Hello all! This is my first Harry Potter fic so bear with me here.

Now I know the presence of an Oc or two might make some of you a little wary and that is understandable. But I swear, my oc's are just here to help the plot along, not steal the show. Just a little warning, this story will contain some adult themes such as child abuse, physical assault, PTSD, racism, and sexual assault. I will try to handle the subjects with the respect they deserve.

It always bothered me in the HP universe that basically all the Slytherins are bad people. Only Snape and Draco are redeemable and by the time either of them shows a good side, they have already done some pretty awful things. There needs to be someone in Slytherin with a conscience, otherwise Rowling's ending with Harry saying there is nothing wrong with his son possibly ending up in Slytherin comes off as half assed, as he was given very little to look kindly on Slytherin house for.

Now, I make no excuses for Snapes adult actions. Bullying children is awful, especially when it is a grown adult doing it. But I can't help but wonder if his behavior is in no small part a result of his own difficult life. Clearly we have someone who was vulnerable and easily led from a young age who refuses to admit weakness or victim-hood, while suffering greatly at the hands of his father and even his peers. I imagine some level of PTSD would have an effect on his outcome, much like how PTSD from my own childhood resulted in a rather nasty mean streak in my high school years, including saying terrible, unforgivable things, and physically fighting often when I felt scared. Seeing how the HP universe treats mental damage, it is doubtful he received any treatment for his issues that he very likely repressed. This story is to explore how things may have turned out if others had actually took a stand and helped him when he needed it.

If Someone Cared Enough

Chapter One: Intervention

The sun was reaching the highest point in the sky when the doors to Hogwarts burst open to release a slew of students onto its perfectly manicured and grassy grounds. Mentally exhausted and restless from being cooped up so long, the fifth years breathed a collective sigh of relief as they descended on the freedom of fresh air and sunlight that they so craved. Fifth year OWLs were proving to be as difficult as professors had promised and many students were beginning to regret forgoing one or two extra studying opportunities for Exploding Snap and Wizards Chess.

For just having survived a lengthy, frustratingly tough DADA exam, students couldn't be happier to bask in such perfect weather. The gentle blow of a light breeze offset the oncoming soon-to-be summer heat and the lush green rolling expanse of grass called invitingly to anyone who just so happened to fancy a lie in it. With the sky a robin's egg blue, hardly a single cloud hung in the sky and the Black Lake glittered magnificently in the sunlight, it's still surface broken only by the occasional ripples of bare teenage feet and the Giant Squid lazily waving one massive tentacle above the water.

...it should go without saying that a day so serene was due for some disruption.

"Expelliarmus!"

The spell that broke the tranquil beginnings of what could have been a great afternoon came from

a young man not too far from the castle doors. Standing tall and proud—some would say arrogant and cocky to be a more apt description—James Potter had his wand drawn as his friend Sirius came up besides him. Both boys wore matching grins, but they weren't nice smiles. No, they were the sort that promised unpleasantness and more than a few hurt feelings when directed at someone. And at that precise moment those smiles were directed at one unfortunate target; the lanky, surly, and unpopular Severus Snape.

In no time at all a rather one sided fight had broken out, just as could be expected when it was two against one, and a crowd was beginning to gather. Many near the lake and on the outskirts of the school grounds turned to stare unabashedly at the spectacle.

The duel—if you could call it that—rapidly escalated past childish taunts as James threw a cleaning spell in Snape's direction. Bubbles frothed up from the greasy teen's mouth and spilled onto the ground as he sputtered and hacked. Unwillingly breathing in water and soap, Snape struggled for air.

"Leave him ALONE!" bellowed an angry voice as a mass of flaming red hair and the embodiment of indignation stormed across the lawn.

