Chapter 1: On the Hogwarts Express
"Snape!"
Severus Snape turned to the voice. He looked down the corridor of the Hogwarts Express and saw his fellow Slytherin Evan Rosier leaning out of the last compartment. Ignoring the looks coming at him from the compartments he passed, Severus dragged his trunk down the corridor to his friend.
"You almost missed it - again," Rosier teased as Severus manhandled his trunk onto the rack above an empty seat. He flung himself into the seat across from Rosier.
"Bloody Muggles. You can barely get through London these days," Severus growled as he pulled that morning's Daily Prophet out of the pocket of his robes. "Avery, Burke," Severus said grimly, acknowledging the other two Slytherins in the compartment. They returned equally brusque greetings.
"Where's Brenda?" Stephen Avery asked Brian Burke, who sat opposite him.
"Don't know," Burke replied in tones that also said 'don't care.' He didn't bother looking up from his Quidditch Quarterly. Avery looked a little miffed at Burke's disinterest and turned his attention elsewhere.
"So, Snape, how was your summer?"
"Fine," Severus replied slowly, not looking up from his newspaper.
"Did you go to your mother's family in Edinburgh this year?"
Severus groaned inwardly, wishing Avery would get the hint he wasn't in the mood for chit chat. "No," he replied stiffly. Severus could feel the other boy's eyes on him for a second or two before shifting his attention to the fourth occupant of the compartment.
"So, I guess Horrell's prefect, then?" Avery asked Rosier. Severus suppressed a laugh. Well done, Avery. Not even out of the station yet, he thought to himself as he peeked over the top of his newspaper to check the reaction of his friend to the reminder that he hadn't been made prefect. Severus hid his smirk at the icy, malicious glare Rosier cast at their classmate. To Avery's credit, he didn't flinch nearly as quickly as Severus thought he would have. Finally, Avery looked away, blushing, and turned his attention back to the magazine on his lap. The four boys then sat, silently, each preoccupied with his own concerns. A few seconds later, accompanied by the sound of compartment doors slamming and final arrivals greeting friends and classmates, the Hogwarts Express pulled away from Platform 9 ¾. Fifth year had officially begun.
After a few minutes, Severus felt Rosier's eyes on him. He looked up over the top of his newspaper again. He saw his friend silently mouth the name 'Flint-Gore' and raise his eyebrows in inquiry. Severus shrugged in reply, a bored scowl on his face.
As though reading their minds, Avery continued his previous discussion. "I wonder who the other new prefect is? I didn't see any of the girls on the platform," he mused loudly. Burke continued to ignore them all, apparently oblivious to anything other than 'QQ tests the new Nimbus,' and 'Up close and personal with the Wimbourne Wonder.'
"What did you do this summer, Burke?" Rosier asked. The boy replied without raising his large blue eyes from his magazine.
"Worked for my dad."
Burke senior was the publisher of Quidditch Quarterly and its sister publication, Hoopla!, a weekly created, Severus was convinced, for absolute illiterates.
"What did you do?" Severus asked, looking up from his newspaper to lend his support for Rosier's efforts to subvert Avery's current prefect obsession.
"Tested brooms," Burke replied, finally looking up. He flipped through his magazine, folded it open, carefully tossed it to Rosier, and leaned back into his seat,
crossing his hands on his lap and stretching out his long legs.
"Really! That must have been fun," Avery gushed. Severus sneered at him. Down, boy. Why don't you just jump into his lap?
Burke answered Avery in detached tones. "Not really. Flying was okay; writing's boring."
Severus saw Rosier glance up to the top of the page he was reading, startled. "You wrote this!" Severus snorted at the admiration in Rosier's voice. "You're only fifteen!"
Burke grunted in reply and gave a small shrug as he turned his attention to the view through the window.
"Do you want this?" Severus asked Burke, holding out his newspaper.
"Sure, if you're done." Burke took the Prophet from Severus' outstretched hand and turned to the sports section on the back page. Smirking a little, Severus opened his satchel and removed Fungi of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam - Their Use in Poisons and Antidotes. He'd purchased the book at Flourish and Blotts that morning; waiting twenty minutes in the queue to pay for it had caused him to almost miss the Hogwarts Express, but Severus had known as soon as he'd seen it that he had to have it.
Rosier closed the Quidditch magazine and tossed it onto the empty seat between him and Avery. "New book?" he asked Severus.
"Umm hmm."
"What is it?" Severus showed him the front cover. "Mushrooms. Fascinating," Rosier said, cocking an eyebrow slightly at his friend.
"I fully expect it will be," Severus replied in astringent tones as he reopened the book and settled back in his seat.
