Meal times at the Gryffindor table started to become more chaotic. If Snape got to the table first then Lily would sit with him and Mary. If Lily was at the table first then James typically sat with her which meant Snape sat further down with Mary. If James got there first then Lily chose to sit with him albeit a bit reluctantly. Jennifer started joining Mary and Snape as well.

Jennifer had been talking about their Hogsmeade trip for a couple of weeks now, it was the last weekend of October and they only had a week to go. Snape couldn't remember the last time he had been so thoroughly bored at dinner.

"I still need to ask someone," bemoaned Jennifer.

"No, not someone," corrected Mary. "You already know who, you just need to do it."

"I barely talk to him, he's going to look at me like I'm crazy," said Jennifer nervously. She bit off a bit of her pinky nail as she said it. "Severus, do you think he'll say yes?"

"What-? Who?" asked Snape. He found that Jennifer had the unfortunate effect of him not being able to pay attention to her drivel.

"Lupin," whispered Mary. She opened her eyes wide at him as if to say wake up!

"Ah, well you know I'm not that close to him, pretty sure he doesn't even like me," said Snape evasively. He didn't know how he was having this conversation.

"But you're a guy," said Jennifer, she batted her eyes at Snape. "You would know."

"I told you to stop that," said Mary irritably.

"Sorry," said Jennifer sheepishly.

Snape looked down the Gryffindor table and saw Lupin. He appeared to be eating alone, James and Lily had left earlier. Snape got up from his seat and walked over to him before he realized what he was doing. Lupin looked up in alarm at Snape's presence.

"Hello Lupin," began Snape brusquely. "Look, Jennifer Wilson, fifth year, she wants to go to Hogsmeade with you. Can you ask her the next time you see her?"

"What? Jennifer? Why?" sputtered Lupin.

"She has been prattling about this Hogsmeade trip forever and I'm sick of her complaining about it," said Snape through gritted teeth. "Do not let her know that I asked you."

Snape abruptly turned and went back to his seat.

"What did you tell him?" squealed Jennifer.

"I only asked him if he was thinking about going to Hogsmeade," said Snape calmly. He drank the rest of his pumpkin juice as Mary watched him curiously.

"What did he say?" asked Mary.

"He said he might, he hadn't decided yet though," said Snape in a bored tone. "I told him I was taking you and said I would see him around if he went."

"Don't you think that was a little odd?" asked Mary laughing as Jennifer groaned.

"People are stupid," said Snape shrugging. "He needed a nudge, I just gave him an idea."

Dear Mr. Prince

The possible presents I have in stock for you are:

-A watch that will make the wearer feel illuminated at all hours

-Socks that will make the wearer a wonderful dancer

-A book that upon reading it will make the reader so happy that they won't be able to read another book happily

For the watch, I require the Wolfsbane potion.

For the socks, I will need to borrow a book.

For the book, I will require Felix Felicis.

If you have changed your mind I need to know now as I have several patrons interested in these items.

Sincerely,

Mr. Borgin

Snape stared at the letter. He was in his dormitory and he was thinking hard about his options. He doubted Crabbe would even open the book, stupid as he was. The socks would not be good enough, the healers at St. Mungo's would be able to rectify that. The only option left was the watch. It was time to call a meeting.

The Slytherins stared at Snape, lost in thought. They were pondering his question. Who would give Crabbe a present, a present that Crabbe wouldn't be suspicious of?

"Goyle would know," said a seventh-year, Ellis.

Goyle grunted but didn't say anything. Snape walked forward and pointed his wand at him.

"I already agreed not to say anything to Crabbe about what you all were up to," complained Goyle, scowling at Snape's wand.

"Yes, because if you did you would have been cursed," sneered Snape. "Tell me what I need to know or I'll make sure the next person on my list is you."

The Slytherins watched the exchange in interest.

"Crabbe has an aunt he likes, Aunty Josephine. He sometimes gets gifts from her throughout the school year."

"What kind of gifts?" asked Snape.

"Chocolates, new clothes, cologne, anything she finds while shopping," sighed Goyle.

"You have been helpful," said Snape smoothly. "This will be our last meeting regarding this matter."

Snape made his way to the owlery in the morning. He had already written his reply, it read:

Mr. Borgin,

I will select the watch, payment will be given within the week. Please address it to Crabbe's son along with the following message:

I saw this while out and about and thought of you. Love, Aunty Josephine.

Sincerely,

The Half-Blood Prince

As the owl went out the window Snape glared after it.

Three days before the Hogsmeade trip, Lupin asked Jennifer if she would accompany him and she had accepted so fast Lupin wondered why he had been nervous. For the rest of the day, Jennifer had excitedly told Lupin their plans (he had agreed to join Snape and Mary) and at dinner the same day Lupin started wondering what he had gotten himself into.

"We'll go to Honeydukes first and then the Three Broomsticks. We can spend the rest of the day there hanging out," said Jennifer excitedly for the umpteenth time. She had her hands clasped, resting on Lupin's shoulder.

Lupin smiled at Jennifer, attempting to humor her. Snape frowned at her. Mary seemed to guess what Snape was thinking because she gave him a pointed look. Snape hastily tried to arrange his face into one of mild curiosity and politeness.

"I think it'll be fun if we dress up a little," said Mary lightly, she smiled at Jennifer.

Snape grimaced but nodded, Lupin looked nervous.

After dinner the four of them headed up to the library to study. Mary and Jennifer sprinted towards a table in the corner, leaving Snape and Lupin alone. Snape looked sideways at Lupin and cleared his throat.

"You know, if you need clothes for Saturday I have a set you can borrow."

Lupin froze and stared at Snape in surprise.

