Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by and belongs fully to JK Rowling.
The first snowflakes of the season drifted down like tiny, silent stars, blanketing Hogwarts in a pristine white. October had given way to November, the crisp air carrying the scent of woodsmoke and the promise of winter. The once vibrant greens of the grounds were now muted, replaced by a stark, ethereal beauty.
The wind howled like a banshee, whipping snow against the grimy windows of the Owlery Tower. Thomas, wrapped in his Slytherin scarf, watched the swirling flakes with a melancholic smile. The familiar warmth of the cigarette between his fingers is a comforting weight. He enjoys the solitude of the Owlery Tower, the silence broken only by the occasional hoot of an owl and the crackling of the fire from the hearth. His friends had other matters to attend to this morning but agreed to meet up to study later in the afternoon.
The door creaked open, and Thomas turned to see Emmeline stepping inside, her face flushed from the cold. Her eyes met his, and she smiled.
"I knew you'd be up here," she muttered, and Thomas raised a brow.
"You're speaking to me again?" Thomas asked as he peered at the Ravenclaw girl.
"Oh, stop it, you know I didn't mean anything by it," Emmeline said. "I just had to stay loyal to my house; I don't think they'd be too thrilled about me canoodling with a Slytherin."
"Canoodling, eh?" Thomas chuckled, taking another drag from his cigarette. "We played well, I'll give you that. But you know, a little friendly rivalry never hurt anyone."
"Friendly rivalry?" Emmeline scoffed. "Your house was practically gloating for weeks, Thomas."
Thomas shrugged. "Slytherin is not known as the house of humbleness. If you're looking for that, you'll have to go to the Hufflepuffs."
Emmeline rolled her eyes, but a flicker of a smile danced on her lips. She moved closer to the fire, warming her hands.
Thomas took a step closer to her, the warmth from the fire radiating around them. He could smell the faint scent of her lavender perfume, and he felt a surge of longing.
When did he start feeling like this? Second, yeah, when he was paired up with Emmeline for Care of Magical Creatures, and she would lecture him on unicorns, he was fixated on how her hazel-brown eyes lit up in the summer sun. Perhaps it was third year when he helped her when Mulciber was harassing her; he'd been beaten badly, but she had been there for him every day when he was in the hospital wing. He didn't know, and frankly, he didn't care.
"Emmeline," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her.
But she pulled back, her nose wrinkling. "Thomas, you smell like a chimney."
He froze, the kiss forgotten. "Oh," he mumbled, his cheeks burning. "Right."
He quickly stubbed out his cigarette, the acrid smell lingering in the air. He knew he should have known better. He should have known that Emmeline, with her delicate sensibilities, wouldn't tolerate the smell of smoke.
"I apologize," he said, his voice subdued. "I didn't realize."
Emmeline shook her head, her eyes twinkling and a smile on her lips. "You're hopeless," she said, but there was a hint of fondness in her voice. "Maybe next time."
She then got on her tiptoes and planted a delicate kiss on his right cheek before spinning on her heels and marching out of the tower. Thomas watched her go, a smile on his face as he reached into his pocket to pull out a pack of cigarettes.
Severus stifled a yawn, the words of the Head Boy droning on about the schedule for Hogsmeade weekend. His voice a monotonous drone that did little to alleviate the tedium.
"This is worse than listening to Professor Flitwick's lectures on Charms," he muttered under his breath, earning a snort from Jane beside him.
"At least Flitwick's lectures are occasionally punctuated by a flying teacup," Jane whispered back, her gray eyes flashing.
Severus smirked. "True, true. And I suppose it's a blessing that he doesn't talk about the same dull talking points for the hundredth time." His dark eyes fluttered through the room, where they landed on a mane of red hair. Lily, with her fiery red hair and bright green eyes, caught his eye and flashed a cheesy grin. He smiled back before nearly jumping out of his seat as he felt a bony elbow hit his side. He spun to see Jane's judging glare.
"Don't even think about it, Severus," she said, her voice laced with warning. "Evans is a Gryffindor. You know what that means."
Of course he knew what she meant. The fucking Marauders. Potter and his gang wouldn't be too thrilled at the prospect of one of their own housemates being friends with him. No doubt the issue would be made worse since it was the girl that Potter wanted. Severus's lips curled upward at the idea of angering that fool.
"You know what happened last month," Jane said, and Severus frowned.
"I can take them," he hissed, and Jane rolled her eyes.
"You're not invincible, you know," she muttered. "And if it has escaped your notice, they outnumbered you last time."
"Marcus and Thomas—"
"Aren't always gonna be there," she cut in. "Potter's crafty; he'll strike when you're unaware, and he'll strike hard."
Jane's grey eyes drifted from Severus to Lily, and she frowned. "Now imagine how hard he'll hit if you're messing with his queen bee, Gryffindor princess over there."
"I know, I know," he hissed, his gaze returning to the droning Head Boy. "But Evans is just... different. She's not like the others."
