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Thanks as usual for all the awesome reviews and feedback.

Dealing with some illness still so lets just get this chapter underway, shall we?

If Someone Cared Enough

Chapter 121: Gossip Over Breakfast

Severus ignored the gawking of his classmates as he walked into the Great Hall the next morning for breakfast.

"Is that a prefect badge?"

Someone scoffed, "They made him a prefect?"

"Well it makes sense, right?" Someone else asked, "He's like, what, one of the smartest kids in school?"

"But isn't he like all dark and stuff?"

"Have you had your head under a rock this whole time? He saved the school last year!"

"Technically several students did…"

"Didn't he almost die saving two Gryffindor girls a year or two ago?"

"That's what the papers said…"

Severus resisted rolling his eyes and closed them instead, breathing deeply through his nose and taking a moment to calm himself. Gossip was immature enough as it was, but listening to his schoolmates talk so ineloquently was like listening to an insane parrot permanently stuck to your shoulder. It followed you everywhere and never ceased to surprise you with how stupid and inane the babble it came up with could be.

Lily excitedly waved Severus down from the Ravenclaw table.

"So it's true!" she exclaimed when Severus sat down. She grabbed hold of the front of his robes to better inspect the badge, "There were all these rumors flying around since early morning. Some of your dormmates were spreading it around that you got made a prefect, but I didn't know if I should believe them. Frankly it seems like a position you'd refuse just to have one less thing to fuss about all year."

"I nearly did," Severus said, gently prying Lily's hands off his robes so that he could serve himself some blood sausage and scrambled eggs, "After being overlooked so many times getting this now felt like a slap in the face. I had half a mind to tell Dumbledore where to shove this badge."

Nesme leaned forward across the table, jam smeared at the corner of her mouth, "So Dumbledore gave it to you? Like personally?"

Severus nodded, "He summoned me to his office after dinner specifically to give it to me."

Davis whistled, "That's impressive, usually it's presented by mail or by your head of house. Seems like the headmaster really wanted you to have it."

"If you didn't want the position, why accept it?" Lily asked curiously, "Not that I'm not relieved you opted out of telling him to stick it where the sun doesn't shine—I'd rather my boyfriend not spend all his days in detention. But you just said you didn't appreciate him picking you now of all times."

"And I don't," Severus agreed, "It seems far too much like pity or a false attempt at clearing his conscience after painting me with a broad brush for so many years. I was tempted to reject the offer, but then he told me something that proved far more tempting."

Lily raised a brow, "Which was?"

Severus smirked, "That if and when we need to do research or a little investigation towards future items like the diary…we won't have to sneak around after curfew with these badges on."

Lily's eyebrows shot up her forehead, "So he's basically giving us the go ahead to snoop around unpunished?"

"If it helps the war effort," Severus replied, "Then yes."

He leaned in close to Lily, "So as long as we are trying to solve the Riddle issue…you and I can sneak out after hours whenever we want. Get the picture?"

Lily flushed, an impish grin spreading across her face, "Then we better make good use of that time…studying and researching, of course."

"Of course," Severus agreed.

"Someone's gonna get pregnant," Nesme sing-songed, abruptly making her friends choke on their food.

Nesme looked at them all baffled, "What? We know what they're really going to be doing."

Davis wiped his mouth, still coughing up eggs, "Be that as it may, you could warn me the next time you want to be shocking."

Nesme grinned cheekily, "Then it wouldn't be shocking, would it?"

"Anyway," Lily interjected, clearing her throat as she mopped up the pumpkin juice she'd spat out, "That's not going to happen. Sev and I are careful."

"Also, keep you voice down," Severus hissed, glaring at Nesme, "We're trying to keep things discreet."

Nesme gestured between the two prefects with her fork, "Then maybe not sit practically on top of each other."

Blushing, Lily scooted over a smidge.

Severus sighed, "Regardless, there is no need to worry—or mock us—about that possibility. We're well versed in the art of potion making and as Slughorn's favorite pupils, I doubt he'd even question a request to use one of the extra potion classrooms to work on extracurricular brewing."

"Meaning you're going to use the guise of extra credit to brew your own contraceptive potions under the teacher's nose," Davis spelled it out, "Off to a great start there, Mr. Prefect."

"Hey, if they don't want students doing adult things," Severus stated, "then they shouldn't legally recognize us as adults before graduation."

