Disclaimer: All rights to the original creator.

Chapter 7

He was acting strangely. Twitching in class, refusing to make eye contact and often muttering under his breath. Severus watched him, eyes scanning him and ears attempting to catch whatever he was muttering. Finally, he watched as Marcus slap down two cards, his expression shifting into confidence within seconds. Severus had suspected this. He noticed the edge of Marcus's mouth twitching earlier and had already made plans for this exact moment. Wasting no time Severus slap down his set of cards, Marcus's face fell and Severus found great pleasure in sweeping the small bag of Gallons out of the other boy's hands.

"Ah crap, " Marcus muttered as he placed his head into his hands. "I should've seen that coming,"

Severus tallied in another win in his long line of wins. The boys had been spending their downtime within the library, where they often played cards to pass the time after studying. Severus had been unbeatable, his ability to read people while concealing himself was an unmatched skill and often ensured he could handle any situation that either of his friends throws at him during their card matches.

"Better luck next time Adams, " Severus chuckled as he pocketed his reward. The other boy sneered at him before shuffling the cards in his hands. The boys had begun to turn back to their textbooks when Thomas joined them. Severus peered at the boy, noticing his usually neat uniform happened to be a mess. His tie was done loose and his shirt missed a couple of buttons.

"Where were you then?" Severus muttered and Thomas shone a cheesy grin as he fixed his hair. I'm the days following Slytherin victory over the Gryffindors the snakes found themselves in an unusually rowdy nature. Thomas had found himself stuck in an odd situation.

"Uh...With Vance, " Thomas muttered and Marcus leaned over to the boy next to him.

"Did you do...it?" He asked and Thomas went red. The act of sex was nothing new with Hogwarts. Severus had noticed that by the time students reach the fifth year the sought it out. Among Slytherins it was subtle, the boys often brag among themselves but ensuring information didn't travel far, though there were exceptions. During late fourth year, Anthony Avery proclaimed he deflowered an innocent Hufflepuff girl. The news spread and it was soon found out that the boy had lied, a disgraced Avery still suffers to this day.

"No, it was only snogging, " Thomas started and Marcus frowned.

"Lucky git, " Marcus muttered. "I'm in the Quidditch team, yet girls seem to flock to you, "

"It's cause you got no game, " Severus added as he pulled out his old potions book.

"I have the game, " Marcus argued. "I have more game than you, "

"Sev definitely has more game than you, " Thomas said causing Severus to nod and Marcus to glare.

"Great mates you are, " Marcus grunted and the other boys chuckled.

In all honesty, Severus was hopeless when it came to women. He lacked any of the natural social skills needed to court any girl within the wall of Hogwarts. During the third year, he had been invited to the Slug Club. He spent most of the week attempting to find a girl to take as his plus one, but in the end, he was forced to drag Marcus along.

"Look, alive lads looks like we got visitors," Thomas suddenly said as peer past Severus. Marcus seemed to lighten up and Severus turned to see why. A group of Slytherin girls came walking into the library, Severus noticed among them was Jane.

Jane had spoken to Severus the day after their win. She muttered something about Wilkes and very odd cabinet. Since then Severus had avoided contact with Wilkes but always kept tabs on him using the odd piece parchment he stole. Severus caught Jane's eye and both nodded, he noticed the flash of concern with her dark eyes as she turned away. While Severus mused about greater issues, Marcus had taken the chance to approach the group of girls and in a matter of minutes, he was back in his seat.

"You didn't actually do that, did you?" Thomas asked amused but the other boy grunted as he slouched in his chair.

"I don't want to talk about, "

James was stressed. Not only had Gryffindor lost to the filthy snakes a few days ago, but the Marauders had been robbed. At first, the boys had thought they simply missed their map, Peter was the last user and he was a known airhead among the group. But as days went by and the search became more frantic, it was evident that the map was stolen. To make matters worse Gryffindor had been disgraced once again when they found their house banner hanging decorated within the front of the great hall. The old banner that hung in their common room for generations was found vandalized.

James groaned at his lunch. Beside him, Sirius was speaking to Remus and Peter on who he thought stole their map. James only partially listened in but kept his eyes on the content of his plate, but that change once he heard her voice. Despite how bad things could get James found warmth in seeing Lily. His musing of the red-haired girl obviously caught the attention of his friend and Sirius nudged his arm.

"No time for that Romeo, " Sirius muttered.

James muttered an apology before forcing eyes off the girl down the table. The discussion among the Marauders was on the outlining of suspects. A hard task since the constant pranks through the years caused many enemies, both from within and outside their house. Sirius was sure that it was no one with Gryffindor but Remus muttered that it did not narrow the list down. Potions had been the lesson after lunch and James muttered that they could discuss the matter on the way, his eyes drifting to Lily and watching her as she rose to leave.

