Okay, here you go, another chapter, (pretty short though :( ) AND one with Sev. That said, you can kind of guess what the chapter'll be about based on the title of the chapter. Just my interpretation on what could have happened. Please Read and REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!

PS: Thx a lot, Falling.Twilight, 4 remaining my faithful reviewer :) xoxo

PPS+ everyone else who ACTUALLY reviews!!! (glances at the crowd of other ppl)

Chapter 12: Why Potter?

Severus was sitting in a hard, high-backed chair in the Common Room, laughing with Avery, Nott, Rosier, Lestrange, and Black. Many newspaper clippings lay on the floor with headings of various attacks on Muggle-borns.

"Those Gryffindors are such egg-heads," said Avery loudly.

"Especially Potter. He makes a scene at Quidditch matches and thinks everyone should treat him like royalty," said Rosier, imitating Potter messing up his hair.

Everyone gave out a wholehearted laugh, especially Bellatrix Black, who was shrieking with laughter.

Just then, a first year boy came timidly to their group.

"I-I'm s-s-supposed t-to give this to Nott," he stuttered.

He handed Nott a scroll of parchment tied with a violet ribbon.

Nott took it, his face brick red and bellowed at the boy, "Get lost, then!"

The boy scampered away as fast as he could.

"What is that, Nott?" said Lestrange, snatching it away.

"Bit of parchment," Nott mumbled, trying and failing to look as though he didn't have a clue what it was.

Lestrange read it and threw it on the ground.

"What a load of rubbish," he said. "Well, have fun at Slughorn's party."

"You got invited to one of those?" said Rosier.

Nott didn't answer.

"Well," said Avery, sneering, "I suppose if you don't need it, I can get rid of it for you. Evanesco."

The parchment vanished.

"Well," said Lestrange, "I think Slughorn's wasting his time. I supposed he invited that Evans girl as well?"

Nott nodded.

"Shame," said Rosier in a tone of mock-despair, "good looks have to be wasted on scum like that."

Severus slightly clenched his fist.

"Everyone thinks she's such a princess," said Bellatrix acrimoniously. "And according to the latest rumors, I don't think much of her taste."

All of them snickered except for Severus.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Oh, haven't you heard?" Lestrange asked as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"She's going out with Potter now," said Avery monotonously.

Severus tried to laugh with the rest of them as the conversation proceeded, but he had an absolutely horrible, sinking feeling in his stomach.

XXXXX

As Severus tried to fall asleep, Avery's voice echoed in his head; "She's going out with Potter now."

He felt like throwing something; like smashing Potter's inflated head into the walls every time he remembered that sentence.

Why Potter?

Yeah, sorry, that's pretty much the whole chapter. I liked the end like that, so…