Title: Feathers of the Past

Author: FloppyWandedDementorBuggerer

Rating: T

Pairings: Lily/Severus, Harry/Hermione… Ron/Draco? Hm…

Genre: Family/Drama

Warnings: Er… Idk.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!

Summary: What if Hedwig had actually been Lily Potter? What if Severus was the one to figure it out? Will Harry be thankful or sorry it ever happened? SS/LP, HP/HG, RW/DM? 5th year. Prologue? Screw the prologue!

Chapter One: Unrequited love meet reacquainted love.

Harry Potter was sitting at his bed in Hogwarts reading the next chapter in his potions book by wand light. He had a blanket around him to keep warm this cold December night, which gave him the funny look of being a red Dementor. He looked up from his book when he heard the faint sound of tapping from the window.

"Hedwig?"

He got up and set his wand in his book as a bookmarker before opening the window with a bit of an effort.

"Girl? What's up?" He asked. She had no letter yet she came. Though, she did like to come in from the owlery every once in a while just to visit, which Harry didn't mind.

Hedwig hooted and nudged Harry's face lovingly, looking at him with her unmoving ember eyes. She looked almost angelic in the semi-dark dormitory. Harry let her fly and perch on the unused lamp by his bed while he opened his bottom drawer to take out a photo-album he had since his first year at Hogwarts. A photo-album with his parents pictures all in it, and a few with him, as well.

He opened it and saw a picture of his parents laughing and spinning around, very much in love and happy and another from their wedding and some snowy holidays. Then, he came to one of just his mother and him, it made his heart lurch to see those eyes and how they truly did resemble his own.

"I miss you, mum." Harry whispered, touching the photograph in a hope she could feel him, or perhaps, he could feel her.

Not a single day had passed since he missed her or his father. He didn't quite remember them, but just the thought of having them taken away like they were was so sad. He could've had a normal life. He should be anticipating leaving to Godric's Hollow to be welcomed home by his mother and possibly, a little sibling or two. But no, that would never happen. He'd lost his chance of a true family the day he received his scar.

Harry wiped away a tear and went to put the book away when he saw Hedwig looking at him with an almost human expression. Odd. She looked sad and just pitiful.

"Girl, you all right?" Harry asked, his voice a little tight from emotions, "It's fine, Hedwig. You can stay the night."

Hedwig flew to the lamp and put her head under her wing. A sign she was ready for sleep. Harry decided Hedwig had the right idea and went to bed, too. Since he was the only one in the dormitory, he fell asleep quickly.

(^-_-)^ PAGE BREAK! ^(-_-^)

The next morning Hedwig hooted lovingly to Harry and it made him smile to see the bright white owl fluttering her wings above his head.

"'morning." He yawned, "You'd best get to the owlery, Hedwig. I think some time with your friends would be good."

Hedwig just stared at him with her large eyes and hooted softly and flew near the window, waiting for Harry to open the window.

"There you go…" Harry said as he watched the white figure blend into the snow.

Harry loved Hedwig dearly. She was his second friend and his first birthday present. She was very special.

"Ron. Ron. Ron! Get up! We have potions this morning." Harry said reluctantly as he went and tried to pull Ron out of his bed.

"Five more minutes!"

Harry sighed but yanked the blanket off his groggy friend, "UP!"

After a few half-hearted curse words and a shower, they were headed down for breakfast.

"About time." Hermione said without looking up from her newspaper. She was already almost finished with her breakfast, "I was just reading… There's nothing in here Voldemort related."

"Well, that's good, right? Last thing we need is him to-"

"Yes, but we know things are happening, Harry! You know he's back! If he's not attacking, he's plotting!"

"Well, he's quiet now, so I'm just going to enjoy some breakfast." Harry said. He truly wasn't in the mood for any of this shit today.

"Oh, my- Harry… What's happened to Hedwig?!"

Harry looked up to where Hermione was pointing and saw Hedwig flying sporadically from the opening near the ceiling. He could clearly see red against her white feathers from where he sat. Everyone around them was now watching with disdain as she fluttered down.

"Facock." Harry sighed when Hedwig landed where his plate had been. Her left wing was very maimed and she had crimson dripping down her white feathers.

"Potter-" Professor Snape walked up to the commotion expecting to take away points, but when he saw the injured owl- "Come with me."

Harry scooped up his owl and followed Professor Snape through the Great Hall doors and towards the dungeons. Harry had a slight uneasy feeling that Snape was going to hurt her further, but he looked concerned.

"Set the owl there." He commanded once they were in his private quarters, "You may be wondering why I have bestowed myself to care for your owl?"

Harry nodded.

"Madam Pomfrey is on leave to study the healing techniques of the Bulgarians, in the meantime, it is up to me to care for sick or injured students. Or pets." He added as he cleared the blood away. He first removed the feathers with a quick 'serenus' and proceeded to clean the wound with another spell, "I'm going to give it a potion so that it won't get an infection." Professor Snape said.

"Her. It's a girl."

"Like it matters. Now, I think you have a class to get to?" Professor Snape asked, "And don't worry. I'll take care of the bird."

