A/N: Hello and welcome to the next chapter of STC! Tbh, I don't know how I feel about this chapter, so you'll have to let me know what you think. Do you like the James/Lily stuff? Is it slow? I'd love to know haha so as always, read and review and you'll make my day!

And one last thing about James- there will be some rough times with James in the next few chapters, but all my James Potter fans, don't worry, James is a big part of this book and there are some exciting, crazy times ahead. For James and Lily, and especially for James and Harry. :D Stay tuned.

The sunlight glowed through the windows of Gryffindor tower as the 7th year girls unpacked for the night. The sorting feast had finished, Head Girl meetings were over, and now Lily Evans sat in the corner next to an open suitcase, her auburn hair tumbling down in waves, her robe casually open revealing a light turtleneck and jeans. Lily's friends Emmeline and Mary were with her, catching up, and Lily couldn't stop laughing as Emmeline told them about a blind date she'd had over the summer. It had been a long summer without them and Lily was relieved to be back in the magical world, with her friends where she belonged.

Emmeline sighed dramatically as she stuffed the last of her shirts in a drawer. "So yeah. That's the story of how I've sworn off dating forever." She ran her hand through her shiny brunette hair and put her hands on her hips.

On the other side of the room, Mary laughed and nodded enthusiastically. "That's crazy Em. I totally agree. Dating is the worst. I went out with this one guy over the summer, his name was Mark, and he was cute, like Sirius Black cute—"

"Dang." Emmeline said, impressed. Lily grinned and wondered when they would get to the part where she was dating James Potter.

"—but he took me on a five mile hike for our first date—" Mary continued.

"That sounds fun!" Emmeline said, leaning against her drawers.

"Yeah, for you!" Mary said, dumping a bag onto her bed and turning to give Emmeline a look. "I couldn't breath the whole time and then he kept trying to talk to me—"

"Oh no, talking." Lily joked and Emmeline started laughing.

"Yeah, yeah," Mary said, also laughing as she rolled her eyes. She folded a shirt and gave Lily a sly glance. "Whatever, miss I'm dating James Potter!"

"You mean, Lily Potter?" Emmeline said with a smirk.

"Nooooooo," Lily protested, laughing and shaking her head. "Oh come on, it's not like you don't know. I already told you guys everything in my letters!"

"Not everything!" Mary exclaimed. "Not the dirty details, like how was your first date? Does he write romantic love letters? Is he a good kisser?"

Lily laughed and rolled her eyes. "It was great, yes, and yes!"

"Oh my gosh! Lily Evans snogged James Potter!" Emmeline exclaimed excitedly.

"Em, no, SHHHHHHH!" Lily said, laughing, and looking over at the door.

"Okay, but you have to tell us the whole story, Lily. I mean, honestly it was so weird when you were sitting with him at dinner—" Emmeline said.

"All romantic, with his arm around your shoulders," Mary chimed in.

"Yeah, after the whole school is used to you yelling at each other." Emmeline continued.

"Tell me about it." Lily said, giving them both a dry look. "It's beyond weird. Every time I see him, I expect him to be the old James that we used to know. You know, the arrogant one. But he's different now. Something's changed." Lily smiled slightly and her mind went to James— his smile, his shoulders the way he talked—

"Awwww, loook she's blushing." Emmeline teased.

"For the record, I take a lot of credit for this." Mary declared. "If things hadn't gone badly last year, you guys wouldn't have made a connection."

Lily thought back to last year and didn't know how to feel. Last April, Mary had been alone coming home from the library when she was attacked by a few Slytherins and an unknown spell. Lily had found Mary during her prefect route, covered in blood. It was the scariest thing that had ever happened to Lily. Luckily, James had been in the hallway at the same time and had heard Lily's scream. He had helped Lily take Mary to the hospital wing. Mary didn't remember who had attacked her, but it wasn't hard to guess.

Luckily, there hadn't been any permanent damage. And it was true, Lily had gotten to know James better after that night. And he had been different than she had thought. He had been mature, and understanding, and kind— not the arrogant jerk she had known for six years.

