Note-Sorry for taking so long. Next chapter will be the start of Year Two.

Severus crept quietly down the hallway. It was after curfew and he didn't want to be caught. Filch, the young caretaker at the school was still in St. Mungo's. So now the teachers and prefects checked the halls more often. He didn't want anyone to see him, which was why he made Gregor stay in Ravenclaw tower.

He would be in detention for the rest of the year if he was caught. But he really needed to get away from Gideon, he was driving him mad. A few hours of studying in his special room would be divine.

A shuffling sound came from around the corner. Looking around he saw a gargoyle in front of a dark corner. Sliding behind it, he crunched down so no one would see him.

He saw cloaked man rushing past him, he was muttering something but Severus couldn't hear. A chill went up his spine though. The man looked evil, he hadn't known evil had a look. Whatever he was doing in the castle, it wasn't good. As he waited he heard Dumbledore's voice.

"Tom, I thought you were going to meet me in my office?"

"Sorry, Professor," a voice said, Severus suspected it was the cloaked man.

"Come, Tom," Dumbledore said, he heard their footsteps get further away.

Once their voices were nothing more than a whisper, he got out from behind the Gargoyle. It was too dangerous to go to his special room tonight. It would be best for him to go back to his dormitory. He rushed back, never noticing a lone shoe tip.

The owner of said shoe was just as chilled by the cloaked man. The boy quietly went back to his common room, as he noticed the one he was following running back to Ravenclaw tower. He didn't have to be fast or stealthily, the cloak he wore was protection enough. It was the first time since his father gifted it to him over Christmas, that he dared to use it. Only his very best friends knew about it. Sirius thought it was amazing. Remus thought it was just asking for trouble, and Peter thought it brilliant but dark. It wasn't though, his father had told him. It was a family heirloom. He was supposed to take the very best care of it, and not use it to cause trouble. Well, he would take care of it, that was all he was promising. The next six and a half years were going to be amazing. Hogwarts would be his playground.

Not only was it good for troublemaking, he would be able to look after Severus like he promised his parents, the reason his father gave him the cloak in the first place. Severus would kill him if he knew that he was babysitting him, that James knew for a fact.

Something caught his eye just as he was nearing The Fat Lady, Kingsley Shacklebolt was just ahead of him. What was he doing out of the common room this late? It wasn't like he was a prefect or anything. Odd.

Petunia and Rin were waiting for Severus, they didn't know when he would be back. They had lied to Professor Flitwick about his whereabouts, saying he was in the lavatory during bed check. They both stayed in the common room, telling others they were studying.

Severus stepped inside Ravenclaw's common room, his eyes went straight to his two best friends. Rin was laying on the rug in front of the warm fire, a book across his face, Gregor curled up beside him. It was obvious they had fell asleep waiting. Petunia was sitting in a chair; a book had fallen to her feet. She was also asleep.

Lightly, he shook them. "Wake up."

Both opened their eyes and looked at him groggily. "You get in trouble?" Rin asked.

Severus shook his head but didn't think Rin saw because he's eyes were closed again. "Come on, time to go to bed."

They both groaned and followed him up the stairs, splitting up. Gregor following him. He wondered if the other houses were so cold. It was very airy in Ravenclaw Tower, but he thought it was probably like that in others.

His dormmates were asleep when he entered the room, for that he was thankful because they could talk a plant into a coma.


"That girl is looking at you again," Petunia said as they walked into Great Hall, smiling over at Rin.

"Don't look at her, she might come over," Rin said, trying not to look at the girl in question.

Severus did his best not to laugh, Rin had a not-so secret admirer. A fourth year Slytherin, with mousy brown hair and bulgy eyes. She reminded him somewhat of a toad. She was also the most intolerant person he had ever met, and that included Malfoy and his cronies. Severus didn't know what a fourth year Slytherin wanted with a third year Ravenclaw, but he and Petunia found it pretty funny. The girl seemed to like that Rin was from a pureblood wizarding family without a squib ever reportedly being born into the family.

After they sat down, they noticed the girl get up from her seat at the Slytherin table. She walked haughtily over to where they were sitting.

"You know Quirrell, it's not good to be seen with a half-blood and a mudblood all the time."

"Go away, Dolores. And don't call Petunia that," Rin said, glaring at the girl.

"Really, you would think you would know better, you come from a good family."

Severus rolled his eyes, he really hated the pureblood rhetoric that came out of her mouth. She wasn't the first person, but there was something about her that made him want to hex her. So far everyone in Slytherin he met he hated, well except for Narcissa. She was actually pretty nice, it sucked that she was going to marry such a man as Malfoy. She had talked to him some after Christmas, telling him that if he ever needed someone to talk to that he could come to her. Even going so far as to tell him to write after she graduated. Not that he would, she would be Malfoy's wife by then.

After they started to ignore Dolores, she finally stomped off making the three of them fall into a fit of the giggles.

"What's so funny?"

Severus looked over to see Gideon sitting down next to him. "Hey, Gid. Just Rin's new girlfriend."

Rin threw his spoon at Severus, it never made contact. It hovered in the air in front of him before falling.

"I hate that you can do that," Petunia grumbled.

"Yeah, me too. It's not fair, all of us have to use a wand to do magic," Gideon said.