"Anyone for a game of Exploding Snap?" Avery asked the other three boys.
"No," Rosier answered in a voice that implied he considered himself qualified to speak for the two other boys as he continued reading the back cover of Severus' thick book.
"Chess, Burke?" Avery asked, apparently unwilling to leave his classmates to their reading.
"Sure," Burke replied dully as he dropped the Prophet onto the empty seat next to him. "Trade, Rosier," he continued. After Burke retrieved his box of chess pieces from his trunk, the two boys switched seats and Avery removed his chess board and pieces from his satchel.
While Burke and Avery were distracted setting up the chess board, Rosier leaned over casually towards Severus. "Meet me outside in a minute."
Startled, Severus looked up from his book as Rosier stood to leave the compartment. Severus nodded very slightly in acknowledgement. As Rosier slid the compartment door closed behind him, Severus thought, this doesn't sound good.
After what he judged to be about a minute, Severus nonchalantly placed his book on the empty seat next to him and left the compartment, halting in the doorway to watch one of Burke's knights savagely take one of Avery's pawns. He smiled as the knight's steed gave the white pawn a parting kick to the head at the edge of the board. Severus turned and almost bumped into a boy and girl walking down the corridor from the front of the train. The thin, brown-haired boy opened his mouth to protest Severus' clumsiness, then, seeing his face, shut his mouth with a snap.
"Watch where you're going, Lupin," Severus snarled at the boy. Lupin's companion looked up and Severus was caught in the startling green gaze of Lily Evans.
"Watch out, yourself, Snape," the girl said in sharp tones that belied her smile. Severus took a step back as her disdainful eyes travelled from his dusty robes to his scowling face to his greasy curtain of black hair.
Loathsome Mudblood know-it-all, he thought to himself, recoiling from contact with the girl. As the pair turned to continue down the corridor, Severus noticed the small flash of red and gold on the front of Remus Lupin's black school robes. Well, that's a poke in the eye for Potter, that's for sure, he thought with malignant glee. A few seconds later he heard Rosier behind him.
"Was that Lupin and Evans?"
"You're not going to believe who the new Gryffindor prefects are," Severus replied with a smirk.
"You sound like Avery," Rosier said in slightly mocking tones.
"Very funny."
"Well, everyone knows it's Evans and Potter."
"Guess again; Evans and Lupin."
Severus was gratified by Rosier's shocked expression and his short, sharp laugh. "Well, that proves it. Bumblebore's gone completely round the twist." Rosier paused. "Still, better than Perfect Potter as prefect. He probably chose Lupin because if he made Potter a prefect, he'd have to make Black his partner."
"In this as in all things," Severus replied with a leer. The two boys chuckled at the innuendo. "Though, I'm guessing you didn't drag me out here to discuss prefects."
"No, I didn't," Rosier replied as he finished laughing. His expression became serious. "Did Avery write to you this summer?"
"No. A blissful respite."
"Lucky you. He pestered me all summer, weekly sometimes. He's getting desperate," Rosier said, irritated. Severus snorted and turned to look out the window to the view of London's northern suburbs flashing by.
"It will never happen. Lestrange will never take him in," Severus growled as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"I know." Rosier turned to join him at the window. The two boys stood in silence, their sullen expressions in discord with the pleasant, sunny Muggle back yards and parks that made up the view outside. "But next year ...." Rosier continued a few moments later. Severus turned to his friend.
"Rosier, Avery will never be one of us. Not if my opinion counts for anything." Severus turned back to the window, a deep scowl on his face. Every bloody year the same bloody thing. At least the prat has stopped pestering me.
After another pause, Rosier continued, his voice low. "Did you get to the Manor this summer?"
Severus waited for a group of young Ravenclaw girls to pass behind them before answering. "No. My father was called, but my presence was not required," Severus replied coldly, his scowl deepening dramatically. Leave it, Rosier, he thought grimly. He shuddered and rubbed his upper arms quickly. Feeling his friend's eyes on him, Severus turned back to him and looked down to see the not-quite concealed envy that habitually appeared on Rosier's face whenever the Malfoys came up in conversation. If you only knew, Severus thought to himself.
Just then, Severus heard a loud rattle. He looked up to see the witch with the food trolley appear at the end of the corridor. Severus turned and re-entered their compartment. Rosier followed, leaving the door open.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?" the plump middle-aged witch asked as she reached their door. Severus ignored her as Avery jumped up to buy a stack of Cauldron Cakes and sweets.
