The History of Half a Prince

The History of Half a Prince

Chapter 4

I thought that my second year at Hogwarts would pass by much like my first. I would keep to myself, my studies, and the things I would teach myself. Though in life, you find that things tend to have a way of working out differently you intend them. And it was Potter and Black who intended to work things that way.

Not but a week into our second year had passed when Potter and Black took every moment they saw me to trip, prod, and taunt me. I put up with the abuse, seeing no point in rising to the bait. But Potter said something one day that I could never forgive. Something I would never forget.

I remember it as clearly as if time, war, and devastation hadn't taken its toll, and I was still that sullen little boy of my youth.

I was walking on my own to the greenhouses to get there before Potter or Black. Slytherins and Gryffindors had Herbology together and I knew that the year would be bad enough with the Slytherins sharing Potions and Transfiguration with the Gryffindors as well. Herbology was different. Professor Jonas was an inattentive, ill-tempered old man who always seemed to have had one too many shots of firewhiskey. He had a soft spot for Gryffindors, however, and all the Slytherins knew it.

I knew that because of this little fact, Potter and Black would use the class to their advantage in any means to torment me.

I was right.

The two of them were already at the greenhouse when I arrived. I stopped as I saw Black look around casually for a moment before looking back at me, a smirk on his lips.

"Why hello, Snape," he said, his tone one of mock friendliness. "Why not come join us?"

I said nothing but stayed where I was, my eyes fixed on the pair of them, my jaw set. I wasn't going to let them get to me. My eyes fell to Potter's. He was watching me with an odd sort of look. One like empathy.

"I heard about your mother, Severus," he said. His eyes flickered to Black and back. "I'm sorry about your loss."

I faltered. He was genuinely sorry, and I knew he knew what I was going through. I could also tell that Black wasn't very pleased by his friend's empathy, but he said nothing. I guess even Potter held a leash on Black. But then anger went through me and I decided that I didn't need Potter and his empathy.

"Potter, I don't need your sympathy," I said, coating my words with anger. He blinked and slowly a snarl curled onto his face.

"Fine," he said. "You try to be nice, and this is how you're paid. Well, I suppose the world's better off without her anyway."

I felt as if my body was a hot poker being put into the fire. Dropping my books, I rushed to the untidy haired boy, taking the front of his robes and shaking them.

"Don't talk about my mother!"

"Is little Severus missing his mother," Black started in. I ignored him. He didn't matter. All that mattered was Potter and myself. The boy's brown eyes narrowed and he grimaced as if I were something filthy. I suppose to his Gryffindor hands that's exactly what a Slytherin was: filthy.

"Severus," he said softly. "You really don't want to fight me."

I was shaking with suppressed rage by now. With all my might, I released one of my hands from his robes, swung back, and punched him in the eye. The next thing I remember, Black [had] held me while Potter beat me up.

They left me shaking, as I would not cry. The last thing I remember hearing was Black calling out to me.

"Oh, I have a nickname for you, Snape," he said, his voice alight with mirth. "Snivellus. Perfect for the sniveling little Slytherin you are."

Their laughter faded out, and soon the world around me faded along with it.

I woke up in the hospital wing, urgent voices rousing me. I recognized them instantly as McGonagall and Dumbledore.

"Mr. Black said that Mr. Potter was defending himself after that boy initiated the fight, Albus," came McGonagall's stern voice. They were merely feet away. I kept still, pretending to still be asleep, but listening to every word.

"Have you seen this boy, Minerva?"

"I... no," she answered truthfully.

"Whether Severus initiated the fight or not, I do believe that it is he who got the worse of it. Not to mention the fact that Mr. Potter and Mr. Black both have the nasty habit of pestering Mr. Snape whenever possible. And do not tell me that you haven't noticed. You have eyes as well as I."

"What do you expect me to do?"

"They are in your house, Minerva," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "I will leave that to your discretion. As for Mr. Snape, I do believe that he has suffered enough."

Their talking ceased and I closed my eyes.

What was their problem with me? Could it really be as simple as the fact that I was sorted into Slytherin rather than Gryffindor? Was there a chance I could be changed into another house? Did I want to change?

So many questions continued to run through my mind as I lay there, my eyes closed until I finally fell asleep once again.

-----

"Oi, Snivellus! Oi, Snivelly!"

Something hard connected with the back of my head. I turned around just in time to be hit with a second thing right between my eyes. Rubbing the spot, I looked down to find a rock.

I was out by the lake, writing my assignment for Care of Magical Creatures. I had done all I could to avoid Potter and his entourage, but as always, they always managed to show up.

My eyes fell on Black, the one who had thrown the rocks, and glared before turning back to my homework.

"Oi, Snivellus, don't turn around," he called back, "we're not through with you."

"Leave him alone, Sirius," came a soft voice. I turned around to see Remus Lupin looking up at Black. Black, of course, hadn't heard him and sneered at me.

"Good, learning to listen, finally. Now, come here, let's have a duel."

I blinked at him before turning around once more to my assignment. I had barely opened my book when it soared out of my hand. I could hear Potter and Black's laughter, followed by Lupin's sigh. Why he was friends with those idiots, I'll never know.

I stood up and made my way to them, stopping before Sirius who held my book in his arms. I didn't understand why they couldn't just leave me alone.

"Give it back and leave me alone," I said, my voice dangerously low. My hand was in the pocket of my robes, my hand closed around my wand. This drew a barking laugh from Black and a smirk from James.

"And why should I? What's in it for me if I give it back?"

"Nothing. The book is mine," I stated slowly, so his smaller brain could comprehend. "And if you don't return that which rightfully belongs to me, you will regret it."

James sneered. "Is that a threat?"

"Only if you want it to be. Give me it back."

Sirius's eyes narrowed and a wide smile fell upon his lips.

"No, I don't think I will," he said finally and turned. "Come on guys. Let's head..."

"STUPEFY!"

Black fell to the ground, unmoving. Potter and Lupin rushed to his side.

"Y-You killed him!" Potter exclaimed, glaring up at me. I raised a brow. If he honestly thought I killed the boy, he was dumber than I thought.

"James, James. You're overreacting," Lupin interjected, placing his finger on his friend's temple.

"Overreacting?! He's, he's not breathing!"

"On the contrary. He is, and he is quite alive. He's just been stunned. Powerfully stunned. Come on, we need to get him to Madame Pomfrey. Severus, get Professor Dumbledore."

He started to lift Sirius and Potter instantly helped. The two carried the boy into the castle.

Picking up my book, I had half a mind to skip alerting Dumbledore. In the end, I headed into the castle, making my way to the Headmaster's office. Lupin hadn't ever done any harm to me, and I hadn't done anything to him. The power of the stunning spell had surprised even me.

I stared at the stone gargoyles for a moment before I realized that I had no idea what the password was, but at that moment the circular staircase I could see beyond twisted downward and Albus Dumbledore stood before me, a frown on his face.

"I don't suppose you're just a welcoming committee?" he asked. I blinked and he merely sighed. "What happened, Severus?"

"I stunned Black outside just now, and he fell unconscious," I said, purposefully leaving out the fact that he'd taken my book and had been pestering me.

He sighed and nodded. "Where is Mr. Black now?"

"Potter and Lupin took him up to Madame Pomfrey."

"Alright, you may go. But come to my office after dinner tonight, Severus. We need to have a talk."

With that, he swept past, heading for the hospital wing. I sighed and headed in the opposite direction, deciding to finish my report before whatever detention I was bound to get later that night.