The soft click of shoes on a stone floor echoed through the castle halls. Dying daylight washed the vacant halls in golden light. Outside, wispy clouds drifted lazily across the red sky. Twilight would quickly be replaced by dusk. At this thought, the pace of the footsteps quickened. At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it was imperative that students were not caught out of dormitories after hours. For this particular student, however, the very idea of returning to a room of insufferable peers was overbearing.
Tearing open a door and emerging on an outdoor balcony, the boy finally stopped for breath. A cool evening breeze carried the faint scents of honeysuckle and lilacs. Turning his black eyes skyward, the student sighed. The breeze lifted his long, black hair as he observed the stars that began to sparkle in the sky. Closing his eyes, the boy felt the hot sting of tears. Slowly, the salty water began to run down his face. His breath caught in his throat. Grasping the stone rail he stared out at the blackening landscape before him.
Why me?
He hated people, he decided. All people. They were all rotten, disgusting creatures. Not worth the time. Just as more memories threatened to rush back, the sharp crack of a slamming door caught the boy's attention. Somewhere out in the darkness, some one had unknowingly joined him on the balcony. He was suddenly grateful for the size of the balcony—he wished to stay concealed. A flash of anxiety sliced his belly. Was this newcomer perhaps a teacher? Faintly, a soft muttering reached his ears. The voice was young and seemed to be laced with anger. Definitely another student, the boy reassured himself. Quietly, he moved in the direction of this other person. Keeping his hand on the stone of the rail he rounded a corner. Before him now stood a shadowy figure; no more than a silhouette to his eyes.
It was a girl that he could now see. He was much taller than she, which immediately caused him to question what year she was. Her voice was clear now, quite melodic yet very angry, he noted.

" Break me into a couple more pieces, why don't you? You must think I'm a bloody idiot, well, do I have news for you, you pretentious flea!"

The boy listened silently as the young woman quietly screamed in frustration. He contemplated what the best move to make would be. She was, after all, unaware of his presence.

"Who do you think you are? You-" she broke off to curse several times.

At the sharp intake of her breaths the boy turned to leave. He knew better than to confront some one when they were crying. The girl sniffled once.

" How long have you been standing there?" she asked.

Squeezing his eyes in annoyance, the boy turned back without replying. He watched her turn her head a fraction towards him.

"I know you're there. What have you heard?" she demanded.

The boy shrugged to himself. "Pretty much everything since you got here."

The girl snorted. "Lovely."

She turned to face him as he drew his wand.

"Lumos."

Light washed over both of them, illuminating facial features. The girl was pretty, he observed, not particularly beautiful or anything, but certainly attractive. Her eyes were rimmed with a shade of red from crying, but her irises were a light gray. Her hair was long, straight, and blond. As far as her figure went, she was petite and very skinny.
She surveyed him, taking in every detail of the tall, thin boy that stood before her.

"You're from Slytherin," she observed.

"Yeah, and?"

"I am too."

He looked her over once again. "I recognize you," he said after a moment of silence.

She nodded. "Are you a sixth year?"

"Yeah."

A small smile played around her lips, brightening her features for a second. It seemed to make her instantly prettier. "That explains it then. We're in the same class."

He thought for a moment. "Charms?"

Again she nodded. "I don't believe we've formally met."

"I've never really noticed you before."

A look of uncertainty shadowed her face for a moment. Offering a shy hand in salutation, she introduced herself.

"I'm Thorn O'Conner."

Slowly he took her hand and shook it gently.

"Severus Snape."

_

Sorry this is so short so far I'm currently only writing outlines. When I change things I'll update documents. PROMISE! :D

~Vixen 3