.

"All magic that flows within your veins belongs to me. They follow my will." Iris explained, nonchalantly as if she were talking about something as mundane as the weather. "Do not worry, little viper. I will be seeing you soon." Iris said, blowing a playful air kiss as she began to ascend the stairs. While Severus still struggled with himself, his body still moved on its own, walking itself towards the hospital wing.

Walking the halls, Iris didn't bat a single eye towards any onlookers who watched her. She didn't give any other importance to them other than what she needed to do right now. Turning a right she entered an empty hall with no other living being other than the gargoyles that littered the hallway. With every gargoyle that she had passed each and every one of them bowed to her, acknowledging the presence of the Goddess whose essence keeps them alive. Stopping in front of the large gargoyle who stands watch at the entrance to the headmaster's office. The gargoyle bowed low, the sound of its stone body chipping with every move.

"Greetings, great one." It greeted Iris with the highest respect. Iris did not spare a glance at the bowing gargoyles, she never looked anywhere else but front.

"You will not wait for me to ask you to move." Iris said, her voice and demeanor emitting so much authority. Without lifting it's head, the gargoyle jumped to the side and the spiraling stairs began to appear.

Iris walked the stairs further into the headmaster's tower. Entering the office without so much as a pause or a knock. Albus was perplexed with the unannounced presence of this mysterious girl.

"Excuse me young lady, but how did you-"

"Silence child." With a flick of her wrist Dumbledore's lips clamped shut. "Be a good boy and sit down here. Would you?" Iris ordered, pointing at the guest chairs in front of Albus' desk. Albus could do nothing as his body began to move beyond his will. Albus looked at Fawks who would usually defend his master in the bat of an eye. But this time Fawkes sat still on his perch. Even allowing the mysterious girl to pet him for a short while before moving further in the office where the shelves where located. Looking up at the right shelf she sees him.

"Hello old friend. It's been so long." Iris said with the warmest smile on her face since she entered the castle.

"Ah… Greetings oh great Arianrhod. Have you come to finally take me home?" The sorting hat said, a deep longing in his voice as he began to float off the shelf and unto eye level with Iris.

"I'm afraid not yet, my friend. You still have work to be done for years before you can finally come back home to me." Iris said, a hint of sadness in her voice as she spoke to the sorting hat. Who floated along side her as she walked back to sit on the headmaster's desk, while the sorting hat plopped gently on the table in front of her.

"No worries, great one. A millennia to me is like a bat of an eye. Now tell me, what brings you here?" The sorting hat asked, with keen interest.

"There is a student here that you had sorted not too long ago. Severus Snape."

"Ahhh… yes… The boy with the troubled mind and heart. A very powerful wizard at that, a lot of unlocked potential. But I recall in our first and last meeting, he was very misguided. But I see with your presence that doesn't seem to be the case anymore?" The sorting hat answered, cocking an eyebrow at Iris at the last sentence.

"That remains to be seen. I know that you are aware of what his fate was supposed to be, you've seen it. You see all the student's fates. "

"Yes… A blessing and curse that I've inherited from you. So what exactly do you want to do?"

"Tell me what I need to know about Hogwarts and about his school life. I was under probation so I couldn't see anymore of his life other than when he was a child and only when he died. I need to pretend to be a transferring student, what do I need to know?"

"Well… great one, first you need to convince him." The sorting hat said gesturing towards Albus who was still seated on the guest chair in front of the desk. Iris had completely forgotten about him before the hat even mentioned him.

"Oh right, the supposed wise, power-greedy one. Who has too many house biases." Iris said, lazily.

"Yes… such greed in one body, and yet so many trust him." The sorting hat said, who floated to face Albus directly.

"Such a shame. But I will admit, although his ways are quite unorthodox there is still good in it. But just like I said, VERY UNORTHODOX. If it brings him any comfort to know, his sister's soul is currently living her best life as a non-magical mortal." Iris said, Albus' eyes widened, he couldn't believe what he had just heard. His sister's soul living in the muggle world. Realizing that right before him was a goddess from the olden times in the form of a human girl. Albus couldn't help but stare in wonder at her.

