Just One Day

Just One Day

By JessieHeart

Chapter Two

*

"You Gryffindors think you're so smart," Severus said to the unconscious James, "but I'd like to see your precious Lupin make a Polyjuice Potion."

Severus has said many such things to James. He found taunting him without the possibility of retaliation to be quite enjoyable. As he talked, he spooned potion into a Gryffindor Quidditch water bottle. No one would think anything malicious if they saw James Potter drinking out of that. Severus would have to have one gulp every hour, on the hour, in order to keep James' form. He counted twelve servings. Breakfast would start soon... doing the mental-math, he decided that twelve hours would be fine to last him all day.

It was seven in the morning, though Severus had been up since six. He first had to "borrow" Gryffindor robes from the washroom, then go back a second time because he got his own size instead of Potter's. Now that he was changed and the Polyjuice Potion was ready, it was finally time to add the hairs.

Severus took a lock of hair from the back of Potter's head. Knowing how messy it was, no one would notice its absence. James let out a loud snore-- Severus quieted him with a desirable kick. He then added the hair to the water bottle.

The reaction was instant. The water bottle grew warm in his hand, bubbling so violently Severus almost dropped it. It turned a nasty almond-brown color, chunky and revolting. Closing his eyes, Severus took his first gulp.

From the moment it slipped down his throat, Severus was filled with a burning sensation. His insides was on fire, his stomach alive with flames. He felt as though he was going to be sick. He fell to his knees and moved the water bottle away from him, allowing himself to observe his physical change.

His usually long fingers turned square and rough. The once too-short uniform fit perfectly well. He could feel his hair shortening, growing into an untamed mess. A pain in the center of his face told him that his nose, too, was retracting, becoming no longer hooked. In a moment, it was all over.

Severus stood and surveyed himself. He was Potter through and through. He looked towards a mirror on the wall, but was surprised to only see a blurry image of what was supposed to be there. Severus realized that he must have adopted Potter's poor eyesight as well.

Groaning, he snatched up Potter's glasses and fixed the awkwardly on his face. The object felt foreign, hanging suspiciously on his nose. Looking into the mirror again, Severus saw James Potter staring back at him. He smiled, and James' rogue grin flashed back. The transformation was complete. Not even Potter's closest friends would know the difference.

He grabbed Potter's bag and wand, then headed out to breakfast.

*

The Great Hall was packed when Severus arrived. He stepped through the large door with exaggerated gusto and awaited the effects of him new form.

He almost jumped when a familiar voice called in his direction.

"James!" Sirius Black called. Severus felt a chill. For the first time, Black didn't want to hurt him. "James! Over here."

Severus walked towards him awkwardly and sat down next to Black. Lupin and Pettigrew were sitting across from them. Lupin was deeply submerged in a book.

"Didn't see you in the Common Room this morning," Black said casually, not bothering to look at him. "Did you finally manage to get Evans in the Astronomy Tower with you?"

Severus nearly choked on a glass of pumpkin juice he was drinking. He coughed into a napkin, trying to think of what to say. Black slapped him playfully on the back, making him cough even more.

"I was just kidding, mate," said Black, laughing. "I didn't know you'd try to commit suicide."

Severus smiled, telling himself inwardly that it would not be believable if James Potter suddenly killed Sirius in front of everyone. He looked away from Black and focused his attention on breakfast.

Lupin was intensely reviewing his Transfiguration homework. Pettigrew was next to him, holding an identical assignment. He was furiously scribbling down Lupin's answers, until the teen werewolf noticed.

"Wormtail, do your own work," Lupin said flatly, then turned the book away from him. Pettigrew looked directly at Severus, a pathetic look of need in his eyes.

"Moony won't let me copy him," he pleaded, "You'll let me look at your homework, won't you?"

"No," Severus said quickly. He was used to other Slytherins asking him to cheat. He went back to his toast. All three Marauders were stared at him in disbelief. Severus realized that James must let Pettigrew copy all the time. He shook his head and did his best James impression, pulling out the Transfiguration homework from Potter's bag. "I mean, of course you can copy, Wormtail. You know, you're lucky you have someone as smart as me around. But you shouldn't feel bad, some of us are just more talented than others. Watch me play Quidditch some time, you'll get the idea."

Lupin and Black returned to their business. Apparently, the answer had been sufficient. Pettigrew gleefully took the paper and began to write at lightning speed. Severus sighed. Being Potter was harder than he thought...

After breakfast, the Marauders had Charms Class. The boys were in the hall when Black suddenly laughed.

"What are you DOING, James? You look like Snivellus!"

Severus could have kicked himself. He was walking like he normally did; head down, eyes on floor, separated from everyone, least someone hex him. James Potter wouldn't dare be seen like that. He walked in the center of the hall, making everyone get out of HIS path, not the other way around.

Severus bluffed, "It's always great to make fun of Sever- uh, Snivellus, even if he's not around."

Black imitated him, creeping along side the walls, eyes fixated on the floor. He let out his bark-like laughter and the other two Marauders followed. Severus joined them unconvincingly.

They continued towards class. Severus straighten himself, raised his head high. Chin up, back straight, wand out to hex unknowing first-years.

I am superior, he told himself, I am James Potter!

He met eyes with everyone, daring them to challenge his greatness. Girls swooned, boys stared at their toes. A brave person here or there would roll their eyes at them, but never spoke out against their popularity. Severus led the charade, becoming quite fond of his new arrangement. Why be himself when being James Potter instilled fear into everyone's hearts? James Potter commanded respect.

Once in Charms, the Marauders sat right up front. They were almost the first ones there. A pair of girls sat in the back. When Sirius winked at them, they giggled and whispered furiously to one another. One of them looked at Severus, batting long eyelashes.

