Great work people,

Congrats to raion and Moon Crescent Neko, for answering rightly in Chapter 2

Chapter Five

They made it quickly to the Potion's classroom. They were rushing, but being Slytherins meant they were walking slightly faster than normal rather than running. Doing so would mean breaking the scared rule: Never show weakness.

Luckily, they made it with seconds to spare. Sliding gracefully into the only seats left, they realised the prank too late.

A small explosion of pink smoke blocked them from view for a moment, and then it dissipated. Shaun and Snape were dyed a deep, Gryffindor red from head to toe, and their hair was gold and shimmering. Shaun glanced behind them in annoyance, before an aura-pulse from Snape nearly caused him to faint from the emotional overload.

Anger flooded him, and he felt like he was drowning in thick, bitter treacle. He gasped softly and groped for the back of Snape's robes. "Calm the hell down, Snape," he croaked, his throat hoarse and rasping. "You're going to knock me unconscious." Concern trickled through, lightening the pressure on Shaun's mind. "Better?" Snape said softly but urgently Shaun nodded, swallowing to wet his throat. When he turned again, Remus's horror nearly made him throw up his breakfast. His head dropped onto the table as he tried to fight the wave of nausea. Snape obviously noted his discomfort, because he twisted sharply in his chair and hissed: "Calm down Lupin. You're embarrassing yourself." Remus flushed, but Shaun's head was suddenly clear again.

"Thank you," he told Snape sincerely. "I know you dislike them, Snape."

Snape seemed a little bemused. He cleared his throat and embarrassment coloured his aura, though he didn't show it. "Don't mention it, Frost." His glare told Shaun that it was a threat disguised as a pleasantry.

Shaun nodded to show he understood, then closed his eyes to concentrate on what his ears were telling him. Snape opened hs mouth to interrupt, but without his eyes to distract him, Shaun heard his intake of breath. "Quiet," Shaun said lazily, without opening his eyes. "I'm listening." Snape must've closed his eyes as well, because he was completely silent. Together, they eavesdropped with growing wonderment.

Remus gripped James' shoulder with every ounce of werewolf strength he could draw on so soon after the full moon. "You!" he snarled at the Marauders in general. "You pranked him! On the first day?"

Sirius looked confused. "But, Moon..."-he broke off when Remus presumably shot him a glare-"Remus, we always prank Snape, this is practically mild for him!" Remus' eyes bulged in anger, before he remembered the strange, nauseating effect his negative emotions seemed to have on Shaun Frost.

James turned to Sirius, correcting him patronisingly, but fondly. "Not Snivellus, Sirius. He's never got angry about it before. It's gotta be someone else, right?" (Snape fought down his emotions at the mention of his hated nickname, Shaun could taste him concentrating on positive emotions, squashing the bitterness)

Remus nodded curtly. "The new boy, James. Shaun Frost, his name is. Do you realise the only reason I'm not in Ministry custody right now is him? He stopped me attacking Snape." Sirius looked suitably ashamed, but equally incredulous. James was spluttering, "But Remus, he's a Slytherin, probably a Death Eater in training..."

Shaun opened his eyes, reluctant to continue to hear his father's nattering bigotry. Every word James Potter had said against him bit like a cold steel knife into his soul. For the first time, he was glad he was the only one able to read emotions.

Slughorn burst into the room like an unwelcome, if jolly, thunderstorm, cutting of furious whispers at the back of the room. "Hellooooo, NEWT students! You have a big year ahead of you, so let's crack on shall we?"

Slughorn waddled endearingly to the front desk. Shaun was unaffected, sill harbouring resentment against the man. Snape, too, seemed unconcerned, even in his aura. Perhaps, he only showed emotion when he gave a damn.

When the professor was seated, he made an unwelcome announcement. "Well, class I thought I'd scramble it up a little this year. We're going to be partnering up according to.... first names!"

The entire class groaned in exasperation. Friends threw each other nervous glances, hoping their names would be close enough together to warrant a partnership. Shaun tuned out until the man reached the 'S's:

..."Severus Snape and Sirius Black..." Snape nearly fell out of his chair, and Black yelled out, "NO WAY!" Shaun languidly raised his hand. Slughorn, his attention brought from his register by Blacks shout, deliberately ignored the boy and turned to Shaun. "Yes? Um..."

"Frost, sir," supplied Shaun helpfully. "I arrived this morning."

"Ahh!" cried the professor jovially. "Dumbledore told us about you, but unfortunately, the registers aren't yet self-updating."

"."Shaun said, hints of impatience shining through his 'perfect student' exterior. "My first name is Shaun. Should I not be partnered with Mr. Snape?"

Slaughorn faltered, and checked his register. "Er...Yes, Frost, I think you should be!"

Beside him, Snape sunk into his chair with a grateful and relieved sigh. Black shot him an appreciatory glance, which Shaun accepted gracefully. Things would become... difficult if he couldn't get along with Remus's friends.

Slughorn set them a potion that, while NEWT standard, wasn't particularly difficult, and Shaun was content to allow Snape to take over the actual brewing whilst he collected ingredients and prepared them. Ten minutes into the potion, Slughorn suddenly jumped up and scrawled something on the board, near the end of the instructions. Snape gave an aggravated sigh. Shaun was on his feet before Snape could tell him.

"Powdered hippogriff feathers, correct?" he asked, not really inquiring, just checking. Snape nodded once, not interrupting his stir count. Shaun jogged to the storage cupboard, all the while thinking about this new random power of his. Was it an extension of his healing powers? To help him find damage on the bodies of his patients? But then why allow him to sense emotions?

With all these questions chasing each other around his head, Shaun wasn't actually looked where he was going. It came as a surprise though, when he crashed headlong into Sirius Black.

"Hey! Watch where you're going- Oh... It's you. Frost. Right?"

"Indeed," Shaun inclined his head like a true Slytherin, though he left a trace of a sparking smile on his lips to set the Gryffindor at ease.

Sirius smiled, unsure and awkward. "Well, I apologise for pranking you and Snivellus on your first day." He said, shuffling his feet.

Shaun shrugged, not really caring. "You're forgiven. But," at this, Shaun's voice went cold as ice and his eyes became diamonds: hard and unforgiving, "if you call Snape that in front of me again, I will kill you. Understood?"

Black nodded shakily. His fear and shock were so palpable that the rest of his aura flared into life. Shaun felt his fear for his friends and of his family, his irrational hate of anything Dark, and Slytherin by proxy, his love of the Marauder's, even Peter. Shaun stumbled and smacked into a wall as a result of the shock and clarity of the emotions. They dulled quickly after the first flash, and Shaun was able to stand without assistance. Too late though, Sirius had already stepped to his aid.

Damn Gryffindors and their chivalry.

Supporting him by the elbow, Sirius guided him to the store room. "Thanks," said Shaun. "Had a bit of an episode backther." He managed a confident grin that would certainly crumble under a Slytherin's gaze. Sometimes, he loved Gryffindors.

"What was wrong?" asked the Gryffindor, as if unsure of his ground. As well he should be, thought Shaun, he pranked me less than fifteen minutes ago.

He smiled secretively. "Maybe I'll tell you someday, if you ask the right questions." With that, he picked up his ingredient, and slipped out of the cupboard-like storeroom.

Sirius was left shaking his head at his retreating back, and wondering if he dared get to know Shaun Frost better.

Hooray! Chapter 5! A special chapter for me, no story of mine has ever lasted so long. Maybe you can congratulate me in your REVIEWS...

Question:

Why does Shaun dislike Slughorn so much.

(Nice, easy, canon answer)

Thank you for R&R-ing

Urban Angel