Disclaimer--All JK Rowling's toys. I'm just looking. Prose is mine, though...please ask before you print or post.
Author's Notes--Same story applies...But if you are reading this PLEASE review it...writing isn't much fun if you feel like no one reads it.
Thanks.
*****
Only after he had taken his place at the table between an older, snide-looking blonde boy and a slightly portly ghost spattered in silver bloodstains did Severus realize he wouldn't have a chance to talk to James that night. He was still trying to adjust to the realization when the blonde said, "I've always wanted to meet a member of the family who gave Salazar Slytherin his bride. It's an honor to have you in our house."
Severus blinked at him in surprise. He hadn't known that--it wasn't as if he had anything to do with his ancestors' accomplishments. Still, it was nice to be welcome...especially after his reception on the train. "Really," he said mildly, "I'm honored to be in a house with such good taste."
The blonde boy laughed, and Severus was gratified to find someone understood his sense of humor. Somewhat comforted by this encouraging turn of events, Severus could feel some of the tension magically seeping from his spine. He even managed to do the feast justice, something he considered extremely fortunate given the lengthy and confusing route to the Common Room, though the Prefect didn't seem in the least aware of any trepidation the First Years might feel at the prospect of finding their way back again. A task, reflected Severus, made all the more difficult by the unlikely location--who slept in a dungeon?--and the fact the entrance looked like any other bare stretch of wall.
The Common Room itself seemed somewhat stark and impersonal--stiff green chairs and hanging lamps surrounded by elegant stretches of empty space. Something about it seemed almost appealing, but Severus couldn't be bothered to analyze what it was--suddenly exhausted, he followed the Prefect's directions to bed and collapsed into a heavy--if troubled--sleep.
Talking to James wasn't as easy as Severus had assumed. Their schedules didn't have any shared classes until Thursday--Herbology--and even though Severus spent nearly every spare second he had thinking about what to say, he still didn't have the slightest idea how to begin. To make matters worse, when Thursday rolled around James still had Sirius Black glued to his side.
The longer they went without speaking, the harder it was going to be--and Severus Snape wasn't going to give up his only friend without a fight. Halfway to the Gryffindor table at breakfast Friday morning, he saw Sirius lean over and say something to James, who laughed. Bile rose in the back of his throat at the memory of James calmly siding with Black at his expense...all at once, Severus wasn't so sure James was his friend. If either of them needed to seek the other out, James ought to be looking for him. Even so, his feet seemed determined to take the first step in that direction, but before they could, Lucius appeared and put a hand on his shoulder. "Severus, my dear boy, what are you staring at the commoners for? You'll ruin your appetite."
Severus allowed himself to be steered in the direction of bacon and sausage, his failure to see things through eating at him the rest of the day. Lily, the timid redheaded Hufflepuff that shared his cauldron in Potions, kept darting anxious glances at him from beneath lowered eyelids, as if examining a curse that might go off at any instant. Severus was both irritated by her concern and touched that she had noticed, but he didn't feel like trying to explain his personal life to a complete stranger, so he ignored both feelings and concentrated on Potions instead.
Potions, he found, were easy to concentrate on being inordinately complex. Each one was a carefully balanced lacing of unrelated things that--properly woven--worked wonders.
"Very good, Severus," Professor Simer said, studying his very first Magic Fizz. "Ten points to Slytherin." As if that weren't enough, the rest of the class eyed him with envious stares that made him feel as though the opinion of one person--even James Potter--couldn't be that important. Strangely enough, best of all was the glimmer of admiration he thought he saw buried in Lily Evans' green eyes.
Head in the clouds as he made his way back toward the Slytherin Common Room that night, Severus walked into something solid that knocked him back several steps. Dazed, he blinked at the pillar in confusion for a few seconds before he understood what had happened. He was about to step around the pillar and move on when he heard voices--too low and excited fo him to make out any words--just ahead. Instinctively, Severus drew back into the shadows, and Sirius Black walked by with James Potter and Petter Pettigrew. Severus hesitated, then slipped noiselessly after them.
