Disclaimer: I apologise for the long wait time with posting a chapter. My oldest son has been in and out of the hospital with various ailments. Here is an extra-long chapter for anyone still reading this.
Explorations and Learning Magic
Slowly regaining his hearing after Mrs Black's Howler Severus looked down at his timetable and realised that both he and Lily had the entire Thursday morning free, making it the perfect time to explore Hogwarts or even hunt down ancient texts hopefully hidden away in the library.
'Sev!' Lily called excitedly now standing with Petunia
Tucking his timetable into his book bag Severus extracted himself from the Slytherin table
'Where are you going?' an overly irritating nasal voice called, spotting the boy who spoke to him, Severus realised it was his second-year buddy.
'I'm going to spend time with my friends Lily and Petunia.'
'I'm supposed to be showing you around and getting you to your classes.' the boy whinged
'I have a free period all morning so I have no use for you until after lunch.' Severus hoped he wouldn't have to pander to the boy for much longer seeing as he was already getting tedious. Lily at this point was impatiently gesturing him over so he hurried over to them.
'Who was that boy you were talking to?' Lily asked, craning her neck to see the Slytherin table behind him.
'A tedious little dunderhead I got stuck with. No one to be concerned about.'
'Honestly Sev.' Lily huffed rolling her eyes at him 'That poor boy, how do you know he's not as intelligent as you? You can't go around calling people morons, how are you ever going to make friends that way?'
Considering Severus could see Petunia rolling her eyes behind Lily he figured this wasn't the first time she had given this particular lecture.
'Why would I need other friends when I have you girls?' The only way that Severus would even consider tolerating another person was if he needed them to gain knowledge of spells he couldn't get access to, like getting books from the restricted section.
Lily huffed again and Petunia looked at him in amusement.
'Lily and I were thinking about exploring the Slytherin Labyrinth since my Potions class doesn't start until 9 am. Would you like to join us?' Petunia asked gathering up her book bag
'Sounds good, we'll hopefully stumble across somewhere where I can experiment on Potions without endangering anyone else' Severus commented
'As long as you don't blow yourself up in the process.' Lily cautioned, entwining her arm around his as they set off for the entrance to the dungeons on the right side of the Entrance Hall.
Behind the door was a set of stone steps which descended deep into the castle's dungeons, flickering candles sat in silver sconces dotted all along the stairs leading them down into the depths of Hogwarts.
'Come on, how about we go this way!' Lily eagerly exclaimed, leading them off to the right when they had reached the bottom of the stairs, they found themselves in a stone corridor, lit with torches, and decorated with paintings.
'It's too bad Hogwarts doesn't have enchanted windows like the ministry does. It would be a good way to teach students how to enchant objects.' Petunia mused
'Considering the Slytherin common room is located at least part way underneath The Great Lake I would hate for someone to try to enchant our window only to accidentally vanish it and flood the whole place.' Severus shuddered at the thought of drowning in his bed and having his rotting corpse devoured by Grindylows or other unknown creatures that resided in the lake.
'If that's the case we will have to combine all our talents to make sure nobody breaks the window in the Slytherin common room so that nothing bad happens to you.' Lily reassured him as they came across a small unused room not too deep into the Slytherins' labyrinth of dungeons.
In one corner of the room stood a stone statue of a gargoyle perched over a well, its wings extended high over its head looking like it was getting ready to take off in flight, as water cascaded from its open maw.
Four dusty work tables stood evenly in the small room facing an equally dust-covered blackboard Severus thought that it must have been used as a Potions classroom quite a while ago.
'This room would be perfect for experimenting in.' Petunia ran her finger along the top of a dust-covered table closest to them and wrinkled her nose as her finger came back covered in filth. 'Once it's cleaned up of course.' she sniffed
'I can teach you two the Cleaning Charm, it would be a great way to practice magic with a rather harmless spell before I have to go to Potions' Petunia offered
'Fantastic!' Lily exclaimed, beaming in happiness. 'We get to finally use magic!'
'All right -' Severus watched as Petunia smiled indulgently at Lily as she took her wand out of her pocket and pointed it at the nearest table covered in dust. '- What you want to do is point your wand at the dust and cobwebs in the area you want to clean and as you're saying the incantation "Purgatio Lepos" you wave your wand from the left of the mess to the right like your sweeping it off with your hand.' As Petunia demonstrated the spell a third of the dust on the table vanished before Severus' eyes.
'Well, that's a bit better,' Petunia shrugged wryly. 'I guess even household cleaning spells need a lot of practice to get better at.'
'My turn! My turn!' Lily bounced forward, and held her wand to a cobweb in the corner, with a large sweeping motion of her arm she declared 'Purgatio Lepos!'
Expecting the web to disappear before his eyes, Severus jumped back in shock as the web burst into flames, slowly curling up and disappearing as the fire consumed it. Not sure how she would react, Severus, spoke with caution.
'Don't take this the wrong way Lily, but please don't ever try to magically clean Spinners End.'
Lily simply rolled her eyes and Severus relaxed thankful that she hadn't blown up in anger. Petunia snorted in amusement, continuing to clean the table she was working on.
'I guess cleaning spells don't agree with me.' Lily shrugged 'You still haven't tried the spell yet, Sev.'
Walking over to the blackboard Severus hoped against hope that it wouldn't explode or do something equally disruptive when he tried the spell. 'Purgatio Lepos' Severus let out a sigh of relief when half the dirt and grime disappeared harmlessly from the blackboard
'Did you just clean half the blackboard?' Lily looked at Severus with a gobsmacked look on her face, eyes wide in disbelieving amazement.
