Knowledge is Power

Chapter 5

Filius Flitwick watched Severus carefully as they sat together at the staff table while the sorting was concluded. Magritte WestCraven was just sorted into Slytherin house just like her parents. The parents who had stood up for Severus against James, Sirius, Peter and Remus during their days as Hogwarts students. Heather and Raislen Westcraven were both two years ahead of Severus, however, so when they graduated, Severus was left for two more years with The Gryffindor Gang of Gits, as he'd dubbed the unfab four.

During all his seven years at Hogwarts, Severus never made sticking up for him easy. Filius had given the four hard detentions when he caught them tormenting Severus, but the boy only reacted with resentful embarrassment that someone interceded on his behalf. As if it made matters worse or as if he expected himself to always be able to handle the entire gang on his own. Were unforgivables not illegal, he likely could have, for he was one of the most skilled wizards Filius had ever taught. In fact, it still rankled at him to this day that Severus hadn't ended up in Ravenclaw house.

Flitwick told Severus more than once to tell him when they ganged up on him, and Severus never would. Too much pride, Filius had thought more than once. At least Heather and Raislen had taken matters into their own hands enough as students. Raislen, always loving to play a good prank when it came to friends, could turn such jokes downright nasty when played on those he disliked. He was always sticking up for the underdog. Bookish by nature the older Slytherin was observant and always managed to figure out what would bother James and the rest the most. His 'pranks' always hit them where it hurt often causing them to react in ways that ended up landing them in trouble while he walked away squeaky clean.

Heather, Knight at the time, was a Slytherin prefect and used that power against Lupin's prefectness in Gryffindor to get the four in trouble whenever she could.
"I wonder if she'll be like either of her parents," Filius finally said, nodding at Mag as she sat reading her book at the Slytherin table, surrounded by, and ignoring, other first year students.
"Lets hope not, Severus said darkly. "The world already has enough back stabbing traitors in it, after all."
Filius opened his mouth to say that Heather and Raislen hadn't meant it that way, but one look at Severus's stormy features had him closing it again. It wasn't his business, so there was no need riling Severus up to no useful end.

Instead he said,"Looks like I one this year by one student...So thank you in advance, dear friend, for handling all my detentions for the next two weeks!"

He didn't bother to hide his happy smile as he bounced slightly in his chair. His happy mood only made Severus scowl harder, however.