Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I make no money from this.

Okay I know I have my other HP fic to update but I couldn't help but write this.

Basically I was wondering what would happen if Severus left Hogwarts during the Marauder era. How things would turn out if he just left abruptly, no one knew where he went and he managed to avoid most of the war. What kind of a person he'd become. Of course I couldn't stop myself from making James, Sirius and Remus interested in him. Which then led me to wondering how they'd cope when he just left them. No explanation, no nothing so they were just left wondering. Then I got to thinking about how they'd react to seeing him later on, maybe during the height of war when he's happy, developing new potions and spells to help aid in the war effort.

So I came up with this. Now this should only be another chapter or two. I'm not planning to make this as long as my other fic.

Enjoy!

You know that feeling that you're being watched, when you feel eyes following you around wherever you go? Well Severus was all too familiar with that feeling. To the point he was bloody well sick of it.

Merlin knows when it started. Severus had felt eyes watching him practically since starting Hogwarts. At first he tried ignoring it, believing he was just being paranoid. There were a few muggleborns in his year, so naturally they'd be curious about everything and everyone. But the feeling didn't stop. Not throughout first year, nor throughout second, third and fourth year.

It was only in fifth year when the eyes seemed to stop. Right around the time of the Shrieking Shack incident strangely enough. Although in all honesty it was a relief. Things had been bad enough then, what with the attempted murder and all. Not to mention the headmaster's blatant disinterest in keeping his student's alive and well. Except of course for his Gryffindors. We mustn't forget his pride and joy.

Any respite was soon forgotten though, because as soon as Severus returned for his sixth year the eyes returned. And this time it seemed it had some friends. Creepy didn't even begin to cover it.

It had gotten to a point where Severus was becoming paranoid. Where he felt it necessary to check behind every corner, cast every protection spell he could find, avoid everyone he could think of who might wish him harm. Despite all this, the eyes remained on him. He could feel them, just burning into him. It seemed the only place he ever felt free of that unrelenting gaze was within the bathroom and in his bedroom. The former because he was sure no one wanted to see him exposed like that, he had no problem admitting he wasn't the most handsome to look at. He encouraged it in fact; it made it easier to keep people away, to keep him safe from false affection. He'd had enough of that in his life; his mother, his father, Lily. They'd all claimed to have some affection for him, at one time or another.

Of course no one was stupid enough to follow him to his bedroom either. Being in Slytherin did have its perks, getting his own room had definitely been one of the better ones. It meant Severus could do what he liked to it, namely warding it against anything and everything that he considered a threat. From the Marauders to Malfoy, it was protected against just about everyone and everything. It was the only place he could even consider feeling safe. Even his room back home didn't hold such a sense of security. It was actually kind of depressing when he thought about it.

Most kids couldn't wait to leave school, to return home for the holidays. But Severus? He was the opposite. He'd only just returned and already he was dreading having to go back home. Of course it didn't help that his mum was gone. Now there was no one to keep his father from beating the shit out of him. But I digress.

Now Severus was well aware how terrible his life was. He had few friends, if any really. Truthfully he only tolerated them out of necessity. He wanted to make something of himself; he didn't want to be what everyone thought he already was. A waste of space, a product of inferior blood, a mistake. He was all too aware that people hated him. He knew that was never going to change. But Severus had a plan. He was going to do something no one would expect.

Everyone believed they knew Severus. He was ugly, he was cruel and above all he was smart. A weirdo at best and a freak at worst, not someone people wanted to associate themselves with. Everyone also believed they knew how his live would play out. He'd lost Lily, his only love. He'd spend the rest of his life pining after her, while she'd spend it becoming the perfect wife of a pureblood. James Potter was a catch and everyone knew he'd have her in his grasp soon enough. Now there was no one stopping him.

Then there was the matter of Severus' career. At best he'd become a potions master, no one could deny that's where his talent lied. But it would only be a cover; everyone knew he was destined to join the Dark Lord. In their eyes he was good as marked.

The thing about Severus Snape though, he rather liked pissing people off. Aside from potions it was the thing he was best at. Something no one could deny, particularly James and Sirius. Everyone knew what would happen to him, everyone was sure he'd succumb to the dark. It was set in stone or so they claimed. But as I said, Severus enjoyed pissing people off. It was one of the few pleasures left in his life. And while everyone claimed to know his fate, Severus was sure they knew nothing.

