The Darker Edge

Chapter One : Snape's Worst Day    

It was a beautiful day. The sun shone down brightly, reflecting against the rippling surface of the lake. Even the grass was bright and lush.

    A group of students still dressed in their black school robes stood in a circle around a dark figure that the floating in midair and hanging upside down. The face of the hanging student was purple with rage and humiliation. He clutched desperately at his robes, frantically trying to rescue them from the forces of gravity. His attempt was unsuccessful, however, and the robes slid down, revealing thin, pale legs with knobby knees. The cluster of students erupted into peals of laughter, pointing at the scrawny figure and his grey underpants.

    Severus Snape made another desperate attempt to conceal his body, glaring at the crowd of giggling students with a look that could kill. His hands were clenched into tight, bloodless fists, the knuckles white. He was seething with rage. His lank black hair hung in his face, obscuring his vision, and he wished that he could disappear from sight. The thought of the ground opening up to swallow him was a comforting one.

    A girl with brown curls shrieked in laughter, elbowing a chubby blonde beside her. Hufflepuff, Severus thought with intense hatred. He glared at the girls, and then made another desperate grab at his robe.

    Something sharp hit Severus directly in the face, and he looked over in the direction it had come from, craning his neck to see. There was a Knut lying on the ground. Severus turned until he saw Sirius Black, lounging causally against the grass.

    "Black," Severus declared in a hateful warning voice. He glared.

    Sirius Black fluttered one hand in Severus's direction. "Snivellus!" he said brightly. "Now don't thank me, even if a Knut is more then you're worth." He grinned brightly, showing off white teeth. His eyes sparkled, and several of the girls in the crowd, and more then one of the young men, turned to admire Sirius instead of watching Severus's public humiliation. It was true that Sirius was extremely good looking, and combined with his casual demeanor and friendly attitude he was considered quite a catch. Severus glared, his eyes shooting daggers. He turned to look at Sirius's companions.

    "Look at those legs, ladies," Sirius joked, indicating Severus's pale, thin limbs. He whistled. "Er, on the other hand, don't." More laughter burst from the crowd.

    James Potter was standing, holding a wand out in Severus's direction. He was also quite handsome. His face was open and honest looking, and his black hair, though untidy, had a sexy look to it as though he had just rolled out of bed. His eyes shone with pleasure. The only flaw on his face was a deep cut along one cheek, where Severus had cursed him. "You ready to play nice, Sevvie?"

    Severus growled. He caught the eye of Remus Lupin, the prefect. The young man had sandy blonde hair, somewhat shaggy, and an inquisitive, pleasant face. Although Severus hated Remus as well, he knew the prefect would be duty bound to set him loose. Remus glanced up from the book he was reading and caught Severus's gaze. He stared for a moment, neither laughing with the crowd nor making any move to help Severus, and then he turned back to his book, looking nervous. Remus, at the same age as his friends, had significantly more conscience.

    “Potter,” Severus growled, seething with fury. “When I get down from here…”

    James held up a hand, waving away the threat carelessly. Something dark flickered in James Potter’s eyes and he grinned maliciously, looking more like a Slytherin then a friendly Gryffindor.

    “What are you going to do, Snivellus?” he mocked, using Sirius Black’s pet name for Severus. “Are you going to come after me? You and what army?”

    The crowd surrounding Severus burst into laughter right on cue. Severus made a desperate lunge and managed to pull his robes up over his thighs. To the crowd his face betrayed no emotion but anger, but inside Severus was terrified. There was nothing worse to him then humiliation, public humiliation at that. He glared at James as the taunt sunk in. It was true, Severus Snape had no friends. There were his fellow Slytherin’s, of course, but Slytherin house did not emphasize loyalty. None of them would come to his aid.

    “I think Severus needs a little motivation to make him apologize,” said Sirius mockingly. He plucked a dandelion from the ground and twirled it absent-mindedly between his fingers. Then he sat up, tossing the flower aside. Several girls had a discreet and silent fight over who would get to keep it. “Something that will teach him a lesson.”

    “What lesson?” Severus demanded, trying to sound dignified and above it all, which was difficult given his position. “Black, I’m warning you.”

    Sirius laughed out loud; an action that was followed by his fans. “Oh, I’m terrified, not that I’d put it past you to curse me when my back was turned. Ever the low, sneaky Slytherin, eh Snivellus?” He looked at James. “Do it.”

    “Do…oh,” James nodded, grinning wickedly. “All right.”

