The way the wind howls: A Severus Snape story

Disclaimer: see all previous chapters

Chapter 7.

Severus didn't hear from the older students until almost a month later, Halloween. He had become acquaintances with Matthew Nott, and the two had come to an unspoken agreement to watch the other's back.

Severus was walking towards the Great Hall for breakfast when he was grabbed from behind and pulled into an empty class room, as soon as the door was shut he elbowed his capture and spun round wand out with a hex on his tongue.

"Woah, calm down Snape." Came the voice of Bellatix. She stepped back and Severus pocketed his wand again.

"He has good reactions, Matt picked well." Severus looked over to the boy.

"I still don't know your name." Severus said to him. The boy chuckled.

"You'll find out in time Snape, now onto business. As you know to day is Halloween, tonight there is going to be a feast as there is every year, now what I -" he was cut off by a cough from Bellatrix, "We, want you to do is go down to the kitchens and add this to the professor's goblets. We don't mind who you add it too, just not Dumbledore, Tridant or Sinistra."

Severus took to vial of potions and uncorked it, smelling the liquid. "Scentless, tasteless, clear, thin. You want them to be covered in a rash that lasts for 3 weeks. Why? And why not those teachers?"

The boy laughed again, "A Potions expert, good good. This is just a simple test to see if you are worthy of this group, if you fail then we will obliviate you and you wont remember ever meeting us, as for those professors, well Tridant and Sinistra our on our side and Dumbledore is too much of a risk this early on in the game."

Severus nodded. "Now The kitchens are hidden behind a picture of fruit down the stairs to the right of here and along the corridor. Tickle the pear and you get a handle. The Potion must be administered -"

"Within 2 hours of consumption, other wise the potion won't work." Severus finished. Bellatrix beamed at him.

She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, looking into his black eyes. "Do this for us Severus and you will be rewarded." She smiled at him and then stood. "Now go and waste the rest of the day doing something boring, remember be in and out of the kitchens by 6pm, dinner starts at 7."

Severus nodded and pocketed the potion and then left the class room, heading into the great hall for breakfast. He spotted Nott sitting at the end nearest the door and walked over to him.

"Morning Rus." Matt greeted him, Severus scowled at the nickname the borwn haired boy had given him a week ago.

"Don't call me that, Matt." He snapped as he sat down and helped himself to breakfast.

Matt grinned at him, "Would you rather I called you Sev?"

Severus just scowled at him. "My name is Severus, you know that."

Matt laughed, "Yeah I know it, but it's too long, so its either Sev or Rus. You chose."

Severus looked up at him, "You're still going to call me Rus even if I chose Sev aren't I?"

"Yup."

Severus scowled at him again, "Fine."

Matt then leaned in, "So what did Bellatrix want with you?"

"She and her friend, have given me my first test." He looked up from his plate, "Don't suppose you know the other guys name do you?"

"Yep, but they told me not to tell you sorry Rus. So when do you have to do the test?"

"Do you know where the kitchens are?"

Matt shock his head.

"Then meet me at 3pm in the dorm and I'll show you." He finished his breakfast and then got up and left the hall heading towards the library.

"Hello Snivillus, fancy seeing you here."

Severus looked up into the blue eyes of Sirius Black.

"What do you want Black?" he snapped at him.

Sirius faked an innocent look, "Me? Oh nothing."

Severus pushed past him. "Good well leave me alone then."

He stormed up to the library and nodded his head to Madam Pince in greeting before settling down at his normal table.

He had only been reading for about 10 minutes when Black sat down opposite him, with Potter at his side.

"I don't like been blown off like that Snape." He muttered.

Severus ignored them. Sirius pulled out his wand.

"You don't want to be doing that." Severus said calmly. He knew more curses and hexes then Black did. Severus parents had been through in training him.

"Oh and why shouldn't he?" Potter spoke up.

"Because Madam Pince is watching you right now and she loves her precious books."

To prove his point Madam Pince suddenly spoke up. "No Magic in the Library!"

Both Black and Potter put their wands away, and as they stood Black whispered to Severus, "You shouldn't have made an enemy of me Snivillus."

Then the two black haired boys left. Severus scowled at their backs then returned to his reading.

~

End Chapter