I am on a roll! Woohoo! I am feeling pretty victorious, if I may say so myself! :) Yeah, I know what y'all all must be thinking: "What is wrong with this girl? She's totally crazy!" Oops, I'm rambling! My bad! :) Anyways, back to the story (slowly heating up, huh?). But before I forget... Uh, yeah, the only thing I own is a piece of chicken. Want some?

"I have to WHAT?"

Severus Snape's roar could be heard throughout the entire castle. Cats exploded, students ears bled, and any bird within twenty feet of the castle immediately turned into fried chicken, regardless of its species. No, just kidding.

But Severus could feel the blood rushing to his head. He stared at Dumbledore, barely able to believe what the old man had just said.

"Severus, please be calm. Think of it as helping a fellow Slytherin!" Dumbledore proclaimed cheerfully.

When Snape's glare did not lighten the slightest bit, the headmaster leaned over the table and murmured, "I will slip in an extra one hundred points to Slytherin if you agree."

Severus thought it over, weighing the pros and cons in his head. "Fine," he agreed grudgingly, and Dumbledore smiled brightly. "Excellent. You can start on him tonight in the Potions classroom." The Slytherin nodded, unable to believe what he had just agreed to.

"Cissy, guess what?" Regulus cried, grabbing his cousin's arm tightly and sitting next to Narcissa on the couch.

"What is it?" the blonde asked as she attempted to pry his nails from her arm.

"Severus is going to tutor me in Potions!"

"And this is a good thing how?" Narcissa asked, raising a perfect eyebrow.

"Cissy! It's good because Severus and I can finally spend time together!" Narcissa stared at her cousin, who was gazing dreamily out of the window.

"You're insane," she finally decided, and he pouted. "Ah, Cissy, can't you at least be happy for me?" he whined, fixing her with puppy eyes. "I'm glad that you're happy, Reg, but why would you want to get tutored? Did you do that on purpose? Either way, Auntie's gonna kill you when she finds out, and so is Sirius-" Narcissa bit her lip at the expression on her cousin's face.

"Aw, Reg... Tell you what, I won't mention it to Auntie, okay?"

"Really? Thank you, Cissy!" Regulus wrapped his arms around her neck, and she laughed at his exuberance.

"Will you walk me to the Potions Room when it's time for my lesson? I have it scheduled at seven," the boy said nervously, chewing at his lip.

"Sure. So now you're nervous," Narcissa teased, and he nodded quickly. "Of course! I like Severus like crazy, but he also scares me when he's mad, and I'm getting this crazy vibe that he's mad..."

Far away in the library, Severus Snape twitched. He had the feeling someone was talking about him.

Biting his lip again, Regulus anxiously knocked on the door. The elation had given way to panic. What if it didn't go well? What if they didn't get along? What if, Regulus' childish mind asked, Severus got mad and threw a potion on him, then left him screaming or dying on the floor?

He was so worked up he didn't even notice when the door swung open, and started terribly when Severus snarled, "Well?"

Regulus snapped into attention and worriedly gazed up at Severus.

"Yes?"

"Hurry up, get in so we can start the blasted lesson," the older boy ordered, and Regulus obeyed with slumped shoulders. He stood in front of the cauldron and stared at the board.

Snape's elegant, crabby writing was scrawled on the board, spelling out the words "Draught of the Living Dead".

"You know that potion?" Regulus nodded.

"Make it." Severus monitored the boy as he began to prepare for the potion, taking ingredients from cabinets and drawers. "Severus?" the Black boy's voice was small and childish.

He was stretching for a cabinet. "I can't reach."

Sighing, Severus reached out and grabbed the jar for the other, who thanked him and continued his work. Severus watched Regulus work. He was unusually fidgety, biting his lip and gazing down at the directions.

"Do you need help?" Severus asked grudgingly, and the Black boy's whole face brightened.

"Will you help me?" he asked eagerly. Severus stood next to him, grumbling, "Next time, ask, stupid."

Instead of getting angry, Regulus was glowing. He was almost pretty...

Shaking his head, the older boy showed Regulus how to stir the potion correctly and chop up ingredients.

