A/N: This chapter last version is on 07/10/2016.

Taste of War

31th October 1971.

With two months of the start of the term things were already settled. Me and Sev are the mini celebrities from Ravenclaw and even if I hate this stupid status I've learned how to deal with it since Severus is really pleased with it. We held group studies together with Lily every wednesday and saturday and was not uncommon to see the three of us together in the weekends. At first, Mary a fellow Gryffindor and friend with Lily joined us but soon she declared herself too dumb to keep up with our study level and left, she also didn't seemed very fond of my selection of rock music. One thing I didn't expected was to start a regular letter exchange with my brother, he unlike my parents don't protect me too much and been telling me things that don't appear on the paper. In the end, they liking or not, I'll end up right in the middle of the conflicts of the war. I'm really pleased with the letter exchange since now I know every professor flaw and how I can use in my favor. Who knew Marcel would be so cool and useful.

Something that has been happening just like the previous timeline is the marauders trying to pick on Severus. Well, James and Sirius picking while Peter cheers and Remus pretend that he doesn't have nothing to do with it while keeping watch for the professors so they don't get caught. They've been using any opportunity of getting him alone but this time around even when they manage to do something to Sev the harm is not passed without consequence. Lily never took part of executing any plan as she states that she would never work against her own house, but that never stopped her from perfecting the ploys that we, 'The Brightest Duo', created to get revenge.

Once James and Sirius hanged Severus through his robes on one of the armos and left him there without his wand. Some older Ravenclaws assisted Sev out of it and two days later when the Marauders were eating suddenly they started to choke and eventually wouldn't speak anymore as any time they tried the sound that got out of their mouths were that of a frog. They deserved that. I still don't understand why they think it's a good idea to pick on a potion genius. The frog sound was Lily touch and I was only responsible to find a way and deliver the punishment. I'm growing quite proud of my ability to sneak around.

Me and Sev are really shining on our studies and Lily only overpassed us on Charms. Severus was espetacular at Potions and I on Transfiguration. We both also excelled at Defense Against the Dark Arts and did better than Lily on the other subjects as well. Even so it wasn't like Lily didn't get only O's, she did. It was just that the we got O's and a stupid amount of house points on top of it. We manage to get so many points in Defense Against the Dark Arts that we beated really old records. Severus was the only first year to receive a spot on the Slug Club which he was really proud of, even if he prefers Defense over Potions. We did amazingly at History of Magic only based on reading as we mostly slept during the classes like everyone else. I feel a little bad that I kind of judged Harry for sleeping through it as I'm doing the same. Guess what? He's not even alive so who cares if I judged him.

It was already Halloween or how I like to say, Samhain. Only old families use the ancient name and have some sort of ritual or celebration for it and my is one of those. I wouldn't be able to do it as I'm in school away from home but I sent a letter for my family with my part. The ritual was to welcome the winter and consists in some ritualistics things followed by burning a paper with feelings and grudges that one wishes to let go of. This usually would bring an interesting wave of luck and therefore was a tradition my family insisted in keeping alive. I do suspect that the Blacks also have some ritual as they are a very ancient house, but if so it would hardly be something as innocent as burning grunges. All things Black usually had to involve blood or dark magic in some way.

Either way, today was a supposed to be a good day for everyone in Hogwart as dinner would be the so expected Halloween feast where we will stuff ourselves with wizard candy and sweets. I have a really sweet tooth and I'm already glowing in expectation while Sev looks bored by the whole thing since he isn't especially fond of sugar things. Lily was happy and things looked alright through most of the celebration, even the Marauders looked too preoccupied with some private prank to even became a pain in the arse to us. That until a huge amount of Owls appeared. They were all special editions of the Daily Prophet and brought on a huge headline, 'DEATH EATER ATTACKS AND ENTIRE FAMILY OF MUGGLE BORNS WAS FOUND DEAD'. Dumbledore sensing the discomfort and fright of his students declare that everyone should go to their dorms and try to grab some sleep. Even some Slytherin that I'm sure have death eaters in the family didn't look happy with the news.

