AN: Oh me. Oh my. I haven't updated in a long time. So so sorry. I got caught up in life and time just flitted by. I'll be updating more (on both my stories) but then again... I did get pokemon X... No. I'll try harder. I'll be more disciplined!

Chapter 8

The Invitation

Severus stood on the train platform, feeling slightly lost. Around him, people laden with trunks and animal cages bustled in a rush to get to summer. Or the bathroom. Despite the passengers being magical people who could clean most anything with a swish of a wand, the bathrooms on the train were filthy. Severus stood by his trunk and scanned the crowd, looking for a familiar red. He and Lily Evans might not be on speaking terms anymore, but surely he could still get a lift to Cokeworth from her father. He spotted Lily waiting near the benches. She fiddled with the buttons on her jacket while her attention jumped from person to person. Severus would have liked to wait with her like always, but he knew that would not end well. Lily Evans was still angry with him - he felt it.

Severus decided he would wait until her parents showed up before approaching her. Dragging his trunk, he headed to the another set of benches and plopped himself down on one. He glanced in Lily's direction. She had also taken a seat but was still on the lookout for her parents.

Severus' heart jumped to his throat. The floaty form of Regulus Black was making its way towards him.

Since his disaster with Lily, Regulus Black had taken to attempting conversation with Severus at every possible chance he could. The younger boy did not give a reason for his sudden friendliness, but Severus could only assume that it had to do with Severus' aptitude in academics and the fact that he was no longer associating with a mudblood. Yet, those reasons did not seem enough to explain the conundrum that was Regulus Black's overtures. The Slytherin Black often had an odd look on his face during odd parts of odd conversations - particularly about the Marauders and their annoying pranks. Not that I gossip. The odd looks aside, it almost seemed that the boy genuinely enjoyed conversing with him. If Severus had to pin-point one reason why he thought Regulus Black was so interested in his company, it would be because the blue-eyed boy was lonely.

The blue-eyed boy tipped his head in greeting and trotted to the bench. Severus stiffened and continued looking in Lily's direction.

"How's it, Snape?" said Regulus, taking a seat. "Waiting for someone?"

"Where's your trunk?" Severus asked instead.

"A house-elf takes me home. It's with it." Regulus sat back - almost slouching. "So... "

"Who I'm waiting for is none of your business," Severus said, slowly. "Go home, Black."

Halfway across the platform, Lily Evans jumped from her seat to greet her mother and father. Severus watched her hug them fiercely. Her sister, Petunia Evans, stood off to the side, regarding the whole affair with a look of disdain plastered on her face. She did not even need to be there, so her behaviour came off as rude - at least to Severus.

Severus stood and grabbed his trunk by the handle. "I think I'll head - "

"Alright," Regulus cut in, standing as well " But I just want to extend an invitation."

Severus sighed, impatiently. "An invitation?"

"Yes. To my house. Some time during the holidays."

Severus glanced towards the Evans' family once more. Lily's father had a grip on her trunk and the group seemed to be ready to leave.

Severus shifted the trunk's handle in his hand. He turned to Regulus who was looking at him expectantly.

"I don't know about that," said Severus, "I'm quite busy. And I have to go now."

"We're friends," Regulus blurted.

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Friends."

"Well, sort of for now. But we could be friends." Regulus gestured wildly with his hands, trying to find the right words. "And you're powerful."

"Powerful?"

"Look," said Regulus, lowering his voice. " I can't say exactly what I mean to say here, but we could be friends."

"And I'm powerful," Severus added with a smirk.

"Well, yes."

Severus couldn't spot Lily or her family in the dwindling crowd. They had left.

"You say you have a house elf?"