"Thank you, Severus," Regulus thanked him almost shyly, returning to stirring. "No, no, you're doing it wrong!"

In his haste to fix the potion, Severus grabbed the fellow Slytherin's hands and showed him how to stir.

The moment that he touched Black's hand, a powerful, almost painful spark shocked him, and both boys pulled away.

"You shocked me!" Regulus exclaimed, and Severus clutched his hand, snarling, "I shocked you?" He didn't know that a shock could hurt so badly.

"Oh, well," Regulus shrugged and continued making the draught. "Is this good?" Severus inspected the potion carefully. "It could be a tad thicker, but it isn't the worst," he finally replied, and the raven-haired boy beamed.

"Yes!" he cheered, bottling a beaker of the potion. "Leave it, I'll clean it out," Snape announced carelessly. "Thank you, Severus!" With a small wave, the youngest Black was off. Sighing, Severus rested his head on the counter. Who knew a simple lesson could be this complicated?

"I heard you've been tutoring Regulus Black."

Looking up from his book, Severus was startled to see Lily.

She stood in front of his table at the library, watching him intently. He was completely in love with her; everything about her had him transfixed. From her smooth white skin to her long wavy red hair to her sparkling emerald eyes, he adored her.

"Lily?" he asked, and she gazed down at him coolly. "Yes. Is it true that you're tutoring him?" she demanded, and he nodded, temporarily mute.

"Well, Sirius told me to deliver a message for you. He said that if you so much as lay a hand on his baby brother and/or make him cry and/or do something terrible to him, he'll make your life miserable," she informed him.

"Like he already hasn't," the Slytherin sneered in spite of himself.

"He means it this time." "I might as well check into the Hospital Wing in advance," he muttered, and he was surprised when she laughed. God, he had forgotten how beautiful she was when she laughed.

"You've got a point there," she nodded, smiling as she sat down next to him.

Madam Pince gave them a mistrustful look, but Severus nodded at her and she walked off. "Don't I always? So, how are you?" It was incredibly awkward asking her that, but he was determined to at least try to mend the broken bridge of their friendship.

"I'm doing pretty well, actually. I'm nervous about classes, but thank goodness N.E.W.T.S. aren't for a few months," she sighed in relief, leaning on the table.

She kept talking, but all Severus noticed was how pink her mouth was and how white her teeth were.

"How about you, Sev?" she asked, obviously warmed up to him since he had made her laugh. She called him Sev again. Severus thought his heart might explode, he was so happy. "I am well," he replied, careful not to mess his chance up. "Really? That's great. Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to-"

Lily's face suddenly changed, and at that moment Regulus ran up to Severus and grabbed his arm, crying, "Hi, Severus!"

"Uh, I see that you're busy. I'll, um, see you later," the redhead announced awkwardly, grabbing her things and hurriedly walking away.

Severus thought he might explode. "Was that Evans?" Regulus asked, mildly intrigued, but Severus yanked his arm away. "Don't talk to me!" he snarled, stalking away as quickly as he could.

"He's mad at me now, Cissy," Regulus sighed, tugging at one of his curls. "Well, you scared off that Lily girl," Narcissa rolled her eyes and reclined in one of the soft green chairs.

"I'm an idiot!" He pulled his hair tightly, scowling at himself. "You just have to control your Sirius-like urges," the blonde girl soothed, wrapping an arm around her cousin.

"True," he agreed as he bit his lip in thought.

"During your next lesson, maybe you could apologize," Narcissa suggested. "I will! Thanks, Cissy!" he beamed again. It will be okay again, he assured himself, pushing the doubts away.

"Severus?"

It was Regulus' second lesson. The room was extremely quiet; neither boy was talking, but for different reasons. Severus because he was so angry with Regulus and Regulus because he was unsure of what to say.

He finally broke the silence, and he watched Severus closely for his reaction.

The older boy did not look up from his potions book. Regulus continued to stir the potion in his cauldron, which was turning a beautiful purple.

"I'm sorry that I ruined your chance with Evans," he apologized, looking down. "I should've realized how happy you were and stopped-"

"Enough!" Severus snapped his book shut. His cheeks were bright red as he stood and hissed, "Do not pretend that you know anything about me!"

