Snivellus

“Snivellus.”

 It’s amazing what emotions that word evokes in him. How he hated that word, first fallen from the lips of the boy who had ruined his life. On that train ride, now so long ago.  He remembered it vividly.

He was sitting on his seat, just staring at Lily. Her perfect red hair, vivacious emerald green eyes, smooth creamy skin. She was utterly flawless. There was nobody who could compare to her beauty. Nobody.

He had been scared to discover his feelings for her. He was only eleven, for heaven’s sake. He couldn’t be in love. Not so young.

He should have known then. His mother had warned him against young love. Witness her failed marriage with Tobias. Snape couldn’t even bare to even call him “Dad.” Tobias wasn’t worthy of the affectionate title.

Severus Snape should have known he was headed for heartbreak.

But, at the tender age of eleven, Snape had no such worries. He reveled in Lily’s golden voice and at the fact that she was speaking to HIM. That little oddball living down the street. Certainly not worthy of HER.

Of course he encouraged her to pick Slytherin; there was a very real chance that she wouldn’t be there with him. Her pureness, her sweetness, not to mention her blood status, would be ridiculed in the house.

But Severus would protect her. He would make sure no one harmed her.

But of course, Potter butted in. How Severus hated him. That insufferable git-that villainous troublemaker-the driving force behind the destruction of Snape’s life.

Lily had defended him then. Potter’s rude words brought a pretty blush of anger-or was it anger?-to her cheeks. She had rushed to his aid and, as they were leaving, that name fell from Potter’s lips.

“Snivellus.”

That name followed Severus Snape throughout Hogwarts. At first it hurt, then he learned to ignore it. It was a mere fact of Hogwarts life.

The only time that word mattered was in fifth year.