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AN1-2020/12/20: Chapter now betaed by Miette and dstone12, thank you :)

Severus shook his head at his memory self who was still unaware of what was coming.

Fifth year had begun relatively nicely for Severus. He had not needed to brew for mother this year, having earned enough for her this summer, so even while experimenting and studying for his OWLS, he had lots of free time.

Severus had taken great pains to spend as much time with Jonathan and Evan as possible. It had felt like first year all over again and the three of them had relished time spent playing chess or gobstones, discussing politics, magic, or doing nothing.

Sadly for Severus, Lily had not been part of this idyllic picture. They had still been partnered in potions but had not done anything else together. She had not even wanted to study with him anymore.

Of course, Potter and his followers had delighted in remarking on this fact every time they had crossed paths. Only the fact that Lily had been as cold with them as with Severus had allowed him to ignore the taunts with nothing more than a few acerbic retorts – when it had not degenerated into free for all fights. But with Evan and Jonathan with him most of the time now that his schedule had been less full, those had been even fights, despite Severus' lack of power and even with Lupin joining in the fun. Lupin whom Lily was quite friendly with. But there had been no way the coward would have dared play romantically in Potter's marked territory so...

One memory washed over Severus and he smiled slightly. Lily's unwillingness to spend time with him had had an unforeseen consequence for her.

Severus was leaving the potions classroom, feeling quite bored but nonetheless pleased with the O he had received for his essay on the possible uses of Asphodel. He could do any school level practical with his eyes closed, he had brewed them so many times for Mother. He usually finished far before the others, even Lily. As she refused to broach other subjects than potions during class, and then only when her potion was finished, it left him with time to do his homework. Not really challenging but on an OWL year it might be for the best.

He heard his friends laugh behind him and turned to ask what they found so funny. Jonathan looked a bit uncomfortable but Evan gestured toward the front of the class.

A visibly upset Lily was talking with Slughorn.

"I am sorry my dear. You know an E is a good grade," his Head of House was saying, trying to comfort his favourite student.

"Your essay was not as insightful as they usually are. I had already noted it on your two previous ones but chalked it up to the amount of homework that we give you compared to the years before. However, this essay really is below your usual standard."

Lily looked even more upset, her green eyes getting teary.

"Miss Evans, do not put so much pressure on yourself so early in the year," continued Slughorn, patting her shoulder lightly. "It is nothing to worry about, you just need to get used to the workload."

"Seems like super Lily is not so clever without her personal genius," said Evan gleefully.

Severus was torn between defending Lily's brilliance and a feeling of revenge that made him feel quite happy.

He said nothing, merely shrugging his shoulders.

"I heard her Transfiguration marks dropped too. She only got an A at her last essay," added Evan.

"But Severus must be the only one with Potter whose marks have not dropped in Transfiguration this year," said Jonathan.

"I think you got an A too Evan," he added with a pointed look.

"True but I never claimed to be Mister perfect prefect Evan Rosier whereas Evans did!" shot back Evan. "And what you did not say is that Severus is the only one whose marks in Transfiguration steadily improved from first to fifth year, Severus earning his first O with his last essay!" he exclaimed.

Severus blushed. Years of meticulous studies and Lucius' advice had finally paid off. McGonagall was now teaching the more complex transfiguration theories he had had to study in his younger years to understand the easier transformations his fellow students had managed without knowing the full theory. He merely shrugged again, and the three of them walked to the next class, Evan whistling a happy air, Jonathan a small smile on his face and Severus a slight smirk at the corner of his mouth.

If Severus had been the uncontested Potion king among the fifth years—and above according to Evan—, as the days had gone on, he had become more and more worried about the courses requiring spell work. Herbology and Arithmancy had been no problem as it was the skill and delicacy with which you used the spell that mattered more than brute force. In most cases, blindly pushing power in a spell applied to these fields would actually spell destruction. But Transfiguration, Defence against the Dark Arts, Charms and even Runes had been becoming a problem. Severus' spell work had been among the weakest when he had still been average last year. Thanks to his understanding of Transfiguration laws and the amount of work he had always put into this course, he had still managed to perform as well as most of his classmates. But power had been essential for the rest. Worse, the Marauders had noticed and he had had to use every ounce of his spells knowledge during their many skirmishes.

Severus had been pretty sure the problem was his wand. He had wondered at Mother's wisdom to buy her son a wand which would only work fully if said son faced death sometime in his life. Severus had yet to be on the receiving end of an Avada Kedavra and had not foreseen a future when he would have to.

Severus snorted to himself. He had been quite unimaginative when he had only thought of Avada Kedavra as a possible cause of death. There were so many more possibilities as he had learnt only a few months ago.

