(Warning: Long Chapter!)

Hogwarts, Great Hall

Severus rolled his eyes as he watched a bunch of Hufflepuffs run past him, their robes billowing behind them as they chased after a cat. It was the end of the year, and the chaos of students' excitement seemed to intensify with each passing day. With exams looming, some were frantically reviewing notes while others, like the Hufflepuffs, seemed to have completely abandoned their studies in favor of more... feline pursuits. Severus sighed, wondering if anyone took their education seriously anymore.

He made his way down to the dungeons, Passing a group of giggling first-years, Severus couldn't help but overhear fragments of their excited chatter about their plans for the summer break. Finally arriving at the entrance to the Slytherin common room, he spoke the password to the serpent-shaped knocker.

The door swung open, revealing the dimly lit common room adorned with green and silver tapestries. The crackling fire cast flickering shadows across the room, and the low hum of conversation filled the air as students lounged in various corners, some engrossed in studying while others engaged in more leisurely activities.

Severus's eyes swept over the room, taking in the familiar sight of his housemates. Despite the chaos and distractions of the end of the year, there was an air was different among the Slytherins.

Severus started walking up the stairs to his room when he halted mid-step as Burce popped out of seemingly nowhere, his grin stretching wider as he slung an arm around Severus's shoulder. "Sev~," he chimed, his voice carrying a hint of mischief. "We never got to talk about what happened at the party the other day, you know, with Theodosia."

Severus narrowed his eyes, a flicker of irritation passing over his features. "There's nothing to discuss," he replied curtly, shrugging off Burce's arm as he resumed climbing the stairs. "We talked and that was it."

Bruce laughed and jogged a bit to catch up with Severus. "Yeah right, and you just took your little 'talk' to the bedroom?" Severus froze, his gaze icy as it bore into Bruce. "So what if we fucked?" he said through clenched teeth, his tone laced with warning. "This conversation is over."

Bruce's laughter faltered, replaced by a hint of unease as he realized he had struck a nerve. "Hey, I was just joking," he stammered, attempting to backpedal. He reached out and grabbed Severus's arm, and dragged him to his dorm.

Severus stumbled slightly as Bruce grabbed his arm, but he allowed himself to be guided to his dorm. As they made it inside, Bruce let go of his arm and went over to his bed, and grabbed a wrapped box before holding it out to Severus.

"It's a 'happy end of the year' gift!" Severus blinked in surprise as he stared down at the wrapped box in Bruce's outstretched hand. A mix of confusion and curiosity danced across his features as he accepted the gift. "A 'happy end of the year' gift?" he echoed, his brow furrowing.

Bruce's grin widened as he nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Thought you could use something to help you unwind while spending the whole summer with muggles," he explained, his enthusiasm palpable.

Severus hesitated, his fingers tracing the edges of the box as he contemplated its contents. Slowly, he began to unwrap it, revealing the sleek, glass object nestled within. His eyes widened in disbelief as he held it up, realizing what it was. "A bong?" he repeated incredulously, looking up at Bruce, who was still beaming with pride.

"Yeah, also so we can match," Bruce replied, his tone light and casual.

Severus couldn't help but chuckle, a mix of amusement and bemusement washing over him. "Well, it's certainly... unexpected," he admitted, a hint of amusement tugging at the corners of his lips. "But I suppose it's the thought that counts."

Bruce laughed, clapping Severus on the back. "Glad you like it, Sev," he said cheerfully, seemingly unfazed by Severus's reaction. "Now, how about we break it in together?"

Severus raised an eyebrow and was about to reply when to door was slamed open. Severus's hand instinctively moved to conceal the bong under the bed as the door swung open with a forceful bang. He turned toward the entrance, his expression shifting to one of guarded alertness.

Standing in the doorway was Narcissa Black, her long blonde hair framing her face as she surveyed the room with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "Severus, Bruce," she greeted, her voice carrying a playful edge. "What's going on in here?"

Severus cleared his throat, his mind racing to come up with a suitable explanation. "Oh, just... exchanging end-of-year gifts," he replied smoothly, hoping to deflect any suspicion.

