A/N: I do not own Harry Potter

This chapter has had a bit of an overhaul, but it is the same content. I hope that it the story flows better now and that the grammar and punctuation are on point.

Chapter 1 - Severus' Story.

Lily has always been my life - well since we met at the age of nine. I saw her perform some accidental magic. I watched her for such a long time, hoping that I might pluck up the courage to talk to her. I wanted nothing more than to be her friend. To say I was in love with her then would be corny, but maybe it's true. I did finally pluck up the courage to talk to her. I had seen her, and her sister playing, and I watched her make a flower flutter open and float away. Her sister didn't know how she had done it, that's when I spoke:

"It's obvious, isn't it?" I said, no longer able to keep quiet.

"What's obvious?" she asked her red her flowing in the light breeze, and her eyes alight with curiosity.

"I know what you are," I whispered so only she could hear.

"What do you mean?"

"You're... you're a witch," I whispered with a smile, but she looked upset.

"That's not a very nice thing to say to somebody!" she turned her nose in the air and marched off towards her mundane sister; I was a little afraid that this would mean I wouldn't have the chance to speak to her again.

"No!" I had shouted back to her.

I needed to make things clear. They both looked angry, disapproving of me; how I looked and what I had said.

"You are," I looked directly into her green eyes. "You are a witch. I've been watching you for a while. But there's nothing wrong with that. My mum's one, and I'm a wizard."

She still looked slightly shocked. Her sister Petunia laughed, it was a cold and harsh laugh.

"Wizard!" she shrieked, she seemed so courageous now, "I know who you are. You're that Snape boy! They live down Spinner's End by the river."

The area was not the best, and it was clear that Petunia wanted to highlight this for her sister. "Why have you been spying on us?" she asked.

"Haven't been spying," I replied.

I felt hot and uncomfortable, self-conscious even.

"Wouldn't spy on you anyway," I continued.

My spite at the horrible sister getting the better of me. I never liked her.

"You're a Muggle."

She knew my tone, maybe not the word; she knew I meant nothing nice by it.

"Lily, come on, we're leaving!" her shrill voice ordering her younger sister.

Lily had obeyed glaring at me as she left. I had been planning to speak to her for so long; it had all gone so horribly wrong.

It all worked out in the end, Lily found that she could do these little bits of magic and she soon sought me out. She was so hungry for information - we talked about every aspect of the magical world I could think of; Hogwarts, The Ministry of Magic, even Azkaban. We grew to be very close before we got to Hogwarts. She was my best friend. It didn't work out so well for her and Petunia: she was jealous and mean. It was worse after she sent that letter to Professor Dumbledore. I swore even then I would protect Lily, even from Tuney.

Things were more complicated as we went to Hogwarts. I realised that on the train, we sat with two other boys, James Potter and Sirius Black. Naturally, we were all first years, and the conversation turned to which house we would be in.

"I'm going to be in Gryffindor where dwell the brave of heart!" James declared, "Just like my father!"

"Sure if you want to be brawny rather than brainy," was my response. The boy Sirius spoke too, for a second we could have been allies, but no.

"My whole family have been in Slytherin for years," he said, James looked shocked.

"And I thought you seemed alright." James laughed, the boy, Sirius, smiled mischievously.

"Perhaps I will break tradition!"

The train ride took a drastic turn; the boys were both rather rude, they instantly disliked me. This was when I gained my somewhat famed nickname; 'Snivellus'. Lily stood by me though; that felt great, the boys there were bright and happy - what one might consider normal. They were the popular type, undoubtedly these were the people she would prefer as her friends. But no, she chose me, and I would always want her.

Before I knew it we had arrived and getting off the train, the first thing we heard was an enormous man shouting for the first-years, Lily and I got into a boat with the two boys from before. Things had not improved much. The boats glided along the lake, and I got my first glimpse of Hogwarts; the worries slipped away, this is what I had wanted for years. This was my escape, this was me finally being 'home'. Lily beside me was just as excited, and she clasped my hand tightly.

"This is going to be great Sev," she whispered, her beautiful green eyes alive with excitement.

