Before Harry Met Sevy

Chapter 11 Notes From Home

Severus' skills were carefully honed over the next few months, as he and Lucius continued to meet in the clearing. By the beginning of December, Severus had mastered the art of discretion, able to cast hexes at Sirius and James ( or the Dynamic Duo as he and Lily had dubbed them) without having been caught by a teacher once. They'd attempted to get him into trouble, of course, but couldn't prove that it had been he who'd cast the spell. The Dynamic Duo, however, seldom got away with cursing Severus, though they'd come up with some pretty nasty jinxes in their aggravation.

Lily, though not supportive of the feud between her housemates and Severus, said nothing to discourage her friend. The subject only produced more tension between the two, something which was becoming increasingly difficult to avoid. Severus, for his part, had begun to completely disregard his own dorm mates for the company of Lucius' group of friends, something Lily was also not very happy about.

"What if they're just using you?" she asked with concern one December afternoon. The two of them were sitting in the library, working on a particularly nasty Transfiguration essay. Somehow they'd gotten onto the topic of Severus' Slytherin friends yet again.

"They aren't using me, Lily. Do you think you're the only one who can stand me?" he retorted.

"I didn't mean that, Severus, and you know it," she chided softly. "I'm worried, that's all."

"Don't be," he snapped. "Lucius is my friend, whether you like him or not. Just like you are my friend, whether he likes it or not. Neither one of you are ever going to change my mind about the other."

"Fine," she sighed, turning back to her essay. "I just hope- never mind," she said quickly, seeing the way Severus' eyes were glittering. They attempted to do their homework again, but Severus found it impossible to focus. The fact that Lily was upset with him again played on his nerves, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling.

"Sorry," he muttered, turning back to his book.

"You don't have to keep apologizing every time we get into an argument," Lily said with a smile. "I know you mean what you said, and I do too. Let's just agree to disagree, okay?" He nodded, then grinned at her.

"I wrote to Uncle Sebastian last week," he told her. She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting her surprise.

"What made you do that?"

"I still haven't heard any news about Mum," he explained quietly. "Since I'm staying over for Christmas, I thought it'd be best to write him and find out how she's doing."

"I'm so glad you finally did it!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Lily!" he reprimanded, wiggling free from her grip. "Geroff me!" She laughed, earning a disapproving glare from Madam Pince.

"Come on," she said brightly. "Let's go outside. It's so lovely out!"

"Lovely?" he questioned as they gathered up their books. "There must be a foot of snow on the ground!"

"Don't be such a pessimist," she grinned as they reached the staircase. "I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall, okay?"

"What about our Transfiguration essay?" he called after her.

"Bring it with you, if you're so concerned!" she replied as she disappeared around the corner. Severus continued on down the stairs and into the Slytherin common room, well aware that if he brought his essay with him, Lily would see to it that it was soaked before he finished it. She seemed to delight in seeing him aggravated these days, though perhaps it was because it did seem to happen more often than before.

He retrieved his cloak and scarf from his bedside table, then decided to take his bag, just in case Lily decided to behave herself. Passing through the common room, he ignored the stares he inevitably drew from some of the older house members, and made his way up to the Entrance hall. As he stood near the door waiting for his friend, he spotted Kenoa flying down the stairs, a letter tied to his leg.

"Hullo," Severus greeted him softly as he untied the letter. Kenoa responded by pecking his ear affectionately, then taking off again towards the owlery. Just as Severus was beginning to unroll the parchment, Lily appeared beside him, breathless.

"I saw Kenoa. Is that Sebastian's reply?" she gasped.

"It must be, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet," Severus replied. The pair walked out onto the grounds, and headed for the edge of the lake, where Severus promptly unrolled his uncle's note:

Severus,

It distresses me that you waited so long to inquire after your mother. Does she truly mean that little to you? Do you honestly feel such a lack of love for the woman who gave you life?

As to your inquiry, Rebekah is doing well - as well as can be expected, I should say. It would do her good to hear from you, Severus. I urge you to send her a letter.