"--can't believe Simer took ten points from Gryffindor just because we got lost," James was saying. "I mean--we're in a castle, there are a lot of rooms here. And the staircases change. Of course we're going to get lost."
"I'm sure Simer met well," Black answered, "It must be trying to be interrupted like that, poor thing. She just lost her sense of humor."
"Well," James said as they approached the Potions classroom, "we'll just have to help her find it."
Severus felt his lips compress with disapproval as he stepped between James and the classroom door. "What do you think you're doing?"
Black's eyes narrowed. "What business is it of yours, Snotty Slytherin?"
"I'm disappointed in you, James," Severus said, ignoring him. "I thought you'd give your teachers more respect."
James snorted. "And you know everything about me? You aren't even speaking to me, remember?"
"James--" Severus began, still unsure where to go from there.
"We don't have time for this," Pettigrew announced edgily. "Filch could show up."
There was a long pause. James stood with his head tipped to the side, almost as if listening to something inaudible. "Look, Sev, maybe you should lighten up--if you're speaking to me now, that is." His posture made it all too clear he intended to get into that classroom--one way or another.
Severus knew he couldn't allow them to sabotage Professor Simer--even if whatever they had planned was harmless, which he couldn't count on. All the same, he couldn't quite bring himself to turn James in--things were in enough of a mess already. He sighed...and stepped aside. "Fine," he said shortly, "count me in."
James grinned.
Severus had to admit the trick was clever. He found himself admiring how well James--and Black--seemed to have it planned, and he told them so. Even Black seemed to unthaw a little after that. Two hours of hard work were...almost fun.
"James, I'm--" Severus began as they emerged.
James stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Talk to you tomorrow, Sev," he said simply. His tone of voice soothed like balm.
Severus watched the trio disappear down the hall, said softly, "No, I don't think you will", and turned on his heel...back into Professor Simer's classroom.
Author's Notes--Same story applies...But if you are reading this PLEASE review it...writing isn't much fun if you feel like no one reads it.
Thanks.
*****
Only after he had taken his place at the table between an older, snide-looking blonde boy and a slightly portly ghost spattered in silver bloodstains did Severus realize he wouldn't have a chance to talk to James that night. He was still trying to adjust to the realization when the blonde said, "I've always wanted to meet a member of the family who gave Salazar Slytherin his bride. It's an honor to have you in our house."
Severus blinked at him in surprise. He hadn't known that--it wasn't as if he had anything to do with his ancestors' accomplishments. Still, it was nice to be welcome...especially after his reception on the train. "Really," he said mildly, "I'm honored to be in a house with such good taste."
The blonde boy laughed, and Severus was gratified to find someone understood his sense of humor. Somewhat comforted by this encouraging turn of events, Severus could feel some of the tension magically seeping from his spine. He even managed to do the feast justice, something he considered extremely fortunate given the lengthy and confusing route to the Common Room, though the Prefect didn't seem in the least aware of any trepidation the First Years might feel at the prospect of finding their way back again. A task, reflected Severus, made all the more difficult by the unlikely location--who slept in a dungeon?--and the fact the entrance looked like any other bare stretch of wall.
The Common Room itself seemed somewhat stark and impersonal--stiff green chairs and hanging lamps surrounded by elegant stretches of empty space. Something about it seemed almost appealing, but Severus couldn't be bothered to analyze what it was--suddenly exhausted, he followed the Prefect's directions to bed and collapsed into a heavy--if troubled--sleep.
Talking to James wasn't as easy as Severus had assumed. Their schedules didn't have any shared classes until Thursday--Herbology--and even though Severus spent nearly every spare second he had thinking about what to say, he still didn't have the slightest idea how to begin. To make matters worse, when Thursday rolled around James still had Sirius Black glued to his side.
