"So, Snape..."

Severus looked up from his work in the Potions room. Evan Rosier stood at the doorway, smirking. Rosier had always been a rather attractive boy, with red hair and blue eyes. Severus was beginning to think he had a thing for red hair; he guiltily would find himself wondering what Regulus would look like with red hair.

"Hello, Rosier," Severus nodded. Though he and Rosier hung out with some of the other seventh-year Slytherins together, they were not particularly close.

"Please, call me Evan," Rosier smiled. He had very white teeth. Severus raised an eyebrow but nodded.

Rosier-or Evan, as he insisted on being called- stepped closer. He peered into Severus' cauldron.

"Wit-Sharpening Potion?" he questioned, and Severus was surprised. Very few people were as interested in Potions as he was. He could barely even get Regulus to say the name of the subject, even after their tutoring sessions had finished.

The black-haired boy nodded wordlessly, and Evan grinned.

"I see you put in enough armadillo bile, it's a beautiful shade of orange right now. Perfect," he nodded.

Severus muttered a thank-you. Evan intrigued him, and he was not sure whether it was in a good way or a bad way.

"So, Severus..." the shorter boy noticed how quickly Evan slid into use of his first name. For some reason, he did not mind.

Evan added ginger root after the potion had simmered. It was now turning a beautiful purple. "Have you noticed that no one's ever in the common room anymore?"

Severus nodded. "I have," he replied. "What of it?"

"Well..." the redhead smirked. "If you want to know, meet me tonight outside of the kitchens. Be alone."

He started to walk away.

"Oh, and by the way..." Turning around, Evan grabbed Severus' wrists and pushed him against the wall. His knee landed between Severus' legs as his lips dove down and captured Severus'. Shocked, Severus found himself responding to the kiss before he could stop himself. When Rosier pulled away, the black-haired Slytherin was out of breath and wide-eyed.

"I heard about your thing with Black. No comment," Rosier winked before exiting the room.

Definitely in a bad way, Severus thought as he wiped his mouth guiltily.

"Hi, Sev!" Regulus leaned up to kiss Severus' cheek, only to meet thin air.

Puzzled, he looked up at Severus, who looked away and did not respond. Something clicked in Regulus' head, for his eyes narrowed and he snarled, "Oh, no. Not this again. I'm not going to go through this waiting and getting heart broken because you had second thoughts or something equally as stupid. Now, you can either tell me what's on your mind or break up with me, but I'm sick of running after you while you ignore me, Severus Snape!"

Severus was startled when Regulus said this. He had never realized how outspoken and down-right terrifying his boyfriend could be. Regulus stood in front of him defiant and proud, so unlike the almost timid and eager-to-please Regulus that Severus had first met. He was stunned.

At last when he found his voice, he leaned down and kissed Regulus' head first. "Sorry," he murmured, "I was distracted." That at least was the truth, he thought guiltily to himself.

For Severus was battling with himself over whether or not he should tell Regulus about what had happened with Rosier in the potions room. On the one hand, Severus wanted to be honest with the boy. He had strong feelings for him and knew it would be wrong to keep him in the dark about any infidelities.

On the other hand, he couldn't bear to break Regulus' heart again. He knew how much his previous indecisions pained the boy, though he tried not to show it. Regulus would be devastated. He might even try to fight Rosier, something that could injure, maim, or even kill him, depending on the redhead's mood. Severus knew how dangerous Evan Rosier was; rumors of his cursing a girl until she nearly died were popular; the only reason he was still in the school was because his father had paid off the school board. The last thing Severus wanted was for Regulus to be hurt.

"Are you sure?" Regulus' voice snapped him out of his thoughts. The boy was watching him closely, uncertainty clear in his eyes. "Because I don't want to be ignored."

"Positive." Severus let the warmth flow into his words. He kissed Regulus before grasping his hand.

"Now, let's go to dinner.

"Snape? That you?"

For someone so evil (yes, Rosier was evil in Severus' book), Rosier sure was stupid, Severus thought as he rolled his eyes but called quietly, "Yes."

"Thank God." Rosier grabbed Severus' hand before the other Slytherin could protest. "Just follow my lead," he said, and Severus saw his white teeth flash into a grin.

They walked for twenty minutes through the dark castle. Severus wondered why Rosier had chosen to meet at a point so far from their destination. Severus was not the most athletic, and his thin legs were beginning to hurt from the numerous flights of stairs. What made the journey harder was the darkness; Severus could not see his own hand in front of his face, and yes, he had tried. He was trying as hard as he could not to bump into anything. So far, he had tripped over his own feet more than five times. Luckily, the paintings were not a problem for the two boys; they were either asleep or unable to see.