I have it on good authority that you have taken to associating with Lucius Malfoy, despite my words last August. Be careful, boy. Do not get in over your head, and you should do well.

Yours, Sebastian

Severus crumpled the note in his hand, his blood boiling. How was he supposed to feel about his mother? How would Sebastian have felt if he were in Severus' shoes? Lily put a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder, but he shrugged it away.

"What did it say?" she asked quietly. He thrust the letter into her hand and continued to glare out over the water as she read it.

"I'm not writing her," he said immediately. "If she's so bloody keen on speaking to me, she knows how to pick up a quill."

"Severus, that's not-"

"All right, Snivellus?" Severus shut his eyes against the rushing tide of anger that swept over him upon hearing James' taunt. He kept his back turned, his wand up his sleeve, just in case.

"Sod off, Potter," Lily said firmly. "I can tell you right now is not the time."

"Oh, look, Sirius! Snivelly's got himself a girlfriend. Isn't that sweet?"

"Sickening, more like," Sirius responded gleefully. "Evans, don't you know Gryffindors hate Slytherins?"

"Not always," Lily replied coolly. "Sometimes Gryffindors hate other Gryffindors as well." The boys stopped speaking, and Severus turned around to view their expressions. Both boys looked dumbstruck.

"See here," James demanded. "That was uncalled for!"

"Maybe we should teach her some manners," Sirius said darkly. "I've been itching to try out -" The words were not even past his lips before his head began to inflate, literally. James' soon followed suit, and the two boys looked at each other in alarm before turning on Severus.

"Perhaps you two should see Madame Pomfrey." The steely voice which came from the side startled all four children enough to cause them to jump slightly as they sought out the speaker. Professor Melison was studying the two Gryffindor boys, whose heads were inflating at an incredible rate, from a few feet away. "She will undoubtedly have a deflating draught at her disposal. I believe I restocked her supply just last week." The boys stayed rooted to the spot, unsure whether they wanted to follow Melison's orders or tell him off for interrupting."Off you go, boys." The tone of his voice left no further room for argument, and the duo headed up to the castle, shooting backwards glares at Severus and Lily the entire way. Lily grasped Severus' hand reassuringly as his Head of House turned his attention on them. "Miss Evans, would you kindly return to your dormitory? I wish to speak with Severus for a moment."

"I-I'd like to stay, if you don't mind, Professor," Lily stammered. Severus stared at her in amazement. Lily never disobeyed a teacher.

"I'll be alright," Severus assured her. She nodded uncertainly before glancing back at Professor Melison, then began to trudge back up to the castle.

"Severus, is everything all right?" Professor Melison inquired gently. Severus' gaze went from the retreating form of his friend to his Head of House.

"Fine, Sir," he answered tersely.

"Bad news?" Melison asked, indicating the letter that was lying on the ground at Severus' feet. The boy scooped it up and shoved it quickly into his pocket.

"No, just a letter from my uncle," he replied hastily.

"That was quite a reaction for 'just' a letter," he pointed out. Severus chose not to respond, focusing instead on the distant mountain peaks. "I saw that you were the first to volunteer to stay over the holidays. Any particular reason?" Severus shrugged.

"I prefer Hogwarts," he answered simply. And it isn't a lie, Severus thought to himself. I do prefer it here.

"Your home life must be very boring if you'd prefer a drafty old castle for your holidays," Melison observed. "I'd like to show you something, Severus. Would you mind accompanying me to my office?"

"Are you going to keep asking me about my problems?" Severus asked before thinking.

"Ah. You do admit that there are some problems, then?" Melison pressed as the pair began to walk back towards the school.

"What, you mean aside from the fact that Potter and Black find any and every excuse to try and make my life hell?" he spat bitterly. Melison chuckled dryly.

"Oh yes. No doubt you are a complete innocent in the whole affair?" the professor goaded.