Severus shifted self-consciously and could feel himself blushing. 'Petunia did as well with the spell as I did'
'But Petunia's a second-year and you matched her power on our first day here!' Lily gushed
'The Cleaning Spell is the spell I asked my mother to use the most, I have never liked things unorganised and untidy, And mother feels safer using her wand whenever father isn't home.' waving his wand and cleaning the other half of the blackboard. As he and Petunia worked on cleaning the room Severus watched in mild amusement as Lily sat on one of the clean tables dangling her legs in the air.
'Oh, it's time for Potions!' Petunia jumped up from where she was cleaning. 'Lily do not even think of casting The Cleaning Spell!' she called as she hustled out of the now half-clean room. Severus chuckled in amusement as Lily blew a raspberry at the now-closed door and continued to finish cleaning up the small room.
'Let's go exploring!' Lily proclaimed when the room was clean 'Petunia doesn't finish class until 11!' looping her right arm around his left arm Lily proceeded to drag him out of the room eager to explore Hogwarts. Hoping that no one would discover and steal his new Potions room, Severus made a mental note to learn The Locking Spell as soon as possible as he cautiously escorted Lily deeper into the dungeon depths, uncomfortable with the fact that Lily was impeding his wand arm.
By the time they made it back to the Potions classroom, Severus felt like he had collected every single cobweb that resided in the Slytherin labyrinth and at least a pound of dirt.
'Honestly Sev!' Petunia huffed the moment she laid her eyes on him 'Purgatio Lepos!'
'Thank you, Petunia.' Severus declared gratefully as all the mess disappeared instantly in the blink of an eye. 'I thought it would be best to wait for you to help clean my robes rather than let Lily's fiery inferno near them.'
Lily shoved him gently in the ribs with her elbow as the three of them walked along the Potions corridor towards the Great Hall.
After a small lunch, Severus rushed down to the dungeons to collect A History of Magic and headed off to the third floor of Hogwarts for his first class of the year, thankful that he at least had it with Lily.
Unfortunately, History of Magic turned out to be the most boring class Severus had ever encountered despite being taught by a ghost. Professor Binns had been extremely old when he fell asleep in front of the staffroom fire. He got up the next morning to teach, leaving his body behind him. Binns droned on and on about Emeric the Evil as Severus struggled to stay awake.
'The first well-documented mention of a wand made out of an Elder that had particularly strong and dangerous powers was owned by Emeric, commonly called 'the Evil', a short-lived but exceptionally aggressive wizard who terrorised the South of England in the early Middle Ages.'
Severus struggled to stay awake as Professor Binns relayed mind-numbing facts in a monotonous tone of voice. Considering it was their first class Severus could even distract himself with doing homework as Lily slowly slumped over and came to rest on his shoulder snoring softly as the lesson dragged on.
'Born somewhere in Great Britain to a medieval family of unknown wizarding descent, Emeric was found to have magical abilities at an early age. Sometime afterwards, he acquired a wand and received instruction on how to control and use his abilities. During his lifetime, he took possession of and won the mastery of the Elder Wand, which, in the wrong hands, was a weapon of immense power. Predisposed towards violence and fuelled by a great thirst for power, he used it to terrorise southern England in the early Middle Ages. His death was particularly gruesome in a ferocious duel against Egbert the Egregious.' By the end of the hour, Severus was jolted out of his stupor by the ringing of the bell.
'The next time we have History of Magic, how about we bring something to occupy us so we don't fall asleep next time.' Lily suggested as they packed up and headed out to the corridor
'I would suggest we bring a pack of cards to keep us occupied. But I think even Professor Binns might notice us playing card games' Severus quipped
'Honestly, Sev' Lily giggled rolling her eyes as she skipped over to Petunia who was waiting for them a little way down the corridor 'Hey Tuney, do you have any ideas on how we can stay awake during History of Magic?'
'Professor Binns does get a little dry even for me.' Petunia admitted wryly. 'There are magazines, newspapers and scholarly journals in the library that you can borrow for whenever you have history class, they should hopefully be able to keep you awake.'
Since Severus and Lily didn't have flying classes until the second week of school, Petunia, Severus and Lily spent the rest of the day scouring the library for alternative reading.
At the back of the library, close to The Restricted Section that Severus was eager to peruse was the Potions section, Severus looked along the bottom shelf for an interesting-looking book. Nestled between Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean by Hadrian Whittle and Flesh-Eating Plants of the World by Charles Darwin was a thick book with a deep purple cover. He pulled it out with difficulty because it was heavy, and, balancing it on his knee, Severus saw that the cover read; A Collection of Above Three Hundred Receipts in Cookery, Physick, and Surgery; published and released by Richard Wilkin.
Hefting the book into a more comfortable position Severus hauled it back to the main area of the Library. Spotting the girls happily perusing a pile of magazines they had collected, Severus walked over and parked himself at their table diving into the book he had discovered.
'Sev? Sev? Severus!' Severus was so absorbed in the book that it wasn't until Lily's hand was waved in his face that he realised she had been trying to get his attention
'What?' Severus asked
'What?' Lily mimicked
'Huh?' Severus tilted his head to the side trying to figure out what on earth Lily was going on about
'Excuse me?' Lily questioned
'What are you going on about?' at this point, Severus was completely confused
'I beg your pardon!' Lily exclaimed.
Petunia snorted in amusement. 'If you two are quite finished playing around Lily was trying to get your attention, Severus, because it's time to head off to dinner.'
'Oh,' Severus could feel himself blushing bright red. 'My apologies.'
Severus gathered up his book, waited for Lily to gather up the magazines and walked with the girls over to Madam Pince, the librarian, a thin woman with sunken cheeks, skin like parchment, and a long hooked nose, black eyes and hair.
'Name?' Madam Pince asked
'Lily Evans' Lily handed over the magazines she was holding to Madam Pince.