Lily looked up at Mary and nodded. "It's true. Though I wish it didn't happen, Mar."

Mary's eyes turned a little solemn as she met Lily's eyes. "Yeah."

"Don't worry," Emmeline said. "I'm sure the Marauders have revenge on the forefront of their plans." Lily frowned a little, and then stopped herself. Why should she care?

Mary laughed. "Probably."

Lily glanced down at a shirt she was folding in her hands. Revenge on Severus Snape and his friend Mulciber. It was easy for Lily to hate Mulciber. He was one of the meaner Slytherins. It didn't surprise her at all.

But Severus?

Lily clenched her jaw. She was so angry— but not at him. At the stupid sorting hat for putting him into Slytherin. At the other Slytherins, for being horrible influences and dragging him down with them. At the—

Lily stopped herself for a moment, but she knew what she was feeling.

She was angry at the Marauders, for bullying him for six years and sabotaging any chances of Snape making better friends. Like me, Lily thought in the back of her mind.

It could have been so different. Everything could have been different.

Lily finished folding her shirt and slipped a finger into her pocket. She felt the corners of a piece of parchment she received on the train earlier. Same place, same time, it said. Only Lily knew what that meant.

Would she meet him tonight? This decision had been on her mind since the moment she received the parchment on the Hogwarts express. And Lily knew if she went, she would have to lie to James.

Her boyfriend.

Years ago, she would have hated herself for the thought of it. Herself dating James Potter. But things had really changed over the summer. Everything had been so easy then. Now things were complicated with too many people and their opinions.

But, Lily thought. She really did like him. And he seemed so mature. He had also told her at dinner he wanted to take her on a date tonight.

Lily glanced back up at Mary.

"Now," the dark haired girl said, "shall we go say hello to Lily's new boyfriend?" Mary winked at Lily, who rolled her eyes.

But as the three of them got ready to see the Marauders downstairs, Lily couldn't help but think about an old friend and the parchment in her pocket.

A floor below, sprawled on the couches by the Gryffindor fireplace, the Marauders continued their annual inventory of new students — or in other words future quidditch players. James took the loveseat, one arm on the chair and the other holding a butterbeer, his black hair gleaming in the firelight. Across from him, Sirius lazily leaned against the corner of the couch, a butterbeer in each hand. Beside him sat Peter, leaned forward and engaged, and Remus, casual but cool, holding a chocolate bar. A few girls ogled at them from the far side of the room, but James pretended not to notice.

"Fifteen new recruits!" Remus announced with a grin, the firelight dancing on his face. James grinned at Remus in reply, lifting his butterbeer dramatically. They had all finished unpacking and were now spending their official first evening at Hogwarts relaxed in the Gryffindor Common room. James had a few more minutes before he was supposed to meet Lily for their date. James ran through his mental checklist one more time (venue, blankets, food, sparkling cider, dramatic lighting—check!) before leaning back into the couch. Everything was done, of course. He had done this a thousand times. So why was he so nervous?

He glanced over as Peter grinned boyishly and continued. "And Slytherin only got eleven!"

With one hand, Sirius popped open his can of Butterbeer with a loud pchhhhhh. "Poor little snakes." He said, shaking his head in mock sympathy and locking eyes with Peter. "They're screwed without a seeker, and now they have barely anyone to choose from."

"They did get a seventh year though." Remus pointed out, looking at the other three Marauders in turn.

"They'd need a lot of those to even the playing field." Sirius said, rolling his eyes at the idea and taking a loud sip.

"What's his name? Fotcher?" James said, furrowing his eyebrows, and trying to remember the guy. He had been weird. A normal enough looking dude, but the way he had stared at Gryffindor table was beyond strange.

"Fletcher." Remus corrected absently, stroking his chin.

"Did you see the way he was staring at us?" Peter said, glancing between everyone. James nodded.

"He looks like someone died!" Sirius joked.