"Now we must not stall Arianrhod, it's almost time for the student's to gather for dinner at the great hall." The sorting hat said, facing back towards Iris.

"Yes, you're right my friend. But for the remaining time that I am here, do not call me by the name Arianrhod. I shall be known as Iris as I continue to live pretending to be a normal mortal." Iris said, standing up to walk towards Albus.

"Ahhh… I see, although different, the name still implies that you see all. Charming."

"Now child. Look at me." Iris said, as she stared straight into the eyes of Albus. Her eyes began to shimmer as she talked in a low soothing voice. "You will admit me into Hogwarts as a late transfer student. My name is Iris Alarie. You will not question who my parents are nor where I reside. You will admit me." The more Iris talked, the further Albus' eyes began to stare into nowhere and his limbs slacked. Until finally he answered.

"I will admit you to Hogwarts. Your name is Iris Alarie. I do not question your whereabouts or your origins."

"Good, now where were we?" Iris said, pulling away from Albus and walking back to the sorting hat.

"So tell me great one, which house do you wish to sort yourself in?" The sorting hat asked.

Iris smiled slyly, while she began to pet Fawkes who leaned further into her hands. "Oh I have the perfect house in mind."

Cocking an eyebrow at the goddess, the sorting hat could tell exactly what she wanted to do. "You never fail to charm me, great one. Keeping your friends close and your enemies closer."

The conversation continued between the two friends continued as the sorting hat began to tell her what she needed to know about Hogwarts and about Severus Snape.

Back at the hospital wing, Severus could do nothing as Madam Pomfrey fussed over him, telling him how he should be more careful not to catch any more bruises than he already had. When he arrived against his will at the hospital wing, rather than declining Madam Pomfrey, his mouth and voice began to talk for him saying that he needed a checkup after being tussled by Potter and the rest. The only time he had regained control over himself again was when Madam Pomfrey began the checkup.

"Those boys ruffling you up again. No matter what I do or say to Albus, nothing happens. I swear the next time you come in here with a fresh batch of bruises I'm yanking those boys' ears myself." Madam Pomfrey said as she was applying a soothing cream to Severus' bruises.

"Thank you Madam Pomfrey, but I think I can manage by myself next time." Severus said, trying to reassure the old woman who always looked after him in his school years.

"Oh, now don't be like that. I understand that you want to be independent. But my boy there's a fine line between independence and stubbornness. You should never confuse the two. There that should do it." After applying the last bruises with cream Madam Pomfrey stood in front of Severus and began to chant a spell, Severus' body began to glow and Madam Pomfrey observed every point of his body until one area particularly on his left rib began to glow a different color.

"A slightly broken rib, nothing a small amount of skele-gro can't fix."

Severus' face contorted at the mention of the ill-tasting potion. Although highly effective, he would rather eat troll dung than take a cup of skele-gro.

"Now, now, don't give me that look. You wouldn't have to drink it had you been more careful." Madam Pomfrey scolded, as she handed a small cup of skele-gro to Severus.

"I didn't start it, Potter and Black did. " Severus replied, as he held his breath and chugged the skele-gro down his throat in one gulp. Even that small portion of skele-gro was enough to make Severus dry heave.

"I know dear, you were always the type to prefer hiding in the shadows like the dungeon bat you are. I can't blame you for the cats who keep trying to paw at you wherever you go." Madam Pomfrey said, as she looked at Severus with pity.

"You know, I don't need your pity Madam Pomfrey. But thank you nonetheless." Severus said slightly scowling at the floor as he began to dress back into his robes.

"Oh dear, look at the time. You should head to the great hall rather than your dorm Severus. It's almost dinner. I've received word that the headmaster has an announcement to make as well. Best to stick around to listen to what he has to say."

"Alright. Thank you and good bye, Madam Pomfrey." Severus said, as he took his leave.

"Good bye, luv." Madam Pomfrey said, with a warm smile on her face as she watched the pale tall boy leave the hospital wing.

"Hey, did you hear about what happened back at the lake?"

"She just came out of nowhere…"

"You could see Snape's trousers…"

Walking to the great hall was a nightmare for Severus, everyone was talking about what happened at the lake and he felt all eyes were on him as he walked. To try and ignore the piercing stares he took his old potion's book and began to read, despite having already read it over and over again. He just needed something to keep his mind busy.