"Yes, sir." Harry said in a way that was not at all respectful.

Professor Snape continued in his persuit of the potion he needed. When he finally found it, he uncorked it and fed it to the owl by prying open its beak.

"Filthy- there we go. Now just- stay."

Professor Snape took the empty vile back to his cupboard, to the 'empty' side and when he turned around-

"Lily?"

Severus Snape saw before him Lily Potter naked and on the floor. But- Hedwig had just been- and Lily's arm was cut- was Lily- owl- Lily was the owl?! Severus couldn't think straight! She was just as beautiful as he could remember- and she was naked- so that didn't help the old feelings to bubble up like a roaring potion in the pit of his stomach. She was definitely a natural red-head, though.

But how did this happen? How did Lily Potter get turned into an owl in the first place? How did the potion he gave her reverse it? Why is she unconscious?

"Lily?" He asked again as he approached her calmly, "Lily, are you all right?"

He knelt before her and caressed her face with his hand. Oh, how he'd missed her all these years, and to think he'd given up all hope of ever seeing her again. He checked her pulse and felt her heart beating, slowly and steadily and saw her chest rise and fall, albeit a little longer than required.

Here she was. Lily Potter. Very much alive and- did I mention naked?

With a sigh, Severus got up and fetched a robe from his closet to cover her with. He slid it on her with great care and carried her to his bed. Laying down, her hair fanned out around her, the only color around her pale face.

"Lily…" Severus couldn't take his eyes off her. She was so lovely and alive and beautiful and alive- but how will he tell people? Should he? Fuck he didn't want anyone else to know, but he wanted at least one conversation with her alone. He wanted to be the first person she saw.

"Enervate." He said quietly, his wand pointed to her chest.

She drew in a quick breath and only exhaled it at once as a gasp.

"Severus? What's happened?" She asked, "Where am I?"

"You- you don't know?" He asked.

"All I remember is- Harry! Oh, is Harry alright?" She asked, "That man- Voldemort- he came! He was there! Where is he?"

"He's fine." Severus said, "You are at Hogwarts… You- you were apparently trapped as his pet owl for the last ten years."

"W-what?" She asked.

Lily sat up and realized how old Severus looked and the how she herself had aged as well. She saw the slightest tinge of grey about his hair.

"I'm sorry, Lily… We all thought- I mean we buried your body. I'm not sure how you're alive at all."

"My body? But- what about James? Where is he?"

"He's dead. The Dark Lord killed him." Severus said quietly.

"Oh- I think I remember now… But- what's happened to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"He's still alive." Severus said quietly, "Listen- you must know, Lily. I-… I love you. I'm sorry this happened and since I have lived a life without you, I wish to never do so again. You must let me protect you."

"Sev…" Lily wasn't sure what to say. She had just awoken from a hibernation of sort, her mind was still reeling about the loss of her husband, but she was strong. And she still had Harry.

"Just stay here for now. I'm not sure what will happen if you are spotted, especially since everyone thinks you're dead."

"I want to see Harry. Please? How old is he now? What year is it?"

"1995." He said, "He's 15."

"God." She sighed putting her head in her hands, "I can't believe this. I can't believe this at all."

"I will bring him to you later. Would you like me to give him a run-through before I bring him to you?"

"Yes, please."

"Stay here," Severus said again, "I have a class to get to. I will see you at noon."

Severus turned to leave but stopped when Lily's voice came out softly.

"Thank you, Sev."

"Your welcome."

(^-_-)^ PAGE BREAK! ^(-_-^)

Severus' head was spinning like mad when he got to his potions class right on time with the bell, which he didn't expect. He was so out of it that he just sat at his desk and stared at the desk before him.

'Lily is alive. She's alive. I can't believe this. I wonder- I wonder if we'll ever be able to rekindle our old friendship. Or make it more, like I have wished for so long.'

"Is he okay?"

Professor Snape looked up and saw his whole class looking at him with anticipation. His gaze scanned over the student and he caught sight of Lily's eyes on the mirror image of James Potter.

Professor Snape stood up and with a flick of his wand he made directions to a random potion appear on the board.

"Pair up. Brew the potion. Do not disappoint me. Or injure yourself or any equipment." He added in an afterthought.

The topmost drawer to Professor Snape's desk creaked open along with the sound of students getting up to sit by their partner or to get the ingredients for the potion. Once opened, it revealed a secret compartment that could only be opened by the spell that he alone knew of. From its depths he pulled a small photo alum, one he had created when he was still in Hogwarts and best friends with Lily Evans, a surname he could live with.

He was positive that it was the true Lily Evans that was lying in his bed at that very moment, but who had they buried and who made her turn into an owl in the first place? Other than that, how did Potter serendipitously get that owl? The chances were so amazing it had to be planned. But who did it?

AN: What to expect in the next chapter? Harry meets his mother, but will he believe it's truly her? He wants to believe it, but trust Snape? Slightly.

~(short)SNEAK PEAK INTO CHAPTER TWO~

Harry held the old, yellowed map in his hands, but he couldn't believe it. His mother? Here? At Hogwarts? But- no. It had to be a mistake… but the map never lies.