Chapter Text
As he crossed the corridor and climbed the stairs to the Gryffindor Dormitory, Severus Snape stopped before the portrait of the Fat Lady, who woke to see him. Lily Evans heard a voice from behind the portrait and gently pried it open with a passcode mumbled under her breath. There, she stood before Severus, moving to let him inside the dorm. It was late at night, and everyone was asleep in their assigned dorm rooms. Lily sat on the couch in the common room, and Severus took his seat beside her, letting his hair fall across his face and his head resting against Lily’s shoulder.
“Sev, why did you need me to let you in the dorm right now?” she asked, her face softening with sweet concern.
“...Well…It’s a bit of a long story…” Severus mumbled under his breath. “Do you know of a Gryffindor who goes by Garret O’Conner…?”
“I do, but why are you asking about him?”
“Is he usually so idiotically bright?”
“Pretty much; he’s nice to literally everyone. I mean, he doesn’t even care about the stupid house rivalries throughout Hogwarts; yesterday he cheered a Slytherin up… It’s so strange, especially since he’s popular too. I’d think he’d be more like Potter, a prick to other houses, but no, he isn’t.” Lily said quickly, hands folding over her lap as she looked down at Severus, turning her head.
“Right…” Severus muttered sleepily, “I should head back…Goodbye, Lily.” He said as he stood up, fixed his robes, and headed to the portrait, completely forgetting about telling her what had happened…
Down the stairs, he roamed, quickly heading to the dungeons and entering the Slytherin dorms, silently passing through and heading to his dorm room. He changed into more comfortable clothing and finally settled down in his bed, a book on his bedside table. He stared up at the ceiling, letting sleep consume him.
Garret stared through his door at the sight of Lily and Severus together, then parting ways, not hearing their conversation, but simply observing. Once Severus left, he walked out and sat by Lily. As she could move, he looked down at her, considering how tall he was compared to her.
“What was that about? Uh, if I can ask, no forcing.” He said the last bit quickly, animated hands gesturing about.
“Nothing…Well, Snape asked about you, but that was it? I’m confused as well… We should head to sleep though…It’s late, also, what are you doing up anyway?”
“Couldn’t sleep; I might be able to now, though, since I’m finally tired out from confusion. Why would Snape ask about me anyways?”
“No clue, never told me, just left when I asked.”
“Hm.. Got it…Well, see ya’” Garret says before immediately jogging back to his room, leaving Lily in confusion as she returns to the girls’ dormitory.
The night in Hogwarts was silent and peaceful, with some snoring through nearby rooms and some rustling from further rooms. In a few hours, the sun rises, alarm clocks buzzing with excitement, leaving Garret, his now messy brown hair sticking up, sitting up in his wrecked bed.
Garret jumps up and immediately rushes to the boys’ bathroom, spotting Sirius and simply taking the sink next to him to wash his face gently before patting his face dry.
“Well, you’re certainly lookin’ better than ever, ‘Conner,” Sirius says, leaving out the O in Garret’s last name. He grins at him, fixing his Gryffindor tie. “Well, the hair is a mess; I’ll give ya’ that.”
“Right, and look at yours, dude!” Garret pointed out, and the two boys shared a chuckle before heading their separate ways to get changed and wear their robes; Garret simply headed down to the Great Hall to get breakfast at the tables. Sirius is presumably waiting on the rest of his friend group, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin.
Lily spots Garret while she sits next to Severus, who is at the Slytherin table. She signals him to sit with them, so he heads down and takes a seat on Severus’s other side, trapping him between the two.
“Hey?” Garret said, with a questioning look on his face aimed towards Lily.
“Hi!” She said cheerfully, before returning to her food… Obviously, she was planning something.
Severus simply looked at Garret in confusion, but then returned to his book on the table, continuing to read. Garret sat there in awkward silence, while hearing the mumbles of suspicious Slytherins wondering as to why two Gryffindors were seated at their table.
Garret looked around and grinned to himself, grabbing food and eating it peacefully… All the house tables had different foods, causing Garret's eyes to practically sparkle, lifting his head and grinning like a ball of sunshine towards Severus, who looked up and just deadpanned, but didn’t have a biting remark at the ready and once more continued reading. Lily just smiled softly at Garret.
“Can I have some of those pancakes, O’Conner?”
“No…THEY’RE ALL MINE!” Garret said loudly, in a joking tone, before laughing with Lily, causing annoyed stares from other Slytherins, as Severus simply ignored them.
“Seriously…They look really good!”
“Fine…But you owe me one.”
“‘Course, whatever, golden boy.”
