Chapter 1: Odd Reactions

Lily sat in her commons room pale as a ghost when James potter and Sirius Black made their way in from a day on the pitch. Having decided to stay for the holidays while his parents went on a business trip James had dragged Sirius with him seeing as He no longer was welcome at the Black Residence.

Stopping mid-step the two stared at the still figure disbelief radiating off them as they quietly walked toward her.

"Lily, what are you doing here so early? The term doesn't start for another couple day." It was true but not a single word left the pretty girls mouth as she sat still as stone almost as if she was made of granite herself.

Before either boy could say more their head of house swooped in, "Lily if you would like I can escort you to the infirmary but he is still not awake." Only giving the boys a passing glance McGonagall kept her focus on the girl.

As if hell's fire was on her heels Lily bolted up and to the professor, "he's alive right, he'll be fine?" so much hope in her eyes as she looked at the older women.

"He is fine for now. We cannot be sure his mental state yet but poppy has healed any physical damage done. The only thing we can do now is to wait. Be proud Miss Evans if you had not called there is a high possibility he would not be as lucky as he is now." With her back straight and head high McGonagall turned on her heels and marched toward the painting, Lily close behind, and the two bewildered boys standing off to the side were left behind.

Never one to stay on the sidelines James and Sirius ran to their room quickly grabbing James's invisibility cloak and dashing off after the two women.

They made it to the infirmary just in time to see poppy step up to McGonagall's side, quietly talking to the lady as Lily sat down on a chair next to a bed.

"Why prey tells is this boy hurt so badly. I've seen him multiple times during the year I'd have rather hoped his home life was better than his school one. "Poppy quietly said, the anger easily detectable in her otherwise calm exterior.

"So had I, I promise you. If I had known sooner maybe this would not have happened." Stepping closer to the bed McGonagall spoke again, "Miss Evans did you know about this prior to this incident?"

Shame, that was the only emotion James could see in the red head's eyes. "Yes, his father's always been abusive but he refused to get help. He always said the man was all bark no bite." Full out tears were streaming down her face now, "I hadn't talked to him at all last term after he." Biting her lip Lily brought her hand up and rested it on whoever was on the bed, "He should be in that house Professor, it's bad for him. He'd never had said something like that to me before. It's their fault he's turned sour."

Just then the Headmaster, his face unusually strained walked in. "I believe you may be correct Lily, my dear. I am not one to take these situations lightly and will be moving him to Ravenclaw for the rest of his schooling. While I am hesitant to do such I find the healing process will be more effective if he is in a more, shall we say, safe environment."

"Can't you put him in Gryffindor with me. I can help him, I'll not leave his side." Lily spoke out her usual confident lilt slipping back into place.

"I do not believe Severus will be all that happy to go into Gryffindor after the torment he has to be subjected to by some of my lions." McGonagall said, "Do not think for one moment I have not seen what those boys have been up to these past few years, I had just hoped young Snape's own head of house would have at least done something for once. Why we keep him around I cannot fathom." She huffed, just the mention of Slug horn putting a nasty taste in her mouth.

Gapping the two invisible boys stood speechless as McGonagall spoke. Snape was the one on the bed. What the hell happened to him that had him brought here?

Sirius, being the first to snap out of it nudged James into motion as he inched his way closer to the group of people. Within touching distance now, the two could see Snape prone on the bad still as death and almost as white as the sheets he was wrapped up in.

"Boys I believe you should be up in the commons room not down here where you were not invited." McGonagall ground out, her fuse just about gone.

"If you will" Dumbledore held out his hand expectantly.

Without hesitation, James pulled the cloak off him and Sirius before sheepishly handing it over. Within seconds Lily had stood maneuvering her body in between her Severus and the two Gryffindor Boys.

Poppy being the only neutral party stepped up. "if you boys are here for a reason speak now or leave."

James

"what happened to him, why is he not moving?" Smart, real smart. He's in the damn infirmary why else would he be here except he was hurt. But by what?

"I believe that is no concern of yours young man. Now if you and Black are not hurt then I shall be escorting you back to the commons room." Damn it why did she have to be so uptight. It's not like we would hurt him while he's down.

I could feel Lily staring. She'd never did like when I was near Snape even after what he said. As I was pushed away I looked past her shoulder to see Snape's eyelids flicker before cracking open. He had rather thick eyelashes, almost like a girl. Seeing my chance I said, "hey I think he is waking up." It definitely did the trick, everyone's head turned in his direction and I took the chance to slip up next to the base of the bed and watch as the pale boy opened his eyes.

Sirius

I watched, unusually quiet as James gave the cloak over. I moved automatically when my head of house started pushing us towards the door only to freeze when James spoke out. Pulling me with him the to bed our enemy laid on I couldn't help but think how small and delicate he looked. His skin that we had always made fun of looked sickly making his black hair stand out. I'm positive our eyes met right away and I couldn't look away. Black endless pits are what they were, with eyelashes the color of pitch. Staring at each other I said nothing and James sat stunned as Snape's almost dead eyes slid over to him.

I stood rather shocked to see him completely ignore Evans like that like Snape was the most fascinating thing ever and he didn't want to look away afraid of what he'd miss. I can't say I blame him. Right a way I noticed the difference in Snape's eyes the look of the dead my mother once said. When someone has nothing left, she used to say she loved that look, I can see why she would. It was a look of something broken. In a way, it was a twisted type of beauty. His face no longer had the creases of anger and pain and his eyes were open wider than I'd ever saw them. He definitely wasn't handsome but I still found myself attracted to him and with a quick glance I could see James felt the same way. Well, this was going to be an interesting twist I thought.

Normal

Everyone stood frozen as Severus opened his eyes. He'd felt something odd calling him awake, almost pushing him into the land of the living. He lay there starting at Black and oddly no resentment surfaced and when he moved to look at Potter no anger simmered under his skin. It was almost five minutes when he finally looked away from the two to stare at Lily, his Lily, who hadn't talked to him since the incident. His Lily who seemed to have been crying, a lot if the puffiness of her eyes were any indication.

"How are you feeling Severus?" Albus Dumbledore, the ever-present wizard with something to say.

"I don't know." It was true, Severus thought. He'd just woke and he didn't feel a thing. His usual animosity was missing and no other feeling had surfaced to take its place. "What happened, why am I at Hogwarts?"

"All in good time my boy. For now, I'd like to discuss something privately with you." Seeing Severus' hesitance he continued, "if you'd like Miss Evans could stay as we discuss what will be happening this coming term."

Glancing over at his ex-best friend Severus watched her nod her head. Everyone was bustled out by Poppy Pomfrey for the night. Severus watch Potter and Black go an odd feeling of abandonment tightening his chest as the mumbled something. Looking over their shoulders the two locked eyes with Severus for a couple seconds before the doors were closed and they were permanently locked out for the night.

"Now to start…"