The Half-Blood Prince: Year One

For disclaimer and summary, see previous chapters.

Author's Note: I desperately need a beta! Someone who can check over my work for not only typing mistakes, but spelling, grammar, and word choice. Any offers would be appreciated. Thank you very much!
I'm terribly sorry about the long wait. My internet has been very difficult as of late...

Notes on updating: I will try to update this fanfiction at least every Friday. Some updates may come a few days earlier, and some may come a few days later. It all depends on my writing mood, unfortunately…

THIS WILL NOT HAVE ANY LUCIUS/LILY IN IT! THAT IS ONLY THERE FOR A FEW CHAPTERS, UNTIL THEY FIND OUT THAT SHE IS A MUGGLE-BORN. AND WHEN… OH, YOU'LL SEE. EVIL LAUGHTER

Enjoy!

Chapter Five: Friends

The night after their first day of classes, Severus showed Lucius his Dark Arts books. Both of them had stayed in the common room, looking at all the interesting and highly complex—not to mention dangerous—spells they contained. They only went to bed after realizing that the next day was Wednesday, and they still had classes.

The next morning, Severus was once again woken up by Lucius. "What are you my human alarm clock?" asked Severus, yawning. Lucius looked confused.

"What's an alarm clock?" Severus, who had forgotten that his friend was a pureblood, not a half-blood like him, sighed.

"Nevermind, Lucius. Forget about it."

"Mm-kay. Let's go—I think they're having pancakes for breakfast this morning!" Lucius dragged Severus out of the Slytherin common room and towards the Great Hall as his black-haired friend tried to finish tying his shoe.

"Lucius—stop—I need to finish tying my shoe!" protested Severus. Lucius laughed.

"Plenty of time in the Great Hall for that, my friend," answered the blonde. Severus sighed, and gave up.

Suddenly, he toppled back onto the floor, Lucius next to him. In front of them was Lily Evans.

"Oops, I'm sorry! I didn't see you there," said Lily.

"It's fine," said Severus. Lucius seemed to be staring at her.

"Er—here, let me help you." Lily reached out a hand and helped Lucius to his feet. Suddenly he seemed to realize that his staring was making her uncomfortable.

"Oh, sorry!" Lucius said. Severus raised an eyebrow at him. Why was he acting oddly? "I… um… well…"

Severus had to try very hard not to laugh as he realized what was wrong with his friend. He was attracted to Lily Evans.

As Lucius continued to stammer, a blush rising to his cheeks, and a bewildered expression on Lily's face (all while Severus tried to keep from bursting out laughing) they heard someone yell.

"Are they bothering you, Evans?" It was Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, hurrying towards them.

"No, but you are, Black. I thought I asked you three to leave me alone." Lily was frowning at him, looking rather exasperated.

"Well, you did. You said, 'You three—don't you dare come near me again!' But now there's only two of us, isn't there?" asked Black, smirking.

"B-besides, we just w-wanted to make s-sure that you were a-alright," stuttered Pettigrew.

"Well, that was very kind of you gentlemen, but as you can see, I'm perfectly fine and in no need of assistance. You can leave now." Lily's face now sported a full scowl.

"Someone has a temper!" laughed Black. "Well, we won't talk to you anymore, if that is your request, milady." He turned his attention to Severus and Lucius. "Watch it, you two. Evans is Potter's."

"I am no one's property, Black!" yelled Lily. Suddenly she slapped him hard across the face, and stormed off.

Pettigrew looked shocked, and backed away. He'd never seen a girl hit Black before.

Black was glaring at the two Slytherins before him. "If it weren't for you two, we would've been persuading her to skip lunch and meet James later on! But no, you Slytherin gits had to ruin it!"

"You heard her, Black! 'I am no one's property!' That's what she said, isn't it?" said Lucius calmly.

"It's not our fault if she doesn't like you and your pathetic friends," added Severus. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have better things to do than hang around with you two idiots."

They started heading towards the Great Hall. Severus looked casually back over his shoulder, and saw that Black was gritting his teeth, looking like he wanted to hit him very badly.

"Thanks, Severus," said Lucius.

"For what?" asked Severus.

"Backing me up against them," answered the blonde as the two walked into the Great Hall. Severus gave him a look of surprise.

"Well, isn't that what friends are for?"

Lucius gave him a strange look before laughing. Throwing one arm over the pale boy's shoulder, the blonde said, "Yeah. Friends."