The rest of the journey passed uneventfully and, for the most part, silently, other than Avery's vocal distress at losing three straight games of chess to Burke. The hours passed slowly; the day grew darker as the surrounding countryside grew wilder. Eventually, the train pulled into Hogsmeade station.
As the students piled out of the train onto the platform, Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, called over their heads, "Firs' years this way! Firs' years over 'ere!"
Severus followed his three classmates to a carriage that would take them the mile or so to the castle. As always, Rosier shivered slightly at the sight of the carriages. On their first trip to Hogwarts four years before, Rosier had informed Severus that the carriages, which appeared to move by magic, were actually pulled by Thestrals: hideous, winged, horse-like creatures that were visible only to people who had witnessed a death. Over the years, Rosier had adamantly refused to tell Severus why he was able to see them.
As their carriage drew up to the castle, Severus felt a small knot of tension form in his stomach. When he stepped down, he looked around the crowd of students climbing the steps to the great oak doors. He was relieved to see, through the doorway to the Entrance Hall, that James Potter and his Gryffindor cronies were already inside, making their way to the Great Hall. Knowing where they were, Severus could avoid them. The knot in his stomach eased somewhat as the four Slytherins climbed the stairs to the oak doors that led to the castle's Entrance Hall.
Severus, Avery and Rosier followed Burke as the larger boy made his way like an ice-breaker through the crowd of students greeting friends in the Entrance Hall. The four boys followed a group of chattering third year girls to the Slytherin table. Severus was annoyed when Avery took the seat between him and Rosier. Wonderful. I get to listen to him talk my ear off through the entire Feast. Burke left them to sit with some of his Quidditch team-mates at the far end of the table. Severus stared into space, ignoring the students milling around, finding places at the four tables that ran the length of the Great Hall. A minute later, to his right, Severus heard the Great Hall doors slam shut with a resonant boom. The first-years would be arriving soon.
"Pleasant trip across the lake tonight," Avery said on his left. "Not like ours."
Shut up, Avery, Severus thought sourly. He kept quiet, though.
"Merlin, I wish they'd hurry up, I'm starving," Avery moaned to Rosier.
"Shut up, Avery. You've never starved a day in your life. Probably do you some good, though," Rosier growled sharply back at him. Avery's pouting was almost palpable, but Severus had no sympathy for him. Avery should know by now not to be flippant around Rosier about any subject touching on poverty.
Severus watched as Professor Ames, the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and Head of Slytherin House, approached the staff table carrying a three-legged stool in one hand and the filthy, battered old Sorting Hat in the other. She placed the stool on the low dais at the front of the Hall and unceremoniously dropped the hat on top of it. Without a backward glance, the short, grey-haired witch turned and took her seat at the left hand of the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
The great man himself, Severus thought caustically, watching the old wizard talk to Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. Severus was roused out of his ponderings by the long, loud groan of opening doors. He turned to see the Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall, leading the new first-years down the centre of the Great Hall. The Sorting was about to begin.
"Is it just me, or do they get smaller every year?" Avery mused aloud.
"It's you, Avery. In fact, it's been proven that Hogwarts first-years get bigger every year," Rosier replied in mock serious tones.
Severus knew that Avery was getting on Rosier's nerves, now. He knew that his friend was very bitter about not being made prefect, and Avery was bearing the brunt of Rosier's mood. He hoped his friend wasn't planning on prolonging the unprovoked attacks on everyone around him for long. It was getting damned tedious.
As Severus watched Professor McGonagall unroll a parchment with the names of the students to be Sorted, he suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up; he was being watched. He shuddered slightly and looked across the Hall, searching for the person responsible. Better not be that bastard, Potter, or any of his idiot friends. As his eyes swept across the Gryffindor table, he only saw people watching the Sorting or talking among themselves.
His attention was pulled back to the Slytherin table by the sound of muted applause around him. Slytherin House had, apparently, just received its first new member. Though his hands joined in mechanically, Severus' eyes continued to drift along the Gryffindor table. Through the intervening Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, he caught sight of the backs of two black-haired heads. As he saw one lean over to the other, he sneered disdainfully. I wonder, he thought, then shook the idea out of his mind. While he'd never seen Potter, self-proclaimed Quidditch god, pay particular attention to any girl, Black was one of the most notorious skirt chasers at Hogwarts. If any of them are bent, it's Lupin, he thought idly, glancing over to the pale boy sitting opposite Potter. Surrounding applause once again imposed itself on Severus' thoughts. He turned his attention back to the Sorting.
