#Chapter 2: Year 1: "The Hogwarts Express"

Severus leaned against his trolley of school equipment as he surveyed Platform 9 3/4 for the first time. The Hogwarts express was putting out small puffs of dark smoke as it prepared to take the next group of students and returning students to Hogwarts, the school of witchcraft and wizardry. There were many first years besides himself rushing about on the Platform to get all their luggage aboard the train. He watched many young witches and wizards hug and kiss their families goodbye, till their parents hurriedly rushed them onto the train so they would not be late. Severus' own parents had not been able to see him off, so they had sent him there with a next door neighbor, an old lady who had said almost nothing too him the entire trip there. His mother was ill and his father had insisted that she stay home and rest. She had been refusing to rest all week while she went about her usual business in the house, but her insubordination caused her to become exhausted and she had agreed that it would be best if she listened to him. His father, meanwhile was busy with his work for the Ministry of Magic and was often shut up in his office for long periods of time. Severus did not mind his father's absence that much since he never really seemed to notice him unless his father found something about him objectionable, like his unusually deep interest in the subject of the Dark Arts. Then his father's fury would sweep the house like a wind tunnel. His father's outbursts never seemed to shake Severus, which made his father all the more angry. His mother would always defend him though and in the end his father just stormed away back into his world of work for the Ministry.
Severus glanced up at the clock ticking above his head. It was time for him to load his belonging and board the train. He pulled his trolley over to the platform of the train and pulled it up after him. His raven, Hades, kawed to be let out of his cage, but Severus silenced him by covering the cage with a green cloth.
Most of the other students had bought owls to deliver their messages back and forth, but Severus has thought that the raven was a quicker flyer and more clever than a barn owl.
Severus pulled his belonging to near the back of the train where he hoped their would be an empty car so he could be alone to think and catch up on his reading of curses and their counterattacks. Luckily he found one, and he pulled his trolley into the car and slid the door shut, for he had no farewells to say.
After he arranged his luggage in the bins above his head, he dug in his bag for his book on curses and prepared for the long journey to Hogwarts. But he should have known that that was too much too hope for. Just as he opened his book two dark haired boys, one with short hair and glasses, and one with long hair came bursting in talking excitedly. They did not seem to see the scowling boy in the seat next to them.
"It will be great, Sirius! We can be the stars of our House's Quidditch team! Think about it. We will actually get to try out for it!" said the boy with the glasses.
The boy named Sirius was about to respond to his companion's statement when he noticed Severus.
"Oh, James. Seems we have unknowingly just burst in on someone! And he was reading at that!" he chuckled.
James turned to Severus and smiled sheepishly at him.
"Sorry about that. We thought this car was empty."
James seemed to wait for a response but Severus didn't give him one. He looked questioningly at Sirius then laughed a bit.
"You must think us quite obnoxious. My name is James. James Potter. And this is my good friend Sirius Black. What is your name?"
Severus glared at the two boys for a minute than responded in a low silky voice, "Severus Snape."
Then he turned back to his book, trying to make it obvious that he did not want to make friends or take part in any introductions.
Sirius sniffed angrily and seemed to sense that their company was unwelcome in the car, but James didn't seem to be one to take hints to well.
"What is that you are reading?" he asked, trying to evoke some kind of human response from Severus.
Severus flipped the book up vertical so James could see the title, then put it back down on his lap again.
"Come, James. Let's go see who else is on the train." said Sirius bitterly pulling his friend away.
As soon as the door slid shut again, Severus let out a sigh of frustration. He hoped that they or anyone else would not disturb him again, and he stared out the window as the train started to leave the station and go out into the green English country side where somewhere Hogwarts was hidden.