The nosy crowd of onlookers grew larger still as Lily Evans descended upon the scene. James naturally put on his most charming smile, running an hand through his hair as he greeting her as casually as if he wasn't currently tormenting someone. It really was a wonder how he actually thought he could woo her while simultaneously hexing her friend.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Snape lunged for his wand and managed to fire off a quick spell before being unceremoniously hung upside down in the air. As he struggled to right himself in the undignified position, his robes fell up over his head, revealing his underwear to a viciously amused crowd.

{page break}

A short distance away by a outcropping of rocks, a small group of students with their notes and books strewn out across their laps had been watching the commotion for some time. None of them found any amusement to be had in the sickening display of bullying.

Kohl rimmed eyes narrowed sharply, scrutinizing the fight with distaste, "Did Evans—?"

"She almost smiled!" cried another from the group, "I mean, it certainly looked like she was trying not to."

"Yes because a friend being humiliated is oh so amusing," was the not so amused response.

{page break}

Lily finally had the good sense to take her own wand out and brandished it angrily at James and Sirius. Students watched as Snape scrambled to his feet and righted his robes.

Then, just when it seemed the ordeal was over, a terrible word fell from Snape's lips and a stunned silence fell over the grounds of Hogwarts.

Lily took only a second to process what she just heard before she coldly dismissed her one time friend, with a not too kind dig at his underwear for good measure. James attempted to play the white knight, only to be angrily rebuffed as well and soon Lily was marching off across the grounds and back towards her own friends.

{page break}

"Alright," the girl with the kohl rimmed eyes stood up, brushing dirt off her robes, "I've seen just about enough of this."

"Sim, sit back down," a timid girl next to her friend whispered, tugging at her sleeve to pull her back, "Please, you know how you are when you're angry."

The girl gently pushed her friend's hand away, "I've been sitting here waiting for a prefect to do their damn job and so far, not a single one of them has done anything. One is just sitting there and now the other has up and ditched because she's offended. So I guess its up to me to put an end to this."

"They didn't listen much to Evans," a boy pointed out, "And Potter likes her. What can you do?"

"You done with that copy of History of Magic?" the girl asked.

"Well...yes, I suppose we won't be needing this edition next year, but I don't see what that—"

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

With a flick of her wand, the girl had her friends book hovering in the air. Another flick had it fast in flight across the grounds towards the group of boys just as James resumed his attack on Snape.

"Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?"

"Bombarda!"

The book burst apart in a shower of paper and leather bindings with enough force to knock Potter off his feet and onto the ground. As his wand rolled out of his hand, the spell on Snape lifted and the greasy haired teen came crashing to the ground.

The laughing group of spectators went silent, not sure of what to make of this sudden change of events. Even those who had been doing their best to ignore the initial scene were watching now.

"What the hell?" James cried, covered in bits of burnt paper.

"Hell is the least of what you deserve," someone came forward, the crowd around the Marauders and Snape parting like the Red Sea.

Coming to stand between Snape and Potter was a girl no older than sixteen. Her golden eyes with rimmed in heavy black kohl and an array of pastel shades of eye-shadow dusted across both eyelids. The makeup made a stark contrast to her rich mocha skin. Tall and regal, she could be called very attractive if she didn't have so vexing a look upon her aristocratic face. Draped over her shapely frame were Slytherin robes.

Simone Serapeum was born to a French heiress from Beauxbatons and a wealthy former Hufflepuff with a hand in the legal proceedings of the Wizengamot. This fine breeding had made Simone a well known socialite of high society long before she was even of Hogwarts age. Raised with the highest of expectations upon her shoulders, Simone was the epitome of decorum, at least until someone managed to catch her ire. Said to be cursed with her mother's temperament, she was fiercely protective of her friends and family. When pushed too far, Simone was like a powder keg igniting in a fireworks shop. This was demonstrated all too unfortunately in her first year in Hogwart's hallowed halls.

