Disclaimer: Wow this is becoming very dramatic. I apologize to all of the characters who got hurt in the writing process. Still not mine.

Not With A Murmur But With A Bang

Severus gathered up Tansy and followed Lucius, Narcissa and the other Slytherin Prefects out of the Great Hall, the rest of the house falling in behind them, down flights of stairs into the dungeons of the castle, down a long and dimly lit corridor.

Narcissa pointed out the Potions classroom and Professor Slughorn's quarters to the First-years as they walked past them, further and further down the maze of corridors they stopped in front of a bare brick wall, Narcissa turned to address the First-years.

'My name is Narcissa Black one of your Fifth-year Prefects, and this is the entrance to our Common-Room. The password is "Salazar," do not forget it'. When the password was said a stone door concealed in the wall slid open.

The Common room was a long room with stone walls, a roaring fire was in the huge stone fireplace, to keep the room warm, silver and green flames crackling inside it. Above the fireplace hung a portrait of an ancient and monkey-like bald man, he had a small thin triangular white beard. A locket of heavy gold lay on his chest, it had a serpentine emerald S glittering on the front. The name Salazar Slytherin was engraved on the nameplate at the bottom of the portrait.

Large, low backed black and dark green button-tufted, leather armchairs and ottomans decorated the Common-room, their seats looking plush and inviting, there were several study tables situated along a window that took up one wall of the room, the Common room looked as though it was located under the lake, and Severus could see shadowy aquatic life swimming past. The other three walls were decorated with tapestries featuring the adventures of famous Medieval Slytherins. It had quite a grand atmosphere.

'Now, the boys' dormitories are through the door to the left, and the girls' are through the door to the right. Boys, there is no going into the girl's dormitories. On the doorway to the girl's dormitories, there is nasty little hex, placed so that no boys can go into any of the girls' rooms.' Damien Dawlish, the other Fifth-year Prefect continued.

Severus bid goodnight to Tansy and walked through the left door and into the second room along the corridor, a silver sign on the dark wooden door said: 'Second-years.'

There were seven, very plush four-poster beds in the square stone room, each had green and silver covers and curtains. The boys all changed into pyjamas and claimed into the bed that their trunk was sitting in front of. Severus closed his curtains after he hopped into his bed, and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

'Congratulations!' 'Welcome to Slytherin, I am your Head of House, Horace Slughorn.' Slughorn said bright and early the next morning when he conducted the house meeting.

'There are a few things you should know about Slytherin, Merlin was a Slytherin. Yes, Merlin himself, the most famous wizard in history! He learned all he knew in this very house! We Slytherins look after our own. Your fellow students are your brothers and sisters. That's why we have a buddy system. Let's choose our buddy's now, First-Years come on don't be shy.'

Severus looked at the boys, he didn't exactly like the thought of having some unknown little follower, he would much rather help out Tansy, at least he knew she could ask intelligent questions. Professor Slughorn went through the list and matched students by gender:

Second-years – First-year buddy

Abacus Bulstrode - Terrence Prang

Alecto Carrow - Tansy Evans

Severus Snape - Regulus Black

Nicolette Elder - Beka Cooper

Alexander Greengrass - Lloyd Cole

Jasmine Hunter - Fiona Phillips

Thaddeus Milciber - Evan Rosier

Naomi Knox - Imogen Stubbs

Amycus Carrow - Nyer Jewel

Peony Parkinson - Tasha Kirke

Cuthbert Wilkes - Stanley Baddock

Edith Thyme - Sofia Wright

Augustus Yaxley - Will Dobbs

Amara Zabini - Bonnie Bennett

Severus was shocked that he was partnered with the youngest Black, but he was far more concerned when Alecto Carrow drew her wand and advanced on Tansy with a nasty look on her face. Severus pulled out his wand and rushed over to Tansy's aid but he was just a bit too far away when Alecto cast her spell.

'Confringo!' Alecto cackled madly

'Protego!' Severus bellowed just in time Alecto's spell hit the invisible shield that Severus produced in front of Tansy, the spell bounced off and hit a table causing it to explode into pieces, splinters flying everywhere, with one of them slicing the forearm of Tansy's left arm. Severus dropped his spell horrified at the fact that he had hurt Tansy.