The boys had made their way towards the dungeons slowly, Sirius and Remus discussing the issue while Peter eagerly listened in. They had been walking through the halls of the castle when a spell flew at them, hitting Peter's laces and causing the become entangled and make the small boy fall. James turned the snickers of Marcus Adams, behind him Thomas Reed hid his smile and Prince kept his nose firmly in his book.

"Careful there mate, " Marcus said in a mocking tone.

Prince's group continued walking. James glared as he watched them walk off, his jaw tightening at the thought of Adams smug face. Throughout their school life, the Marauders had made many foes, but Prince's group seemed to focus in on them the most. As if a cat playing with its prey, the Slytherin group seemed to enjoy messing specifically with the Marauders.

"That's it, " James muttered as his widened.

"That's what?" Remus asked as he helped Peter undo the jinx and back onto his feet.

"It's them, " James said frowning. "If anyone would want fuck with us, it would be those freaks, "

"I second that, " Sirius grunted. He had pacing after the attack, his hand clutching his wand tightly and eyes flashing dangerously. Remus on the hand gave a sceptical look and while he didn't doubt the Slytherins being prime suspected, he had shaken his head.

"We have no proof, " He muttered as they headed towards potions.

"I'll get us proof and then punch Prince's smug face in, " James muttered as the boys made through the cold, dingy dungeons.

Entering potions, the marauders were met by Slughorn ushering the class to settle down. The boys took their seats and James's eyes fell upon her. She was sitting next to that filthy snake and James clenched his fists when he saw her chuckle at something he muttered.

Rosier sat nervously at the back of potions. His eyes darted through the room and his palms felt sweaty. Beside him sat Avery, who was equally on edge as Rosier. Wilkes had summoned the night of Slytherins victory, stating that it was an urgent Knights issue and he expected them to appear. Contrary to many belief of Rosier and Avery's darkness, the duo were novices within the ranks of the Knights and had only been inducted during the ending of the fourth year. The Knights had been a very prestigious collective of pure blood heirs, being founded during their lords time within the castle.

The Knights had always been lead by an elected leader, an heir that was picked by the previous to continue the work of their lord within the walls of Hogwarts. Lucius Malfoy had passed the role onto Wilkes during their second year, stating that the boy showed the most promise within Slytherin and that he would keep in contact. And keep on contact he did.

The moment the boys had entered the dark classroom the night of Slytherins victory they were told of Wilkes contact with Lucius and their lord. Wilkes kept a blank expression as he told the Knights of the order given to him, though his unease was written within his eyes. Rosier peered over to Prince and watched the boy work alongside the mudblood. The voice of Wilkes playing in the back of his mind.

"Lucius said that our Lord wants us to sway the bastard, "

Severus Prince had nothing to his name. While he was a talented wizard with stunning grades and cunning mind that would make Slytherin proud. There was no getting over the fact that he was tainted, the disgusting product of a pureblood heiress not knowing her role. Rosier knew the boy for years and while growing a mild sense of respect for his skills, he could not see the appeal that his Lord could. Rosier kept his eyes on Severus throughout the potion lesson, watch as Slughorn wrapped the lesson up and congratulated Prince on his potion. The fat wizard seemed to take a strong liking towards the bastard. In fact, it seemed most of the authority within Hogwarts were fairly friendly with the Slytherin.

Post lesson, Rosier and Avery made their way down towards their common room. Entering the fairly quiet halls of the dungeon, the duo was met with a cluster of Slytherin students loitering. The faces were all too familiar to Rosier, the group were the younger filth that had ended up within the house of Slytherin. It seemed as the years passed more and more filth seemed to seep into the house, and much like filthy, they seem to gather together to cause a greater issue. Slytherin was, by all means, a divided house since Rosier's first year, with more mudbloods and half-bloods, came the dwindling of pureblood power within the house. Rosier peered over at the loiters and noticed a second year with dirty blond hair muttering something about a muggle sport, and Rosier felt his skin crawl as the mudblood laughed among his group.

Entering the common room provided some refuge, the filth has yet to dominate the common room and Rosier felt a sense of ease when he relaxed among his kind. Wilkes had been reading a book on dark arts when the boys had entered and placed the book downed when Rosier disturbed him.

"Rosier," Wilkes said coldly. "Please refrain from making noise, this is common room and not a zoo,"

"From the looks of it, it will be soon," Rosier muttered and Wilkes frowned but chose not to inquire further, instead of tilting his head and narrowing his eyes at the boy.

"Tell me, Rosier, have you seen Prince?" Wilkes asked and Rosier shrugged.

"We saw in the lesson but we didn't follow him or anything," Rosier said. "Thought it would be better if he came to us. I mean he has to come down sooner or later."

Wilkes seemed not all to reassured by the comment. The boy lent back in his chair as he ran his hands through his slick black hair, Rosier watched as Wilkes seemed to compose himself before turning back to him.