    “No!” shouted Severus, abandoning all dignity. ‘I’m sorry, all right? I’ll say it.”

    James lowered the wand. “Say you’re sorry for calling my girl a Mudblood.”

    “She isn’t your girl,” Severus snapped. He caught sight of James raising the wand. “I’m…sorry.” He spat the words furiously. “Now let me down!”

    “And say that you’re a slimy, greasy, lazy git,” Sirius suggested, grinning easily. Beside him Remus was looking worried.

    Severus stared, his mouth firmly closed.

    “Do it,” insisted James, advancing. He held his wand several inches from Severus’s prominent nose. “Say it, Snivellus, or I’ll take off your underwear and give all the girls a sight.”

    “Not that there’s anything to see!” Sirius chimed in, smirking.

    Remus cleared his throat and gave James a warning look, obviously implying that he was concerned this was going too far. James shrugged.

    “Do something, won’t you? You make a piss poor prefect!” Severus hissed between gritted teeth.

    Remus turned, surprised. “Pardon me?” He looked at James and shrugged. “Go ahead and do it then. He deserves it.”

    “That’s my man,” Sirius said joyfully, clapping Remus on the back. The crowd snickered, some of them copying Sirius and throwing Knuts at Severus, whistling and clapping.

    A tall young man with long, silvery blonde hair stepped out from the circle. His Nordic features were quite handsome, as were his eyes. His expression however seemed quite cold. He stood with perfect posture, towering over many of his fellow students. A hint of a smile played at the edges of his mouth, but when he spoke he was very serious.

    “Severus,” he said calmly, taking in the sight. He shook his head slightly. “What have you gotten yourself into?”

    “Back off, Malfoy, unless you want to join him up there,” hissed James. “He insulted Lily Evans and tried to curse me. He’s getting what he deserves.”

    Lucius Malfoy raised an eyebrow. “You don’t say. Severus has always been a bit impulsive, haven’t you Severus?” He glanced at the young man hanging in the circle and smirked slightly. “How many times have you been told to restrain yourself?”

    “This doesn’t concern you, Malfoy,” Severus declared coldly. He made a grab for his robe, wishing that Potter would just do Avada Kedavra and get done with it.

    “Oh, but I think it does,” Lucius corrected calmly. He did not seem bothered by Severus’s rudeness, not by the gaping crowd of students. “You are a Slytherin, after all, and I refuse to associate our noble history with someone in, er, your position. You are bringing disgrace to our house, and I cannot allow it.”

    Sirius Black laughed; his expression jovial. “Slytherin, noble? Who do you think you’re kidding Malfoy?”

    Lucius’s eyes flickered over Sirius. “Mr. Black, how lovely. Certainly, if anyone knows about nobility it’s the heir of an ancient pureblood house such as yours. Too bad you saw fit to abandon the values of your family and associate with” – he spared Remus a glance – “such types.”

    Sirius leapt to his feet, his wand in hand. “Back away, Malfoy, or you can join Snivellus.”

    “I think not,” Lucius responded calmly. He took out his own wand, but instead of dueling with Sirius he flicked it in Severus’s direction. Immediately, Severus fell to the ground, bruising his knees. He jumped up and grabbed for his wand, lying a few feet away.

    “Don’t even think about it, Snape,” said Remus, who aimed his wand at Severus. “Get back in the castle. Your friend can bring it for you.”

    Severus considered this for a moment, and decided to go take refuge in the Slytherin common room. He had experienced enough torture and humiliation for one day. As he stomped off he shot furious looks at the crowd of students, who were openly laughing at him.

    “Leave, Malfoy,” said Remus. “There are three of us and only one of you.” He conveniently ignored their friend Peter Pettigrew, who would be of no assistance. The boy with beige hair and a frightened expression sat on the ground, watching his friends in awe.

    Lucius waved his hand. “Do calm yourself, Lupin. I’m on my way.” He bent and picked up the wand Severus had left behind, examining it for a moment before stowing it in his robes. “Good day.”

    “Good day, Malfoy,” Remus replied through gritted teeth. The others said nothing. James was still looking violent, and Sirius disappointed, as though he had been denied a real treat. Peter looked relieved.

    After a few moments the crowd dispersed and returned to their various activities. Sirius threw himself back down onto the grass and Remus resumed reading, shooting occasional wary looks in the direction of the castle. He was a bit nervous that someone would come out and reprimand him. He was a prefect after all, and that was supposed to mean protecting all students, not just his friends. It was very difficult for him to keep his friends in line, however. Whenever he tried, Sirius managed to quiet him down with a teasing glance that made Remus feel he was being too pompous.