'Expelliarmus!' Tansy yelled angrily. There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Alecto was blasted off her feet: Her wand flying out of her hand, she flew backwards, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl unconscious on the floor.

Everyone in the common-room looked astonished at Tansy, Severus hurried to her side and pressed his clean handkerchief to her wound.

Severus saw out of the corner of his eye Narcissa whispering something into her young cousin's ear with a speculating gleam in her eye.

'Dear oh dear' Slughorn tutted waddling over to Severus and Tansy, 'Miss Evans are you alright?'

'I'm ok Professor Slughorn, Severus is taking such good care of me, as my chevalier' Tansy assured him

'If I had known Miss Carrow would have such a negative reaction to you I would have never paired you with her.' Slughorn sighed. 'But I must say your Disarming Charm is quite powerful.'

'Thank you, Professor, It's the only spell that Severus taught me that will make someone lose their wand.'

'Since you are already Miss Evans' chevalier Severus, would you mind acting as Tansy's Second-year buddy as well as Regulus'? Slughorn asked

'Having two First-years to look after rather than one should be no trouble at all' Severus replied. 'I was actually going to ask if I would be allowed to look after Tansy, since they share all the same classes it should be no problem at all to help them both.'

'Wonderful, If you and Miss Evans would be so kind as to follow me to the Hospital Wing we can make sure you are both seen too by Madam Pomfrey' Slughorn said waddling over to the slumped form of Alecto Carrow, Slughorn got out his wand and intoned 'Wingardium Leviosa'

Alecto Carrow rose gently into the air and Slughorn led them all out into the dungeon labyrinth. Severus had never been part of a stranger group; Alecto drifting eerily along out in front, held up by a waddling Slughorn making sure she retained no further injuries with Severus and Tansy following along in their wake.

When they emerged from the dungeons into an empty entrance hall, Severus breathed a sigh of relief that most of the student population slept in on the weekend. They followed Professor Slughorn up the marble staircase, to the 2nd floor, down a long corridor they came to a set of double doors with a sign saying Hospital wing.

Madam Poppy Pomfrey came bustling up. 'Oh dear, what has happened here?'

'Miss Evans has a gash on her arm caused by a spell ricocheting, and Miss Carrow who started the confrontation in the common-room was thrown into a wall by Miss Evans Disarming charm.

'Horace if you would be so kind as to guide Miss Carrow to a bed closest to my office, and Mr Snape if you can help your friend onto one of these beds here I'll see to her before I revive Miss Carrow.'

Severus helped Tansy hop up to one of the beds and gently removed his handkerchief from her cut while Madam Pomfrey tutted and murmured 'Duelling in the common-room, it's a wonder no one else got hurt. Mr Snape, you did a good job covering her cut with a clean cloth.' Madam Pomfrey hurried over to her medicine and pulled out a vial with Blue liquid inside it.

'I'm just putting some Murtlap Essence onto you cut dear it will help the cut to heal and should soothe some of the pain. I'll bandage up your arm as well and place a sling on so you don't move it around too much.' Madam Pomfrey pulled out the dropper and dripped the essence onto Tansy's arm.

'That should be enough. Is it hurting in any way? Stinging? Sometimes students can have allergic reactions to treatments.' Madam Pomfrey asked as she sealed the vial and placed it into her apron pocket, her hand came back out holding her wand.

Severus looked quickly to Tansy's arm trying to see if the skin was red and angry or if the wound would suddenly start bleeding nonstop.

'It feels a little cold, but it doesn't hurt' Tansy said

'That's fairly normal dear. I'll just go ahead and bandage up your arm "Ferula" Madam Pomfrey said, tapping Tansy gently on her wrist with her wand bandages spun up the length of Tansy's arm stopping before they encased her elbow. Placing her wand back into her pocket Madam Pomfrey pulled out a large square semi-transparent cloth.