"Listen, Rosier, I want you to keep an eye on Prince," Wilkes said. "Analyse his every move, and report any vital piece of information back to me."

"You want me to collect information him to aid in the task," Rosier pointed out and Wilkes gave a small nod.

"Information is key, we know some key stuff about him but if we had a little more we could use it as a weapon," Wilkes added.

"Blackmail?" Avery finally chipped in, his eyes peering at Wilkes with an uneasy gaze.

"No, that would not work on the likes of Prince," Wilkes said. "More like an incentive, make him believe that what he is doing is for his benefit,"

Rosier sat back in his chair and fell silent. His eyes peered over the flames within the Slytherin fireplace, watching as the flames danced while his mind processed Wilkes words. The boy certainly had a key point. It would be easy to sway an individual onto a system if they thought it was beneficial towards themselves and those they held dear. Rosier had no doubt that Prince was a sentimental fool, he saw how looked at the filthy half-blood and mudblood he called friends as well as how hostile he would get at those that insulted his mother. Rosier rubbed his nose, remembering a moment in the third year in which the bastard had broken his nose after Rosier called his mother a "Muggle fucking whore". Rosier muttered that he would carry out the task for Wilkes as he frowned, Avery seemed to shift beside him before finally muttering that he would aid him.

Cokeworth was as grim as she remembered. The dark clouds swirled around the small industrial town, the sky matched the grim house that sat upon the dingy streets of the town. But time had changed key aspects of the town, the town centre, which was home to many local businesses, was now filled with the common Muggle stores Eileen would see in London. There also seemed to be a shift in the people living within the small town, with more people being left out of work due to the state of business within the small town, and thus Eileen had noted twice as many homeless people within the town since the last time she was here. Eileen peered out of the coffee shop window and watched the people of Cokeworth town trudged through the town, and she found some amusement in how similar they were to the miserable people within Knockturn Alley. Maybe she was just drawn to dingy places.

"A refill madam?" A voice called out and Eileen turned to see a tall boy with messy brown hair smile down at her. The boy wore a green apron above a white shirt, his jeans were black and his shoes were scruffy trainers. Hanging off his apron was a small name tag that read "Simeon".

"Sure. Thank you," Eileen muttered and the boy refilled her cup of coffee before smiling and walking off. Eileen watched him walk off before peering out the once again, she wonder why she had come to this town. She had not been sure what made her come to the town, and at first, she chalked it up to wanting to find something she lost. She sipped her coffee as she thought back to her youth.

By all standards, Eileen had a good childhood. Her mother had been clingy to her precious daughter while her father was more distant but would not shy away from displaying his love. Eileen was spoiled rotten growing up within the walls of Prince manor, with whatever she wanted at her feet within seconds. Eileen was sure if she met her younger self, that she would despise the bratty child, but she could not blame her. Eileen Ulpia Prince was an only child to a very old Italian pureblood family, a family that despite the fact they had immigrated to the British Isles with the Romans had chosen their ancient blood. The house refused to be placed alongside the 28, often stating that their line was far beyond that of either the Blacks or the Malfoys. Eileen had been born into a proud house and thus became much like her parents.

Hogwarts didn't change that. Slytherin was simply another playground for a young Eileen. She had most wrapped around her finger with her charm and wit. Though it seemed Eileen had everything within her reach, the girl soon found herself growing bored and thus the seeds of rebellion were sowed within the walls of Hogwarts. Eileen had been set to marry a member of the Black family in a matrilineal marriage, all for the sake of ensuring the continued existence of House Prince. Eileen took a sip as she remembered the day she ran away from home, having had a severe argument with her father about the issue and declaring that she would not commit to his plans. Eileen peered up as the dark clouds began to break, a small ray seeming to shine down upon the small town and Eileen mused on the summer that she spent within Cokeworth.

Eileen had snatched enough money from her parents to live and soon found herself in Cokeworth. Ironically within the same coffee shop, she sat in at this very moment. She spent the summer living within a muggle hotel, her days spent wandering the streets while her nights were spent observing the small town light up. It had been one of those many summer nights that she met him. Severus shared much with his father, his height, facial structure and most notable, his nose. But Eileen could only remember a blurry image of the man in her mind and the harder she tried to remember him or his name, the harder it got. She sighed as she peered down the cup of coffee. Maybe she was here to find a sense of closure, to at least know the man who fathered her child. So when the time came, she could tell her little boy the name of his father.

Eileen finished off her drink and walked over to the counter where she handed it over to an old lady, the lady thanked her before turning and calling out.

"Snape!"

Eileen watched as the boy that refilled her cup came running in. She peered at him, he seemed young, no older than her Severus. She watched the boy with keen interest for a minute before turning on her heels and walking out of the small coffee shop. She peered up into the sky once more and watched as more clouds began to part, Eileen smiled before quickly making way towards an alleyway before disapparating with a small crack.