"He almost did when he got sorted into Slytherin." James said with a grin, thinking to the awkward moment when the hat shouted Slytherin and the new kid refused.

"Poor bloke." Sirius grinned back at James, his eyes mischievous. "Knows what's coming."

James laughed and jerked his chin up in agreement, but his eyes betrayed him and glanced around. He knew what he was looking for. He was checking to see if Lily had heard them. He didn't see her though, so he forced himself to relax and take another sip of butterbeer.

"As long as he doesn't play quidditch." James commented, his mind still on Lily. Seven years. It had taken seven years to get to this moment. A real date with Lily Evans.

Deep down, he knew that was why he was so nervous. He did this specific date a lot— but never with a girl he actually liked. Never with a girl that would think to turn him down.

But Lily Evans was different. And he knew that. That's why tonight needed to be perfect. Tonight needed to overcome six years of her hating him.

Tonight needed to overcome everyone in this whole freaking castle thinking he was crazy for dating her.

James' gaze shifted to the fire, as the Marauders kept talking. The thing was, he knew exactly why it had taken so long for them to make a connection.

The Marauders were notorious for their pranks and Lily was notorious for shutting them down. That was part of the reason he liked her, if James was being honest. She was just so good.

The problem was, she had a soft spot for Slytherins. One Slytherin in particular, James thought darkly (though he had no idea why after the accident with Mary last year).

Only hours ago, he had opened a letter from his father (who wrote him every year on his first night at Hogwarts) detailing the last Death Eater raid he'd battled. James' father was an Auror and kept James pretty in the loop as far as his life went. This time there was a raid on a hospital. Three died, fifteen injured, and a horrible Slytherin dark mark cast above the building. James father had mentioned the Death Eaters present: Donahue, Carrow, and Lestrange.

So yeah. James wouldn't feel bad when he pranked Lestrange and his Death Eater friends this week. And while he really liked Lily— he only felt bad that for now, that was all he could do.

Suddenly, James heard steps coming down the stairs and three girls appeared on the stairwell. Lily Evans, Emmeline Vance, and Mary McDonald. At the sight of them, Sirius grinned and waved them over. James perked up as he saw Lily. She looked straight at him and her smile was bright and contageous. He couldn't help but smile back as they locked eyes in that way that couples do in public.

"Oi, Vance, you ready to kick some Slytherin butt this year?" Sirius called out. James grinned and leaned back. Emmeline played chaser with him on the Quidditch team, and she was one of their best.

"You know it!" She hollered back as the girls approached the back of Marauders' couch. "When are tryouts?"

"Tomorrow night, 7PM." James (this year's Quidditch Captain) announced dramatically, standing and walking over to his girlfriend. He slipped an arm around Lily casually and felt her lean into his chest. He looked around the room and lifted his butterbeer in a grand flourish. "This year is OURS BABY."

The room cheered and James grinned at them all. As the energy died down, James decided to segue: "And now, ladies and gentlemen, I am off to take the astonishingly beautiful Lily Evans—" he felt Lily laugh beside him, "—on a night she will never forget. We'll be back later." He grinned at Sirius and winked. "Don't wait up."

"Ow ow!" Sirius cheered loudly. Lily glanced up at James, but he only grinned and waved as he began to steer them both towards the fat lady's portrait.

"So where are we going?" Lily asked when they made it to the hallway. James let his hand fall from her shoulder to casually twine his fingers in hers. She had changed, he noticed, and now wore a form fitting turtleneck and jeans. Her skin was soft, her eyes smiled as she looked up at him, and in that moment James couldn't be happier.

James winked at her. "You'll see."

Minutes later, James and Lily arrived at their destination: The astronomy tower, the most romantic getaway at Hogwarts. As James had arranged, the lights were dimmed and a single table stood in the center of the tower with an ivory tablecloth, porcelain dishes, and red roses in the center. James smiled broadly at Lily as he led her to the table and pulled out her chair. She was smiling widely and James assumed that meant she was impressed. As he took his seat, there was a crack to their right, and a house elf appeared.