Regulus nodded in fear; Severus looked livid, like he was about to kill him.

"Leave!"

In anger, Severus threw the potions book at the younger boy, who ducked. The book fell into the potion. The contents of the cauldron began to bubble furiously, and both boys watched, fascinated.

"It's pretty," Regulus breathed as he stood up, and at that moment, the potion exploded. Purple liquid shot into the air and onto everything; it hit the ceiling, the floors, the windows, the tables, and Regulus.

The Black boy cried out as he was drenched with liquid. The potion had melted off large areas of his robes, leaving exposed skin. His skin was turning red and rashy and beginning to peel off. It was gruesome to watch, but Severus couldn't look away.

"Ow!" Regulus' scream of pain brought the older Slytherin back to the situation; he grabbed Regulus by the arm, and Regulus hissed. Sighing, Severus let go and considered it.

To his displeasure, the only way to hold the boy without rubbing up his rashes was by picking him up bridal style. But he had no choice. The younger boy looked like he was about to pass out. Severus scooped him up quickly and ran to the Hospital Wing.

"What did you do to my brother?"

Severus looked up and saw Sirius Black striding towards him with Narcissa at his heels.

It was late at night in the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey had went to bed, but Severus had volunteered to stay with Regulus. The strangest feeling came to him every time he saw the brutal rashes on the other boy's arms. Madam Pomfrey had put a cream on him, but she said that it may take awhile for the skin to go back to normal.

Now, Sirius was here and obviously pissed. "Reg!" he whispered, standing above his brother. Regulus was asleep, and if not for the rashes, he would look like an angel.

Sirius looked almost tender as he stroked back a curl from his little brother's face. Snape wisely kept his mouth shut instead of mocking the older Black, but Sirius snapped up all the same.

"What did you do to him?" he demanded. "His potion exploded," Severus said. It wasn't the whole truth, but it was close enough, right?

"Bullshit! What did you do to him?" Narcissa pitched in with a snarl. It was bizarre how much alike the Blacks looked, especially when angered.

"I didn't do anything!" Severus protested, but they both had their wands drawn.

"On three?" Sirius asked Narcissa, who nodded. "One..." he supplied. "Two..." Narcissa smirked, and just as they were about to cry "three", a weak voice asked, "Sirius?"

I'm leaving this chapter on a cliff-hanger; experimenting with my writing... But I've gotten reviews, and they make me so happy, I gotta say some thank-yous...

To green24: (from Ch. 1) Thank you! It takes me awhile to form the ideas, but I will keep updating!

To RiverPhoenix: (from Ch. 1) I felt like writing something really cute... Regulus will have a lot of plans, trust...

To Regulus00: (from Ch. 1) Thank you! I kind of based Regulus off of myself and my craziness... I hope it keeps going well!

To Hot-Emo-Athiest: (from Ch. 1) I definitely will keep continuing, I want to finish this story!

To Infinite Nosferatu: (from Ch. 1) Aww, I love your enthusiasm! Yes yes yes!

To Infinite Nosferatu: (from Ch. 2) Ha, yeah, Cissy was kinda mean, but it's all cause she loves her cousin :) I'm glad that you think Regulus sleeping was cute, I was biting my lip to keep from screaming while I was writing it (so cute!)

To Regulus00: (from Ch. 2) Yeah, I did kinda start Severus in a bit early (oops!) Yeah, Regulus is kinda girly, I based him off of me... Thanks! I'll keep writing!

To RiverPhoenix: (from Ch. 2) Thank you! Yep, Severus definitely has a secret soft spot for Regulus, he's kinda confused though, so he won't admit it... Haha, thanks! The Regulus-falling-asleep-and-Narcissa-getting-mad scene was one of my favorites to write!

To haraguro-tan: (from Ch. 2) Thank you so much! Things may not be getting better, but I really really appreciate your well-wishes! By the way, I love Gakuen Rochu: Taming the Polar Bear. It's so cute!

Thank you guys so much for reviewing! All this support and help really makes me wanna give it my all when I write these chapters! I'll see you all soon, bye! :)