A/N: Dumbledore is also alive in this fanfiction. That's the other only non-canon change I've made. This is my first story, so any feedback is welcome. I'm looking for constructive criticism, and if there's something you'd like to see happen, let me know!

Snape sat at the head table, searching the crowd of first years, many of whom stopped pointing at him with excitement once they were met with his cruel gaze.

"What is the blasted child supposed to look like?" he snapped at Flitwick, who was to his right.

Like all the other teachers, Flitwick seemed amused by how on edge Snape was about this particular sorting ceremony. "Severus, I'm sure we will find out soon enough." Snape thought he could hear some poorly suppressed laughter among the staff.

Then he heard Minerva call out the name he had been bitterly anticipating.

"Potter, James!"

Snape straightened in his chair. He could sense right away that this boy was the epitome of mischief and arrogance, and Hogwarts was going to have to deal with him for seven years! He walked with an air of confidence up to the Sorting Hat, even shoving a few other students on his way. He turned around and directed a charming smile toward the rest of the students who were situated at the long house tables as they began whispering and pointing at him eagerly.

As he approached the stool, it became more and more apparent that he was almost the spitting image of his father and grandfather, with his messy jet black hair. He had inherited warm brown eyes from the Weasley side of the family, making him look more like the original James Potter than even Harry Potter had.

Right before the hat was placed on his head, he made eye contact with Fred Weasley, a troublesome second year, and grinned. They both gave each other the thumbs up.

It seemed that this hadn't gone unnoticed by the rest of the staff, judging by the fatigued sighs coming from the head table.

"Those two are bound to team up at some point to cause the type of mayhem we've been trying to keep at bay for years!" Snape whispered furiously.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat shouted out.

"No surprises there," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, as if the old man thought it amusing that yet another troublemaker had been admitted to Hogwarts.

"I won't be getting any rest this year. Just look at the boy's name! James Sirius Potter!" Snape spat. "Could Potter not think of anything better to do than name the brat after the two most arrogant Gryffindors to grace these halls? Ha! He, along with his blasted cousin, Fred Weasley, was destined to bring this school down from day one with a name like that!"

A while later, halfway through the feast, James Sirius Potter approached the staff table. However, Snape was not fooled by the innocent smile that he showed them all, since he was all too familiar with it from the days of the Marauders.

Dumbledore gazed down at him through his spectacles, smiling at him kindly. "Hello, James. To what pleasure do we owe this little visit?"

Pleasure? You mean displeasure, thought Snape.

To his alarm, the young menace began to eye Snape with an all too familiar smirk playing at his lips as he told the headmaster, "Well, I was wondering if maybe Professor Snape and I could have…a little chat? Over some tea, of course," he added with a smirk, never taking his eyes off of Snape. His voice was laced with what was obviously fake politeness, and there was a definite undertone of mockery.

What in the name of Merlin? Something was going on here. This had been the last thing Snape had ever expected to hear from a Potter. He was going to get to the bottom of this and figure out exactly what was going on.

But of course Dumbledore felt much differently about this than Snape. His eyes now twinkling uncontrollably, he responded, "Yes, yes! Wouldn't that be wonderful, Severus?" Dumbledore turned around to face Snape. Before waiting for an answer, however, he turned back to James and said, "How about tomorrow right after classes? I shall leave you two alone in my study to chat. I find that it has a rather great atmosphere for this sort of thing."

Snape immediately turned towards Dumbledore. It seemed the meddlesome fool also had some sort of trick up his sleeve! This was very suspicious. After all, why did this need to occur in the headmaster's office, instead of Snape's own office?

Dumbledore asked James, "If you don't mind me asking, is there a particular reason why you've asked me about this instead of Professor Snape, my boy?"

'My boy?' Snape thought. Dumbledore's already striking up familiarities with Harry Potter's little menace. He's going to favor him and let him get away with everything, just like he did with Harry bloody Potter.

"Well, Professor, from what I've heard, I think he's more likely to listen to you than me."

With that, James ran back to the Gryffindor table.

The nerve of that child! He hadn't directly addressed Snape once, even though he'd been discussing him right in front of him!

"This is certainly going to be an eventful year with young James around," Slughorn piped up.

Yes, this was certainly going to be an eventful year.