Chapter 33: Reputations Hard Won

Severus felt as though all eyes were on him as he boarded the Hogwarts Express and followed Lucius through the corridor to their compartment. The other Slytherins greeted him less than enthusiastically, though they instantly welcomed Lucius back for the term. As soon as he saw Lily in the corridor, Severus excused himself and caught up to her, feeling Lucius' disapproving stare on the back of his neck.

"How was your Christmas?" Severus asked, entering a compartment just after her.

"The usual. Petunia was wretched; she refused to speak with me the entire holiday!"

"So it was a happy Christmas, then?" Severus quipped. Lily sighed, but couldn't hide her smile quickly enough.

The compartment was far from empty, and as soon as they entered, the chattering ceased and one-by-one, the other students pushed their way past him and out the door.

"They're scared," Lily said quietly. "About what happened to Pandora, and to Remi. And you don't exactly breed goodwill, you know. Maybe if you tried not to be so - distant from everyone else all the time –"

"I'm never going to be well-liked, Lily. I know that. And I don't care what those dunderheads think." He slid onto the seat, leaning his back against the window. "As long as you know I'm not going around murdering people."

"Of course I do," she chided softly. She was silent for a moment, then cleared her throat. "So was Christmas at Malfoy Manor everything you imagined?"

"It was -" Severus searched for the right word to use, Lucius' warning still ringing in his ears. "-Illuminating," he finished quietly.

"Really?" Lily asked, glancing towards the compartment door. She slid the door shut, then sat opposite Severus, leaning forward slightly. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened. I just - " his eyes flicked towards the compartment door as well, though he was less convinced the closed door would prevent any eavesdropping. "Lucius and his father aren't getting along," he said with a shrug.

He wanted to tell her about Pandora, to tell her that her death wasn't Lucius's fault either.

But he'd given his word.

And Lily would want to go to Dumbledore, just as Severus had.

And he knew he wouldn't be able to talk her out of it.

So he changed the subject, and they spent the rest of the train ride talking about a rare Charms book that Severus had found in Abraxas's library.

Lucius was outside the compartment as they pulled into the station, clapping a hand on Severus' shoulder, almost possessively. "Ride up to the school with me, won't you, Severus? I need a word."

Severus frowned and glanced at Lily. "We could all ride together," he offered.

Lucius and Lily sniffed in unison.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said with a sigh. She pushed past the duo before Severus could respond.

"I trust," Lucius purred, his hand still on Severus' shoulder as he steered the younger boy through the corridors.

"That I kept my mouth shut?" Severus interrupted shortly. "I don't need you to constantly check up on me, Lucius."

"If you had let me finish," Lucius drawled, "I was going to say that I trust Father didn't put you off any future visits to the Manor. You left the compartment so soon after we boarded."

"Future visits? You leave Hogwarts at the end of the term."

"All the more reason to keep our connections alive over your holidays. I meant what I said earlier in the term, Severus. I am fond of you. My leaving Hogwarts should have little effect on our friendship."

They were in line now for the horseless carriages, and the din of the other students made any kind of private conversation impossible.

But they got into a carriage in short order, and a withering stare from Lucius was enough to ensure that they had the thing to themselves.

"As you pointed out, this is my final term at Hogwarts, Severus. I'd like to focus on my N.E.W.T.'s and not on keeping you and your dormmates apart."

"I can hold my own –"

"And how long before that isn't the case?" Lucius interjected. "Don't be a fool. This is the most opportune time to be creating alliances that will prove useful far after Hogwarts."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Oh, yes. Which is why you've gone to such great lengths to keep them in your circle."

Lucius's eyes flashed, but a smirk pulled up one corner of his mouth. "Fair point. But it is far better to stop short of declaring them your nemeses."

A snort from Severus this time. "That honor goes to the useless Gryffindor duo," he snapped, hands clenched just thinking about the pair. "My dormmates are tolerable at their worst."

"And yet it seems every term only heightens your conflict. Just – tread carefully."

Severus was quiet, thinking of the duel that he and Goyle had agreed to for the start of the following year. Should he say something to Lucius now? Despite his being out of school by then, he'd hear about it, no doubt.

Lucius took the silence as acquiescence.

"Good. So I won't hear about any – incidents – tonight?"

"None of my doing," Severus said.

"That isn't good enough."

"I won't stand down if they attack me."

"So see to it that they have no reason to attack you," Lucius said sharply.

Severus sat, stony faced and fuming. "Easy for you to say, they're afraid of you."

"Then make them afraid of you, Severus. These rumors about Pemberton and Bagsby – " Severus turned his head to his friend, frowning. "- use them to your advantage. Fiercer reputations have been built on less."

Severus frowned. "But how do I do that?"

"Merlin, Severus, figure it out! If you can't manage this, how are you going to survive once I've left?" He exhaled sharply as they pulled up to the castle. "Talk to Mulciber at dinner."

"Mulciber. Right," Severus said. Owen Mulciber was a third year, and Lucius had mentioned in the past that had there not been a precedent for selecting only one member a year, he'd have brought Mulciber in immediately. He was deeper into the Dark Arts than Severus was.

And he was completely bloody terrifying.

They left the carriage and filed into the Great Hall, everyone still greeting each other as though they hadn't just spent hours on a train together.

Lucius nodded as they entered, indicating Mulciber seated at the Slytherin table. He needn't have bothered. Mulciber always had several vacant spots around him, his housemates granting him a wide berth.

Severus took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and sat down across from the other boy.

Mulciber had a book open in front of him. At Severus's arrival, he lifted his eyes slowly and deliberately, his head remaining perfectly still.