You see Severus had a plan, a plan he'd been working on for a long time now. Ever since his mother had died. Now as it turned out, there was a government scheme recruiting for the best and the brightest. For sharp minds and talented hands interested in making something of themselves. Not the British government mind you, those lot wouldn't know talent if it bit them in the arse. No, Severus had a different destination in mind.

Severus was going to Japan. He was bloody making sure of it.

I know you might be thinking it strange. Why of all places would he choose Japan? Where people ate fish raw like savages and where they ate with sticks, instead of knives and forks like civilised folks. Not that Severus believed what those narrow minded idiots had to say about such a place. To him it was perfect, it was his escape. Escape from the marauders, escape from Lily and her false promises of friendship. His escape from the headmaster and his cronies, ready to take away points and give him as many detentions as they felt necessary, to make him lose all trust in the justice system. It was just perfect.

Severus had first come across the scheme several years back, keeping it secret even from Lily herself. Best decision he'd ever made if he was being honest with himself. She'd only have tried to stop him. The only thing stopping him was that he had to be sixteen to apply and apply he had. The moment he turned of age in fact. A week later he got a reply, asking him to attend an interview in London at the Japanese wizarding embassy. He went of course, it was during the summer and he'd managed to save up enough to make the trip there and back. Then a month later he heard back, he'd gotten in. It was without a doubt the happiest moment of his life. Not that it was saying much, before this he couldn't even recall having a happy memory to begin with. But that didn't matter; it was sorted, it was done. Severus would be leaving and no one could stop him.

Now you might be wondering two things; what was this scheme and why did he choose Japan of all places? To answer the latter, Severus needed an escape. He needed to leave as soon as possible, it didn't matter how and where he went. He just knew he needed to leave. Before this war sucked him into the mess too. At one point Severus had been willing to stay in England, to stay with Lily. Then she abandoned him when he needed her the most, what with his dad killing his mum and all. Not that she bothered to ask about that. Japan was his best option. No one he knew would be there, he was sure no one would follow him. He'd be safe; he could even blend in a little. With his pale skin and dark hair he'd no longer stick out like a sore thumb.

As for what this scheme was, well to put it simply it was Severus' dream. It was a work study programme, an apprenticeship of sorts, aimed at producing the best and brightest. Of course only the best and brightest were accepted in the first place and then tested so that only the best of the best remained. Severus was determined to be a part of that group.

Now as for what it entailed, it would be a combination of many skills and subjects. It was to be a mix of potions and herbology, the two went hand in hand of course, as well as charms and the study of the dark arts. In a way they'd be like soldiers, only they'd hide away while the fools rushed in. They'd be creating spells and potions designed to destroy the dark and aid the light.

Severus knew war was coming, hell it had already arrived, despite the Ministry's claims it hadn't. He knew he couldn't avoid it forever, no one could. But this way he'd avoid the worse of it. To him it was a win-win situation. He would learn from the best, prove his worth and create things that people would actually value. At the same time he'd be safely tucked away. There'd been no sign of Voldemort's influence throughout Asia. Europe and the UK yes, Africa and even America too. But not Asia, not yet anyway. For Severus it was perfect, it was just what he wanted.

Of course Severus wasn't stupid enough to tell anyone of his plans. Not even his professors who'd begun hounding him about his choice of career. Not Lily either, it was possibly the only good thing that had come of her abandoning him. Now he had nothing holding him back from his dream. In all honesty, Severus had never been more excited. Not that he showed it of course. In fact if it weren't for those eyes he could feel watching him all the time, he'd be on top of the world right now. But he could cope with it. He only had to get through the term; he'd be gone by Christmas. Hell the marauders would probably throw a party in his honour if they ever found out. Not that he'd let that happen. He couldn't risk it.

Still though, Severus found himself concerned for one thing. Not his professors' reactions when they learned he was gone, no he was looking forward to that. Hell he'd pay to see Dumbledore's reaction to his disappearance. No, what worried Severus was whoever had been watching him. Ever since he was a first year. It had to be someone in his year, it couldn't be anyone else. The first five years hadn't been there when he'd started and he felt those eyes even when he was in class. So that meant it wasn't a sixth year. It wasn't a professor either; the feeling followed him from class to class.

It hadn't taken long for Severus to come to a conclusion. It had to be either a slytherin or a gryffindor; though he had a feeling it was the latter. Actually make that a group of gryffindors; he'd noticed the feeling had been getting stronger lately. It had to mean there were more watching him.