Over the course of the evening, Slytherin House gained twelve new members, more than any other House that year. Then the Feast proper began. As usual, Severus had little appetite and listlessly pushed food around his plate while half-listening to the conversations around him. Not soon enough for him, the golden plates were cleared and Severus turned his attention to the staff table. The Headmaster stood to welcome them and announce notices.
No magic in the corridors, stay out of the Forest, blah, blah, blah. Severus tuned out the speech after a few seconds and resumed his scrutiny of the Gryffindor table. Mudbloods, Muggle-lovers and mental cases, he thought to himself with a sneer. A minute later the Headmaster sent them on their way.
Severus was just about to leave for the Slytherin common room with Rosier and Avery when Rabastan Lestrange, a Slytherin seventh-year, approached with a group of his classmates.
"Snape, I'd like to see you after lessons tomorrow afternoon. We can use Keech's room," Lestrange said in a slightly imperious manner as he walked past, barely breaking his stride as he spoke.
"Certainly," Severus replied smoothly, hiding his surprise as he watched the young man sweep out of the Great Hall with his fellow seventh-years following in his wake.
"What was that about?" Severus turned. Avery's expression was of badly-concealed surprise. Rosier's was of badly-concealed jealousy. Severus shrugged.
"I'll find out tomorrow, I guess."
Rosier's expression didn't change as the three boys headed out into the Entrance Hall. When the three fifth-years arrived at the hidden entrance to the Slytherin common room, Severus and Avery glanced at Rosier, who'd been seated at dinner next to one of the sixth-year prefects.
"Queerditch Marsh," Rosier grumbled. The door slid open. Severus noticed that Rosier's expression was still set on 'angry and jealous best friend.' He gave a quiet snort. If he's going to be like that, he can bloody well find himself a new friend. The three boys crossed the long, low-ceilinged common room to an apparently blank section of stone wall. Avery, who was in the lead, turned to Severus and Rosier.
"Umm, password?" The three glanced back and forth at one another.
"We have to wait for Burke," Rosier said sullenly.
"Oh, right." Avery appeared to not notice Rosier's sour mood.
"Any ideas?" Severus asked, looking away from the others to see if Burke was in the common room.
"We need a theme," Avery suggested.
"Poisonous fungi," Severus said distractedly, thinking of his new book. He heard Rosier make a dismissive sound. He turned to see a sardonic look on his friend's face.
"Burke'd never get back in again. You know what he's like with names." Rosier held up his hands as if he were holding something in each and examining them. He pointedly looked at one hand. "Rock." He pointedly looked at his other hand. "Plant." He dropped his hands. "Anything beyond that and he's lost."
"Hexes," Avery suggested.
"Too dangerous," Severus replied in a bored voice, turning his back to them again. He saw Burke approaching from the staircase to the prefects' rooms. Slytherin prefects had private rooms below the common room.
"Sorry. Just had to ask Keech when first practice is," Burke mumbled as he approached. "So, what's the password?"
"Haven't decided yet," Severus replied.
"Avery thinks we need a theme," Rosier drawled.
"Good idea." Burke paused for a second or two. He looked down to each of his three roommates in turn, a look of concentration on his face. "How about magical sites - place names, you know?" The other three looked at each other and nodded agreement. "Okay, names of magical sites," Burke continued. "What first?"
"Tintagel," Avery blurted out.
"Too obvious," Rosier replied sharply. "And don't say Stonehenge," he continued, glaring at Avery.
"Who cares; it's easy to remember," Severus replied, irritated. Just pick a damned name! Burke looked like he agreed. Despite Rosier's misgivings, the name was said simultaneously by all four boys, setting the password for their dormitory. The door clicked open and they entered.
Rosier flopped onto his bed. "Three years with no Horrell," he sighed contentedly.
"Yeah, the only benefit of him making prefect," Burke replied as he sat at the end of his bed and kicked off his shoes at Avery.
"Hey!" the boy shouted back with a grin. "Pity we won't be able to pinch his sweets anymore, though. His mum makes the best ginger biscuits." He opened his trunk and rummaged around for his pyjamas.
Severus let the voices of his dorm-mates flow around him unheeded as he unpacked his books and carefully stacked them on his bedside table. When everything was ready for the next day's lessons, he changed into his nightshirt and crawled into his four-poster bed. He carefully shut the green velvet curtains on Avery and Rosier's argument over who got to use the fifth bookcase in their room, lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes.
All in all, it hadn't been a bad day. He'd managed to make it through the entire train trip, the Feast, and to the Slytherin common room with no run-ins with Potter and his idiot pals. A first. Then his mind moved on to more pleasant matters.
I wonder what Lestrange wants to talk to me about, was his last thought as he slipped quickly into sleep, a thin smile on his face.
