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Severus had never been a very compassionate person. It wasn't as if he didn't have a soul or anything, he just knew that feeling sorry for a person can lead to a whole mess, and it was better to remain indifferent. He was calculated, and having friends or someone to care for just didn't fit into the equation of his life. Sometimes he imagines a different life for him, one where his parents regarded him with more than casual interest, where he wasn't basically thrust into the world of the Dark Arts by his mother from birth, one where he was able to make and keep friends. Usually a certain redhead comes to mind in these daydreams, the only person he'd ever called a friend. But things aren't as nice outside his head, and it isn't practical to be consumed by imagination. This was his reality, and he'd accepted it. But suddenly reality was feeling all too real for him, as he sat on the dungeon floor at midnight, adding horrid ingredients to his illegal potion. He'd tried to keep a straight face and quiet demeanor throughout the process, but as he added a cup of ground human heart, he couldn't help but flinch. Nott, the trained dog he was, sniffed out his hesitance immediately.

"Too hard for you to swallow Snape?" He sneered. Severus hated Nott, and his band of cronies. He also hated being kept in the dark about what the potion was for, just given a handwritten list of instructions. But he knew not to ask, as it would be seen as questioning the Dark Lord's orders. Nott was now in position to take a high seat next to Voldemort when he graduates for the recruiting he'd been doing at school. What he said, Severus did.

Trying to act indifferent, Severus shrugged.

"The consistency should be thicker by now, is all." He said evenly. It wasn't true, the potion as a whole was looking to be done ahead of schedule. Snape never doubted his potion abilities, but he couldn't show any weakness, even with the vile smells and ingredients he'd been working with.

"You better not screw this up." Nott said, scowling. They'd been at this for hours, Nott commenting on him nastily, Severus remaining cold. Suddenly his annoyance was too much.

"Think I'd go soft on you Nott? I'm the reason this mission will be a success, nothing else." He snapped. Nott sneered, and left to get the final ingredient, one which on the instructions is listed as beings. Severus did not like the vagueness of this instruction, as he wanted to be prepared for whatever unpleasant thing he would have to spread the potion on. It was a sinister red color, boiling sluggishly, just as it was meant to.

Nott appeared again, levitating a large bag in front of him. Seeing the shape, Severus's heart filled with horror. With a flick of his wand, Nott upturned it's contents, hitting the floor with hard thuds. Suspicions confirmed, Severus couldn't keep the look of shock off of his narrow face. What was the Dark Lord planning for here at Hogwarts? He looked up at Nott, smiling like a shark.

"Still sure you won't go soft on me then?"

x xx x xx x xx x xx x xx x xx x

Sirius Black couldn't think of a worse way to spend a Saturday, than bathing flobberworms with Hagrid. Another boy was with him, Ned Hanson, a Ravenclaw fourth year. He had a half-thrilled half-terrified look in his blue eyes, an expression one usually gets when it's their first detention. Of course Sirius was a seasoned professional, but why couldn't McGonagall have just given them lines or something? Instead he had to lather, shampoo, and dry flobberworms. He'd began to name them as he worked. This one was Stinky. He'd been particularly gross. He'd make a joke about it to Ned, but they weren't aloud to talk. Stinky was letting out happy squeaks as Sirius dried him in a fluffy towel that Hagrid had provided, and put him next to the other drying flobberworms (Juju, Wiggles, and Dave.)

It wasn't even his fault he was in detention! Ned here had tried to pick a fight with a sixth year, and one who looked like he ate basilisks for breakfast no less. Sirius had only intervened to make sure Ned wasn't pulverized. And of course the beefy guy ran off when he saw Flitwick, leaving a battered Ned and Sirius to take the blame for the corridor that was in shambles. Of course, later Ned explained that the guy was calling him a Mudblood, so he supposed it was worth it in a way. He thought of this as he struggled with a particularly colicky worm, one he deemed Crusher. Suddenly, a sharp noise sounded behind him, assumably in the forest.

He'd been hearing things for a while, twigs snapping, leaves rustling, but had written the noises off as his imagination playing tricks on him. But this one caused Hagrid's dog, Jet, to bare her teeth and growl in warning. Jet was one of the friendliest dogs ever, so something must be up. Sirius whipped his head back, searching the treeline, but he couldn't discern anything from the dark leaves. He began to inspect his surroundings. Ned was busy washing and humming to himself, completely unaware. The Whomping Willow was swaying lazily, only to flick a stray leaf or two off its branches. Most students were inside, as it was a chilly day in early December and the weather was beginning to turn nasty. Sirius didn't see a person anywhere, save for him and Ned. Very odd.

Suddenly, Sirius saw an electric blue curse shoot past his head. The spell hit his tub, water showering his back and face. Ned looked shell shocked, ducking with his hands covering his head. Next to him lay a burnt worm caracas.

"Crusher!" Sirius cried. He grabbed his wand out, and turned to face whoever cast that spell. It was Sinvellus, Nott, and some of their fan club. Sirius's heart sank, as he saw one of the faces in the back. It was Regulus. His baby brother.

