Slytherin Pride

He still couldn't believe he had said that. Of all the stupid things! he berated himself. Yes, he would rather die than have a girl defend him against his worst enemy, especially a girl he rather fancied, but she was only trying to help. He could see now that she had meant no harm. If only I had held my tongue, I could have played on her sympathy, and would have had a perfect opening for my plan. Severus buried his head under the pillow and groaned quietly. Now his chances were ruined, all because he couldn't keep his mouth shut.

He had been thinking about her all year, ever since they bumped into each other on the train. She had grown over the summer, and his stomach had given a funny little jump as they apologised and she smiled at him. After she left to sit with her friends, he had found an empty compartment and stared out the window, envisioning the possibilities if only he could ask her out.

As one term rolled into the next, he was constantly thwarted. He couldn't bear to ask her with her friends around, he had to get her alone, but they seemed to move in a pack. From one lesson to the next, in the library, even at meals, there was always a gaggle of giggling girls around her to destroy his nerves. By summer term, he was quite convinced that they did it on purpose, much like small animals when a predator is nearby.

The last Hogsmeade weekend before end of term would be this coming weekend. He had finally decided last night to corner her after the exam, to invite her to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. It was the only reason he had gone out onto the grounds after the exam instead of back to the Slytherin common room. He had spent several precious minutes looking over his exam paper to steel his nerves before getting up to go over to her. All he had wanted was to have a little celebration after OWLs were finished, and now this.

It was all Black and Potter's faults, he decided. If they hadn't attacked him, provoked him, a lifetime of training would not have erupted from his mouth when she defended him. She had been magnificent in her rage, though. Even amidst his embarrassment, he remembered the inner fire, a perfect match for her hair, as it flared at Potter. And to face down Black and Potter, that took courage. She was a true Gryffindor in all her glory.

But therein was the problem. She was a Muggle-born Gryffindor. He was a pureblood Slytherin. What would he face if the rest of his House knew he fancied a Gryffindor of no wizard family? "Mudblood lover" would be the least of the catcalls. No wonder it had taken him so long to summon the courage to ask her out, and now he would never have the chance. Why would she want to associate with someone who called her a Mudblood? What could she ever see in him after that?

Especially after Potter asked her out, he fumed. Even if it was to blackmail her, even if she had refused, it would only be a matter of time before she agreed. This was yet another reason to hate Potter, who always got what he wanted, the best of everything. The best at Quidditch, the best in lessons, teacher's pet, and Dumbledore's Gryffindor golden boy who could do no wrong -- Potter had a gift for charming everyone to have his way. Potter would certainly like to have his way with Lily, the way he had been looking at her. He would charm his way into her life, into her heart, and ...

Inwardly Severus cursed his family, his House, and his life. The very first day he had entered the Slytherin common room, the Head of House told the new students that they would make their true friends in Slytherin. True enough, he recalled with a pang of regret. No one else would have them, not with their more than magical than thou, pureblood, Slytherin pride.

FIN