"That does seem like a poor decision," Nesme reasoned, "I hear in the United States they don't legally recognize you as an adult until eighteen."

"Still can't drink at that age though," Davis pointed out, "You can join and die in a war at eighteen, but Merlin forbid you buy a bottle of scotch."

"Those priorities seem a tad eschew," Severus noted.

Lily laughed, "Well the US has always been a teeny bit backwards, right? I mean, they outlawed the marriage of wizards and muggles for longer than we did."

Severus nodded, "Keep in mind though that the whole burned as witches thing was more recent for them in their country. Whereas England sort of dropped some of the witch hunt hype before people settled in North America."

"Well, I mean, Brits still did it," Davis brought up with a shrug, "But we didn't exactly have the mass hysteria of entire towns' teenage populace accusing one another every second."

"We've gotten a little off track," Lily said with a wry grin, before turning to her boyfriend, "I guess you and I will be spending a lot of time together."

"Faith willing," Severus said, "Who knows if Potter will let us be paired together for making rounds."

Someone plopped down into the seat on Severus left.

"Don't worry," Mary said, already piling her plate high with rashers of bacon, "Even if James tries to separate you, he can't use it as an opportunity to do rounds with Lily himself; Head boy and girl mostly have to do that together."

"Meaning you'll be spending an exorbitant amount of time with him," Severus said pityingly, "You poor, poor thing."

Mary shrugged, "I'll make the best of it; probably just spend my time popping his inflated ego; taking the wind out of his sails."

"That does sound fun," Severus commented, "It must be enjoyable to burst his bubble."

Mary nodded, "It will be. Someone has to give him a reality check because he clearly hasn't found it on his own. Knowing him, he probably thinks being Head Boy means he'll have the authority to push others around just for the hell of it. Unfortunately for him, I've read the handbook on prefect and head duties and I won't be afraid to remind him of just how little power he actually has."

"For example," Mary said, pulling out a small pamphlet, "Neither prefects nor Head boys and Girls may take points from other prefects."

Severus grinned, "Meaning he can't pick on me that way should he abandon his whole being my friend scheme."

"Exactly," Mary agreed, "Also, while points can be taken from students and we can assign detention, it has to be for actual legitimate reasons. Therefore, he can't take points from someone because he just felt like it; he'll have to give a report to that students head of house to determine if point deduction is actually deserved."

She flipped the page, scanning her pamphlet, "Moreover, if he gives detention, he doesn't actually get to decide what punishment that entails, only professors can choose how the detention may be served."

"So he can't assign some poor Slytherin first year an evening of scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush because they gave him a funny look," Severus surmised, "I'm finding my concerns eased more and more. Here I thought he would be some menace with the badge."

"Or deduct points from a Hufflepuff for being 'useless'," added Nesme.

Davis nodded, "Or from a Ravenclaw for being a know-it-all."

Mary nodded, "Yup, the position looks great on your school record, but in truth we're little more than glorified prefects. At the end of the day, everything we do or deicde upon must be met with staff approval or our actions will be reversed."

Lily grinned, "When James finds out just how little control he has, it's bound to stick in his craw."

Mary smirked evilly, "And that's exactly what I'm looking forward to."

Thinking about Potter's deflated ego and bruised pride caused another thought to pop into Severus's head.

"How is he taking the news on the grapevine about me," he asks with a grin, already expecting the chaos he's probably caused at the Gyffindor table, "I doubt he's pleased that I was awarded a position."

Instead, Mary cringes, "Well…"

{page break}

"I'm telling you guys this is perfect," James declares in between mouthfuls breakfast potatoes.

Remus looks less than convinced, "Not that I don't appreciate you being thrill for Severus, but I really don't want to encourage this misguided delusion of yours over your warped little plan."

Sirius nodded, using his finger to wipe up the remaining runny yolk from his plate and lick it off, "He's right, mate. I hardly see how Snape being prefect weighs in with your scheme anyway."

"Are you kidding?" James asked, aghast that his friends can't seem to follow his line of thought, "Him being a prefect makes my plan all that much easier."

Remus crossed his arms over his chest, "Okay, I'll bite: how does it help?"

"As Head Boy, it is my job to guide and encourage the prefects beneath me," James explained excitedly, "What better way to buddy up to Snape than to show my full approval and support of him being selected as prefect?"