Back then, he had wondered if his incapacity to kill his father had been considered a failure by his wand, as facing death might mean being able to give it. Wandlore was as obscure as prophecies sometimes, though the latter had to be if the frauds uttering them were to have the hope of being believed by at least a few credulous idiots.

Severus had hoped to circumvent his wand's shortcoming by mastering wandless casting but so far, none of the spells he had tried worked. Worse, he had had the feeling his wand casting had been weaker after such training sessions.

It had been even more depressing because Severus had been confident he could cast wandlessly, having already done it once when he had accioed his wand to defend Mother against his father.

Now he had wondered if the Accio had only worked because he had been bonded to his wand—though how you could be bonded to your wand without it obeying you had left him perplexed. Why had they not gone to Ollivanders?

So many questions, so few answers... Severus had been eager to begin an Apprenticeship and hopefully go into research... if only he passed his OWLS practicals...

Severus sighed. Watching his past self, OWLS practicals seemed trivial now. It was still very important for his future but paled when compared to the other events of this year.

The return to school had seemed quieter to Severus than the past year but by October, he had realized it had only been the calm of the students not being used to the amount of homework they had been given.

Too soon, Gryffindors and Slytherins had been fighting covert battles again. Most had been under the pretence of pranks but while the first ones had been benign, it had quickly escalated to humiliating and potentially dangerous incidents.

Jonathan had once overheard Pomfrey complain to Dumbledore about never having healed so many wounded during a school year before. Dumbledore had only answered they were getting ready for the outside world which was getting tougher.

Severus had been dismayed when after a Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin that had ended with both teams in the infirmary with broken bones, Dumbledore had only given two weeks of detention to the teams. The worst part had been that the Gryffindor team had taunted the Slytherins about only doing homework during their detentions while the Slytherins had been cleaning the Dungeons using toothbrushes and without magic.

It might not have been true. McGonagall had been enraged with her team. But she had also looked cross with the Headmaster.

In retribution, all the brooms of the Gryffindor Quidditch team had been burned to ashes. There had been no witnesses. No student had known how such a feat was possible—except by using powerful Dark Arts if you listened to the rumours. Everyone had known Slytherins had been responsible. No one had been punished. The tension had grown unbearable.

Severus groaned, seeing a new memory unfold. He remembered this one. It had caused a rift in Slytherin which was yet to mend. Or had it only revealed it?

Severus was going back to his dorm, alone for once. Evan and Jonathan were in the infirmary as well as two of the Marauders.

He grimaced. Evan had been hit by a spell while defending Severus because he had been unable to maintain a good Protego.

He was frantically establishing a research plan, wondering if he should ask Lord Malfoy for help with his spells power, when he stumbled upon the fight.

Well, not much of a fight to be honest. Two sixth years Gryffindors were threatening three Slytherins second years. No, corrected Severus. Two second years Slytherins, Beaulieux and Archard, and one Hufflepuff he did not know but who looked to be the same age as the other two.

The two Slytherins pressed themselves tight against the wall under the wand of one Gryffindor while the Hufflepuff was cornered by the second one.

"Why are you conspiring with the enemy, Hickman? We thought you were a Muggleborn but you spend a lot of time with sneaky snakes," the second Gryffindor—Thornby, Pureblood from a low house, aligned with the Potters, supplied Severus' memory—was saying.

"They don't care," answered the Hufflepuff—Hickman—, "and Archard is a Muggleborn too."

"What lies are you trying to sell?" said the other Gryffindor—Briggs, Muggleborn or New Pureblood, meaning he did not belong to any recognized House like the Malfoy or the Potter—furiously agitating his wand in the direction of the two Slytherins. "There are no Muggleborn in Slytherin."

"We ought to show you what happens to little liars like you," added Thornby.

Severus did not like what he was hearing. The situation felt like it could go wrong any moment. On the other hand, his wand had failed him mere minutes ago. Could he take the risk to involve himself?

He could find another Slytherin... and reveal his weakness even more than he had to for classes. or bring one—cunningly—to the place of the fight... but it would take time. Those were lower years, protected by Slytherin's fourth rule… And wasn't Beaulieux an ally of the Malfoy's House? Still, at worst they would know a little humiliation and survive—like he had since... forever he thought bitterly. They would not be hurt like upper years could be, surely the Gryffindors would not debase themselves by hurting someone weaker... Right he snorted in his head.

Severus was thinking so furiously he almost missed Hickman's reply.

"He did not lie to me. We've known each other since we're six. We were together during primary school. We both went to a muggle primary school," he added, looking at Thornby challengingly though his hands were shaking a little.

A Hufflepuff who could have been sorted in Gryffindor thought Severus. So brave and...