The longer they went without speaking, the harder it was going to be--and Severus Snape wasn't going to give up his only friend without a fight. Halfway to the Gryffindor table at breakfast Friday morning, he saw Sirius lean over and say something to James, who laughed. Bile rose in the back of his throat at the memory of James calmly siding with Black at his expense...all at once, Severus wasn't so sure James was his friend. If either of them needed to seek the other out, James ought to be looking for him. Even so, his feet seemed determined to take the first step in that direction, but before they could, Lucius appeared and put a hand on his shoulder. "Severus, my dear boy, what are you staring at the commoners for? You'll ruin your appetite."
Severus allowed himself to be steered in the direction of bacon and sausage, his failure to see things through eating at him the rest of the day. Lily, the timid redheaded Hufflepuff that shared his cauldron in Potions, kept darting anxious glances at him from beneath lowered eyelids, as if examining a curse that might go off at any instant. Severus was both irritated by her concern and touched that she had noticed, but he didn't feel like trying to explain his personal life to a complete stranger, so he ignored both feelings and concentrated on Potions instead.
Potions, he found, were easy to concentrate on being inordinately complex. Each one was a carefully balanced lacing of unrelated things that--properly woven--worked wonders.
"Very good, Severus," Professor Simer said, studying his very first Magic Fizz. "Ten points to Slytherin." As if that weren't enough, the rest of the class eyed him with envious stares that made him feel as though the opinion of one person--even James Potter--couldn't be that important. Strangely enough, best of all was the glimmer of admiration he thought he saw buried in Lily Evans' green eyes.
Head in the clouds as he made his way back toward the Slytherin Common Room that night, Severus walked into something solid that knocked him back several steps. Dazed, he blinked at the pillar in confusion for a few seconds before he understood what had happened. He was about to step around the pillar and move on when he heard voices--too low and excited fo him to make out any words--just ahead. Instinctively, Severus drew back into the shadows, and Sirius Black walked by with James Potter and Petter Pettigrew. Severus hesitated, then slipped noiselessly after them.
"--can't believe Simer took ten points from Gryffindor just because we got lost," James was saying. "I mean--we're in a castle, there are a lot of rooms here. And the staircases change. Of course we're going to get lost."
"I'm sure Simer met well," Black answered, "It must be trying to be interrupted like that, poor thing. She just lost her sense of humor."
"Well," James said as they approached the Potions classroom, "we'll just have to help her find it."
Severus felt his lips compress with disapproval as he stepped between James and the classroom door. "What do you think you're doing?"
Black's eyes narrowed. "What business is it of yours, Snotty Slytherin?"
"I'm disappointed in you, James," Severus said, ignoring him. "I thought you'd give your teachers more respect."
James snorted. "And you know everything about me? You aren't even speaking to me, remember?"
"James--" Severus began, still unsure where to go from there.
"We don't have time for this," Pettigrew announced edgily. "Filch could show up."
There was a long pause. James stood with his head tipped to the side, almost as if listening to something inaudible. "Look, Sev, maybe you should lighten up--if you're speaking to me now, that is." His posture made it all too clear he intended to get into that classroom--one way or another.
Severus knew he couldn't allow them to sabotage Professor Simer--even if whatever they had planned was harmless, which he couldn't count on. All the same, he couldn't quite bring himself to turn James in--things were in enough of a mess already. He sighed...and stepped aside. "Fine," he said shortly, "count me in."
James grinned.
Severus had to admit the trick was clever. He found himself admiring how well James--and Black--seemed to have it planned, and he told them so. Even Black seemed to unthaw a little after that. Two hours of hard work were...almost fun.
"James, I'm--" Severus began as they emerged.
James stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Talk to you tomorrow, Sev," he said simply. His tone of voice soothed like balm.
Severus watched the trio disappear down the hall, said softly, "No, I don't think you will", and turned on his heel...back into Professor Simer's classroom.