Author's Note: Thanks for reading my previous chapter guys, hope you enjoyed it… And I hope I don't disappoint with this one. Do note that this entire thing wouldn't be in chronological order. I'll be skipping years occasionally and back peddling to others. What do you guys want me to write about? I'll do little version's of Severus' life If you wish… I'm happy to do a little one-shot AU or non-canon for you guys for some as well… Reveal your secrets… To… Me…

Disclaimer: All things from the Potter Universe belong to J.K Rowling. I own nothing.

…

Of Loyalties and Potions

A thin boy clad in an old Hogwarts uniform sat in the corner of an obviously Slytherin common room. He was bent over a heavy tome that rested precariously on his bony lap, reading intently and absorbing the text word for word. An older blonde haired boy turned around to face him from his spot on the luxurious lounge.

"Severus, you do know that you don't have to study every hour of every day don't you?" the boy drawled. Said boy ignored him, eyes scanning lines of old English writing. Annoyed, the blonde rose to his feet elegantly and strolled over to peer at the dark haired boy. He pulled a chair from one of the tables and sat on it backwards, observing the quiet boy.

"Lucius. What do you want?" Severus murmured, eyes still reading the book. Lucius made a face of disgust.

"To sleep, obviously. I certainly cannot do that whilst you're down here with the light on and coming to bed at Merlin knows whatever hours." Lucius sniffed, "I don't fancy having to face the Gryffindors tomorrow looking worse than they do."

Severus sighed, gently closed his book before pulling himself into standing position. Lucius grinned and gestured towards the stairs that lead to their dormitories.

"After you, your highness," Lucius whispered, bowing mockingly. Severus glared and hit him on the back of his head lightly with the ancient tome. Lucius winced and rubbed his head in mock pain. "Ouch, remind me never to annoy you again. Muggle punishment is barbaric…. My Lord."

Severus sneered at the blonde. "Remind me never to come in acquaintance with a cretin such as you next time I get the option to choose." Lucius smirked and moved swiftly ahead of the dark haired boy, climbing the stairs steadily. Severus followed, scowling.

Opening the door and slipping inside, Lucius flicked his wand once, turning on the lights. Severus stepped inside, clicking the door shut softly. Lucius sat down on his bed, kicking off his shoes inelegantly.

"You sometimes partner with the mudblood chit during potions didn't you?" Lucius asked, undoing his tie swiftly.

"… Yes," Severus said carefully, moving to his bed and swiftly dragging down the covers. Lucius snorted, transfiguring the rest of his uniform into nightclothes, he sat on the edge of the bed staring at the thin boy opposite him.

"Ah, okay. Would you mind if Avery used a couple of new curses on her?" He asked casually. Severus's head shot up to glare at him.

"Why do you need my permission?" Severus snapped. Lucius smirked, gripping the edge of the bed tightly and leaning forward.

"Someone has to teach the little mudblood a lesson." He said viciously, causing Severus' brow to furrow.

"You do not need my permission to do so." He spoke stiffly, changing quickly into his threadbare nightshirt. Lucius grinned.

"Are you sure you want Avery to curse her?" he asked softly, continuing to stare straight at the dark haired boy.

Severus hesitated, then shook his head, "even if I was to tell you no, you would still do it anyway," he said quietly. Lucius smiled slyly.

"What if I told you you could make sure Avery wasn't the one to curse her?" Lucius asked, pointing his wand carelessly at the fire, lighting it. Severus froze; he sat down on the bed opposite the blonde and sighed.

"What do you want Malfoy?" He asked, resigned.

"Curse her, Severus. Prove your loyalty." He hissed, "show your loyalty to the Dark Lord." Severus nodded slowly, and then smiled.

"My loyalty to him has never wavered, Lucius. Although, I cannot say the same about you." He sneered, his sallow skin seemed paler in the weak firelight. Lucius glared.

"My loyalty is not in question."

"Are you sure?"

"… Most certain. Surely Severus, you would leap at the chance to use dark magic and be praised for it?"

"I do however choosing Evans is a bad choice. Every fool and his familiar knows she is one of Dumbledore's favourites."

"… Do you question his judgement?"

"The Dark Lord would not make such a Gryffindor decision." Severus said, bringing the hand of one arm to touch his left forearm. Lucius smiled in satisfaction, pointed his wand and murmured a spell. The room dimmed except for the small fire at one end of it. The rustling of bed covers and the crackling of burning wood was all that broke the silence.

"You would do well to remember that Severus."

…

"Snivellus!" Severus sighed, hitching his bag up higher he walked faster ignoring whoever was advancing towards him. In an instant he was sent hurtling out into the garden landing harshly on the grass. Hissing, he rolled over and onto his feet, his hand slowly sliding into his pocket to grasp his wand.

"Snivellus! What did you Death Eaters do to Peter?" Severus shrugged and twisted his face into a sneer.

"I have no idea what you mean, Potter." He said silkily, his hand caressing his wand. Potter glared at him and stamped his foot. Child, he thought in disgust. Black pointed his wand at his face angrily.

"One of you cursed him!" Potter yelled, flinging his wand out to point vaguely in his direction. Severus made a disgusted face before shrugging again.

