Disclaimer: Not mine, otherwise I'd be a billionaire.
Author's note: This chapter is a little longer than usual, so it makes up for the previous one. ;) Thanks for all the reviews and favorites! Enjoy.
Chapter Five
As the three young Gryffindors arrived at their Transfiguration class, Severus took a mental note of the students already inside. It appeared that they had been partnered with the Slytherins for their first class.
The four green-and-silver-clad girls were already in their seats, as were Alice and Mary. Wilkes and another Slytherin boy Severus couldn't remember the name of already had their heads together and were whispering, their smiles uncomfortably reminiscent of Potter's and Black's that morning.
Mulciber and Avery entered the classroom right behind the three Gryffindors, Peter trailing them looking frightened and confused. The boys dropped into the seats directly behind their friends, with Peter off to one side.
Severus slid into a seat in the front row, as far away from his former roommates as possible. He didn't want anything to do with them. Lily sat next to him, casting a concerned glance at the chubby boy in Slytherin colors. Lupin followed her line of sight and sighed, turning to sit next to the other boy.
Severus heard the Gryffindor briefly introduce himself, but Pettigrew didn't look any less nervous. It looks like Slytherin life hasn't treated the bloody traitor too well, he thought to himself spitefully. Pettigrew deserved everything that was coming for him.
He and Lily sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments until Sirius and James came bursting into the room. There was a teeth-grinding scrape as two chairs were dragged backward, and Severus could practically feel the other boys' gazes burning holes into the back of his head.
"Do you think they'll ever leave me alone?" he muttered to Lily, feeling oddly self-conscious. What if Black and Potter saw or heard him do something that made them realize he wasn't a normal 11-year old boy? Severus didn't know if he could get in trouble for that, but he certainly didn't want just anyone finding out.
Lily sighed slightly, sneaking a glance behind her. "I don't know," she replied honestly. "Maybe. Just don't provoke them and they might get bored after a while." Her beautiful green eyes were piercing. She already knew how stubborn Severus could get.
The boy inclined his head to acknowledge her words, but he didn't say anything else. Just them, Professor McGonagall entered the classroom.
"Good morning, class," she greeted them all briskly. "Today is the first day of lessons, and I expect you all to be prepared to pay attention." Her sharp gaze swept the classroom, no doubt looking for potential troublemakers.
Severus smirked slightly. This was the Minerva he knew. It had been a while since he sat in one of her lessons, but she was still the formidable woman who had chased him out of Hogwarts on the eve of the final battle.
"You will quickly discover that Transfiguration is among the more difficult ranges of magic," Professor McGonagall continued. "Some may find themselves naturally more capable of performing these sorts of spells, while others may have to work harder to achieve results. However, with hard work and determination, almost anyone can unlock the great power that can be found in the most advanced Transfiguration. Now, if you will all take out your quills…"
She proceeded to thoroughly explain the mechanics of the first spell they would be trying, a simple change of a thimble to an ordinary marble. Severus had to refrain from rolling his eyes. He could probably do the spell in his sleep, without a wand.
This entire year of classes is going to be a joke! he thought irritably to himself as the box of thimbles floated around the room and deposited one on everybody's desk. The next six years or so, too. Nothing will be even remotely interesting until N.E..
Severus stared down at his thimble gloomily after watching Lily attempt the spell a few times without any results. He could probably change it nonverbally, but what was the point in that? He would only draw attention to himself that way.
The boy sighed and tapped the thimble with his wand, speaking the incantation firmly. The thimble was immediately replaced by a bright green glass marble, exactly the same color as Lily's eyes. Severus gave an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes this time. Was he really that predictable?
"Very well done, Severus, is it?" Professor McGonagall praised him, looking quite pleased at his final product. "Ten points to Gryffindor. I don't think I've ever seen a student master a spell so quickly."
She's probably just happy that one of her idiot Gryffindors managed to do something first instead of a Slytherin, Severus thought to himself irritably. However, he felt quite smug at the jealous glares that Black and Potter were shooting at him. Even Lupin looked a bit dismayed at Severus' success.