"I'm not sure what to say," said Lupin hesitantly. "I thought you hated me."

"You have never done anything to me directly," Snape said sullenly. Besides, I used to have secondhand robes, I know you dislike what you wear as I did. I have a red formal shirt you can have, I don't like to wear it since I'm not in Gryffindor. I've got new robes too, slacks, and an extra belt."

"That is most generous…..thank you, Severus," said Lupin strangely. He was looking at Snape as if he had never seen him properly before.

Snape nodded before motioning for them to join the girls.

"It'll make them happy," said Snape resignedly.

Lupin laughed at this. "That it would," he agreed congenially.

True to his word Snape gave Lupin the clothes the night before the trip. The morning of the Hogsmeade trip the four of them set off towards the village. The girls had spent a considerable amount of time on hair and makeup which caused Jennifer to look quite different, Lupin had stumbled on his words telling her how pretty she looked causing her to giggle madly.

Snape's clothes had fit Lupin remarkably well, Lupin looked a lot sharper and appeared a lot more confident. Snape had opted to wear an emerald green formal shirt so he and Lupin were almost matching in everything else, no one seemed to notice this detail.

Mary held hands with Snape as they headed toward Honeydukes, Jennifer walked arm in arm with Lupin who looked pleased. They peered at the various sweets and after about thirty minutes of browsing the girls selected chocolate frogs and crystallized pineapple for them all to share. Snape got out his leather pouch and passed a galleon and a few sickles to the shopkeeper. He passed the paper bag to Mary who took it cheerfully, she kissed Snape on the cheek in thanks.

It was quite cold outside so without further ado they went to the Three Broomsticks. They settled into a booth while Lupin volunteered to get the butterbeers.

The door blew open, and Lily and James walked in. James seemed to zero in on the group, he narrowed his eyes at them and directed Lily towards a booth away from them. Lupin came back and passed the butterbeers around the table before sitting next to Jennifer.

"Thank you, Remus," said Jennifer grinning. She leaned in assertively and gave Lupin a short peck on the cheek, Lupin turned crimson but smiled back at her.

"Exploding Snap?" asked Mary brightly.

By the fifth game, everyone was laughing, even Snape. It was a very odd feeling to be there. How different the Gryffindors were compared to Slytherins, he couldn't believe how warm and cheery the atmosphere was.

After that, they played a game called Witches' Nose where two people had to get closer and closer to each other's face without laughing or breaking away, the object of the game was to kiss the other person. For this game they went and got a privacy curtain from Madame Rosmerta, they hung it over their booth so no one could see what they were doing.

Mary and Jennifer went first, they almost kissed but Jennifer broke away laughing. Mary and Snape kissed. Lupin and Jennifer almost kissed but laughed when their noses bumped. Snape and Lupin tried at the girls' urging but broke away after half a second. Jennifer was paired with Snape but before they could lean over the table their privacy curtain was yanked back.

"Hello," said Lily smiling at the table. "We thought we'd say hi."

James sulked behind her, glowering at Lupin.

"Hi Lily," said Jennifer politely. "Hello, James."

The rest of the table murmured their greetings. There was a heavy awkward pause.

"You guys playing a game?" asked Lily. She was staring at the deck of Exploding Snap looking puzzled as to why there weren't any cards out.

"We were playing Witches' Nose," explained Jennifer.

"How fun!" exclaimed Lily. She sat down next to Snape while James reluctantly sat next to Lupin, opposite of her.

"It was Severus and Jennifer's turn," said Mary pointedly. Snape could tell Mary was trying to hide her annoyance about the new company.

Severus leaned over the table again, Jennifer leaned over as well, and right as they were about to make contact Snape's hooked nose bumped her nose. Jennifer broke away laughing, looking slightly disappointed. James looked revolted.

"James and Lily's turn" called out Jennifer.

They tried but Lily giggled before they made contact, James looked frustrated. James failed to land a kiss with Jennifer or Mary. Lily laughed with Lupin, Mary, and Jennifer.

"Severus and Lily!" exclaimed Jennifer.

Snape, Mary, and James stiffened. This was the last thing that Snape wanted. He looked at Lily blankly but she smiled at him. He glanced at Mary, and she shrugged. Lily leaned forward next to him, and he copied her movement, and right as they were about to kiss she was being pulled back by James.

"This is over," said James furiously. "We're leaving."

"Let go of me!" said Lily angrily. "It's just a game!"

"If you think I'm letting you kiss that greaseball you're crazy!" yelled James.

All of the Three Broomsticks' patrons were staring at their booth as their privacy curtain had been pushed aside by James when he got up.

"Don't call him that!" said Mary, fuming.

"I'll call him whatever I want you slag!" shouted James.

Jennifer and Lily gasped. Snape was out of the booth in one fluid motion, without bothering for his wand he grabbed James roughly by the throat and dragged him outside where he threw him to the ground.

"Don't you ever talk to Mary in that way again!" screamed Snape. He gnashed his teeth furiously as he took out his wand.

"Levicorpus!" cried James.

Snape was suspended in the air, upside down. Snape tried to locate James in midair.

"I see you have trousers on this time," taunted James.

"James, let him go," said Lupin quietly.

James looked at Lupin in shock. "Remus, you can't be serious? You're taking his side?"

"In this matter I am," said Lupin gravely. "Let him go. Severus do not attack or I will have to report both of you."

James muttered the incantation, Snape fell and got to his legs shaking mad but he merely glared at James. Mary dashed forward and grabbed Snape's hand to lead him off. Jennifer and Lupin quietly walked off alongside Mary and Snape.

Lily stood there looking bewildered next to James.