James served himself another helping of eggs as he spoke, "This will be easy. I'll butter him up, talk about how he's so deserving of it, how wrong I was to not see his potential and good side. He's probably been gunning for recognition for years now, so he'll eat it up."

"I don't know, James," Sirius said, side eying Severus ducking down at the Ravenclaw table to avoid all the prying eyes and wagging tongues over his new position, "I don't think Snape likes too much attention on him."

Peter nodded, "Yeah…I think Severus is more about academic recognition, not celebrity status. Not the type to want people gawking at him."

James waved off Peter and Sirius's concerns, "It's not gawking, it's praise. He hardly ever gets any, what with being in Slytherin and all. That house is all about ambition! He's probably preening under this new title and I for one intend to smooze him over while the smoozing is good. What better a way to put myself in Lily's good graces than to acknowledge all the good qualities about Snape that she's been babbling about for years?"

"Forgive me if I'm wrong," Remus said, "But given how dismissive you've been of his merit over the years, won't praising him now that he's made a name for himself seem…disingenuous?"

"Not to mention patronizing?" Peter added.

James scoffed, "Of course not. It's just one good student congratulating another. Nothing patronizing about that."

Sirius snorted, "I don't know; insincerity sort of drips of condescension in my experience."

James looked affronted, "I am very sincere; I'm happy Lily's best friend was made prefect like she always wanted."

Remus sighed, in no mood to argue with James about how being happy about the possibility of his chances improving with Lily was self-serving and hardly selfless.

"You'll see," James promised, "By the end of the year, Lily and I will be walking arm and arm through this school and I'll have Snape's seal of approval backing me all the way to the alter with her."

Sirius rolled his eyes, turning to Remus, "Are we sure he hasn't been dosed with anything? Because this level of delusion is getting a bit worrisome."

James kicked Sirius in the shin, "Yuck it up now, jerk, but when this plan works, you'll be groveling apologies for not believing in me."

"Oh I believe in you, Prongs," Sirius remarked.

"You do?"

Sirius nodded, "I believe you're completely barmy—must be all that lack of oxygen from having your head so far up your ass."

Remus and Peter exploded into laughter, drawing the attention of several classmates and a few disapproving frowns.

James scowled before vindictively pouring a jug of maple syrup over Sirius plate of eggs.

"Hey!" Sirius squawked in indignation.

"Watch and learn," James said as he got up from the table, "As I begin phase one." He headed for the Ravenclaw table.

Behind him, Sirius took a wary yet curious bite of his eggs.

"Mmm," he smacked his lips, "You know what? It's not half bad."

Remus gagged, scooting down the bench away from Sirius.

{page break}

Severus had his head in his hands, "So he's thrilled…"

Mary shrugged, giving Severus a sympathetically pitying look, "Yeah. He thinks this will bring you two closer as friends and then he'll have an 'in' with Lily."

"Oh Merlin," Severus dismayed, "He's going to want to spend time with me; he's going to try and do patrol with me, isn't he?"

"Well, I already pointed out that he has to do most of that with me," Mary reminded him, "He's more likely to pair you with Remus in hopes that he'll talk James up to you."

Severus relaxed a little, "Well I guess I should take comfort in the fact that Lupin isn't foolish enough waste either of our time doing that. I guess so long as Potter thinks that's what Lupin is doing, we're fine."

"Yeah but it will mean less time for you and I to patrol together," Lily pouted, "James knows I'm not going to try and sway you into liking him, so chances are he'll pair Remus with either you or me as much as possible because he wants Remus to convince us both how great James is."

Mary patted her friend's shoulder, "I get a say in who patrols with who, so don't fret just yet. I'll make sure Potter doesn't pull any stunts."

"Are you really going to stand for Potter trying to get all chummy with you?" Nesme asked with interest, "I'd just get things over with and tell him were to stuff that hand of friendship and his stupid plan."

Severus sighed, "It's not really like I have much of a choice if I want a peaceful year…or to keep things with me and Lily under wraps. Staying enemies with Potter means putting up with his suspicion of me and following me around. He's got an invisibility cloak, so I'd rather not have him tailing me everywhere without my knowledge. At least if he thinks I'm willing to make amends, he'll have no reason to mess with me."

