Lily and Severus are lying on their backs in their meadow. They call it their meadow because they meet here every day and spend hours together talking and charming objects to dance around as they please.

"Oh, Severus, I can't believe the time has finally come! We leave for Hogwarts tomorrow!" She looks over at him grinning from ear to ear. His eyes dart from her face to the blade of grass he is sliding between his fingers. He notes how closely it matches the color of her bright emerald eyes. He sneaks a peak of her face, she is still grinning like a Cheshire. He blushes.

Severus has not seen many beautiful things in his life – in fact, the only beauty he has seen is in this meadow, their meadow. The majesty of the opalescent sky, the wild flowers growing willy nilly, even in the most unexpected places – but the most beautiful of all is Lily. Her flaming red hair, bright piercing eyes, and cheeks flushed with excitement. Her most stunning quality however, is her friendship. Lily is always there for Severus. Whether he needs someone to talk to him, listen to him, or just sit with him; Lily is always there. He's thanked his stars many times for the close proximity of their homes.

"Sev?" Lily asks reaching out for his hand, "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." Severus almost whispers, finally meeting Lily's eyes.

"Aren't you excited too?"

"Yeah, I am." It's not exactly a lie, he is excited but he worries when Lily meets other wizards that she won't like him as much.

"Don't worry Sev, you'll still be my best friend." She squeezes his hand and eases his mind.

"Lily! It's time you come home! Say goodbye to your little freak friend!" Lily's sister Petunia calls from the edge of the meadow.

Lily bolts up, her face turning the same shade of her hair, her fists clenching. "Don't listen to her Lily," Severus says quietly sitting up with her. "She's only jealous because she is not like us."

"I know Sev, but I don't like it when she talks about you like that, it's just not right."

"Well, actually she is right. I'm not normal. I'm weird and –"

"Stop Severus. You're right. You're not normal. You're better than that. You are Severus Snape and you are a wizard – the best one I know too!" Lily's emerald eyes shine and she smiles softly at him. Severus grins back at her. She loves seeing him smile – it does not happen often.

"D'ya hear me weirdo? Come home!" Petunia calls again.

"I'm coming Petunia!" Lily yells at her sister. "Bye Severus," she says throwing her arms around his neck, "I'll see you at Kings Cross tomorrow!" With that she runs off to meet her sister. Petunia shrieks when Lily charms a stick to chase her all the way home.

Lily is pleased that she talked to Severus about Platform 9 ¾ before today. Otherwise, she would not have known how to get to it. The portal leading to the platform looks like a regular brick wall so that the muggles, or non-magical people, do not see the Hogwarts Express. The International Confederation of Wizards passed the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy to ensure the wizarding world was kept secret from muggles. Severus told Lily that some muggles did not take to magic very well. Lily did not understand what he meant until she saw the way Petunia acted about it.

"But do I have to go?" Petunia whined. She didn't want to go to the platform to see Lily off – she didn't want to be around all those 'freaks'. Before her parents could say anything Lily spoke up, "It's okay Mum, I can make it by myself, Severus told me what to do." She put her shoulders back to seem older.

Mrs. Evans looked at both of her daughters, a compromise was in order, "We will walk as far as Platform 8 with you and you can go the rest of the way on your own. How's that?"

"Okay!" Lily exclaimed. Petunia simply rolled her eyes. That was the best Mrs. Evans could have hoped for. Once the Evans' reached Platform 8 they bid their youngest daughter goodbye. Lily wrapped her arms around both of her parents and promised to write them. When she turned to Petunia to give her a hug and tell her goodbye – her sister scoffed at her and turned away.

Lily hugged her parents one last time before turning and going toward Platform 9 ¾. She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath and ran for the wall separating her from the wizarding world.