Because he wasn't his father...

Severus Snape looked over the register for his first year class and sighed. The first name that stuck out was Malfoy, his godson who would undoubtedly expect special treatment, the next was Weasley, who he hoped would be like his prefect brother and not the twins, and, halfway between these names, was the name he didn't want to see.

Potter.

He rubbed his forehead, remembering the boy from Sorting Feast, the boy who looked so like his father. He remembered his heart clenching at the sight of James Potter, once again running to Gryffindor, smiling at the girl across from him and getting into an easy conversation with the boy sat next to him, the Weasley boy an easy replacement for Black. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of Black and where he was now.

Then the boy looked up at him and Quirrell, green eyes shining through rounded glasses. Snape glared at him, as he did with all new Gryffindor's and the boy turned back to the Prefect Weasley, before turning again and pressing a hand to his forehead, wincing. Snape raised an eyebrow, glancing, first at Quirrell, then down the row at Dumbledore.

Green eyes. Emerald, flecks of gold, mainly rounded, slightly drooping on the inside.

He had to stop himself gasping. How long had he spent staring at those eyes, or eyes just like them, as a teenager. He shook his head, realising how creepy that sounded. Lily's eyes. Potter had Lily's eyes.

His hand rested on the register again, taking another look at the names. The Slytherin's had all recognisable surnames, children of his former allies. The Gryffindor's seemed a mix of pure-bloods, half-blood and muggleborns. Of course, that doesn't distract him from the one name he is trying to make his mind up on.

Potter. The son of his best friend and worst enemy. He sighed, leaning back into his chair and rubbing his forehead again. He wanted to just pretend it's James facing him and let out all his childhood anger. But Lily would kill him, haunt him, whatever.

Lily's child, he had to focus on that. On the green eyes that he used to gaze into when they belonged to Harry's mother. He had to think about that when he starts teaching the boy. Harry was not James, nor was he Lily.

Harry was Harry.

And Severus will have to give the boy a chance.

The Gryffindor's walked out of potions, moaning about the homework. The Slytherin's walk beside them, moaning as well. Neither house spoke once to the other but they both said similar things. They all headed towards the Great Hall, settling down for lunch. Ron and Harry sat together, as normal, tucking straight into the food as Fred and George settled down opposite them, Lee Jordan sitting next to Ron.

'So.' George said, grinning.

'Did Snape give you grief?' Fred smirked.

Ron swallowed his food, rolling his eyes at his brother. 'You two are so full of rubbish.'

The twins looked at each other, eyebrows raised. 'What makes you-'

'-say that?'

Harry chuckled. 'He was fine. Treated us no differently to the Slytherins.'

'Really?' Lee said, his head tilted slightly as he helped himself to chicken sandwiches.

'Yeah, there was nothing odd about it. Didn't even take any points.'

'Really?' Fred and George said together.

'Well, he took some from Neville when he destroyed his cauldron and one from Malfoy for laughing but that was about it.'

The third years all looked up at the Head Table, where Snape was eating lunch with the rest of the professors. They turned back to the first years, eyes wide and mouths hanging open.

'Really?'

'Yes!' Ron and Harry said together, looking at each other. This was getting ridiculous. The other three shake their heads, seemingly unable to believe what the younger two are saying.

'We had Snape this morning, he was still a git. What made him change in two hours?'

Ron shrugged. 'Maybe he just doesn't like your class?'

'No, that's not it.' George leaned backwards, putting a hand in front of an older students chest. 'Oliver, what's Snape like in class?'

The fifth year raised an eyebrow. 'Pain in the neck and hates Gryffindors. Why?'

George removed his hand with a shake of the head. 'No reason.'

Fred raised an eyebrow. 'So Snape likes your class for some reason. Wonder what?'

'Does it matter?' Harry said, finishing his sandwich.

'Not really, I suppose.' Lee shrugged. 'It's just weird.'

'Yeah. Weird.' The twins echoed as Harry and Ron stood up, heading down to Hagrid's, glancing at each other briefly.

It wasn't like anything important had happened.

Next: Because he knew the rules...