It could have been a slytherin of course. He felt the feeling wherever he went and he did spend a lot of time amongst his own kind. Whether it was willingly or not. Then again, the same could be said of the gryffindors. After all they shared classes; they fought in the halls and ate in the same room. The only place there were no gryffindors was within slytherin territory. In the common room and of course in his bedroom. But that's where things got strange. Severus felt those eyes on him everywhere, even when no one else was around. Even in the common room, the empty common room I should add, he could still feel someone watching him. A group of them at that. Now common sense insisted it was a Slytherin, only they had access to the room after all. But Severus knew better.

Severus was being stalked by a group of gryffindors, that he was certain of. They followed him everywhere, they never left him alone and it was starting to drive him around the bend. No one else could see it, but he knew it to be true.

It took a good month for Severus to realise the truth. He could have kicked himself for it. He was being stalked by the marauders, no surprises there. What was surprising was how long it had taken him to come to that conclusion. But then he had been distracted as of late, securing his freedom had left him a little ignorant to his surroundings. Not by much mind you, but it was enough. Of course by the time Severus realised who'd been following him around everywhere, and wasn't that a disturbing thought, it was already too late.

"He's up to something" Sirius scowled, James nodding along beside him.

"He's definitely up to something" James agreed, clenching his fist.

"Not this again" Remus sighed, scowling at the two of them. "Why don't you just leave him alone? You've already taken Lily from him, you got what you wanted. Why do you keep harassing him If I didn't know better I'd think you fancied him". Remus chuckled lightly.

"As if Moony, like I'd want to shag that prick". Sirius scoffed.

Remus frowned at that. Had he just been imagining it or had Sirius' cheeks turned red? Weird. Remus shook his head to clear it.

"Yeah, like you said I have Lily now. Why would I want that loser?" James smirked, a cocky little smirk that didn't quite seem to meet his eyes. While most wouldn't have noticed, Remus certainly did.

"Speaking of Lily, have you two done it yet?" Peter interjected, leaning in with anticipation.

James froze at that, just for a second but it was enough to send alarm bells blaring in Remus' mind. "Not yet. She's one of those who wants to wait until everything's perfect. Apparently two weeks isn't long enough for me to get anywhere with her". James claimed, dismissing Peter's questions as the younger boy continued to hound him for every little detail.

"He's gone". Sirius suddenly interjected, his eyes focused on the empty spot where the slytherin had been sat.

"What? Where? Well I guess we'll be going then". James grabbed his bag and made his way out of the Great Hall, Sirius at his heels.

"Was it something I said?" Peter asked, blinking cluelessly.

"I'd better go after them, see you in class". Remus sighed, bidding goodbye to the boy before following his friends.

'What are they up to?' Remus asked himself.

It was a valid concern. Lately his friends had been acting strangely, even for them. Leaving during the night and not returning until dawn. That in itself wouldn't have been such a strange thing, they were teenagers in a castle full of hormonal students after all. But leaving together and returning together, without the smell of sex clouding the air; it just didn't make any sense. At one point Remus had thought they were shagging. Hey he wasn't judging, considering he was a werewolf he didn't think it right to judge someone for liking their own gender. But Prongs and Padfoot never acted any differently towards each other. Surely if they were together, or at least hooking up, there'd be touching and stuff. But no. They acted as they always did in each other's presence.

It got Remus thinking. At first he thought they might be sharing someone between them, Lily perhaps. That idea didn't last long though. While those two were good at hiding things, there was no way Lily was that good an actress. She was too emotional, still pining for her friendship with Severus even when she'd been the one to cut the tether. And there was no one else Remus could think of who would capture both boys' interest. Well except Severus of course. He was probably the only one in the school who could grab their undivided attention without even trying. Not that he did try of course. In fact lately it seemed he'd been going out of his way to avoid them. To avoid everyone in fact.

Remus sighed. 'I hope he's okay; he thought to himself. 'They'd better not hurt him'.

It was a valid concern. James and Sirius rarely thought about their actions, particularly in regards to how they could affect other people. Except for Severus it seemed. When he was around they always seemed to work harder. Coming up with elaborate pranks designed to humiliate, torment and even at times injure the Slytherin. When Severus was involved, James and Sirius always planned their actions carefully. It was really the only time they ever did.

