Walls of Ice

Chapter One: Induction

Severus Snape stood on Platform 9 ¾ and watched the other students standing around, boarding the train and variously preparing to start their next year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His sweeping gaze rested on the cherry red steam engine that would carry them to Hogwarts. It was so cheerful, thought Severus with scorn. He had been raised to view wizardry as an exact science, cold and unemotional. The pure cuteness of the train bothered him. Dismissing his irritation, Severus pulled his gaze off the train and found himself locking eyes with a boy standing on the other edge of the platform. They stood, staring for a moment, then the other boy shook his head in response to something the older witch beside him had said, and a messy shock of dark hair fell in his eyes. The curtain of hair broke Severus' line of sight, ending their momentary staring contest. Inexplicably disturbed, he resumed scanning the crowd, looking forwardto his first year at Hogwarts.

Severus met the eyes of a few more students, but none of them affected him the way the dark haired boy had. Severus was careful to conceal the depth of the unease he felt. After all, as his father had said, "You must at all times uphold the family name. As a pureblood wizarding family, we have a standard to maintain." This was also the reason Severus stood alone among the other students saying farewell to their families. It was not acceptable for a pureblood wizard, even one who was only eleven, to depend on his parents, or anyone else, for emotional support. A good wizard must be able to control his emotions, and, therefore, his powers of magic entirely by himself.

Severus had been taught control from a very young age. His friends had always been selected by his father, so as to introduce him to the cream of wizarding society. Hogwarts would be no different. Before Severus had left, his father had delivered a long lecture on how Severus should behave at school.

"It is not acceptable to befriend those of lower station than you. You may associate with children from only the best wizarding families. Unfortunately, Lucius Malfoy is significantly older than you, so you may not pester him, although you will be polite if he speaks to you. Someone your own age would be much more appropriate. Sirius Black, I think, is also starting this year. You have met him before. Make friends with him. His family has influence in many circles, and an alliance would be beneficial. As for others, anyone in Slytherin House is acceptable, but many are suitable only to be subordinates. Don't make the mistake of being too fraternal with anyone. Allowing someone too close creates weakness. Never, under any circumstances, befriend anyone with impure blood, or anyone who supports Dumbledore in his love of Muggles."

Rehearsing his father's litany, Severus dragged his trunk to the train, looking for Sirius Black. He might as well start cultivating their acquaintance, as he had no one else he would rather spend the journey with. Wistfully, Severus wished he could meet new people who would be real friends, not just people who owed him favours or who could be depended on for support, but he knew it was unlikely. Any of the other students worth knowing would be doing as Severus' father had suggested - forming political alliances and searching for possible supporters.

Luckily for Severus, he found Sirius Black without having to drag his trunk the entire length of the train. He dragged his trunk into the compartment Black occupied, hoisting it up to a rack and putting his knapsack on the seat.

"Hello, Black."

"Hello, Snape. Following parental instructions, I presume. Well, have a seat." He gestured to the seat opposite him, next to another boy who Severus had not noticed immediately. With growing apprehension, he saw that it was the boy who had so unnerved him when they had locked glances on the platform. As Severus sank slowly into his seat, fighting to hide his disquiet, the boy spoke.

"What do you mean by parental instructions, Sirius?"

"What I mean is that my parents, and probably Snape's as well, would like us to associate only with offspring of certain pureblood families. I'm sure Snape here received a lecture similar to mine, about not bothering the older students, sticking to my social class, and staying away from Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers." Black made a face. "Since I am now beyond reach of my parents, I can make friends with whoever I want. And I will." At this Severus shot Black a sharp glance. Black laughed.

"Yes, Snape, I am defying my parents will. Gasp, shock. Meet James Potter. James, Severus Snape."

"James Potter?" Severus cried leaping to his feet. "You're daring, Black. Associating with the son of a family of Muggle-lovers like the Potters. They're practically as bad as the Weasleys. Your parents are going to kill you."

"No they won't. They may be overly proud of their lineage, but they aren't Dark, and they haven't gone over to You Know Who, at least not yet. I'm their heir, so they can't kill me without admitting their failure to raise me properly. And as I mentioned, they're not about to destroy their hope to continue their proud lineage. I highly doubt my dear brother Regulus will amount to much." The sarcasm was heavy in his voice as he crossed his arms obstinately. "If you're going to go off on some pure-blooded rant, you can leave."