Narcissa arched an eyebrow, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity. "End-of-year gifts, huh?" she echoed, stepping further into the room. Her gaze fell upon the wrapped box still in Severus's hand, and she quirked a skeptical smile. "Anything interesting?"

Severus felt a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he struggled to maintain his composure. "Uh, just a... a book," he improvised, offering a sheepish grin.

Bruce, ever the opportunist, chimed in with a grin. "And a surprise gift for Severus," he added, shooting Severus a mischievous wink.

Severus could feel Narcissa's gaze scrutinizing them, her skepticism practically palpable in the air. He shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny, his mind scrambling to come up with a more convincing explanation.

Before he could say anything else, Bruce interjected, his grin widening as he stepped forward. "You caught us, Narcissa," he admitted, his tone light-hearted. "We were just about to reveal Severus's surprise gift."

Severus shot Bruce a look of disbelief, silently cursing his friend's impulsiveness. But Bruce pressed on, undeterred. "Behold!" he exclaimed dramatically, reaching under the bed and retrieving the bong with a flourish.

Severus winced inwardly, bracing himself for Narcissa's reaction. But to his surprise, she just looked at them like they were crazy.

"A vase?" she looked between the two. "You gave him a vase?"

But before he could utter a word, Bruce opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off by Severus, who leaped to his feet and clamped a hand over Bruce's mouth, effectively silencing him.

"Err... yes," Severus interjected quickly, his voice slightly muffled by his hand. "Bruce thought I should... uh... be more... floral."

Narcissa's eyebrows shot up in disbelief as she glanced between Severus and Bruce, her expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "Floral?" she repeated incredulously, her lips twitching with suppressed laughter. "Right."

Severus felt a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he held Bruce's gaze, silently pleading for him to play along. Bruce nodded frantically, his eyes wide with urgency as he attempted to convey his understanding.

With a resigned sigh, Narcissa shook her head, unable to contain her laughter any longer. "Well, whatever floats your boat, I suppose," she remarked with a chuckle, clearly amused by their antics. "Just finish packing up, we need to leave now." with that she walked out of the room.

Severus and Bruce exchanged a glance and With a shared nod, they set about hastily packing their belongings, before running out of the dorm to catch up with the others.

The Hogwarts Express, Back of the Train

"Snape, grab it!"

Severus turned just in time to see a chocolate frog leap past him and out the open window. He barely registered its escape, his attention drawn instead to the sight of Evan doubled over in laughter next to a dejected-looking Regulus.

Confusion furrowed Severus's brow as he watched Evan's amusement, failing to comprehend what was so funny about a chocolate frog making a break for freedom. "What's so amusing?" he asked, his tone tinged with annoyance.

Evan straightened up, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "Didn't you see it, Snape?" he managed to choke out between chuckles. "The frog's got better moves than half the Gryffindor Quidditch team!"

Severus's confusion deepened, his annoyance growing. "And that's supposed to be funny?" he replied flatly, failing to see the humor in the situation.

Regulus let out a sigh, clearly resigned to Evan's antics. "Forget it, Snape," he muttered, shooting Evan a resigned look. "Some people just have a strange sense of humor."

Severus grunted in agreement, deciding to leave Evan to his laughter as he turned away, dismissing the incident with a shake of his head. Some mysteries, it seemed, were best left unsolved.

Severus's brow furrowed in irritation as he watched Lucius approach, followed closely by the Black sisters. He had just settled back into his reading when Lucius reached across the table and snatched the book from his hands without a word.

"Oi!" Severus protested, his annoyance evident in his tone as he made a move to reclaim his book.

Lucius simply raised an eyebrow, his expression cool and composed. "You've been buried in that book ever since we got on the train, Snape," he remarked, his tone tinged with condescension. "Surely you can spare a few moments for some real conversation."

Severus bristled at the implication that his reading was somehow less valuable than idle chatter. "I was studying," he retorted sharply, crossing his arms over his chest.

Narcissa leaned forward, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Come on, Severus," she chimed in, her tone teasing. "Surely you can take a break from your studies for a little while. It's not healthy to be so serious all the time."