I have to give to the Prophet, the article was good and complete. It had details about the death eaters claims and about the mysterious figure of the Dark Lord Voldemort. People are not scared yet of saying his name and is in my interest to keep it at that. It had been a few weeks since the first attacks have been making headlines but this is the first time where there are casualties. Some people were heavily hurt before, for sure. Some Auror even had been reported dead, but a Auror dying fighting against a Dark Wizard was nothing new. The thing is this is first time that it's a family, people who didn't put themselves willingly in danger, people who didn't took any position in the war and that the only reason to been killed was the circumstance of their birth. Everyone went to the dorms like Dumbledore instructed and a disturbing silence filled the castle like never before. I've spent a good hour trying to sleep without luck before deciding to explore the castle. Morgana! How I wish that those gits had already invented the Marauders Map. I had to do my best to hide while going to the astronomy tower where I could be alone. To my surprise Sirius Black was already there.

"Hi!"

"Wow! Miss Model Student out of bed after curfew!" He joked but his smile didn't reach quite right.

"Well, you being here is a surprise too. I didn't quite took you for the type to be kept awake because of the disgraces of the world." I say with a good amount of sarcasm.

"Haha!" He said frowning and clearly upset.

"Humpf!"

We sat together looking at the stars for a while, the silent was as awkward as it was comfortable. I more than anyone know how bad things will get and it makes me relentless, I don't know what could possibly be bothering Sirius. He is a pure blood. If he were to decide to not to take part in the war and put himself away from the front lines he would be spared. I have a whole lot of things to do and I have no idea of how to help as I know that there is nothing I can do to surpass my age limitation. Besides I'm from a blood traitor family that has lost its purity, if I get caught I will be dead on sight.

After a while the silence did start to became like a heaven burden to carry so I started to hum a song, Yesterday by The Beatles, until I was singing in a dragged but sweet way. I have a acute voice given my age but I'm very tuned and the song filled the silence in a solemn way. When I finally finished singing I lock eyes with Sirius that gave me a intense gaze.

"That was amazing. I've never heard a song like this." He was honestly astonished by me and it made my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I only sing in front of my mother and have no idea of what the hell I was thinking to do it in front of him.

"It's muggle! You should search for it, rock would suit you." I say trying to hide my feelings and changing the focus to him.

"I will." He took a long pause before going on. "I think that my family will take part in this war."

"Oh." I have to bite my lips and look away. I was being a jerk to him in my thoughts, he has the same right as I to be concerned.

"And not on the right side." He completes making clear what he meant.

"Maybe you can do something to prevent it." I try to give him some assurance.

"Yeah? You don't know my family." He snorts at me.

"Maybe not. But I like to think that love and kindness can change a lot more than fights. I do hope you can find a way out of it." I instinctively squeeze his hand and he turns to stare at me with pain and hope.

I met his grey eyes in a silent understanding and we both stayed there for a long time before Sirius announced his need to leave. I didn't notice that my hand was still holding his and Sirius didn't look like he wanted to let go of it but he did it anyway. I waited for him to disappear before standing up and leaving myself. I was already close to the stairs that led to the Ravenclaw Tower when I noticed Lily and Severus sitting in a corridor, they were side by side with heads supporting each other. I approached and sat by Lily supporting my head on my friend's shoulders.

"Hey you two." I say in a whisper.

"Hi." Severus said and Lily only sobbed. "Where you were? I thought you were sleeping." He told me making it clear that he tried to contact me.

"I couldn't so I went to the astronomy tower to take a breath. You?" I inform without saying a thing about bumping into Sirius. That moment I shared with boy sounded like a very intimate thing, something only for me to know about. I have so much knowledge that I keep as a secret that it doesn't even bother me that I don't tell them the whole truth.

"I couldn't sleep too so I went for a walk and found Lily crying." He says giving Lil a soft smile.

"Oh Lil." I give her a kiss on the temple.

"It's just… I'm a muggle born. They are hunting people like me, you guys now that I never did anything wrong. Why they hate us so much?" I was left momentarily without words and Severus looked like was using all of his energy to not join Lily in her crying. I wouldn't blame him since I felt some good tears escaping my eyes.

"They don't now you to hate you, Lil. They just want a reason to kill and destroy that makes them superior. You are more amazing and talented than most of the wizards that study with us." I say trying to reassure her.