“Do neither of you know how to shut up?” A Slytherin spoke, turning away from whom he had been conversing with. It was Regulus Black, Sirius’s brother. “You both are so disruptive; why don’t you head back to your own house table, you mudblood.” He paused and then looked at Garrot, “and full-blood traitor.”
“Well, Black,” Garret looked at him with a gentle smile, “We happen to be friends with Severus, so I’m sorry for our disruptive behaviour, but we’ll be sitting here anyway. Also, despite Lily being Muggle-born, she somehow manages to have better grades than you, so do not call people such a slur if you aren’t fully up to their own level.” He took a breather. “Though, I have to admit, you’re an intelligent guy, and I hope you continue to grow. Let’s be pals, yeah?” He then extended a hand to him over the table, Severus looking up at him in shock before it disappeared in a single blink.
“...What?” Regulus looked dumbfounded, then shook his head, gently shooing Garret's hand away. “No, thank you.”
Breakfast ended, and the hall dispersed; Lily, uncharacteristically, left Severus and Garret behind together. The two stood near each other before Garret turned his head and wrapped an arm around Severus’s shoulder with a gentle smile.
“I’ll walk you to class…Wait, we have the same class. I’ll walk with ya’, you cool with that?”
“Is this your pathetic attempt at befriending me, O’Conner?”
“I… I uh- I mean, you’re friends with Lily, so I figured I should be friends with you…Sorry, did I push it?” He looks down, taking his arm back and keeping to himself now.
“Don’t fake wanting to be friends with me; I'm greasy; surely you know that with Potter and Black.”
“...I’m not really friends with Potter and Black; colleagues, sure, but not really friends? Also, sure, your hair might be greasy, but I couldn't care less. I understand some people don’t have time to learn how to properly wash their hair, or have the money to buy quality things.”
“...Huh?” Severus let out, then took a sharp breath before exhaling. “Do as you see fit then.” He turned and started walking, heading to their potions class.
Garrot looked at him and immediately followed, his signature grin now on his face.
Professor Slughorn had been preparing the class as the odd pair had walked in, turning his head and nodding with a smile. “Well, hello, Mr. Snape, O’Conner. You’re a tad late, but I’ll wave it off. You two will pair up and make the potion listed on the paper at your workspace over there.” He pointed to a corner of the room that was empty and organized.
“Thanks! You’re the man!” Garret shouted across the room, heading with Severus to the workspace, settling down, bag tossed aside at the end of the desk for two.
When Garret turned to look at the instructions, the paper was gone, and Severus had already started. “Well? Are you going to help?”
“Uh…Yeah! What do you want me to do, since I don’t have the instructions?”
“Chop up the things on your side, diced.”
“Got it…” Garret took the knife and started chopping everything up as told. “So… Any plans after classes?”
“No.”
“Favorite color?”
“Black.”
“Is black a color?”
“Why are you asking me stupid questions?” Severus snapped at him and glared.
“...I want to get to know you better…” Garret mumbled. He looked upset at the sight of Severus and looked down at his feet, sliding the chopped-up ingredients to him. “Sorry…”
“Why?”
“...Because I think you’re someone worth knowing.”
“Be quiet; you have no clue what you’re talking about.”
So, for the rest of class, the two stayed silent, not talking to each other. Slughorn had passed by a few times, a confused look on his face. Lily noticed as well, a disappointed look on her face before turning her head back to her work, helping her own partner.
Finally, class had ended, and Severus immediately walked out the door in a rush, and Lily walked towards Garret with clear intent on asking what had happened. As she did, she saw Garret wince before looking down at his feet, his signature grin and Gryffindor confidence gone and faded.
“He hates me, he totally hates me, Lily.” Garret took a deep breath and started spouting words out quickly, “IWASASKINGHIMQUESTIONSTOGETTOKNOWHIMTHENHEGLAREDATME!”
“Calm down, and what in Merlin's name did you even say?”
“I.. .was...Trying..To…ASK…him questions about himself to get to know him, then he just glared at me! Glared, Lil’s!”
“Well, it was pretty sudden and out of nowhere, and he tends to be reserved and naturally has defenses around himself,” Lily said, as she started walking towards her next class with Garret panicking beside her.
“Ergh…” Garret groaned out and put his arms crossed over his chest as he walked, pouting. “What am I supposed to do now? I clearly messed up big time.”
“I don’t think you did; maybe try again, but don’t push it as much? A simple how are you and a few recurring meet-ups could do. We can all study in the library together, and have breakfast, lunch, and dinner together as well down in the Great Hall.”
