Sea Of Blue

"Ten points from Gryffindor," the smirk curled to Severus Snape's lips as he watched the professor pause in front of the desk, eyes furrowed together, staring into the cauldron in disgust. "That potion is too thick. You call yourself Head Boy?"

"Its always too thick," James Potter muttered, turning his attention back to the boiling, green liquid as the professor turned towards the next table.

It was always a joy to watch Potter get points taken away from his House, Severus reflected as he began adding the next ingredient to his potion. His smile widened as he glanced up at the sound of Sirius Black's outraged yell. The professor stood frowning in front of him.

"Another word from you, Black, and it'll be fifty points," Severus instantly recognized the warning in the dark, deep voice. Even the Slytherins knew better than to mess with that tone. It was the tone that spoke of twenty points and a detention to anyone who stepped so much a toe out of line. Not like they ever got in trouble. The Marauders, as they were known as, always got favorites, even by the teachers who disliked their antics. Especially Potter. Always Potter. Always the blue-eyed, sleep combed haired, Head Boy of Gryffindor. . .

"Gryffindor's gotten thirty points taken away in ten minutes," Severus nodded absently, barely acknowledging Lucius Malfoy's words as he added the final touch to the potion. "And I can't believe that he just let them off without a de--Are you even listening to me?!"

Blinking, Severus turned his full attention to Lucius. "Sorry, but what?"

Lucius sighed in disgust. "You're *fantasizing* about Potter again, aren't you?"

Severus' lips snarled in distaste, his stomach churning in fear. That thought had never crossed his mind before. Sure, he loved thinking about James' miserable face in detention, or watching as a prank backfired and turning his hair blue (he still had photos to this occasion, perfect blackmail for future use when Potter became the famous Quidditch Chaser, he bragged about becoming to anyone who would listen), or when Lily Evans, Head Girl, verbally slammed him in front of everyone in the Great Hall. But *fantasizing* about him?

"Don't disgust me."

"I wouldn't count this out too quickly," Lucius' eyes raised suggestively, "You know the Dark Lord has taken a sudden interest in him. 'Much darkness resides in him,' quoth the Leader. Maybe, just maybe, you'll get your chance with him."

Severus shuddered, kicking Lucius' shin beneath the table. "That is... revolting." The professor, at that moment, called the end of class and Severus rushed out before Lucius could respond.

"So, how was Potions today?" Lily Evans smiled slyly as three of the four Marauders trooped into the common room of Gryffindor tower.

"Boring," Peter Pettigrew offered, shrugging. The dark blond sighed, "Lily, I have terrible news to tell you..."

"No!" Sirius Black interrupted, smiling broadly, "*I* want to tell her!"

"Tell me what?" Lily asked, curiously. Remus Lupin coughed from beside Sirius, hiding his laughter.

"James got detention--ow!"

"I wanted to tell her," Peter glared playfully at his friend. Sirius just smiled his innocent smile, and turned back to Lily, while rubbing his left shoulder.

"And guess who its with?"

Before she could answer, Peter added, "...with Snape!" Lily started giggling as it was Sirius' turn to hit Peter. The Marauders were never dull, that was for sure.

"How did James get detention with Snape?"

"Oh," Remus' smile widened as he and Sirius exchanged looks, "its really quite simple..."

"Remember we just learned how to properly make the polyjuice potion?" Sirius asked. Lily nodded, "Well... I was bored earlier and Dumbledore's beard is now kinda...um..."

"Pink," Remus said.

"...Yes, pink. Well, anyway, I did the prank as our dear James and--"

"Wait," Lily interrupted, "how did Snape get involved?"

"Well, its quite weird, really," Remus mused, suddenly thoughtful. "When "James" was caught with the bucket, Snape said he helped, so he just volunteered himself for detention..."

"No doubt to hex him," Peter remarked and Sirius nodded in agreement. They continued to describe the events from that afternoon to Lily, soon forgetting that James was to be alone with Severus Snape in twenty minutes.

James Potter sighed as his hand settled on the doorknob of the door to Filch's room. It was bad enough he had to spend his afternoon in detention, but he was just informed by Sirius that Snape would be attending this particular detention, too. Once again it proved that Sirius' antics were deadly.

"You can go in there, y'know," a drawling voice remarked. James glanced over his shoulder as Severus Snape approached him.

"No, really?" James' eyes widened in mocking astonishment.

"Yes, now," Severus sneered, pushing him aside and opened the door, "if you mind I'd like to serve my detention so I can get the bloody hell away from you."

"My sentiments, too," James narrowed his eyes and followed him into the room.

"So, boys," Argus Filch's face was set in a cackling smirk as they sat in two fading, cracked chairs in front of his desk, which was in equally bad shape, "Headmaster Dumbledore was not pleased to have his beard dyed 'neon pink' as Mr. Black called it, so now what must I assign you two to do?" His lifeless eyes gleamed in knowing hatred. It was well known that the Caretaker did not like the students. It was just one of those golden rules.