"I don't doubt that Potter. Of course, your miniscule mind could not comprehend that of course it wouldn't be me. I have much better things to do than to spend the day plotting your entire group's downfall, amusing as it may be." Severus said, withdrawing his wand out of his pocket. His ears picked up a few noises coming behind. He glanced over his shoulder and nodded.

"Regulus," he said, "Avery, come out will you?" The two strode up to stand at his side. Potter snarled.

"Death Eaters only travel in packs then," growled Black. Regulus smiled at him coldly before turning to Severus.

"My apologies, Severus. I didn't think my brother would be so…"

"Idiotic? Dim-witted?" Severus offered, a small smile playing about his lips. Regulus grinned and flicked a lazy hand dismissively in Black's direction. Potter started forward, baring his wand pathetically. Severus flicked his wand in his direction, sending him flying backwards.

"Wha—"

"Black, remove your terribly lacking self from my presence. I find you as distasteful as I did six years ago," Severus sneered, pointing his wand in Black's direction. Avery stepped forward warningly and Regulus held his wand in his hand in preparation. Black glared and stumbled off, pulling Potter off the ground and tugging them both away.

"You know they'll probably get you back for this." Regulus said, watching the two walk hastily off. Severus nodded and turned to both of them.

"I don't normally thank people, but I was in a hurry, and unfortunately I was distracted," he said this in a way that made the others think that just maybe he was talking about something more like dirt at the bottom of his shoe instead of two annoyances. Severus glanced at Regulus, held out his hand. Regulus shook it, as well as Avery. The dark haired boy moved quickly off in the direction of the Library. They looked at each other, shrugged and strolled off.

…

Severus sat pouring over an ancient text he had slipped from the restricted section. How curious, he thought. If I just—.

"Severus." The dark haired boy sighed, marked the page and looked up.

"Narcissa, what do I owe the pleasure?" He said sarcastically, the girl standing in front of him looked down at him haughtily.

"I need your help with a potion." Severus, who had been in that point in time turning around to collect something out of his book bag, froze and turned around to face her again.

"What one?" He asked, curious.

"Veritaserum, I know it takes a long time to brew, but I was thinking perhaps—"

"How much of it?"

"Only enough for one use," she said brusquely. He nodded slowly, his mind spinning before he glanced up sharply at her.

"If you could manage to get me a room by myself and provide me with the ingredients, I'd be happy to," he drawled. She smiled and nodded.

"No problem, I can get Lucius to talk to Regulus about moving in with Avery." He nodded, satisfied and she nodded and ducked out of his view. He stared after her before shaking his head, how curious.

…

"It won't be long now, Severus. Only a few months to go." Lucius said, unfolding The Daily Prophet and scanning it. Severus nodded, pulling the teacup up to his lips and taking a sip.

"What does the Dark Lord require me to do?" He asked, looking down at a potions journal he had in front of him.

"Just one more potion and then you'll finally be marked." Severus' lips curved upwards in a small smile before pointedly looking at Lucius' left arm.

"I'll deliver the latest batch of his potion by owl… Regulus' one will do won't it?" He asked, flicking a page over in the small leather bound book. Lucius hummed in agreement. A couple of bickering first years stumbled into the small café, speaking loudly.

"How long ago was it that I was that innocent, Lucius?" he asked, glancing up briefly at the students. Lucius chuckled.

"Since before the night I tested your faith in the Dark Lord, and your understanding." Lucius murmured causing Severus to scoff.

"You could've been more Slytherin about it," he sneered, bringing the cup back up for another drink. Lucius smiled slyly, before reaching for his cup.

"And you realise it after how many years?"

"I realised it before, I was just too naïve to mention it." The words to you remained unspoken.

"The Dark lord does value you, Severus. A lot more than you think," Lucius said softly, "I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't realise just how much you got away with." Severus chuckled.

"He values having someone skilled in potions, he values not having to rely on simpletons and peons to follow through with his orders."

"There is that," Lucius said, amused, "could also be your charming self of course." Severus snorted into his tea, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

…

The room was dark as a tall, skinny boy sat at a table, his head bent over an old potions diary. The only light came from a weak candle that hovered next to his parchment. He turned to the parchment with a quill and wrote swiftly down the names of several ingredients before turning to a small iron cauldron that lay innocently on the desk. He flicked his wand, levitating numerous ingredients that lay on the table and delicately moving them into the seemingly thick substance at the bottom.

He sighed, satisfied, and pulled himself up to reach for a small potions satchel and sliding out the numerous glass cylinders. He neatly poured small amounts of potion into each vial before sealing them and slipping them back into their compartments. He sat down gently on his chair before quickly finishing his notes and scrawling a quick note and gently sliding it in with the potions.

The dark haired boy grinned, a strange sight, and carefully shut the satchel, sealing it with magic and binding it to open only for him. Only a few months before that time.

…

Thanks for reading! Phew, 2k words for this one. But then, The first bit as you could tell was when Severus was younger, probably in his third year, and Lucius was obviously a seventh. If you're wondering why they were rooming together, it would be neatly explained by the fact that Lucius is a Malfoy and a prefect. He doesn't need to be questioned. I guess the little moment with Narcissa is a bit of a teaser for another chapter, it also helps explain why for some reason Severus has his own rooms.