Severus thought he was going to wet himself.

"We haven't really spoken before," he started, surprised at how even his voice sounded. "I'm -"

"I know your ruddy name." Mulciber's voice was low and gravelly, belonging more to a forty-year-old smoker of Muggle cigarettes than a thirteen-year-old boy. "I guess everyone does now."

Severus's jaw tightened. "Right. I want to make sure they don't forget it," he said.

Mulciber's lips twitched. "'Course you do. And somebody told you I could help with that."

Severus nodded.

"What's in it for me?" Mulciber asked.

"What?"

"Come on, you don't expect me to help you cast your reputation in stone without some payment, do you?"

"Right. Of course not. I – uh – what did you have in mind?" Mulicber's eyes flicked over to Lucius, who was watching the exchange. He gave a slight nod to Mulciber, and the younger boy turned back to Severus, a cold smile fixed in place.

"Excellent. I'll allow you to stay. For now."

"But I haven't agreed to anything."

"It'll be taken care of," Mulciber said, that same creepy smile growing larger.

Severus swallowed and looked towards Lucius. But his friend was no longer watching.

He was on his own.

"So, how –"

"For starters, you'll eat with me from now."

"What, at every meal?"

"For now. Everyone already thinks you did Pemberton and made Bagsby confess. Seeing you with me will cement that in their tiny little minds."

"And that's it?"

"Oh no," Mulciber growled. "That's just the beginning."

Mulciber dragged him to the library after dinner, making a beeline for the Restricted Section.

Madam Pince was nowhere to be seen, and Mulciber didn't hesitate before stepping over the rope and walking into the aisle.

Severus tensed, waiting just outside the section, sure that Madam Pince would come swooping down on them.

Everything was still.

"Come on, then," Mulciber chided. "Not going to get far if I have to hold your ruddy hand, Snape."

"Right. Of course not." Severus took a shaky step over the rope, relaxing when he wasn't immediately yanked back.

Mulciber shoved a book at Severus. "Here. This'll do for a start."

Severus read the title: Magick Moste Evile. He remembered seeing a copy of this in Abraxas's library, but the title had put him off.

Mulciber turned back to the shelves, running his finger along the spines and pulled another one out. "And this."

Severus grimaced at the title of the next as well: Untraceable Poisons.

"How am I supposed to get these out of here?" Severus asked. "Isn't there an enchantment –"

"Don't be daft. It's an honor system."

Severus blinked, his eyes raking over the spines of the books on the shelves. "I thought there'd be more of a safeguard against students being in here."

Mulciber turned suddenly and walked out of the aisle, leaving Severus holding both of the books. "Mulciber –" Severus hurried after him, stepping over the rope – and right into Mr. Filch.

The caretaker's eyes narrowed, his mouth turned up in a smirk as his hand grabbed the front of Severus's sweater, lifting him to his toes. Beside him, Mrs. Norris purred.

"Well, well, Mr. Snape. What have we here?" He grabbed the books out of Severus's hands and examined the spines, his smirk growing. "No permission slip for these, eh? This might be the best start to a term yet."

Mulciber was nowhere to be seen.

Severus cursed, earning him a smile from Filch. "Professor Melison won't be best pleased with you," he said gleefully.

Severus cursed again.

Melison was in the Potions storeroom, and when he saw who Filch held out to him like a trophy, he released a heavy sigh, his jaw tightening as he set down the jar of stewed slugs he had been putting away.

"Caught him in the Restricted Section, Professor Melison. With these." He handed the books to Melison, who glanced at the spines before arching a brow at Severus. "No permission slip. He was trying to sneak 'em out."

"Thank you, Mr. Filch. I will handle things from here. You may release him," he pressed when Filch remained where he was, fingers still curled into Severus's sweater.

"Ought to watch this one, Professor," he said, sniffing. "Maybe I should stay, in case –"

"I appreciate the offer, Argus. I'm sure Severus has no intention of trying anything, have you, son?"

Severus yanked his sweater from Filch's grasp, then squared his shoulders.

"That will be all, Mr. Filch," Melison said, eyes on Severus.

Filch grumbled, but left the pair alone. Melison waited until the caretaker had gone, then waved his hand in the direction of the door. It slammed shut with a bang that shook the jars on the shelves.

Melison lifted the books in unison with one arched eyebrow. "Well?"

Severus folded his arms, meeting his Head of House's stare. "I fancied a bit of light reading."

Melison remained staring at him, waiting.

Severus stared back.

"Well, at least we've moved beyond facile excuses," Melison said. "I grow tired of these meetings at the start of every term, son."

Severus swallowed, but said nothing.

"Who were you planning on poisoning, then?" Melison went on, waving the books in his hand. "A classmate? A dormmate?"

"I wanted to experiment with them, that's all," Severus lied, his voice smooth and even.

Melison shook his head and let out a half-laugh. "Your Occlumency lessons seem to be serving you well." His voice carried a sharp tone of irony. "I almost believe you."

"It's the truth, sir."

"No, it isn't." He let the arm holding the books fall to his side. "Are you aware of the usual punishment for students taking books from the Restricted Section without permission?"

Severus blinked and exhaled. "I imagine they lose house points and earn a detention or two," he said, his voice even. He couldn't believe he was able to be this calm when his heart was racing so fast.

"No, son. These books are restricted for a reason – they are dangerous even in the right student's hands. And the Governors have very specific consequences for students who feel they can ignore the requirements in place to gain access."

"I suppose you'll tell me what those are eventually, sir?" Severus asked even while screaming a stream of swear words in his head.

"Expulsion, mainly," Melison said, his voice sending icy tendrils of fear into the boy.