Chapter Text
CHAPTER FIVE
"Mmm! These are really good!" Peter says as he eats a mouthful of shepherds pie with both hands. Bits of crust spits out everywhere, and Lupin shifts away from him at the Gryffindor's Table uncomfortable.
"You're gonna get even fatter, fatass." James slapped his hands away and snatched the plate away from him. "H - HEY!" Peter sputtered back, standing up and trying to at least get a bite of pie. But the other Maraunder wouldn't let him.
It ended up being a game of tug of war, and Padfoot had had enough of their stupidity for a day.
"Now, now. Wormtail, Prongs. I've got ourselves a great idea! What do you boys say?" Sirius says, taking the plate of pie and smashing it on the ground. All of the other students gasped.
"We'll sneak in on the greasy git, see what the bastard's up to! And once we corner him; we'll do a Lions Barrage!" Moony scoffed at the idea.
"That's stupid," Lupin slid his glasses off the bridge of his nose and shut his book shut. He looked up at Sirius with icy, blue eyes. "Even for a Gryffindor, such as yourself. Why not use our Maraunder's Map? Sneak off elsewhere. I'm sure even to Snape; it's getting old."
James thought that over, too. As much as he hated the guy...maybe it was time to do something else for a change. And as much as he loved pranking, Lily always hated him for it. Their whole day didn't have to become a compilation of bullying the git to no end. 'Sides, he had the ladies to show off to!
"Aww, you're no fun, Moony~!" Sirius pouted, crossing his arms. "C'mon, let's do something! It's been awhile since we messed around together. We're losing our touch!"
A lightbulb went off on James' head.
"Hogsmeade." He looked around at the trio's faces and they lit up immediatedly.
---
After his fiasco with the Maraunder's, Snape opted for a stroll around Hogsmeade instead. It was getting particularly cold around winter, and seeing how his only relative (aside from an abusive drunkard) had just died, he would have to stay in for the holidays. Mind you, while everyone else went about with their lives. Family, friends, homes. They had it all.
It was lonely, but he didn't want anyone (not even Lily) to see his cuts. She would only sympathize with him more and that's the last thing the Prince wanted. Speaking of Lily, she would be leaving for the holidays, wouldn't she? So, he'd be all alone....
"P - Potter. What are you doing here?" His lips tightened into a thin line, as he glanced between all of their childish faces full of swine. They had just walked by him; and he couldn't help but point it out. The boy just smirked, assuming an arrogant stance. "Pfft. Look at you, Snivellus. Didn't expect you here?"
"Mark my words, you buffoon!" Snape had closed the distance between them in a matter of seconds; wand at the ready. "I have had enough of your foolishness, and it's headed out of line! If you so much as speak another word, I'll---!" He's cut off midsentence, when he's levitated off into the air. Glancing around wildly, he notices that it's...
It's dog boy.
"Sorry, Snivellus. But, that's my friend." He promptly dropped the Slytherin down and Snape recollected himself with a growl. "Hmph!" The boy helped himself up; picking up his bookbag and trying to walk away from the brats. But, was stopped midway by the Potter boy.
"Aww, c'mon. You can't just leave like that!" James crossed his arms, squinting at him through his glasses. He blocked his path, and Snape rolled his eyes. 'Damn you, Potter. As if joking around with me isn't enough, you insist on being a cocky lowlife.' His face flaring; he scrutinized James with darkened eyes. "Why. Can't. You. Just. Leave. Me. Alone?"
"Think I didn't notice?" James played with a Golden Snitch in his hands, admiring the little thing as it fluttered about in his hands. He lopsidedly smirked at Severus. "Your cuts...I saw them." Severus tried to hide his shock at this fact, and quickly averted his eyes. 'Damnit...' He thought; angry at the fact he'd been caught red handed.
"None of your business," Snape replied coldly, looking past his shoulder for an escape. Now was not the time to be talking about this nonsense. It didn't help that the other Maruanders were busy elsewhere; looking at a map and talking about Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans for all he knew. He shoved the boy away from him. "Good day to you, Potter," he says savagely and leaves the area in a hurry. Hopefully he wouldn't see them for quite some time.
---
"There you are, Severus," Malfoy drawled, curling his lower lip once the boy in question walked through the portrait and into the Common Room. He was clad in his wizarding robes, and he eyed the other boy with a sneer. It was clear he disliked the Prince.
"Lucius." He says, uninterested. Didn't he have a book to catch up on?
"What's that you got there?" Lucius tapped his wand on the book, eyes downward at the object in question. Severus hid it away in response; frowning in distaste. The Malfoy had already read the title to his displeasure.
"From the Restricted Section of the library. My word, Severus. You realize that's forbidden? As in, not meant for half-bloods such as yourself." The stated snobbishly. "I ought to report you for this. As a prefect, I have every right to punish you. Even if it's to a fellow Snake."
'Try not to kill him....try not to kill him....' Severus repeated to himself internally, resisting the urge to hex the Malfoy. Unfortunately, the Head of the House wouldn't take to kindly for a Slytherin to beat up another Slytherin. It was out of the question. Even if he so badly wanted to strangle his neck; watch him writhe in pain, and ---
--- He stood cool and collected. For the sake of not looking bad, that is (he had had his fair share of that).
"Of course I know that already. I want to learn about the Dark Arts. Everything I can know..." He added in with a faraway look on his face. The blonde studied him for a moment, his icy cold gaze levelling to the darker one's. "Hm..."
This satisfied the boy who was one-upping him.
"Ah, a true Slytherin if I do say so for myself. A shame we're always so looked down upon by society," sighed Lucius, playing with the hem of his wand idly. "Well, do your reading. I'll be sleeping in for the night. See you later, Severus." He added in, before walking up the stairs into his own room.
"You too..." Snape added in numbly, and hurried off after him to their own room.
---
It was past-curfew, and Snape was busy writing notes in his Potions Book. His roommates were sleeping in at one in the morning.
"'Extract the blood of a Muggle-born witch...'" He whispers "'Add a drop into the potion, and wait for it to dissolve...'" He read this with wide eyes.
'No way. Lily...?'
Mudbloods...