"Snape!"
Severus Snape turned to the voice. He looked down the corridor of the Hogwarts Express and saw his fellow Slytherin Evan Rosier leaning out of the last compartment. Ignoring the looks coming at him from the compartments he passed, Severus dragged his trunk down the corridor to his friend.
"You almost missed it - again," Rosier teased as Severus manhandled his trunk onto the rack above an empty seat. He flung himself into the seat across from Rosier.
"Bloody Muggles. You can barely get through London these days," Severus growled as he pulled that morning's Daily Prophet out of the pocket of his robes. "Avery, Burke," Severus said grimly, acknowledging the other two Slytherins in the compartment. They returned equally brusque greetings.
"Where's Brenda?" Stephen Avery asked Brian Burke, who sat opposite him.
"Don't know," Burke replied in tones that also said 'don't care.' He didn't bother looking up from his Quidditch Quarterly. Avery looked a little miffed at Burke's disinterest and turned his attention elsewhere.
"So, Snape, how was your summer?"
"Fine," Severus replied slowly, not looking up from his newspaper.
"Did you go to your mother's family in Edinburgh this year?"
Severus groaned inwardly, wishing Avery would get the hint he wasn't in the mood for chit chat. "No," he replied stiffly. Severus could feel the other boy's eyes on him for a second or two before shifting his attention to the fourth occupant of the compartment.
"So, I guess Horrell's prefect, then?" Avery asked Rosier. Severus suppressed a laugh. Well done, Avery. Not even out of the station yet, he thought to himself as he peeked over the top of his newspaper to check the reaction of his friend to the reminder that he hadn't been made prefect. Severus hid his smirk at the icy, malicious glare Rosier cast at their classmate. To Avery's credit, he didn't flinch nearly as quickly as Severus thought he would have. Finally, Avery looked away, blushing, and turned his attention back to the magazine on his lap. The four boys then sat, silently, each preoccupied with his own concerns. A few seconds later, accompanied by the sound of compartment doors slamming and final arrivals greeting friends and classmates, the Hogwarts Express pulled away from Platform 9 ¾. Fifth year had officially begun.
After a few minutes, Severus felt Rosier's eyes on him. He looked up over the top of his newspaper again. He saw his friend silently mouth the name 'Flint-Gore' and raise his eyebrows in inquiry. Severus shrugged in reply, a bored scowl on his face.
As though reading their minds, Avery continued his previous discussion. "I wonder who the other new prefect is? I didn't see any of the girls on the platform," he mused loudly. Burke continued to ignore them all, apparently oblivious to anything other than 'QQ tests the new Nimbus,' and 'Up close and personal with the Wimbourne Wonder.'
"What did you do this summer, Burke?" Rosier asked. The boy replied without raising his large blue eyes from his magazine.
"Worked for my dad."
Burke senior was the publisher of Quidditch Quarterly and its sister publication, Hoopla!, a weekly created, Severus was convinced, for absolute illiterates.
"What did you do?" Severus asked, looking up from his newspaper to lend his support for Rosier's efforts to subvert Avery's current prefect obsession.
"Tested brooms," Burke replied, finally looking up. He flipped through his magazine, folded it open, carefully tossed it to Rosier, and leaned back into his seat,
crossing his hands on his lap and stretching out his long legs.
"Really! That must have been fun," Avery gushed. Severus sneered at him. Down, boy. Why don't you just jump into his lap?
Burke answered Avery in detached tones. "Not really. Flying was okay; writing's boring."
Severus saw Rosier glance up to the top of the page he was reading, startled. "You wrote this!" Severus snorted at the admiration in Rosier's voice. "You're only fifteen!"
Burke grunted in reply and gave a small shrug as he turned his attention to the view through the window.
"Do you want this?" Severus asked Burke, holding out his newspaper.
"Sure, if you're done." Burke took the Prophet from Severus' outstretched hand and turned to the sports section on the back page. Smirking a little, Severus opened his satchel and removed Fungi of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam - Their Use in Poisons and Antidotes. He'd purchased the book at Flourish and Blotts that morning; waiting twenty minutes in the queue to pay for it had caused him to almost miss the Hogwarts Express, but Severus had known as soon as he'd seen it that he had to have it.
Rosier closed the Quidditch magazine and tossed it onto the empty seat between him and Avery. "New book?" he asked Severus.
"Umm hmm."
"What is it?" Severus showed him the front cover. "Mushrooms. Fascinating," Rosier said, cocking an eyebrow slightly at his friend.
"I fully expect it will be," Severus replied in astringent tones as he reopened the book and settled back in his seat.
