Severus dragged his school trunk in search for an empty compartment, noticing from the corner of his eyes that people were eyeing his raven curiously and after passing a few carriages filled with Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, he found one in the third frontmost coach. Quickly, he entered the room and locked the doors with a few spells, drawing down the curtains and put up the 'Don't Disturb' sign he had used before. Carefully, he then placed Rogue on the empty seat across him and his trunk under his seat before wearing his school robes.
Hmm, he had about 3 more hours before the prefect meeting. He decided to read his Transfiguration book to occupy his time and took out a sandwich from a small self-filling lunch box that was inter-connected to another in Prince Manor's kitchens. It was one of the many things inside the mansion that he found to be very handy, especially when he didn't feel like appearing in the Great Hall for mealtimes. And of course, also being one of Severus' many questions about his mother's decision to leave the wizarding world.
He was so immersed in his reading about the importance of detail for Transfiguring objects non-verbally that he barely registered the constant knocking on the doors. Only when Rogue croak did he notice and slid the door open with a grumble, frowning at a small boy standing outside his compartment; a second-year perhaps from the looks of his stature that was shakily clutching an envelope.
"…What?" he eyed the student skeptically.
"Uh… Professor Slughorn said to give this to you," he stammered and Severus rolled his eyes as he took the invitation from the small boy before sending him away. It must have been one of the Slug Club's meet-and-greet sessions. He stared at the damned badge on his chest and sighed; might as well just get it over with before continuing his reading.
When his wand alerted him ten minutes before the breakfast party, he got out of his carriage and locked it before going to search the designed meeting room. By the time he opened the door, it was almost full and much to Severus' ire, both Lily Evans and James Potter were invited too.
"Ah, hello, Mr. Snape!" Horace Slughorn greeted jovially as he entered the compartment. Severus simply nodded before taking his seat next to Francesca Zabini; he didn't exactly like the stout professor but also didn't hate him either. As long as he was allowed to have his own private potions room in exchange of brewing some basic healing potions and salves for Madam Pomfrey, it was a good deal between them.
"First stand-in Hogwarts Prefect in recent history; and it's from Slytherin! I also heard you will take ten N.E.W.T subjects this year, is that correct, Mr. Snape?" the man started, pouring himself a cup of tea.
Severus found himself smiling at the question, "Yes, I think I will like the challenge."
"Of course, of course; I've never doubted your ability to juggle time into fitting your tight schedule," Slughorn wiggled his forefinger with a smile, "may as well be the youngest Potions Master in the century if you can make it through!"
"Indeed. I'll make Slytherin House proud of having me," Severus barely needed to sugar-coat his words; he knew just how much the professor loved the praise and when the man winked at him, he confirmed it was a success. He too, actually wanted to prove that Slytherins were destined for greatness.
He shared a small talk with Francesca about the careers they would take after their N.E.W.Ts before contently watching how their Head of House was sucking it up to other students. They didn't really like the methods he used; Slytherins were supposed to be subtle after all, but also couldn't deny its effectiveness.
His wand reminded him of the time he was supposed to meet with other Prefects and with an apology he excused himself and noticed how Lily made her way out too.
They didn't speak a word, and Severus was happy with it. There was no need to be comfortable with a traitor. He even smirked upon noticing how Remus Lupin bulge his eyes in disbelief upon seeing them entering the compartment.
"Ah, Snape," the new Head Boy greeted and gave him one of the patrol schedules. "Don't think that just because your position isn't official, you can slack off from your duties."
Severus simply quirked his eyebrow in deadpan and half-heartedly listened to whatever rules they talked about before they were sent away to patrol the carriages for a while. A calculated glare was enough to shut the students up and Severus could barely suppress his smirk as he walked along the quiet corridor. He couldn't wait to fully assert his 'Severus Prince' persona.
"Snape!" the grating voice of James Potter suddenly entered his ears.
Severus took a deep breath; why couldn't they just leave him alone? With an irritated sigh, he faced him, Lupin and Peter Pettigrew with arms crossed, fingers twitching minutely in attempt to reach for his hazel wand. "What do you want, Potter? Hadn't had enough with me during the O.W.Ls?" he hissed.
Potter simply ignored his statement, brown eyes searched over his angular face and Severus raised his eyebrows; this was surely strange, even for the bespectacled boy's standards. Then he blurted out, "Have you seen Sirius?"
Severus couldn't believe his ears. "Why are you asking me?!" he asked incredulously, "I'm not his damned mother! Oh wait, hadn't he been staying with you since like, last year?" He had heard the news from Regulus Black, Sirius' younger brother who was in Slytherin.
"…Well, uh… he… h-he's missing," Potter mumbled quietly.
That only added more to Severus' puzzlement. "Well, I don't know what possessed you to ask me in the first place, but I'm afraid I don't know anything about Black, sorry." He then left them with a billowing of his school robes.
Only when he entered his compartment did he remember about his missing Potions book and he slapped his forehead in annoyance. Oh well, he would go to the Gryffindor common room either way for the House meetings, and perhaps it could be his chance to utterly humiliate Evans as public as it could get. He fed some salami to Rogue and continued his reading, this time with Study of Ancient Runes.
When the Hogwarts Express stopped, he briefly wondered if he should let his pet raven to explore the place before shaking his head; he still needed to make sure the bird was fully recovered. Rogue already could fly for a short distance, but Severus didn't want to risk it. He and the other Prefects checked the compartments for the final time to make sure everyone had gotten out.
