Chapter 1
"Hey, you idiots, leave him alone," Anya exclaimed as she came to the scene, watching as the self-proclaimed Marauders hanged her "baby" cousin upside down. Without hesitation she sent a hex their way, sending all four flying backwards and immediately turned around to send a spell to slow down Severus' fall and turn him right side up. Lily, who lived almost glued to his hips, went to check on him. Once she was sure the redhead had that handled, Anya turned to the four bullies. Her Prefect badge caught the sunlight as she leant forward, wand at the ready in case they tried something.
"As always, you are a real Boadicea," Damian smirked at her as he came to stand beside her, his wand also pointed at the Gryffindor foursome. Anya rolled her eyes but wasn't able to answer as Emma -still in her Quidditch Captain attire from a last minute meeting with the other Captains- Emile, Ewen, and Becky, joined them and helped surround the four. Aurora, who had been doing Prefect rounds with Becky, took in the situation and, noticing that the older students had it handled, went to check on her best friends.
"Well, if it isn't our fearless leader, showing them how it's done," Emile joked. He'd recently taken to joking about Anya's clear power and control of the Slytherin house instead of fighting it any longer. After all, it was survival of the fittest in this world. Becky rolled her eyes at her most annoying "friend" and turned to the bullies.
"60 points from Gryffindor and I will be speaking with Professor McGonagall and Deputy Headmaster Henderson to ensure you are all adequately punished," she hissed at them. Emile and Ewen chuckled behind her, knowing that the foursome would finally suffer the consequences, and forced them to get up.
"I'll also make sure to speak with Madam Hooch about this little incident... and I'm sure Charlie Bell will also be delighted at the information, especially now that he's working on choosing the new captain," Emma smirked almost evilly.
"Oh," Ewen said with interest. He'd be delighted to see Potter lose his desired spot.
Knowing her friends had it covered, Anya turned to go check on her cousin. Like he always did nowadays, Damian followed.
"Sev, hey, are you okay?" Anya asked as she kneeled beside him. She gave a quick glance at Damian, her eyes begging him as the best at healing spells in their little group, to do some diagnostic spells and ensure the younger boy was okay. Damian sighed but nodded and started working through his whole repartee while Anya touched Severus' face and arms checking for injuries.
"Rory and I think he's okay, just in shock," Lily said softly to the older girl as so far Severus had been pretty unresponsive. Aurora nodded beside the redhead, her brown curls bouncing.
"He'll be okay, his mind just needs to process," Pandora, who had joined the younger girls, reassured them all in that dreamy tone of hers. Xenophilius, who always followed her around since their date at the Hogwarts Yule Ball, glared at the loathsome Gryffindor foursome from behind her.
Anya nodded back and once Damian assured her everything seemed fine, she grabbed ahold of Severus' face, forcing him to look at her.
"Hey little cous, everything okay?" she said softly as she looked into his eyes, trying to find the answer. At first, it was just numbness and suddenly she felt as if she was being directly attacked with a hot ire.
"Leave me the fuck alone, Anastasia!" he yelled, pushing her off, "You have no right to do that!"
Anya fell on her hands as she tried to regain her balance and swallowed her pain. She knew it wasn't right to use Legilimens on him without his consent but she had been worried he was unresponsive and she knew he would know what she was doing as her papa had taught them both Occlumency a couple of summers ago.
"I'm sorry, I was just worried," she replied, close to tears now. Damian was now by her side, softly holding her hands and casting diagnostic spells while barely holding in his searing anger.
"Sev, stop that," Lily exclaimed, scandalised at her best friend's behaviour. Severus ignored her.
"You had no fucking right to get in the middle of my business and you definitely had no fucking right to read my mind like that!" He screeched at her.
"I'm sorry, you're right but I just wanted to help," Anya replied softly, head bowed.
"Nobody asked for your help! I'm sick and tired of your little miss perfect act! You're nothing but a bitch and a fake!" Severus yelled as he got up to move away from everyone. Lily stood up too and stared flabbergasted after her friend before following and yelling at him.
"Severus Eammon Snape-Prince, how dare you talk to your cousin like that! She has been nothing but good and kind to you!" the redhead said as her fiery temper burned.
"She's a fucking bitch that stole everything from me! If it weren't for her I would be the Prince heir!" Severus snapped.
"You would be no such thing! You only got added to the family tree because Anya and Professor Forger begged your grandfather to do so. You are owed nothing, you halfblood runt, and deserve nothing! Anya is almost a pureblood, directly related to at least four ancient pureblood houses by either blood or adoption and the rightful Heiress of two while you are worth less than a flobberworm!" Damian yelled, coming behind the 5th years. His arms were wrapped around Anya, holding her close.