'Are you and Madam Pince related?' Petunia whispered as Lily borrowed Witch Weekly and Challenges in Charming. Severus shrugged, he didn't think they were related but there were certainly quite a few similarities between himself and Madam Pince.
'Hogwarts students can borrow books for one month before the book has to be returned. If the books are not returned by the due date you may not borrow any more books until the overdue book is returned.' Madam Pince's voice was sweet but stern as she gracefully handed the magazines back to Lily.
'Next' Madam Pince called 'The book if you please?'
Severus carefully placed the book he was holding gently upon Madam Pince's desk
'A Collection of Above Three Hundred Receipts in Cookery, Physick, and Surgery' Madam Pince read with some surprise in her voice. 'This isn't a book that gets borrowed often. Name?'
'Severus Snape.' Severus thought he saw some recognition flicker across the librarian's eyes before she looked down and took the book from him.
With delicate fingers Madam Pince opened the book dipped her quill into the ink pot on her desk and skilfully penned his name onto the insert at the front of the book, below three others that were there;
Property of Hogwarts School Library
Name of borrower - Date due back
V. Viridian - 13 December 1703
A. Sharp - 6 February 1840
H. Slughorn - 11 March 1940
S. Snape - 2 October 1971
A warning: If you rip, tear, shred, bend, fold, deface, disfigure, smear, smudge, throw, drop, or in any other manner damage, mistreat, or show a lack of respect towards this book, the consequences will be as awful as it within my power to make them. Ima Pince, Hogwarts Librarian
Retrieving the book back, Severus put it carefully into his book bag and the three of them left the library. Ten minutes later after dropping Lily and Petunia off at their respective tables, Severus wandered over to the Slytherin table and sat down for dinner.
'Evans is not a name that is associated with the more prominent wizarding families.' Lucius Malfoy's aristocratic voice floated across the table, Severus looked and found himself pinned under Lucius' stare. 'Although if Lily is as remarkable as her sister Petunia with her impressive transfiguration abilities and vast intellect, perhaps they are worth cultivating despite their unfortunate heritage?'
Severus almost choked on his steak and kidney pie, concerned that someone as powerful and influential as Lucius Malfoy knew who the girls were. His mother had warned him that almost all Slytherins would take advantage of any weakness and use any emotions against you.
Not knowing if it was alright to mention that the Evans' have some connection to the Black and Parkinson families, Severus decided to make his answer somewhat ambiguous as he finally managed to finish his last bite to clear his throat.
'While I do not know the full extent of the Evans' ancestry, their power and intelligence could indicate an unknown genealogy that could consist of strong magical forebears. My mother was also quite curious about the girls' potential magical lineage however she found out that the Ministry has no way to identify someone's magical heritage.'
'If you are interested in gaining knowledge about the most influential families, the Pure-Blood Directory is a good place to start. Unfortunately, our Headmaster has removed the more interesting library books and kept them all in his study, thankfully you can purchase a copy from The Spiny Serpent.' Lucius suggested
'I'll keep that in mind for summer reading, if I get caught with an unapproved book at Hogwarts the teachers will confiscate it and destroy it.' Severus remarked
Severus' remark must have caused some kind of amusement and acceptance because Lucius smirked and gave him a nod of acknowledgement before starting to consume the desert that had suddenly appeared at the table.
Severus directed his gaze to the table and served himself a slice of rich dark chocolate cake, something his mother had made him on his 5th birthday, he had loved dark chocolate ever since.
Severus finished his dessert and cautiously made his way out of the Great Hall alone trying to avoid his buddy as he wove his way through the crowd in the Entrance Hall slipping into the door that led to the Slytherin common room.
The labyrinthine passages were deserted. Severus walked deeper and deeper under the school. After a quarter of an hour, just when he was getting desperate and slightly regretting ditching his buddy, Severus heard a scuffling noise up ahead
Two dishevelled figures were emerging from a side room. As he hurried nearer and saw whom it was his eyebrows raised in surprise. It was his Slytherin housemate Andromeda Black, she was holding the hand of a tall blonde boy wearing a Hufflepuff uniform and an easy-going smile adorned his face.
'Good evening.' The boy spoke in a mellow and pleasant voice. He stuck his hand out as he introduced himself 'Edward Tonks, but everyone calls me Ted.'
'Severus Snape, First-Year Slytherin.' Severus was glad that the boy didn't crush his hand in a moronic show of force.
'Smashing.' Ted beamed 'You're one of Dromeda's housemates.'
Andromeda rolled her eyes and looked at the Hufflepuff boy fondly
'Ted dear please excuse me, I must escort Mr Snape back to our common room.' One of Andromeda's eyebrows raised elegantly on her face as she looked down at him. 'He must have gotten a little lost trying to find it since it is the second day of school after all.'
'Of course, my darling Dromeda, au revoir mon amour (goodbye my love) my heart shall be counting the seconds until I see you again.' Severus felt like gagging at the sight of the boy gallantly kissing the back of Andromeda's hand before making his way to the entrance of the Slytherin labyrinthine leaving him in the company of Andromeda who looked sterner now that her paramour had departed.
'So, Severus? How much will your silence cost, for you not to tell anyone about Ted and me?' Andromeda questioned as she beckoned him to walk with her.
Severus paused for a moment to think. He didn't want to point out that she could just Obliviate him because he had heard how horrible it was when The Memory Charm backfired and he didn't want to lose all of his memories.
'How about you teach me fifteen spells from your Seventh-Year textbooks and procure a dozen potion ingredients for me?' Severus knew he was being outrageously selfish asking for so much but he just wanted to get an idea of how badly she wanted her secret to be unrevealed.