Severus shut his mouth with a snap, and sat back down, as far from Potter as possible, which left him crammed into the corner between wall and door, next to Black. He wished he could leave, but by now most of the compartments would be full, and he would be deliberately disobeying his father as well as jeopardizing future alliances if he were to be a nuisance on the very first day of the term. Severus realized for the first time how utterly isolated from other wizarding children he was.

Black and Potter had finally stopped casting wary glances at Severus when there was a tentative tap on the door. Severus, slouched in his seat, made no move to open it, so Potter got up and slid the door open. A thin girl with reddish brown hair and startling green eyes stood there.

"Sorry, but can I sit in here? Everywhere else is full, and they said we're about to start." Her voice was quiet, but a sparkle in her eyes belied her apparent shyness. Potter turned sideways to let her in.

"Sure, no problem." He helped her stow her trunk in the rack, then returned to his seat, as she sat down across from Severus. The new girl cast him a questioning glance, then introduced herself.

"I'm Lily Evans." Severus rolled his eyes, as it was all too obvious to him that his wizarding robes startled her.

"Great, a Mudblood. What next, werewolves?" Potter shot him an evil glare, seconded by Black.

"I'm James Potter, and this is Sirius Black." He stopped and Evans favoured Severus with another inquiring look. When it became clear that Potter was not going to continue, Severus decided he had to speak.

"Severus Snape," he said curtly. Evans seemed taken aback by his surliness.

"Oh. Well, nice to meet you all." They all sat in an awkward silence for a few moments. The train started moving with a loud whistle and a hiss of steam. Potter looked out the window and waved as they rolled past a witch and wizard, whose dark hair strongly resembled Potter's unruly locks. As they left the station, Evans was obviously dying to ask more questions about the wizarding accoutrements that the three boys had about them. Severus snorted silently, then reached into his knapsack and pulled out a book, burying his nose in it. Evans seemed fascinated with the picture on the front, of a wizard brewing a potion. Severus wondered about her level of interest until she spoke.

"You know, on Muggle books, the pictures aren't alive." Severus thought that explained her interest, but apparently not entirely. "What is he doing anyway?" Seeing that Severus had no intention of responding, Black leaned over to see what Severus was reading.

"A Compendium of Common Potions? Borrowing from the family library, or starting your own collection of Dark Arts books?"

"It's mine, Black," Severus sneered. "Not that it's any of your business. And Potions is not a Dark Art."

"Well, it's really close to being one. Why are you studying that anyways? Planning to poison us all in our sleep?

"No. Now shut up and let me read." Severus attempted to bury himself in his book again, but Black pulled it down again.

"Not planning on poisoning all of us? Just some, like the any non purebloods?" Severus whipped out his wand and started to respond in kind, already thinking about what hexes to use. Black went for his wand as well, but Potter interrupted.

"Calm down, you two. I'm sure Snape isn't considering poisoning anyone." Severus heard a mutter that sounded suspiciously like 'wanna bet?' but Potter was still talking. "What is with you both, anyways? You act like you've known each other a long time, but you're fighting like sworn enemies."

Severus merely sniffed and returned to his book, ignoring Black's explanation.

"Our families are friends. They always say 'Purebloods must stick together.' The Blacks, the Snapes, the Malfoys, all the old families are friends. So, since we're the same age, we always get stuck together at social events. Recently, I've been developing a spine and stopped agreeing with every word that comes from the mouths of my illustrious parents, so we haven't been getting along." Black sat back in his seat. Evans leaned forwards, looking confused. Severus was starting to wonder if she was always curious, or if it was a side effect of becoming a witch suddenly.

"I don't understand. What's a pureblood? Why are they special? And why did he call me a Mudblood?" Severus, listening in, snorted in disgust. Evans looked offended. Potter shot him another evil glare, then took up the explanation.

"Some wizards believe that only people descended from magical families should be admitted to Hogwarts. They consider wizards and witches with Muggle parents inferior. That's what Mudblood means - unclean blood, from Muggles. It's really rude to use it, but most of the old families do anyways. They want to isolate the wizarding world. Most of us want to stay in contact with Muggles, and let Muggle-born witches and wizards go to Hogwarts. We think that the Muggles provide us with competition, stimulating our inventiveness and giving us new ideas. Without the Muggle influence, magical folk would have died out long ago. The pureblood families are hopelessly intermarried and inbred." Evans sat back again, looking like she had a lot to think about, but Potter continued, with a soft look on his face. "You'll probably face prejudice your entire life, because you're Muggle-born."