Jane snorted. "Don't be a fool, Severus. You know how this works. Gryffindors and Slytherins are rivals. It's not like we're going to be friends."
The prefect meeting had finally ended, leaving Severus feeling drained, and his thoughts were still on Jane's words. As everyone was making their way out, Jane placed a hand on his forearm and mentioned that she'd be meeting with her girls. Severus only nodded and watched her dart out of the room. He was about to make his escape when he bumped into Lily, who was also looking a bit weary.
"You alright, Severus?" Lily asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Just a bit fried," Severus admitted, rubbing his eyes. "These last few weeks have been intense, haven't they?"
Lily nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it. Between all the prefect duties and the mountain of essays, I feel like I haven't had a moment to breathe."
Severus chuckled. "I know what you mean. Especially in Muggle Studies. I wouldn't have gotten through it without your help, honestly."
Lily grinned. "No problem, Severus. I'm happy to help. You're a natural at Potions, so it's only fair that I return the favor."
Severus smiled at that.
"Speaking of breaks," Lily said, her eyes twinkling, "My friends and I are planning a trip to Hogsmead this weekend. You know since we're not on duty. Fancy joining us?"
Severus hesitated. He was tempted, but Jane's voice echoed in his mind. Perhaps getting too close to Lily would cause him trouble. "I don't know, Lily. I've got a ton of other work to do."
His excuse was a lame one, but it was something he supposed. It was not entirely a lie either since he still had his special assignment from Professor Cyrus.
"Come on, Severus," Lily insisted, "It'll be fun. We can grab some Butterbeer and just relax for a bit. You deserve it."
"Alright, I'll think about it."
That seemed to satisfy Lily for now, but Severus had no doubt that she would bring it up the next time they ran into each other.
Saying their goodbyes, Severus watched Lily walk away, a smile playing on his lips. A part of him might just be persuaded to join her in Hogsmeade. After all, a little break wouldn't hurt, and maybe a little fun was just what he needed.
Severus hurried down the hallway, his robes billowing behind him. Coming towards the library, he spotted his friends. Marcus was leaning against the wall near the library entrance. Thomas, on the other hand, had his arms crossed. Both turned their heads as he approached.
"Gentlemen," Severus said, nodding at the two boys. "Ready for some DADA?"
"Let's get this over with," Marcus replied, pushing off the wall and heading towards the library. He was not too thrilled about writing a 5,000-word essay. They entered the library, the air thick with the familiar scent of old parchment and dust. They found a comfortable corner and began pulling out their textbooks, parchments, and quills. Time seemed to crawl as the trio spent time working and chatting.
The topic of the ongoing Patronus issue seemed to pop up, and Severus groaned. He was nowhere near making a full Patronus, and neither was Thomas. Marcus was in a worse state since he had joined later and was still attempting to summon white mist.
"How hard is it to summon good memories?" Thomas muttered, frowning.
"Maybe we just...haven't made a memory strong enough," Severus pointed out, and Marcus seemed to lighten up at that.
"Sev, you genius," Marcus snickered under his breath. His face lit up as he hopped out of his seat. "We need to make new memories for it to work. We can't rely on old dust, worn-out happy memories. We need new ones."
Thomas raised an eyebrow, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "You just want to get out of studying."
"Maybe," Marcus grinned, "but it's not like we're getting anywhere in here. Come on, let's go have some fun."
Severus, ever willing to try new methods to help him achieve his goals, chimed in. "I think Marcus has a point. Plus a change of scenery might do us good."
The trio left the library, their steps echoing through the silent halls. As they reached the grand entrance, Marcus suddenly bolted out into the Hogwarts courtyard, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Snowball fight!" he yelled, grabbing a handful of snow and hurling it at Severus.
A surprised gasp escaped Severus's lips, but before he could retort, a snowball landed squarely on his chest. He retaliated with a fierce throw.
"You know this means war," Severus hissed, though his lips curled upwards into a mischievous smile. Soon, the courtyard erupted in a flurry of laughter and flying snowballs.
Thomas, initially hesitant, joined in with gusto, his aim surprisingly accurate. Marcus was hit square in the face and squealed as he fell.
"I'm hit! I'm hit!" he yelled, and Severus chuckled.
Severus's laughter was cut short when he got hit square on the forehead. Thomas followed up with two other snowballs that Severus dodged.
"Have to do better than that, Tommy," Severus said as he launched a snowball that hit the boy in the chest.
The three friends, lost in the joy of the moment, forgot all about their Patronus woes, their laughter ringing through the crisp winter air. They even ignored the odd looks of all the passersby. For a brief moment, they were just three boys enjoying the simple pleasure of a snowball fight, their worries melting away like the snow in their hands.
"I wonder if James will be there," Mary mused, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "He's so cute."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Mary, you're way too good for him."
"Oh, come on, Lily," Marlene teased, nudging her friend playfully. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed how he's been looking at you."
Lily ignored her friend's teasing.