"You know, perhaps you'd like to try something a bit more difficult?" McGonagall asked Severus hopefully. "I had some matchboxes over here I was saving for a later lesson, but we still have quite a bit of class time, and I don't want you getting bored…"
Severus, much to his classmates' growing annoyance, spent the rest of the class changing matchboxes into various biscuit tins, earning another 20 points for achieving different colors and patterns each time.
He left the class in a good mood- Professor McGonagall had been delighted to have a "Transfiguration prodigy" as a student, much to his amusement. And while the rest of the class was assigned to write essays on the basics of Transfiguration, he had gotten away with no homework.
"Ugh, I can't believe you could do all that stuff!" Lily burst out once they were on their way to History of Magic. "I couldn't even get that wretched thimble to change." She pouted slightly, and Severus suddenly felt guilty for showing off a bit.
"No, you'll get it eventually," he replied soothingly. "You just have to be forceful with it. Things don't particularly like changing their shape, so you have to be firm. You're in charge of telling the thimble what to do, not the other way around."
His hopeful expression was met with a rather reluctant smile from Lily, but she still didn't look reassured.
"I know, but you did all sorts of magic we haven't learned yet," she responded, obviously still troubled by that fact. "Is it because I'm Muggleborn?" She suddenly looked very worried.
"No, of course not," Severus replied immediately. "Potter and Black didn't manage it, either, and they're both pure-bloods. It took Lupin to the end of class to finally get his to change, and he's a half-blood. You know, some people think we're actually stronger than the pure-bloods. Something about interbreeding. They believe that the Muggle blood helps our magic or something."
Lily looked curious about this, but she didn't have time to say anything before they reached their next class. Professor Binns was already in the classroom, along with the Ravenclaw first years. Severus, Lily, and the other five Gryffindors took their seats quietly, but the ghost didn't really take notice of them.
Professor Binns went through roll call slowly, mispronouncing almost everyone's name, and then began his lesson in his usual monotonous tone. Severus could feel his eyes drooping, but he forced himself to pay attention to the Goblin Wars of 1328.
Does he ever talk about anything other than goblins? Severus wondered to himself dully. Lily at least seemed vaguely interested in the topic. There could probably be an explosion that left all of us dead and Binns would never notice. Bugger that, Voldemort himself could come bursting into the classroom whilst riding the basilisk and and singing in Mermish, and this ruddy ghost wouldn't even look up from his notes. How did he manage to keep his teaching materials with him, anyway?
Severus spent the rest of the lesson pondering how ghosts managed to keep things with them when they died, and he resolved to ask Nearly Headless Nick at a later time. When the bell rang to dismiss them, both James and Sirius were startled awake, and all the Ravenclaw students left quickly to go to lunch.
"Well, that was an… interesting lesson," Lily said to Severus conversationally as they packed up. He simply raised his eyebrow and didn't reply. "Oh, it wasn't that bad! Everything is new to me, remember? Here, hold these for a minute."
She dropped several textbooks into Severus' arms as the two of them made their way down a staircase. He tilted his head slightly to read some of the titles.
"Er, Lily?" he began, quite confused. "Why do you have your Defense book with you? And Herbology? We don't have those classes until tomorrow."
He was surprised when she went slightly pink.
"Oh, I know, but I wanted to get ahead of the lessons a little," she replied, looking a bit embarrassed. "I want to show the teachers that I can be good at magic even thought I was raised by Muggles." Her face had a determined look to it, and Severus didn't comment.
"I can take those back now," she informed him as they entered the Great Hall.
The two of them took their seats at the Gryffindor table for lunch, joined by Lupin a moment later.
"You guys left without me," the boy complained, his disapproving expression quite reminiscent of Percy Weasley. "And that Peter boy in Transfiguration was just odd. He wouldn't so much as look at me the entire lesson. He seemed absolutely terrified of his roommates, too."
Severus merely made a disparaging noise as he took a bite of his sandwich, but Lily looked a little uncomfortable.