"You dare defy me over a snake?" laughed Thornby. "In this case, you can share their fate."

So stupid to anger someone stronger. Severus had no choice anymore, he knew it. They were remaining friends despite their differences. Oh Lily, he thought sadly. But now was not the time. May his wand work this time. He should look up if Thestrals had a god, to know to whom address his prayers.

"Good afternoon Thornby, Briggs," drawled Severus, walking on the scene but taking great care to place himself where he could see the two bullies. "Daring to threaten midgets now? How courageous of you."

Briggs swirled toward him, wand drawn.

"Snape."

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"How astute of you. You should have been a Raven."

Watching surreptitiously the younger Slytherins, he smirked.

"Or maybe not."

The Gryffindor frowned, uncomprehending, before falling, his legs caught by the Locomotor Mortis of the smaller Slytherins.

At the same time, Severus was non-verbally casting his own spell on Thornby, focusing on the spell working for the sake of all four of them.

Thankfully, his wand worked beautifully and Thornby fell too, the Petrificus Totalus immobilizing him completely. Scowling, Severus cast the spell on Briggs too then made a shooing motion to the three younger students. They ran away, Archard silently mouthing a thank, the others inclining their head briefly.

Severus watched his memory-self sadly. Though his clothes were not worn, his gangly body coupled with his big nose and greasy hair that obscured his face, only showing a scowl and black eyes, made him look like a scarecrow. He needed to listen to Jonathan about styling himself more carefully, if only to secure his future. Appearances were important in Slytherin. And everywhere else in the world, added a gleeful voice that sounded suspiciously like Evan's.

The evening after the incident, a House meeting was organized in Slytherin's common room.

Years fourth to seventh only were present.

House meetings were rare. There was one the night of the welcoming feast to welcome the first years and explain Slytherin's rules. There was one at the end of the school year. There had been one in his third year after Lord Voldemort's defeat but only for fourth years and above. There had been one at the beginning of his fourth year to explain the sponsorship program for Muggleborns. That was all he could remember.

The prefects had organized the common room as well as made sure all the younger years were in their dorms.

Severus, Evan and Jonathan took seats in the back. There were no comfortable armchairs, only seats which would not hurt your backside but prevent you from falling asleep.

While Jonathan and Evan were wondering about the subject of the meeting, Severus watched with interest as the six prefects each waved their wand in complicated patterns in front of several paintings and sculptures.

All at once, he felt magic around him as a blue dome spread itself to cover the whole common room. The dome faded slowly but the sensation of magic remained.

Severus watched the prefects position themselves to virtually surround all the students. Then Connor McDougall came in front of the assembly and silence fell.

McDougall was the current king of Slytherin. The title was not official; there had been no crowning ceremony. However, he was the most influential boy in Slytherin. Lucius had also been king in his time.

You could become king from fourth year. You knew you were the king when your advice and opinion became the law. Slytherin also had his queen, following the same rule as the king. Differences of opinion between queen and king were messy. When it happened on a highly political subject, it ended by a change in king or queen, depending on the victor.

Severus had not had any contact with the king except for a few words here and there. They were not in the same year, McDougall was good enough in Potions not to need Severus' advice and Severus himself was not a social bee. His contacts were mostly with Jonathan and Evan and he liked it that way, although he did talk with other Slytherins and accepted the usual exchange of favours—it usually involved some Potions tutoring or brewing from his part.

The current queen, Elle Doge, was seated near the front. It seemed she was letting McDougall represent them both.

"Dear fellow Slytherin," began the king, voice calm but strong. "We are meeting tonight to discuss the action we shall take in retaliation for the attack on two of our second years by sixth years Gryffindors."

A whisper of outrage rose from the students. Who had dared attack the young ones?

McDougall held his hand, requesting silence. The noise subsided but looking around, Severus saw faces were set.

"No injuries were suffered by ours, thanks to Snape's timely intervention," he continued, bowing his head slightly to Severus. Severus bowed back, feeling his face warm.

Students were turning to look at him and congratulate him. Jonathan's and Evan's face were interrogative. He sighed internally. He had not told them because it was inconsequential to him. Though he should have thought of the possible deeper implications for his House.

"Aggressions toward Slytherin House's younger years are few but not unprecedented," continued McDougall, calling his public attention back to him. "Slytherin's rules are only ours, and while upper years seldom bother with the younger ones, it did happen before. The attackers have always been dealt with quickly and swiftly."

He paused briefly, watching all the Slytherins.

"However, this attack happened during the climate of tension we all live in lately. The aim of the attack was clearly to hurt a Pureblood. An evil Pureblood. A Slytherin Pureblood. It did not even matter that one of the victims was a Muggleborn."

He shook his head, sadly. "I fear this aggression is only the beginning."