The crisp winter air nipped at Lily's cheeks as she walked alongside Mary and Marlene, their laughter echoing down the Hogwarts corridor. The castle, draped in a blanket of snow, was a picture of festive beauty, but for Lily, the real magic lay in the company of her two best friends.
"Hogsmead this weekend, can you believe it?" Mary exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I can't wait to get my hands on some Honeydukes sweets."
"Don't forget to stock up on some cauldron cakes," Marlene chimed in, her voice laced with a mischievous grin. "They're the best."
They continued their walk, their conversation drifting from Hogsmeade to the upcoming exams and the latest gossip circulating the castle. As they reached the grand entrance, Lily's eyes caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the distance.
It was a distinctly odd sight that caused her to come to a sudden stop.
Severus, covered near head to toe in snow, was engaged in a playful snowball fight with Marcus and Thomas, two of his Slytherin housemates. He was laughing, his face flushed from the cold and the exertion, and Lily felt a warmth spread through her chest.
"Look," Mary whispered, her voice tight with disdain. "It's that slimy snake."
Marlene nodded in agreement. "He's trouble, Lily. You know that, right?"
Lily sighed, her gaze lingering on Severus. He was laughing, his face flushed from the cold, and his eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. "He's not that bad," she defended, her voice softer than usual. "He's just…different."
"Different how?" Mary scoffed. "He's a Slytherin, for Merlin's sake! They're all sneaky and ambitious. You can't trust them."
Lily frowned. "He's not like the other Slytherins. He's actually really nice, and he's got a good heart."
"Easy for you to say," Mary countered, her tone sharp. "You've only known him for a few weeks. You don't really know him."
"I do," Lily insisted. "He's different. He's kind, and he's funny, and he's..."
"Trouble," Marlene finished, her voice soft but firm. "He's got a dark side, Lily. You can't ignore that."
"He's got a reputation, Lily. Even among the Slytherins, how bad do you have to be to have that?" Mary added. "You need to be careful around him."
Lily felt a lump forming in her throat. She knew her friends were only trying to protect her, but their words stung. She couldn't help but feel a flicker of anger towards them. Why couldn't they see that Severus was different? Why couldn't they give him a chance?
But she knew why.
He was a Slytherin, and Slytherins were known for their ambition and their cunning. But Lily couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than that. She saw a vulnerability in his eyes, a longing for something more. It was because of that that she was willing to speak with him more openly. He was different, yes, but he was also kind, intelligent, and funny. She was determined to prove that to everyone, even if it took a lifetime.
She hoped that he would accept her invitation to go to Hogsmeade. She could spend time getting Butterbeer or going shopping, all the while showing her friends that he wasn't all that bad.
The snow crunched softly beneath Marcus as he lay sprawled on the ground, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips. He stared up at the grey sky, a thin layer of snow clinging to his eyelashes. Severus and Thomas, his accomplices in the epic snowball fight, were sprawled beside him, their laughter echoing through the crisp air.
"I've never been happier," Marcus declared, his voice muffled by the snow. "Never."
Severus rolled his eyes and chuckled, "You're a drama queen, you know that?"
"It's true!" Marcus insisted, propping himself up on his elbows. "You two are the brothers I never had."
Thomas snorted, "Except you do have a brother. Cain."
"Cain? Firstly hes my stepbrother" Marcus rolled his eyes. "Secondly. He doesn't count. He's a… well, he's Cain. We don't exactly get along."
Severus, ever the voice of reason, pointed towards the castle. "We should probably head in before we freeze solid."
"Yeah, yeah," Marcus grumbled, but a smile tugged at his lips. "Maybe I'll just stay here and get sick. That way, I can skip Potions."
"You're not fooling anyone with that," Thomas said, already pushing himself to his feet. "And besides, you wouldn't last five minutes out here without a fire."
Marcus let out a dramatic groan, but he was already getting to his feet, his friends' laughter echoing behind him. As they trudged towards the castle, the warmth of friendship and shared laughter chased away the winter chill. They were brothers, bound by their shared laughter, their snowball fights, and the magic of Hogwarts. And that, Marcus knew, was a feeling worth more than any potion or spell.
Marcus came to a stop just as he reached the castle's main entrance. His friends, noticing, also came to a halt. He reached for his wand in his right coat pocket and pulled it out, all the while holding onto that burning feeling—that joy in his heart.
Clenching his jaw, he let out a small breath before swinging his wand in the manner he had seen Severus and Thomas do.
"Expecto Patronum," he said softly.
A silver mist began to form in front of him, swirling around him. He let out a laugh as his friends stared on.
A/N
Hey y'all. A somewhat shorter chapter this time, and one that is more about the boys having fun together. We got some of that at the start when they were first years, and there were brief mentions here and there, but I wanted to do another in the current time. There's also more focus on Thomas and Marcus. I'm glad folks like the OCs, and I'm trying to keep that balance of showing them enough without making it their story.
Drop any thoughts, questions, suggestions, or feelings in your reviews. I do love reading them.
I'll see you next time.
:)