"Well, maybe we can rotate seats?" she suggested. Severus gave her a pained look, but she ignored it. "I'll sit by him Wednesday, and Sev can take care of him Friday. That way, there won't be any fuss about it. Right, Severus?"
She had that determined look on her face again, and Severus sighed. Of course, Lily, always trying to make people get along, he thought to himself. No wonder Dumbledore made her Head Girl.
"Yes, alright," he replied shortly. "But I'm not going to be friends with him. There's something about him I don't trust." …like the fact he betrayed you to Voldemort, he added silently.
Lily shrugged, probably knowing this was the best she would get from him. Lupin didn't seem too concerned about it, and he turned his attention back to his lunch.
"Which class do we have next?" Severus asked Lily. Knowing her, she probably already had the schedule memorized.
"Potions," she replied promptly, and he smiled inwardly. She really does love this whole magic thing, doesn't she? "It's a double hour, and we have it with the Hufflepuffs."
Severus shrugged slightly. He had never paid much attention to what any of the students in other Houses did. The only problem he might have would be making too perfect of a potion. What would old Sluggy think if he found a 'Potions prodigy' in his class?
Good Godric, he'd be even worse than McGonagall! Severus thought irritably. He'd have to play down his abilities a bit.
. . . . . .
About a half an hour later, Severus was seated next to Lily in the very familiar classroom in the dungeons. Lupin had taken a spot next to a Hufflepuff boy without complaint, but Severus hadn't missed the resignation crossing the sandy-haired boy's face.
"James Potter?" The name drifted through the air to the former Potions master, and Severus' attention focused on Slughorn, who appeared to be taking attendance.
"Ah, yes, there you are," the professor said, looking at Potter curiously. He seemed intrigued by the friendship between Potter and Black. "Yes, two boys from strong Wizarding families, though very different. Interesting, interesting…" The thickset man was muttering to himself.
He went though a few more names and Severus raised his hand briefly when his was called.
"Snape, is it? I don't recognize that," Slughorn remarked, peering at Severus. The boy suddenly felt an intense dislike toward the older man.
Too tied up with his celebrities and life of luxury to join any particularly useful cause, Severus remembered sourly. Slughorn had never wanted to help the Order.
"Yes, my father is a Muggle," the boy replied with distaste. "My mother, though, is Eileen Prince- she was in your House in school."
Slughorn frowned for a moment, obviously thinking hard. "Hmm, yes, I do remember her. She was a captain on the Gobstones team, correct?" he replied, obviously not looking for an answer. "She was never part of the Slug Club, though, but she had a particular affinity for Potions. Let's see if you inherited any of her skill, shall we?"
He let out a laugh and continued with the attendance, making comments on everyone's name and family. By the end of it all, Severus had become quite irritated by the man.
"I suppose I should get to the lesson then, shouldn't I?" Slughorn asked them cheerfully. He had already taken up quite a bit of time by going through all the students, but they were on a double class period.
He briefly explained what the purpose of potion-making was and the kinds of things people could do with potions. Severus didn't pay attention to most of it, as he himself had given the same kind of speech to four classes a year for fifteen years. It grew dull after a while.
The class was set to the task of brewing a simple Boil-Cure potion, one that Severus could probably make with his eyes closed. He finished the first part of it well ahead of the other students, letting it simmer for the required time.
Lily glanced over at his cauldron every so often, obviously comparing his results with her own. He hadn't bothered to use his own adjusted recipe, as the potion was so simple. Toward the end of class, Slughorn wandered through the students, peering into their cauldrons.
"Ah, very good!" he said happily as he reached Severus. "It appears you take after your mother in her Potion-making. Yes, this is quite excellent. That will be full marks for you, Mr. Snape."
He smiled at Severus in what the boy guessed was supposed to be a kindly manner. He still didn't like Slughorn, though. The class packed up quickly and left just as the bell rang, leaving for dinner.
"That was fun," Lily told Severus as the two of them left, but she didn't sound particularly enthusiastic. "It was a very long class, though. I can't believe it's time for dinner already."
Severus nodded, and Lupin caught up to them as they climbed the stairs out of the dungeons.
