Before Harry Met Sevy

Chapter 25: Perfecting the Theory
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As the time for Severus' first Occlumency lesson drew closer, Pandora Pendleton was pushed further and further from his mind. He found himself trying to remember the key points of the book he'd read, and by the time he entered Melison's office, was convinced he would impress his Head of House.

His spirits sank slightly as he spotted the parchment and quill on a table in front of where his professor sat.

"I thought we were beginning our lessons," he said as he sat in the chair, hoping the paper was not for him.

"Indeed we are," Melison replied, "and your first task is to demonstrate how well you've read that book. If you've not understood what you've read, or not retained it - we will not make much progress in your practical lessons." Though Severus was not at all swayed by Melison's point, he was sure he'd pass the exam with flying colors. When Severus handed the sheet to his professor, he was slightly surprised by the shaking of Melison's head.

"It is obvious you've read the text, but it seems as though you haven't grasped the central idea behind Occlumency. Your assignment for our next lesson is to re-read the text, and try to see the idea behind the words. You must perfect the theory before you can succeed."

Now thoroughly disgruntled - he'd hardly expected a lesson in theory - Severus picked up his bag to go.

"And Severus, work on clearing your mind of all thought. Do it sporadically, although I would advise against attempting it during your classes. Be prepared to defend your mind on Wednesday."

With a grin, Severus nodded, and then hurried to the library to meet Narcissa. He hoped this trailing wouldn't take too long - he wanted to be sure he was ready for Melison's next lesson.

"It's about time," Narcissa snapped as he took the seat across from her . "I've been looking through these for ages!" She swept her arm over the table to indicate the mountains of books which lay open. "This is all I've found," she said with a sigh. Severus took the proffered book, and glanced at the title.

"A potion to make her glow? Don't you think she'd notice?"

"Then this one," Narcissa growled, grabbing the book from his hands and replacing it with a larger one.

"The Linking Charm," he read. "Allows the caster to use his wand to track from a safe distance by first casting on the being to be tracked, then allowing the wand to point the caster in the direction of the being." He looked up at Narcissa. "That sounds all right, doesn't it?"

"It's all rubbish, really," she sighed.

"I know someone who does really well in Charms," Severus offered hesitantly. Maybe if I ask her-"

"You don't mean that trashy little mudblood?" she asked incredulously.

"Lily is not-"

"Slytherins see to things themselves, Severus. Without the help of a mudblood."

"Maybe you should see to this yourself, then." he snapped, pushing the chair from the table. Narcissa made no move to stop him as he stormed from the library and back to his dormitory. None of his dormmates were there, and as he lay in his bed fuming, he decided that the next person to walk through the door was going to be hexed. The door creaked, and without glancing over, he sent a stinging hex to the intruder.

"Your aim is off," Lucius noted dryly. Severus made no move to respond, and continued to glare at the ceiling. "You're acting like a petulant child, Severus. This is how things are, how they've always been. It is not a wise decision to alienate yourself from your housemates. You'll find that holding your tongue will benefit you more often than not. And one last thing," he said, lowering his voice. "You would do well to begin following orders now. It will prove to be of value in the coming years."

"What are you talking about?" Severus asked, now staring at the older boy.

"Severus, it's obvious you've grown on me somewhat. I count you as a friend, which I'm sure you realize doesn't happen often. Trust me for now. Everything will be clear in time. And then, I will make certain you aren't left behind. But you must work with me now, Severus. Go back and work with Narcissa, and leave Evans out of it. This is a Slytherin tradition. Don't bring an outsider in - it will only bring trouble." When Severus remained silent, the older boy turned and left.

It seemed as though he laid there for hours before he made the decision to rejoin Narcissa. As he wandered back to the library, he wondered if he was giving in too easily. What was this mysterious future Lucius kept referring to? Whatever it was, Severus felt sure he would have to cooperate to find out.

"Back because of Lucius' wrath?" Narcissa remarked with a thin smile.

"He wasn't angry," Severus replied, grabbing an open book she'd pushed off to the side.

"I've already been through that one twice," she scoffed.

"Maybe we need to think a bit differently. Not use a tracking charm, I mean. What if we did something like this: Inconcior Lapsius? It looks like a clumsiness charm. If she kept tripping or knocking things over, she'd be easier to follow, right?"