"But how would anyone know? How did you know I wasn't born in a wizarding family, or even half and half."

"Well, your name. There aren't very many pureblood families anymore, so there are only a few surnames among them. Most wizards have Muggle ancestors somewhere. And also, you looked all surprised at the stuff we have, like the picture on Snape's book. You give yourself away just by not knowing things we grew up knowing, like Quidditch, and the moving pictures, and simple charms." Potter looked sympathetic. "You'll pick up most stuff by living at Hogwarts, but you'll probably never be mistaken for a pureblood witch." When Potter stopped, a thoughtful silence fell over the compartment. The occupants could hear people passing in the hallway. Assorted bangs and other noises echoed through the train, as student, prevented from working magic all summer, reacquainted themselves with their wands, greeting friends and confronting old enemies.

When some time had passed, the compartment door slid open. Black and Potter looked up from the wizarding chess game they had started. A tall boy stood there, leaning languidly against the doorframe, one hand casually twirling his wand. Severus stood and extended his hand, recognizing the older student.

"Lucius Malfoy. Nice to see you again."

"Snape," he began, flipping his long, white-blond hair out of his grey eyes. "I wondered where you'd got to when I couldn't find you earlier. Not enjoying the company of these... others, are you?" His pause was pregnant with suggested insult. Sensing an incident forming, and not wishing to be caught in a wizarding duel on his first day, Severus put down his book and answered quickly.

"Not likely. How are you, Lucius?"

"Fine, thanks. The Manor was quite tedious over the holidays, except when Father took me with him on one of his Muggle hunts. Would you like to join us, we're going to see if we can duplicate some of the techniques I learned." The crowd of older students behind him chuckled nastily. "I'd invite Black here, but he seems to be enjoying his little... friends here." Lucius' eyes swept the small compartment, coming to rest of Sirius Black. "Never thought you'd turn out to be a Muggle-lover like Potter Better be careful Black, or you'll go the same way the Weasleys did. A proud family, reduced to scrambling in the dust for a living, all because of one generation of Muggle-loving idiots." He turned back to Severus. "Coming?"

Lucius turned to sweep out the door, and saw Evans. He stopped and wrinkled his aristocratic nose. "Mudblood," he spat venomously, and then he was gone. Severus shouldered his bag and followed.

The little group trailed after Lucius to the front of the train, shoving and harassing the other students they passed, until they gathered in one of the large compartments usually reserved for prefects.

Lucius took one window seat and waved Severus into the other. The rest of his coterie distributed themselves about the compartment, all watching Lucius. Severus reflected that it was much like a miniature court; a king and his nobles. All of the students oriented themselves towards the most powerful, watching his every move, wanting to curry favour and avoid punishment. He was drawn out of his musings by Lucius' cold, hard voice.

"So, Severus. Mingling with the riff-raff? Hardly acceptable company, at least, in our circle." His voice now seemed menacing, compared to the almost jovial tone he had used in front of the other first-years. Severus would receive no mercy from Lucius. The stigma of associating with a Mudblood would be difficult to escape, unless Severus responded astutely.

"Not by choice," Severus hastened to assure him. Punishment for error now would be swift and harsh, destroying any chance he might have for Lucius' good favour. "My father told me to spend time with Sirius Black."

"I wonder what he'd say if he knew who Black was associating with?" Lucius mused. The question seemed rhetorical, as Lucius continued immediately, his voice taking on a note of affected surprise. "He didn't suggest myself as a possible acquaintance? I think I may feel affronted." Lucius' voice sharpened. "He doesn't want to offend a scion of House Malfoy, does he?"

"He felt that I would be reaching above myself to presume..." Severus paused, gauging the other's reaction. Lucius remained politely interested, so Severus continued. "You are, after all, considerably older than me, entering your fourth year, while I am merely beginning my first. Also, your family is not one to offend, while mine..." Severus trailed off.

"Is of somewhat lesser status?" Lucius raised one eyebrow delicately. Severus merely bowed his head in assent. "Very good answer, Severus. I find myself liking you. You have potential. Intelligence, tact, deference, all the while maintaining a hint of defiance and bravery. I believe you will be an asset in the future. Welcome to the True Court."