"Where's your little girlfriend, Snivellus?" Sirius said as he and Severus entered the great hall simultaneously. Severus wasn't in the mood for jesting, and he felt like he was too old for school banters anymore.

"Go away Black." Severus all but said, as he continued to read while walking. By then everyone stared to watch the altercation between the two.

"C'mon, don't be a stick in the mud, Snivelly. Tell me where you scored her. If her standards are that low maybe we can get her to cosy up with Wormtail." Sirius said, circling Severus like an annoying dog.

"She would smite you if she heard you." Severus muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Sirius asked, getting up all over Severus' face. His wand at the ready by his pocket. He was trying to rile up the pale boy into another fight.

But Severus knew better than to get carried away by his emotions just because of Sirius. He dealt with much more moronic students in his future that made Sirius look like a humble student. Recalling the Weasely twins, Severus gave a shudder as he recalled the numerous pranks and obnoxious behaviors accumulated by two mere boys accompanied by the school poltergeist, Peeves.

Using the voice he used as a teacher when he would put students in their place, Severus spoke with a voice of authority.

"I said, fuck off Black! And don't talk about her that way. I mean it. Lest you'd want a head growing out of your arse. Not that you'd need another one considering the fact you've already got your head up yours." Severus said, sternly. With his finger pointing at Sirius' chest. Onlookers who heard the conversation watched perplexed as the once proud and stubborn Slytherin boy did not even so much as touch his wand. Continuing to stare at Severus as he walked towards the far side of the Slytherin table at the front where no one else sat.

"What's got his knickers in a twist?" Sirius laughed.

"Gee I don't know Padfoot? Other than the fact that you shamelessly joked about a girl who seems to be close to Snape? I have no clue." Remus said sarcastically. Remus by then was practically restless, he couldn't stop fidgeting after what the mystery girl said to him.

'How could she have known I'm a werewolf? She seems to also know the rest of the crew are illegal animagi. That can't be, we've never told anyone. We were careful, we were so careful. Could Snape have told her? He couldn't have, Dumbledore made him do the unbreakable vow, if he even uttered it to her he'd die. So how does she know?' Remus' thoughts ran wild trying to think of the numerous possibilities as to how the mystery girl knew. Just then James arrived with Peter close behind him.

"Hey moony, what's wrong with you?" James asked placing an arm around Remus, concerned.

"Nothing prongs. Just hungry." Remus excused.

"Well the full moon is getting pretty close, can't blame you for getting fidgety over food." James whispered. Immediately something caught James' eye that made him brush his hand over his hair. "Hey, Evans."

"Don't talk to me Potter." Lily said, without ever so much as looking at James. She was too busy trying to look for Severus in the crowd while she sat with her friends. She found him at his usual place at the Slytherin table alone. Despite hating to see Severus alone most of the time, Lily felt relieved when she didn't see the mysterious girl from the lake with him. She wanted to talk to him later after dinner. She was trying to think of ways how to secretly tell Severus, when all the students began to settle down and the teachers had arrived to their respective places. Dumbledore wasted no time to head to the podium for his announcement.

"Good evening, to everyone. Now before we start dinner I would like to make a few announcements. First, I would like to congratulate the fifth year students for having completed their O.W.L exams."

While the rest of the students applauded, the fifth year students were practically screaming.

"Yes, yes, well done students. Well done. As congratulatory, fifth year students will be joining the sixth and seventh year students for the annual yule ball."

More screams of delight erupted from the fifth year students at the news.

"Now for my final announcement. I am aware that it is quite late into the school year, but I have made an exception of accepting a late enrollee who has transferred to our school all the way from Europe. She will be joining the fifth years and has already finished her O.W.L exams earlier."

Whispers began to start between students, wondering who could the newcomer be. As Mcgonagall began to situate herself in the center of the great hall along with the sorting hat.

"Please help me welcome our new student, Miss Iris Alarie." Dumbledore announced.

Simultaneously the doors of the great hall opened to reveal the mystery girl from the lake. Many murmured and whispered, others who were unaware of the incident clapped, while others like the marauders and Lily stood up in surprise.