"Not always, you just seemed to stop using your uncontrolled magic, work with it not against, not so uncontrolled then."

That just seemed to get eye rolls from his friends. He shrugged, how could he explain something that it seemed like only he could do. Wandless magic was advanced magic, he hadn't met any others that could do it besides some grown wizards.

He was unaware of the scene being watched by the headmaster and another more devious-minded professor. One who had taken great interest in the young half-blood and his growing powers.

"Right, anyway. Has anyone talked to the Gryffindor's today?" Petunia asked.

"Yeah, Potter's got detention with Pomfrey, she caught him breaking curfew," Rin said.

"What was he doing out past curfew?" Severus asked.

"No clue. He was very cagey this morning when I asked. Lupin and Black were just as shifty, Pettigrew seemed to be lost but when doesn't he."


They were all together for tutoring in the library with the exception of Gideon, who was watching his brother practice quidditch.

"So, I heard you have detention for breaking curfew, Potter. What were you doing out so late?" Severus asked suspiciously.

"Oh, you know. This and that," Potter said, waving the question off.

"Well what was it. This or that?"

Potter rolled his eyes, he seemed to be getting mad at the questions. "It's really none of your concern," he said sourly.

Severus smirked, he loved when he got under the boy's skin. He didn't know why but Potter just bugged him even on a good day. Sure they had gotten along well but they were far from best friends. As far as he could tell, that was only for Potter's followers. He understood Pettigrew's blind trust but he expected better from Black and Lupin after meeting them.

"I guess you're right. It's not my concern. Let's just get on with our lessons."


It was easier to sneak to his hideaway spot the next evening. A couple times he felt like someone was following him but he put it off to nerves. After his argument with Potter the day before all the Gryffindors have been short with him. Petunia and Rin were supportive but had their own things going on. That was why earlier, he was cornered by two Slytherin fifth years alone. Nott and his friend Vale were morons, but big morons. He was outnumbered and unlike with Malfoy in the beginning of the year they were ready for retaliation. He was able finally get away from them with only a few marks when strangely enough, it felt like they were thrown off him but he looked around and didn't see anyone.

He had run into Shacklebolt on his way to his secret room. The older boy seemed to always be around one corner or another. He wasn't scared of Kingsley but didn't really know him either.

As he read a book that his grandfather had sent him, he was shocked when the door to his secret room opened. In walked a girl with blonde hair, falling over her eyes. She was clutching several books to her chest. He didn't recognize her, but he didn't know a lot of other students.

"Oh, hello," she said, looking just as surprised to see him. "I didn't know anyone else could get in here."

"I didn't know anyone could get into here either. I've been coming in here all year. No ones ever came in before," he said.

"Wow, so have I. I'm surprised we haven't run into each other before. What's your name?" she asked, her voice soft and light.

"You don't know me?" Since the beginning of school, he had yet run into someone who didn't see him and the Sorting hat or hear about his 'problem'.

"No, should I? Are you famous?"

"No, I'm not famous. Severus Snape, and you are?"

"Pandora Dean," she said, giving him a little wave.

"What do you come in here for?" he asked.

"To study, get away from louder students. But mostly to practice."

"Practice?"

"Yes, I'm working on a spell."

"Really, which one?" he asked, maybe he could help her.

"No, I'm working on a spell. You know making one."

"Really?" He thought he was the only one with such aspirations. Petunia and Rin were amazing but they didn't have that kind of ambition.

"Yes. What are you doing here?"

"Same, really. Isn't that funny. Maybe that's the key to this room. Wanting the same thing," he said before thinking how stupid that sounded.

"I think you're right, I've tried to find it some other times and I can't. Maybe it was in use for something different those times. I know it's changed on the inside to meet my wants and needs."

He nodded excitedly. "I know, I was thinking the same thing. Sometimes a bed is here, when I just want to hide and sleep. It's really great to have someone else know about it. I wanted to tell my friends but…"

"It was like a secret you wanted to keep to yourself. I understand. I'm the same way."

"What house are you in?"

"Hufflepuff, second year. You?"

"Ravenclaw, first year. What kind of spell are you working on?" he asked, wanting to know more about her work.

That was it. After that ever Friday evening they would meet in the room and experiment with spells. Every once and a while others would ask where he disappeared to but he wouldn't tell them. Pandora wasn't his friend like Petunia or Rin, she didn't need help like the Gryffindor's, she was more like a partner in creation. She helped him with a spell he was working on, and he was the test subject for her.

The last day of school they met in the room before breakfast.

"I have something for you," she said as he entered the room.

"What?"

She pulled out a bracelet, it was rather plain looking. Not that he had a ton of experience with bracelets.

"This is something I've been working on, ever since you told me about well you know. I charmed this bracelet, it will get hot but not burn when someone with bad intentions is around. You said your biggest problem was not knowing who to trust. It's not a truth teller or anything but it can tell if people are planning something nefarious."

"I've never heard of anything like that." And he had looked.

"I know, I invented it the charm."

"But how?" As smart as she was she was only a second year.

"I saw it in a dream. Does that sound mad?"

"No, it's sound bloody brilliant. Thank you," he said, hugging her. The hug surprised them both. They shared a smile as she attached the bracelet to his wrist.

"First Friday of September?"

"Definitely," he said before leaving.