"Snape!" For the umpteenth time of the day, Severus sighed and turned to see his Slytherin year-mates and Regulus Black were approaching his horseless carriage. "Yes?" he muttered.
"Bloody hell, you're the stand-in Prefect?" Alaric Mulciber began as he climbed into the carriage. Severus only gave him a shrug and when everyone had taken their seat, Regulus closed the door and they headed to Hogwarts in silence.
"Nice raven," Evan Rosier commented the bird on Severus' shoulder and he grinned at the praise. They then talked about the N.E.W.T subjects they would take, or in Regulus' case, the O.W.Ls. Severus was happy enough to know Mulciber, Rosier and William Wilkes would share the most class with him for the next two years. Micheal Avery however, only took five subjects; just enough to ensure a job in the Ministry for Magic.
As the six boys entered the Great Hall, they immediately went to their usual seats at the Slytherin table and Severus frowned when he saw James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were whispering to each other with worried looks. Sirius Black seemed to still be missing.
"Regulus, haven't you heard about your brother?" Curious over the situation, he asked the younger boy.
The handsome teen pulled a face at the mention of Sirius. "Now why should I bother with him? He already made his choice to leave us, hadn't he?"
"Yes, but-"
"Shut it Snape, Sorting's 'bout to start."
And they watched as the battered Sorting Hat broke into an introductory song of Hogwarts and Professor Minerva McGonagall entered the hall, calling out the new students' names to be Sorted into either of the four Houses. Severus couldn't care less when the customary event was over and the headmaster droned about the usual beginning-of-year speech, welcoming the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, and the new Head Students.
"I also would like to introduce you to Mr. Severus Snape, who is our stand-in Prefect for all the Houses," Dumbledore continued, and Severus reluctantly rose from his seat to give the crowd a short bow. The Slytherins applauded him the loudest mostly out of obligations, the Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs simply nodded while the Gryffindors narrowed their eyes in suspicion.
Dinner went by without any problems, with Severus thought on which House should he visit first. He decided to go for the Gryffindors first and sighed as he joined the crowd of red and gold after the Welcoming Feast ended, leaving Rogue in care of Evan Rosier. His mood went gradually sour upon remembering his attempt to get Lily's forgiveness nearly three months ago.
He was nearly at the end of the line and the people within the common room was already getting rowdy by the time he arrived that he couldn't dodge a pie which was haphazardly thrown at his direction.
Everyone in the Gryffindor common room immediately stopped to look before howling into laughter at his jam-covered visage. "Alright there, Snivellus?" he heard James Potter's voice among the cackles.
Severus tried to calm down, but it was just so hard to do it when people were having fun at his expense. It was only hours after their arrival; couldn't they just be quiet and prepare for the next day?! With a shaky hand, he pulled his hazel wand out from the arm holster and quietly cleaned the mess on his face. "Very funny, Potter," he grimaced.
Potter merely gave him a lopsided grin, "When hadn't you been anything but that?"
Severus decided to ignore him. "Well, I don't expect myself to stay here any longer, so I will keep this short: I am Severus Snape, 6th year and if your Prefects were indisposed-" he glanced at Lupin whose face went pale, "you may call to me for help. I may be a Slytherin, but I will try not to play favorites and I do hope you can give me cooperation for everyone's sake. That will be all, thank you." He barely could stop himself from rolling his eyes in annoyance. Just why did Dumbledore give this job to him again?
He turned to leave but then remembering his missing book. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed how Lily Evans was fidgeting where she stood, and that alone had been confirmation enough.
"Accio Severus Snape's Potions book!" he shouted.
A sudden thud from upstairs silenced the whole room. Suppressing his rage, Severus headed to the dormitories and listened to every room for the sound before finally finding it in the girls' section. Throwing the sixth-years' room's door open, he sent a venomous glare at the redhead before forcibly unlocking her school trunk.
Immediately, his mother's copy of Advanced Potion Making leapt into his hand and he hugged it tightly, not daring it to escape his sight ever again. When he made his way back downstairs in silent fury, he spotted the small group of first-years huddling at the corner with wide eyes.
"Let this be a lesson to you lot," he spat before leaving the Gryffindor Tower, fuming in rage along the way to his next destination. Luckily, his meetings with the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs went moderately well, and he was halfway heading to the Slytherin dungeons in a decent mood when he bumped into someone.
"Headmaster," he greeted coolly.
Albus Dumbledore gave him a nod. "I trust nothing major had happened in your meetings, Mr. Snape?"
"I still have the Slytherins, sir."
"Well then, I won't stop you." The old wizard's blue eyes twinkled genially and Severus had never hated such shade of color until now. He bade the headmaster goodnight with gritted teeth and gave the password to the entrance room before joining the rest of his Housemates. He went to sleep as soon as the meeting was over, still clutching his Potions book dearly.
When morning came, Severus quickly ushered the Slytherin first-years to the Great Hall for breakfast only to be surprised as he saw young students in yellow-black and blue-bronze robes were surrounding the Slytherin table.
"Where are your Prefects?" he asked in puzzlement to the new Ravens and Badgers.
One of them seemed hesitated to answer, and Severus glared at him. "Well… they got sick."
"All of them?"
When all the first-years nodded, Severus drummed his fingers on the table, deep in his thoughts while also groaning mentally to himself.
This was going to be a long year.