Hogwarts 1975
"SEVERUS!"
A tall dark haired fifteen-year-old boy turned to the sound of his name. He watched as his two best friends ran towards him, smiles on their faces.
Lily Evans was in the fifth-year class along with himself though she was in the Gryffindor house while he was in Slytherin. Her long locks of hair the color of fire and phoenix feathers flowing behind her always grabbed the attention of anyone she passed. Severus often wondered how it would feel to have her hair running through his fingers. A thought he kept to himself and on occasion is other best friend who was smiling mischievously at him at the moment as though she could see what he was thinking.
Renee Higginbotham a fourth year in Hufflepuff house had become like a sister to him. Something he cherished dearly since the only blood family he had hated him. Renee though, always had a smile waiting for him and a kind word. Their friendship drew a lot of attention however since she was a pureblood. Most boys in Hogwarts often eyeing him disdain and jealousy but she always ignored them and would proudly tell everyone that they were best friends. It wasn't just her pureblood status that caused eyes of jealousy, like Lily she was beautiful. Having the friendship of both girls often caused him to be bullied but it was worth it as long as he had his best friends with him.
Renee had long brown wavy brown hair almost the color of a rich chocolate. Both girls were short, standing around five foot three and if wasn't for their hair and eyes being opposite than most would probably take them for siblings.
The two girls came to a stop just a couple feet from Severus.
"We were looking for you." Renee huffed with her hands on her hips.
"And pray tell, why were you looking for me?" Severus asked with a smirk.
"I heard Sirius and James were bothering you again. What happened?"
He couldn't help but sigh and wonder were she always got her information from. Sirius and James always cornered him when they were alone where there were no witnesses, nobody to go tattle tale on their misbehavior. Yet Renee always knew even when Severus never said anything.
"How did you find out?" He glared
"Doesn't matter how just tell me what happened." Renee glared right back.
She was the one person who never flinched back from his fierce eyes. Often everyone else was terrified but she only met him head on. It irritated him that she couldn't be so easily intimidated by him but that was also probably why she stayed his friend for which he was grateful.
"Just a couple stinging hexes and name calling. No reason to get so worked up Higgs." He chuckled when she stomped her foot knowing she hated the nickname, but she never corrected him. Renee once told him that he was the only person she would allow to call her something so ridiculous and it was a privilege he used often.
"Oh is that all? Than what about this?" She asked pulling the collar of his shirt down revealing a deep bruise.
He quickly jerked away and fixed his shirt.
"James didn't do that did he?" Lily asked softly.
"Of course he did Lily! He's worse than Sirius." Renee huffed and rolled her eyes. Out of the corner of her vision she could see Severus subtly flinch.
She knew he had feelings for Lily but the girl was too oblivious to notice. Even worse Lily was too smitten with James to believe that he would do such a thing to their best friend.
"He's not that bad." Lily whispered sadly
"Yes he is!"
"Renee that's enough." Severus glared than nodded towards Lily.
Renee shut her mouth trying to hold back her retort. She did it for Severus not Lily. As much as she loved the girl, it angered her that she always tried to defend James even while Severus hurt. He never said a bad thing about the boys that bullied him solely because he knew it would hurt Lily. He always listened to Lily go on and on about James as well even though it hurt him, he never said a word. Only happy that he can be a good friend to her.
"Fine." Renee sighed dropping the argument for him. "Well than what should we do tonight?"
"Tonight?" Lily asked surprised
"Well we hang out together most nights don't we?"
"Yes but I can't tonight…"
"Why not?"
"I just have something else to do. We can all do something tomorrow though. I have to go. Bye Ren! Bye Sev!" Lily waved as she ran off
Renee turned towards Severus, seeing him watch their other friend run down the path towards the dorms. Longing in his eyes.
"Well just you and I Sevvy."
He whipped his head towards her and growled causing her to smirk.
"Do not call me that!"
Renee giggled. "Only to grab your attention and you know I would never do it in front of anyone."
His eyes softened towards his best friend.
"We could go into town. I need more books."
"Of course you do." She laughed causing him smile. "Well I don't mind as long as we can stop by the Leaky Cauldron for dinner."
Severus nodded his head. "Very well."
A couple hours later had them leaving Flourish and Blotts each of them with new books. Severus had found several new study materials while Renee had found a romance novel and crafts book.
Both friends used their wands to shrink their books down and place them in their pockets.
Severus was giving Renee tips on one of her classes when he held the door opened to the Leaky Cauldron for her. He was right behind her as they walked in still chatting until Renee came to a sudden stop causing him to bump into her.
"What's wrong?"
"Lily's here."
"Where?" Severus asked happily.
"There." She growled and pointed to a table in the corner.
His heart felt crushed at the sight of Lily sitting next to James laughing happily. Even Sirius was across from the,
"I…. see."
"She knows what they both did to you just today and she's over there laughing with them!" Renee seethed
"It's fine Higgs. Let us just sit and enjoy ourselves. I'll help you with your wand work for your upcoming test."
"This is not fine Severus and I'm not going to sit here knowing this will hurt you."
"Then we will leave." Before he could turn to walk out the door though he heard.
"Snivelus! What are you doing out in public besides scaring children?" Male laughs echoing loudly throughout the room.
"Back off Potter." Renee shouted.
Severus looked over to Lily only to see her avoiding eye contact.
Within a minute his heart broke in two than rebuilt itself into stone. He never wanted to feel pain like that again, he would gladly take the beatings his father gave him daily over the feeling of heartbreak and betrayal.
Severus abruptly turned and left the little tavern.
Renee was going to follow but she noticed as Sirius got up to follow but she stood in front of the door stopping him from leaving even as her eyes looked over and saw Lily laughing and smiling happily with Potter once again. Her anger reaching new heights.
"Move." Sirius said sternly making her eyes snap back to his face.
He never saw it coming, she was too fast as she made a fist and punched him in the nose hard enough to feel the break. He fell backwards on his ass staring up at the girl in shock. Renee bent down and grabbed him by the shirt pulling him close. Mere inches from her face as she whispered angrily. There was no reason for others to know their business.
"It's bad enough he lives in an abusive home being beaten and starved but I'll be damned if I'm going to let him receive the same here because of you and that idiot friend of yours. This is your only warning Sirius, lay another hand on him and the tip of my wand will be the last thing you ever see." She seethed through clenched teeth than left to catch up to her best friend.