The boats glided under an archway covered in a curtain of ivy, soon we were in a large stone entryway. We got out and made our way to the large oak entranceway, and then we were met by a rather stern looking witch, she introduced herself as Professor McGonnagal. She told us about the different houses. There was more waiting, but all too soon she led us into the dining hall. The Great Hall was wonderous; the sky in the ceiling, and the floating candles; it was just like my dreams. We had already known so much, Lily had gotten the book: 'Hogwarts: A History' - we had spent the last month devouring it together. We even the heard the Sorting Hat sings a song about the different houses. I knew where I was likely to be placed; Slytherin, it seemed almost like a done deal to me. I stood and watched patiently as names were called out, and before long I felt that our friendship was over.

"Lily Evans," called Professor McGonnagal.

Lily strolled up to the stool and sat down. The Professor sat the hat on her head, and everything was quiet for a little while. My heart pounded in my chest, desperately hoping: 'Please say Slytherin, Please say Slytherin!'

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted.

The table where the boy Sirius Black sat erupted in cheers; soon enough James Potter followed. I felt her slip away even as I watched her happily walk over to the Gryffindor table.

I knew I would never be in Gryffindor; I knew I was Slytherin through and through. I also knew that Slytherins and Gryffindors don't exactly get along. She sat there next to the boy from the train. A boy I didn't like. A boy that hated me already. The one that was so proud to be a Gryffindor; just like his perfect little daddy! Some of us didn't have perfect dads to model ourselves after; some of us just did the best we could with what we had. I am ashamed to say it now, but even then I was bitter. I gave him a chance about as much as he gave me one. It didn't help that I was painfully jealous of him and all that he had. The rest of the sorting was a blur - that is until she called out my name;

"Severus Snape."

I made my way up to the stool; I wanted to be with her, but I didn't want to be a Gryffindor. I didn't want to lose her; she wasn't just my best friend, she was my only friend.

"SLYTHERIN."

My grief was mingled with joy; I was finally happy to be here, away from home, and away from my family. That joy came with a stab of separation; she was the light in the darkness, and that light seemed to travel further and further away.

Much to my surprise, our friendship flourished despite being sorted into opposing houses - myself in Slytherin and Lily in Gryffindor. It wasn't plain sailing; we had our ups and downs, and sometimes the less than savoury friends I kept caused problems with Lily. I had tried to explain;

"Lily, If I'm honest, I don't have much choice here; I need friends in my house."

"Severus, they aren't nice people - they cursed Mary." She had whispered.

Mary was a friend of hers; I knew that they had done it, there was no question - they were in even proud of it.

"I'm sorry, I'll try and get them to stop. You understand though, right; the way that James Potter and his friends are after me? I can't have the Slytherins after me as well!"

I remember how her eyes had softened, how she realised just how bad it was for me at Hogwarts.

"You know I have your back, right!" she urged.

I knew Lily always had my back, but it wasn't the same having her stick up for me. It was different having a bunch of lads behind you. It was less humiliating, but I couldn't explain that to her.

Macnair and Avery weren't good for Lily and me; they hated her, she hated them. She had a good reason - they boasted about being Pure-bloods, and how they were better than everyone else. They called her a 'mudblood'. There was such a buzz in Slytherin about joining the Pureblood movement, and whatever wackjob inbred family were doing now to further the cause. For me, there was a kind of glamour to it; the idea of belonging, and somehow they didn't mind that I was a half-blood. The fact that I despised my father helped. I had never belonged anywhere before; I had wanted to belong at Hogwarts, but I missed out on that too. They offered something that I craved.

As we got older things changed more so. I was definitely in love now; she was the most beautiful girl in Hogwarts, no one would question it. , James Potter, he had his eye on the prize for sure, and this somehow led to an increase in his 'pranks'. I wanted so much more than being Lily's 'best friend'. Her smile made me weak at the knees, her eyes; Merlin, they were the only things worth looking at. But at the same time, the pressure in Slytherin was too much to bear. Then there was the pressure from Lily to show her that this wasn't who I was. I swear that it wasn't who I was then, and it's not who I am now. I could see that she needed it to see it, I wanted to give it to her, but the Slytherins needed me to commit to them too.

I needed to feel like I belonged, they openly offered it to me. There was a family; the Lestranges - they were starting to act on long-held prejudices. The Slytherins loved that and, they wanted me to be part of it too. I needed it because I needed to survive Hogwarts, and I alienated them there would be nowhere else to turn. There wouldn't be a safe place for me - I felt like I was being split in half.