"Sorry about your little pet, Black." Snape sneered. "So unfortunate."

Annoyance clenched in Sirius's gut.

"What do you want Snively? Missed all the ass kickings and come back for more?" He taunted. And it was true that Sirius hadn't bothered Snape all year. He'd like to think he'd matured a bit, but it was also that as a Seventh year with no financial help from his parents, he needed a relatively clean record for when he graduated and looked for jobs. But why was Snape antagonizing him out of the blue? He glared at him, determined not to look at his brother's gaze.

Snape laughed flatly.

"Always the class clown Black. Too bad that'll only get you so far in life." It was as if he'd read Sirius's mind.

"Better than kissing up to thugs and criminals until one gets bored and offs me." Sirius shot back.

Nott let out an ugly laugh from behind Snape. Annoyance flashed in the pale boy's black eyes. Siruis was beginning to grow wary. It was one against five (he'd hardly count Ned, the boy looked like he was about to wet himself in the face of conflict), and if they were actively seeking him out, something must be up.

Snape turned towards Regulus, and harshly shoved him forward. Looking dazed, Regulus blinked, and strode over to him. Sirius hadn't talked to his brother in months, but had a nasty suspicion he knew what this was about.

Regulus looked up at him, grey eyes nervous. "This is your last chance to join." He said quietly. "I don't care what happened with mom right now, I just want you to be safe from what's coming."

It wasn't the first time he'd been asked to join Voldemort's ranks. As a Black, even one as traitorous as him, he'd have top priority in recruitment. It was his parents' reputation, their revolting pureblood mania, that had gotten him this status. Sirius guessed that none of these people gave a damn if he joined, but Regulus convinced them to appeal to him one more time. It made his heart tighten to think of his brother, only a third year, already prepared to sign his life away to the wrong side.

"Reg, why are you doing this to me?" He asked honestly.

"Because you're my brother."

"Do you understand what these people do, what he does? Reg, you're too young throw your life away."

"I'm doing what mom, dad, and everyone in the family agree is right." Regulus said defensively. "I don't have much of a choice in the matter anyway."

He always used that against Sirius, how he ran off and abandoned him. Their last conversation was a screaming match about just that. If he could, he'd do anything to go back to that day and take Reg with him, taking him away from the hatred and brainwashing of his parents. But he was just a scared, selfish kid. And now his bother, only a third year, is asking him to join a band of murderers because he doesn't want Sirius to resist and thusly be killed. Fucked up world they were living in, isn't it?

Sirius sighed defeatedly.

"You know I chose my side a long time ago." He said.

"I know." Regulus replied sadly, "I was just hoping you'd give it one more thought, and realize it's the logical decision. And now you're probably going to pay for it." He sounded as if he was giving Sirius's eulogy at a funeral or something. His voice was laced with fear. Sirius felt his heart break.

"Told you he was too thick to reason with." Nott sneered and gestured Regulus back. Reg shot him one last sad look, and Sirius suddenly feared that it was the last time they'd ever speak. Once he was behind Nott, the hulking boy gave a lazy flick of his wand, and Sirius went flying backward. He had been too distracted by Regulus's conversation to prepare, and it was so unexpected he didn't even have time to defend himself. He landed hard on his back, stars erupting in his eyes. He heard scrambling behind him, most likely Ned.

"You bastards! I'm getting Hagrid!" He shouted bravely. Sirius heard him running off, the boys snickering.

"You got this one, Black." Nott said quietly. Sirius heard his brother yell Stupefy! and Ned's body hitting the ground. His thoughts swirling with confusion from the curse Nott hit him with, he began to stumble onto his knees. Suddenly a kick was issued to his ribs, so forceful he felt all the air leave his body. Blinding pain ripped through his side. He shot a hex at Nott's feet, causing him to be flung back into the air. He crashed into Regulus, the two sprawled out on the ground. His hand was stomped on by a black boot, and his wand was snatched away. Suddenly Sirius was yanked up by a pair of hands. His face was thrusted upward, to meet Severus. His eyes were bloodshot and hysterical, teeth bared into an ugly snarl.

"I never got a chance to repay you Black. You tried to take my life once. It's about time I repaid the favor." His voice was deadly and full of hatred. Sirius spat in his face, but he dodged. How dare he bring that night up, when Sirius had felt shame from it almost every day? He'd almost made the worst mistake of his life, had almost lost his friends, because of some stupid prank.

"You don't scare me Snape." He spat. Snape smiled, as if that was exactly what he had wanted to hear.

"I may not, but this will." His two goonies, Yaxley and Gripe, waved their wands and muttered an incantation Sirius didn't recognize.

The rustling in the woods became louder, and it was clear something large was moving towards them. The first creature erupted from the darkness, and Sirius felt his heart stop. More and more of them came his way. His body froze in fear, mind blank. How could he possibly defend himself, wandless and outnumbered? He did the only thing he could to: He ran.

