A Second Soul

Chapter 3 ~in which~ Harry Meets His Father

"Don't lie, Snape." Said James, hand placed between Severus and Harry on the table, voice dripping with sugary malice.

"You see, Evan is it? This here is Snivelus. Even though you're in Slytherin, I thought I should warn you that no one talks to Snivelus." James paused to sneer at the pale hand gripping its owner's black robe. "And no one would ever touch his grimy, potion-stained hands."

Harry replied cheekily,"Well, as we've already established, I am no one."

James suddenly turned to look at Evan in confusion while Snape blushed at the inside joke. "It was just a fair warning. See, you don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort, that's all."

Harry found it ironic that his father was as much of a prat as Draco had been, at least at this age.

" I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks." Harry reached around his father's arm, gently took hold of Severus' hand, and pulled it from the young wizard's hunched body, shaking it. "It's nice to meet you, Severus."

Snape's eyes widened in complete shock, disbelieving someone was willing to stand up to Potter on his behalf. James had had an issue with Severus since their first day at Hogwarts, the only one on his side being Lilly, his closest friend. She had recently begun to side with James, ever since he had pushed her away in an idiotic bout of anger.

"You'll regret that." James angrily huffed at Evan, his nails digging into the palms of his hands.

"You know, I really don't think I will." Bright green eyes burned with challenge, staring into the deep hazel of his father's.
~*~
After Severus left dinner, he went back to the dungeons. He couldn't believe the new kid had stuck up for him like that. Even his friends never defended him, just said Potter was an arse and told him to suck it up whenever he came to the dormitory upset.

"What was up with that new kid at dinner?" Lucius asked, his voice laced with disapproval.

"I don't know. He was just being nice, introducing himself. It's not like it was that weird that someone was actually talking to me in public."

"Look Severus, I told you. It's nothing personal, I just don't want anything to do with Potter. Anyway, I think you should stay away from that Evan guy."

"What? Why? He's nice and-"

Severus cut himself off as Evan walked into the dungeons.

"Hey Sev, can you show me where the beds are?"

Severus lowered his eyes, fighting a blush- no one had ever spoken to him with such open familiarity, it just wasn't commonplace in Slytherin circles where pureblood formalities were the only acceptable way to act.  He opened his mouth slightly to reply but became a bit tongue tied.

"Sev? What the hell is that, some kind of pet name? His name is Severus and you should address him as such." Lucius turned to Severus "See? He has no etiquette or he would have addressed you Properly."

Harry nodded, jaw tensed, as though accepting that he was not welcome and turned to walk away, he had no idea where he was going other than out of the dungeons. He really didn't even understand why he was being so friendly with Severus Snape. Had he actually hoped to be friends with his surly potions professor of all people?

"Why did you have to go and do that?" Severus turned on Lucius. "He was being nice to me."

"I've known you for years and I've never addressed you in any way other than the name your parents gave you, as is proper, then this dimwit shows up, snaps my wand, and you wanna be best buds with him?"

"That's why you hate him? He's the one that snapped your wand? You even said you were poking it at him, it was just a natural reaction."

"I just don't like him. You need to stay away from him."

"Because you get to decide everything for me? I'm allowed to have friends besides you Lucius."

"Allowed? Yes. Capable? I doubt it." The blonde sneered.

And, for the first time since he met Lucius Malfoy, Severus did not just ignore the hurtful comment and do whatever it was Lucius wished of him, but instead walked swiftly from the dungeons, attempting to catch up with Evan. He could hear Lucius calling to him from behind, but he really could not bring himself to give a damn.