In the fifth year, I finally felt like I wasn't being split apart anymore - things finally changed. That feeling of being pulled in two different directions ended. What sweet relief and yet it looked like the dream was over. We had just finished our Defence O.W.L's; it was the Marauders again, they still loved to torment me. There was no maturing them. I gave as good as I got; I wasn't going to take it lying down. Today, however, I was absorbed in my exam. I was just sat looking through the questions when I heard them approaching, bragging.

"This'll liven you up, Padfoot," said James, his voice was quiet. "Look who it is…"

That was when I should have got myself prepared. However, I was engrossed and not paying attention.

"Excellent," he said softly. "Snivellus."

I hated that name, it made my blood boil; I lost control when they called me that. Luckily, today it wasn't really on my radar; so at least I had the higher ground due to not starting this fight. I heard them approached and finally, I had the good sense to stand up and leave - but I was still too late.

"All right, Snivellus?" said James loudly, he was cocky, arrogant, handsome, and everything I wasn't.

Star of the Quidditch team! How could 'Snivellus' compare with that; what would Lily ever see in Snivellus when there was James Potter. This is what ran through my mind when they approached me: this is why I was too slow.

"Expelliarmus!" He shouted, my wand - my lifeline, flew twelve feet into the air; it fell on the grass just behind him.

Things just got worse from there; there was an 'impedimenta' jinx as I failed to get my wand back. I had no defence - then students began to crowd around - watching me, they all looked highly amused! Maybe it's my point of view; Lily later told me that they weren't all against me. All I saw was a crowd of people jeering, cheering; enjoying the entertainment. Me alone surrounded by enemies, no defence, that was the Hogwarts version of a show.

"How'd the exam of, Snivelly?" James taunted. He messed up his hair as he went.

"I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment," Sirius added; smirking - oozing charm. I hated him. "There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word."

I tried to get up, but the Jinx was too strong. It didn't stop me from fighting it though - to struggle against the invisible ropes that bound me.

"You - wait," I panted, exhausted from fighting.

I stared at his arrogant face: loathing every inch of him.

"You - wait!" Oh yes, I felt only the purest loathing for James Potter.

"Wait for what?" said Sirius coolly. "What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"

I couldn't help myself, a string of interesting swear words flew from my mouth; all control was gone. That's when they felt they had the higher ground I suppose; because my foul mouth was so much worse than the blatant bullying and torment of a fellow student! They hit my mouth with Scourgify, soap filled my mouth, and it tasted disgusting. It was then that she stepped in.

"Leave him alone" She stood in front of me - defended me.

Even as strained as things were she never abandoned me: not yet. In hindsight, this should have elated me; it was a sign that she saw me. It should have been proof that I was held in higher esteem than Potter. But at the time all I felt was embarrassment and shame. This is what happens when boys start to really notice girls: they stop thinking entirely. I don't really recall what they said to one another, and before I knew it was yelling at her that I didn't need her help. Like I said, boys stop thinking... entirely. I only realised the damage that I had done as she finally walked away.

"Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in future."

And with that, she stalked off. They continued to taunt me of course; but that was the end of what I would consider my worst memory: the moment I believed I had lost her forever. Assuming that I had lost her probably saved my life.

I of course went and apologised, but it meant nothing; they were, after all, hollow words. The only way to win her back was the promise of action.

"I'm Sorry." I urged.

I had waited outside the Gryffindor Portrait all night; anything for the chance to speak to her - to see her.

"I'm not interested." She wouldn't even look at me.

"I'm Sorry!" I pleaded.

"Save your breath,"

I remember her in the dressing gown as she stood there outside her common room, her body language said it all; Severus, you don't stand a chance.

"I only came out because Mary told me you were threatening to sleep out here." She added curtly. Her shoulders shifting as though to turn back the way she had come.

"I was, I would have done, I never meant to speak to you like that, to tell you to leave! That word… It just…"

"Slipped out?" she interrupted.

Her face was hurt, I could see it; she never hid anything.

"It's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious little Lestrange friends - you see, you don't even deny it! You don't even deny that you want to join their filthy cause, can you?" she was almost begging me to contradict her.

"I don't want that, they do, I promise I don't" I was almost begging.