"But I'm not as good or as smart as you and Sev." She says and I feel a little guilty as I know that she probably is smarter than me. She just don't have her son's memories to help her with classes.

"And we are both half bloods. It will be hell on earth the day that Sirius Black and James Potter are better than us. And for your information you do surpass me and Sev in Charms." Lily chuckled at that and then even gave a cracked laugh.

We stayed together in there for more than a hour before Lily stated that she had to go before she could get into trouble. We said our goodnights and went to our respective common rooms. Severus gave me a really uncharacteristic hug as soon as we got inside the Ravenclaw Tower. I smiled at this.

"Wow! What's that for?" I say surprise but happy.

"I couldn't do nothing to stop Lily from crying but you manage it. I honestly don't know what I would do without your help." Well, so Snape like to do everything for Lily.

"Oh, Sev. That's what friends are for." I give him a warm smile. "What do you think about this war?" I ask as I know that he was holding his own concerns at heart.

"These death eaters are clearly on the wrong. Even if I'm not very fond of muggles." He answered me honestly.

"Aren't your father a muggle?" I asked already knowing the answer. Harry's memories only showed how neglected he was but didn't showed any interaction between Sev and his family. I needed him to open up so I could do something to help him.

"Yes he is." He stated dryly and I frowned.

"Oh Sev, you don't have a good relationship?" I have a deep concern in my voice.

Severus looked really unsettled about my question. Like he really wanted to say something but didn't had the courage to do it. He was clearly ashamed of something.

"Sev, you know that I would never tell your secrets to anyone without your permission, right? And you know that I truly respect you and nothing you can tell me about your family will ever change that." I held a very serious look as I said it. It is a serious subject.

"Well…" He cleared his throat holding up the desire to cry. "My father is a great person when there isn't a bottle of licor around. And let's just say that it's been awhile since it hasn't been one."

Now it was my moment to held Severus in suffocating hug, he tried to protest but soon let himself be hugged and started to cry like he never cried before. I cried too as I can't think of what he's not telling me with such a superficial statement.

"Sev, what can I do to help you?" I ask trying to form a plan on my head.

"You don't have to do a thing Marls." I smile cheaply at that, he's been avoiding calling me by my nickname.

"You called me Marls! Not Marlene but actually Marls!" He chuckled at me. "I know I don't have to do a thing you silly, but I still will. Are you going to pass the Yule festivities in school?" I ask already thinking a way to surpass my age limitation as my parents are great assets in this front.

"You mean christmas?" He says a little shy.

"You know what I mean. Yes."

"My family doesn't have too much money so is best if I stay at school." He says already looking uncomfortable. I can sense he's already regretting telling me since Sev is very prideful and I know that he doesn't want to feel like he is charity work.

"No way. You are going to spend it with me back home. And there we will come up with a way to… Improve your situation?" I try to use terms that he won't feel uncomfortable with.

"I don't want to be a pity project Marls…" I send him my mix of compassion and anger look.

"Pity?! I admire you how can you say something like that?! We are friends Sev don't try to make like you problems are not mine too. You can accept my help or spent a lot of energy trying to avoid it. Either way, believe me, I will eventually win." I give him a cocky smile that could rival Sirius.

"Okey, but you have to discuss everything with me and if I ultimately refuse something you will have to respect that." He says with concern and I try my best to reassure him.

"Pinky promise." I offer my pinky finger and Severus scoffed in disdain at it before locking his finger in agreement.

I give him another sisterly strong hug before we both agree we need to get some sleep so we separate ourselves to our dorms where I end up in a turbulent sleep. The next day after breakfast Dumbledore asked for the students to stay before going to classes and made an announcement.

"I know the news that we received yesterday were very serious and made a few of you became really upset. If anyone needs any type of assistance you are all allowed to go to the infirmary any time to talk to Madam Profey and get counselling. I like to assure you all of the school security and capacity to protect its students. May this dark times to come be short and may us all learn to work together to surpass the future adversities." I smile at it, I'm glad the school is doing something to protect us as I know things will only escalate in the next few years.