"Anyone for a game of Exploding Snap?" Avery asked the other three boys.
"No," Rosier answered in a voice that implied he considered himself qualified to speak for the two other boys as he continued reading the back cover of Severus' thick book.
"Chess, Burke?" Avery asked, apparently unwilling to leave his classmates to their reading.
"Sure," Burke replied dully as he dropped the Prophet onto the empty seat next to him. "Trade, Rosier," he continued. After Burke retrieved his box of chess pieces from his trunk, the two boys switched seats and Avery removed his chess board and pieces from his satchel.
While Burke and Avery were distracted setting up the chess board, Rosier leaned over casually towards Severus. "Meet me outside in a minute."
Startled, Severus looked up from his book as Rosier stood to leave the compartment. Severus nodded very slightly in acknowledgement. As Rosier slid the compartment door closed behind him, Severus thought, this doesn't sound good.
After what he judged to be about a minute, Severus nonchalantly placed his book on the empty seat next to him and left the compartment, halting in the doorway to watch one of Burke's knights savagely take one of Avery's pawns. He smiled as the knight's steed gave the white pawn a parting kick to the head at the edge of the board. Severus turned and almost bumped into a boy and girl walking down the corridor from the front of the train. The thin, brown-haired boy opened his mouth to protest Severus' clumsiness, then, seeing his face, shut his mouth with a snap.
"Watch where you're going, Lupin," Severus snarled at the boy. Lupin's companion looked up and Severus was caught in the startling green gaze of Lily Evans.
"Watch out, yourself, Snape," the girl said in sharp tones that belied her smile. Severus took a step back as her disdainful eyes travelled from his dusty robes to his scowling face to his greasy curtain of black hair.
Loathsome Mudblood know-it-all, he thought to himself, recoiling from contact with the girl. As the pair turned to continue down the corridor, Severus noticed the small flash of red and gold on the front of Remus Lupin's black school robes. Well, that's a poke in the eye for Potter, that's for sure, he thought with malignant glee. A few seconds later he heard Rosier behind him.
"Was that Lupin and Evans?"
"You're not going to believe who the new Gryffindor prefects are," Severus replied with a smirk.
"You sound like Avery," Rosier said in slightly mocking tones.
"Very funny."
"Well, everyone knows it's Evans and Potter."
"Guess again; Evans and Lupin."
Severus was gratified by Rosier's shocked expression and his short, sharp laugh. "Well, that proves it. Bumblebore's gone completely round the twist." Rosier paused. "Still, better than Perfect Potter as prefect. He probably chose Lupin because if he made Potter a prefect, he'd have to make Black his partner."
"In this as in all things," Severus replied with a leer. The two boys chuckled at the innuendo. "Though, I'm guessing you didn't drag me out here to discuss prefects."
"No, I didn't," Rosier replied as he finished laughing. His expression became serious. "Did Avery write to you this summer?"
"No. A blissful respite."
"Lucky you. He pestered me all summer, weekly sometimes. He's getting desperate," Rosier said, irritated. Severus snorted and turned to look out the window to the view of London's northern suburbs flashing by.
"It will never happen. Lestrange will never take him in," Severus growled as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"I know." Rosier turned to join him at the window. The two boys stood in silence, their sullen expressions in discord with the pleasant, sunny Muggle back yards and parks that made up the view outside. "But next year ...." Rosier continued a few moments later. Severus turned to his friend.
"Rosier, Avery will never be one of us. Not if my opinion counts for anything." Severus turned back to the window, a deep scowl on his face. Every bloody year the same bloody thing. At least the prat has stopped pestering me.
After another pause, Rosier continued, his voice low. "Did you get to the Manor this summer?"
Severus waited for a group of young Ravenclaw girls to pass behind them before answering. "No. My father was called, but my presence was not required," Severus replied coldly, his scowl deepening dramatically. Leave it, Rosier, he thought grimly. He shuddered and rubbed his upper arms quickly. Feeling his friend's eyes on him, Severus turned back to him and looked down to see the not-quite concealed envy that habitually appeared on Rosier's face whenever the Malfoys came up in conversation. If you only knew, Severus thought to himself.
Just then, Severus heard a loud rattle. He looked up to see the witch with the food trolley appear at the end of the corridor. Severus turned and re-entered their compartment. Rosier followed, leaving the door open.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?" the plump middle-aged witch asked as she reached their door. Severus ignored her as Avery jumped up to buy a stack of Cauldron Cakes and sweets.