"Er, I didn't do anything though," James protested. The Headmaster hadn't believed him earlier. His exact words were, 'I know you don't want to serve detention with Mr. Snape, but please, Mr. Potter, don't deny the truth.' So what else could he do? He doused the rest of the bucket of pink paint onto Sirius (missing, unfortunately) then stormed off to be alone before detention.

Filch was not impressed. He began to pet the small cat that jumped up onto the desk. It was quite cute, but already feared at its mere age of one year. The cat, dubbed Mrs. Norris, began to purr as Filch lost himself in thought. Glancing once more at the cat, then two the two annoyed students, he smirked.

"Mrs. Norris will be growing tired shortly. I must go into town for a few hours to check on something so I'll need someone to watch over her. And you two will be perfect for the job."

"Watch the cat...sleep?" James asked, staring up at the Caretaker with disbelieving eyes. Severus made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat, glowering silently at the Gryffindor next to him.

"Correct, Mr. Potter," Filch smirked, shaking his head in mock pity. "I'm sure you two'll be entertained with one another to bother with the cat."

"What are you talking about?" Severus demanded, narrowing his dark eyes at the man.

Snickering beneath his breath, he spoke louder, "I'm sure you'll find ways to...relieve your sexual tension in detention."

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me," with that last comment he stood. "Follow me, boys."

With muffled bickering they did as they were told.

James lounged on a desk, head resting on the wall and hummed the school song underneath his breath. They'd been in the room, with the cat asleep, for an hour. A bloody HOUR!

"Shut. Up." Severus growled, interrupting James' train of melody. James frowned, but didn't say anything as he began to hum again from the beginning. "Potter."

"What?!" James asked, turning bored blue eyes to look at Severus.

"Like I said, shut up. I have a bloody headache and you're annoying me."

"You annoy me period so you're one to talk."

"Oh, that's no surprise," Severus sneered, "Everyone who isn't in little Potter's inner circle is an annoyance, isn't that right Mr. Head Boy?"

James frowned, and the room became eerily silent. "That's really what you think, then?"

"I wouldn't have bloody said it if I didn't believe it!"

James just nodded and averted his eyes to the floor. Silence descended upon the two again as Severus stared at him in surprise. His intent was to anger and aggravate him, not...not... do whatever he had done! Ironically, and he didn't even know why, it upset him that James had closed off on him. Had retreated back to himself. It didn't work that way! They were supposed to be yelling, to be at each other's throats. Just like... normal.

"...James?" James glanced up solemnly at him but didn't speak, instead just stared. Severus glanced away momentarily before speaking. "I didn't mean it."

Dryly laughing, James mockingly smiled, "I'm sure you didn't. Like you said, you wouldn't have bloody *said* it if you hadn't meant it."

"I..." Anger flared in Severus' eyes. So. This is how it was when he tried to apologize. James would still blame *him* and wouldn't be at fault for being a pompous jackass. Oh, no. No, no, no. "You bloody bastard," he hissed.

Startled, James turned surprised eyes to Severus, "Pardon?"

"You're a bloody bastard, Potter, and don't try and deny it!" Severus stalked to stand in front of him, eyes glowing nearly red with hatred as he stared down at the messy-haired Gryffindor. "You strut around with your trio of...of...idiotic prats and break every rule you can think of. Everyone fawns over you, even when *you* are the cause of something near disastrous. You're the "King" of Hogwarts and you have the actual bloody guts to act all shocked when someone tells you!"

With cold eyes, James coolly asked, "Snape?"

"What?" Severus snarled in response.

With a quick, searching glance, almost as if seeking some kind of hidden answer, James tilted his head and leaned the short distance in between the two and kissed him. It was light and tentative at first, burning anger fueling the morbid responses. When the kiss trailed off, leaving them gasping for breath, Severus could see the Gryffindor in his true colours. And maybe... Maybe those colours weren't as unbarable as he first thought.

***

"Ten points from Gryffindor," Severus Snape announced coolly, turning his dark eyes to the cauldron. He ignored the outraged cry from Harry Potter and turned his attention to the simmering blue liquid. It was near perfect, but he wouldn't let any of the Gryffindor students know that.

"Its the right colour," Hermione Granger interjected, but Severus waved her off with a look that spoke more volumes than one word could.

"Why?" Harry finally caught his attention, staring at him with burning hatred.

"Why?" Severus repeated, voice mocking the same angry, timid tone. He took his wand from his pocket and dipped it into the cooling liquid. He stirred it slowly, staring into the blue depths before acknowledging the student who looked so much like *him* that it was like seeing a double, "Its too thick, Potter, and that'll be another twenty points."

"Its always too thick," Harry muttered and glanced up sharply, a handful of bangs falling across his left eye, as the same sentence escaped Severus' lips. It had barely been a whisper, but he'd heard it.

And for one second, Severus found himself staring into the burning might night blue eyes of his first kiss, instead of the green eyes of James Potter's first love.