    “Too bad Malfoy had to show up,” Sirius declared. “We could have had some real fun.”

    James nodded. “Oh, Severus hasn’t seen the last of me yet. I’ve had it with him always cursing me in the halls, and his pureblood idiocy gets on my nerves.”

    “You should hear my mother,” Sirius joked. He altered his voice to sound high pitched and booming. “You can’t trust those Muggle-borns! All they want to do is pollute the blood line! They ought to be killed!”

    James burst out laughing. “I don’t know how you stand it. I’d try to strangle her!”

    “You think I haven’t tried?” Sirius said, deadpan. “Pure wizard blood, of all the stupid concepts! What’s so noble about being inbred?”

    Remus smirked, slamming his book closed. “Oh, you can’t take Snape too seriously. He’s grown up hearing all that pure blood propaganda. It isn’t his fault that he bought into it.”

    “I’ve heard it since I was born, and I never believed a word of it,” Sirius declared. “I like Muggle-born girls.”

    “Your mother will never let you marry a Muggle-born,” James predicted.

    “I’d like to see her stop me. I’m not going to have a wife who happens to be my cousin. Maybe I’ll marry a Muggle, a real one with no magic.”

    “Lily Evans has a Muggle sister,” James noted, laughing. “We’d be brothers.”

    Sirius shoved him. “Like you’ll ever get Lily Evans. Not a chance. I’ll bet fifty galleons on that.”

    Severus Snape rushed towards the castle, his fists clenched with unspent fury. More then anything, he wanted to shout the Unforgivable Curses at James Potter and Sirius Black. Maybe the worthless prefect Lupin as well. It would be nice to watch them all screaming in pain, perhaps nude and hanging helplessly in front of a crowd of onlookers.

    He gritted his teeth, pushing roughly past the people in his way, his face still burning from humiliation. How dare they! Severus had always been fond of the Dark Arts, a subject not taught in Hogwarts, but he had never desired to inflict curses as badly as he did at that minute. No amateur Jelly Legs Jinx; no, he craved real power, real pain. How nice it would be to wipe the smile off of Sirius Black’s face.

    The castle was mostly empty; it was a nice day and classes were out for the evening. Everyone was studying up for their next O.W.L.. Severus was pleased about that, at least. All he wanted was to be left alone to lick his wounds and plot revenge. As he brushed down the hallway he caught sight of Lily Evans.

    She looked at him, her eyes red from crying. Severus opened his mouth to say something, though he wasn’t sure what.

    “Evans...”

    She threw a hateful look his way. “Keep moving, Snape.”

    “Look, I,”

    “Whatever,” she declared angrily and stormed up the stairs.

    Severus watched her go, unsure of how he felt. She was a Mudblood, a Muggle-born girl. What did he care what she thought? She was beneath him in class; a whole different strata. No one in the Snape family paid the slightest attention to Muggle-borns. They weren’t even human in the eyes of Severus’ great-grandparents. His grandmother considered them like pets; interesting to torment perhaps but not worth ones time.

    It was difficult for Severus to feel that way about Lily, however. Perhaps it was because she was bright and intelligent. She never struggled for answers or spent the class periods changing notes with her friends. Unlike most girls, whom Severus found annoying, Lily was not prone to empty-headed giggling or gossiping. She was also pretty, although she didn’t come off as self-absorbed or obsessed with her looks.

    Severus shook his head, trying to clear his mind of thoughts. What did he care of Evans? If James Potter was interested in her, Severus wanted nothing to do with her. Not, he assured himself, that he would consider concerning himself with a Mudblood.

    The Slytherin common room was empty when he arrived. The dark room, decorated in baroque style, featured a blazing fireplace, but Severus was in no mood for comforting warmth. He wanted darkness and a quiet place to stew on his feelings of immense hatred.

    As he climbed the stairs Severus remembered that Lily Evans had been the only one who tried to stop James from torturing him. He blushed, remembering the hateful look she had thrown at James. Did she actually care what happened to him? Severus thought not. She was just putting James in his place, which he well deserved. There was no possibility that a smart, pretty girl like Lily would be at all concerned with Severus.

    It wasn’t that he was ugly, Severus knew. He was not gorgeous the way Sirius Black was; there was no casual sensuality in his stride, no playful grin on his lips. Severus understood that his nose was prominent and hooked and that his skin was slightly sallow, but he was not revolting to the eye. His black hair, the same cut as Sirius Black’s, was attractive, and his dark eyes were soulful and deep. He was not as tall as Lucius Malfoy, and he had a tendency to hunch over a bit as if trying to hide, but he was not any shorter then James, who many girls adored.

