Seveus Snape was the black sheep. at home, his father called him all sorts of names. growing up when he wore his mother's clothes and most people thought he was a girl at first, with his shoulder length black hair, at school when he constantly had to endure the torment of James Potter and his gang. he couldn't say he didn't particularly "fit in". the Slytherin boys treated him like their little pet, their trophy. they invited him to the common room parties. he'd sit in a corner with a drink and observe the crowd. but he never felt at place. he rarely spoke, and his Slytherin friends stopped trying. he just studied and walked like a ghost with his head down. and of course, his never ending cycle with James Potter who seemed to have no one else to pick on except him. it was now the start of his sixth year, after a dreadful, miserable summer at his miserable home. he was sat in a compartment empty except for himself, a book open on his lap, already changed into his school robes when he saw a group passing by his compartment. everyone already assumed, but he would die than say it out loud. but he really couldn't see the appeal in girls. sure, he loved Lily, but it was more emotional rather than being physically attracted to her. yes, she was beautiful. but he couldn't understand the way other boys around him talked about girls. how Lucius talked about Narcissa Black, or how Barty talked about them and he always wondered when it was his turn. so now, Severus watched a girl in the group pass by his compartment, not feeling the resentment he usually felt for everyone he saw.