The rest of the journey passed uneventfully and, for the most part, silently, other than Avery's vocal distress at losing three straight games of chess to Burke. The hours passed slowly; the day grew darker as the surrounding countryside grew wilder. Eventually, the train pulled into Hogsmeade station.
As the students piled out of the train onto the platform, Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, called over their heads, "Firs' years this way! Firs' years over 'ere!"
Severus followed his three classmates to a carriage that would take them the mile or so to the castle. As always, Rosier shivered slightly at the sight of the carriages. On their first trip to Hogwarts four years before, Rosier had informed Severus that the carriages, which appeared to move by magic, were actually pulled by Thestrals: hideous, winged, horse-like creatures that were visible only to people who had witnessed a death. Over the years, Rosier had adamantly refused to tell Severus why he was able to see them.
As their carriage drew up to the castle, Severus felt a small knot of tension form in his stomach. When he stepped down, he looked around the crowd of students climbing the steps to the great oak doors. He was relieved to see, through the doorway to the Entrance Hall, that James Potter and his Gryffindor cronies were already inside, making their way to the Great Hall. Knowing where they were, Severus could avoid them. The knot in his stomach eased somewhat as the four Slytherins climbed the stairs to the oak doors that led to the castle's Entrance Hall.
Severus, Avery and Rosier followed Burke as the larger boy made his way like an ice-breaker through the crowd of students greeting friends in the Entrance Hall. The four boys followed a group of chattering third year girls to the Slytherin table. Severus was annoyed when Avery took the seat between him and Rosier. Wonderful. I get to listen to him talk my ear off through the entire Feast. Burke left them to sit with some of his Quidditch team-mates at the far end of the table. Severus stared into space, ignoring the students milling around, finding places at the four tables that ran the length of the Great Hall. A minute later, to his right, Severus heard the Great Hall doors slam shut with a resonant boom. The first-years would be arriving soon.
"Pleasant trip across the lake tonight," Avery said on his left. "Not like ours."
Shut up, Avery, Severus thought sourly. He kept quiet, though.
"Merlin, I wish they'd hurry up, I'm starving," Avery moaned to Rosier.
"Shut up, Avery. You've never starved a day in your life. Probably do you some good, though," Rosier growled sharply back at him. Avery's pouting was almost palpable, but Severus had no sympathy for him. Avery should know by now not to be flippant around Rosier about any subject touching on poverty.
Severus watched as Professor Ames, the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and Head of Slytherin House, approached the staff table carrying a three-legged stool in one hand and the filthy, battered old Sorting Hat in the other. She placed the stool on the low dais at the front of the Hall and unceremoniously dropped the hat on top of it. Without a backward glance, the short, grey-haired witch turned and took her seat at the left hand of the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
The great man himself, Severus thought caustically, watching the old wizard talk to Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. Severus was roused out of his ponderings by the long, loud groan of opening doors. He turned to see the Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall, leading the new first-years down the centre of the Great Hall. The Sorting was about to begin.
"Is it just me, or do they get smaller every year?" Avery mused aloud.
"It's you, Avery. In fact, it's been proven that Hogwarts first-years get bigger every year," Rosier replied in mock serious tones.
Severus knew that Avery was getting on Rosier's nerves, now. He knew that his friend was very bitter about not being made prefect, and Avery was bearing the brunt of Rosier's mood. He hoped his friend wasn't planning on prolonging the unprovoked attacks on everyone around him for long. It was getting damned tedious.
As Severus watched Professor McGonagall unroll a parchment with the names of the students to be Sorted, he suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up; he was being watched. He shuddered slightly and looked across the Hall, searching for the person responsible. Better not be that bastard, Potter, or any of his idiot friends. As his eyes swept across the Gryffindor table, he only saw people watching the Sorting or talking among themselves.
His attention was pulled back to the Slytherin table by the sound of muted applause around him. Slytherin House had, apparently, just received its first new member. Though his hands joined in mechanically, Severus' eyes continued to drift along the Gryffindor table. Through the intervening Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, he caught sight of the backs of two black-haired heads. As he saw one lean over to the other, he sneered disdainfully. I wonder, he thought, then shook the idea out of his mind. While he'd never seen Potter, self-proclaimed Quidditch god, pay particular attention to any girl, Black was one of the most notorious skirt chasers at Hogwarts. If any of them are bent, it's Lupin, he thought idly, glancing over to the pale boy sitting opposite Potter. Surrounding applause once again imposed itself on Severus' thoughts. He turned his attention back to the Sorting.
Over the course of the evening, Slytherin House gained twelve new members, more than any other House that year. Then the Feast proper began. As usual, Severus had little appetite and listlessly pushed food around his plate while half-listening to the conversations around him. Not soon enough for him, the golden plates were cleared and Severus turned his attention to the staff table. The Headmaster stood to welcome them and announce notices.
