Thanks for the challenge MegaNerdAlert! This was a great idea!

Chapter One: Rival

Severus hurried through the corridors. He was late, and Lucius would not be happy with him. Sometimes it was hard, being 'best friends' with a Malfoy, when Lucius was really just using him to further his own popularity. People would say, "Isn't he so nice, hanging out with the lonely kid?". Severus avoided him as much as possible. He had no idea why the Hogwarts Death Eaters were meeting in a new place tonight, normally they used the Slytherin common room. He also knew Lily hated him for this reason, but she didn't understand his motivation, he didn't support the Dark Lord, he wanted to bring him down! By he wanted to learn the Death Eaters ways and spy on them, so he could be useful later.

He sprinted into the unused classroom right as Lucius began the meeting. "Oh, there you are Severus, here, come sit by me." the blonde boy called easily across the room. "What's wrong with you? You're late!" he hissed privately as Severus sat down.

"Couldn't find it." Severus murmured back. Lucius stood to address the rest of the group. "Now that everyone is here, let us begin the initiation ceremony for our newest recruit. Peter Pettigrew, step forward."

Shocked whispers ran around the room as the fourth Marauder stepped forth. And a Gryffindor, no less!

"And so now we have true power-showing that not only Slytherins feel this way, but the 'mighty' Gryffindors also. Are you ready, Pettigrew?" Lucius asked, looking down upon the small figure in front of him.

"Yes." was all Pettigrew said. Severus was unsure if that was all he was able to say, all he was able to say without being extremely embarrassed, or all he thought he needed to say.

"Let the initiation begin." Lucius intoned. He really could be a bit of a drama queen sometimes, Severus mused. He eyed Pettigrew carefully.

Lucius beckoned to Severus, Regulus, Bella, and whatever-his-name-was Lestrange that Severus tried to avoid at all times. He himself led them and Pettigrew out past the gates before he spoke.

"I assume everyone here can Apparate?" he drawled.

There was a quiet but firm chorus of "Yes"s, even Pettigrew's voice lacked its usual tremble. Severus looked him over again.

They Apparated out to a, to Severus, unfamiliar house, yet he distinctly saw Pettigrew start trembling, his eyes wide in fear.

"Your father is your target, Peter. Kill him." Lucius ordered. This was the traditional initiation for males, as boys tended to be closer to their fathers than their mothers. Severus hadn't needed it. Tobias was half-dead when it was his turn, all he'd done was wait and keep the bottle full. He was glad he hadn't been forced to kill Eileen, she was safe as long as she stayed away, now.

Pettigrew darted inside. Minutes later, they saw the flash of green light, then Pettigrew jumped out a window, rolling as he hit the ground. He sprinted over, panting hard.

"Well done." Lucius praised him. "We have no further purpose here." At that, they all Apparated back to Hogwarts, just outside the gates. They snuck back in to the meeting place, and Lucius held Pettigrew's arm in the air. "Death Eaters, let us welcome your newest brother!" he cried. The gathered teens cheered heartily, Severus along with them. He simply went with the flow of the evening, and walked back to the common room with Lucius when it was over.

"That will have to be our new permanent meeting place, so you will have to know where it is." Lucius teased lightly. He was prying, he knew that wasn't the real reason Severus was late. It was Lily. It was always Lily. "What happened?" he asked in a more serious tone. "Did she forgive you?"

"No." Severus said dully.

"Well, at least you won't be distracted anymore! Cheer up, you'll find someone else-otherwise you'll always have us!" Lucius tried.

"True." Severus muttered, but they both knew he didn't believe it.

Severus went through his normal schedule, always watching Pettigrew closely. He tried talking to Lily and always got blown off. Eventually he gave up, tired of feeling his heart shatter over and over again. He threw himself into his schoolwork with an intensity that no one had ever seen from him before. He'd been one of the top students then; now he was the top student.

One night a few months later, in January, Severus heard rumors of Pettigrew becoming more and more impatient to turn against his friends. He heard that Pettigrew hated the other Marauders and wanted revenge for all their pranks. Severus went to Pettigrew to find out the truth.

"Hey, Peter!" he called as he sauntered into the meeting.

Pettigrew looked up from his book. Severus flicked his gaze quickly to the cover and back to Pettigrew's face. "How did you get The Darkest Spells of the 19th Century out of the library? I thought it was in the Restricted Section?" he asked casually.

"Lucius gave it to me. You can have it in a few days, I'm almost done." Pettigrew offered. He seemed much more confident now that Lucius had taken him under his wing.

"Sure." Severus replied easily. "Take your time, though, Potter and his 'friends' deserve the worst spells in that book! Are you sure you can cast all of them successfully?" he asked carefully.

"Not for Potter specifically, although yes, to hurt him. And Lucius has been helping me." Peter replied.

"Not for Potter?" Severus echoed, shocked.

"The fewer people that know, the better. I'm sorry, Severus, but you know how this works." Pettigrew said smugly, feeling important.

"Of course. I shall be very interested as to your idea. Carry on." Severus replied. He went to the front to ponder the meaning of what Pettigrew had said.

"Not for Potter specifically, although yes, to hurt him." "Not for Potter specifically,..." he wasn't going to curse Potter, the leader of the little band? "Although yes, to hurt him..." how to hurt Potter without cursing him? Bloody riddles...Lily had always been good at them...until Potter stole her heart away from hi-Lily and Potter! Hurt Potter's smug pride at stealing the best girl in the year, hurt Lily! Pettigrew was going to curse Lily!

