The Half-Blood Prince: Year One

For disclaimer and summary, see previous chapters.

Author's Note: I know, I know, the last chapter had a corny ending. Oh well! Sticks tongue out like a little kid I know this chapter's a bit short, but oh well! I'll be writing lots more before part one is over. (I'm doing separate stories for each of his years at Hogwarts, and then a year or so after he leaves Hogwarts.)
I'm really sorry about the wait, but I've been having HORRIBLE Writer's Block as of late... Grrr... So it may be a while longer than usual between chapters... Terribly sorry!

Chapter Six: The Astronomy Tower

The first few days at Hogwarts had gone perfectly well for Severus. He and Lucius had finished all of their homework over the weekend, which left them free time to look over Severus's books.

But then their first Monday of classes came and went, and suddenly it was Tuesday again. But, as he was playing wizard chess with Lucius in the Slytherin common room, he suddenly remembered what other class they would be having that day.

Astronomy. And that meant—

"Lucius," said Severus, standing up. "I… I'm going upstairs, alright?" Before giving his friend a chance to answer, Severus was running up the stairs to their dorm.

Their Astronomy class was at 10:00, and it was 7:46 when he began taking books out of his trunk. He spent the time until ten looking for a spell that would get him excused from that class.

A few minutes before it was time for them to go up to the Astronomy Tower, Lucius came in.

"Sev? Are you alright?" asked Lucius.

"Uh…" Severus glanced at the watch on his wrist, seeing that it was 9:45. He swore loudly. Lucius's countenance became confused suddenly.

"What are you doing?" Lucius looked at the books spread around him, and raised an eyebrow. "Trying to get out of class?" Severus nodded. "Why? It's just Astronomy."

Severus muttered something.

"What? I couldn't hear you…"

"I don't like heights," repeated Severus quietly, but this time loud enough that Lucius could hear him.

"Oh," said Lucius. Severus had been afraid that Lucius would laugh at him. "You could always just say that you're sick."

"But I would have to go up and make the lesson up anyway," sighed Severus glumly. He had resigned himself to going an hour ago. Continuing to look through his books had been a hopeless attempt to get out of class.

"Let's go," said Severus.

"You sure?" asked Lucius as they stood, and began walking out of their dormitory to the common room. Severus nodded.

"I just won't look down. If we're doing Astronomy, we should be looking up anyway," said Severus. That did nothing for his nerves.

"That's a good idea," Lucius told him. He kept glancing worriedly at Severus as they made their way up to the Tower.

They were some of the last people to reach the Tower, but no one noticed. As they arrived, a black-haired woman was opening the door. The rest of the crowd surged forward, excited.

Severus drew in a rather shaky breath, not noticing that Lucius kept glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.

The first years stepped out onto the platform, and into the cool night air. Most were going to the edges of the platform, looking down at the grounds. Lucius leaned against the wall, acting as if he were bored. Severus gave him a grateful look, and received a nod from the blonde.

"Attention!" the woman called. "I will be your Astronomy teacher. You may call me Mrs. Ami.

"Before we start today's lesson, I'll have to set up a few things, so please be patient," she finished, and then walked over to one of the telescopes.

It was then that Severus realized who they had Astronomy with: the Gryffindors.

Lucius and Severus were drawn away from the wall and into the centre of the platform, where they stood talking to two other Slytherins. But after a few minutes, they were separated, and Severus found himself being pushed by the crowd.

He opened his mouth to protest, and suddenly he was standing at the edge of the platform.

Looking straight down at the ground.

Severus's breathing quickened, and it swam slightly. Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm.

"Sev?" It was Lucius. "Are you alright?" Severus didn't move, or say anything. The world was still spinning.

Lucius pulled him away from the edge, and his breathing eased as he found that he was once again looking at the platform.

"Thanks," said Severus. Lucius nodded, looking slightly concerned, but didn't say anything.

The lesson started a few moments later, and Severus found that he was right—he was fine looking up at the sky.

The lesson finished until it was time to begin putting their books and papers away, and finish their charts later.

But Professor Ami seemed to have lost her key, and they couldn't leave without it, otherwise anyone could come up here. So while she looked for it, the students began moving around and talking to one another. Once again Severus found himself separated from Lucius, this time on purpose.

He was facing Sirius Black. "You haven't made me very happy, Snape," said Black. Severus glared at him.

"Why do I care if you're happy?" he asked, trying to turn and get closer to the door. But the other students moved again, and forced them over to the edge.

"You should watch it," warned Black. "I don't think we're going to get on well."

"Definitely not," muttered Severus. "Not as if I'd want to…" Then Black shifted, and Severus was looking down again. He tried to close his eyes, but he couldn't. His breathing sped up again, and everything began to swim.

He could hear Black insulting him, but nothing he was saying made sense to him. All he was aware of was the ground below him, and the distance down. In his mind he saw what a fall like that would do to a human.

Now he could hear Lucius talking to him, but, like with Black, he couldn't understand any of the words.

Then black began gathering at the edge of his vision, and he was aware of the crowd shifting again. He tried to move with them, to get away from the edge, but his body wouldn't obey. Then someone bumped into him.

He fainted just as he was sent over the edge.