Remus, although he wasn't ready to admit it, had another reason to be so concerned. You see he rather liked Severus. He found him quite good company when it was just the two of them, huddled together in the library and reading from whatever text interested them. Of course that all changed following the whole Shrieking Shack debacle. After that he was lucky if he could even get Severus to look his way. As a matter of fact, it seemed lately Severus stopped looking anyone's way. It was all very strange.

Of course there's different kinds of like. There's the kind you share with friends, with those you share interests with. Then there's the kind you share with family; brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. Then of course there's the final kind of like, the one you share with those you love. In a non-familial way of course.

Now Remus wasn't the type to just fall in love like that, and he didn't. It took months of secret meetings, friendly conversation and coaxing shy smiles out of the other, before he finally identified what it was he'd been feeling. And wasn't that a scary thought to be had. Who'd have thought Remus Lupin, a werewolf, would have fallen for Severus 'Snivellus' Snape? Yet that's exactly what had happened.

On the plus side Remus had come to terms with how he felt. No longer did he feel ashamed for liking who he did. No longer did his stomach twist with disgust regarding his own desires. But on the down side, Severus wouldn't even look at him. And wasn't that a kick in the teeth. What was worse was that his friends were acting strangely, like they were hiding something. Remus had a pretty good idea what that something was and their behaviour in the Great Hall had only confirmed it. His two best friends wanted Severus, in that way.

Remus wasn't sure if it was part of an elaborate prank, if they planned to push the boy over the edge that he'd been teetering on for so long now. In a way he hoped so. It would mean they weren't serious. But Remus had a feeling this wasn't the case. His next hope was that they only wanted to sample what Severus had to offer. Maybe a kiss or quick fuck and then they'd lose interest. The idea was enough to make his wolf howl with rage, but still Remus felt he could handle it. Given time that is. The final option was one he knew he couldn't handle. The idea that his friends wanted what he did. That they wanted to kiss Severus, to hold him in their arms, to make him smile. Severus almost never smiled. The idea that they wanted to pin Severus down, to make him scream their names, to make him theirs. It was an idea Remus simply couldn't bear. It was an idea he prayed was just that, an idea and nothing more.

"Ssh! He'll hear us!" Sirius hissed as James stumbled beside him.

James adjusted his glasses, "stupid Peeves" he scowled, muttering under his breath.

"Ssh!" Sirius glared, pressing himself against the wall as he eyed his target.

"He still there?" James whispered.

"Yeah. Come on, we don't have much time before class starts".

The two hurriedly made their way down the corridor, eyes tracking the Slytherin as he headed towards the owlery. "He's going in, you got the cloak?" Sirius asked.

James nodded, pulling the material out of his bag and throwing it over the two of them. Why they hadn't thought to use it from the beginning was anyone's guess.

Severus meanwhile was unaware he was being followed. In what was possibly the first time in his life, he was too happy to notice the potential danger he was putting himself in. There he was alone, no one on hand to help him, being trailed by his two greatest foes. The one's who'd made his life hell, the one's he couldn't wait to be rid of. If only he'd known their true intentions, perhaps he may have been tempted to stay.

Too late for that now of course. Things were already set in stone. He just had to get through the last few days; the holidays were almost upon them. Then he'd be free of it all. Severus couldn't wait.

"What's he doing?" James hissed, it seemed his glasses had fogged up in the cold.

"Shagging a bird, what do you think he's doing?" Sirius hissed back, his voice dripping in sarcasm.

"Wait, d'you mean a girl or an actual bird?" James asked.

"What?" Sirius exclaimed, a bit too loudly.

"Who's there?" Severus froze, wand at the ready as he turned towards the door.

"Shit!" James exclaimed, elbowing Sirius in the side. "Nice one Padfoot" James glared at him.

"Me? You were the one going on about him shagging an actual bird. I mean what the fuck Prongs?" Sirius ripped the cloak off his head. Their cover was already blown; he saw no reason to keep up the charade.

Severus just stood there, frowning as the two argued between themselves. Something about birds and shagging, he really didn't want to think about it any further. Instead he looked for an opening, making his way slowly to the door, wand gripped tightly in his hand.

"Hold on mate, we came to talk to you". Severus was forced to stop as a hand grabbed at his robes, yanking him back.

"Why?" Severus glared, frowning as Sirius took a step back from him.

"Easy, we just came to talk. We won't hurt you". James said, he too was offered a fierce glare for his efforts.