Hearing Snape's oily laugh behind him, Sirius sprinted towards the castle. He had to warn the others, as the creatures were definitely not going to stop outside. Jet was barking wildly behind him, until a sharp whine cut her off. Sirius didn't want to think of what happened.

He suddenly tripped, body flying forward. It was Ned, unconscious from Regulus's spell. Dammit. Sirius couldn't just leave him here. The creatures were gaining on him, he was rapidly running out of time. Shaking Ned, he saw the boy's eyes flutter in confusion.

"You're up, we gotta go!" He bellowed. Still confused, but now terrified, Ned stumbled up sluggishly. But as soon as he'd arisen he was tackled by the hideous thing that had been chasing them. Sirius turned, punching it away, but it was too strong. Its claws dug into Ned's flesh, until Sirius yanked it off. It turned to attack him, as three more creatures converged on the boys. Sirius felt gnawing teeth on his side as he tried to shield Ned, who was knocked out cold once more. Suddenly he felt his vision clouding over. The last thing he saw was Snape's hazy figure standing over him.

"That's enough for now. It's time to pay the castle a visit."

x x x xx x xx x x x

"So are we thinking a summer wedding, of autumn?" Lily asked.

James groaned, and rolled over to where his girlfriend (fiance?) lay next to him, a teasing smirk on her lips.

"We aren't thinking of any wedding! Because I haven't asked you yet." He said stubbornly. Lily giggled gaily. She loved to rub it in his face that she asked him first, and, in her words, 'in a way that could never possibly be topped'. It had been one of the best moments of his life, save the blinding concussion right afterwards, but still, James was a bit pissed.

"It feels like I've slacked off on my duties as a man!" He had explained. Lily had rolled her eyes at his reasoning that they guy was supposed to asked. But he had made a promise that day. They wouldn't be officially engaged until he asked Lily. She had reluctantly agreed, probably because she saw how important it was to him. That wasn't to say she didn't tease him relentlessly about when he was going to pluck up the courage to ask her.

Lily yawned hugely next to him. It was nice, having a Saturday all to themselves. Usually they'd have to get up to study for classes by now, but for some reason the professors had been surprisingly lenient on them this week, and they were determined to take full advantage of that fact. They stayed in Lily's bed all morning, snuggling and chatting. Of course, Lily had brought their engagement up to tease him.

"I'm thinking a pink dress instead of traditional white, how would that sound to you?" She joked now.

"Pink with your hair? It would be a disaster." She threw a pillow at him, giggling.

He wrapped her in a tight embrace, kissing her on the mouth. It was so healing being with Lily, the two of them in their own little world. With so much bad news going on outside, she was a safe haven. Moments of true happiness, without worry, were becoming rarer and rarer for the two of them, so James wanted to savor this as much as he could.

She swung her legs over him, now on top of his torso. They kissed more passionately than before, as if they both could read each other's minds. James loved the way Lily's lips felt on his neck, and groaned as she trailed kisses down his body. She knew she made him crazy, and loved doing it to torture him.

He threw off his t-shirt, and she was reaching for hers. But before she could finish her task, a knock issued at the girls' dormitory door. The two froze, in a terror and giddiness of being caught. Lily was trying to settle her breathing.

"What do you want, Mar?" She asked, annoyed.

"Miss Evans?" It was Professor Mcgonagall. They shared equal looks of terror and began to silently dress as quickly as possible.

Smoothing her hair, Lily ran for the door, and swung it open.

"Hi Professor!" She said with false enthusiasm. "James here was just helping me with my Transf-"

"It's urgent." Mcgonagall said, a look of utmost seriousness on her face. This quieted the two.

"Since the Head Boy is here too this will be a bit easier. There is an attack on the school. You will be in charge of taking students back to their common rooms and ensuring their security."

"What?" James gasped. Mcgonagall looked worried and in quite a hurry.

"There isn't more time to explain, Mr. Potter. I have to go and secure the school. I trust you two to take care of our students. They're in excellent hands." Wit that she turned with a swish of robes and hurried away.

James looked at Lily. An equal look of terror was mirrored on her face.

"The students! We have to go. I'll take care of Slytherin and Hufflepuff, since their rooms are on the lower levels, you get Gryffindor and Ravenclaw to their towers." She instructed. He admired her courage and control so much. Looking at her, green eyes hard with determination, he decided he could never love something as much as he loved her.

Quickly he kissed her hard. Who knows what'll happen to them today? He didn't want to think about it.

"I'll see you as soon as I can." He promised. She nodded stiffly. The two made their way down to the Common Room, instructing all students to stay put in it until further notice. As it was a weekend, luckily many were there, but James noticed all of the Marauders were missing. Alice and Marlene too. He tried to steady his rapid heart. James and Lily exited the portrait hole, hand in hand. He gave hers a squeeze.

"Until later Evans. Be careful." He said.

"Alway am Potter. I'll see you at dinner." She gave him a tight smile. James's mind and heart were going into overdrive.

He always knew when she was lying.