"What?!"

Rather than the marauders and Lily who yelled in surprise, it was Severus. Students and teachers glanced at him, giving out a slight cough and sitting back down. Severus watched Iris walk across the great hall towards Mcgonagall.

'I thought she didn't want people to be suspicious of her.' Severus thought to himself, rolling his eyes.

'And this was the best way possible, little viper.' Iris replied through telepathy. Severus looked up from the table to see her staring at him as she walked, even giving him a smirk and wink. Which earned him the stares of students who saw the two's not-so-subtle interaction. Severus tried to hide his embarrassment by slouching low enough his hair would cover his face.

"Please sit here as I place the sorting hat on you so that you'd know which house you belong to." Mcgonagall said. Iris sat on the stool and Mcgonagall placed the sorting hat on her.

'Just like how we planned it old friend. Make it a bit dramatic so that it wouldn't be too quick.' Iris said, through telepathy.

"Hmmm… difficult, very difficult. Very wise beyond her years I see. But also very cunning, with a golden heart. Who highly believes in justice… Where to put you." The sorting hat said.

'Okay don't be too dramatic.' Iris said, biting the inside of her cheek to stop an oncoming giggle.

"I know just where to put you… GRYFFINDOR!"

Screams from the Gryffindor table erupted, everyone cheered except for 5 people who stared, bewildered that they were now going to spend the rest of their school years with the same girl who berated them as if they were nothing. Severus on the other hand felt both relief and disappointment. He was slightly disappointed that Iris was placed in Gryffindor but at the same time relieved with the thought that if she were in a different house she wouldn't be bothering him too much.

'Thank you old friend.' Iris thought to herself.

'Until we meet again, great one.' The sorting hat said his good byes as Iris walked away towards the gryffindor table.

While everyone from the gryffindor table began to congratulate the new arrival. Dinner was served.

"So Iris was it? Where from Europe are you from?" Asked a senior who sat across from Iris.

"Paris, France."

"Where did you go to school before Hogwarts?" Asked a first year student.

"I was home-schooled."

"Home-schooled? Then you must be really rich?" Eagerly asked a fourth year student.

"Maybe?" Iris answered, with a tilt of her head.

"Do you have any siblings?" Asked another first year.

"I'm an only child."

"Do you have a boyfriend?" asked a male senior who was kicked under the table by another female senior.

"No, I don't have one." Iris answered, smiling.

"Ooohhh… Are we talking about love lives?" butted in a fifth year girl.

"Nothing that you could possibly make out into gossip, Jane." Retorted another fifth year student who rolled her eyes at Jane.

"Do you have a crush then?" The Prewett twins, Gideon and Fabian simultaneously asked eagerly.

"Maybe?" Iris answered coyly, while staring at Severus.

This did not go unnoticed by the gryffindor students especially a very curious redhead who sat a person away from Iris.

A third year student decided to break the ice and and take one for the team by asking what everyone was so eager to know since she arrived. "So Iris, how do you know Snape?"

Iris slowly turned to the small third year and winked at her while placing a finger to her own lips, "That's a secret between me and Viper. I'll let him answer that for me. Wouldn't want too many people knowing too much." Turning back to her food, Iris continued eating. She suddenly heard a very familiar voice through the thicket of thoughts that swirled in the great hall.

'Is a goddess even supposed to be eating human food?' Scoffed Severus through his thoughts.

'To answer your question I do not need to eat, Viper. But I do find it fun stuffing my face with mortal delicacies.' Iris replied, she watched as Severus jerked in his seat to look at her. He glared at her.

'Stop getting in my head.' Severus demanded, scowling at Iris.

'Have any secrets to hide? Anything you don't wish for me to see in the deepest recesses of your mind?' Iris teased with a giggle. Severus' ears reddened at the notion. He tried to calm down and suddenly his face was stony.

'Occulumency doesn't stop me Viper, as a matter of fact it doesn't work on me.' Iris shrugged at him, while she popped a piece of chicken in her mouth.

'Damn you.' Severus said in defeat, looking away first.