"Sir and my lady," the elf said regally, bowing to Lily. James grinned and leaned back. Right on script. He glanced over at Lily to see how she was taking it.

Lily was smiling but it wasn't the smile James usually saw. Her smile was — amused? She shook her head at the elf.

"Thank you, Nolly." She smiled. James glanced at her. She knew this elf?

Still smiling, Lily leaned back and folded her arms."So." She began, eyes glittering. "How many girls have you taken on this date?"

James stared at her, caught off guard. "Oh, you know. A couple." He said. A couple dozen, he thought, but Lily would never know that.

"James." Lily said, shaking her head as she looked at him. "I don't want to be just another girl you snog in the astronomy tower."

James leaned forward in an instant, moving the roses out of the way so he could see her. "Of course not, Lily. You're not that."

"Then what are you doing?" She asked.

"Treating a beautiful girl to a fancy evening." James said easily, giving her his winning smile.

Lily stared at him thoughtfully for a moment. James stared back, still smiling, unsure what to do. This never happened. He'd used this line a million times. Girls always swooned and then snogged him even more later. It was foolproof.

But this was Lily Evans, his mind whispered. Everything was different with her.

She met his eyes and smiled as she stood up. He stared at her as she came over to his side of the table.

"James." She said, her voice soft, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. He looked up into her emerald eyes and she carefully sat on his lap. He instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Lily." He said back, projecting confidence but inwardly very confused.

"I don't want this." She said, gesturing at the room and then to him. "The fancy astronomy tower, the cookie-cutter date, the sauve, smooth James Potter who can get any girl in the school." She wiggled her eyebrows as she said his name and looked into his eyes. "I want you. The kind, smart, thoughtful guy I got to know this summer. Who loves his friends. Who I can talk to for hours. That's the James Potter I want to date."

James stared at her for a moment. Her auburn curls contrasted beautiful against the color of her skin. Her green eyes were kind and her pink lips tilted up in a smile. "Lily." James began. "I'm still the same person I was this summer. This," he gestured around them, "doesn't change anything."

Lily studied him for a moment. "I know, I just—" She paused. "I don't want to be just another girl to you." She glanced at him. "I don't want to feel like another astronomy tower hookup."

It was a testament to James' confidence that he wasn't offended. "Don't worry, Lils." He said. "You're not. This is different." He smiled at her and leaned forward until their lips nearly met. "This is real." He whispered, leaning in for a kiss. After a few minutes, he leaned away again. "But I don't want you to feel like you are. So, let's go somewhere else."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

James nodded. "Absolutely. You lead the way."

Lily thought for a moment and then smiled brightly at him.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at a small, circular door two corridors north and five staircases down. James glanced at her, curious. Lily knocked brightly and gave James a wink. Seconds later, the door swung open.

James eyebrows shot up. It was a house elf.

"Lily!" The elf exclaimed joyously, running to Lily and wrapping its arms around her calves. James' jaw nearly dropped. Lily only smiled and patted the thing's shoulders affectionately.

"Blue!" Lily beamed. "Mind if we come in?"

"Mistress Lily is always welcome," the elf cried. Lily gave James a smile and took his hand, leading him through the doorway and into what looked like the Hogwarts kitchens. All around them, house elves cooked, baked, canned, jammed, and prepared so many different types of food. James looked around like a kid at Zonko's Joke Shop.

"The Hogwarts kitchens?" He exclaimed incredulously.

Lily grinned at him. "Only the most amazing place at Hogwarts." She turned back to her friend, the house elf. "Hey Blue, would you mind getting us a place of chocolate chip cookies and the usual?"

The elf nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, ma'am, certainly, ma'am!"

Lily took James' hand again and pulled him over to a cute blue booth. They both took a seat on the same side and Lily turned to smile at him. "I found this place my second year at Hogwarts. Blue showed me."

"It's amazing." James said, still looking around.

Blue suddenly appeared with a large yellow plate of warm cookies followed by two wine glasses full of milk. Lily thanked Blue as James laughed and gave Lily a look.