Garret opened the classroom door for Lily, then followed in behind her, sitting next to her, and James sat right next to her on the other side. “Sure, Lily…”
“Hello, my darling LILY!” James shouted boisterously and tilted his head to look at Garret. Wait, what were you guys talking about?”
“The failures I have not yet conquered…” Garret said dramatically and put his head in his arms.
“He’s trying to befriend someone, but it went slightly wrong,” Lily said calmly.
“Garret? Failing at befriending someone? Him? Really?” James chuckled before wrapping an arm around Lily’s shoulders. “Who’re they? Tough cookie I’ll bet.”
“...Someone...” Garret mumbled under his breath, his face suddenly feeling hot and red.
“Yeah, don’t worry about it, Potter.”
“Why’s Garret red then? I’m going to worry.”
“I’m not red, you’re imagining things!” Garret burst out, covering his face with his hands.
“Actually, you are a bit red,” Lily muttered and smiled. “Maybe you fell in love, hm?”
“No! That’s outrageous, I just met the guy-”
“Guy?” James looked bewildered, and the other two stared at him with glares. “Hey! I’m not against that sort of person; it’s just…Shocking? Is that why you always reject the girls who ask you out every Quidditch game?”
“I…I mean, yeah…But, I don’t like the guy! I literally just said I just met the guy!”
“No one’s saying anything about liking him…” Lily paused and shook her head. “Alright, we’ll stop the teasing…Class is starting anyways.” She turned and shoved James’s arm off her shoulders. “Off, don’t touch me. You’re lucky I let you this time.”
And with that, they were all silenced…Except for James, who was chatting with Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Garret had his head in his arms, only eyes visible, barely paying attention to the professor, too busy thinking about what had happened in potions class.
A paper packet had landed onto Garret’s desk, and he finally sat up, grabbing his ink and pen, and started answering the questions with ease, finishing and turning it in. The professor looked at him with worry, and passed by, whispering to him. “You can leave early if you’d like…”
And so he did, packing up slowly and leaving the classroom, confused glances on his disappearing figure. “Heck yeah.” He mumbled to himself, then started roaming around the castle.
Garret was walking towards the kitchens, despite him already having eaten lunch. He looks down, fixing his robes and peaks into the kitchen door and knocks politely. A house elf had approached and looked at him. “Hello, sorry if it’s too much to ask, but could you make me some hot chocolate?”
The house elf nods with a smile, and goes back into the kitchen to make his order. Garret slides down against a wall and sits there. He hadn’t heard footsteps coming and his eyes widened at seeing Remus…Wasn’t he supposed to be in class?
“Hey.”
“Aren’t you…uh..?”
“I saw you leave, prefect privileges.”
“Right…”
“What’s got you all down?” Remus sat down beside him, setting the book in his arms down on the floor beside him. “Heard you were trying to make a friend, didn’t go well?”
“Not..no..it didn’t.” Garret paused, then sighed, before smiling gently, seeing the house elf handing him his cup of hot chocolate, it had whipped cream, sprinkles, candycanes, the whole thing. He mumbled a thank you and watched the elf leave before sipping his drink in delight. What a mood change…”This tastes so good!”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah!”
“Now quit changing the topic, who’s the person you’re trying to become friends with?”
“...” He took a moment, Remus was trustworthy, but he was friends with.. James and Sirius…
“I won’t say anything to anyone else, I’m not that kind of person, Garret.”
“Snape…” Garret mumbled quietly.
“What?”
“Snape.” He spoke louder.
“Oh…He’s a bit difficult, you should have been prepared to fail at first, not to diminish your hope and all.”
“I know…I just..”
“Thought you could become his friend since he seems so lonely besides being with Evans?”
“Yeah, that…You’re good at reading people. Too good.”
“I get that a lot, are you hiding something?” Remus chuckled.
“Nah, not at the moment at least.” Garret smirked and looked at Remus, whipped cream covering his lips.
“You got something there.” Remus pointed to his own lips.
“What are you both doing here?” A voice spoke behind them, the figure approaching them. It was Pandora.
The boys looked at each other then back at her with silly smiles, mischievous if you will. “Nothing.” They said simultaneously.
“Right…Well, I’m not buying it. What’s going on?” She smiled and sat on Remus’s other side.
She heard a groan from Garret, and immediately snapped her head towards him. “Bad enough to make our golden boy act like this, huh?”
“Yeah.” Remus said and sighed.
“Maybe I’ll be better tomorrow…jeez..” Garret grumbled and dropped the grin, staring down into his lap and finishing his hot chocolate.
Maybe, just maybe, tomorrow would indeed be better…