I looked at her, willing her to see me.

"You're right: I don't deserve a second chance - and I know I am further on than that!" I paused, my throat catching.

I knew that she was doing the right thing by cutting herself off from me; that it was what was best for her, but I was going to beg anyway. I got on my knee's

"I would give them all up, my Slytherin friends; the cause means nothing to me, nothing. I just wanted to feel like I belonged." I choked.

I felt it then, how pathetic I really was.

"Sorry isn't enough. I know that I need to show you; I would happily belong nowhere just to be your friend." I finally dared to look up: her eyes, there was still no pity there, but there was warmth.

"You have to drop it all." She spoke sternly despite the warmth in her eyes. "And you drop them - there can be no more compromise Severus." With that, she turned and left.

And there was never anymore compromise. I was a rare Slytherin. I rarely ate in the Great Hall, only when I had to. I sought solitude with Lily whenever I could - outside of lessons I was with her. It wasn't long before there were other Gryffindor friends. They were all so different from myself, but they were warm, and most of them accepted me for who I was. There was still the Marauder problem. I also Frank Longbottom now - he had my back until he graduated at the end of my sixth year. His example did a lot for me. I was still part of the 'Slug Club', but now I got to know Slytherins who were not of the same mind as those in my year.

It wasn't all smooth sailing, a friendship with Macnair and Avery wasn't lightly thrown aside; I spent more nights in the Hospital Wing than any other student. Halfway through my sixth year, I was using the Room of Requirement to sleep if things got too rough.

Lily hadn't needed much time at all; she always offered protection. It took time to get the closeness that we had before the strain; but once I got it back, it only grew. I also needed the help of the teachers. That was something I didn't want; Lily insisted and dragged me kicking and screaming to Dumbledores office. I think he finally understood what it was like being a Slytherin at Hogwarts - the pressure that we felt and how hard it was not to follow the 'easy path'. I won't deny it; going that way would have been so much more comfortable. But now I everything I held dear wasn't slipping out of my fingers. She really is everything I loved; well until later.

I was made Prefect in my sixth year, and that bit of authority helped; it also helped others. I tried to stop other young Slytherins, so they didn't end up on the path I had been on. I was even brought to specialised defensive lessons with some select students. In the seventh year, I had been made Head Boy and Lily Head Girl. We were closer than ever at this point; I loved her so much I could burst.

I had finally pulled myself together to ask her out on a date and bloody hell, she said yes! I remember that day particularly distinctly. The following weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend, and we were doing homework under 'our' tree. It was early in the school year, and there was a blanket of snow starting to fall. The only way we survived in the tree was a series of charms and enchantments we had around the tree keeping it warm and dry, and the blanket I brought out with us wrapped around our legs. Her hair fell in her face as she read the chapter we were studying, a slight frown on her face as she concentrated.

"Lily," I swallowed hard. My nerves threatened to take over. I needed some of that Gryffindor bravery; I needed to be a bold Gryffindor. Now courage, I can do that, I had gotten used to it by now, but bold is something I am not.

"Whats up Sev?" she looked up at me smiling. Like I said, her smile makes me weak at the knee's; to this day it sends me spinning.

"I wondered, and honestly if you don't want to, that's fine too," I stumbled.

"Sev, just ask the bloody question." She laughed.

"I want to take you to Hogsmeade next weekend," I blurted out.

"Sev, we always go to Hogsmeade together." She smiled confusedly.

"No, I want to take you to Hogsmeade, maybe we could go to Madam Puddifuts?" my blood boiled, not from anger, but from pure nerves and embarrassment; I could feel my sallow face turning beetroot red.

"But you hate Madam Puddifuts, you said, and I'm quoting 'it's for silly boys with no imagination to take girls on a date.'"

"Considering I'm too nervous to use my imagination, I would like to revise my earlier comment." Then she looked up at me, her expression changed.

"Are you?" she began.

"Yes, but like I said, if you don't want to that's ok too. We can go somewhere disgusting like the Hogshead, and I'll die a painful death in the friend zone..." I tried to joke, but my heart was well and truly on the line.

She never responded. To this day she hasn't really said anything in response to my question - to the subsequent statement; she just got up on her knees and planted the most blissful kiss imaginable on my lips. I assumed I was ok to take her to Madam Pudifuts after that.

