The sun shone high over the grounds of Hogwarts. It was first semester, about two weeks in, and a particular student was already feeling way out-of-place. A 16 year old Severus Snape sat under a rather large tree near the black lake, his nose in a book, black hair falling on both sides of his face, shielding his face from anyone who might choose to walk by. He was reading his book on Advanced Potions. Professor Slughorn seemed to enjoy Severus in his class, seeing as he got nearly everything about potions 100% correct. Potions came naturally to him. He had already made several corrections to his potions book this year. For an Advanced Potions book, a lot of what was in it seemed to make little or no sense, and he took it upon himself to make several corrections to the book. Every correction he made came out as a working solution. Today, Slughorn had instructed them to make Draught Of The Livng Death, and he found an easier and more effective way to make it as well.
He sighed, setting down his book, no longer thinking, or wanting to think about, potions, but rather, a certain Lily Evans. He absentmindedly stared out at the lake, deep in thought. She had gotten awfully close to Potter. He scowled. Potter. James Potter. Lousy, arrogant git, he was. He enjoyed torturing Severus every change he got.
Severus dropped his gaze back down to his feet. 'Why would anyone want to be near him?' he thought.
He picked back up his Advanced Potions book, burying his nose in it once again, attempting to get his thoughts off of such things. This was going to be a long, possibly miserable year. No. Scratch that. A MORE miserable year. It was always miserable there for him, thanks to three people; James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew. They hated him. They always had. Since day one, it seemed. They had a fourth friend, Remus Lupin, who tended to just leave Severus alone. Remus disapproved of his friends cruel actions. But nonetheless, Severus would still be bullied by the other three. It was a constant battle. He couldn't stand them, and they couldn't stand him. And none of them planned on changing that. Ever.
After a bit, Severus stood up, picking up his books. It was nearing late evening, and curfew was on it's way. Not like he cared, but why would he even bother with getting himself in trouble? He saw no point in it, really, se he began to head back towards the Slytherin common room. He made it only to the outer hallway, before coming face-to-face with some people he'd rather not see. A certain three, whom were nearly obsessed with terrorizing him to no end. James took notice to Severus's presence first. He spoke. "Hey Snively! Heading back inside to sulk in your dungeons? Or are you headed to the kitchens to pour some more grease on your head?" the three laughed, while Remus stood at the back of them, book in hand, and a sympathetic look for Severus on his face.
Severus scowled, and pushed past them. "Aww.. Poor Snivelus!.. greasy toe-rag." said James, with a smirk. The three laughed and walked off, with Remus following, rolling his eyes at his friends childish antics. Severus stormed off towards the dungeons, where the Slytherin common rooms resides.
Once there, he looked up at the portrait, two men in green, playing a game of wizards chess, and muttered the password. The men in the painting nodded and the portrait door opened, allowing his access to the common room. He walked up the stairs, and directly into his, and Avery and Mulciber's, dormitory. Avery and Mulciber's were the only things he had even close to friends, aside from Lily. "Oh, hey Severus." Mulciber said, nonchalantly. Severus nodded, walking to his bed and taking a seat on it.
He pulled out his D.A.D.A. Book, and began reading it. Books kept him from over thinking things. And there were definitely things to think about. Like Lily, for example. Lily and himself had become more distant than ever. He had become more interested in the Dark Arts, and Lily didn't like that at all. Her best friend had changed. He had become more like Avery and Mulciber. Severus didn't care all to much for them, to be completely honest, but hung around them anyways. Still, hanging around them had changed him for the worst. He didn't think he'd changed, but Lily had definitely noticed that he had. The sweet little boy she had known since they were just eight years old had changed. He had become increasingly interested in dark things. Avery and Mulciber were planning n becoming death eaters; everyone knew this. And Lily feared that they would pull Severus into the same thing.
Eight years had passed since they had met, after Lily's sister, Petunia, had called her a freak for being a witch. Eight years had passed since he had let he know she was a witch in the first place. And most importantly, eight years had passed since they had become friends.... And now they were slowly fading apart, bit-by-bit. Severus hated the thought of them not being as close anymore. And he feared that they would continue to grow apart, and that they would, at some point, be completely different, separate people. Enemies even. He shuddered at the thought. 'No, not her. I couldn't let that happen.. Never. Ill always be here for her..Always."
He laid down on his bed, staring up into nothing. After awhile, everyone else was fast asleep. All but himself. He swishes his wand to put out the candle burning in the room, and was immersed in darkness. "Lily.." he muttered to himself, before falling asleep. He would never let go of her. He COULDN'T let go of her. He loved her. He loved her as a friend, and as more.
Always..