Severus opened his mouth to argue, but Andromeda cut in before he could respond. "Leave him alone, Lucius," she said firmly, shooting him a pointed look. "If Severus wants to read, that's his business."

Lucius sighed, rolling his eyes in exasperation as he reluctantly handed the book back to Severus. "Fine," he conceded, his tone dripping with annoyance. "But don't say I didn't try to broaden your horizons."

Severus accepted the book with a nod of thanks, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude as he watched Lucius and the Black sisters settle into their seats. But his frustration peaked as he felt the book being snatched from his hands once again, this time by the ever-impulsive Bellatrix. He couldn't suppress a sigh of exasperation as he watched her flip through the pages with an air of casual indifference.

"Bella, give it back," Severus demanded, his patience wearing thin as he reached out to retrieve his book.

But Bellatrix merely shot him a wicked grin, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "What's this, Sevvy~?" she taunted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Studying again? Don't tell me you actually enjoy reading these dusty old tomes."

Severus clenched his jaw, struggling to maintain his composure in the face of Bellatrix's provocation. "Give. It. Back," he repeated through gritted teeth, his frustration bordering on anger.

Before Bellatrix could respond, Andromeda intervened again, her tone firm as she addressed her sister. "Bellatrix, stop teasing him," she scolded, shooting Severus an apologetic look. "You know how he feels about his books."

Bellatrix rolled her eyes, but she kept the book to herself. Severus gritted his teeth in frustration as Bellatrix refused to hand over the book, her smirk widening as she held it just out of his reach. He made a move to snatch it back, but before he could react, Bellatrix's smirk turned into a mischievous grin as she swiftly sat on the book, effectively trapping it beneath her.

Severus's jaw clenched as he glared at Bellatrix, his frustration mounting with each passing second. "Bellatrix, give it back," he demanded, his voice tight with irritation.

But Bellatrix merely laughed, her laughter echoing off the walls of the room as she leaned back in her seat, making herself comfortable on top of the book. "What's the matter, Snape? Can't take a little teasing?" she taunted, her tone mocking.

Severus's patience reached its breaking point as he resisted the urge to grab the book by force. Instead, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm as she laughed. "If you want it that bad...come and take it~." they all got quiet and stared at her in shock, but severus knew what she was up to. She thought he wouldn't dare touch her to get his book, but she was very wrong.

Severus's hand extended towards the book, his determination clear in his eyes as he leaned over towards Bellatrix. However, just as he was about to grasp it, Bellatrix's hand shot out, intercepting his with surprising speed. She grinned mischievously, her eyes sparkling with playful defiance.

"Not so fast, Severus," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "If you want this book, you'll have to work for it."

Severus narrowed his eyes, a flicker of amusement crossing his features despite himself. "And how do you propose I do that?" he asked, his tone challenging.

Bellatrix's grin widened as she held the book just out of his reach, teasing him with its tantalizing proximity. "You'll have to catch me first," she replied with a playful wink.

With that, she darted away, ducking and weaving through the cramped confines of the train compartment with surprising agility. Severus's eyes widened in surprise as he realized that Bellatrix was serious about turning their encounter into a game.

Determined not to be outdone, Severus sprang into action, his own competitive spirit ignited. He pursued Bellatrix with a single-minded focus, navigating the narrow aisles and dodging students in his path as he chased after her.

Severus finally caught up to Bellatrix as she ducked and slid into the nearest compartment, a mischievous grin still plastered on her face. Without hesitation, Severus followed her inside, determined to retrieve his book.

However, before he could make a move, Bellatrix fell back onto someone who was already seated in the compartment, her laughter filling the air. Severus tried to grab it from her hand, but she wouldn't relent, her playful defiance only serving to fuel his determination.

Desperate to regain control of the situation, Severus resorted to an unconventional tactic. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he took advantage of Bellatrix's weakness and launched a surprise attack—he began to tickle her mercilessly.

Bellatrix's laughter filled the compartment as she squirmed and wriggled beneath his touch, her protests drowned out by her infectious giggles. Severus couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction, his embarrassment momentarily forgotten in the exhilarating rush of the moment.

