Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
A/N: Yessum...I really enjoyed writing this chapter ^_^
In fact, I've enjoyed writing all of them so far. Younger Sevvie is one of my favourite characters, soo...and I'm babbling, so I'll shut up now.
Ty so much to my reviewers- I'm working from my laptop right now, so I can't thank you all individually today ^^;;
-No Guilt-
Severus' eyes glittered as they reflected the stars and the moon in the clear obsidian blue sky.
His tears had long since subsided and he had discovered that if he sat still long enough, the numbing cold of his body practically numbed the painful throbs of his heart.
It would be teatime soon, and he hadn't even opened his presents...
How could he face them?
Lily, James, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew...
The others he could and did put up with on a daily basis.
With a small sigh, he clenched and unclenched his fists a few times before sliding off the wall and picking up his broomstick. Kicking off into the air, his stomach did a few somersaults as he approached the castle.
Would they try to talk to him?
What would he do if they did?
Worse, what would Dumbledore do to him if he refused to be 'happy for them'?
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Severus climbed the stairs leading up from the dungeons. He wore a silk white dress shirt, a pair of black trousers and a v-neck dark green jumper of chenille. Around his neck hung a gift from his older sister, a silver pendant with a jewelled snake wrapped around an 'S'.
Stepping up to the door, he trembled inwardly, swallowed the growing lump in his throat and turned the doorknob.
Besides him, there were nine students staying for the holidays.
All but one of the fifth year Gryffindors- James, Lily (his throat tightened when his eyes grazed over them), Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.
Two fourth year Ravenclaws, a first year Hufflepuff, a third year Ravenclaw and a seventh year Gryffindor.
The students and teachers were sitting around a large round table on top of the platform, all chattering merrily and full of Christmas cheer.
Severus felt sick as his suspicions about him not belonging there were confirmed.
Luckily, none of them had noticed his entrance, and he hastily darted towards the door. Just as he raised his hand to turn the doorknob and escape to freedom, Dumbledore's magnified voice called across the hall.
"Ah, Mr. Snape! We were beginning to get worried! Come and join us." he invited merrily.
Severus' heart sank. Slowly turning round, he found all eyes on him and shifted uncomfortably, ducking his head.
"That's alright, Sir, really. I only came by to see if my cat was here. I don't really feel awfully hungry right now, so, I'm going to go back to-"
"Mr. Snape. It is not nice to spend Christmas alone in the Dungeons, is it? Not when you can have a meal with dear friends. Come and sit down." The Headmaster's voice had taken on a subtle, but chilling, edge.
"Y-yes Sir..." Severus replied quietly, ducking his head even more so his chin-length hair fell in front of his face and padding over to the table, blinking back tears of frustration and humiliation.
He sat down in the empty seat between one of the fourth year Ravenclaws and the first year Hufflepuff.
As he unfolded his napkin, he glanced up.
Straight into a pair of brilliant green eyes.
Inwardly, he screamed in agony.
What was Dumbledore trying to do- kill him?
'The old fool' he thought savagely, agony being replaced by frustration as he mashed his potatoes, imagining squishing the old bastard's brain through the ridiculous polka-dot wizard hat which he had just donned after pulling a cracker with Professor McGonagall.
"Stupid old fool," someone muttered beside him.
Severus looked up in surprise.
"What?"
"He's a stupid old fool. Completely biased, of course," the Ravenclaw girl beside him scowled.
"Of course. If I'd been a Gryffie, then I'd be tucked up in bed with House Elves waiting on hand and foot in some secret chamber of his quarters." Severus replied darkly.
"I don't see how he gets away with treating us like that. It's like his –supposedly ingenious- brain can only process two things regarding his students." she said.
"Really? I'm impressed. Didn't think it could process anything regarding his students," Severus snorted. "What would the two things be, anyway?"
"Gryffies and Huffies= good. Slytherins and Ravenclaws= bad." she replied with a small ironic grin.
He returned it with an appreciative smirk.
"I'm Lyra Caesar, by the way."
"Severus Snape," he obliged, shaking her hand.
"Of course. You're the most advanced Potions student, running right up to the sixth year level," Lyra replied with a sliver of admiration as she flicked a strand of hair from her eyes.
"I see you've heard of me," he grinned.
The two fourth years ate in a companionable silence for a few minutes.
"That's a beautiful pendant, Sevvie. Who gave it to you?" an agonizingly familiar voice asked.
Severus almost dropped his fork.
She'd actually done it.
She'd tried to talk to him.
'Forget that,' he thought angrily.
"My sister, Samantha. Why would you want to know?" he asked with a sneer.
"Sevvie...what do you...what's wrong?" Lily asked, her green eyes reflecting her hurt and concern.
Damn her kind heart.
"My stomach. Forgive it for not appreciating being force-fed when it'd feel much more settled in the quiet of the Dungeons." he sneered.
The students and Professors fell silent.
"Now really, Mr. Snape! How dare you insult the Headmaster's hospitality in such a disrespectful manner?!" Professor McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor cried indignantly.
"Now, now, Minerva. The boy has a point. He would recover faster if he were to retire to his dormitory for the evening." Professor Ivy, the Head of Slytherin protested, somewhat protective of her shrew of a Slytherin.
Dumbledore clapped his hands.
"Fine, Mr. Snape. If it is your will, you may reject our hospitality and throw away your last two chances at friendship." he offered sadly, his light blue eyes reflecting pain.
'If he expects me to feel guilty, he can forget it. I may not seem like a true Slytherin, but I'll be damned if he gets away with humiliating me like this and doing little less than throwing his weight around.'
Severus stood up and dropped his napkin onto his plate.
"Thank you, Headmaster," he sneered, before walking out of the Hall.
The table sat in silence for a few moments.
No one had actually believed he would take up the offer.
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Whatcha think?
Hhhmm...I guess I'll write maybe two more chapters on this, if that. My original plans went out the window, when I wrote this chapter, soo...
R+r!!
#Arien#