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Severus thought Christmas at Hogwarts would have been better than spending it at home, but he was wrong. The very first day he’d been miserable, watching the small group of his fellow first years playing gobstones from where he sat near the exit.
He’d asked to play, but they called him Snivellus, and made fun of his nose, and told him to go away. It continued like that the rest of the week. Severus guessed he should have known he’d always be out, never in.
On Christmas Eve, the group had gone outside to the Quidditch pitch, Severus trailing along unhappily. Everyone (except Severus, of course) were playing a small game of Quidditch, when Sirius Black, one of the meaner Gryffindors, dropped his wand.
The other first years looked and looked, but with the sun setting, and the fog thickening, they couldn’t find it. So Severus, remembering his training, said Lumos! and helped find Sirius’ wand. He handed it back to Sirius and ducked his head, starting to return to the castle where he might be warm, if not wanted. A hand on his shoulder stopped him.
He turned around and saw Sirius and the other kids smiling at him.
“Thanks, Sevvy!” Sirius said.
Severus grimaced at the nickname, but at least it was better than Snivellus.
After that, Severus was a legend in the first years, and they shouted his name with glee, not disdain. And they even let him join in the Wizard games.