The facial interactions between the two were highly noticed by many. But most were too apprehensive to ask. Lily on the other hand didn't feel like eating at all as she watched the two. Jane who sat next to Lily nudged her shoulder and leaned in to whisper.

"It's like they could speak with their minds or something." Jane whispered.

"Tell me about it, they didn't even say anything. It was all just giggling and scowling." said Mary who could hear her friend's whispers.

"Hey Evans, you alright? You haven't touched your food." James asked, concerned about the red head who only glared at her food while picking at her broccoli.

"I'm fine." Lily said, her tone immediately ended the conversation right then and there. When Lily took a glance at Iris again, she found the snow haired girl had already been staring at her.

"It's Lily, right?" Iris asked, this brought a heavy silence on their part of the table.

"Y-yeah." Lily replied, it was awkward. The only person who didn't seem to have noticed the tension was Iris herself who hummed in reply to Lily's answer to look back at Severus. After a few short silent seconds Iris turned back to Lily.

"Has he always been alone? Not even accompanied by his own housemates?" Iris asked Lily, Lily turned to look at Severus who was alone at the table, a longing in her voice as she answered.

"Yeah, he's always been alone at that spot."

"Well that just won't do for me. He hasn't even touched his own food. That charming boy will starve to death." Iris said standing up from the table. Everyone watched as she carried her own plate and walked towards the Slytherin table. Plopping herself down in front of Severus.

"What are you doing?" Severus asked, wide eyed at Iris' actions. "People are staring at you, have you no shame?" Severus said, noticing the glares the other Slytherins gave, mostly from Avery and Mulciber. Knowing that a Gryffindor is sitting right on their table.

"Why should I care if they stare. You're much more important to me than them." Iris said, grabbing a serving spoon to scoop food into her plate. "And don't mind them, they're jealous. I can read their thoughts. They're more brawn than brain, it's why they feel threatened by you." Iris said subtly gesturing her fork at the rest of the glaring Slytherins. "Why haven't you eaten yet?" Iris asked.

"I don't feel hungry, and this food is too heavy for me." Severus quickly replied, clearly he's been asked this before multiple times. With a gesture of her finger a soup bowl appeared on the table next to Severus' hand.

"Eat." She ordered, pushing the bowl closer to him.

"I said-" Severus pushed the bowl back to Iris. "-I'm not hungry."

"Eat."

"No."

"Eat."

"No."

"EAT."

"NO."

The two squabbled back and forth, the soup almost tipping with every shove. Onlookers watched entertained. Even the teachers wanted to see who'd win this argument. Having enough, Iris snapped her fingers under the table. Severus paused and with gritted teeth muttered in a low menacing voice.

"You're doing it again."

"I wouldn't have resorted to this method had you just peacefully drank your soup." Iris smirked. Pushing the bowl closer to Severus, his body relented against his will. Taking a spoon, Iris scooped up a spoonful of soup and gently blew to cool it down. Shoving the spoon to Severus' face his mouth slowly opened, and Iris spoon fed it to Severus.

Severus couldn't deny that one taste of the soup was enough to bring his appetite back. It was creamy and wasn't too salty, there were even bits of chicken strips that he could chew on. He was hungry.

This time through his own will and actions. Severus took the spoon from Iris, swallowing his pride, he began to eat. Iris lifted her chin in the air, she won. Focusing back to her own plate she continued to eat while occasionally glancing at the pale boy who began to wolf down his soup.

A third year Hufflepuff who stared at the two, excitedly got up from her table.

"We could actually sit anywhere after all this time?" She asked excitedly as she quickly moved from the Hufflepuff table and sat next to her friends at the Ravenclaw table. Slowly students began to mingle and sit wherever they liked. Well, all except for most of the senior Slytherins. The first years however, stood to sit in other tables with their friends from different houses.

"Now look what you've started." Severus said, while still gulping his soup.

"It's better this way, a school shouldn't divide itself solely because of it's biases. It's good to know what house you belong in so that you will be able to hone the skills you are blessed with. But it doesn't mean that you should base your entire existence upon it. A world of division was never the universe I intended to create." Iris replied, still eating. What she said reminded her of the existence of a certain boy and his followers who thinks he could live forever.

