Fifth year.

You’d often noticed Severus brooding around the Hogwarts castle, his face a permanent scowl. The only times those cold brown eyes had ever softened was for two people his age; Lily Evans…and you.

You had no idea why, but you felt a sort of kinship with Severus- maybe it was his social life, maybe it was because your amortentia potion smelled of him. In either case, through this kinship with the ‘half blood’, you developed a pure hatred for the Marauders.

Especially the ever-cocky, ever-immature Potter.

It was one particular day when you had just been freed from your prison-like charms class when you heard the (incredibly grating), mocking laughter of Potter. You follow the sound, only to find the group of boys, as well as Lily, crowded around Severus, dangling him in the air. She didn’t seem as happy as the boys did, but she was still a bystander to this cruelty you couldn’t stand.

So…you stepped in.