"The usual?" He teased.

Lily grinned, picking up one of the glasses and taking a sip of milk. "When I was younger, my mom would give us milk in wine glasses to make it feel fancy. Then we would sit on the kitchen floor and talk until all of life's problem would go away."

James contemplated that, before picking up his glass of milk and swishing it around. "Your mom sounds really cool." He said genuinely, thinking of his parents. James was an only child so he got a lot of his parents attention. He could never picture his mother sitting on the floor. She was all about manners and "proper behavior". He glanced around at the kitchen, at the house elves, at the plate of cookies, and finally at the beautiful girl sitting beside him. This was nice. Relaxing and authentic. And so perfectly Lily.

He smiled at her, more relaxed than he'd been in ages, and picked up a cookie. "So. Tell me about your mum." He said, taking a bite.

Lily smiled at him and shifted so her foot was intertwined around his. James' smile deepened and somehow he felt happier here than he'd ever been snogging girls in the astronomy tower. And as she told him about her mum and asked him about his, he connected more with her than he had anyone else in a very long time.

It wasn't until several hours later, at about 11:45PM, that Lily told him she needed to head to bed. They walked back to Gryffindor tower, talking and holding hands. James kissed her goodnight and watched her walk up the stairs to the girls dormitory. And before he headed up to meet the Marauders, he couldn't help but smile.

A castle away from James, Harry had a much less enjoyable night. After hours of waiting outside the Gargoyle at Dumbledore's office, McGonagall had arrived only to kick him out. Harry had explained his predicament, but she had had little sympathy for him. Harry had been forced to hide out in the library, furious at Dumbledore for not only pawning him off to the Slytherins, but disappearing for the entire freaking night.

Midnight found Harry equal parts irritated and exhausted— and wondering how long he would make it if he decided to sleep in the room of requirement. Losing his patience, he slammed a title shut and glared at the resultant poof of dust.

The place was quiet this time of night, the lamps dim amidst hundreds of books. Harry slowly realized that the sun had long set and the chances of him reaching Dumbledore tonight had gone with it.

He was a Slytherin.

He would have to sleep in the Slytherin dormitories.

He would have to share a room with Death Eaters.

He would have to share a room with Snape.

Harry shelved the book forcefully and tried not to think of what that meant. What had happened? Hadn't Dumbledore promised him three months of time with his parents? Not three months trapped in the dungeons. Harry repeated Dumbledore's words again in his head. Dumbledore had apologized and offered to make up for past mistakes. He would never intentionally trap Harry here.

But even as Harry held on to that, he knew Dumbledore had said he remembered Harry being here. Which meant he would have remembered Harry getting sorted into Slytherin. And he didn't mention it to Harry, which meant it had to get resolved. Right?

Harry's thoughts wandered to Gryffindor tower and he imagined the Marauders, Lily, and the other students sitting in the common room, catching up on their summers. Damn it, he could have been there!

Harry wandered out of the restricted section and passed the current events. He had already read them all— newspapers detailing Voldemort's rise. Here the headlines dated back to 1966, when things first began to ramp up.

"MAN FROM LONDON DECLARES HIMSELF LORD VOLDEMORT" one had read, with a photo of a handsome man in a suit to accompany it. Harry didn't have to read the caption to know it was Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Next:

"THE FUTURE OF MAGIC IN DANGER. SO-CALLED LORD VOLDEMORT DECLARES MUGGLEBORNS ARE DILUTING MAGIC".

"SNAKE INSPIRED "DARK MARK" FOUND OVER HOSPITAL; 3 DEAD, 15 INJURED".

All the same gloomy news, full of Death Eater attacks and attention-seeking headlines. The words of the prophecy danced around the back of Harry's mind.

Neither can live while the other survives . . .

Harry lived ten years later and Voldemort still wasn't defeated. How was Harry supposed to do what years of Aurors couldn't? What Dumbledore couldn't?

A wave of exhaustion hit him. He was so tired of the war. Tired of being the one in the prophecy.

