First off, I don't own any of it! Secondly, Sherry you are making such a wonderful job with correcting my text!

Again another chapter ready and betaread : ) Please go on read : )

Chapter 13

Severus was feeling extremely embarrassed and agitated as Professor Nichols called him into his office. Somewhere he got the courage to keep his chin up and with a defensive look on his face he allowed the knowledge of who the teacher was to sink in. He always had that instinctive reaction no matter if he wanted it or not. There had been a few times when he was about to tell his teacher how his fellow students were treating him but as he got the chance he always got cold feet. As more and more years went by he felt the strong urge to keep it all inside. Somehow he thought that if the teachers didn't know, he could believe it didn't happen himself.

Now again he had the opportunity to tell his head of house but he wasn't looking forward to telling the truth. It wasn't even that he didn't want to tell the truth but that if he admitted what happened to the teacher then he would have to admit it to himself. So with a defiant expression he looked at his teacher as he passed him the note. Joe asked him to sit down and he did. For a minute he just looked at his teacher who was reading the note with a frown upon his face. He finally put the note down and looked at Severus who was waiting to be scolded for what he did. He was certain Nichols wouldn't even ask for his reason as no teacher had ever done this before. He was totally surprised when Nichols' look softened and he started to speak in a way he never expected him to and he even smiled a bit.

"Would you like anything to drink? Pumpkin juice, tea, I even have coca cola if you would like that!" Severus just gaped at him. He was anticipating the dreaded talk to come and would have welcomed the scolding over 'soft' tone in his teacher's voice. Somehow he stammered his answer.

"Coca cola would be fine if you really have it." This kind of start always made him nervous, as it never bode any good. In times like this the teacher might speak about the things he wanted to keep silent for some reason. He eyed the teacher suspiciously as he gave him a glass of coca cola.

"I read the note Minerva sent and it says that you punched Mr. Black and he had to go to the hospital wing to get his nose healed. You probably think that I'm just going to put you into detention and that's it. No. I don't think that is the full truth. Now would you care to enlighten me about what really happened? I do know that the Gryffindors are quite biased when it comes to us Slytherins. Most of the other head of houses don't realize how deeply they are going along with that bias, including the teacher that gave you that message. So, now would you care to enlighten me what really happened?"

Severus just sat there thinking about how much he could he tell without giving away too much. He drank some of the coca cola in a play for some time to think about the matter. He certainly didn't want to tell that it wasn't exactly first time this had happened. Perhaps if he revealed some half-truths… Usually half-truths were better than total lies if he ever had to tell anyone about what was going on. With them you could always show them in a different light than they really were. Moreover if he explained too much he knew he wouldn't be able to keep his feelings at bay. If there was anything he hated most it was crying in front of adults. Well, among some of the things. Also his teacher was thinking that this was just house difference and he could keep it that way. After all he didn't want Nichols on his bad side. Calmly outside but nervously inside he cooked up a slight lie.

"I was walking the corridor when these two guys came up along side me. They started to talk trash about us Slytherins and I just wanted them to shut up so finally I hit him!" He tried not to fidget though it was a bit hard as he waited for his teacher's response. He wanted to stay in good light in his head of house's eyes. Finally Nichols answered to him.

"This is along the lines I thought it went. I do understand why you did what you did; however Minerva is insisting for you to have detention. Perhaps you can resist violent the next time?" Severus answered with a total lie for first time when he was speaking with Nichols.

"Of course. However I do believe there won't be any further occurrences in the future. After all this was the first time they tried anything and I doubt they would try anything again." He flashed a small smile as he tried to prove that what he said was the truth. Of course just show a smile to assuring Nichols that everything was all right. And it really seemed to work to his benefit.

"Great! I do think I can speak to her and assure her that detention won't be necessary in this case. You will get a message later if I get it worked out with her. My hopes are up that she will agree as she knows how her Gryffindors can act when it comes to Slytherins." Severus was grateful that Nichols swallowed the bait. He might even get out of his detention. He tried to think about what happened to his advantage but he knew it might enrage the marauders so he wasn't exactly happy. However he wisely held his opinion. What other student would be unhappy in not getting detention? Now was the proper time to act as if he were happy if he ever wanted this to go properly. It took a bit of will power at the moment, as his real feelings were anything but happy. However he did that and forced a smile as he thanked his professor. He only wanted to get away so he could be himself again and luckily Nichols excused him. He left the room calmly and was about to run somewhere when he realized he wasn't really alone.