Using the bed Madam Pomfrey folded the square piece of cloth into the shape of a triangle, then Madam Pomfrey picked up the cloth slipping it underneath Tansy's left arm so that the longer part of the triangle came to rest over Tansy's right shoulder and lining up the tip of the triangle with her elbow. 'Move your arm down a bit dear … That's enough.' When Tansy had her arm at roughly 90 degrees Madam Pomfrey took the bottom of the cloth and folded it over Tansy's arm draping it over her left shoulder she then stepped behind Tansy tying the two triangles securely together then finished off the sling by pinning the tip of the bandage so that it came to rest snugly against her elbow.

'Try not to move your arm around too much, and come by after dinner so that I can remove the bandages, your arm should be fine by then. 'It might be best if Miss Evans is not here when I use Rennervate to revive Miss Carrow. Mr Snape, if you could help your friend hop down, I'll wait until you have both left the Hospital Wing to attend to Miss Carrow.' Madam Pomfrey explained

'Thank you Madam Pomfrey' Tansy said sweetly

Severus who was standing on her right-hand side helped steady Tansy as she slipped down off the bed. Holding out his left arm he waited until Tansy wove her arm around his and then slowly guided her out of the Hospital Wing, they didn't get very far walking down the corridor when they heard a concerned shout.

'Tansy!' The concerned voice of Petunia echoed down the corridor, knowing it was useless to resist Severus and Tansy waited until Petunia had caught up with them so that she could fuss over Tansy's arm.

'What on earth happened?' Petunia asked hovering anxiously near Tansy's injured arm

'A spell thrown by a second-year hit a table and the sprinter scratched my arm. Madam Pomfrey said I should be all good by the end of the day. Were you going to send a letter home with E.B.O?' Tansy asked, pointing to the envelope in Petunia's hand.

'Yes, I was hoping to run into all of you at breakfast to see if you had written a letter for mum and dad as well.'

'With everything that happened I haven't had the time.' Tansy looked so forlorn that Severus just had to speak up

'Petunia, can you help Tansy get to the Great Hall and have her breakfast?' Severus asked

'Sure no problem' Petunia said

'I'll meet you two there. I'm just going to run down to Slytherin and grab writing supplies for everyone.' Severus hurried off back down to the corridor into the entrance hall and down to the dungeon labyrinth, slowing down to a quick walk so that he didn't accidentally take a wrong turn; it wasn't too long before Severus reached the common-room.

'Salazar' Severus said and a stone door concealed in the wall slid open, Severus' eyebrows rose as he found himself face to face with Narcissa and Regulus Black.

'Severus, there you are! We were just coming to look for you because Regulus and I were wanting to check on cousin Tansy, can you tell us how she is?' Narcissa asked

'Madam Pomfrey fixed up her arm, she then allowed Tansy to leave the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey undoubtedly didn't want Tansy doing any more damage to Alecto.' Severus said, implying that Tansy was the more powerful of the two.

'She's quite powerful, no doubt from the Black ancestry.' Narcissa was clearly fishing for information,

'All four of the Evans girls are powerful, when I first met them they were using wandless magic to play with flowers.' Severus said deliberately exaggerating knowing that Slytherins tried to align themselves with powerful people.

One of Narcissa's eyebrows quirked up,

'Really?' Narcissa replied, sounding intrigued. 'You didn't leave such a powerful ally all by herself, did you?

'Of course not, Tansy is quite safe. I left her with her sister Petunia who agreed to take Tansy to the Great Hall for breakfast, while I came downstairs to make sure Regulus was alright and to collect some parchment so the girls could correspond with their parents.' Severus said to Narcissa, knowing that regardless of the concern Narcissa had shown towards Tansy that she would not tolerate Severus shirking his duty when it came to Regulus.

'That is very gallant of you Severus' Narcissa said and then turned towards Regulus. 'Regulus since Severus is on his way to the Great Hall, I'll leave you in his care. Lucius has a romantic breakfast picnic planned for us since it is still warm out.' Narcissa's dreamy expression as she floated out of the common room made both Regulus and Severus wrinkle their noses as they screwed up their faces.

'Girls are so weird' Regulus said following along in Severus' wake as he walked to the Second-year boy's dorm. Severus picked up his school bag, which was loaded with parchment, quills and ink, and left the common-room for the second time that day.