"I think that's brilliant!" Narcissa announced, eliciting a smug grin from the boy. "Until tomorrow evening then? First years have Charms last. We can try it out then."

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Severus was relieved the following day when he realized he wouldn't have to see Lily until the afternoon. He knew that she wouldn't be happy about what Lucius had told him, but still he felt a twinge of guilt at keeping it from her. He tried to suppress the feeling that he was wrong as the bell rang to mark the end of his Charms class. The first year Slytherins were due in next, and he quickly made up a question to discuss with Flitwick in order to observe Pandora when she arrived. Luckily, one of the less bright Hufflepuffs was already speaking to the Professor, giving Severus a chance to watch each arrival.

Pandora came in with the other first years a few moments later, and took the seat furthest from the first year Hufflepuffs, all of which had already arrived. That should please Lucius, he thought as he saw her glare at a newcomer attempting to take the empty seat beside her.

"Was there something you needed, Mister Snape?" Severus turned around to see that the witless Hufflepuff had gone, and Professor Flitwick studying him carefully.

"I think I've found the answer to my question, Professor," he answered with another glance at Pandora. She had been staring at him, and as their eyes locked, a chill went down his spine as he likened her gaze to his baby sister's.

"Very well," Flitwick prodded, glancing at his watch. "You'd best be off, then, or you'll be late for your next class." Severus nodded distractedly, then left, feeling Pandora's eyes on him all the while.

The bell rang to mark the beginning of the last class well before Severus had made it down to Professor Burtram's classroom. When he finally reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, all eyes turned to him as he slid into his seat. He said a silent thanks that it was again a Gryffindor-free day - his group of tormenters would have been sure to use his tardiness to their advantage.

After a look of annoyance from Professor Burtram, the class continued on in its normal fashion. When the bell rang to end the day, Severus made his way over to his beckoning professor.

"Tardiness is hardly a new vice," Professor Burtram began, "though for one of my most advanced pupils, I expect there was a very good reason?"

"I had to stay after in Charms, to ask Professor Flitwick about an assignment," Severus explained quickly, wanting to get back to the Charms classroom where he knew Narcissa would be waiting on him.

"Then Professor Flitwick gave you a pass, I presume?"

"Er - no, sir. I thought I had enough time." Professor Burtram sniffed derisively.

"Apparently, you were mistaken. Were it not for the fact that this is your first offense, you would most definitely be losing house points, Snape. As it is, a detention shall prove sufficient. Wednesday evening at six - and do try to be punctual."

"But, Sir," Severus protested immediately, "I have an advanced lesson with Professor Melison on Wednesday evening."

"Detention over-rides extra lessons, Mr. Snape. I expect this will keep you punctual in the future. You may go." Wanting to protest, but knowing it would do no good, Severus hurried away towards Charms. When he arrived, the first years were nowhere to be found, and neither was Narcissa. Knowing that she was sure to be cross with him, he went back to the stairwell, intent on finding the pair.

"Severus!" At the sound of his name, he turned around, surprised to see Lily standing at the top of the stairs. She hurried down, smiling as she reached him.

"So? I didn't see you last night. How was your first lesson?"

"I wouldn't exactly call it a lesson," Severus replied tersely, an odd feeling of unease suddenly spreading over him. "It was more like a quiz." He paused, and she stared at him, expecting him to continue. "I've got to write Uncle Sebastian," he muttered, taking the stairs two at a time.

"What's wrong?" Lily asked, trying to keep up with him.

"I don't know." He shook his head - what was wrong? Then it struck him - he felt as he had when Pandora had been staring at him - as he did whenever Sabine stared at him. "Something's wrong with Sabine," he said tersely. Since he wasn't altogether taken with the new addition to his family, his brotherly concern seemed to come from out of nowhere. Lily seemed to understand, or was at least startled enough that she stopped following him.

"Find me after dinner?" she called down the stairs. He nodded briefly before disappearing around the corner, down the stairs to the common room. The boy was detained at the entrance, as Narcissa spotted him and hurried over.

"She's in her dorm," she confided in a low voice. It took a moment for Severus to understand who she was talking about, but then he remembered Pandora. "When she comes out, we'll test out that charm."

"What about the amulet?" he asked quickly, hoping he'd have time to send the letter.

