Chapter One:

The day was January 9th, 1975. The cold air was filled with snow and Hogwarts had come back into session. Everyone ready with their presents to show off and their happy stories and triumphs. Severus was alone with his worries.

The Christmas holiday was never something he celebrated and was glad to keep himself at Hogwarts. More importantly than that, he kept himself away from his Muggle father. The man was insufferable, unintelligent, and down right cruel. He could never understand Severus and never saw the want. Severus was reading in the library hoping to keep the Marauders at bay for as long as possible.

Severus Snape was a boy without kind words. A boy with shaggy black hair that hid the love within and kept a firm exterior. He heard her voice from afar.

His dark black eyes were piercing. He knew that many years ago, down by the river, that very instant, he had fallen for her. However, he could never admit it to himself let alone her. His voice wasn't strong enough to tell her everything he wanted.

Lily was the embodiment of his love. Her flowing red hair that slithered down her backside; her kind smile and gentle words; the touch of her hand against his.

"Sev!" Lily exclaimed from afar with a wide smile that closed her beautiful eyes.

Severus was sitting against the wall writing in his Advanced Potions book. His face craned to the side looking towards the voice that rudely interrupted his studies. He caught a glimpse of Lily and immediately stood up from his obsessive work. His pitch-black frame opened up to the glimmering light coming through the windows. He wanted to smile at her but could never find the muscle function to do so. His hardened upbringing made sure that his happiness was kept at the strength of a whisper.

"Lily." His voice beckoned back in a monotone softness.

She bounded up to him with long strides keeping her hands wrapped tightly around her back. Lily was clutching onto a gift she had made him. After all birthdays only come once a year and Severus, her best and closest friend, was turning the bright age of 15. She had to celebrate it somehow. Surprise just happened to be her strong point.

Severus was curious. Lily was always joyous and bright but never commonly to this degree. Her face was brimming with smile after smile and she was lightly swaying back and forth from heel to toe. The Gryffindor scarf swung against her dark cloak and his eyes caught the fraying ends with slight dismay.

"Is there something you wish from me?" His voice was a bit alarmed and mixed with the sounds of accusations and excitement. He loved watching her but his face remained sharp and unfeeling. His mask was holding up.

"I wanted to ask you something Sev." Her pet nickname for him always sent electrified jolts towards his heart. The pressure rose a bit but the physical reflection was not to be seen. "What are you doing for your birthday?"

Severus furrowed his brow turning away from her for a second. His face inverted from the cold exterior to one filled with pangs of guilt, sorrow, and torture. His birthdays were never bright and he never cared to mention them. He wished that she would never bring the sorted subject up again. Snape could never deny her though. He wouldn't let her be rejected away as much as he hated to think of being with his Muggle father and the memories with them.

Lily stared curiously at her friend stepping a bit closer and watching him transform into a painful sheen of a boy but as soon as her silky green eyes met his, Severus pulled back. "Nothing Lily." His voice trailed a bit of softness into her name but as soon as the moment became a bit too tendered, he backed away. His grip was tightening around his potions book trying to send the nervousness of his body to the leather bound object.

"Well Sev, I have something for you." She revealed a box. A plain box wrapped in brown paper and tied with a white knot on top. "I want you to open it and I hope you will be impressed. It took me almost 3 hours to get it right!" Lily Evans shoved her hands into his and lightly dropped the gift into almost shivering hands. The feel of her soft skin on his sent chills into Snape's spin. He drooped his black hair across his face abruptly. His cheeks flared a sudden red and he hoped to avoid the possibility of her seeing through his disguise.

"Thank you. I will open this later. I must insist that I get back to my studies however. Join me if you would like." Severus motioned to a desk nearby with a pair of matching chairs.

Lily loved studying next to him. As misunderstood as Snape was she never could deny his presence while reading always calmed her and focused her thoughts. Together, in unison, they sat into their usual spot and jointly studied in silence. Her warmth and closeness comforted his soul and let Snape view his passion more clearly. He always wanted to show her the Dark Arts that his close friends invited him into but he knew better. Lily hated to see them and he hated to make her unhappy. So instead he would delve himself into potions. He was always good at that. Severus was content as things were until a gripping voice boomed behind them and immediately Snape's heart turned to ice. Potter.