'Are you kidding me? That's extortion!' Andromeda furiously rounded on him in the corridor 'I'll teach you one spell from the Seventh-Year curriculum and laugh my head off when you pass out even before you finish learning it.'
'A dozen spells and eight rare potion ingredients.' Severus counted
'Three spells and one rare potion ingredient.'
'Ten spells and six rare potion ingredients.'
'Five spells and three potion ingredients.'
'Seven spells and four potion ingredients.'
'Deal!' Andromeda stuck her hand out and they struck a deal 'Write out a list of spells and ingredients and then you'll have the whole year to learn the spells and I will have a whole year to procure the ingredients.'
Severus already knew the first spell he wanted to learn, he had gotten quite a shock when he had awoken that morning and walked into the bathroom
'Ooh don't you look a little peaky dear?' the mirror cooed in a rather feminine voice. He immediately exited the bathroom almost tripping over his dressing gown in his haste, cheeks blazing with embarrassment he dived back into his bed amid the chuckling of his fellow year mates as he enclosed the curtains around him.
'Could you teach me the sticking charm?' he asked as they came upon the common room
'What are you planning on sticking? I hope you're not asking me to teach you the Permanent Sticking Charm … Cunning!' When Andromeda uttered the password a stone door concealed in the wall slid open.
'No, just the Non-Permanent Sticking Charm that can be dispelled with the General Counter-Spell, I wanted to stick a shelf to my wall for my Potions.' Severus remarked
'And here I thought you were like every other boy and wanted the charm for sticking a poster to the wall of your favourite Quidditch team' Andromeda Quipped
'I abhor Quidditch,' Severus wrinkled his nose at the concept of suffering through watching any kind of sport.
Andromeda let out a laugh. 'Not even a Falmouth Falcons or a Montrose Magpies fan?'
'Highly unlikely. Are you just stalling with teaching me the Sticking Charm in the hope that I'll forget the deal that we made?' Severus replied
'Of course not! I have a few notices to stick on the noticeboard. I'll teach you the spell so you can practise by sticking them onto the board. A mutually beneficial arrangement.' Andromeda retrieved a small rolled-up piece of parchment from her book bag and led him over to the Slytherin common room noticeboard. 'The incantation for the Sticking Charm is Inhaero Descendit and what you want to do is wave your wand in the infinity symbol starting and ending in the centre, encircling the two objects that you want to stick together.'
Andromeda held a notice against the board with her left hand and with her wand held in her right-hand she etched a sideways figure eight in the air between the note and the board and intoned the spell. 'Inhaero Descendit! … Now if you have successfully cast the spell you should not be able to remove what you have stuck down without saying Finite Incantatem' When Andromeda spoke the General Counter-Spell while pointing her wand at the note, the parchment quickly rolled up and dropped to the floor.
Severus retrieved the scroll from the floor and held it against the board with his right hand, retrieving his wand out of his pocket, he pushed aside the nervousness he felt from Andromeda watching him intently, took a deep calming breath and intoned 'Inhaero Descendit' while he etched a sideways figure eight in the air between the note and the board.
'Impressive' Severus wasn't sure whether to feel insulted or proud that a seventh-year was astonished by his spell work so he just shuffled uncomfortably while she poked and prodded the notice to see if it would fall off. While Andromeda was distracted Severus took time to read the announcement:
KING AND QUEEN'S COURT
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Princes and Princesses of Slytherin, you have been cordially invited to the inaugural meeting of the King and Queen's court, commencing on Saturday the 18th of September.
First-years please make sure you have selected your Prince and Princess before this date.
'With the amount of talent you have with spells I think you should consider establishing yourself as the Prince of the First-years.'
'I thought that my background would disqualify me from being the Prince?' Severus queried
'Your heritage is irrelevant, well at least to me it is, but as long as you establish yourself as the most powerful of all of your housemates you should be able to cow the other boys into submission … Do you not wish to be one of the elite Princes of Slytherin?'
Severus hesitated, if he did become the Prince then he would always be surrounded by a group of untrustworthy self-seeking pure-bloods who would take any opportunity to undermine him if it advanced their own interests. A good reason to refuse the title.
However, before he could answer Andromeda spoke again 'Let me put that another way … Do you think there is anyone else within this nest of vipers who would tolerate you having friendships outside of Slytherin, especially with girls who have such a questionable background.'
And that was the crux of it. Severus didn't want to be the Prince of a group of self-centred pure-blood elitists, but he very much doubted Petunia and Lily would be tolerated by any other Prince.
'Very well, I shall strive to be the First-year Prince.' Severus was now determined with the path he was going to take. It may not have been what he wanted, but if taking on the role of Prince would protect Lily and her sisters then he would become Prince of the First-years.
'Glad to hear that.' Andromeda beamed down at him and took out two more scrolls from her bag. 'Would you like to continue practising the Sticking Charm with the next two notices?'
Not wanting to pass up the opportunity to cast more spells Severus took the next notice from Andromeda, stuck it on the board and saw that it was unfortunately for Quidditch;
QUIDDITCH
Gryffindor vs Slytherin will be playing in the First Quidditch Match of the season on Sat 6th of November 1971
The last note that Severus stuck to the board was for Hogsmeade;
HOGSMEADE
The First Hogsmeade weekend will be on the 25th and 26th of September for all Third-years and up who have their permission signed.
'Thank you, Severus, you did a wonderful job.'
Feeling like he had accomplished something Severus set off to the First-year dormitory so that he could finally take a shower.
Opening his trunk Severus removed his pyjamas, his towel and his toiletry bag, shutting his trunk again Severus made his way into the bathroom at the other side of the room, to complete his nightly ablutions.
