This was the first time that Severus saw the cariages were being pulled by thin, gaunt-looking horses. Thestrals, realized Severus, must have been pulling the cariages for years. He had always assumed it to have been magic. As Severus spotted the cariage that still had one empty spot filled with Regulus, Dan and to his suprise Rabastan, Severus felt a smile light up his face as he finally was able to push away the daunting thoughts of fear that had come over him when he had thought about those memories the ghosts of past, present and future had shown him.

"Hurry up, Mr. Snape," professor McGonagall admonished softly. "You are very late. It is most unlike you."

Severus nods to his professor and then starts sprinting towards the cariage where his friends were waiting. With every step he feels lighter as if he is leaving something heavy behind and he feels his smile getting stronger. He holds up his potion book, showing it to his friends as if it was a golden medal he had just won in a sports event as he stands in the open doorway of the carriage. At that moment the thestrals start running, the sudden pull at the carriages, makes Severus lose his balance, as he falls on the floor of the carriage in an undignified heap. "Shoot," Severus grunts. "But I got the book, mates."

Reg starts laughing, loudly and unabashed. Soon all four of them are laughing. Loud and unabashed. And long. A typical you had to be there and talking about it it does not sound so funny moment.

"Merlin! Sev," Reg speaks fondly, trying to hold back his laughter, "You are staying with Luce and Cissy, aren't you? The place has a library that is almost bigger than the one at Hogwarts and you almost missed the carriages for one old potion book. Besides it will be christmas break. You are the only person I know that would almost miss the carriage for that. You are such an idiot."

Severus smiles sheepishly. Still he feels calmer now that he is holding his potions book. Likely the library of Malfoy manor had a copy of this book. One that was newer and maybe had a more elaborate printing. One with a hardcover instead of a softcover. But this book had been his mum's when she was a student at Hogwarts. This one had her thoughts written in it. Funny side remarks, thoughts on spells or potion making and on the first page her well wishing for his last school year to him. He looked at her words: To my little half blood prince. May it help you on you way to becoming a great potioneer and wizard and in world domination one day. I am so proud of you. He could still hear the teasing in her voice while reading the words out to him as she scribbled them down in the potions book. It had been one of the last clear moments when she was sick, though at the time it had just been one of the clear moments he got with his mum. He had been very ambitious then and he knew he still was in a way, though he felt very changed the day he went to the whomping willow. But he had no idea how he was changed. He closed the book and placed it reverently in the old backpack he had with him. Besides he was very sure that he would not have missed the carriages. He would at most have been scolded by professor McGonagall who was checking off the names of the students that had went off to the cariages. She would have known that he had planned to go home for christmas and that he was not yet boarded.

His friends were now talking about Christmas break. There would be the Yule ball, hosted for the very first time by Lucius and Narcissa. All important wizards and witches of Britain society would be there and of course all rich purebloods. This would be the first time that Severus was invited. No doubt a courtisy of Luce and Cissy. "Merlin," Reg sighs, "Last time Bella made me spend all night with Rodolphus and Barty. At least Rab was there as well to endure the torture with me."

Rabastan snorts. "I know. They wouldn't shut up about politics and lord Voldemort."

Reg got a light reverent look in his eye at the mention of the dark lord. "And we met him. Lord Voldemort, I mean, do you think he will show up this year as well?"

Reg showed a childish enthousiasm at meeting the lord Voldemort again and Severus felt a chill run over him, suddenly remembering those memories again. "I hope not. I am sure Luce and Cissy have better sense in who they want to invite," Severus snapped.

Severus felt his cheeks heat up at the three pairs of suprised eyes that were looking at him. Quickly however the suprise on Regulus face made place for a bright smile. "Yes and you will be there this year," Reg blurts out enthousiastically. "I hope we can spend the evening hanging out just the four of us. And with Luce and Cissy of course. I hope Walburga and Bella will allow me to."

"Circe," Rab scolds. "I hope not. I can talk with you guys anyday at Hogwarts. Maybe Gus will talk to me again."

Dan rolls his eyes. "Gus always talks to you at the yule ball. He seems utterly bored when talking to anyone else."

"Not true," Rab says looking annoyed, "Last year he seemed very glad to talk to lord Voldemort. You think he'll be impressed if lord Voldemort will deem me worthy?"

"Merlin you are so predictable," Dan says. "You are almost as bad as Sev was with Lily. I think Gus just wanted to talk to you and flattering that guy was his ticket to the conversation. I honestly think you are one of the only people in the world that does not bore Gus." Rab coloured at those words. Dan then sounded more annoyed as if this conversation had been held too many times before. "But if you want to court him by talking politics and by impressing lord Voldemort be my guess." The tone of his voice then made it clear that he thought that what he was saying next was clearly utterly ridiculous. "I am sure Mulciber is well on the track to Gus' heart."

"I don't like Rookwood," Rab splutters.

"Sure you don't," Dan teases. "Anyway I'd be pleased if we would be able to hang out during yule ball just the four of us, or us with Luce, Cissy and Gus. Last time my dad made me talk with every single person that was on the Wizengamot. Kept talking about politics and that he thought it was a shame that Hogwarts did not give classes to muggleborns on wizarding traditions, nor to wizards on muggles and that there was still the possibility of taking divinition. He also thought there should be lessons on politics and on debating on various topics in general. I mean, of course dad's got a point, but listening to that conversation so many times-" Dan sighed dramatically. "I tell you, all members of the Wizengamot he talked to. You think at the very least he'd get somewhere, but no-" Dan sighed again. "Apparently even if you get the Wizengamot with you, they have no say over Hogwarts curriculum. Dad was furious of course. Still doesn't shut up about it."

Then the carriages stopped moving. They were there. Dan, Rabastan, Regulus and Severus entered the crowdy train looking for an empty compartment. After some time they found one. Regulus looked at them excitedly. "Guys, lets play exploding snap," he said.

Dan rolls his eyes. "We always play exploding snap, Reg."

"And we'll do it again, right?" Reg looked at Rab, Sev and Dan with puppy eyes.

"Of course we will, it is akin to tradition," Rabastan said smoothly. "Remember our first train ride?" Rabastan acted like he was pinking away a tear. "Your shitty brother promised to sit with you and play exploding snap, but ditched you for his Gryffindor friends. Didn't Dan and I promise you to always play snap with you on the Hogwarts train rides? And now even Sev will join us. Deal the cards, Reg."