Well, Harry thought. If anything had gone right in this time, it was that no one knew he was Harry Potter. Even the Death Eaters didn't know.

Harry wished it was more reassuring.

His feet led him out of the library and into the long stone hallway. The silence of the corridor was eerie and all Harry could hear was the soft rustling of his robes and the taps of his feet. He glanced around the dark castle warily, his wand on the tips of his fingers should anything go wrong.

Should he get caught, he mentally corrected himself. It was just Filch. The worst that could happen was detention. He needed to chill. Right now he was just another student.

Suddenly the hair on his neck rose and Harry froze as whispers crescendoed through the hallway. Instinctively, he ducked behind a massive statue. It was midnight. Who would be out past curfew? The Marauders? Harry perked up a little.

"If you'd just listen to me—" It was a man's voice, silky, baritone, and pleading.

"I said cut it out." A woman's. Frustrated and resigned. And getting louder. Harry shifted so he could see between the statue's arm and torso and watched a couple come closer.

Suddenly they came into the light and Harry inhaled sharply. None other than Lily Evans stood a meter away. Her auburn hair lay down in curls and her green eyes glittered with irritation. Harry had never seen her upset and for a second he just stared in surprise. Her arms were folded and she was glaring into the hallway, hips tilted, feet solid on the ground. Harry glanced at his watch — it was midnight. What was she doing out so late? Surely she wasn't talking to James.

Another teenager stepped into the aisle and Harry's eyes widened.

It was Severus Snape.

The slimy Slytherin outcast was having a secret meeting with— Harry's mother?

Snape crossed to hover perpendicular to Lily, clearly frustrated that she wouldn't look at him. He shifted back and forth like he didn't know where to stand and his dark eyebrows furrowed so close they nearly touched. His robes were worn, ill fitting, and open and for the first time Harry could see a tattered muggle band T-shirt underneath. Harry frowned in confusion and couldn't believe what he was seeing. He wracked his brain for information — didn't Snape call her a mudblood a few years ago? He couldn't remember anyone else ever mentioning that Snape and Lily even spoke to each other.

The silence was painful and for the first time in Harry's life, Snape's face was an open book. Anger flashed in his eyes, then frustration, then something like pain, then anger again. Harry had never seen so much emotion in him, and he suddenly remembered months of Occlumency lessons with Snape yelling at him for showing too much emotion. The sight of Snape, now open, vulnerable, and human, seemed surreal. Abruptly, the Slytherin stepped away and glared up at the ceiling.

"I never imagined you this way." He spit out bitterly. "Potter's new plaything while he saunters around and plays hero."

Lily spun around fiercely and glared. "I am no one's plaything," She spit out. "And I'd rather play hero than be the villain."

Now Harry expected one of Snape's classic lines, but a shadow passed through his eyes. Hurt. Another emotion Harry had never imagined on Snape's face. "Lily— that spell was never supposed to be used! It was only a spell, until Mulciber—Lily, I swear, I didn't know she would be there!"

"It doesn't matter, Severus, what are you doing creating spells like that in the first place!" Lily snapped. "It's evil! And what am I supposed to think when you're friends with him? He kills 'mudbloods' like me!" She looked at him furiously.

"Don't say that word." Snape snapped, with a stricken look on his face. Harry glanced at Snape in confusion. "You're not—"

"What, Severus? Dirty, impure, inferior—"

"You don't understand—" Snape said, shaking his head and stepping closer.

"Disgusting, never should've been born—" She spit out, backing away from him.

"Stop!" Snape snapped.

"Leave it, Severus." Lily said, her emerald eyes sparkling with anger. "I'm through with you and your double standards."

"Then why did you come tonight, Lily?" Snape said, pleading eyes staring into hers. Lily stared at him, at a loss for words and for a moment Harry thought she might soften. But she suddenly stepped away from him, folding her arms harshly and looking at the floor.

"To tell you I'm through." She said. Snape's face fell and his eyes pleaded for her to change her mind. She didn't look up from the floor. "Goodbye, Snape."

