The Butterfly Effect

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, it's nice to know what parts people like/dislike :) This chapter introduces 3 new characters, 2 of which are mentioned briefly in the books, and a third of my creation.

Thanks to Professor Radar for pointing out that I mixed up Avery and Mulciber in this chapter a few times :) I began with their roles switched, but decided to change them as Mulciber was described as more cruel in the books.

Part 3

Severus gave a quick wave goodbye to his mother and pulled his trunk onto the train quickly, relieved that he made it. His father decided to cause an argument with his mother just before they were about to leave, and Severus was worried he would not get to the train on time. What happened if students missed the train? He didn't know, and did not want to find out.

The train whistled and began to move only moments after he had got on. Hauling his trunk behind him, he knew there was no hope in searching for an empty compartment where he could read in peace, as they would all be taken up already. Instead, he headed towards the first compartment that contained someone he recognised.

"Severus," Avery nodded.

"Evander," Severus greeted back. He was sitting next to a dark-haired boy he did not know by name, but knew that he was in the year below him and Avery. His heart sank as he recognised the third person in the compartment; it was a boy in the year above, Mulciber. They had never got on well, as Mulciber was a strong believer of blood purity, and saw even talking to those who were not purebloods as traitorous, and therefore disliked Severus' friendship with Lily. Severus was glad that no one at Hogwarts knew that his father was a Muggle, or he would never hear the end of it from the Slytherins. It was for this reason that he was careful when speaking about his parents, when he rarely spoke about them, and usually just mentioned his mother. The others probably assumed that his father was not around. This was also frowned upon in the pureblood society, but he'd rather them believe that than know the truth.

Keeping a blank expression on his face, and pulled out his transfiguration textbook and began to read, despite having read all of his books multiple times at home. The other boy's conversation was really distracting, however, so he found he could not concentrate. This was unusual, as he tuning out the outside world was a talent of his, one he often used at home.

After an hour or so of failing to take in more than a single sentence, he closed his book and decided to join in their conversation, instead. They were now talking about Quidditch, something Severus did not play himself (he liked to keep both his feet firmly on the ground, thank you very much), but he liked watching, as most of the wizarding population did. The boy he didn't know, who he found was called Darnell, was going to try out for the Quidditch team this year, as two Chaser positions were open now that the previous ones had left the year before.

The rest of the journey passed by quite fast, and Severus found himself enjoying talking to Evander and Darnell, but he wasn't keen on Mulciber, whose first name turned out to be Braxton, as he seemed harsher than the other two. He decided to be civil to him, however. He was surprised that he had begun to feel relaxed, and enjoyed talking to boys his own age, as he usually went out of his way to be alone, and other than that his only friend was female. It was nice to sit and talk about Quidditch (which Lily was never keen on), and their fellow Slytherins as well as some of the other houses, which he didn't really talk about with Lily.

The train eventually pulled into Hogsmeade station, and they climbed in a carriage together, joined by a Ravenclaw none of them knew, who seemed to regret getting into their carriage as soon as he had sat down. The trip passed in a slightly awkward silence, with one of them occasionally commenting, but it was mostly quiet. Severus wished he had not put his book back into his trunk before he left the train, as usually he took one up to the feast with him. He wondered if he should stay with them throughout the feast, or whether they would leave him when they saw the other Slytherins. For the first time in his life, he wished they wouldn't.

Severus spotted Lily climbing out of another carriage, who waved enthusiastically when she spotted him. He nodded back, feeling the other's gazes on him. He could feel Mulciber's disapproving gaze follow him the whole way into the Great Hall, but he did not care what the other boy thought. They weren't friends anyway, and he had no desire to be so.

To his pleasure, Mulciber disappeared as soon as they entered the Great Hall, to sit with some other seventh years. By the time the three of them passed him, they were already in deep conversation.

The feast went much faster than any other feast had before, which Severus attributed to his new...friends? He wasn't sure if they counted, but he certainly enjoyed their company like he didn't enjoy most other peoples. For once, he was thankful for his parents argumentative nature, as without them making him late for the train, he never would have sat in the compartment with them, and would have spent the journey alone, reading or making notes, like he usually did.

Too soon, they were in the dungeons, their stomachs full from the feast, heading to bed. Darnell had already slipped into the fifth years dormitory, but the sixth years was a little further along the corridor which branched off behind the common room. When they reached the door, he headed for his bed, saying a quick 'night' to Evander, as he never had been a man of many words.

"Severus, wait," Evander said. "You know, I always thought you were a bit weird. But you're actually alright."

Severus nodded, before climbing into bed.
_

The first few weeks passed quickly for Severus, who, despite having read his books already and so had already adjusted to the change from OWL's to NEWT level, found himself with more work piling up than ever before. He was glad he had done so much reading over the summer, as it sped up the work he had to do considerably, he couldn't begin to imagine how he would have been able to work without it.

He spent what little free time he had divided between Evander and Darnell, sometimes with Mulciber, to his displeasure, and spending time with Lily.

He was spending a much needed day off, with Lily, in the school grounds. They were sitting underneath a small tree, making the most of the weather before winter approached. There weren't many students around, as the day was cool in comparison to the warm days they had at the very start of term. It wouldn't be long before it snowed, the air was getting considerably colder and the days shorter.

"I can't believe we're sixth years already," Lily said, looking out onto the lake. "It seemed like just yesterday you told me about the magical world."

Severus said nothing, and Lily did not expect him to. Most of their friendship was based around sitting together, working together, reading together. They didn't need to talk, happy enough just to sit be in each other's presence. When they did talk, it was mostly Lily who provided most of the conversation, although neither of them minded.

"I remember crossing the lake, on those boats. In less than two years we'll be crossing it again, for our graduation ceremony."

Severus remembered that day, too. He had looked for Lily amongst the crowd, but there were already four in her boat, two other girls and that Lupin boy. He remembered the feeling of disappointment and instead took a place in the first boat he came across. That was the first time he worried that they would not stay friends during their time at Hogwarts.

"It's gone by so fast," she sighed, pulling a flower of out the grass and playing with it.

"Do you have any idea what you want to do after Hogwarts?" she asked, looking up at him.

"No," he admitted. He was thinking about something to do with Defence Against the Dark Arts, or Potions, but what could he do with DADA? The only jobs which require it were Aurors or some other branches of the Ministry of Magic, and he had no desire to work for the Ministry.

"Sev, I'm worried about you," she admitted, nervously chewing on her lower lip.

He looked up, surprised. She was telling the truth, her green eyes shone with concern.

"Me?"

"Yes," she replied, closing her eyes for a few seconds. "I've noticed you've become friends with Mulciber. It's just, he seems... cruel."

"But he's not…"

"He is!" Lily said, getting frustrated. She was really worried about him, but he seemed to not want to listen. "I have no idea what he did to Mary the other day, but she's been really upset since. And I know that him and his bunch of seventh year friends are You-know-who supporters, and they're planning on joining him when they graduate."

"Lily," he said, and the sound of her name seemed to calm her down. "I'm not friends with Mulciber. I don't like him, either. He just likes to sit with us sometimes; I think he's Evander – Avery's cousin."

"Oh."

They sat in a comfortable silence, before Lily piped up again.

"Sev, can you promise me something?"

"Yes?"

"Promise me that no matter that happens, you won't become a Death Eater."

"But I wouldn't any…"

"Please, for me," she said, looking up at him with big eyes.

"I'm never going to become a Death Eater," he said, and the big smile he received in return took his breath away.