Prologue- October 31, 1991

It was Halloween of 1991 in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but it wasn't a joyous affair like it usually was. Professor Quirrell had passed out in fear on the floor after exclaiming that there was a troll in the dungeon, and the Great Hall had erupted into chaos.

Professor Severus Snape, however, knew different. He knew that Quirrell was up to no good. He could feel prickling in the spot where his Dark Mark had once been. Whenever the professor was to walk past him, he would feel a dark aura surrounding him. He figured that Potter could also feel it, because whenever Quirrell would look at the boy who looked and acted too much like his father, Potter would always flinch or grab his head where his insufferable scar was. Frankly, Severus thought that the boy did it all for attention- just like his father in that way. The older Potter would do anything for more attention, along with his sidekicks- Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew.

Snape ran down to the 3rd corridor. He figured that Quirrell was going to try to steal the Stone tonight, using the troll in the dungeon as an excuse. He opened the locked door, and the Big Oaf's giant Cerberus attacked him. He tried to run but saw that the trapdoor was still locked. He tried to make his exit, but the oaf of a dog attacked him. It bit him in the leg with its left head while the man was trying to get free. Once free from the beast, Severus ran to the door, slamming it shut in the process.

He then ran down to his dungeons to make sure that all of his students were safe because they were going right down to where the dungeons and troll were. On his way down, he ran into a certain blond-haired godson of his.

"Draco! What are you doing down here? You should be in the common room with the rest of Slytherin," he warned. "It's not safe here for you, go back. Remember what Professor Querrial said, there is a Merlin forsaken troll."

"Uncle Sev, I know that I shouldn't be here, but it's important!" the boy rambled. "It's Granger. She was in the lavatory near your classroom! I saw her running in crying because of something that Potter or Weasel said. I think she might be down there still."

"So you decided that it would be best to run after her, and what take down the troll all by yourself?" Severus asked Draco. "If I didn't know any better, I would've thought that you were a reckless Gryffindor."

The boy looked appalled to be compared to the house of mudbloods and blood traitors.

"Now Draco," Severus said, "I want you to go down to the common room and find your prefect."

"Yes, unc- Professor," Draco said as he ran in the opposite direction- towards the Slytherin common rooms.

Snape walked briskly towards the girls' lavatory, cloak billowing behind him. His leg was hurting but it didn't matter at this moment because he had to get to the lavatory. Severus was not fond of Granger in the slightest, but she had the potential to be one of the most brilliant witches that he had taught, and he did not want to waste that talent.

When he got there, he saw that Minerva was running towards the Lavatory, with Queirrel right behind her.

McGonagall ran into the lavatory, and Severus ran after her. Snape ran to the fallen troll on the bathroom floor and bent to see if it were dead or unconscious. Minerva marched over to the three first years looking very ashamed of themselves. Severus hadn't seen her so mad and worried since the incident in his 5th year with Lupin.

"What on earth were you thinking?" scolded Minerva, with pure anger in her voice. Potter looked at Weasley, who had his wand in the air. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you three in your dormitories?" she questioned, trying to keep her anger in check.

Snape sent a piercing look to Potter but he started to feel a little giddy. Potter and Weasley might be expelled! His arch nemesis' son would never trouble him again! He saw the Weasley Boy play with his wand that was in a defensive position.

Severus then saw the Granger girl step out of the shadows of the far corner of the bathroom.

"Please, Professor McGonagall- they were looking for me."

"Miss Granger!"

McGonagall looked appalled. Snape knew that Granger was one of her favorite students because she reminded her of herself and Lily combined. Severus did not think that Granger was anything like his Tiger Lily.

Lily was brilliant but she did not flaunt it the way Granger did, even when they were younger. Lily was humble, unlike Granger, who wanted to show off every chance he got. Yes, Granger was smart, but she didn't have to broadcast her intelligence.

Granger stood up. "I went looking for the troll because I- I thought I could deal with it on my own- you know because I've read all about them."

Severus could see the obvious lie. The girl was better in theory than she was practical, and she knew that. She wouldn't try to fight off the troll when she knew that she would fail. Potter and Weasley, however, would do anything to be the hero, including put the lives of other students at risk. He heard the clatter of a wand on the ground and assumed it was Weasley's.

"If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."

She really needed to work on her lying abilities, and Potter and Weasley need to work on their acting abilities. Snape wanted to hit his head against his hand because of the horrible lying skills. No wonder they weren't in Slytherin.

"Well- in that case..." said Minerva, staring at the three of them, "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?"

Severus scoffed. How did she actually believe them? The three 11-year-olds looked down at their feet in shame.

"Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this," said Minerva. "I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor tower. Students are finishing the feast in their houses."

Snape sneered as the girl left. As much as he respected and looked up to Minerva, she was biased in favor of her house.

She looked at Potter and his crony. "Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go."

Severus glared as the two boys ran out of the chamber. All three of them deserved at least a week of detention. Maybe Dumbledore would take his side in this.

Quirrell then turned to Severus. "W- What h-happened t-to y-your l-l-leg, P-professor?" he asked, stammering.

Snape limped to the cowardly man. "You know damned well what happened to my bloody leg, you cowardly demon!"

Minerva saw the possibility of a fight happening between the two men, and she quickly broke anything up before it could start.

"Severus, come up and escort me to Albus's office please."

Severus looked like he wanted to protest but one look from McGonagall told him that it was not a request.

When Snape and Minerva arrived at Dumbledore's office, they told the old man what had just happened with the three first years. All the man did for a solid 2 minutes. "We need to send owls to Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Potter's guardians to tell of what took place in the school. Minerva, I trust you will do this," Minerva nodded her head. The elderly wizard sat at his desk. "So, what I hear is that Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley all put their lives at risk, all to save Miss Granger from the troll— that is if Severus didn't stop the former."

"Yes, Albus, but I do not see your point with this." Minerva was confused. What did that have to do with anything?

Albus grinned as he spoke "Brilliant. I honestly think that Mr. Potter and Miss Granger would make a great couple when they are older. They remind me of James Potter and Lily Evans."

"No! They would be awful together!" Severus interjected. "The Granger girl will definitely end up with Draco! They are on the same level of intellect unlike that ignorant Potter brat. He would just drag her down." Snape did not know why he was engaging in this conversation— gossiping about students was below him.

"I half agree with Severus on this one," said Minerva. "but not entirely. I believe that she will end up with Mr. Weasley. They remind me of Molly and Arthur when they went here."

"Since we all disagree, how about we make a bet. Whoever gets it right owes the other two 20 sickles."

"Why so low, Albus?" Minerva teased. "Are you afraid that you're going to lose?"

"Alright then, if you want to go that way. How about 20 galleons? If she ends up with Potter- which she will- you both give me 20 galleons if she ends up with Mr. Weasley, Severus and I will both give you, Minerva 20 galleons, and if she ends up with Mr. Malfoy, Minerva and I will give Severus 20 galleons each. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Deal."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!