Calling Snape by his last name seemed to crush him more than anything. Lily turned to walk away.

"No, Lily, please—"

She was saved from replying by a great cracking sound.

Harry's eyes widened in panic as the ground began to rotate out from under him. Lily and Snape turned his direction and in less than a second, the statue had rotated him into view. Harry exhaled nervously as he stood in front of Lily and Snape. He glanced at Lily. Her eyes were wide with shock and fear and she could only stare at him. Snape stood frozen in place as panic flicked across his face.

"Fletcher." Snape growled, reaching for his wand. Instinctively, Harry fingered his but before he could react, a loud woosh rushed out of the wall behind Harry. The force threw Harry off balance and his eyes widened. Peeves!

"Peeves stopping, Eavesdropping," The poltergeist cackled, flying circles over their heads and dropping dungbombs everywhere.

"Peeves!" Lily exclaimed, coughing through the smoke and stumbling back towards the wall. Snape looked at Lily in alarm to see if she was okay. Harry took advantage of the chaos and booked it down the corridor, ducking into the next dark hallway.

As the smoke began to fade, Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. What the hell was Snape doing with Harry's mother alone at night? And where was James?

Suddenly, footsteps approached again and Harry ducked himself behind a statue. Someone walked in, his breathing ragged and his eyes broken.

Snape.

Harry cursed his luck and tried to breath as quietly as possible.

Now just a few meters away, Snape staggered to the wall and sagged to the floor. His eyes were full of hurt and Harry felt extremely uncomfortable. He glanced left and right for an escape but didn't dare move until Snape left.

The Slytherin let his head fall between his knees for a few moments, collecting his breath, before he lifted it again, his face wiped of all emotion. He abruptly stood up and made to leave — but then he paused.

Eyes squinting behind sticky black bangs, he looked at the statue where Harry hid. Harry froze in place, praying this one didn't move.

Snape walked closer until he stood just less than a meter from Harry, staring at the stone like it had personally wronged him. Harry didn't dare breathe.

But just like that, the moment was over. Snape shook his head and turned the other direction. Harry let out a relieved breath as Snape disappeared down the blackened corridor, heading farther and farther away from the girl he loved and her son.

Harry booked it to the Slytherin common room, taking a different direction and praying he wouldn't run into Snape. Who knew what the Slytherin would do after seeing Harry listening in on him and Lily.

The Slytherin common room was guarded by a dark stone door engraved with serpents, and Harry's heart pounded as he approached it.

The air was musty this deep in the castle and torches lined the walls with jumpy light that made shapes appear out of nowhere. Finding the entrance wasn't the problem (he had been there before to spy on Draco Malfoy). The problem was all the Death Eaters behind it. And the fact that Harry didn't know the password.

Harry's fingers tightened on his wand. At least at this time of night, most students would be asleep. Snape was the only one Harry knew would still be awake.

Harry pictured Snape and his mother and almost lost his resolve to go in.

The thing was, though, the only way to endure the night was to get to his bed.

Harry glared at the door, channeling all his frustration at Snape. "Pureblood." He said in a low voice, glancing left and right, hoping Snape wouldn't appear. "Dark Arts. Muggleborn. Snake. Serpent. Open."

Nothing.

Harry's glare intensified and all the day's frustration surfaced. "I said let me in!"

Nothing.

"I said, open!" He whispered furiously. He froze as he realized that it had not been words that came out, but a hiss. Harry's heart pounded in his chest as he was hit with a surge of adrenaline. If anybody had seen— Harry looked around sharply for a bystander or a snake but the halls were still empty. He turned back to see a writhing form rotate on the wall and the damp stone shifted to reveal the entrance to the Slytherin common room. His breathing shaky, Harry took one more look around before he stepped inside.

The room was nice and ornate, with a warm fireplace in the corner flanked by deep green arm chairs and assorted seating throughout. The left wall was completely glass and looked straight into Hogwarts lake. At night it was black and creepy and Harry tried to ignore it as he looked for the dormitory entrance. He once again remembered who slept upstairs.