"About what? What could you two possibly have to ask me?" Severus spat. While he still had his wand, they had the advantage of being two against one. And Severus was willing to bet it wouldn't be long before he had his wand taken from him. It seemed words were the only defence he had, at least he could be sure those wouldn't fail him.

"You've been up to something. We want to know what". James said. Sirius nodded along beside him.

"Tough". Severus made to move past them, only to be once again pulled back into place.

"Look we're trying to be nice here. We don't want to have to start a fight, not here anyway. Not when it's like this". James gestured to the ice covering the floor and the snow falling from the sky. "It's not exactly safe" he added.

Severus just stared at the two for a while. He ignored the way his body began to shiver from the cold. Unlike them, he didn't have the luxury of wearing good quality robes, padded with heating charms. No, he had to make do with what he could get. Which wasn't a lot.

"All the more reason for you two to let me leave, so move!" Severus gritted out, teeth clenched.

"Can't do that mate. We want answers and you're gonna give them to us". Sirius said.

"Or what?" Severus asked, curious as to what punishment they'd inflict on him this time. He'd already been beaten, humiliated and almost killed by them in the past, he doubted what they were planning would be any worse.

James and Sirius shared a look. "We'll tell Dumbledore you're planning something. You and the rest of those wannabe death eaters. I reckon he might expel you if we did. You know he'd believe us". Sirius said, sneering as he brought up the other Slytherins. One of which was his own brother. A tragedy in the making if he did say so himself.

Severus only smirked at that, letting out a harsh laugh. "You think you can scare me? You're gonna cry to the headmaster, make up shit and get me expelled? Go ahead. What I'm planning, you can't stop me. Neither can he, nor any of the professors here. It's already set in stone. So enjoy this, enjoy having me here like this. Come next week I won't be around anymore. I bet you'll be ecstatic". Severus sneered, finally managing to push them aside and make his way down the staircase.

"Wait, what do you mean? Where the hell are you going?" James called down, finally breaking out of his stupor.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" It was the only response Severus bothered to give. It was a response that made James very nervous indeed.

"You think he's gonna go off himself?" Sirius broke the silence that had befallen them.

"No, he wouldn't. I mean it's Snape. If he were gonna kill himself he'd have already done it wouldn't he?" James asked.

"Y-yeah you're right. He would have done it already". Sirius agreed, noticeably distraught over the idea. "He…he won't kill himself. Not now". He sounded almost like he was trying to convince himself.

"Nah, he's got to be planning something else". James decided. "But what?"

"Maybe he's leaving. Going someplace else". Sirius offered, it was the only thing he could think of.

"Where though? If he was transferring, he'd need the headmaster's permission wouldn't he? He said Dumbledore doesn't know about whatever it is he's planning". James was confused. Things just weren't making sense.

"Maybe he's dropping out. Going to live in the muggle world". Sirius tried.

"Can't be. Lily said they lived near each other, a muggle village. Said he hated it there". James dismissed the idea.

James ignored the little twinge he felt at mentioning Lily's name. He'd spent so much time chasing her, so many resources in getting her. Yet he couldn't help but feel disappointed with just how easy it'd been to get her in the end. All he had to do was humiliate her best friend. Cause him to say something he didn't mean and Lily was all too eager to dump him. Now James could admit he wasn't the nicest guy around, but even he thought that was harsh.

"Well he is a Slytherin". Sirius said. It was all too easy to dismiss Severus' weird behaviour as the actions of a Slytherin. Distrusting, sneaky and evil, Sirius had always been too eager to label Severus as such.

"I think it's more than that. You know I hear his mum died. Maybe that has something to do with it". James said as the two made their way to class.

"Yeah, maybe". Sirius agreed.

Severus stood there silently, his arms pulling his robes around him tightly. He just stood there, head tilted back until it hit the wall, waiting for his breathing to even out. As much as he loathed to admit it, the little interaction he'd had with Black and Potter had startled him. For a moment he feared they would have stopped him, kept him trapped up there with them. Where no one would be able to hear them. Where no one would come looking for him. Just thinking about what they could have done to him terrified him.

It was a valid concern. With what they'd done to him in the past, it was only natural for Severus to assume the worst. He was just relieved they hadn't thought to do anything to him.

'This time' his mind supplied.

Like I said before I'll be adding another chapter or two. But since I have another two fics to keep updating it might be a while before I update.

Still I hope you guys review. I'd really like to know what you all think and whether you want me to continue this.

KB