Cynthia Berget, a Ravenclaw third year and notorious bully, made the terrible mistake of insulting a first year within ear shot of Simone. This first year was Thea Mnemosyne, a girl with mousy hair and a personality to match. She also happened to be Simone's best friend. Simone descended on the startled third year in a flurry of hexes and swinging fists What followed could only be described as a pure, unadulterated cat fight that took several teachers to break up. When the girls were pulled apart, Simone was covered in substantially more scrapes and bruises as well as a set of walrus tusks courtesy of Cynthia, but had managed to come away with a large chunk of Cynthia's hair, which she refused to part with and hid thereafter.

Assuming herself the victor of the fight, Cynthia and her friends toted this win quite proudly, renewing her taunting and snide comments with glee. However, that triumph was short lived and whatever mirth she felt died when one morning at breakfast, Simone strode into the Great Hall wearing the now braided golden locks around her head like a crown. The smile on her face was described by those who saw it as 'sinister'. For the next few weeks, Simone spent much of her time in any shared spaces with Cynthia staring at her, or rather her hair, as though considering how the rest of it would look if ripped off and donned on her own head.

It came as no surprised to anyone when upon returning from Christmas break, Cynthia's friends were heard mentioning that Cynthia had transferred to Beaxbatons for 'personal reasons'.

From that day forward, Simone carried with her a reputation for her talents in intimidation and a sadism that was not to be invoked, earning her the respect of Sytherin house and the wary side eyes of the rest of the school. Since then, though, Simone never made a move against anyone, preferring to sit in the shadows, a silent observer whose very presence left many on their toes. It was her lack of action that kept people tense.

Aside from an odd bunch of Ravenclaws that always studied with her, everyone kept their distance, lest they gain her unfavorable...attentions.

And now she stood before Potter and his friends, fire blazing in her eyes.

"What's got your knickers in a twist, Serapeum?" Sirius asked angrily, helping James to his feet.

"You, if you must know," Simone replied, tucking her wand away, "I've had about enough of this entire disgusting thing. And I'm not just talking about right here and now. You, your personality, the way you act, the fact that you're allowed to wander the halls without a leash, all of this," she gestured to James and Sirius in turn, "is frankly repulsive."

"This isn't any of your business," James snapped.

"Oh I think it is," Simone said, "It's my business because it is about time someone around here did the right thing instead of hiding away like a coward," she spared a glance towards Lupin, "so wrapped up in trying to be 'liked' that they forgo any sense of common decency, or a hypocrite!—" she yelled that out over her shoulder towards Lily and her friends, "who only acts when its convenient for them and gives up on being a good person the second their feelings get hurt. Even when people act like they have an conscience here they still fail at doing the right thing. What, cruelty suddenly is okay if you're pissed off at the victim?" she asked in a babying voice. She gave a gaping, red faced Lily a pleasant little smile.

"And you," Simone turned to Peter, "Grow a fucking spine and while your at it, grow up. We all know that if you weren't kissing these two on the bum you'd be at the bottom of the food chain and let me just say you'd make an easy target for your appearance alone, not even factoring in your overall incompetence. It's pathetic to become a bully just to avoid being the victim."

"You leave Peter alone," James demanded.

"Oh, so if I take a cheap shot at Peter it's wrong, but I suppose this," she waved a hand over at Snape, being reluctantly helped to his feet by a nervous looking girl, "is all in good fun?"

"That's different," James insisted, "Snape has it coming."

"For what exactly? Oh that's right," Simone cocked her head to the side, fingers drumming her chin in mock thought, "Because he exist. That's what you said, right? Funny, you know who else goes after people simply for existing? You're probably read about them in the paper recently, they're giving Britain quite a scare.

"Don't you dare compare us to them," Sirius growled.

Simone smirked. "What, Death Eaters? Why not, Black? Last time I check, going out of one's way to see others suffer and finding enjoyment in it does not a hero make. You certainly seem to enjoy cruelty as much as You-Know-Who's little group. Just like the rest of your family."