"Why not just tell him you and Lily are dating?" Mary asked, "Rip off the Band-Aid now and be done with it."

Severus shook his head, "Then he'd never leave us alone and I'm sure his schemes would only get worse. I'd like a more subdued school year if I can help it. And how much time could he honestly waste trying to befriend me?"

"More time than you think," Davis said, eyes fixed on the Gryffindor table, "Don't look now."

Severus chanced a peek over his shoulder before groaning, "Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no…"

"Hey guys," James greeted merrily, "Lovely morning, isn't it."

"It was," Nesme grumbled into her pumpkin juice.

James ignored her.

"What brings you here, James," Lily asked with feigned politeness.

James beamed at her, "Just thought I'd come see how my lovely Head Girl was doing this fine morning."

Mary rolled her eyes, not dignifying James with a respond.

"And of course to congratulate out latest prefect," James finished, giving Severus a hearty slap on the back and unintentional making him spill his coffee.

Severus cursed, mopping up the mess with his napkin.

"Oh shit, sorry," James apologized with chagrin, "Here, let me help."

He grabbed a nearby napkin and tried to sop the coffee up from Severus's robes.

Severus batted his hands away.

"It's fine," he said through gritted teeth, trying to maintain a lighthearted tone, "No harm no foul."

He wasn't sure if Potter realize it, but by publicly approaching Severus, he put Severus in a difficult position. Those who knew Severus best understood exactly why he disliked the Gryffindor and supported it, but to the rest of the school, rebuffing James actions right now would only come off as he rudely and unfairly rejected James's attempts at mending fences.

People had a biased understanding of the nature of his and James's rivalry for years already, everyone making assumptions that the bullying from James had stemmed from some slight Severus committed or that James had a valid reason for his harassment, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Knowing the motive behind James new change of heart, Severus wasn't exactly sure which would be worse at this point. Would he rather James bumble around like an overexcited, not paper-trained puppy or return to his hapless attempts of hunting Severus like some peabrained wolf?

James was completely oblivious to Severus's internal conflict, "Sorry again, mate. Sometimes I forget my own strength. Comes with being an athlete, you know?"

He winked at Lily, no doubt hoping to impress her with the imaginings of his masculine physique.

Lily for her part was none too impressed.

"Thank you for the warm welcome, Potter," Severus said as sincerely as he was able, though it came out stiff and rigid, "I suppose we will be working together to look after the school for quite some time."

James nodded, smiling happily, "Yup, the whole year. Plenty of time to put our differences aside and start over, don't you think?"

He placed his hand on Severus shoulder and Severus resisted the urge to shake the appendage off him.

"I would just like to say how sorry I am for my childish behavior over the years," James stated. He's apology might have been meaningful if he wasn't eyeing Lily to make sure she was witnessing it, "I sorely misjudged you, Snape—Severus. After last year, I see how foolish and blind I've been. I hope you can find it in you to forgive me."

He flashed Severus a charming, well-rehearsed smile, "What do you say we bury the hatchet?"

Severus's eyes flitted around the room, taking in the curious eyes of schoolmates poorly concealing their eavesdropping. Again, he cursed inwardly that Potter picked a public setting to give his apology.

"I…" Severus began hesitantly, chancing a glance at Lily. She reached under the table and took his hand in her own supportively, "Would like…nothing more than to…end our feud, James." The words left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Really?" James seemed taken aback that Severus agreed so readily, clearly having expected more resistance, "I mean, great!"

He slapped Severus on the back again, "Congratulations again on becoming prefect, Severus."

Whipping out his wand, James pointed it at the Gryffindor table and summoned his cup of pumpkin juice to him.

"A toast, then," he offered, "To new friendships."

Severus's beloved coffee had never looked more unappealing before.

"Too new friendships," he echoed, grimacing as Potter carelessly clinked their goblets together and sloshed hot coffee over Severus's hand.

The drink tasted like tar on his tongue.

I'm sure some of you were hoping to see James angry over Severus being made prefect. But remember, James has convinced himself that Severus isn't a rival for Lily's affections because he sees himself as the ideal boyfriend and sees Severus as the polar opposite of him, therefore the opposite of boyfriend material. So being an opportunist looking to get in Lily's good graces, he is of course going to capitalize on this new appointment to shower Severus with praise. It puts him in a position to be around Severus more than just class time so he can work on his plan of befriending Severus.

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