'You're back again are you dearie?' The mirror sounded uncomfortably perky and unsettling with a feminine voice, Severus glanced at the mirror it still creeped him out but at least there wasn't some image of a face looking back at him. All he could see was his reflection; Severus had a thin face with stringy black hair that hung over his black eyes and apart from a slight flush on his cheeks, his face looked just as pale as he was used to seeing.
'Have you decided to get over your shyness sweetie?' Severus, who preferred non-magical mirrors, opened his toiletry bag that his mother had enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm and stuck his arm up to his shoulder and pulled out one of his bed sheets. Severus had packed up his entire bedroom so that his father would have less to destroy while he was away.
Holding up one side of the cloth against the mirror Severus cast the non-permanent sticking charm
'Now that isn't very nice.' the mirror sounded like it was pouting.
Choosing to ignore the repetitive comments from the bathroom mirror that ran the length of the five washbasins, Severus covered up the rest of the mirror and placed his wand into his toiletry bag. Walking over to the showers Severus pulled back the curtain on the one furthest from the door and turned on the water.
Quickly removing his cloak, shoes, and the rest of his uniform. He placed his toiletry bag onto the shelf inside the shower and stepped into the now steaming hot water, closing the curtain behind himself.
'Honestly sweetie, there is no need to be shy with me' the mirror cajoled.
Still ignoring the creepy mirror and rolling his eyes, Severus let the hot water soothe his soul. Grabbing out his shampoo and conditioner Severus took his time having a shower, he knew a place like Hogwarts didn't run out of hot water but actually being allowed to stay in the shower for as long as he wanted was pure bliss.
Finishing up with the shower Severus stepped out and after he had dried himself he pulled on his pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers. Retrieving his wand from his toiletry bag Severus pointed it at the covered mirror.
'Finite Incantatem.' The sheet that covered up the mirror fell across the sinks.
Severus collected the sheet, folded it up neatly and placed it back into his toiletry bag, he then gathered up his uniform and dropped it into the laundry basket for the House Elves to wash on his way out of the bathroom.
Friday morning at breakfast Severus was a lot less shocked as E.B.O landed in front of him and delivered his reply from the Evans'
Dear Severus,
Congratulations on being placed into Slytherin. We know it was the house you wanted to be in, and we are sure your mother will be delighted to know that you are in her old house. We know that you will strive to be the strongest wizard you can be, but please try not to burn yourself out in the process, because growing up is about making friends and having fun also. You may wish to spend Christmas at Hogwarts however we would love to invite you to spend Christmas with us if you so desire.
Please take care of yourself
Best wishes from,
Richard, Hyacinth, Rose and Tansy
P.S. We would love to have a copy of the Hogwarts timetable if you would be so kind as to write one out for us.
Severus felt a warm glow radiating from his chest knowing that Mr and Mrs Evans cared for him as much as the girls did. Finally, it was time for Potions.
Lessons took place down in the dungeons at 10 am Friday mornings and despite having the lesson with the Gryffindors it was the class that Severus had been looking forward to the most.
With his belly preceding him into the room, Professor Slughorn greeted everyone with a smile on his face.
'Settle down now, Settle down, welcome First-years to Potions.' Slughorn happily took the register.
'Now who here has seen or helped a parent brew a potion before?' More than half the class including Severus had put their hands in the air.
'Good, good, everyone else there is no need to worry, if you have read your books and can apply yourself, then you should have no problems creating a Potion. Who here has helped make a cure for boils before? Ah good Mr Snape, one ingredient please.'
'Horned Slugs sir' Severus answered and Slughorn beamed in delight
'Excellent, excellent! Another ingredient Miss Evans?'
'Porcupine Quills, sir' Lily spoke in a confident and clear voice
'Wonderful!' Slughorn announced 'How about you Mr Lupin?
'Snake Fangs sir?' The boy didn't sound too confident about his answer as he gave it with a soft-spoken voice. Severus noticed that he looked ill and exhausted as he sat shivering in the dungeons in his Gryffindor robes.
'Excellent, excellent! Now I think it's time for us to have a go at brewing! Everyone into pairs now' Professor Slughorn waved his wand at the blackboard and a simple recipe to cure boils appeared before their eyes:
Cure for Boils
Ingredients;
5 oz water
Dried nettles
6 Snake fangs
4 Horned slugs
2 Porcupine quills
Brewing instructions;
1 Add 6 Snake Fangs to the mortar and crush into a fine powder using the pestle.
2 Add 4 measures of the crushed Fangs to your cauldron
3 Add 2 pinches of Dried Nettles.
4 Heat the mixture to 250 for 10 seconds.
5 Add 4 Horned Slugs to your cauldron.
6 Take the cauldron off the fire before adding the next ingredient.
7 Add 2 Porcupine Quills to your cauldron and Stir 5 times clockwise.
8 Leave to brew for 33-45 minutes.
9 Wave your wand to complete the potion.
A very burly and ugly boy named Aloysius Mulciber shoved his way through the dungeon towards Severus.
'Do all the work Half-blood!' Mulciber ordered, dumping all of his supplies onto the desk.
Severus could tell Mulciber was the type of bully who used his size to intimidate others and if Severus didn't stand up for himself and assert his superiority now, then he would be forever viewed as an easy target within Slytherin house and would never be able to establish himself as the Slytherin Prince.
Severus turned and glared, smirking when he saw the boy shrink in his seat
'Do not presume to order me around Mulciber, if you do not do your share of the work, then I'm sure that I can invent a few interesting Potions that can cause you to suffer untold horrors.' he whispered dangerously
Mulciber paled dramatically and whispered fervently 'I'll do my share of the work' as he quickly straightened up his supplies and cauldron.