"Professor Slughorn is a bit odd, wouldn't you say?" the sandy-haired boy asked conversationally, falling in step next to Severus. "He kept going on about families and famous people. Didn't take any interest in me, of course. My parents are half-bloods and weren't not from some rich Wizarding family."
He grinned sheepishly, probably remembering that neither Severus nor Lily had been among the few whose names had caught Slughorn's fancy. Severus rolled his eyes.
"He's always been like that, apparently," the former Slytherin informed the other two. "He took an interest in my mother at first because she was from the Prince family, but she didn't care to join his Slug Club."
At the confused looks he received from Lily and Remus, Severus elaborated: "Slughorn has his own little club that does dinner parties and things like that. It's made up of the relatives of famous wizards and witches, or, in the case of some, students he feels will 'go far' in the real world."
Lily frowned slightly. "So he gives special treatment to rich and potentially powerful people?" she asked skeptically. "That's horrible. I'm surprised Professor Dumbledore allows that."
Lupin merely shrugged, as if he already knew just how greedy some people could be.
The three of them entered the Great Hall and sat down without further discussion of the subject. They chatted idly through dinner, though it was mostly Lily and Remus talking about various classes and some Muggle books that Severus had never bothered to read.
The former Potions master, however, was more concerned with getting information to Dumbledore. The boy stared up at the staff table through most of dinner, pondering different ways of telling the old man about Voldemort and the Horcruxes without giving himself away. After all, there was no point in Severus dying and coming back to life if he couldn't prevent more lives from being taken.
A sudden screech and shouting startled him from his thoughts. The entire Hall went silent, everyone fixated on the commotion going on down at the end of the Gryffindor table.
" -SLEEPING IN A DORMITORY WITH FILTHY BLOOD TRAITORS AND SHARING A COMMON ROOM WITH MUDBLOODS! YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!- "
Severus let out a slight sigh of relief that no one was being injured, then smirked to himself. Apparently Black's mummy isn't too happy about his Sorting, he thought gleefully. He couldn't remember if Black had received a Howler the last time, but the other boy looked a bit uncomfortable now. The red letter had started smoking slightly.
" -COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO FOLLOW YOUR COUSINS AS A NOBLE SLYTHERIN, NOOO, YOU JUST HAD TO MAKE A STATEMENT! YOUR ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE, YOUNG MAN! YOUR FATHER AND I ARE BOTH HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU. DON'T EVEN BOTHER ASKING TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. WE WISH YOU WERE MORE LIKE YOUR BROTHER."
With that parting message, the Howler exploded, showering both Sirius and James with bits of burning paper. Sirius looked extremely upset, and Severus was once again forced to remember that they were all just eleven years old.
Wonderful family he's got there, the former Potions master thought with a sigh. He pushed the food around on his plate for a few more minutes, then glanced up at the staff table again. Dumbledore appeared to be excusing himself, and the tall man starting walking away in the direction of his office.
Severus' eyes narrowed as he thought hard. Maybe it would be best to speak to the Headmaster directly…
The boy stood up, making an abrupt decision. Lily and Lupin both turned toward him, their expressions of surprise almost identical.
"Where are you going?" Lily asked Severus, confused.
"I need to talk to Dumbledore about something," the boy replied honestly, checking that all his books were in his bag. "Don't worry about it, I'll meet you in the common room later. Just keep an eye on those two, will you?"
He gestured at Potter and Black, and Lily nodded slowly. She still looked a little confused and worried, but Severus didn't know what else to say.
As he walked away, the boy cast another glance over his shoulder, slightly relieved that Lily had turned back to talk with Lupin. That feeling was quickly replaced with a tinge of jealousy. Severus had never paid much attention to the young werewolf, but the boy might eventually pursue more of a relationship with Lily. Severus would have to keep an eye on that.
However, he was too preoccupied to brood about that at the moment. The former Potions master quickly started on the route to Dumbledore's office. After about 16 years of spying, Severus knew that he had plenty of information about Voldemort to possibly prevent both wars and save many lives in the process.