Disclaimer: *sigh* I don't own Harry Potter or Severus Snape (oh how I wish I did though!). I also don't own anything that has to do with that magical world, otherwise I'd be rich and famous, but alas, I am not.

A/N: I'm really, really sorry. I broke my promise of updating frequently. I'm the biggest procrastinator that I know and I haven't had any inspiration lately. Also, just to let you reader's know, I'm going away for the summer soon (see my bio) and I won't be able to update, so I'm trying to get everything in that I can right now. Thank you to all of you who have reviewed and hopefully *will* review, it makes everything worth it! Enough blabbing from me....Enjoy the chapter!

Albus Dumbledore watched the conicioculars' pictures black out and bring him to the presently restless sleeping figure of Severus Snape. This action by the conicioculars told Albus that one section of the night's dreams had ended. He barely had time to think about the events during the short interval when it stirred and once again showed that Severus had begun dreaming once again...

It's been a little over a month now... thought Severus. His Uncle Robert had just escorted him through the gate to the Hogwart's Express. Severus was getting ready to attend his first year at Hogwart's School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He couldn't help thinking about his mother who had just recently passed away. She would've been so proud... he thought. He looked upon the scarlet gleaming train, hoping that his new school would help him forget some of his grief. His Uncle left to go back to his job at the Ministry of Magic, leaving him to board the train by himself. This didn't bother him too much because in the last month he'd gotten use to being ignored by him. The only thing that did get to him was watching all of the other children there with their mother's and father's giving them their last minute hugs and kisses goodbye. He boarded the train and hoped that he was boarding the beginning of his new life, leaving his old one far behind.

He sat in one of the empty compartments. He didn't know any of his peers, and thus didn't have any friends... yet at least. He looked out the window and watched the scenery fly by. He stopped and listened to the sounds going outside in the hallway. He could hear girls giggling and boys trying to show off in front of them. Great... he thought...now I have to worry about friends. Just then, as though someone had heard and felt sorry for him, someone walked into his compartment.

It was a boy, with bright blond hair, and a face with a sort of smug on it.

"Oh." He said, rather unconvincingly. "I didn't know anyone was in here."

"That's ok," said Severus. "I'm Severus Snape."

"I'm Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy," said the boy. He started talking to Severus and told him about how he hated the idea of going to such a "public" school. "And they except anyone! Even those filthy mudbloods!" Severus knew what this was, someone who didn't have any magic parents, or more respectably called muggleborns. "Are you a pure blood?" asked Lucius.

"Yes," said Snape.

Lucius smiled. "I see we're going to get along just fine." Severus decided that, even as closed-minded as Lucius was, he at least now had someone he could call a "friend". Lucius got up, turned and gave Severus a faint smile, then walked out of the compartment. Quite an extraordinary boy...thought Severus. He turned his attention back to the scenery once again, but not for long. About one minute later, another person entered the room.

"Hello there. Is this your first year too?"

Severus looked up. Standing before him was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She had dark red hair, almost auburn colored, with the most entrancing green eyes he had ever seen. He couldn't help but just look at her.

"Hello? Did you hear me?" she asked again.

"Uh, yeah. It's my first year," he managed to get out. She giggled at him. Great... he though... Just what I need; make a fool of yourself in front of her.

"My name's Lily. Lily Evans. What's yours?" she asked.

What a beautiful name, he thought. It fits her so well.

"Severus Snape," he replied.

"Mind if I sit down?" asked Lily.

Gods...she wants to sit with me...he thought. "Go ahead".

She sat down and started a conversation with him. She asked him questions and he asked her questions. They talked about a lot of things and for the first time, he opened up with a person. He told her about his mother dying and she didn't make fun of his openness. She just sat there, quietly listening, understanding, the one thing Severus wanted from others...understanding. Then there was another knock on the door. Four boys crammed into the room.

"Lily! We've been looking for you everywhere! Where've you been?" asked one boy that had particularly messy hair.

