Snape's New Haircut

f o u r t e e n

—

Looking down at a scrawny and small child that bumped into him with distaste, he could not believe that the child had the audacity to narrow its eyes at him and scurried off without even apologizing to him.

"Hmph." He sneered, striding up the steps, and passing several people on the way. Hogwarts students were such brats. Scanning the seats for his best friend, he furrowed his brows. And then just decided that he was late.

Moving to sit in the second row, just beside another wizard, still looking around, "Lucius?" Came the all-too-familiar baritone voice of his best friend, Lucius Malfoy looked down at the wizard beside him, "Severus?" His eyes widened in bewilderment, and Severus stared at him blankly, "Yes, hello."

Ever so curt, Severus was. Lucius thought fondly, "Draco has not mentioned this in his letters," He comments, eying Severus' now shorter hair. Lucius mentally counted down to three, waiting for the predictable scowl his comment will bring.

"I have forbidden the snakes to speak of it," Severus scowled, sounding slightly petulant, and Lucius smiled, "This new development must be unwilling then." Severus huffed, "Obviously, it was a ruddy dare."

"Hah!" Lucius was very much amused, "It looks good on you, who roped you into the party?" Severus growled at him, "Shut up, Lucius." Lucius just smiled again, wanting to ask his best friend more about how he'd gotten this new improvement, but an irritated Severus was an elusive Severus.

They eased into a polite conversation, talking about how Draco and his grade was doing, Severus' classes, Narcissa's dinner parties, and finally, when Lucius exhausted all possible topics, and the quidditch game was about to begin, a pretty little witch, not as pretty as Narcissa, mind you, approaches them with a warm smile and curious eyes.

"Sev, I think I'll sit with the Hufflepuffs," She says quietly, a hand on Severus' shoulder, Lucius would've had his jaw gaping open like a fool at the obvious affection between the two, but he would not allow disgracing himself in public.

"Of course, darling." Severus replies, looking up at her, his lip curling upwards to a tiny smile briefly before turning to look back at Lucius, a warning clearly in his dark eyes, "Lucius, this is my colleague and partner, (Y/N), (Y/N) this is my best friend, Lucius Malfoy."

Lucius is in disbelief but shows nothing of his surprise and offers a friendly smile at (Y/N), Severus' romantic partner, who returns a rather bright smile towards him, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, (Y/N). Severus speaks a lot about you in his letters."

Severus has not, in fact, told Lucius anything about (Y/N) (L/N), but he wasn't going to throw his best friend under the bus and get him in trouble with his witch. Merlin knows how many times Severus had to cover for him, if Narcissa ever found out how many anniversaries and birthdays he'd forgotten, he wouldn't be alive today.

"Really?" If it was possible, (Y/N) brightened even more, and Lucius nearly had a heart attack when (Y/N) kissed Severus' cheek and Severus just accepted it. "I'm afraid Severus made no mention of you," She says looking apologetic, "Well of course he hasn't, I'm only his best friend." Lucius feigned offense.

(Y/N) laughs, and Lucius, by then, could discern that she was a Hufflepuff, based on the worn Hufflepuff scarf around her neck, and how she acted—bubbly and bright, and kind too.