Rodolphus Lestrange, who tortured Neville's parents to insanity.

Bellatrix Black who killed her cousin Sirius.

Alecto Carrow, who led the attack on Hogwarts after Dumbledore's death.

Mulciber, who fought Harry in the department of mysteries.

And Severus Snape, the wizard who killed Albus Dumbledore and who apparently used to be best friends with Harry's mum.

Harry forced himself to focus. He arrived at the dormitories in a few long strides and braced himself as he approached the door to his. Now what were the chances his roommates were asleep?

Harry winced as he opened the door.

His first roommate was Lestrange. The boy slept haphazardly on the bed in the far corner, with his own comforter and pillows from home (he was probably too good for the Hogwarts ones) and a little pet cactus on the top shelf — a plant that painfully reminded Harry of Neville Longbottom. Harry's gaze lingered on it for only a second before he forced himself to look away.

Mulciber was next. He was reading a magazine, covered in blankets, with band posters plastered the wall behind him, an energy drink on the floor, and a skeleton hand laying next to it. He glanced up disdainfully as Harry walked in, but Harry stubbornly ignored him and Mulciber did the same.

The last bed, fortunately, was very much empty. Harry breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed his pajamas, and ducked onto his bed as fast as he could. He had just barely closed his curtains when the door opened. Severus Snape slowly walked in, his black eyes accusing. They pinned Harry through the curtains.

Harry didn't mean to meet his stare, but Harry's luck only turned out when he was in mortal danger. Black eyes and hazel eyes stared at each other for only a second before Harry looked away, forcing himself to remember his curtains were charmed so Snape couldn't see in.

Snape stared at Harry's bed for a full five seconds before walking over to his own. Snape's robes were closed, but now Harry knew what were beneath them. A muggle t-shirt and jeans. Harry eyed him. Why was he wearing muggle clothes if he was such a stalwart Slytherin?

The words Half-Blood Prince came to the forefront of Harry's mind. Half-blood. Raised by a muggle? Harry didn't believe it.

But then again, Harry realized, no one here knew about Snape's midnight meetings with Lily. No way they would be okay with it.

Through the dim lights, Harry watched Snape climb into the bed and pull his curtains closed with the same flair he flipped his robes with twenty years in the future. Harry shook his head, shaking his mind free of the Slytherin, leaned back in his bed and glared at the dark green curtains that surrounded him. He silently cast a protective ward around the bed and glanced down at his cloak.

A fanged snake stared back from where the Gryffindor crest was supposed to be. Slytherin, it read in fancy silver cursive.

Harry gripped it tightly.

This wasn't him.

This place wasn't him.

He was a Gryffindor. He should have been there, dammit—he ran his hand through his hair in frustration, but even that wasn't the same. His hair was too straight, this bed was too green, this room was too filled with Death Eaters. His temper growing, he threw the Slytherin cloak to the foot of the bed, leaned back and folded his arms.

How had this had happened? How had he ended up in Slytherin? This would ruin everything! Now instead of rooming with James Potter, he was living with Severus Snape!

Snape, the only person Harry hated more than Voldemort. At least the 'Dark Lord' didn't pretend to be good. Snape was supposed to be good and then he went and murdered Dumbledore. Hell, he was the new Headmaster of Hogwarts! He had single handedly destroyed Harry's home. And now he was sleeping a brooms length away!

Harry closed his eyes in frustration and the words of the hat came to mind. The war has changed you, Harry.

Harry paused for a moment, suddenly realizing that he, Harry Potter, had been sorted into Slytherin. He had changed a lot in the past year, that was true but – no. The hat was crazy. He had requested Gryffindor the first time around but that didn't mean anything. He belonged in Gryffindor. He was no Slytherin.

He didn't belong here.

A/N: Thanks for reading! If you liked it, feel free to leave a review and lmk know what you think! 3 Love ya. Stay safe. -Amyra9