"I - I, well that is -"

"No matter, son. I don't like how they fight. Two against one isn't fair odds in my book." Severus remained silent as they entered the hall, wondering exactly what Melison was fishing for. The pair continued on in silence until they reached Melison's office, where he offered Severus the same chair he'd been in on the second day of term. Severus accepted it, feeling slightly ill-at-ease. Melison rifled through some papers which were sitting on his desk before finding what he was looking for. He handed the paper to the boy, then perched on the edge of his desk and waited. Severus accepted the parchment, then frowned as he saw what it was.

"This is my last assignment," he stated.

"Yes, Severus, it is," Melison said simply. Severus waited for the man to elaborate, but when he did not, he cleared his throat.

"Was there something wrong with it, sir?" he asked.

"Not at all," Melison replied.

"Then why are you giving it to me now?" Severus asked, not bothering to conceal the frustrated confusion he felt.

"I would like for you to look over it for a moment," Melison prodded before handing him another sheaf of parchment. "And then I would like you to examine this essay, written by my top Ravenclaw student." Severus obediently examined his own paper, found nothing unusual, then turned to the Ravenclaw's essay. After reading it, he looked up at his Head of House.

"I don't understand," he admitted, handing the papers back to the professor. "They're both correct, aren't they?" Professor Melison sighed heavily as he placed the papers on his desk.

"For a bright boy, you don't pick up on things too quickly, do you Severus?" His sharp words caused the barely suppressed anger to flood through his body once again, and Severus fought the urge to tell the professor exactly where he believed he should go.

"Perhaps if you were a bit less vague," Severus goaded, "I would be able to pick up on whatever you're trying to prove."

"Perhaps if you were a bit more patient, the meaning would have become clear," Melison retorted sharply. "I brought you here, Severus, to ask you one thing: do you find my classes too easy for you?" The question took the boy by surprise, but he nevertheless shook his head.

"Not challenging, really, but not simple, either," Severus responded instantly.

"Truly?" Melison asked, holding up Severus' essay again. "I ask only because for every assignment, you do twice the required limit. For each essay I put to you, the response seems to flow effortlessly from your mind."

"Thank you?" Severus attempted, still not quite sure why his Head of House had brought him here.

"I do not give idle praise, Severus," Melison said coolly. "You are, by far, one of the brightest pupils I've had since beginning as Potions Master here."

"What about Potter and Black?" Severus spat, knowing they earned equally high marks in the class.

"I don't deny the two are smart. They certainly know all they can glean from reading the textbook. But you, Severus," Melison leaned forward eagerly, "you have a passion, a drive, unparalleled by any student I've seen. I thought perhaps the lessons I have chosen were too simple to hold your interests, and am therefore willing to allow you access to the volumes in this office, to peruse at your leisure. Supervised, of course," he added as an afterthought. "Some of the volumes in this room are too advanced, too dangerous for the rashness of youth." Severus looked around the room in awe, a wave of excitement replacing the earlier anger he'd held.

"You're going to allow me to read any of these I want?" Severus asked breathlessly.

"I am," Melison replied airily. "I do, however, have a few other questions for you." Severus did not respond - he had already risen from his seat to inspect the tomes which lined the room. He did not realize his professor had risen as well until he heard his voice speaking directly beside him. "This interest is quite unusual in one so young, Severus. I do admit I have had past pupils who, over time, develop an interest in potion making, but you -" He paused and looked down at the boy. Severus could see that he was intrigued, but also a bit confused. "-you came to Hogwarts with this passion, son. You demonstrated it in that first class. Why?"

"Why what, sir?" Severus asked, still examining the spines of the books.

"What made you take such an interest in Potions?" Severus' body stiffened, and his hand came to rest on the book it had been over. What should he say? He couldn't very well admit the reason behind his determination to brew perfect potions, and yet, perhaps he could.

"My uncle gave me a cauldron and a Potions book for my ninth birthday," Severus responded in what he hoped was an off-handed manner. His body relaxed slightly - he wasn't lying to the man, after all - and his hand resumed its exploration of the tomes.

