Chapter 3:

The moment Severus bit down on the hissing snake he immediately leapt backwards. The clang of plates and the sharp noise of silverware falling to the floor momentarily distracted everyone from the fact that Severus had rolled backwards off his bench and onto the floor. He felt his ivory cheeks flush a bright red, Lily must think of me as a laughing stock. Maybe if I just crawl out of here the caretaker will let me leave unnoticed. Except, right then, he saw two booted feet stomp right in front of his eyes. No...not right tonight, he thought.

"Looks like Snivelly's got himself a bit of treacle pudding in his hair. As if it wasn't greasy enough, he probably won't even notice the extra food in his hair." James Potter smirked. His tone was dark and condescending, which was usual, but only when he spoke to members of the Slytherin house.

Severus stood on his feet and brushed off the sticky dark pudding from his robes, "Just leave it, Potter." He rolled his eyes, but when he did so they met Lily's brilliant green eyes. He shoved his dark locks out of his hair and stormed out of the hall, he no longer wanted to deal with the dense students in that room.

That Potter was nothing but a thorn in his side. He was the reason Lilly didn't talk to him. Or even look at him. Lilly had at one time been his friend in childhood.

He had grown to love her as more than just a friend. Up until the point when Potter had pushed him so far over the edge he called her a Mudblood. He still regretted it. She hated him. It was Potter and all of his precious friend's faults. Now Potter had his eyes on her, as he always had.

Severus stopped outside the great hall and leaned up against the wall. He tried combing the food from his hair. It was stuck slightly. All he could think was, Damn that Potter.

"Greasy Snapey." Peeves, the Poltergeist floated by and laughed at Severus.

"Greasy Snapey sat in the Great Hall,

Greasy Snapey had a Great Fall!

He ate a snake, that he thought was cake,

Greasy Snapey was laughed at by one and all!" Peeves danced through the air and Severus was almost too upset to get on him. This year was already off to a great start!

"Shut up Peeves." A redhead Ravenclaw Severus knew from potions came out, pointing her wand at Peeves. "Or I tell everyone that it was really you who was making the smoke in the seventh floor corridor!"

Peeves laughed. "I did not do that silly!" Peeves made a silly face at her.

"Well they would more likely believe me than you. I have straight A's remember?" The Ravenclaw girl said putting her hand on her hip.

Peeves' transparent face fell. He floated away quickly.

Severus looked over to the girl. Was she also here to make fun of him? Then why was she shooing Peeves away?

The red headed girl, with a mock flick of her wand, sent Peeves running the opposite direction. She stuffed her wand back into the pocket of her robes and raked her hair from her eyes, "Heh. Sorry about that. Peeves gets on everyone's nerves. I think maybe, if he had a friend, he wouldn't be so cruel to everyone."

"You preach about such things as if someone would want to be his friend." said Severus with a tone of humor to his voice. He couldn't help but watch her hair fall over her shoulder, it was just like Lily's. The way it cascaded down her back-

"I would be his friend if he stopped being cruel. It's a vicious cycle." She grinned delightedly, "I'm June. June Williams." Her eyes drifted from his face to his robes that were covered in pudding, "And you are?"

Severus watched as her wide brown eyes examined his appearance. He almost liked the way she studied him. It wasn't in a judging way, it was as if she wanted to help him, or she felt sorry for him, "Severus Snape, but I'm sure you already knew that from the rhyme that Peeves was singing so well." The way she laughed at his not-so-funny jokes made him smile. She was the first person to be kind to him since Lily had stopped speaking to him. It was a nice change of commonality.

"June!" An annoying little Hufflepuff with a foreign accent announced coming from the great hall. "You cannot escape me forever." The way he rolled his 'Rs' annoyed Severus deeply. The kid always annoyed Severus, mainly because he was more strange than he was, and even he was made fun of less. Snape looked away, the foreign mudblood was probably going to get a date with this girl before Snape could even consider it.

"Fez!" June said raising her shoulders. "You know how I feel about you. You are only good as a friend."

"You say that now my Goddess!" Severus was ready to fall over laughing as Fez spoke. "But when I am even more beautiful, you will want me!" Fez blew her a kiss and slid back into the Great Hall.

June rolled her eyes and bit her lip looking back to Snape. "I better go. Nice to meet you, Severus!" She walked away leaving him alone with his thoughts.

"Goodbye," Snape lingered on her name, "June."