"We're here. Just crawl through," Rosier whispered into Severus' ear after he forced them to a stop. The black-haired boy shivered but obeyed.

Severus recognized the tunnel as the one he and Regulus had been snuggling in when Bellatrix came down to the castle. He had never attempted to go all the way to the other side; he had never been interested. Now, however, Rosier was telling him to keep crawling until he reached the end.

When shreds of light hit his face, he turned to Rosier, who moved in front of him.

"I'll go first. Follow me, okay? Stay with me. Don't get lost," he instructed, a slight frown marring his face, before he reached for his wand and muttered a quick spell. A door appeared out of nowhere, and he opened it. Severus followed.

They entered a dark, empty room decorated with ornate furniture and empty frames. Only one massive frame had contents; it depicted an elderly woman. Though she was old, she was regal; her posture was immaculate, her bearing regal, all buttons in tacts, collar pinned to her neck with a golden broach, not a silver hair out of place. She wore a velvety dress the color of emeralds, matching the stone encrusted in her brooch and the large ring she wore on her finger. When she saw the two boys, she barely even twitched, only asking, "And what do you need?" Her ruby eyes swept over them both, and she stared for a particularly long time at Severus.

"There's only one reason anyone ever comes here," Rosier snapped at her impatiently.

Her eyes narrowed but she said nothing, only stood and walked out of her frame. "She thinks she's alive," Rosier snorted derisively. Severus did not know what to say.

The old woman returned to her portrait, leaning over and fiddling with something behind her ruby chair. She returned with a key, which she tossed out to Rosier.

Miraculously, along the way it turned into a real key, which Evan caught before striding to the locked door and unlocking it. Severus noticed the sad look on the old woman's face as she sat back down in her chair. "Well? Come on!" Rosier sounded impatient.

Severus hurried after the redhead. They were now in a more brightly-lit room filled with, to Severus' surprise, Slytherin students. There was Nott and Mulciber of his year sitting around a large table looking tense, Dolohov playing cards with Bellatrix (where had she come from?), and even- Narcissa?

"Narcissa, what are you doing here?" Severus asked worriedly as the blonde walked up to him.

"Lucius is joining soon. He wants me to be at his side," she whispered. Her cheeks were pink with excitement and alcohol, judging by the half-full champagne flute she held elegantly.

"Joining what?" Severus was confused. He did not know why all of these Slytherin students were here. It seemed like a meeting or a bar judging by the card playing and large amounts of alcohol that he could see.

"You really don't know?" Rosier chimed in. His eyebrows were raised and he wore a slightly mocking smile. Severus did not like it.

"No, I don't," he snapped. Sensing his anger, Narcissa interjected, "It's a meeting for young Slytherins who want to join the Dark Lord."

Severus felt the blood leave his face. He did not know what to say. Fortunately, Bellatrix was stalking over, relieving him from saying anything.

"Rosier, very nice to see you," she nodded, kissing the redheaded boy's cheek before turning to Severus.

"Snape... Why do you look so pale?" the curly-haired witch demanded. Severus simply shook his head, and Bellatrix raised an eyebrow.

"Well, aren't you going to sit down? Have a drink?" her tone was slightly less hostile, he noticed, but was too stunned to fully pay attention.

"I... need some air," he managed before leaving the room. He went outside and breathed deeply, collapsing into a chair. It took a few minutes for the reality of the situation to sink in.

Rosier had taken him to a meeting for soon-to-be Death Eaters. Lucius Malfoy was becoming a Death Eater. Nearly the whole of Slytherin house was interested in becoming a Death Eater. Rosier might even be one, and it was quite obvious that he wanted Severus to be one.

Severus wondered why he was so shocked. The idea that all Slytherins were "evil" or wanted to join the Dark Lord was not new, though it was popular. Severus himself had never particularly cared, though he had to admit he approved of Lord Voldemort more often than he approved of Dumbledore. Still, approval and support were two completely different things; support and membership were another two different things.

Could Severus see himself being a Death Eater? Could he join Lord Voldemort, attempt to eradicate Mudbloods, blood traitors, and Muggles? And another question- could Regulus?

I know that this chapter was kind of weird and dark, but I'm kind of setting up the next story now.

Thanks for reviews and comments and private messages (looking at you, fan girl 666 and llVioletll; you guys are amazing!)! I appreciate, read, and love them all!