20th December 1971

The worries of the students did appeased but it took weeks and even more time to the school became full of life again. Me, Sev and Lil were more united than ever after Halloween and so was the Marauders. Remus still looked a little left out, like he didn't want to get too close but the boys surrounding him didn't let him go. Soon christmas approached and we shared with Lily that Sev would go to my lace. Lil was upset and really wanted to got visit me too but since she never had spent too much time away from her family she decided to go back to her own house.

It was already mid november when James and Sirius went back to try to bully Sev. The day it happened we talked about it in the Ravenclaw Common Room and we confessed that it felt quite good because of how it made us feel like things we being back to normal. We end up having a good laugh about how stupid it was, me in a sweet way and Sev in a scornful way.

My parents were a little surprised about me asking to bring a friend home, especially a male one but as my brother had people looking into my life he manage to assure our parents that it was because me and Sev are some sort of dynamic duo, which wasn't a lie after all. I did end up giving Xeno a scold for reporting my doings to Marcel. The blond had the audacity to brushed it off as something natural because my brother would be concerned otherwise.

The Prewetts and Weasleys would all go to my house to commemorate and I had to explain my connection to them to Severus. He almost decided not to go when he learned other people would, It was really difficult to reassure him enough for him to keep up with the plans. The holidays started the 20th on a monday and would end in two weeks on a sunday, the second of January. I end up feeling very sorry for Remus when I noticed that December had two full moons and one was on the last day making the werewolf have to spend his holidays in a very unbearable way, I end up giving him some chocolate frogs when I bumped into him in the corridor and he was stunned that I didn't look like I hated him. Well, not that suddenly I accept the marauders attitude but I could be very kind to them when they were not being stupid. Soon we traveled back to the platform 9 ¾ where we said our goodbyes to Lily that quickly disappeared on the crowd to find her parents.

I noticed that Severus kept straightening his clothes like he was trying to make them better by doing so. It was a vain attempt as his clothes were not well cared for and did not fit, which was already bad, and on top of that they also were terrible coordinated. I hope they are like that because his mother has no sense of muggle fashion and not because she deliberates wants to embarrass him. Part of me that sometimes is responsible by my strange knowledge of things suspected it was indeed the worst hypothesis. My parents and surprisingly my brother finally showed up as the place was quite chaotic.

"Hey little witch!" My Pa said giving the me his characteristic bear hug. Even his smile that was usually shy was on full bloom right now. I got caught up with school so much that hadn't notice how much I missed this.

"Hi Pa! This is Severus Snape, my friend." I introduced Sev who had not a single drop of his usual contempt and looked very much awkward. I know how hard was for him to open up and tell me the things that he did and I can only imagine how hard it is for him to accept my help. And he knows that I will put my parents in this help plan in some way and I can see that his pride is hurting.

"Nice to meet you sir." He said in a shy tone and very non Severus way. Merlin is strange to see him acting so put off.

"Nice to meet you too, I'm Marlon. Excuse me if I ask but perhaps you are Eileen's child?" Pa said while petting Sev head in a friendly way that made him relax and be a little more confident.

"You know my mother?" Severus asked with surprise and I was stunned too. I didn't knew there was a chance of my father knowing Sev's mom. Thinking back Pa did told me that he was on the pureblood circles before marrying Ma and Sev's mom should be on it too.

"Must certainly so. She was a little younger than me but back then we frequented the same parties. I did lose contact with the pureblood gentry when I married my muggle wife." My Pa stated like it was something really trivial in his life but I know that Ma sometimes feels bad because she feels a little responsable for him losing old friends. But I know this like the list of things that I know that I don't have a way of knowing so I never bring up the subject.

"Oh." Severus was left without knowing what to say and Pa continued.

"This is my wife Sarah." Ma gave both of us hugs and Sev blushed with it.

"And my eldest son Marcel." My brother just ruffled our heads making a complete mass with our hairs.

"We better get going. Such a nice thing that my daughters new friend is the son of an old friend. What the odds, right?" My father said to my mother in a way that I know he means something more even if I don't know what.

"I guess it's a good time to remake acquaintances." Ma responds with piercing look and then we are lead to the closest floo point so we can go to my home.

Thanks for reading.