If Severus Snape was one of their own, then Narcissa Malfoy would not have been as angry as before when he coldly, almost smugly described how he had betrayed Sirius Black and Emily Wanlin, indirectly causing their deaths.
No one wanted to be betrayed, especially by someone they trusted. Few people knew that Severus liked Lily Evans, and Dumbledore had kept the secret for him, but that day Snape had made a tremendous scene outside the Gryffindor common room. Even a couple breaking up probably would not have made such a spectacle—perhaps not even that much. To pure-blood aristocrats, one could elegantly throw down a glove and duel, but one could not roll about in the mud. Given Snape's background, no one mentioned it even though the scene had been ugly.
Later, with Dumbledore's support, he became Slytherin's youngest Head of House. Yet in the eyes of the older Death Eaters seated at the same table, he was still that shabby junior.
Presence was a mysterious thing. Everyone could sense it, yet it was hard to define. After living comfortably at Hogwarts for so many years and serving as Head of House for so long, Snape's social standing naturally could not be compared to those fugitives who had escaped Azkaban. Besides, it had been his own home. What was so strange about him not allowing Bellatrix to touch his things?
That was precisely the problem. The Black sisters had lowered themselves to visit that dump of a house, yet he had not received them with trembling deference. What kind of attitude was that?
If Severus truly loved Lily, he would not have remained in the same room as Wormtail, even if he treated Wormtail like a servant.
That relationship was already over. Now Snape was one of their own, and