Letting his gaze wander around the common room, meeting gazes, observing faces, he raised his voice.

"It is one thing to fight those of us who know how to defend ourselves and give back as much as we get. It is another to target our snakelings. Tonight, we will decide how to answer this attack."

McDougall paused, letting the cheers from the crowd grow. Meanwhile, Doge had risen. She came next to him and with a flourish of her wand, the both of them were standing on a dais. They were ready to debate.

The first one to speak was Beaulieux's elder brother, a fourth year Severus had noticed for being friends with Regulus Black, although the Black's second son was a year younger than Beaulieux.

"We need to do something drastic so the other Houses will not be tempted to attack our youngest again.

We all know the teachers won't interfere, especially with Dumbledore's bias against us. We all know the fights between us and the other Houses, especially Gryffindor, are getting serious. The younger years cannot get involved if we do not want some serious injuries."

There were murmurs of assent in the crowd. People were nodding in agreement.

"I agree with Beaulieux," said Grant, an energetic sixth year from the Quidditch team. "The two Gryffindors responsible for the attack must suffer an exemplary punishment that will send a message to all the upper years. I already worked on a few proposals with the rest of the team."

Grant proposed several ideas for revenge that impressed Severus enough he took notes in his head for future use on the Marauders. Other Slytherins spoke to refine the plan before it was submitted to a show of hands that unanimously adopted the plan. People were chosen for different parts of the plan; the schedule was frozen. An hour after the beginning of the meeting, the Slytherin's revenge was plotted.

Severus thought it would be the end of the meeting but to his surprise, the queen stood up after the plan was done.

"Dear Slytherins," began Doge, her voice agreeably modulated. "Another question has been brought to us," she gestured between McDougall and herself. "Should we demean ourselves to the other Houses level and prey on their younger years?"

Severus was shocked. When Lucius had told Slytherin's fourth rules in his first year, he had only said that "first, second and third years are not to be involved in political games and alliances." In their day to day life, it meant younger years were considered like children who should be protected, be it physically, or mentally. It also was not restricted to Slytherin's youngest. Well until tonight.

"I do not see why we should respect their youngsters when they attack ours," said Mulciber belligerently. "I think it would send the message we can be as bad as they are."

Severus frowned. He was not fond of Mulciber whom he found too rough and cruelly lacking subtlety. The guy although reminded him too much of Potter, with his group of friends who were just not stupid enough to call themselves Marauders. His only redeemable quality was he had never bothered Severus or his friends. That might only be because of Severus' friendship with Lucius but Severus had not noticed any bullying toward other Slytherins. A little like the Marauders did not harass other Gryffindors, a little voice said in his head.

Severus disliked the idea of attacking younger years. It felt too much like bullying for his liking and he did not think it would improve Slytherin's reputation.

Jonathan clearly agreed with Severus because he spoke firmly.

"I do not think we need to break Slytherin's rule. Our plan should send a strong warning to the other Houses and our not attacking the little ones will strengthen our position and make us the good guys."

"As long as Dumbledore is Headmaster, we will never be the good guys," answered Mulciber.

"True," said Breamont, a seventh year Severus has brewed for several times in exchange for some rare and exotic flowers his family grew in their domain. "I think we need to be as ruthless as they are. We can never do anything right in their eyes anyway."

For two hours, arguments went back and forth, neither side giving way to the other. The two sides had valid points in Severus' opinion, but he remained firmly opposed to bullying weaker students. Although with the way his wand was behaving, he might go down if attacked by a first year.

In the end, The King and the Queen decided not to break Slytherin's rule for now. They agreed the matter could be discussed again if the situation further deteriorated.

Sadly, the more aggressive faction led by Mulciber was not happy with this decision and Slytherin House was divided. It did not show to an outsider but in the common room, the two factions did not mix anymore.

It gave Severus a cold feeling in his stomach.

They did work together beautifully to implement their revenge on Thornby and Briggs. A potion, a spell and a little bit of Dark Arts had the two of them incapable of walking another way than on all fours. Then, they began seeing hallucinations that followed them whispering threats. Finally, they remained in bed for two days for a bad case of gastroenteritis.

The message was well understood because no other snakelings were injured by an upper year. However, the fights between upper years continued raging.

In the end, the professors' answer to the growing problem was simple and efficient. They gave so much homework to the upper years they spent their time working in the library or their common rooms. Severus admired their cleverness while Evan cursed them when finally falling into his bed at night. Jonathan only rumbled slightly because why waste energy on something you could not change?

It was quiet after this. The younger years were not as involved in the political scene. While most followed the example of their elders, they were less ardent about it. Pranks were done on each side but in Severus opinion, they had the intelligence to keep it funny.