A Very Black Christmas

"What's up your but, Snivellus?"

The voice of Sirius Black reached Severus' ears as he was heading for the stairs to the dungeons. He grinded his teeth and silently begged to a higher power - or really any kind of power - to remove Sirius from the face of the earth.

"Get out of my face, Black," he snapped at Sirius, who took a halt right in front of him.

"I would, but I'm afraid I can't."

"Let me guess," Severus said, rolling his eyes; he just wanted to get this over with, "is it because of my nose?"

"Yeah, it is. It's so big and greasy, I'm stuck to it!"

Sirius laughed at his own, strongly improvised joke. Severus gave him a long, hard stare and said, "Don't you have anything better to do? Like go look at yourself in the mirror or something?"

"Nah, I already did that today. But you don't mind my company, do you?"

"I do, actually. I have better things to do."

Severus marched pass him, but when he heard Sirius yell, "If you're looking for Lily I can inform you that she doesn't want to see you" he stopped flat, swung around and glared at him. Sirius smiled - he'd gotten Severus' attention.

"Yeah, that's right," he continued. "She's getting quite sick of you, you know. I assume you are aware that the only reason she still talks to you is because she feels sorry for you."

"Shut up, Black."

"Oh, come off it! Do you really think that a girl like her would even as much as look at you if it wasn't out of pity?" Sirius said in a loud voice. "She only talks to you because she thinks it's too bad you don't have any friends. But don't be fooled, she thinks you're as gross as the next guy. I mean girl."

They stared at each other - Severus with a dark anger in his eyes and Sirius with mockery. Never before had Severus clenched his jaws this tight.

"You don't have a chance with her, not a chance in the world. I mean, what possible reason would she have for ever choosing someone like you over a guy like James?

"I am - not - in love - with her," Severus mumbled through his teeth.

"You're not...? What was that? You're not in love with Lily?" Sirius laughed. "No worries, Snivellus. She told us everything. I know you had a hard time, growing up in a crazy house and everything, with a psycho father and a cowardly mother. And so does the rest of the school!"

Severus' eyes widened in horror as Sirius words seemed to echo between them both.

"Yeah. James and I saw it as our duty to give the rest of the school something to talk about. Really, I don't think there has ever been a better subject to gossip about around here. I'll have to thank Lily for that."

In a split second, Severus had drawn his wand, pointed it at Sirius and yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!" Sirius fell to the ground like a wooden board, with huge, surprised eyes. Severus walked up to him, while his steps echoed in the hall, and bent down over him. He pointed his wand right at his heart.

"I am warning you, Black. I know curses of which you and your narrow mind couldn't even begin to imagine. I can make the blood flowing through your pathetic veins spray from every opening in you body, just like a fountain. Just give me a reason."

Of course, Sirius remained passive.

"I could kill you," Severus hissed, "I could kill you and dispose of your body before anyone would even notice your sorry ass was gone."

The silence in the Entrance Hall was pressing painfully close. Then, suddenly, they heard footsteps. Someone rushed up to them and shoved Severus aside, saying, "Get away from him, you disgusting reptile!" From the floor where he had landed, Severus saw Remus Lupin hunch over Sirius, whispering something and pointing his wand at him. The spell broke off and Sirius sat up. Not far behind them came Lily, storming mad. Severus felt the anger and hate more clear than ever. He stood up.

"You're bloody mad, you sick bastard!" Sirius screamed, pointing at him.

"Severus, what did you do?! Did you hurt him?" Lily asked, walking up to him.

"Did he! He threatened to kill me! I don't even have my wand on me!"

Lily's mouth flew open in shock and revulsion. She looked as if she was ready to explode.

"You coward! How could you do something like that?"

"Oh, shut up, Lily, just SHUT UP! What do you care what I do? You probably can't wait to go tell Potter about it, can you?"

"What are you rambling about?"

"Don't lie to me, Lily! You're a filthy, deceiving slut of a liar!" Severus yelled, spit flying of his lips.

"How dare you talk to me like that, after all the things I've done for you?"

"Don't fool yourself, I know you only did all those things out of pity, but I don't need you bloody pity any more! I should thank your little 'friend' here for finally opening my eyes and seeing the truth!"

Lily swung around, stared at Sirius who had risen to his feet and exclaimed, "Sirius! What the hell did you say to him?"

"Only the truth! Everybody knows that's the only reason you talk you him, you can't deny that!"

"He's my friend, you moron! And he's a better person than you could ever be!"

"Don't try and defend me! I don't need it, you- you mudblood!" Severus yelled.

"Excuse me? Do I need to remind you who your father is?"

"He's a filthy Muggle and I wish he was dead! And I wish you were dead, in fact, from now on, you are dead to me!"

And with that, Severus ran down the stairs, tears falling from his eyes, leaving a surprised trio of Gryffindors staring after him.