Severus sat bolt upright in bed, panting hard. Oh, Lord, please not Lily! He had to tell a Marauder, however much he hated the idea, so that she was warned and protected, as she no longer listened to him...But which Marauder? Potter- no! Black-no! That left Lupin. He had never actually done anything against Severus, but he hadn't ever stood up for him, either...not since first year, when his friends had threatened him because of it...it was Severus' own fault he'd lost Lupin's support. He sighed. This was way too complicated.

Severus rushed into Potions class just as the bell rang. Potter and Black were both in he infirmary, getting their injuries from a duel treated. That left two empty seats by Lupin. The only empty seats in the room, Severus realized as his eyes scanned the room. He sat down silently and set to work. As they stirred their respective potions, he snuck a sideways glance at the Marauder beside him. Lupin's hair fell slightly across his forehead, giving him a calm, relaxed look. He flicked his gaze up to meet Severus'.

The Slytherin leaned in and whispered, "Remus, I need your help."

"Is it about Lily?" Lupin asked calmly. "I cannot change her mind..."

"It's not about that. Pettigrew wants to curse her to get back at Potter for all his pranks!" Severus hissed.

"Pettigrew is one of us!" Lupin snapped.

"No..."

"How would you know otherwise? Be a man and own up-Lily chose James!"

"Because he's in a Death Eater group. Same as me." Severus whispered. "Except he means it. I don't."

"Why wouldn't you? You're the one who-"

"Because the Dark Lord is like my father, a bully who needs to be brought down. I won against one tyrant, who says I cannot win against another?" It almost broke Severus to admit his past to anyone but Lily, but he had to, for her sake. "The trick is to get close and have them believe you are one of them, then strike. They will never expect-"

"One of their own." Remus whispered, his eyes wide with shock.

"Exactly. That's what Pettigrew has done to you." Severus finished.

Remus looked over at him suspiciously. "Why are you telling me this? I could turn you in!"

"To save Lily. Turn me in if you like, but promise me you will protect her." Severus said firmly.

Remus nodded. "Okay. Come talk to James and Sirius with me after class."

Severus swallowed nervously.

"Lily won't be there, and I will make sure they don't hex you." Remus added, his eyes sparkling in amusement.

"Okay." Severus agreed.

"Well?" Sirius asked. "What do we do with you now?"

"Turn him in!" James exclaimed. "It isn't that hard!"

"Now wait a second-he's just given himself up for your girlfriend! He should be trying to hurt you in every way possible-but he's not!" Remus exclaimed.

"He's trying to take her back!"

"Would you rather she be dead or fatally injured? You have to trust her, James!" Remus retorted.

"Why doesn't he join us? We're missing a member now,-" Sirius began, but was overridden by his two friends. He looked over at Severus and shrugged. "We do owe you, after all."

Severus shrugged back. "I didn't expect James to like it. I'm surprised you came up with it, never mind voiced it." he admitted.

"I've always thought the reason we hated each other so much was we're so alike-opposite House versions of each other." Sirius shrugged again.

"It's possible...a House hatred...you're not really that bad, anyways." Severus mused, not quite realizing he was speaking out loud.

Remus heard them and turned. "Sirius, you agree?"

"Of course, it was my idea." Sirius snorted.

"It's two to one, James, Severus can choose and you will accept him if he wishes!" Remus snapped, finally losing his cool. He turned to Severus. "Would you like to be our fourth Marauder?"

Severus looked between them. He was pretty sure he would always hate James, and he almost said "no" right away. But then he realized, joining would really annoy the other boy, and Remus and Sirius weren't all that bad, they were actually pretty cool...

"I'm in-I'll try it, at least." he said, unable to believe what he'd just done. But there was no going back.

"All right, then! James, quit glaring at Severus and let's go save Lily!"

They found Lily outside with her friends by the lake. Pettigrew was slinking around in the bushes nearby-they were too late!

"James, go warn her and get her out of the way-Sirius, stay with me, Severus, go get Pettigrew! GO!" Remus hissed.

Severus saw James tear across the lawn towards the gaggle of girls before he himself was racing after Pettigrew, feeling the wind whip back his hair. The girls looked around, confused, as James tore Lily away and pulled her towards the castle. Severus sprinted past them and tackled Pettigrew full-on. They wrestled for a bit until they were pulled apart by their Heads of Houses. Both were sent to the hospital wing to be patched up and given detentions. Severus was deliriously happy. Lily was safe, and...he might as well admit it, he was happy to be part of the most exclusively popular clique in the history of Hogwarts!

Severus trudged through the corridors after detention, wandering aimlessly about the castle until he heard a quiet "Pssst!"

He followed the sound to where the other Marauders and Lily were gathered.

"Come on, it's time." Remus said quietly.

"Oh, Sev!" Lily cried, running up and hugging him. "Thank you so much, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.

"I'm fine." he murmured, following the others along a tunnel out of the school. He could only watch and follow silently as they led him to the Whomping Willow, cleverly freezing the tree and leading him along a passageway to what they explained was the Shrieking Shack.

"And now," James intoned, looking at Severus as they gathered in the middle of the drawing room. "Your initiation, Severus Tobias Snape, begins."