Sirius marched up to Simone. "I am nothing like my family," he hissed, "I'm not dark like them. I'm trying to put dark wizards like them in their place. Starting with slimy snakes like Snape."

Simone took a step closer herself, standing nearly nose to nose with Black, "I don't give a damn what your piss poor reasoning is. I don't care what you think someone is, or what you think they will become. All I need to consider is the facts. And the fact here is this: you enjoy seeing Snape humiliated. You like seeing him suffer, seeing him hurt," her voice was like velvet, but it carried words as sharp as razor wire, "It makes you gleefully happy. You get off on it. That shows the sort of sick, twisted person you are. And that, Black, is why you are exactly like the family you claim to hate. Hurting others for a laugh; your mother would be proud if she knew."

With a snarl, Sirius whipped his wand out. "Take that back1" he roared, pointing his wand menacingly in Simone's face."

Simone didn't flinch. "Drawing your wand on an unarmed person, Black?" she asked, "Really just proving my point here. Why don't you put the wand down before you regret it?"

"Do as she says," a new voice demanded. The group Simone had been studying with had join the fray; three Ravenclaws and a Hufflepuff. Each had their wands out. Even the timid girl by Snape had drawn hers, a fierce glint hidden emerging through the worry in her eyes.

James regarded the group carefully. It wasn't really four on one anymore. The crowd of his peers still appeared more interested in gawking than coming to his defense and he didn't like how little the odds were in his favor now. "Sirius," he began, "Let's just back off. You can't get so work up about this. Who cares what some Slytherin thinks?"

"You should care," Simone said, still unflinchingly staring down the end of Sirius' wand, "Because if the Slytherin is the one on the side against cruelty, what side does that put you on?"

"You talk about cruelty and yet you blew up a book in my face," James pointed out.

Simone rolled her eyes and examined her perfectly manicured nails, conveying just how tiring she found any form of conversation with the Gryffindor, "Sort of pales in comparison to the things you do, don't you think?"

"Oh so that makes what you did okay?" James asked angrily.

Simone shrugged, "Not really. But it doesn't make my actions any worst than yours either. You're just a Potter calling the kettle black."

Potter fixed her with his best glare, "As if I'm the bad guy here. Snivellus is a Slytherin; just another slimy, greasy snake and a Death Eater in training. If anything I'm giving him no more than he deserves."

A few people from the crowd nodded, some murmuring in agreement.

Simone silenced the onlookers with a single glance. "Last time I checked," she began, "It was innocent until proven guilty. Its in our Ministry's laws; the very laws the Aurors—the "good guys" you aspired to be—follow so closely. Since when does attacking a person for looking suspicious equal anything other than discrimination?"

"What is going on here?!"

Professor McGonagall came charging down the hill towards the hostile gathering.

"Of course," Simone drawled, "the second a Slytherin had the upper hand on Gryffindor's precious favorites, one of you hypocrite prefects—," she loudly empathized that little insult, "finally decide to go running to a teacher. How nice."

Remus sunk lower behind his book and even from a distance, it appeared as if Lily's ears were turning as red as her hair.

McGonagall was in full disciplinarian mode by the time she got to Simone and Potter, "What is the meaning of this? I was pulled from overseeing an exam to find fifth years—a few of my own, might I add—fighting like children. This is hardly the appropriate behavior for young adults. Now I demand an explanation this instance!"

James began his spiel before anyone else could say a thing, "It's not what it looks like, Professor. We were only playing around when these two," he gestured to Simone and Severus, "butted in and tried to start something with us."

Sirius jumped in enthusiastically, "That's right, Professor. Snape is always causing trouble for us and it looks like Serapeum has decided to take a page out of his book and come at us too."

Simone rolled her eyes again, this time so dramatically and hard that no one would have been surprised to see them rolled out of the girl's head.

