Another Rung on the Ladder

Chapter One

Know thine enemy...

The gangly boy crashed to the ground, with the laughter of his two sworn enemies ringing in his ears. His feet were jerking with the Tarantula Hex and his breath was coming short gasps, strained from exertion. He had been goaded into anger once again, relentlessly taunted until he snapped and turned on them, willing to curse them into oblivion. But they were two skilled and brilliant students, and he was alone. Once again he'd been easily beaten, once again he'd been humiliated.

His tormentors seemed to get bored when he didn't get up again - one shrugged, yawning, and turned as if to walk away. He cursed then, cursed heavily and long, all the words he had heard his father throw at his cowering mum in the fits of his temper. Nothing happened - these were mundane curses, without an ounce of power, but with his wand in the hands of the boy who was still looking at him he could do nothing else.

"Oh, shut up," said the boy holding his wand. "If you're not nice I might just forget to take that hex off you. I can if you ask me real politely though, just because I like you so much."

The boy on the ground raised his head slightly. He swore again, glaring up at that hateful person with loathing. The other boy shrugged, and like his friend turned around.

"Suit yourself..."

"James!" It was another boy who spoke, walking briskly towards them with his brows furrowed. "What are you doing?"

"Teaching a lesson. I was just done," answered James Potter casually, but one look at his friend's face was enough to know that he could not leave his victim there. "Alright, fine, I'll take the hex off. Consider yourself lucky, Snape."

Severus Snape didn't answer. He didn't rise either as Potter undid the hex, but kept lying on the ground, breathing heavily. The boy who had arrived later than the others walked forwards, looking worried, but then Severus pushed himself up by the elbows, staring angrily at him. "Don't touch me, wolf," he snarled.

The boy froze, and all concern left his face as he paled dramatically. "Fine," he said, turned on his heel and was gone.

"Moony, wait up!" shouted one of the other boys, Sirius Black, and started after him as Severus let his head fall back down to connect with the earth again. Potter stopped for a moment, made a noise of disgust and threw Severus's wand at his head before walking off after his friends. When he had gone Severus finally sat up, stretching his long legs out in front of him and rubbing at the ankles that were smarting from the forced dance. As he did so he noticed another boy, standing a bit further off and looking at him. It was him, the fourth one, always at the heels of his friends. Peter - Peter Pettigrew. He was looking straight at Severus, a strange expression on his face.

"Oy Wormtail! What are you waiting for?" shouted Potter, and Peter shook himself slightly. He looked at Severus one last time and then ran after the others.

And Severus still sat on the ground, head and feet aching. He thought about four boys, and one in particular. There had been something strange about Peter - the usual scared and nervous smile hadn't been there. Instead, he had looked at Severus as...

As what? An ally? A friend? Severus shook his head, dispelling it of stupid fancies.

"Weird little fuck," he said out loud, and wasn't sure himself if he meant it as an insult, or as a compliment.