Five Sickles - a Snily fanfiction (English Version)

Snivellus Snape

James opened his tired, brown eyes. He blinked confusedly and raised his head slowly. James took deep breaths a few times, as if he hadn't breathed fresh air in years."How are you?", asked Severus and put his hand gently on the blanket.James, who had not yet noticed Severus, looked at him in shock. He blinked again, as if he believed Severus was nothing but an illusion."Snape? What are you doing here?"James gave him a bad look. He had definitely expected anything. But Severus? At his bed? Alone?"I just saved your life, you moron.", Severus hissed, not daring to look him in the eye.For a moment, neither boy said anything.By now night had come and the moon sent its cold, white light through the windows of the Hospital Wing. The stars flickered peacefully in the sky. The muffled chirping of crickets could be heard from outside."Give me my glasses, Snivellus.", James said, blindly searching for his glasses on the nightstand.Now Severus' face had taken on a grim expression. Oh how much he would love to hex James again. His hand twitched as he was about to pull out his wand."I saved you from death, you idiot. Show some respect.", Severus growled, his black eyes sparkling with anger.What was it that Lily saw in James? There was nothing about James that would make him a lovely or charming boy."Snivellus, my glasses.", James ordered again, grinning spitefully.Severus wondered if he should talk back.But after a moment's thought, he knew that a discussion with James wasn't worth his time.Severus sighed irritably and threw James' glasses off the nightstand and onto the bed, annoyed. Without saying thank you, James put on his glasses."Aha!", he giggled, his brown eyes now peering through the round lenses, "your face is still as horribly ugly as ever."The anger inside Severus was now flaming like a hellfire. He had no desire to be James' victim forever more. Without him, he had enjoyed his time together with Lily. Even a kiss between himself and Lily happened thanks to his absence. It had been so much better without that know-it-all Gryffindor."That's enough.", Severus snarled angrily, pulling out his wand. James' giggling disappeared and in confusion he looked at the tip of the wand which was pointed at his chest."What are you doing?", James asked, any joy gone from his voice. Instead, he sounded anxious and it seemed like he was slowly crawling under the blanked."Say goodbye to your life, Potter."James' eyes widened in panic. His mouth was open. Tears formed in his eyes behind his glasses."Snape, you're not going to do that, right?"Severus was surprised that James had called him by his actual name. But he wanted to finish what he had started.He would kill James Potter. Here and now. Any second. And no one would stop him. In fact, Severus didn't even care at that moment if he was going to Azkaban for this deed or not.James had ruined his life. Bullied him for years, pushed him around, made fun of him him. Severus wanted revenge."Goodbye, Potter.", He whispers, holding his wand with both hands.James' mouth continued to stand open in shock. Severus was shaking all over. It's now or never."Avada Kedav-"The door of the Hospital Wing was pushed open.Whoever had interrupted him, Severus was incredibly grateful. The opening of the door had brought him back to reality. Slowly, he lowered his wand."P-Professor!", James shouted. His hair was wet with sweat and stuck to his forehead. Severus now dared a glance towards the door as well.He looked into the completely horrified face of Professor McGonagall. She seemed just as surprised as James and Severus. With quick steps, she walked over to the two boys, snatched the wand from Severus' hand with a serious look on her face, and let it slip inside her cloak."Explain yourself.", McGonagall said, tears of disappointment glistening in her green eyes.Silence.What could Severus possibly say? The truth, that he tried to kill James? A lie, that he just wanted to see if James was doing well?Time seemed to stand still."He tried to kill me.", James whimpered.Professor McGonagall looked at him in shock."Is that true, Snape? Did you really want to kill Potter?", she asked, holding back her tears.Severus looked down at the ground. He would have preferred to use the Killing Curse on himself."Yes, that's right! Snape tried to kill me! Send him to Azkaban!", James shouted angrily.But McGonagall paid no attention to James, instead grabbing Severus by the arm.Slowly he raised his head. It felt like an eternity until he looked into the eyes of the Head of Gryffindor House."Come with me, Snape. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore knows how to proceed with you."He nodded silently and left the Hospital Wing with Professor McGonagall.Severus crossed his arms annoyed and looked around. Professor McGonagall had taken him to the office of the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.Bored, he sat in a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk and waited. She said that Professor Dumbledore would show up any second. And Severus wasn't sure if an hour had actually passed since his arrival at the office or if he was merely imagining it. Two large candles hovered just inches above the table, covering the room in a cozy light. Behind the desk sat a red bird on a golden perch. It was Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix. With his black eyes, he stared reproachfully at Severus.Hundreds of paintings of famous wizards and witches hung on the high, dark walls. Severus felt like they were secretly watching him when he wasn't looking."Stop looking at me, you stupid paintings!", he said out, turning his head around so that each painting felt addressed.An old voice was heard from the other side of the office."I'm just a poor portrait after all. I'll be glad to see something besides Albus and his bird for a change.", whined an old wizard with red hair.Severus rolled his eyes, trying to hide his excitement that the paintings could actually talk. A moment later, the front door of the office opened behind him.Severus remained sitting still, not moving."Ah, Snape. Wonderful that you're here already.", Dumbledore said, walking past Severus. He sat down across from him. His blue eyes glare through the half-moon lenses of his glasses."He's got a lot of nerve, that kid. ", the wizard with the reddish hair spoke up. Severus gave the portrait a bad look and immediately the wizard fell silent.Professor Dumbledore didn't seem to have heard the talking portrait. Or he simply ignored it. He was probably used to the paintings in his office being able to talk. "You know why you're here, right?", Professor Dumbledore asked. Severus nodded slowly. He was too shy to look his principal in the eye.Dumbledore was just about to say something when Severus, without any warning, shouted at him."Please, I don't want to go to Azkaban! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have done all those terrible things. It was never my intention, believe me! I will never break the rules again, I swear!""Snape, calm down.",Professor Dumbledore interrupted him. Severus, as stubborn as he could be sometimes, kept talking."I should have been hexed instead of Potter, I understand that! I was just so mad at him, he's been bullying me for years. For years! I just can't take it anymore! And that thing with Lupin... I had to do it! Otherwise Potter would have died. And then there's Evans, you know? I really like Evans!"Professor Dumbledore had now stood up and raised his hand."Be quiet, kid!", The portrait shouted so loudly that Severus startled and fell silent. He felt he had only made the situation worse."Snape, I will not send you to Azkaban.", Dumbledore said calmly."What a shame!", the red-haired wizard complained. Sighing, Professor Dumbledore turned around to speak to the portrait."Instead of commenting on everything here, please go and tell Horace that I want to see him!", Dumbledore ordered. The wizard muttered something unintelligibly to himself and then quickly disappeared from the edge of the painting.Horace Slughorn was the Head of Slytherin House and a great master of potions. But it would not bode well if even his teacher had to be present.Severus' heart had become heavy as a boulder. Not only had he disappointed Lily, Remus, McGonagall, and Dumbledore, but he had also disappointed his Head of House. Severus got along with Professor Slughorn and was his teachers. Slughorn's classes were interesting and informative. He was the reason Severus was so interested in potions."Please don't expel me. Hogwarts is my home!"Professor Dumbledore had settled back in his chair. He put his hands together and placed them on the table in front of him."I wouldn't expel you, Snape."Had Dumbledore really just said that? He wouldn't expel Severus? Even though he had broken pretty much every school rule? And almost killed a student?"What do you mean?", Severus asked, afraid that maybe he had just misheard after all.Dumbledore nodded.The warm light of the candles reflected in his blue eyes."I know deep down you're a good person. Of course I won't deny what you did. You will receive a punishment befitting your actions, Snape.", Dumbledore said, his eyes fixed on Severus."So I get to stay at Hogwarts?", Severus asked euphorically, wanting to jump up from his chair with joy.Professor Dumbledore said nothing."Horace should be there any second."It was the wizard with the red hair. He had returned from his mission to call the Head of Slytherin House. And it actually took less than a second for Horace Slughorn to step through the office door.Professor Slughorn looked upset and confused. His gray hair was more disheveled and messy than usual. It almost seemed like it had been out in a storm for days."You wanted to see me, Albus?", Slughorn asked anxiously as if he feared he had done something wrong. Professor Dumbledore got up from his chair and walked over to him."Yes, that's right. I want to talk to you about one of your students, Horace. Do you have a moment? It won't take long.", Dumbledore said."Sure, of course!", Slughorn exclaimed, not seeming to have noticed Severus. Dumbledore led Slughorn to his desk and offered him to take the empty seat next to Severus."Nice to see you, Snape."He smiled and sat down on the chair next to Severus.