Prongs {Book One}

Chapter Twenty-Four - Penance (Part 1)

THREE MONTHS LATER:

SEV.

I was one of the first ones on the train, as per usual. My carriage was empty so far, but I knew Reese would sit with me, then some others like the Carows would sit with Reese, and then Mulciber and Avery would sit with them.

There was no avoiding that.

My OWL results had come a month into the holidays. Twelve Outstandings. I was sure Lily had got the same, and annoyingly, Potter, Black and Lupin had probably got those marks too.

It was also the first summer holiday that I had spent without visiting Lily once. I knew she wouldn't want to speak to me.

I don't need help from a filthy little mudblood like her.

"Hey, Sev. Good summer?"

"S'alright," I muttered as Reese slumped into the seat opposite me. We both knew I was lying, but it was one of those friendships where we didn't talk about home.

The compartment slowly filled up until it was packed, and the buzz of chatter filled it to the brim. Pretty much every Slytherin sixth and seventh years were here, half the fifth and fourth years, a couple of third and second years and only two first years who were looking positively terrified.

New recruits for the Death Eaters.

"Snape, good summer?" Avery asked. I gave a non-commital shrug. "Listen. We're planning something big this year. We want to get all the Slytherins in, grow our numbers, and Mulciber's uncle - who's a Death Eater - has agreed to talk to the Dark Lord. This is happening!"

I was clearly supposed to be excited by this news, so I put on my best shocked excitement expression and said, "wow, that's, uh, great!" As enthusiastically as possible.

This was my future now, I realised. Becoming a Death Eater. I'd put it off, avoided thinking about it. But it was inevitable now.

Just then, the compartment door slid open, and-

"Prefect meeting now, Snivellus."

It was Lily.

The fact that she used the name that Potter and Black had given me, the name that I had been bullied by for years, hit me like a steamroller.

"C-coming," I managed to force out, and followed Lily out the door.

She strode on ahead of me, her long, red hair swishing about her shoulders.

Just before we got to the prefects' compartment, Lily turned around to face me.

"Uh," I said, trying to gather some words.

"I just want to make sure you know," Lily hissed, "that this year, I am not going to talk to you unless absolutely necessary."

"R-right," I mumbled, avoiding her eyes. "Lily, listen, I-"

"Not another word. I know you're about to apologise, and let me tell you now - sorry doesn't cover it. Nothing will. It's not just what you called me. It's everything added together. Got it?"

"Yeah."

"Good." She opened the compartment door and strutted inside. I followed her sheepishly.