"I've been in here, talking with Severus," answered Lily. The four boys looked down at him.

"Who?" asked another one of the boys with dark eyes and hair that had a similar look to him as the first boy.

"Severus Snape," Severus chimed in. He was trying not to be shy.

"Ah, right," said a third boy with light brown hair.

"I'm James Potter," said the boy who had spoken first. "And this," pointing to the boy who had spoken second, "is Sirius Black." The boy called Sirius Black then gestured to the third boy who had spoken, "this is Remus Lupin." The fourth boy just stayed in the background.

"Who's that?" asked Severus.

"That's Peter Pettigrew," said the boy called Remus Lupin. "This your first year, too?"

"Yes."

"What house do you think you're gonna be in?" asked James. Severus had heard about these houses at school, but didn't know anything about them other than it's what separated the students.

"Slytherin, of course!" came a cold voice from the doorway. Standing there was the same boy Severus had met earlier, Lucius Malfoy.

"Get out of here, Malfoy," said James.

"Now now, Potter," said Lucius slyly. I do believe I met Severus first and was in here first, therefore, you should leave."

"Oh, it's all about possessions with you," said Lily.

"What would you know about that, you little mudblood?" retorted Lucius. Severus was angered by this, but seeing as how he wanted to fit in so badly, he decided he didn't want to be the one to be caught in the middle. Lily looked hurt, and James, Sirius, and Remus looked as though they were about to jump Lucius. Peter, unlike the other boys, didn't do anything but stand there. There's something strange about him... thought Severus... He doesn't act like the others...

"Are you gonna cry? Did I upset the poor little mudblood and her poor little mudblood-loving friends?" Lucius obviously was the type of person who loved to taunt people. Rather than fight him, Lily walked out of the room, followed by Remus, Peter, and Sirius. James, however stayed behind. He gave Severus a look that to him seemed extremely unfair.

"You seemed to have become good friends with Lily while you had your little conversation. Yet, when scum like Malfoy comes in the room and claims to be your friend, and then hurts Lily's feelings, you do nothing but sit there. Some new friend you are," said James, dangerously. He gave Lucius a dirty look, and then left the room, slamming the door behind him.

"That's right," said Lucius. "Leave. We don't want your kind here."

"But-" Severus managed to get out before Lucius began again.

"Severus, I just did you a favor. You don't want to get caught up with the likes of them. They'll soil your mind. Someone like you, having to start out like this, doesn't want to have friends in low places, but in high places. That lot will most likely be in Gryffindor, but it's Slytherin you want. Slytherin's the one with the power and glory. In this world, the only thing that'll get you anywhere and anything is power. And if it's power you want, then Slytherin's the way to go." Severus was now very interested. If power could get him anything he wanted, then power's the way he'd go.

"Power," exclaimed Severus with a smile. He could just see it now.

"Exactly," grinned Lucius. "I told you we'd get along fine."

So this is how Severus became a Slytherin and friends with Lucius, thought Albus. It explained a lot. Albus thought for a minute. This wasn't as nightmare filled as the one before, but it was a turning point for him! Albus had just seen one of the major turning points in Severus' life. If Severus hadn't lost his mother, he wouldn't have been so insecure about his first day of school...and he would've become friends with James, Remus, Sirius, Peter, and Lily...he might've been in Gryffindor if his mind hadn't been corrupted and persuaded otherwise...his life would have been utterly different...

Another end to another chapter. This one wasn't as dark as the previous chapter, but this was necessary to have in the story. Albus explains it all. If that hadn't happened to our beloved Severus, then everything as we know it would be completely different. So this is one of the main causes of his "dark side". Enough of me talking.

Thank you to ALL who reviewed, and pleeeeeeeeaaaaassssse, before you go and do something else, I would absolutely love you if you left me a review. Many thanks also go out to Andrea and the refreshing taste of Mountain Dew, because it's what kept me going while writing. :P