AN: Been reading a lot of fanfiction recently, and decided to go for yet another story. Reading loads always pushes me to write more, I know where I'm going with this story, but if anyone has any ideas or flames, you know where the review button is.

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Warnings: Dumbledore Bashing/Bad/Manipulative/Plotting, Manipulated!Students, [more to come]

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~~HP~~

Chapter One: Loss of a friend

~~HP~~

Severus saw red "I don't need your help, mudblood!" He instantly regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth "Lily. I-"

"Don't, Severus. Just don't. I can't believe you could ever use such a name." Lily said, coldly, stalking off towards Gryffindor Tower

"Lily!" Severus ran after her, only to be tripped up. He turned and saw Potter laughing, wand raised "You bloody coward, Potter!" He shouted "attacking someone from behind? You are PATHETIC!"

"Petrifi-"

"Expelliarmus." Snape cut him off, easily catching the Gryffindor's wand "I am going to the headmaster about this." With that, he turned on his heel and ran towards the castle, which was too far away for his liking.

He saw Professor Slughorn exiting the dungeons and ran to his head of house. Once in the professor's office, he explained his story and presented Potter's wand. Professor Slughorn looked grim and led him to the headmaster's office. When Severus was halfway through telling his story, the door to the office opened and Professor McGonagall walked in, followed by Potter and Black.

"Ah, the other half of the cast is here." Professor Dumbledore said "I believe I only need to speak to Mr Potter, for now. If I require your presence I will call for you." Black glanced at Potter and skulked out of the office.

"Please wait here Mr Potter, Mr Snape, please follow me into the back office, where you can explain the rest of your side of this story."

About ten minutes later, the two exited the office and Severus sat in the remaining empty seat, Dumbledore took Potter into his office. Under the watchful gaze of professor McGonagall, Severus suddenly found his shoes very interesting. A further fifteen minutes later, Professor Dumbledore and Potter exited the headmaster's private office and both students were dismissed after being given detention with their respective heads of houses for duelling. The headmaster had performed checks on both boys' wands and had determined there was no real risk that either would cause serious harm to the other. Once the staircase opened to the corridor, Potter strode to the stairs leading to Gryffindor tower, and Severus headed down to the dungeon.

~~HP~~

James Potter swaggered into the common room, he bragged to anyone who would listen that he'd charmed his way out of anything serious. He chatted loudly with Sirius, saying how he was determined to see that "dirty snake, Snivellus" chucked out.

Meanwhile, in the girls' dormitory, Lily was venting to her longtime friend, Mary-Anne. "He's just always around. It's so annoying." She sighed "I'm going to talk to Severus tomorrow. No matter what, he will always be my friend."

"I think he wants more." Mary-Anne said

"I'm not looking for that in anyone right now. I'm concentrating on school and becoming a Healer."

Their conversation continued for several hours, before the two decided to get some sleep. Neither girl notice the dull brown rat scurry out of the dormitory, through the gap in the slightly ajar door.

~~HP~~

Albus was surprised to not see Severus Snape's name on the list for those staying for Christmas break. He frowned, but shrugged it off. Perhaps some extra time with his father would beat the boy down further. He was coming close to the age where he could get a place of his own and would no longer live in an abusive home. He needed the boy mouldable and easy to control. He needed a spy within Voldemort's ranks, one who could not be revealed by a touch of Legilimency. Several times already, Albus had mentally struck the boy, yet had come up against the strongest Occlumency shields he had ever experienced. Every time he tried to strike, it was like hitting a stone wall. When he slowly tried to sneak in, the shields bent and warped, but never broke. Albus considered himself an excellent Legillimens, one of the best, yet he was defeated by a mere student.

A knock on the door revealed his spy. He looked into the spy's eyes and sifted through the information. He dismissed the spy and pondered on what he'd learnt. So Lily Evans wanted to forgive Severus Snape. He'd have to rectify that. His spy would not be allowed any connections. Albus flicked his wand to open the door, and called his spy back. A carefully placed compulsion lead the spy to understand his point of view.

~~HP~~

It was morning and Lily walked down to the Great Hall. She was halfway through breakfast when she saw Severus get up and leave. She dropped her spoon, grabbed a few slices of toast and got up to follow him. She did not notice the figure in the shadows with the wand pointed directly at her. Nor did she hear the muttered word "Imperio"