Lucius had been waiting outside the office and came after him the instant he appeared. He really wanted to be alone and he sighed when he saw his friend. He was honestly touched by the gesture that Lucius really waited for him outside of the professor's office but at the same time he wasn't looking forward to explaining to him what happened. He tried to remind himself that Lucius already knew a part of the truth but still he didn't feel comfortable sharing that information. Moreover he was really looking forward to getting some peace for the moment now that the fiasco was over. He wanted to settle some of his own thoughts. Not to mention how he felt a headache forming. He really wasn't in the best mood just now.

Lucius tried to ask about what he had been doing and to his astonishment he didn't get any answer at first. However soon enough he got some reaction.

"Why the hell you are still interrogating me and asking what's the matter when it's not your problem! I'm tired of people asking me things! It's not as if I ever asked for it!" He realized what he was saying and looked away from Lucius but before that Lucius got a small glimpse of his disgusted expression. Lucius heard the other boy whisper something, which sounded suspiciously like 'why do I always do that', but he couldn't be certain.

They were already near the great hall and they went to eat despite their small argument. For the moment both just ate. Severus stabbed his food in irritation. He started to think over of all he had said and in that instant he realized how wrong he had been as he dumped his annoyance on poor Lucius who had no part in the reason he was irritated to begin with. Moreover he had no idea what had just happened. It was not his friend's fault if he had a bad moment, it was his own problem not anyone else! He then realized what a big mistake he had made again! What If Lucius realized now what a mistake he was making when he hung around him? He certainly wouldn't be the first to give up on his company. He knew he shouldn't count too much on anyone's company but still he didn't want to let Lucius down and be the cause of breaking off the relationship. He vaguely wondered what the hell was wrong with him when he was putting too much value on this one person as he believed he would eventually realize what a loser he was and tell him to get lost. Hadn't everyone else done that before? Greatly regretting his earlier behavior he apologized.

"I…I really shouldn't throw this on you. None of it is connected to you but here I am grumbling about it to you. I'm really sorry for acting as a prat. I just… cannot help it for some reason." Lucius just shook his head.

Lucius was shocked as he saw the well-masked horror and desperation on Severus face. "No, do not apologize for anything…" That got a different reaction than Lucius expected as he realized Severus was clearly misunderstanding his words. Severus' expression became more desperate. Lucius realized his mistake. Someone like Severus would be bound to take it badly. Lucius tried to explain again.

"I really am fine with it!" With one glance he realized that what he said was not enough to dispel the other boy's pointless suspicion and he went on. "Look, if I'd taken what you did and said that badly would I be here speaking with you? Please do not blame yourself! It's the last thing you should do just now. I'm not going anywhere no matter what you try!"

That finally got a positive reaction and Lucius had to snort for thinking about how hard to was convince other boy to his being serious. Severus had smiled even if just a bit as Lucius said the last sentence. Lucius finally let himself relax as he looked at his friend who hadn't eaten anything but was once again moving his food around in his plate. He sighed and pleaded.

"Aren't you going to eat anything? You really should eat something. You didn't even eat breakfast today!" Severus just nodded and ate some of the food. To Lucius Severus didn't look as if he had too much of an appetite. He was at a bit of a loss as to how to cheer Severus up. He thought a bit and came up with an idea. He was still quite a bit behind with some school stuff and he knew that Severus was shining in some of his classes with the skills he displayed. So he persuaded the other boy to teach him how to do those opening and closing charms.

Lucius was contemplating all the things he had learned about Severus but still had lots of questions. Only reason he didn't ask was that he didn't want him to react badly again. Severus still looked as lost as he had before dinner. Taking into account that Severus wasn't upset earlier by their chat during dinner Lucius clearly felt that it had to be connected to the letter somehow. Lucius knew that the letter was from Professor McGonagall so that meant that she had caught him in the middle of something. Only he didn't know what that something was. There was perhaps a quarter of an hour in which she could have noticed something. He couldn't imagine Severus doing some mischief. He had to have met someone. And there could be only two people that were possible. Those stupid Gryffindors!

As he glanced at the Gryffindor table he noticed something intriguing. Those Black and Potter boys were speaking heatedly and throwing occasional glances at them and rolling their eyes as they did. So that was what happened then. They probably met somewhere and something happened. Moreover McGonagall must have interfered in it. He wondered which side she might have taken, as those two might be a handful when it came to ganging up on someone as he had heard. Too bad it looked as if they were too cheerful which didn't bode well for McGonagall being on Severus' side. He knew Severus was not kind of the guy who started a fight but his instincts seemed to be in the proper place as he remembered the punch he got for his own stupidity that morning. Though after all it was worth it because it got Severus finally open up.

As they left the great hall together he picked a vial out of his pocket and gave it to Severus. Severus took it and inspected it. What was curious to Lucius was that Severus smelled it before he started to ask his questions.

