*Narrator pov *
While the Professors were worrying about their loss, now confirmed dead student. The students' lives moved on, they attended class, ate in the Grand Hall, and studied with their friends.
Some of the more perceptive students noticed an increase of focus the heads of their houses placed on them.
One student was making his way back to the Slytherin common room when he heard footsteps behind him.
Turning around he saw one of the older Slytherin students. He remembered the older student was named Lucius Malfoy.
"Snape, I've been looking for you!" Lucius exclaimed with a warm smile that would disarm any normal student
Unfortunately for him, Severus Snape was no ordinary student.
"What can I help you with," Severus replied calmly not showing his discomfort
Lucius chuckled softly, "It's not you who can help me but I who can help you. I've noticed your potential in potions, I think you could go far in the field with proper help. What do you say to me sponsoring you? I can pay for all of the supplies you need, my family is rather rich,"
Severus didn't react outwardly, his senses screamed danger. The smile on Lucius's face seemed pleasant but held an aura of arrogance. Severus knew he couldn't say anything to anger the older student if he hurt Lucius Malfoy's pride nothing good would come of it.
"That's a very generous offer, Mr. Malfoy. I would have to speak to my mother about it. I assume your offer comes with conditions?" Severus said politely his respectful address appealed to Lucius's superiority complex
Lucius hooked his left arm around Severus's shoulders and they began to walk once more toward the Slytherin common room.
"Of course, I would expect generous offers on any potions you make and possibly invent. You should write a letter to your mum, these kinds of offers come once in a lifetime you would hate to miss it," Lucius spoke in a friendly tone as if they were great pals
Severus smirked softly, "Of course, I will send a letter first thing in the morning. I will inform you of her response right away. I wouldn't want to let the generous offer slip between my fingers,"
Lucius laughed while patting Severus's shoulder, "Good, I shall await your response! I look forward to our cooperation,"
Lucius entered the common room ahead of Severus.
When both couldn't see each Lucius's smile fell and his usual calm stoic expression replaced it.
Severus seeing Lucius was gone dropped his smirk. He wasn't an idiot Severus saw the world of Pureblood Slytherin politics.
If he agreed to what Lucius offered his life would forever be tied to the man. He enjoyed his life at Hogwarts now. He hardly had any problems except for a few instances with bigoted housemates.
The Gryffindors stopped bothering him, and he was still friends with Lily.
He was on good terms with Narcissa Black which helped him hide away from most of the bullying he would usually get from his house.
Severus thought to himself, 'I need to figure out how to decline without him being mad.'
Sadly for Severus, the next couple of days were not pleasant.
***
After Severus sent a fake letter to his mum days ago and still hadn't received a reply. Severus told Lucius his mum was a careful person and was probably thinking deeply about the matter and he would send another letter.
Since then Severus has been on the receiving end of various harsh pranks.
Severus could tell Lucius was trying to isolate him, be the shining beacon in his life that would solve all of his problems.
It would have worked on a normal student.
Severus above all else a survivor.
In the middle of the night, Severus snuck out of the common room, and he entered the halls Severus made sure to sneak past where the Prefects would usually patrol.
Finally, he reached a old door. Opening it quietly Severus was met with the site of James Potter and Sirius Black.
"Where are your other friends?" Severus asked finding it odd seeing the two without their group
Sirius scoffed, "You must be new at this someone has to be covering for us if something goes wrong,"
Severus sneered, "I like to sleep at night and not get into trouble,"
James and Sirius chuckled softly so as to not cause a racket.
"What have you called us here for?" James asked
"Simple, it's time for you to start paying back your debt," Severus replied
Both of the Gryffindors silently cursed.
"You thought I forgot?" Severus scoffed
James laughed, "Well you never brought it up again after we made the deal,"
"I need you to do something about Lucius Malfoy, he's causing trouble for me in the dorms. He needs to be distracted so he can't focus on me anymore," Severus said ignoring the two
Sirius whistled, "What did you do to get on Malfoy's bad side?"
"He is trying to recruit me or something, I don't want to follow him," Severus sneered at the thought of it
"Dont make whatever you do too obvious, or he will know something's up," Severus added
"It's not our first time Snape relax," James laughed
He was getting excited just thinking about messing with the Malfoy heir.
What Severus asked for in exchange for his help assisting them in passing potions was simple. The Gryffindors had to leave him alone and when asked to prank who he wanted.
Essentially Severus gained a prankster group of hitmen.
The Gryffindors never thought that stick in the mud Snape would ever call upon the deal. Alas, they didn't know the boy very well, he was vengeful. And once he held a grudge Severus would never forget it.
"It will require a couple of days of planning at minimum," James told Severus
"A couple of days is fine but make it quick," Severus nodded it was reasonable afterall they had to find a way to draw Lucius's attention without making it obvious they were doing it to help Severus
"I got an idea," Sirius said with a strange smirk
"Spit it out then," Severus sneered per usual
"We start with pranking you a couple of times. Of course in ways where no Professors will notice. We aren't friendly so no one would find it weird, they would just think we have our 'lost' confidence back. Then we can hit the older years and work out way up," Sirius mockingly said the word 'lost'
Severus narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"Nothing too crazy of course, just minor inconveniences that you could play up to look worse than they actually are," Sirius quickly added
"Brilliant! I couldn't have thought of a better idea myself," James laughed almost a little too loudly Sirius had to cover his mouth
"Shh!" Sirius said while quickly taking a peak outside the door
"If doing this can get that bastard off my back then do it, tell me before the pranks what they are so I can play it up," Severus agreed while walking toward the door
Before he left Severus added, "You doing this doesn't erase your debt,"
*creek
*kacha* and then he was gone
***
Later on, Sevrus's acting skills would impress the marauders so much that they would constantly hound Severus for tips.
Effectively making the marauders even more dangerous
-end-
A/N: Patre on: patreon.com/Boogie324