Professor Slughorn meandered around the room as Mulciber weighed the dried nettles and Severus crushed the snake fangs into a fine powder, gently critiquing those who needed the help.
As the Potion class continued, the Gryffindors started to get careless and unruly. Professor Slughorn was just reminding everyone to take their cauldron off the fire before adding the porcupine quills when Severus' cauldron exploded in front of his face.
Severus had just enough time to throw up his arms and close his eyes before he felt the agonising pain of the boiling hot potion sear against his skin. Squinting through the pain he could see angry red boils spring up all over his arms while acid-green smoke filled the Potions room.
Several students around him were also caught by the blast, meaning Mulciber and his fellow Slytherins. Hysterical laughter echoed around the room from Potter and Black as they high-fived each other.
'Mr Potter and Mr Black! How dare you be so reckless!' Professor Slughorn raged as he levitated a soaking-wet firework out of Severus' cauldron.
'Detention with me tonight, for your blatant disregard for safety and endangering your fellow classmates. Fifteen points each will be taken from Gryffindor for your disgusting behaviour! At the start of your next lesson, I will be picking out the pairs who will be working together for the rest of your time here in Potions and I will personally guarantee you two will be separated for the foreseeable future.' Professor Slughorn was seething with anger as he waved his wand, clearing the entire classroom of smoke.
'Class dismissed! Anyone who was splashed by the potion, follow me to the Hospital Wing.'
Severus glanced over at Lily and was relieved that she had not been splashed with the potion as she carefully made her way over to his side.
'Oh, Sev!' Lily looked ready to fling her arms around him, but Severus was glad she held herself back as his arms were still very sore.
'I can't believe that toe rag could be such an irresponsible idiotic dunderheaded git!'
'Sometimes people are jerks.' seeing Professor Slughorn start to waddle out of the classroom Severus thought he should catch up. 'I should follow Professor Slughorn since I don't know where the Hospital Wing is.'
'Of course! Here I'll take your book bag and grab some sandwiches so that you don't miss lunch. Petunia is sure to know the way to the Hospital Wing!' Lily declared as they walked out of the room together and up to the entrance hall
Following along behind Professor Slughorn Severus noted that practically all of the Slytherin students had been affected by the potion meaning the Potter and Black had specifically targeted his house.
As Lily skipped safely into the Great Hall looking slightly ridiculous as she swung both of their book bags around, Severus followed Professor Slughorn up the marble staircase to the first floor of the castle, down a long stone corridor and came to a stop at a set of double doors. When Professor Slughorn ushered them inside Severus saw a sign hanging next to the doors that read Hospital wing.
The Hospital Wing was a wide rectangular room lined with beds that were all identical down to their white linen sheets, and a bedside table sitting next to the head of the bed. A woman came bustling out of an office that was at the back of the room, dressed in a nurse uniform.
'Was there a Potions accident, Professor Slughorn?' the nurse asked as she helped the students climb onto the beds. Severus discreetly made his way over to a bed closest to the door so that Lily wouldn't have trouble finding him. The nurse smiled gently as she helped him onto the bed.
'Not quite an accident my dear Madam Pomfrey, I'm afraid it was quite deliberate,' Professor Slughorn sounded grief-stricken that anyone could deliberately harm others. 'A Filibuster Fireworks was thrown into an unfinished Cure for Boils.'
'Dear oh dear when will those students learn that Potions are dangerous enough without deliberate sabotage?' Madam Pomfrey tutted as she bustled over to a medicine cabinet, unlocking it with her wand in an impressive display of nonverbal casting.
'A properly brewed Cure for Boils should do the trick.' Madam Pomfrey declared as she pulled out a tray of blue potion bottles from the medicine cabinet.
Five people had been given the Potions and were waiting for their boils to disappear when Lily and Petunia were spotted in the doorway carrying a plate piled with sandwiches.
'I do usually supply food to those who find themselves here during meal times girls.' Madam huffed with a smile on her lips, 'but since you are already here with what looks like enough to feed everyone then you may hand out sandwiches to the students who have already been given the antidote.'
'Thank you, Madam Pomfrey' Petunia replied, leading Lily over to the beds furthest away from the doors, as Lily passed Severus' bed she gave him an apologetic look.
Still tut-tutting about the dangers of messing around in Potions class she handed a potion bottle to the rest of the people making sure each of them drank the potion before she finally came to Severus.
'Drink it all in one go if you can dear,' Madam Pomfrey handed him a bottle of blue potion with a sympathetic look on her face.
Having taken at least one potion before, Severus knew how vile some of them could taste, pinching his nose he brought the bottle up to his mouth and drank it all in one go. It burned Severus' throat as it went down, making him cough and splutter.
When all of the angry red boils had disappeared from his arms and legs he gratefully picked up two ham and cheese sandwiches from the platter that Petunia and Lily had just brought over to him.
'Is Severus allowed to leave Madam Pomfrey, It looks like all the boils have gone.' Lily asked
'He's not to do anything too strenuous' Madam Pomfrey examined his arms closely
'I wanted to introduce Sev to my friends. Sitting on the grass outside should be ok, shouldn't it?' Lily asked practically begging.
'That should be fine.' Madam Pomfrey gave Lily a soft smile 'just make sure you girls take that platter back to the Great Hall so that House Elves can clean it, and make sure Mr Snape doesn't excerpt himself.' Between both Lily and Madam Pomfrey talking about him without actually including him in the conversation, Severus was starting to feel like he had suddenly become invisible
'Perhaps Severus doesn't want to be dragged down to meet your friends?' Petunia commented
All three turned on Severus, staring at him and he suddenly had the feeling that this must be what it was like for an ant underneath a magnifying glass.
'I don't mind.' Severus mumbled, squirming and fidgeting on the bed.