'I'll have to do something about that soon.' She thought to her herself.

Glancing up at Severus she took a napkin and dabbed the side of his cheek.

"Eat slowly or you'll choke." She said.

"Stop mother henning me." Severus said as he lightly swatted away Iris's hand.

"I can't help it, you're adorable." Iris said with a genuine smile on her face as she continued to stare at Severus.

Lily who watched the whole thing, felt the pit of her stomach grow bigger. She didn't understand why she was feeling this way. Was she mad? Upset? Sad? She didn't know. She couldn't shove anymore food down her throat, it felt like swallowing sand paper. She opted instead for pumpkin juice and waited for dinner to end. As prefects, she and Remus have to give Iris a tour of the castle. Both Lily and Remus couldn't help but dread at the thought of dinner to finally come to an end.

Once dinner had ended, students began to wander off around the castle before they had to hit the hay. Some were at the library trying to catch up with their studies. Others were chatting in corridors. While the rest decided to head to their dorms earlier than others. Lily and Remus waited for Iris by the doors of the great hall. As prefects they were required to give her a tour of the castle. Had it been any other person, both of them would have been in much chipper spirits. But no, it had to be the girl who berated them to the bone, back at the lake. Remus was much worse for wear than Lily, he was fidgeting. Nipping at his nails and wriggling his hands together, while occasionally tapping his foot. This didn't go unnoticed by Lily.

"Are you alright Remus?" She asked, concerned

"W-what? Ah! Yeah, I'm alright… Just a bit nervous." Remus said, hiding his hands behind his back.

"I understand. Out of all the people it just had to be her. What's taking her so long anyway?" Just as Lily popped her head back in the great hall to look for Iris, she saw her wrapping an arm around Severus' while the two were walking towards the doors to the great hall. Lily quickly looked away. Now it was her turn to fidget and nip at her own nails.

"Lily? You alright?" Remus asked this time.

"Y-yeah." Lily meekly replied.

"Ah, I didn't realize my two chaperons had already been waiting. Hope we didn't take too long." Iris said slyly. Eyeing Lily the most as she talked.

"You'd have noticed if you would stop flirting with him for a second." Lily muttered under her breath while rolling her eyes at Iris.

"What was that?" Iris asked, smirking.

"I said, we would be starting the tour in a second." Lily said, giving Iris a hard smile. Glancing at Severus they both caught each other's gazes. Lily wanted to tell Severus to meet her at their little hideout at the hidden alcove behind the false walls at the sixth floor at the east wing. She wanted to talk to him, explain that she never intended to laugh or smile at his predicament. She wanted to apologize. But Iris butted in right at the moment Lily opened her mouth.

"Sev-"

"Viper, would you like to accompany me on the tour? It would be much less lonely that way. I also want to see where you sleep." Iris said tracing a finger on Severus' shoulder blade. But Severus tsked at her and took her wrist to put it down.

"You're not alone on the tour, you have your guides. Slytherins also don't like outsiders. I don't want to get the brunt of the sword if I let you in."

"But you mentioned the dungeons are quite cold, and-" Twisting her wrist to hold Severus' hand. She looks up at him doe eyed. "-I can assure you, I'm very warm."

Remus coughed, while Lily tsked her tongue at the notion of Iris flirting. Severus was red eared at the fact that she was taking such jokes too lightly and in the presence of other people.

"Stop jesting." Severus said, yanking his hand away from Iris. 'You're a goddess, act a bit more mature.' Severus thought to himself.

"Oh, but I'm quite serious." Iris said, giggling. 'I'm testing something out so bare with me a little. It's also quite fun to see you embarrassed.' Iris replied back through telepathy. While Severus scowled, Iris sweetly smiled.

"Ehem." Remus interrupted the pair. "We should start the tour before curfew rings. Snape." Remus nodded his head at Severus as a way of saying good night. But the dark eyed boy didn't return the gesture, walking towards the dungeons.

"My offer for warmth is still open." Iris said out loud for Severus to hear, garnering a few stares. Severus turned back to her, a clear shade of pink on his pale face and said firmly. "Iris, stop." Turning away from her he quickened his pace towards the dungeons.

