Lucius Malfoy's lapdog?

Actually, Severus had problems with James Potter and Sirius Black from day one, before they even got to Hogwarts. It all started on the damned train. Lucius and Severus only spent one year in school together, and I highly doubt Lucius was protecting Severus. Severus didn't go to anyone for help; he was too proud, and too ashamed.

And honestly, while my love for Sirius is a deep, undying love, I have to say that I don't put much stock in anything negative Sirius ever said about Severus. Remus knew Severus better than Sirius did, and he never said anything like that. Sirius just had to have something nasty to say about Severus, and you have to remember who he was talking to at the time. Harry, Ron and Hermione, and Sirius flat told them that he didn't know anything about Severus ever being a Death Eater! So...Sirius talked more than he knew.

It's an interesting question. I think they were friends. Look at the things Snape did for Draco. And Lucius, how could he benefit from being friends with Snape? Snape is poor and he's not a pureblood. Lucius doesn't/didn't really need Snape at all. Lucius obviously treated Snape well in school and probably lead him to the group of students who would eventually become DEs. Snape was, I think, lucky, when he had Malfoy to watch his back in school. It seems that his problems with the Marauders started when he had no one to cover his back (that's at least how I interpret Sirius' words about Snape being Lucius' lapdog). All in all, I think they were really friends. At least I wouldn't find it strange. Lily and Lucius were possibly Snape's only friends - one was on the good side, the other on the bad side (which just shows how Snape was always in the gray area).