Speeches and Snapes

Belongs To JKR

After what must've been the fiftieth time of looking at the rules Dumbledore presented him Severus decided it was best to focus on getting ready for the inevitable departure to Slytherin House and the feast, though they were arguably, just as stressful. After packing up what little items he'd strewn about the room Severus attempted to clear his head and think. Thaddeus' damnable words remained stuck inside his mind picking away at him whenever he gained a moment of peace.

Severus attempted to brush off what he did as some remnant of childhood affection for Lily, but Severus knew he was kidding himself. Severus wasn't an expert in the matters of the heart, he would freely admit he loved Lily to himself, that caused him no fear, what did though, was the idea of doing something completely illogical as a response to it.

"It's time to go." A familiar voice called

Severus looked up to see Lily in doorway, her prefects badge and uniform crisp and clean.

"Oh, yes, thank you" He said.

Severus turned his head toward the window but sensed Lily hadn't left yet. He heard her clear her throat and he turned toward her again.

"Severus, I'm…I wanted to say…..Thank you, again…..I'm really grateful, truly but….things are just, they're so complicated for me and you…..I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful for what you did it but…..but we're so different now, I don't know how things can go back to the way they were."

If only you knew Lily. Severus thought dryly

"Maybe they can't, maybe we just have to take things as they are" He said darkly.

Severus brought his hands up to his head to run his hands through his hair but stopped midway considering its length.

Good God I hate this haircut.

Lily stifled a giggle.

"You do look different Severus without your hair."

At Severus' grimace she quickly amended.

"Not bad, just different"

Despite himself Severus felt the corners of his lips turn up.

Did Lily just say I look nice?

But soon the reality of their situation descended on them once more.

"Severus, I'm….I'm not saying we can't be friends again but what you're involved in, and who you're involved with….it just, it just doesn't fit right with who I am"

"So you're giving me an ultimatum?" Severus said "I do what you say and you grant me the pleasure of your company?"

"No Severus, your life is your own, I'm done trying to run it for you. I'm just telling you what I need from you in order for us to get back on the right track"

That being said Lily left the room with a twirl of her skirts.

She does enjoy leaving dramatically.

The students slowly departed the train, each one searching for friends either on the train or at Hogwarts, all of them eager to tell their Christmastime adventure stories. Severus made a beeline away from Rosier, Mulciber, and Avery, attempting to make it to the common room, even though he knew it was simply putting off the inevitable.

He was still sure he wanted to be in the Death Eaters, at least he thought so? Every time he thought he had a firm handle on his own thoughts and decisions doubts would creep in like water through a crack.

When Severus finally reached the common room he threw all his luggage to the side haphazardly and sat down on his bed with his hands on his face.

Maybe I can join the Death Eaters then protect Lily from them invisibly, I get the power, and if I play my cards right and show her what I've done I'll get the girl.

The only problem was that teachers were going to be watching his every move, no doubt he'd be banned from the restricted section of the Library as well. Slughorn was a pushover, but when it came down to the Ministry and his students, Severus knew who he'd choose. He couldn't make any inroads with a group if he couldn't fucking interact with them.

As long as Lily and Dumbledore keep their mouths shut I'll be golden for no-

"Snape" Said an all too familiar voice

Severus' head shot up, Rosier was smirking at him.

"Nice haircut"

Severus gave him a surly nod

"What is it Rosier?"

"Why are you avoiding us Severus?"

"I told Mulciber I just wanted some time alone."

"I'm sure you get enough of that" Rosier said with a snort.

When Severus didn't respond Rosier continued.

"Anyway I came to get you, apparently Dumbledore has some speech he wants to give us, it's only supposed to take a few minutes."

Speech?

"Why?"

"Why does the old fool do anything? Senility catching up with him? Anyhow it doesn't matter we all have to gather in the main hall"

"All right I'll meet you there."

Rosier raised an eyebrow

"I have to unpack a few things I'll be there soon"

After waiting for a few minutes Severus made his way to the Main Hall. The crowd was thick enough he could stay in the back listening without worry of being noticed by Dumbledore. Eventually his voice wafted above the murmur of students voices.

"Now I've gathered you from your common rooms today to congratulate you all on what I hope was a wonderful Christmas break but also to tell you something that recently happened over the break to two of our students here."

Oh no.

Severus desperately prayed that this speech wasn't going in the direction he thought it was

"Now these are troubled times for all of us, and I know that tensions between houses have reached something of a fever pitch at certain moments. But these two students are shining examples of inter-house cooperation. A few days ago Miss Lily Evans of Gryffindor House- someone I'm sure you're all familiar with, she's an all around delight- fell into a freezing river while walking, she very well could have died if not for the actions of a person who hails from Gryffindor's rival house, Slytherin. The person in question, without thought to himself or the MUGGLE present with Miss Evans threw himself over the ledge headfirst into the freezing water and pulled her to safety"

The crowd was now whispering even louder at this interesting development, speculating on whom it could be.

"This student then rescued her using magic, risking not only his life, but his wand, if he survived. He saved her in broad daylight from certain death and was tried by the Wizengamot for underage magic as a response. This young man put aside house differences for the sake of Lily Evans' life, a person whom if I'm not mistaken has no small amount of ill will towards him. This young man, ladies and gentleman is Severus Tobias Snape"

With those words Dumbledore sealed his fate, as Severus' entire class turned their heads toward him including Rosier, Avery, Mulciber and a very shocked James Potter.

Well, shit.