Making sure Regulus could keep up with him, Severus weaved through the labyrinth suggesting tips and tricks not to get lost. By the time Severus had made it into the Great Hall for breakfast, it had been a good half an hour after he had left Tansy with Petunia. Severus spotted all four girls and butterscotch eating breakfast at the Ravenclaw table happily chatting away, the smile on Tansy's face soothing the anxiousness that Severus had felt at having to leave her.

Leading Regules over to the girls he hoped an introduction with the other three girls would be as smooth as Tansy's had been. Lily was the first of the four girls to notice them.

'Good morning Sev.' Lily said beaming in delight, with Tansy smiling brightly beside her.

'Good morning.' Severus said sitting on the bench next to Tansy and began loading up his plate with bacon and eggs. 'This is Regulus Black a fellow Slytherin …' Severus was just going to mention that Regulus was also their second cousin when a loud obnoxious voice interrupted their morning.

'Oi Reggie, what do you think you're doing annoying the pretty little flower sisters, they've got enough slimy Slytherins skulking around them.' Sirius Black said, sneering down at Severus and Regulus from where he was standing on Lily's right-hand side. Potter, Pettigrew and Lupin were standing behind him as if Black needed their company everywhere he went.

'I'm just getting to know our cousins a little better' Regulus said in a patronizing tone of voice, smirking when it set his brother off.

'WHAT!' screeched Potter and Black

'Your cousins?' Petunia questioned from across the table next to Rose who was feeding bacon to Butterscotch, who had perched herself on Rose's shoulder like a silent sentry guarding her charges.

'Yes, our Grandfather Pollux Black is your Grandfather Marius' older brother which makes you and your sisters our second cousins.' Regulus explained to Petunia deliberately ignoring his brother and sounding like the cat who caught the canary.

'Since when does mummy's little baby consort with people who are unworthy?' Sirius snarled, taking a menacing step forward. Severus quickly stood up, drew his wand and placed himself between Black and the girls.

'Who are you calling unworthy you horrible little cretin? Petunia spa

'I'm not saying you are unworthy. That's what my disgusting mother and her scummy Slytherin Death Eater friends say' Black whinged

'We were having a perfectly lovely morning before you and your friend ruined it! Why can't you just leave us alone?' Lily said angrily

'Aww come on Lily flower, don't be like that I'm much better company than Snivellus and his group of vipers' Potter said walking up to stand beside Black, messing up his hair stupidly. Black let out a bark of laughter, Pettigrew cackled, while Lupin just looked uncomfortable at his friend's behaviour.

'You think you're funny,' Lily said coldly. 'But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave Sev alone!'

'I will if you go out with me, Evans,' said Potter quickly. 'Go on ... go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again'

'Are you really that stupid Potter?' Tansy asked 'There has to be something wrong with someone who constantly pesters girls who reject them'

'Shut your mouth you contaminated piece of filth' Potter snarled

It was at that moment Severus snapped, dropping his wand he sent a lightning-fast jab into Potter's face, feeling that other boy's nose crunch from the impact, then stepped forward and hooked savagely with his right at Potter's jaw connecting with a solid blow. Potter reeled back, crashing into Pettigrew and Lupin.

Severus felt a moment of panic when Black aimed his wand at his face but it was short-lived as all four girls, and Regulus all levelled wands at the Gryffindor.

'You Arrogant Egotistical Narrow-minded Chauvinistic Troglodyte' Rose yelled and both of Severus' eyebrows rose in surprise he didn't think he had ever seen Rose so angry. 'Get out of here before you and your group of cowardly bullies all end up in the Hospital Wing.'

Lupin, who had extracted himself from the pileup that Potter had caused, looked ashamed and embarrassed at his friend's behaviour and came forward to drag his friend away.

'Come on Sirius we need to get James to the Hospital Wing.' Lupin's low soft voice was pleading.

'Fine' Black spat, with one last glare in Severus' direction he turned and all four of them slinked out of the Great Hall. Severus let out an imperceivable sigh of relief and sat back down at the table.

'Thank you.' Severus said to Tansy who had picked up his wand and passed it back to him.