Chapter one:

New Friends

The Evans lived near Spinner's End in Cokesworth, England near the Snape family in the same neighborhood and their household consisted of three young girls along with their parents. The eldest, Petunia, was a dark haired girl with green eyes who was two years older than her fraternal twin sisters, Lily and Iris. Lily and Iris had ginger hair and green eyes, though Iris had a darker shade of green whilst Lily had a lighter shade. It was easy to tell apart Lily and Iris despite being twins however, Iris had freckles on her nose and Lily did not. Lily had a more narrow chin and Iris had a more square chin. Lily was two minutes older than Iris and their parents were both muggles including their sister, Petunia, who didn't get the magical lineage like Lily and Iris had. It was strange for the Evans family to discover the two twin girls having magic, having to dive into their ancestry to find a magical ancestor down their line after getting the Hogwarts letters for both Lily and Iris in the summer of 1971. Before the findings, the Evans thought it was an odd phase before remembering stories from her mother's grandmother about having a wizard in the family.

Petunia grew jealous of her twin sisters after the finding and noticed how their parents seemed to favor the two over her. Though amongst the twins, Lily was most favored over Iris because she was the more extroverted and stubborn of the two. Iris kept to herself more as a child though she considered Lily her best friend since the womb but she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and others. Two weeks before starting Hogwarts, Lily and Iris went to the park with Petunia that was near their homes where they went to play often. Lily and Petunia went on the swings while Iris sat in the middle of the metalroundabout that spun slowly by the wind as she read a muggle book 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austin. Iris waited for her turn on the swings since both were occupied by her sisters, Lily of course always got it first and Petunia demanded one being the oldest. "Is it my turn to swing yet?!" Iris shouted impatiently five minutes later. Lily and Petunia kept swinging as Iris took the flattened, dried purple Iris flower she got from her mother on her last birthday from her book and held it delicately in her palm. "Not yet!" Lily shouted back, causing Iris to look in her direction. Iris sighed as she looked back to her palm to see the flower she held magically become healthy again as if it was just picked. While sisters swung, Iris looked to the trees that were blown by the wind and closed her eyes at the feel of the wind before she heard a thud on the grassy ground. Opening her eyes, she saw that Lily had jumped off from the swing and landed onto the ground on her two feet, laughing at her trick.

Iris sighed before turning her eyes towards the bushes that divided the park from the creek, spotting a dark haired boy watching from afar. She didn't know how long he had been watching them but this also had gotten the attention from Lily, having looked in the direction her twin was looking. "Who is that?" Lily questioned. Iris stood up from the roundabout, closing her book and looked from the bushy area to Lily. "I don't know. Maybe we should ask?" Iris replied, being slightly optimistic. Petunia got off the swing and walked right over. "What's wrong?" Petunia asked forwardly. The dark haired boy had curiously watched the scene going on before disappearing from the bushes when Iris decided to slowly walk towards the bushes with her closed book in her hands. "Come back here!" Petunia shouted. Lily followed as well, causing Petunia to become bothered. "You're not allowed to go by the creek! I'll tell mummy!" Petunia threatened. Both Iris and Lily passed the bushes to see the clear water filled creek and grassy field, standing in silence as Lily opened her hand to a white flower opening up magically in her palm before Petunia followed them in, stopping in front of Lily. "You're a freak!" Petunia shouted, smacking Lily's hand that held the flower and looked at Iris. "You're a freak too! Freaks! I'm going to tell mummy." Petunia spat out before turning her attention to the nearby willow tree.

The dark haired boy came out from behind the nearby tree, catching Iris' attention first before Lily looked as well. The dark haired boy with dark eyes stepped out to show himself to the twin ginger girls whom he had been watching for months each time they came to the park to play though his attention was more on Lily, watching her jump from the swing and landed without a scratch which impressed him. Petunia looked at the boy with a glare his way before a tree branch fell onto her back shoulders, scaring her off, away from the creek area. "Did you do that?" Lily asked the boy. The boy smiled softly before answering. "No." he answered. He went to pick up a clover, having it turn into a butterfly that flew around both Lily and Iris. Lily smiled his way and Iris did as well before she folded her arms in front of her, touching her wrist that was connected to the hand that held her book. "I'm Severus." Severus introduced himself. It was an awkward silence for a moment. "I'm Lily...and this is my sister-." Lily introduced, being cut off by Iris. "Iris. I can introduce myself, thanks. That before was our older sister. She's quite brash." Iris introduced herself then spoke of their older sister with a smile, surprising Lily for a second before looking back to Severus. Severus eyed the two ginger girls he had just met before parting his lips to speak. "You're twin witches?" Severus asked with a smile still in his face. Lily was taken back by his use of the word 'witches', taking it as an insult. "That's not nice, come on Iris." Lily stated, taking her sister's hand to pull her away with her.

"What wasn't nice? It's true isn't it? You made the flower appear? Iris made a dried flower become fresh? You're like me. We're special." Severus explained. Lily stopped in her tracks after hearing the explanation. "Mum and dad did explain we had magic before, Lily." Iris pointed out. Lily figured it was true about having magic and perhaps that's what they were called. "Okay." Lily replied, deciding to stay. Severus was glad that they stayed and went to sit by the creek with them, talking about getting their Hogwarts letter and about their family before getting back home. "Mum, dad...Lily and Iris ran off to the creek while we were at the park and met a stranger. I told them not to." Petunia spewed at the dinner table. Iris and Lily both looked at their parents with guilty looks. "Did you now? You know you're not supposed to go down there, could be dangerous." their mother stated. Iris remained silent as she caught Petunia's glare from the dinner table. "It was just a boy from our neighborhood, named Severus. He's just like me and Iris." Lily explained. Their dad looked surprised but recognized the boys name. "Oh, the Snape's boy, Severus. I don't see any harm, you can befriend to neighbor boy." their dad stated, causing Petunia to be irked more with jealousy, noticing how Lily was the perfect sister.