Petunia smirked knowingly as Lily squealed in delight and practically yanked Severus off the bed and out the door.
'I'll take the platter back to the Great Hall. So you and Sev can enjoy your afternoon.' Petunia giggled as she waved them off and Severus soon found himself being led outside by Lily.
Stopping next to a group of six other Gryffindors, Severus massaged his sore arm, he was surprised to see a girl sitting with the group who was decked out in Slytherin robes, seeing as the two houses didn't get along.
'Girls, this is my best friend Severus Snape. Severus these are my housemates, Alice Figg, Ivy Hamilton, Florence Hunter, Mary Macdonald, Marlene McKinnon and Emmeline Vance. Florence even invited her twin sister Jasmine so that you wouldn't feel like the odd one out.' Lily excitedly sat down with all the girls.
Severus waved awkwardly at the group, wanting more than anything to escape. It had taken him a while to get comfortable around Lily and her sisters and they still did things he couldn't comprehend.
To be suddenly thrown into the deep end with a whole new group had rendered him practically mute, especially when they started to talk about which boys were cute.
'Tell us, Severus! Who is the cutest boy in Slytherin?' the girl named McKinnon asked eagerly
'How would I know?' Severus replied, looking at the girl in disgust. 'I have absolutely no idea! What makes you think that I would even care who the cutest boy is?'
'Erg! You are the rudest boy I have ever met!' the red-headed girl named Macdonald snarked as she comforted the now watery-eyed McKinnon
'Sev!' Lily scolded then turned back towards the girls, 'He's just grumpy because he got hurt in Potions. He is a very sweet, decent guy…Really!' As Lily reassured the girls, Severus couldn't contain himself from sending a superior smirk in the girls' direction while Lily wasn't looking.
'Boys know nothing! I can give you all the info' Jasmine boasted, giving him a superior look that probably meant she thought he was now in her debt as she droned on and on about the boys in Slytherin.
Being in debt to Jasmine Hunter and having to tolerate the popular and vain version of Lily, didn't improve Severus' mood as he sat there brooding his thoughts spiralled. Could this be Lily's true self? Someone who loves to be the centre of attention? Severus shook his head sharply and pushed that thought away. Lily was kind and sweet and nice and she always would be!
When the bell finally rang for dinner Severus was glad when Lily immediately jumped up and linked her arm with his.
'Come on girls' time for dinner…' Severus could see that the girls looked hesitant to go anywhere near him. 'I promise Sev will be on his best behaviour.' Lily cajoled, giving him a stern look.
Happy that he had Lily by his side, Severus decided that silence was the better part of valour and kept his mouth shut on the walk back into the castle. Lily was beaming with happiness when they all stopped at the Great Hall's doors.
'See girls Sev is quite the gentleman as long as the subject of boys is avoided' Lily was radiant as she threw her arms around him in a hug. Feeling a little stunned at her impromptu affection, Severus stood there and watched as Lily blissfully skipped off to the Gryffindor table, the setting sun shimmering down on her flowing auburn hair causing her to glow in the sunshine.
'I wonder if it will damage your chances of becoming the Slytherin Prince if everyone knew how terrible you are dealing with a group?' Jasmine Hunter taunted 'Or perhaps the boys in Slytherin just won't want a leader who is so enamoured with a Muggleborn.'
'I take it your silence will cost me' Severus raised his eyebrow inquisitively as he and Hunter walked towards the Slytherin table. He couldn't exactly complain because he had pulled the same stunt on Andromeda Black yesterday.
'Yup! This is why I love being in Slytherin.' Hunter grinned in triumph.
'What exactly do you want in exchange for your silence?'
'Hmmm, that's a little tricky to figure out since we have only just started school. Is there anything that you're skilled at?'
'My mother taught me quite a bit about Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration.'
'Potions tutoring over the weekend should suffice for my silence.'
'Fine.' Severus snapped, sweeping down the Slytherin table and choosing a spot far away from Jasmine Hunter…
After a torturous weekend of being tutored, Severus spent Monday Morning going through his Herbology and Magical Theory books with Petunia while Lily was in her morning class.
At 1 pm on Monday, Severus and the Slytherins went out past the vegetable patches to the greenhouses which were situated behind the castle. The Ravenclaws were already standing outside waiting for Professor Sprout who would teach them how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and what they were used for.
'Good afternoon students, welcome to Greenhouse One.' Professor Sprout took a large key from her belt and unlocked the door. Severus caught a whiff of damp earth and fertiliser mingling with the heavy perfume of the plants and flowers that occupied the greenhouse.
Professor Sprout situated herself behind a trestle bench at the centre of the greenhouse that was holding about twenty pairs of different-coloured pots and started their first class by taking the roll call.
When Professor Sprout finished calling the names she looked up at the class. Professor Sprout was a squat little witch who wore a patched hat over her short, grey flyaway hair; she had warm brown eyes, an easy smile and a generous amount of earth on her robes.
'I trust you've all brought your gloves and clippers? Today you will be meeting an unassuming little flower with surprisingly potent effects. It may not look like much, but the plant known as Moly is one to remember. Now, who here can tell me the qualities of this unique plant?'
Severus supposed he shouldn't have been too surprised when the Ravenclaws raised their hands along with his own.
'Yes, Mr Snape?'
'Moly is a black-stemmed plant with white flowers, a powerful magical plant that can be eaten to counteract enchantments. It is also used as a potion ingredient, such as in the brewing of the Wiggenweld Potion which can be a useful antidote for the Sleeping Draught and the Draught of the Living Death.'
'Excellent. Ten points to Slytherin' Professor Sprout beamed. 'Yes, Mr Quirrell?'