But their amusement was short-lived as they suddenly became aware of the presence of the other occupants in the compartment. Severus's eyes widened in horror as he realized who was in the compartment - The Marauders.

Severus's initial surprise at finding the Marauders in the compartment quickly faded into a cool indifference. He met James Potter's smirk with a raised eyebrow and Sirius Black's chuckle with a dismissive glance. Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were given a cursory nod before Severus turned his attention elsewhere, unimpressed by their presence.

Meanwhile, Lily Evans and her friends, Alice and Marlene, sat nearby, their expressions a mix of amusement and curiosity as they observed the interaction between Severus and Bellatrix. Lily's green eyes twinkled with hurt as she watched Bellatrix grab severus hand and lead him out the compartment.

Severus's heart hardened as he noticed the hurt in Lily's eyes, her gaze following him and Bellatrix as they left the compartment together. Instead of guilt, he felt a surge of satisfaction, relishing in the sight of her pain. He despised her, harboring nothing but anger and hatred towards the girl he once considered a friend.

He followed Bellatrix back to the end of the train, where only Slytherin sat, his eyes trained on the window as he watched the passing countryside blur by. The rhythmic clacking of the train on the tracks served as a backdrop to Severus's tumultuous thoughts, his mind a whirlwind of anger and resentment towards Lily and everything she represented.

Bellatrix's presence beside him was a comforting reminder of the loyalty he found within Slytherin House, a stark contrast to the betrayal he felt from Lily and her association with Gryffindor. He knew where his allegiances lay now, and he embraced them fully.

King's Cross Station, Platform 9¾

Severus's attention drifted from the passing scenery as he watched the other students disembark from the train, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they reunited with their families. A pang of longing pierced his heart as he yearned for the same sense of belonging, wishing desperately that his own parents were there to greet him.

But as he sat alone in the compartment, Severus couldn't shake the feeling of isolation that surrounded him. He had grown accustomed to being without them. And yet, in moments like these, he couldn't help but long for the warmth and comfort of his parents.

Lost in his thoughts, Severus was brought back to reality by the sound of Bruce's voice, his friend's concerned expression drawing him out of his reverie. He blinked, his gaze refocusing as he met Bruce's eyes, grateful for the interruption.

"Sev, are you alright?" Bruce asked, his voice tinged with genuine concern. "You've been sitting here for ages. Everyone's already off the train."

Severus forced a tight-lipped smile, masking the turmoil raging within him. "I'm fine," he replied curtly, his tone dismissive. "Just lost in thought, that's all."

Bruce's expression softened, his concern evident as he regarded Severus with a knowing look. "You know if you ever need to talk about anything..." he trailed off, leaving the offer open-ended.

Severus hesitated, the walls he had built around himself beginning to crumble in the face of Bruce's genuine concern. But before he could respond, the moment passed, and Severus quickly regained his composure.

"I appreciate it, Bruce," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm fine. Really."

With that, Severus rose from his seat, his expression unreadable as he made his way off the train, Bruce walking behind him. As he stepped foot onto the platform, he felt someone pull him into a bear hug.

Severus tensed instinctively as he felt the unexpected embrace, his body stiffening at the sudden intrusion into his personal space. But before he could react, a wave of familiarity washed over him, and he relaxed slightly as he recognized the scent of flower perfume and home.

Slowly, Severus allowed himself to relax into the embrace, his defenses melting away as he leaned into the warmth of the hug. He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling of being held, the sense of connection that he had longed for but rarely experienced.

When the embrace finally ended, Severus opened his eyes to find himself face to face with his mother, of sorts - Mary Anne Creed. The lady who held him when his father's truck crashed on the highway and the same lady who adopted him when his mother left this world by her own hand.

Despite everything, he could never call her mum so he settled for something better.

"Ma," he said softly, his voice filled with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Mary Anne smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting the love and affection she felt for him. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Severus," she replied, her voice tinged with emotion. "You're my son, you know that."

He gave her a watery smile, this was the first time she even came to pick him up or see him off. Normally he would ride with the Evans and they would drop him off in in his old neighborhood, then Mary Anne would pick him up and they would go home.

But this, this was amazing.