    The problem did not lie in his abilities either. Severus was an excellent student who received top marks in nearly every class. He was studious and talented, especially in Potions. His nose was often buried in a book, as he loved to read. He even knew thirty languages; none of which had been taught to him by a Hogwarts professor. Although Severus had never been skillful at sports he did move with grace and was a fast learner at nearly everything he tried.

    No, the problem was a result of his attitude. Severus had no self-esteem. Growing up in a violent, temperamental household had wreaked havoc on his emotional development. Despite being born a pureblood wizard to a noble family, his childhood had been nothing but endless criticism. Nothing he did was right. His mother had often shrieked that he would amount to nothing. His father had called him a Squib, despite his ability to develop fabulous new potions.     

    Before even starting school he had understood more about Dark Arts then most seventh year students, but had that mattered to the elder Snape’s? Not at all. They found fault in his every action and missed no chance to insult him further.

    As he threw himself across his bed, Severus told himself that it hadn’t been his mother’s fault. She had been abused by his violent, emotional father. The screaming matches had gone on for days. Sometimes his father would come home reeking of Ogden’s Old Firewhisky or some other drink and wake up his wife only to start cursing her. The sight of his mother tottering around with the FGOTOBUTTON Tarantallegra_35_Tarantallegra Tarantallegra curse on her had been bad, but other times had been worse. When at the height of rage, the elder Mr. Snape had been keen on Unforgivable curses. Severus had occasionally woken up to pitiful, ear-splitting screams as his mother suffered the Cruciatus curse. On those nights he had always tried to help her, and ended up suffering alongside, experiencing the worst sorts of pain and wishing for death until his father relented or grew bored.

    Severus forced himself to put away those thoughts. He was at school, away from his half-mad pure blood family. The thought brought him little comfort, and his heart sank when he considered that sometime soon he would have to face the whole school. Only a fraction of the students had been present for his torture, but the story would no doubt spread like wildfire. His parents had been right. He was an embarrassment.

    “Severus?”

    Severus groaned, recognizing the voice instantly. It was the haughty, clipped tones of Lucius Malfoy, the Slytherin darling. His parents were close friends with Severus’s own, and as a result Severus had been hearing the virtues of Lucius since early childhood. Lucius was like the son Severus’s own parents had never had; proud, tall, and elegantly beautiful. They had often complained loudly about their bad luck; being stuck with a greasy haired, silent son instead of a lovely, attentive boy like Lucius.

    “What do you want, Malfoy?” Severus called.

    Lucius Malfoy stepped into the dormitory and pulled the green bed hangings aside. “Must you lay there, wallowing in misery, Severus?”

    “Yes, I must. What is it?”

    “Your wand. I was kind enough to retrieve it for you,” Lucius answered. He twirled the wand briefly between his fingers, admiring it, and then set it on the bed. “You could thank me.”

    “Thank you,” murmured Severus, lying face down in his pillow.

    Lucius sighed dramatically. “Severus, if you would sit up please, I need to talk with you.”

    “Can we please rehash the incident later Lucius? Begging your pardon, but I’d like to be alone a bit. I did just suffer the worst humiliation of my life.”

    “Now, aren’t you being a bit dramatic? It was hardly torture at the hands of Azkaban guards now was it? You have injured nothing but your pride, but that is what I wanted to speak to you about,” Lucius explained. He cleared his throat impatiently. “Severus!”

    “Not the worst? I was hanging in the air, upside down I might add, with my shorts showing. I call that torture,” Severus declared emphatically, peeking out from the pillow to glare. “Can you save your lecture on Slytherin pride for another time?”

    Lucius cleared his throat again. “I’m afraid not. Sit up, or I’ll write you up.”

    “Empty threats,” Severus retorted, but he sat up nonetheless, wanting to get the ordeal over with. “Just because you’re a prefect, Malfoy, doesn’t mean I have to care what you say. We go back longer then that. If you write me up, I’ll tell everyone about the time you wet the bed while sleeping over.”

    “That is meant to concern me?” Lucius questioned smugly.

    “Well, you were eleven at the time,” Severus reminded him.

    Lucius paled slightly, but his upbringing did not allow him to lose composure so easily. “I assure you that if you take such drastic action, I might return the same.”

    “Such as?” Severus asked. “Things can’t get much worse for me.”

