Chapter Seven

"Severus, can you assist me on this?"

Snape snapped out of the daydream he had been having about his date with Lily the night before. He looked up from where he'd been hunched over, staring blankly at his Transfigurations essay.

Malfoy was staring at him, cold eyes wide.

"Aah!" Severus exclaimed, and popped up, whirling around. "What are you doing?"

"A little jumpy today, are we? What were you thinking about?" Lucius' voice seemed strung out- it was missing its usual punch of cruel sarcasm.

"Did you call me Severus before?"

"Yes…?"

"Why? You've been referring to me as Snape for the past four years, nearly. Need a favor, do you?" Severus eyed his peer skeptically. "What homework is it you want me to look over, then?" he barked.

Lucius sulked. "Why would I only be speaking to you for that?"

"Why are you being nice to me?"

"Here," Lucius stated lazily, shoving his paper toward Snape. "Thought you'd looked it over, like the old times."

"Old times? What the fuck, Malfoy? Maybe you don't remember, but you disowned me for much cooler people."

"I wouldn't say they're cooler. Just better dressed…" He thought a moment. "Yes, I suppose they are cooler, I mean-"

Severus was in no mood for this. Just when I have something important in my life, Malfoy wants to take me back so I can be his homework slave again.

Severus shrugged. "I don't care what you say, Malfoy. I'm having a good week, and nothing is going to mess with it, all right?" He grabbed the paper, and surveyed the first few sentences. "Honestly, you've spelled 'incantation' wrong, and your thesis is ridiculous." He passed it back to Malfoy.

"Thanks. You always were the honest one." Lucius' eyes glowed hungrily, and Snape could tell now that this had nothing to do with reports. "So, you've been having a good week? First time in years, is it?"

"Pretty much," Severus told him dryly, and bent over his essay once more.

"Does this have anything to do with you coming in late, never studying after classes, and being a bit more- productive then usual?"

Severus turned red. "I've been busy with school work!" he bellowed.

"Where at? And apparently, this school work puts you right in the mood. Where can I get some of it?" Lucius inquired snidely.

"You don't know what you're talking about! You have absolutely no clue whatsoever. I've been studying, and just because you can't find me doesn't mean I'm running amok in the Forbidden Forest or something!"

Malfoy's eyes flickered. "Dear, dear, dear. You're hiding something awfully big, or else you wouldn't have had to paint me that quite adorable picture of you frolicking around with the centaurs in the woods, though I must say it is very funny. You are the most predictable person I know."

"Anyone who hangs out with Bellatrix Black would say that, now wouldn't they?" Severus muttered, but it was too late. Lucius was on one of his rants.

"Welcome to the life of Severus Snape. Please disregard body odor, bad hair, strange temper, and lack of courageousness." Snape gritted his teeth. Other Slytherins were listening now, chortling. "Studying is done in the library, or the common room. Directly after classes, you study, study, study. You never fly off so quickly after dinner, and who are you fooling? You've never taken as many baths in all the years you've been here than this week's total combined. Correction about the title of this study: It's actually called the lack of life of Severus Snape. Tell me why that's changed, Sev."

"Nothing's going on and don't call me that!"

Lucius grabbed Severus' arm and latched on. "Tell me and I'll leave you alone. No more insults. We can be friends again. You can hang out with the Populars."

Severus could not deny that this was a good offer. Beneficial and advantageous, if Severus got introduced the crowd Lucius was now hanging around, he could almost guarantee himself success. Not to mention being free of torment from fellow Slytherins.

"I told you, Lucius Malfoy, nothing is going on that I would like for you to know. Now get your hand off of me," Severus growled in a guttural tone.

Lucius snorted, and gave Snape's arm one last, excruciating squeeze. "See you around, Snivelly." He swaggered away.

Bloody fucking prat, I wish I could curse him to make him ugly. But I don't care, I don't care. As long as Lily likes me, than I don't need Slytherins, I don't need Malfoy, and I don't need to be a Popular.

And with this, he set his Transfigurations work aside, and began to write Lily a long note.

-,-

The day was becoming too boring to bear. Severus had only seen Lily from a far today. He had no classes with her to speak of, all were either only Slytherins or double with the Ravenclaws. Snape's insides were positively insane- he was nervy, full of butterflies, and on the constant lookout for Evans. Every flash of auburn made him turn. Every Gryffindor tie made him look over the scene again. Every time he heard a girl talking, he was sure it was her.

I should be in Saint Mungo's, he thought amusedly. He'd been infatuated with her long before this, certainly. But back then, there had been no promises of meeting, no way of knowing how good touching her could actually feel. He wanted more.

In anguish, he realised his next class was being a helper in Potions for first years. Dumbledore had set it up for him, saying he needed to pass on his talents to aspiring students. Severus loved the power, but hated the stupid questions they asked. He didn't really know why Dumbledore was trying to be nice to him. He actually kind of liked the Headmaster, but he had trouble understanding why the Headmaster would like him.

This period always went the same. Snape would start out helping the children by walking around and giving them tips. Soon, he'd be frustrated and make a few of them cry, and Slughorn would plead desperately for him to grade reports and bottle ingredients.

Today, though, despite the Malfoy encounter, Severus was in quite high spirits. No one cried, and when one little boy mixed his potion wrong and it exploded, Snape merely showed him what he'd done wrong. Slughorn looked touched. He even stopped class a few minutes early because everyone was doing so well.

"Well done, all," he praised, strolling around the room proudly. "I will make an announcement to you now that I am certain you will be delighted to hear. Our prized Quidditch player, James Potter, is graduating this year, along with a few other notables- beaters Lucius Malfoy and Isabelle Crane, to name a few. Anywho, the staff and I have prepared quite a treat for you all this weekend. We will be holding our very own Quidditch tournament, in which our teams will play each other in a series of matches this Saturday, beginning at five in the morning. We will spend all day on the field, only stopping to have a delicious picnic lunch and dinner. This way, we can honor our great stars before they leave Hogwarts."

The first years "oohed" and "aahed". Severus stifled a cough.

Quidditch all day? Take me now. I'll probably die of boredom. Quidditch is so, so, so, SO stupid.

Somewhere between the first and the fourth 'so', Severus was suddenly struck by a magnificent idea. The thought of it sent pleasurable shivers up his spine. He couldn't wait until the end of class.

When the bell sounded, he hurried over to Professor Slughorn.

"Professor?"

"Mister Snape! What a pleasure it was, today!" Slughorn commented, sticking out his hand.

Snape shook it, his mind on other matters. "Thank you, sir, but-"

"I never thought I'd say this, but Dumbledore was right. You had some talent with these students today. I was impressed."

"Thank you, I-"

"Have you ever considered taking over this class when I'm old and grey? Oh, I know what you're thinking! 'You're all ready pretty old!'"

"No, not at all, sir, I wasn't thinking-"

"You could teach them all of your tricks. Run me right out of a job, you sneak!"

"Professor!"

"Yes?" he blinked, having been snapped out of his trance.

Severus drew in a breath. Finally, honestly… "Some of us don't like Quidditch. And, it isn't that we hate it- it's just, we're dreadfully busy and have an awful lot of work to do. Is there any way some of us could skip a bit of the match tomorrow and study in our common room?" It's not REALLY a lie.

Slughorn looked a bit disappointed in Snape again. "You'd miss this great event?"

"I have to, if possible."

"I think that is just fine, Severus. Though a little boring, and you could use some sun-"

Snape smiled. "Thank you! See you later!" He hurried out.

Professor Slughorn stared blankly after him.