McGonagall cocked an eyebrow at James, "Mr. Potter, I assure you that I am no fool. If you expect me to believe you and your friends didn't have a hand in this dispute at all then prepare to be sorely disappointed. Now how about someone try telling me the truth this time?"

"Potter and his cronies were just doing what they do best, Professor," Simone was all too glad to explain, "harassing someone two on one when they have their guard down, purely for kicks and giggles."

"That's not true!" James insisted.

"Yeah, she's lying," Peter simpered. It didn't go without notice that the portly young lad was trying to use James and Sirius as shields while he antagonized Simone; just in case she decided to direct her attentions to him.

Simone crossed her arms and looked away, shaking her head. The cowardly little worm wasn't even worthy of a response in her book.

McGonagall sighed. "Nevermind," she said in frustration, "The Headmaster will sort this out. Now, up to his office with the lot of you."

Simone stepped away from McGonagall, "With all do respect, Professor, it would be in Severus' best interest if he was looked over by Madam Pomfrey first. He did basically get dropped on his head." Simone moved to heft one of Snape's arms over her shoulder, silencing any protest he may have made with a harsh, stern glare.

"Thea and I will escort him and proceed to the Headmaster's office post haste," Simone continued as her shy friend came to gently place a guiding hand on Snape's other arm.

McGonagall mulled over the request, "I'm not sure..."

"I'll go with them if it makes you feel better, Professor," Offered a Hufflepuff prefect, one of the few prefects to have missed most of the fight and only just arrived on the scene.

"Well I suppose if a Prefect accompanies them, then it is alright," McGonagall relented before turning back to Simone, "Miss Serapeum, I suppose I cannot fault you for being concerned for a classmate's well being. Now off you go, and no funny business."

"It's my pleasure, Professor McGonagall," Simone replied politely, "After all, someone should care about him."

By the lake, Lily kept her back to Simone, but her posture was rigid.

McGonagall appeared not to have noticed the implications of Simone's words or if she did she choose not to touch upon them in order to keep the whole debacle from continuing any longer, "Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, I trust the pair of you should know the way to the Headmaster's office by heart at this rate? Off with you."

James and Sirius headed up the hill towards the castle with their professor, giving their 'fans' some charming smiles as they went.

Trailing behind them at a more sedate pace, Simone all but dragged a stubborn Snape off the grounds with minimal help from Thea, the Hufflepuff prefect following them.

As they passed Remus, Simone paused. Without looking at him, she hissed in a low tone, "If you're so afraid your friends will abandon you if you don't let them get away with everything, then they're not very good friends, are they you coward?"

With that, Simone resumed dragging Snape inside, leaving behind her a few choice people very conflicted, and perhaps a little ashamed.

And there's chapter one down! I hope this is off to a good start.

Just want to let everyone know that if Jilly is your OTP, you'll probably be sorely disappointed. Sorry :(

Feedback is always appreciated. Reviews feed the plot bunny.I will be honest, I am not a fan of James Potter. The fact that his own friends admit he continued to hex Snape behind Lily's back to pretend he had changed means he won her heart under false pretenses. His lack of concern for her in school goes against all claims of him being a good person; he seemed to not care at all how harming her friend may harm her. Also, his refusal to take no for an answer and even telling her he would only stop attacking Snape if she dated him is behavior that in today's age would have surely gotten him a restraining order. 15 is old enough to respect a girl's choice to say no and to know better than to emotionally manipulate her or threaten her friends to make her say yes.

That being said, I will NOT be trashing him completely. He's flawed and a jerk with some worrisome tendencies, but it is clear he has a heart at least when it comes to his friends. So he deserves to not be destroyed character-wise. Instead I wish to give him a chance to do the maturing he clearly never did in canon.

Please do not spam me with hate reviews if you are a James fan/snape hater. If it isn't criticism on how to improve my writing, then the negativity you bring isn't welcome. The only good "It sucks" is a "it sucks and here's how to fix it".

Feedback is always welcome. Reviews feed the plot bunny.