The Grooming of One Severus Snape, by Lucius Malfoy

1

"Go away Mudblood!" The shouted words echoed across the school yard by a rather panicked boy, Lucius noted in the vocals of whoever was screaming. Lucius looked towards where it was that the sound was coming, seeing a rather large crowed gathering. Deciding to check it out, considering it was not often that mudblood was used by any other than Slytherin, and some rather old fashioned Ravenclaw groups, he figured it would be interesting to see what was gathering quite the attention. He did not think it bore good news, and so he figured, as head boy, it was sort of his job to look into this, he would hear it from Dumbledore if he failed to do such a thing, something he would rather stab himself in the eye than deal with such a self righteous prick.

Ignoring his followers calling after him he pushed himself through the crowd, watching with glittering blue eyes as he saw the ever infamous Mauraders moving against a dark haired boy in...green edged robes. He should have figured. What was more interesting was the Gryffindor mudblood that was trying, or so called trying but easily failing, to get Potter to leave the dark haired boy alone, not that she was really putting much effort into it. She could have easily gone to him, any prefect...well, it would seem not the Gryffindor Prefect who was sitting a bit away from the infamous trio as they tormented the Syltherin boy, or any of the teachers really and it would have had a better affect than antagonizing the main purpetrator of the issue. James Potter, the insufferable prat, huffed and rolled his eyes as the mudblood rolled away on her heel and turned his eyes once more towards the student he had at wand point, levitating. The dark, infamously dark, eyes glared at Potter with a level of hate that was unmatched to anything that Lucius could have seen prior. Noting that none of the students were doing a thing about the blatant abuse of power and neglect of authority, Lucius sighed.

He supposed he should step in, at least this once. It was going to do rather great harm to their reputation if he did not after all. Barring that, the level of...of anger and hatred in the boy's eyes...well, it was interesting to say the least, and Lucius knew how easily such emotions could be used to his own advantage. He had never seen this Slytherin boy before, but perhaps others may know of him.

"What exactly is going on here?" Lucius questioned, his familiar cold voice echoing the plain immediately and the trio of miscreants dropped the Slytherin boy the moment the words reached their ears. James rolled his eyes. Such a...ugh, Lucius hated the boy. Hated him. For more than being just a Gryffindor, but the fact remained that the Potter family was always an issue against the Malfoys, not a major one, but a pest nonetheless, and Lucius hated pests more than threats. One glance towards the side saw the boy had somehow reclaimed his wand, and a glance further behind the Potter boy saw the snivvelling form of Pettigrew nursing his side. The Slytherin did not retaliate, rather instead he leaned against the tree, narrowing his eyes at the situation, gaze flitting between Lucius himself and the three boys.

It was honestly the wisest course of action that the boy could have taken at that moment of time, given the situation that they found themselves in. Between him and the shining gryffindor examples of idiocy, it was the best option to try and have as little influence in the situation as possible. Furthermore, Lucius was well known for handling situations well, no matter what said situation was. He glanced towards the boy who was now shoving his papers and books back in to a ratty sack. Poor family, then. Lucius thought to himself. It was almost no wonder that he had not noticed the boy until now. Lucius did not really make many circles around the poorer end of the Slytherin students.

"Oh? Come to interfere on behalf of Snivellus?" the Potter brat taunted. He saw the Slytherin boy grit his teeth his eyes narrowing at the heir to the Potter fortune. "Wow, Snivles you seem to have gained a rather interesting ally." the dark eyed boy bared his teeth, looking disturbingly feral.

"Says the one never having enough gall to actually fight me one on one." the Slytherin boy hissed out, his words soft, but with an acerbic quality to them that Lucius found himself unable to help but appreciate. "Always have to have your backup plan don' you? What? Too scared you can't actually match me in a duel Potter?" Surprisingly enough, Lucius saw Potter getting uptight and agitated regarding the stranger's words.

"I could easily. It wouldn't be that much of a challenge." Lucius watched as the stranger nodded seeming to think everything through.

"I see. So you are just...what? Waiting until you gain the courage to do so? I thought Gryffindors were all about courage?" At that Sirius seemed to bristle, along with the Potter boy. The Slytherin gave a smile all teeth. "Say as much as you want about my being a coward, but at least my house doesn't care whether I am a coward as long as it is in my best interests. You however...a rich pureblood who can't even stand to face the poor slytherin all on their own without shaking." If the boy's sharp words were meant to antagonize his bully, the young Slytherin was doing a rather good job of it. However, the only issue was, Lucius could not understand the reasoning behind it.

That was, he used to not be able to, until the Potter boy raised his wand in indignation and the Slytherin instantly retaliated. Whatever curse was shot at Potter, Lucius could not place immediately, which said something about the speed and skill of the boy casting the spell. It also verified what it was that the young Slytherin had been doing, waiting. He had been waiting to anger potter enough to retaliate and seek revenge with a justifiable reason for it, and knowing Dumbledore's favouritism, he would need a hell of a good reason for it.

As it were, one moment Potter was lifting his wand and threatening the mystery Slytherin, and the next, he was on the floor screaming and crying. Severus instantly put up a shield against the Black son's attack. Lucius intervened now, sensing things were beginning to get out of hand, pulling the wand from Black and moving to stand next to Potter. He ordered the latter be taken to the Hospital wing, sending one of his subordinents to go with and to ensure that should anyone wish to speak with the Slytherin boy, they were to come and get him first.

"You," Lucius stated sternly, his fingernail pointing directly at the Slytherin he had yet to know the name of. "Are returning to the common room with me." The boy gave Lucius a dirty look, but did not question him. And isn't that interesting?