"Indeed? Why Potions? Had you expressed interest in them before that point?"

"No," Severus answered, happy that he could actually be semi-honest with his Head of House. "I wanted to do real magic, to do curses and such. Uncle Sebastian told me Potions was the perfect way to begin, as it wouldn't get me into trouble with the Ministry."

"Wise move on his part," Melison muttered. "But you do know a fair amount about the Dark Arts, Severus. I've seen the things Potter and Black are sent to the hospital ward for." Severus' eyes snapped from the books in front of him to his professor's face.

"Yes, well -" he began slowly, "-I read all I could about them. I have a younger brother, you know." That's good, Severus thought with disdain. Let him think you wanted to curse your brother and not your father. Brilliant.

"It seems that you share a similar passion for your Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons."

"They're very interesting, sir, " Severus said quietly.

"I am sure that they are. Professor Burtram is a very capable teacher. You are avoiding my question, son."

"I'm not avoiding anything," Severus responded tightly. "What is it you want to know, Professor?"

"Why the interest in the Dark Arts? Your brother is barely out of diapers, you wouldn't have wanted to curse him. What interest could the Dark Arts hold for you?" Severus returned his gaze to the books and began leafing through one at random, determined not to relinquish his most private and personal affairs. "Severus," the professor prodded, "I'm waiting."

"I'm in Slytherin for a reason, aren't I, Professor?"

"What do you mean by that?" Melison asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"Slytherins are renowned for being really bad eggs, aren't they? I wouldn't want to disappoint everyone's preconceived ideas of what should interest me, sir."

"That isn't an answer, Severus."

"Why don't you tell me what it is you're expecting to hear, Professor, and I'll be sure to answer correctly."

"Why don't you simply tell me what's bothering you, son? I'm here to listen." Severus eyed him warily.

"Nothing's bothering me," he said flatly. "May I go now, sir?" Melison glanced down at him, his expression unreadable.

"Yes, Severus, you may go. My offer of these books remains, and remember, my door is always open if you wish to change your mind." Severus glanced over his shoulder as he left the office.

"Thank you, Professor," he mumbled as he closed the door behind him.

---

Severus returned to the common room, his mood pensive. Why was Professor Melison expressing such an interest in his affairs? Did he know more than he was letting on, and if he did, how did he know? He'd certainly not shared his secrets with any of his house mates, which left only Lily. She alone knew what he went through at home, but he knew it couldn't have been her. Unless she was trying to prove a point -

"Stop it," Severus muttered to himself.

"Talking to yourself is not advisable in public places." Severus smiled a welcome as Lucius approached him. "I saw that you signed on to stay over the holidays," Lucius drawled unconcernedly.

"Yes, I did," Severus confirmed. Why was everyone so interested in what he did over Christmas?

"That's a shame," Lucius droned on. "Now you won't be able to attend our little party. And after all that persuading I did so you'd be allowed."

"Party?" Severus frowned. "What party?"

"The annual Christmas party at the Malfoy estate," Lucius responded."I told Father all about you, and he is quite anxious to meet you again. That brief moment in Diagon Alley gave him no chance, and he would very much like to see you and your family there." Severus thought over his friend's words, then sighed.

"I suppose you'd be horribly distraught if I didn't show up," Severus said jokingly. "Honestly, though -" his words were cut short as his father's owl flew through the window, dropped a letter into his hand, then swept out once again. Severus unrolled the letter, surprised to see his father's handwriting.

It has come to my attention that you wish to stay over at school for the holidays. This is unacceptable. We have been asked to attend the Malfoy's Christmas party, and you will return in time to attend.

Take your name from that inane list immediately.

Severus looked up from the parchment, and grinned at Lucius. He had been about to say he didn't think his father would allow him to go, but here was a letter, no doubt intending to berate him, giving him permission. Standing, Severus strode to the list hanging on the bulletin board and scratched a line through his name.

"I'll be there," he announced triumphantly.