    “I can tell Potter and Black the password to our common room, some dark night when you’ve gone to sleep early,” Lucius taunted.

    “You wouldn’t,” Severus gasped. He met Lucius’s eyes. “You would. Carry on then Malfoy. What’s the lecture this time?”

    “You are always so gloomy, Severus,” criticized Lucius. He looked critically at Severus. “Ever so moody. No wonder you find it so difficult to develop a normal social life here.”

    “So it’s on my emotional state,” Severus responded, sounding bored. “Some of us aren’t as pert as you. I tend to have other concerns, such as grades.”

    Lucius made a disgusted face. “The obsession you have with books is quite distasteful, Severus. They are fine in their place, but isn’t it time you discovered women?”

    “Why, so they can laugh at me at every interval?” Severus spat. “All I need is more idiotic, empty-headed Hufflepuff girls giggling every time I walk by.”

    “Then don’t choose a girl from Hufflepuff. It’s a foolish idea anyway. You would do well with a girl of our own social standing. Someone with pure blood, someone with a good history, from a good family, who sees things the way we do.”

    “I can’t stand the Slytherin girls. They are all so, contemptuous,” Severus declared. “Not to mention that half of them can’t read their way out of a paper bag. I guess inbreeding isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

    “You sound like Sirius Black,” Lucius replied, wrinkling his nose. “There’s another poor fool who wants to sacrifice his heritage for nothing, just to be spiteful. I know that your relationship with Mum and Dad hasn’t gone so well. That’s no reason to renounce your bloodlines. You’re a pure blood wizard, Severus, you ought to be proud. Not many anymore can say their line has not been tainted.”

    “Hmm,” Severus responded. He was thinking of Lily Evans, the Muggle born girl. She came from a non-magical family, but that had not interfered with her brains and ability, or her beauty. She seemed happy enough too, unlike Severus who was weighted down with history.

    Lucius seemed disgruntled by Severus’s refusal to see his point. “It’s a matter of Slytherin pride, Severus. You must understand that when the other students watch you suffer at the hands of Potter and his friends, it makes them doubt the value of wizard blood. It reflects badly on the house as a whole.”

    “And what is it you want me to do, Lucius? Kill Potter? I would gladly do it, of course, but watching a pure blood wizard being dragged off to Azkaban might be poor for morale,” Severus snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

    Lucius sighed deeply. “Severus, do you try to be obstinate?”

    Severus did not respond. He lay back down on the bed, staring at the silken hangings. The atmosphere of the Slytherin dormitory suited him well. Lanterns blazed with golden firelight. The dark wood paneled walls featured moving paintings. His favorite was of a ship, sailing in the mist, but he quite liked another which showed a group of horsemen ransacking a village. The peasants ran in fear as the houses burned. Severus thought it must be quite boring to relive the attack on the village over and over again, but the participants seemed to enjoy it. At the end of the evening conquerors and villagers alike sat down to eat and choose goods from the spoils.

    Lucius made a point of sighing louder. “Severus, I expect that you will try to improve the situation between you and Potter in some reasonable way. While I have no grudge against open hostility, I do object to having one of my Slytherin’s hanging with their underwear exposed in public. If you can’t fight Potter then surrender.”

    Severus tossed his pillow at Lucius with all the force he could muster. Lucius regarded him coldly and left the room, his chin high with pride. Severus flopped back down on the mattress, annoyed.

    Moments later several of his dorm mates trooped in, laughing and sharing jokes.

    “Well, I hate Gryffindor but you have to admit it was funny...”

    “Hilarious! After seeing those legs, my girlfriend thinks I’m built!”

    “That grease ball, he deserved it. I asked him for help in Potions and he said no.”

    “You asked if I would let you cheat off of my paper, Lestrange,” Severus hissed, glancing up. “Is it my fault you’re too stupid to prepare a decent truth serum?”

    The boys paled as they saw him and shifted nervously. Finally the short blonde one spoke.

    “We were just kidding around, er, Severus,” he said in a shaky voice that betrayed his fear.

    Severus stared at him. “Whatever you say, Baddock. I’ll just be kidding around when I tell Dumbledore that you’ve the one behind the broom hexes. He was pretty mad when Ravenclaw lost just because their brooms bucked them off.”

    The boy paled. He shot his friends a look and they retreated out of the dorm, clomping loudly on the steps.

    Severus yanked the hangings around his bed closed, blocking out external light. He withdrew several candles from under his pillow and magicked them into the air, lighting them in the process. Alone in a cozy environment of his own, Severus allowed himself to relax.