A day passed when Lily and Iris wanted to go to the park again but Petunia didn't. "You just want to see that other freak you hang out with. No, I'm not going." Petunia stated, storming back into her room. Petunia began writing a letter to Hogwarts in secret, begging Dumbledore to let her go with her sisters. Lily and Iris frowned at their older sister's words. "We can go anyway, it's just over the corner of our neighborhood." Iris suggested. Lily wasn't too keen on the idea but figured that their parents wouldn't be home for a while, they didn't want to keep Severus waiting. "Okay, I suppose Petunia wouldn't notice anyway." Lily replied. They left, Iris with a book in her hand and went to the park, Lily went to sit in the swing and began swinging. "Come swing with me, Iris!" Lily shouted. Though Iris had the opportunity to finally have an open spot on the swings, she wanted to sit by the creek instead. "I actually want to read by the creek. I'll be over there, Lily." Iris stated, walking passed the bushes to the field near the creek.

Lily kept swinging though she wondered why her sister didn't want to swing. Iris walked over to the creek side and sat on the grass, listening to the water pass by before opening her book, 'Pride and Prejudice'. Minutes passed by when she heard a snapping of twigs on the ground from behind her, which caused her to look over and spot Severus leaned against the tree. "Severus." Iris acknowledged, placing a gentle smile onto her lips. Severus looked at Iris before smiling himself. "How are you, Lily?" Severus asked. Iris furrowed her eyebrows at the name he called her which was her sister's. "I'm Iris, not Lily." Iris corrected in slight irritation. Severus straightened up and felt awkward for mixing up the names. Iris closed her book and stood up, brushing her dress off from the grass. "Lily is at the swing set." Iris pointed out, making her way towards the playground before Severus walked over to lightly pull her back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to mix up the names. Honestly." Severus apologized. Iris turned her attention onto Severus, listening to his apology. Iris had always been under her twin sisters shadow but she wasn't as bitter as Petunia had been, Iris was better than that. "Okay." Iris replied hesitantly. Severus smiled warmly at her. "Thanks, Iris." Severus stated seconds before Lily entered passed the bushes.

Severus turned his immediate attention onto Lily when she entered which made Iris' expression fall a little. "Oh, hi Severus. What are you both up to?" Lily asked. Iris went over to the willow tree and sat down, opening her book but keeping an ear open to eavesdrop. "Not much. Just talking. Do you want to join?" Severus asked. Severus thought Lily was beautiful, a crush and Iris was seen as a friend for now. "Sure." Lily said. Lily and Severus laid by the creek, talking about things such as their older sister Petunia while Iris remained by the tree. Did Iris find Severus attractive as an eleven year old? Possibly, but she wouldn't put it out there on display; after all, they just met not long ago. "She's just jealous because she's ordinary...and you're special." Severus pointed out. Lily turned to look at Severus with a small frown. "That's mean, Severus." Lily replied calmly. There was a thick silence before Lily looked over at her sister. "Iris, come over and join us." Lily invited with a smile. Iris closed her book and walked over, speculating which side she wanted to lay on - next to Lily or next to Severus. Iris decided to lie next to Severus while he lived in the middle of the twins. "So, how do you know so much about magic?" Iris asked curiously, staring up at the sky. Severus was caught off guard by the question but liked that it was more of the intellectual type of talk compared to the small talk he got used to when he met them. "My mother is a witch, my father is not. He doesn't like much really. I read a lot of my mother's spell books, I have a lot of free time." Severus explained, though leaving out where his father was abusive and parents fought a lot. "Oh, okay. I like to read too, but apparently muggle books until I get to Hogwarts. Hoping to find good books there." Iris explained. Lily listened on and shook her head lightly at her sister being a bookworm. "She likes to read too much, I prefer doing stuff in the classes." Lily explained. Iris lifted her head a little. "Not that much " Iris refuted. Lily looked at her sister with a slight smile on her lips, amused. "Do too, you're a bookworm, sister." Lily stated before chuckling. Iris laid back flat on her back, staring up at the sky again. "It's not a bad thing, Iris." Lily corrected, being nice. Iris sighed and remained silent.

Severus listened on to the light-hearted bickering and watched the sky as well with a smile on his face. They then had to return home, but wanted to introduce him to their parents which went smoothly as their new friend. When Lily and Iris went to get the orange juice from the fridge, Severus curiously looked around the bedrooms before spotting a sealed letter that looked like the one he got from Hogwarts, with the red seal broken on it, laying on Petunia's bedroom floor. Walking in uninvited, Severus picked it up to read:

"Dear Petunia,

I'm very sorry to inform you that you are not able to attend Hogwarts, school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I cannot make you a witch and deeply sorry about your misfortune.

Kind regards,

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts "

There had also been a letter inside with Petunia's pleading letter before Lily spotter Severus in her sister's bedroom. "What are you doing, Severus?" Lily asked curiously. Severus held the letter in his hand had dropped the letter to the floor before walking out of the room. "I saw the letter and I'm surprised that a muggle could contact Hogwarts." Severus explained. Petunia showed up behind them and noticed Severus had been in her bedroom. "Get out! This is my room. Apparently wizards poke their noses in everywhere!" Petunia spewed before slamming her door at them. Severus was still in shock about the letter and turned to Lily when Iris came to figure out what the fuss was about. "There must be wizards working in the postal service." Severus figured. Lily shrugged. They then went and had their orange juice in front of the television, as Snape of course sat next to Lily. An hour later, Severus had go home and they prepared for their first year at Hogwarts that would come in the following week.