"Is this special potion called 'Black Softener'?" Lucius nodded wondering how other boy knew that by just looking and smelling the potion. "I've heard quite a bit about this potion as she… used teach me a few tricks of the potions. (He had a small fight with himself for control of his feelings as this brought up thoughts of his mum again. He tried to pass it off without embarrassing himself but he really wanted to explain the matter, as he really liked to play with potions.) "I was helping her a lot as she was making potions and this was one of them. She always said that many times the original potions had more potency if you changed it just a bit. With this particular potion it really is quite powerful itself but you can do something to make it even more effective. Lets go somewhere where we can talk in peace. Maybe there is an empty classrooms…well maybe tomorrow. But I can show you tomorrow how to improve this one potion. It isn't going to make any difference if I take this today or tomorrow. I'd better wait for one more day so I can improve upon it just a bit. It will taste just a bit more bitter but it doesn't matter with potions."

Lucius was happy to see how enthusiastic Severus was about that matter. Well the mentions of his mother was trying to interfere with it but even it couldn't remove the enthusiasm over the topic as he was speaking the about potion making. Maybe there really was something he could do to cheer the other boy up if he ever needed it. He had never realized it before but Severus had been quite good in that one class and being honest he seemed to be natural in potions. Perhaps it was because of his mother teaching.

They kept talking about different stuff and before they noticed it was about time go to bed. However one thing happened before that. Severus got an owl and as he took the message he noticed it was from Joe Nichols. As he opened the message tensely he found out that his detention had been waved off indeed. They'd just lost fifteen points, which was taking their house score down pretty much as it was only first week. As Lucius saw the message he decided to finally ask the question that had been burning in his mind.

"Oh, where did you almost get detention from?" Severus just sighed as he sat down in the armchair in Slytherins common room. He stared at the green carpet as he told a shortened version of the story to Lucius. After telling Lucius about what happened he looked so miserable staring at the flames as if they were something hypnotic. As Lucius now knew what happened every piece of the puzzle clicked into place and he knew straight away why Severus had been so weird all day. He almost got blamed for the things that were more those two idiots fault in first place. He vaguely wondered if Severus had told Joe everything about what happened. It was more likely that he tried to get it to sound as if nothing too bad had happened; not that he really could blame his buddy that much after all he knew about Severus. He wasn't certain how to advise him but somehow he would try.

"So those same idiots again. And your certain you don't want to ask for a teacher's help?" Severus shook his head fiercely and looked discussed. Lucius sighed, "You perhaps remember my offer during our first days here? Just after I found you sitting in the corridor."

Severus certainly remembered everything from that day. Not only Lucius' offer, unfortunately. Severus just muttered something under his breath and said louder.

"How would I forget? It isn't like it was too boring a day! I'd really prefer some boring days sometimes to the ones I had this week not to mention before coming here. And yes, I do remember what you offered on Monday. You said you would teach me some useful spells and charms. Just then… err… things happened and it just dropped. You know, I could really do with some information on defensive spells." Lucius just grinned.

"Yup, and I was and still am serious about it! I do know quite a few useful things you could use. My dad was very generous with sharing his knowledge of different self-defense spells not to mention other stuff. I couldn't practice it with a real wand but he made me practice without one so I would be ready to use them if the need arose. I could show you some tomorrow, as we have nothing to do luckily. And you know, I'd be honored to see how you could improve that potion."

Hesitating a little he added. "Your mother must have been good at potions if she's done so much to improved upon the potions." He certainly hoped it was ok to make that comment, he hoped that Severus could see through the mention of his mother and not get sad. He saw shadows shading Severus eyes for moment but also a small smile and he congregated himself over the appropriate comment.

"Yeah, she was always playing with potions and allowed me to help her sometimes. We never had to go to St. Mungos as she had everything already on hand if any healing was needed. None of it was bought, everything she herself made. Of course she didn't allow me to do too dangerous things but some easier stuff and she was always explaining everything about the different ingredients. However I got permission to look when she was making even more dangerous stuff. It was real interesting. At school in chemistry class it was never as enjoyable as most of the work was done in pairs… it's getting late. I think we should go to sleep!" Severus was about to finish the sentence when his demeanor became cold again. Lucius sighed and agreed with him and followed his friend to their room. This night both boys were again lost in thoughts and sleep eluded them late into the night.

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Now first. Thanks a lot for you review Kendra! Now I wanted to say something which I totally wonder... It seems there is 23 readers who read that last few chapters... where is your reviews? I really would appreciate if you use a bit more of your time and gimme one small review! You know it gives me always muse when I get your reviews! I don't think it kills you to give a few words!