Disclaimer: I do not own the spectacular wizarding world that J.K. Rowling has so beautifully portrayed. Nor do I own the lovely character of Eva Jones. She belongs to Jaded Imagery, who is a fantastic author. (I suggest you read Reaching Violet and it's sequel, Gathering Blue.) Any characters that you do not recognize from J.K.s books or Jaded Imagery's fanfics belong to me.
A/N: Hooray, third chapter! I'm sorry it took more than a week for me to put it up. I was in Florida visiting my grandmother. Thank you for being patient.
QuillSwift: Thank you! )
Mother of Tears: Oh yes, dear old Sirius got what he deserved.
Jaded Imagery: Thank you for letting me use Eva! (Umm..you did reply to my message, didn't you? I haven't been on fanfiction in a few days. I could have sworn you did, but if you didn't I am dreadfully sorry.) When you said that Eva would have died to see what happened to Sirius, I thought that she should have the honor.
P.S. Thanks to QuillSwift, Emoor, and anyone else who I might have forgotten for alerting and/or favoriting! I truly appreciate it!
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Don't Call me Snivellus
Chapter 3
Severus sat in silence, enraptured by the morose glow of the fireplace. The crimson flames danced maliciously as they crept over burning embers, luring him with their seductive movements. His black eyes were hazed, his expression empty. In his hands was an ancient, worn book.
"The key is to being unpredictable. Remain expressionless; don't let your foe guess what you are feeling. Especially fear. No one will follow if they sense such a formidable thing."
The Slytherin common room was eerie at this hour of the morning. Deep shadows lurked in the corners as if they were watching the strange figure before the fireplace. The silence seemed to whisper, dragging him further into his dark thoughts. Severus had been up practicing through the long hours of the night. He was very pleased that he had chosen to tamper around in the forbidden section of the library. With a grim smile, he slowly raised the book to his face, letting it fall open on it's own command.
"…these foul creatures are the scum of the wizarding world. They strut about, attempting to steal our magic away from us. We must not let them. It is rightfully ours! Those who descend from a long line of magical ancestors are the only true sorcerers. The mudbloods are corrupt, evil beings that only…"
Severus Snape looked up, a queer sadness suddenly tugging at his heart, bringing him gently back to the light. Lily. She was a mudblood…corrupt? Evil? He shook himself and stood, thinking it wise to return this book to the library. Perhaps the author was wrong about muggleborns. Of course there were a few that didn't fall into the category of scum…right?
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"Oh God, guys! I'm not ready for this! No no no, how could the exams have come so fast?!" Lily squealed, pulling on her hair and jumping nervously as she and Severus ambled to Transfiguration. Ivy was with them, but she was heading for Herbology.
"Oh calm down," Ivy said lightly, loosening her Ravenclaw scarf. "I never study for these things and I do fine!"
"That's because you're practically a genius," retorted Lily.
Severus listened silently as they babbled.
"Very funny. I only had five O's last year!" Ivy said, shaking her head at her own disapproval.
"Out of six classes!" Lily scoffed as they walked into the class.
Professor McGonagall's room was lambent with candles and torches, giving it a high-spirited countenance. The tables had been dusted and cleared of all clutter. It appeared as if the strict professor had done her best to make her hesitant students as comfortable and relaxed as possible, but the revulsion towards the exams was not easily forgotten.
She allowed her students a minute or two to sit down and whisper urgently before she spoke.
"I believe that there is no need for me to explain the importance of this test," she said curtly, "You better hope on Merlin's beard that you don't fail."
Severus watched Lily pull out her exam supplies. She turned to him and crossed her fingers, grimacing as she dipped the tip of her quill in forest green ink. He couldn't help but notice how cute she was when she crinkled her nose.
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Severus sighed and read over his essay. After making a few changes in grammar, he sat back and rubbed his temples gently. That last one had been particularly difficult. Studying the drawbacks of transfiguring worms into pillowcases was not very entertaining, causing him to neglect that section of his notes. He gave a fleeting look at the mountainous grandfather clock behind the professor's desk. Two minutes to spare.
Lily had also taken notice in the time, and was now in an uproar of scrawling and scribbling as fast as her elegant fingers could go, determined to complete the last question. Eva Jones, a close friend of Lily's, was concentrating on the redhead's paper out of the corner of her eye, muttering tips here and there whenever Lily looked up at her hopelessly. This amused Severus greatly. The composed Lily Potter, cheating? Transfiguration was not her best class, but he knew that when it came time for the Charms exam, she would easily reach the Outstanding level, perhaps exceeding it. What was even more unusual was that Eva was helping her. Though Severus enjoyed her most of Lily's friends, she was a bit of a snob.
"Time's up. Put your quills down," rang the stern voice of Professor McGonagall, causing a few students to jump. "That means you to James!"
There was a loud clatter as the classroom was filled with the echo of dropping quills and rustling parchment.
"Get along all of you," added the professor. "I have many exams to grade and you all deserve a bit of sun."
All of the students filed out of the classroom, and walked hurriedly down the main corridor to get to the beautiful grounds.
"So Lily, did I happen to see Jones give you a bit of help?" Severus teased.
"I…well, Severus, it's none of your business," she said, a bit flustered by his remark.
"Perhaps I should tell Professor McGona…"
"No! Oh come on, I'm sure you asked Goyle a few questions," interrupted Lily.
"Goyle is a blundering idiot," he reminded her.
"All Slytherins are I'm afraid," added James Potter, smirking arrogantly as he sauntered up next to the duo.
"You are very wrong James," Lily said, stopping to give the abominable boy a glare. "I know plenty of intelligent Syltherins."
James ran a hand through his wild black hair and stared at Lily, amused by her comment. Sirius Black joined him at his side.
"Sirius!" cried Sev with false cheerfulness. "How are you feeling? That was a rather terrible accident you had. At least your feathers are gone. Still laying eggs though, I assume?"
Sirius looked about the ground self consciously to see if a stray egg had betrayed him. Seeing nothing, he looked up at Severus angrily.
"You put that potion in my goblet," he accused.
"Well yes," Sev sighed off-handedly. "I thought the chicken bit fit your character."
"Furnunculos!" yelled Black with a grin.
Severus felt the painful boils spread across his face. In fury he withdrew his wand.
"Incendio," he hissed from behind his hands as he covered his shameful appearance.
Black yelped as flames ate there way up his robes.
"What the hell is going on here?!" squeaked Professor Flitwick as he scurried to the scene. "Aguamenti," he said, drenching Sirius in a jet of cool water.
Spectators watched in interest as Flitwick waved his arms in the air vigorously. James stifled a snigger. The tiny man looked rather comical when he was angry.
"Dueling like this is strictly forbidden, boys! I am very disappointed," he screeched. "Detention for both of you!"
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Severus stomped malignly back to the Slytherin common room, cursing under his breath. He couldn't imagine spending an entire Saturday cleaning the school's many bathrooms without magic. And adding Sirius Black to the task made the situation even more oppressive.
He went swiftly to his dorm, not wanting to be bothered by any of his cruel Sytherin allies. At first he had thought that he was alone, but he spotted Regulus Black sitting by a window at the far end of the room.
"I hate your brother, Regulus," Severus said nonchalantly.
"So do I," said the boy cooly, not looking up from his book. His features were similar to his brothers, but they were not constructed as handsomely. "He's filthy. I don't understand why he's so popular."
"Damn the little bugger," added Sev scornfully as he punched the Gryffindor lion on the Hogwarts Crest, causing the whole poster to fall from its place on the wall.
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A/N: There you are! If you read this chapter, please review. Don't be afraid to tell me if you didn't like something, I'm only trying to improve. )