Regulus Black who was standing at the hallway waiting for Severus at the portrait of former headmistress Elizabeth Burke chuckled at him.

"I hope this little girlfriend of yours doesn't distract you from your goals to join the dark lord's ranks."

To Regulus' surprise, Severus completely ignored him and simply whispered the password to the portrait which opened to give a shortcut to the slytherin house. Perplexed, Regulus followed Severus in silence.

The tour began with the two prefects showing Iris around the castle, they decided to start on the ground floors and dungeons first, slowly climbing up all the way to the seventh floor where they will end their tour at the Gryffindor tower. The three students walked silently through the halls of the dungeons, with the occasional explanation from either Lily or Remus.

"Little viper wasn't lying. It is cold down here." Iris uttered after a long while of walking without ever saying a single word to the two.

"It's because we're under the lake, it gets really cold here especially in winter." Remus added, hoping that if he could keep talking to the girl she would say more than a few lines, hoping to break the ice.

"I see, I should try knitting him a blanket soon then, it is late October, I have enough time." Muttered Iris. But Lily caught what she said.

"For who?" Lily asked.

"Why, Severus, of course. I can't have him freezing to death here. My bleeding heart won't allow it." Iris said, side eyeing Lily as she talked. Iris liked it when she could rile Lily up. It was like watching a cat's hair raise in anger.

"He doesn't like gifts." Lily said, her tone of voice was firm as if she was trying to prove she knew Severus better.

"Really now? Have you ever given him a gift?" Iris asked.

"I've… tried. But he won't accept them. He doesn't like it when people spend on him, says he doesn't want to be pitied." Lily said, looking at anything else other than Iris' piercing gaze that seem to illuminate in the dim dungeons.

"Now that's where you failed my dear, sometimes in order to get someone to understand how you feel. Once must have to be more assertive." Iris said, with conviction.

"Isn't that wrong? Making someone do something they don't want to do." Lily threw back, this time looking at Iris straight in her eyes as they walked.

"That really depends on what you're trying to force upon the said person. If you have no ill will towards them and only wish the best, then what's wrong with being a little more assertive to help them understand better?" Iris replied, cocking an eyebrow at Lily.

Remus began to feel a little awkward and decided to move the tour elsewhere since there wasn't much to see in the dungeons. But as they were leaving they heard an echoing laughter through the halls. Lily and Remus sighed in exhaustion.

"Oh no…" Lily said.

"Here he comes." Remus warned, and right on cue the mischievous poltergeist of Hogwarts appeared before the two prefects.

"Ha ha ha! I hear you're showing a new student the ropes around here!" Peeves said gleefully at both Lily and Remus.

"Peeves just this one night, can you please not prank the new student?" Lily pleaded with the poltergeist but he simply laughed at her.

"No can do little missy! It's tradition!" Peeves cried in delight, swerving past the two prefects who yelled back at him, threatening to tell the bloody baron on him.

But as soon as Iris and Peeves' eyes met. Peeves froze in place, the icy blue eyes of Iris seemed to shimmer and glow in the dim lit dungeons as she stared at him, boring holes to his already non-existent body.

"Go on then, what are you waiting for? Entertain me jester." Iris said, with a terrifying smile on her face, as if daring Peeves to try anything. Peeves swore if he had a heart, it would stop beating out of sheer fear.

"I-I… I'm sorry!" Peeves cried out as he flew up through the ceiling, quicker than when Lily and Remus saw Peeves running away from the bloody baron.

"Now, should we continue the tour? I'm aching for a bath after this." Iris said, as she turned to walk towards the dungeons' exit. Leaving the two prefects wondering if what they saw just now was real. Peeves the poltergeist, was terrified of a student.

Authors Note:

Hi guys :) here's chapter two. I wanted to give you guys something a bit longer since I still have online class to worry about. I read all your reviews and it makes me feel really happy that you guys love it so far (^_^). In this fanfic I altered the time of the O.W.L exams, rather than being held at the end of June. I opted to have them at the end of October. The O. is just basically what they've learned from their first year anyway. I also decided to add in that Hogwarts has a yearly yule ball for the seniors, like a prom of some sorts. Hope you'll be excited for that. See you soon!
:D