Lily Evans entered the room. Contrast to everyone, she ignored the popular crowd. Severus was content to ignore her, too, until Lupin poked him hard in the ribs.

"Do it!" Lupin encouraged. "We know you want to."

Severus' face fell. He knew very well what Lupin meant. Hell, the whole school knew what happened every time Lily and James were in the same room. Personally, the entire ceremony disgusted Severus to his core. In his mind, anyone that desperate over a woman had no honor whatsoever.

Perhaps Severus could skip out on badgering Lily. Then again, would the Marauders think him ill? Or worse, an imposter? Rather than chance it, he might as well get it over with.

Severus walked as confidently over to Lily as he could. Apparently she knew the routine as well. Lily ignored him and continued to put the finishing touches on her homework.

"Hey Evans," he said, trying to make his voice smooth.

"Good morning, Potter," she replied with false politeness. Her tone suggested that she wanted this to be over with so he would leave her alone.

"There's a Hogsmaede visit soon," he said, his voice almost getting caught in his throat. Sure, Lily Evans was smart, and certainly pretty enough, but he would never consider asking her out. She was a mudblood! In almost five years, he'd never spoken more than two words to her! He swallowed and reminded himself that HE wasn't asking her out, James Potter was. "Let's say you and I-"

"I'd rather not, thank you."

When rejected, Potter would persist. Throwing all pride to the winds, Severus said, "Are you sure? I-"

"No."

From behind him, Severus heard the Marauders try to cover their laughter. Severus nodded and walked back to them, trying not to look disheartened. He knew she wasn't rejecting him, she was rejecting James the Prat... So why did he feel so bad?

One of the girls in the back of the room looked at Severus consolingly while the other glared at Lily with pure hatred. Severus had the feeling that they would both give their first born child just to have the miraculous James Potter notice at them. Feeling sorry for them, he looked both girls full in the face and smiled dashingly. Instantly, they emotionally melted in their chairs.

"What was THAT?!" Black demanded when Severus reached them. "Prongs, if Evans catches you looking at other girls, she'll want to go out with you even LESS. I know that sounds impossible, but it's true."

Severus gazed away from them, his tone thoughtful. "Jame- I mean, I could have any girl in the school that I wanted. Why do I insist on going after the one girl that hates me?"

Lupin shrugged. "Good question. Guess you like a challenge, right, mate?"

"Yeah... I guess that's it."

The remainder of the day wasn't half as depressing. Severus made less and less mistakes, realizing that the more self-absorbed and smart-aleck he acted, the more he seemed like James. In all honesty, he found himself enjoying it.

He argued with teachers, making Professor Binns fall all over himself.

"So, if you say the Medieval wizards were the first ones recorded in history, how do you explain the evidence of wizardry in Greek and Roman periods?" Severus challenged.

"That has nothing to do with the lesson!" Binns sputtered.

"A competent teacher would probably know," Severus said, casting a side-long glance at Black. The other boy grinned and flashed him a thumbs-up. The rest of the class could barely contain their laughter.

Binns' mouth opened and closed like a carp, shocked at such disrespect. "Competent-?! One more word, Mr. Potter, I'm warning you-"

"Sure, Binns, whatever."

"PROFESSOR Binns! That's a detention, Mr. Potter, you best learn proper manners in front of authority!"

Severus leaned back in his chair, proud to have earned a detention he didn't have to serve. However, he couldn't help noting that the word 'professor' seemed awfully important to adults... That it made them superior to the one who addressed them as such...

Lunch was fun as well, the Marauders sat around outside, watching girls and catcalling. Dinner was even better. Severus put a complicated spell on a Ravenclaw's soup that made his face turn blue. The boy ran from the Great Hall, cheeks a dark purple from blushing. Severus had never been on the opposite side of bullying... He liked it. He'd never understood before why James and his friends got so much enjoyment from picking on people, but now he did. It felt different, being a jerk, but powerful. There was a certain kind of pleasure that only came from having control over your peers... Severus loved this power, he wanted it for his own. He dismayed at the fact that he only had one sip left of potion.

Dinner was almost over, desserts had magically appeared on the table. Black didn't seem to notice, rather he was looking around the Great Hall with narrowed eyes.

"What are you looking for, Padfoot?" Lupin asked.

"Snivellus," Black answered seriously. Severus went rigid. "I haven't seen him all day, have you?"

"Maybe he's ill," Severus amended, trying to get Black's thoughts off the subject. However, Black's mind was set.

"But we learned that great hex in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The 'Bogey Face Curse.' I want to try it out on greasy old Snivelly." Black turned to Severus. "I don't see him anywhere. Get out the Marauders Map?"

Severus blinked. He knew about Remus Lupin's other form, and that the four boys all had nick-names for one another, but he had no idea what this "Marauders Map" was. He stalled. "The... What now?"

Black raised an eyebrow and spoke in a slow, mock tone as if Severus was a small child. "The Marauders Map. Big piece of parchment. Allows us to find anyone in Hogwarts. You remember, yes?"

Severus glanced at Lupin, who had become very interested in his dinner. Pettigrew, on the other hand, seemed very excited at the thought of "Snivellus" being tortured. He snatched up James' bag and began to riffle through it. At last he pulled out a faded piece of parchment. He handed it to Black. "Here it is!"

Severus began to panic. If, indeed, that map would tell them the location of anyone in Hogwarts, it would identify him as Severus Snape. They would realize him as a fraud, and much more than the 'Bogey Face Curse' would be his fate...

Black cleared his throat. He pointed his wand at the map and started to speak the enchantment. "I solemnly swear..."

*

End of Chapter Two

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