"Damian, please stop," Anya said softly. She felt awful. Nothing Severus had said was wrong. She was a fake and a phoney and she had stolen his inheritance.
"No, Anya, I'm sorry but I can't. I will be speaking to your parents and Lord Prince about this because no one treats my fiancée like this. Especially when she clearly doesn't deserve it," Damian hissed. The students that had originally gathered when the Marauders had initially attacked the younger snake and had stayed to see how the drama unfolded gasped and tittered around them. Apparently the rumours were true, young Master Damian Desmond had chosen a bride and it was the one and only Heiress Briar-Prince.
"Severus Snape, stop this second," Aurora yelled, purposely avoiding the Prince. She had been following the fuming 5th year through the halls after he ran away from the scene. Annoyed but tired, Severus stopped but didn't turn to look at her.
"20 points from Slytherin, Snape for being such an asshole to your best friend and your cousin," the 5th year Ravenclaw hissed, getting closer to him and circling around him so they would be face to face. She was sure that if Lily hadn't been so hurt by his cruelty, as a fellow Prefect she would have done the same. "And you better man up and apologise to them. They have been nothing but kind to you, or I swear that you will finally lose everyone that gives a damn about you."
"Leave me alone, Rory," he sighed, the adrenaline now gone, leaving him tired and sulky.
"Gladly, Sevvie," she replied mockingly, "But remember, there is only so much shit we will take from you. You've had it tough, we know, but so have the rest of us. Grow up or lose us all, idiota."
"Snape," a young voice hissed behind, as Severus took a step towards the snake den now that Aurora had finally left him alone.
"Reg?" Severus replied, surprised. He'd grown-up knowing the boy ever since that first Yule Ball when he was ten. They had gotten on well, becoming fast and close friends, especially because neither could stand his brother Sirius.
"Don't call me that. After what you just did, you have lost the right," Regulus Black hissed, as he straightened himself to stand as tall as he could. Although, Severus had been trained as a pureblood even from a young age as he had begged his mother to teach him, he had never possessed that natural grace, that je ne sais quoi that made actual purebloods like the Blacks -or even an almost pureblood like his cousin Anastasia- look so natural in their power. Even Loid possessed such a grace and the man was a halfblood like him. It made him even more bitter every time he witnessed it.
"What I just did? Your brother and his moronic friends were the ones torturing me!" Severus screeched, indignant.
"You know well that I'm not talking about that. The way you treated Anya is inexcusable. So what if she used a bit of Legimens on you? You're a trained Occlumens so she wouldn't have seen much and she was just trying to get you out of your shock. You are an ungrateful brat. Anya has done everything for you, she's basically been your big sister and she's only a few months older than you. You could definitely learn some grace and maturity from her. You think you would have been apt to be the Prince heir? Even if you were not a halfblood, you definitely do not have the control over yourself required. You're a stupid little brat that thinks he is owed everything. News flash, Severus, nobody owes you nothing. So grow up and pipe it down. And if you ever dare hurt Anya like that again, I will personally take offence. She may only be a Rosier but she is a dear cousin to Narcissa who often takes comfort in her, she helped Andromeda escape her fate, and even checks on Bellatrix and is doted upon by Aunt Druella. And she's also just a decent fucking human and a way nicer friend than you, you bitter asshole. So hurt her again, try, because not only is she the heir of the Prince and Briar families and has their backing, she has the Rosier, Desmond, Blackbell, and Black families backing her up because I can assure that as the newly minted Black heir, she is under my protection too. So try me, fucking try me, Snape."
Snape glared at the younger boy who somehow appeared taller as the power of the House of Black encircled him. He knew that when Heirs invoked their right, the power of the Head of House protected them, covered them and made them a frightening sight. Despite everything, Anya had rarely, if ever, used that power and mostly when defending him against the Marauders or Lucius Malfoy. He knew he was being a brat and an asshole but he couldn't stop it. He was so angry. Angry at his classmates and housemates who mocked him for his status as either a halfblood or a Slytherin. Angry at Anya for being so damn good and nice and perfect and getting everything he ever wanted. And even angry at his few friends for taking her side even when he was being an idiot.
"Fuck off, Black," Snape hissed, turning back to walk towards the dungeons. He wasn't going to the common room anymore, though. It was clear that if he made an appearance there tonight, he would be maimed by one of Anya's fiercest protectors. And since she had so many just in Slytherin, he was dead meat. Maybe he could get Slughorn to let him work in his lab. He definitely couldn't ask any of the house elves for help. They would end him on sight for hurting their greatest advocate and he definitely didn't want to deal with Anya's parents either, their disappointment in him would probably hurt worse after all of his broken friendships.