"We won't have to worry about that," she answered with a conspiratorial wink. Severus wondered for a moment what she meant by it, but quickly pushed it from his mind as he proceeded to his own dorm to write to his uncle.

Sebastian ~

I know you'll think me childish, but I've had the strangest feeling that something at home isn't quite right. Write to me with any news that concerns me.

~Severus

Severus rolled the parchment and sealed it, then stuck it in his robes and hurried out the door. As he reached the common room, he saw Pandora slipping out of the door.

"The spell's all set," Narcissa whispered from behind him. "We'll give her a few moments, and then we'll follow." Her voice held a strange note of glee, causing Severus' brow to furrow. Narcissa quickly performed stealth charms on them both, and then they followed the first year through the door. Severus was surprised to see that she was barely to the foot of the stairs. She was walking carefully, as though she was concerned about her balance being off.

The stealth charm combined with the clumsiness curse made it fairly simple for the pair to trail the girl up to the owlery. Narcissa and Severus glanced at each other.

"We need to see what she's up to," Narcissa hissed.

"Sending a letter, perhaps?" Severus retorted. She rolled her eyes and stared up the staircase, both of them waiting behind a tapestry in a hidden corridor.

After more than ten minutes had passed, she nudged him.

"Go up and see what she's doing," she ordered. Severus nodded, thankful he had the letter to his uncle stashed in his robes. As he entered the tower, he felt the strange sensation of eyes on him once again.

"Why are you spying on me?" Pandora stepped from the shadows beneath the owls' roost.

"I'm not," he quickly lied.

"Then what are you doing here?" she demanded.

"Sending a letter," he remarked casually, withdrawing the parchment and calling to Kenoa.

"He's very pretty," Pandora remarked. Severus arched an eyebrow as Kenoa flew out a window.

"Well, he is," she repeated, apparently unperturbed by his stare.

"I don't see a letter in your hands," he remarked.

"That's because I've just sent it. Not that it's any of your business, mind." Severus smirked. This girl would definitely be a match for Lucius.

"Are you just going to stand there all day?" she asked after a moment.

"Are you?"

"Why is Lucius even thinking about adding me to your little clique?" She sounded hurt, almost angry, as though consideration for the group were a bad thing. Severus shrugged.

"Well," he began as she continued to stare at him, "I'll be off now."

"Bully for you," she teased, crossing the room to look out the window. If Severus had turned to leave, he wouldn't have seen anything. But instead, he chose to stare after her for a moment, and he saw everything. As she stepped to the edge of the window, her foot bent beneath her, and she began to fall. Severus felt as though everything were going in slow motion as he saw her grab for the edge, her eyes pleading with his for help before they vanished behind the wall. He rushed to the window, his heart beating frantically in his chest. The second year racked his brain for some way to help - but too late, he heard - though he knew it had to be impossible from this height - the thud of her body as it landed. Horror-struck, he raced down the stairs. Narcissa glanced at his face for a brief second before racing him to his dorm. The room was empty, but she searched behind every bed curtain to be sure before turning back to him. Before she could open her mouth to speak, Lucius entered from the corridor. His jaw was set, his eyes burning, as he made his way over to the pair.

"Pandora Pemberton's body was just found," he announced, his voice strangely hollow.

"What happened?" Narcissa demanded, her gaze on Severus.

"Nothing!" He was shaking, and he knew it, but he was past caring. "She was walking over to the window, and then she tripped -" His eyes widened with fear. "The clumsiness charm! It's because we-"

"What do you mean we?" Narcissa demanded quickly. "You found the damn thing!" Her eyes flicked to Lucius', then back to Severus. "We can't tell anyone," she announced.

"But it's-"

"Do you want to be locked up in Azkaban?" Lucius growled, his eyes snapping. "Or were you planning on Narcissa going?"

"But - it was my idea," Severus said, tendrils of fear clutching his heart.

"Yes, but I performed the curse," Narcissa reminded him.

"We can't go on as though nothing has happened!" he protested.

"We must, Severus. For your own skin as well as ours. Say nothing." The door crashed into the wall a split second later, admitting the rest of the group.

"Melison's asking for you," Walden announced. Severus nodded, then stood and made his way to the door, feeling all eyes on him, and hearing his friend's voice ringing in his ears. Say nothing.