Severus originally had had no interest in the new exchange program that everyone was talking about. Why would he want to leave Lily and go to some other random magical institution. However things had changed since the announcement of the program. Namely, after James Potter had tormented Severus resulting in the worst day of this life, Lily refused to speak to Severus. Even after he’d tried nearly everything he could think of the one friend he had, the one person he loved, refused to even look his way let alone entertain a conversation with him. This left Severus feeling miserable, so miserable that Slughorn had taken notice of it. And what was Slughorn’s brilliant solution?

“I really think you should consider the exchange program Severus.” Severus didn’t know what he’d hoped to hear but it wasn’t that.

It could be a wonderful experience. Besides have you considered Ilvermorny? The American have developed an exceptional reputation for their potions. Some of them are even more advanced than here in Britain and they’re only taught in.” That caught Severus’ attention. His favourite subjects had always been potions and the dark arts. The idea of learning potions that were more advanced or only taught in America was admittedly intriguing.

“Thank you Professor. I will… consider it.” Came Severus’ terse reply.

And Severus had genuinely thought about it. He’d even filled out a form asking to be part of the exchange program sending students to Ilvermorny. But the final decision was made as a result of two different occurrences. The first was seeing Lily talk with James Fleamont Potter in an almost friendly manner and the second was the information from Dumbledore that students heading to Ilvermorny

With that Severus decided to hand in his application. Severus had always hated going home for the summer, hated returning to the run down house where his father would berate him and his mother until his passed out drunk. He hated going home almost as much as he hated his muggle father. The only thing that made his summers bearable was Lily. And now he wouldn’t even have that. Suddenly Ilvermorny was seeming like a much needed escape.

So when Severus received a notice saying that he had been accepted for the exchange program and was going to Ilvermorny for his sixth year he couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. Finally a year without James bloody Potter and Sirius Black.

Now Severus stood in the grand hall of Ilvermorny castle. He would be staying in the Thunderbird dorms which shared a common room with the Wampus students. Now he just hoped he could study potions in peace. However fate seemed to have another thing in store for him as two students with malicious grins and snickers eyed Severus and made their way over. Just his luck. He’d managed to escape James Potter and Sirius Black only to find their American doppelgängers.