'Moly is also a magical herb mentioned in book 10 of Homer's Odyssey where it is used by the protagonist, Odysseus, to help resist Circe's dark magic. In the Muggle story, the Greek god Hermes gave his herb to Odysseus to protect him from Circe's poison and magic when he went to her palace to rescue his friends. These friends came together with him from the island Aeolus after they escaped from the Laestrygonians.' murmured a timid, delicate-looking boy with light blue eyes.
Monday night just before dinner was Magical Theory with Professor Katrin who started the class by summing up their whole lesson plan so that they had some idea of what they would doing.
'Magical Theory 'covers magic from a theoretical standpoint, including how spells work. The basic concepts of magic are fairly simple. Even two-year-old wizards and witches can do some form of magic, but the inherent power and potential for misuse are great indeed the older and more experienced you get. Magical Theory also covers magical laws that govern our society like the Fundamental Laws of Magic and Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration and its five Principal Exceptions as well as the laws stipulated by the Ministry of Magic.'
On Tuesday at eleven, they had Charms with the Hufflepuffs. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. He had a high squeaky voice as he took the roll call.
'Think of Charms as an introduction to spellcasting in general. This year we will cover the basics of spellcasting including the importance of pronouncing a spell correctly and practising wand movements as well as casting basic charms.'
The class everyone including Severus had been looking forward to was Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Tolbert. He was a dark imposing figure who quickly got the Slytherin and Hufflepuff sorted into their seats. He peeked Severus's attention immediately with his opening speech.
'The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutilating, and indestructible. Your defences must, therefore, be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo.' Professor Tolbert's class was fantastic and Severus absorbed everything he could about the subject.
Professor McGonagall was again different. Severus had been quite right to think she wasn't a teacher to cross. Strict and clever, she gave them a talking-to the moment they sat down in her first class.
'Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts, anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned.'
Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. Everyone soon learned they weren't going to be changing the furniture into animals for a long time. After making a lot of complicated notes, they were each given a match to try to turn into a needle. By the end of the lesson, only one or two students had made any difference to their matches, Professor McGonagall showed the matches to the rest of the class.
Every Wednesday at midnight they studied the night skies through their telescopes learning the names of different stars and the movements of the planets.
Thursday morning Severus wrote a short note to the Evans;
Dear Mr and Mrs Evans, Rose and Tansy,
I have survived a whole week at Hogwarts! I was a little worried the rest of the week was going to be as bad as Friday but the week has gone surprisingly fast.
What happened was that in our first Potions lesson, half the class and I were sent to the Infirmary because of two bullies named James Potter and Sirius Black, Madam Pomfrey the nurse was able to patch me up quickly, but it looks as if Potter and Black have added two more boys to their gang Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin, I will do my best to avoid them, but they seem to just love causing chaos.
I have enclosed a copy of my timetable so you can see what classes Lily and I have. I know it looks bare but between the homework that we get from the teachers and the amount they teach in class, there is more than enough work to do.
I hope you are all well,
Severus.
p.s. I'm very nervous about the first flying lesson tomorrow afternoon;
First-Year's Timetable:
The Hogwarts Library opens at 6:30 am
6 am - 7:30 am: Breakfast
Noon: The library is locked between 12 pm and 12:30 pm for Lunch
6 pm - 7:30 pm: Dinner
The Hogwarts library closes at 8:00 pm
8:30 pm: 1st - 4th Years curfew (except Astronomy)
9:30 pm: 5th - 7th Years curfew (except Prefects or Astronomy class)
First-Years: Magical Theory · Flying
Core classes: Astronomy · Charms · Defence Against the Dark Arts · Herbology · History of Magic · Potions · Transfiguration
Elective Classes: Arithmancy · Care of Magical Creatures · Divination · Muggle Studies · Study of Ancient Runes
Extracurricular classes: Ghoul Studies · Muggle Art · Art · Muggle Music · Music · Xylomancy (only run if demand is sufficient)
Sixth and Seventh years only: Advanced Arithmancy Studies · Ancient Studies · Alchemy
Seventeen years and over: Apparition
Passing Grades: Outstanding [O], Exceeds Expectations [E]and Acceptable [A]
Failing Grades: Poor [P], Dreadful [D] and Troll [T]
Monday
8 am -10 am: Double Herbology, Gryffindor/Hufflepuff with Professor Sprout
1 pm - 3 pm: Double Herbology, Slytherin/Ravenclaw with Professor Sprout
5 pm – 6 pm: Magical Theory with Professor Katrin: all Houses
Tuesday
8 am – 10 am: Double D.A.D.A, Gryffindor/Ravenclaw with Professor Tolbert
11 am - 12 pm: Charms, Slytherin/Hufflepuff with Professor Flitwick
2 pm – 3 pm: Charms, Gryffindor/Ravenclaw with Professor Flitwick
4 pm – 6 pm: Double D.A.D.A, Slytherin/Hufflepuff with Professor Tolbert
Wednesday
8 am - 9 am: Transfiguration, Slytherin/Ravenclaw with Professor McGonagall
11 am – 12 pm: Transfiguration, Gryffindor/Hufflepuff with Professor McGonagall
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Flying, Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff with Madam Hooch
Midnight - 1 am: Astronomy with Professor Propos: all Houses
Thursday
Morning Free
1 pm - 2 pm: History of Magic with Professor Binns: all Houses
3:30 pm: Flying, Slytherin/Gryffindor with Madam Hooch
Friday
8 am – 10 am: Double Potions, Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff with Professor Slughorn
10 am - 12 pm: Double Potions, Slytherin/Gryffindor with Professor Slughorn
Saturday and Sunday: students are free to take this time to catch up with friends or do homework. Any students Third-years and up who have a permission form may go into Hogsmeade