No magic in the corridors, stay out of the Forest, blah, blah, blah. Severus tuned out the speech after a few seconds and resumed his scrutiny of the Gryffindor table. Mudbloods, Muggle-lovers and mental cases, he thought to himself with a sneer. A minute later the Headmaster sent them on their way.
Severus was just about to leave for the Slytherin common room with Rosier and Avery when Rabastan Lestrange, a Slytherin seventh-year, approached with a group of his classmates.
"Snape, I'd like to see you after lessons tomorrow afternoon. We can use Keech's room," Lestrange said in a slightly imperious manner as he walked past, barely breaking his stride as he spoke.
"Certainly," Severus replied smoothly, hiding his surprise as he watched the young man sweep out of the Great Hall with his fellow seventh-years following in his wake.
"What was that about?" Severus turned. Avery's expression was of badly-concealed surprise. Rosier's was of badly-concealed jealousy. Severus shrugged.
"I'll find out tomorrow, I guess."
Rosier's expression didn't change as the three boys headed out into the Entrance Hall. When the three fifth-years arrived at the hidden entrance to the Slytherin common room, Severus and Avery glanced at Rosier, who'd been seated at dinner next to one of the sixth-year prefects.
"Queerditch Marsh," Rosier grumbled. The door slid open. Severus noticed that Rosier's expression was still set on 'angry and jealous best friend.' He gave a quiet snort. If he's going to be like that, he can bloody well find himself a new friend. The three boys crossed the long, low-ceilinged common room to an apparently blank section of stone wall. Avery, who was in the lead, turned to Severus and Rosier.
"Umm, password?" The three glanced back and forth at one another.
"We have to wait for Burke," Rosier said sullenly.
"Oh, right." Avery appeared to not notice Rosier's sour mood.
"Any ideas?" Severus asked, looking away from the others to see if Burke was in the common room.
"We need a theme," Avery suggested.
"Poisonous fungi," Severus said distractedly, thinking of his new book. He heard Rosier make a dismissive sound. He turned to see a sardonic look on his friend's face.
"Burke'd never get back in again. You know what he's like with names." Rosier held up his hands as if he were holding something in each and examining them. He pointedly looked at one hand. "Rock." He pointedly looked at his other hand. "Plant." He dropped his hands. "Anything beyond that and he's lost."
"Hexes," Avery suggested.
"Too dangerous," Severus replied in a bored voice, turning his back to them again. He saw Burke approaching from the staircase to the prefects' rooms. Slytherin prefects had private rooms below the common room.
"Sorry. Just had to ask Keech when first practice is," Burke mumbled as he approached. "So, what's the password?"
"Haven't decided yet," Severus replied.
"Avery thinks we need a theme," Rosier drawled.
"Good idea." Burke paused for a second or two. He looked down to each of his three roommates in turn, a look of concentration on his face. "How about magical sites - place names, you know?" The other three looked at each other and nodded agreement. "Okay, names of magical sites," Burke continued. "What first?"
"Tintagel," Avery blurted out.
"Too obvious," Rosier replied sharply. "And don't say Stonehenge," he continued, glaring at Avery.
"Who cares; it's easy to remember," Severus replied, irritated. Just pick a damned name! Burke looked like he agreed. Despite Rosier's misgivings, the name was said simultaneously by all four boys, setting the password for their dormitory. The door clicked open and they entered.
Rosier flopped onto his bed. "Three years with no Horrell," he sighed contentedly.
"Yeah, the only benefit of him making prefect," Burke replied as he sat at the end of his bed and kicked off his shoes at Avery.
"Hey!" the boy shouted back with a grin. "Pity we won't be able to pinch his sweets anymore, though. His mum makes the best ginger biscuits." He opened his trunk and rummaged around for his pyjamas.
Severus let the voices of his dorm-mates flow around him unheeded as he unpacked his books and carefully stacked them on his bedside table. When everything was ready for the next day's lessons, he changed into his nightshirt and crawled into his four-poster bed. He carefully shut the green velvet curtains on Avery and Rosier's argument over who got to use the fifth bookcase in their room, lay back on his pillow and closed his eyes.
All in all, it hadn't been a bad day. He'd managed to make it through the entire train trip, the Feast, and to the Slytherin common room with no run-ins with Potter and his idiot pals. A first. Then his mind moved on to more pleasant matters.
I wonder what Lestrange wants to talk to me about, was his last thought as he slipped quickly into sleep, a thin smile on his face.