And just like that, I had hope in a hopeless world. Lily became anxious; the pressure had started again. They had never left me alone, but now it was amplified; I was due to leave Hogwarts and was considered a capable and robust wizard; and a highly skilled potioneer. The Lestranges pursued me to no end. But I had a collection of friends now, even Remus, a former Marauder no less. How that happened is a whole other story. Let's just say Remus didn't take to Sirius tricking me into walking in on him mid-transformation too well.

Maybe I was far too outspoken about the Lestranges; I hated the pressure that they all came under because of the house that they belonged to. Slytherin did not need to mean 'prejudice.' I feared for younger students that were impressionable and often looked up to those that used the word 'Mudblood' a little too freely. They were just like me, needing to belong somewhere; and they got it in the wrong place. This is what was responsible for my frequent trips to the Hospital Wing; eventually, Professor Dumbledore even offered me separate quarters for protection. I declined thinking of the younger students and wanting them to have a healthy and positive Slytherin role model - they seemed so rare. There is nothing in our make-up that says we must be prejudice.

My seventh year was far to like Romeo and Juliet for my liking; even without prejudice, Slytherins and Gryffindors did not date. It didn't just come from Slytherins either - there were many Gryffindors, including the rest of the Marauders, who felt that I was merely defiling Lily. But Lily and I only grew stronger; it was in that pressure has given us the firm foundation. I thank the cause for pursuing me, for making it so hard; it was an excellent foundation for our marriage. Though that happened after Hogwarts.

The only protection I had ever accepted from Dumbledore was the specialised lessons in Occlumency and Legilimency. I became quite proficient, and this enabled me to work with him in many exciting ways. I was subsequently joined the 'cause'. It took a lot of working my way up to the Lestrange brothers, Bellatrix, the wife, never trusted me. But I was able to get Professor Dumbledore exactly what he needed to end the cause. I prevented a muggle attack on Lily's parents. That's when I was found out and tortured; but that was ok, I survived, and the 'cause' was ended. I know others are likely to pick it up, prejudice won't die out so quickly.

It was as I was lying in the hospital wing, having just returned to Dumbledore, that I asked Lily a burning question. We would graduate in mere days, and I wanted her to do that with a ring on her finger. I lay on the bed; exhausted, I heard her running down the halls getting closer. I saw her rush through the doors her brilliant red hair flying behind her, my Lily.

"Sev!" she rushed straight to my side - her hands clasping mine in an instant, "Oh, look at you!"

"I'm fine, I mean who hasn't taken a good dose of the Cruciatus Curse these days?" I smiled. All I wanted to do was set her mind at ease.

"Whoever said Slytherins couldn't be brave hasn't met you." She smiled. I just about managed to reach my hand behind her neck and pull her towards me, capturing her lips, my all time favourite thing to do.

"I love you." I smiled at her.

"I love you too."

"That's great, but I'm trying to say something here!" I actually laughed.

She giggled.

"I love you so much - you have no idea. I wish you could see it, I wish you could see what I think of you; there are no words for it. I love you doesn't cover it, you are everything,"

Tears filled her eyes at this point, and I knew she got the hint; she knew exactly where I was going. It didn't matter, only the answer mattered.

"I want to take care of you for the rest of our lives; just like you have taken care of me. Lily, will you marry me?" I asked, nerves bubbling up inside.

Her delicate pink lips spread into a glorious smile as the tears fell down her cheeks, her head nodding furiously.

"Say it," I whisper into her ear.

"Yes, I'll marry you!" her smile somehow managed to light up even more.

"Help me up," I asked.

I'm no longer ashamed to need her, to have her stand up for me, to have her help me; my arms wrap around her, and hers around me and she pulls me up, so I am sat on the bed. I open the drawer and pull out the small ring box. Her eyes lit up; I can she's deliriously happy. I slide off the bed and down on to my knees as I open the box to reveal a ring, gold with a small diamond. I was not even close to being a wealthy man; I have upgraded the ring since, but I know that she prefers the one I asked her with.

"Marry me," I asked again.

"I already said yes!" she laughed.

"Yes, but I'm doing the down on my knee bit! I only get to do this once; I need to do it right." She got on her knees in front of me and handed me her left hand.

"Yes," she whispered into my ear. I slipped the ring on her finger, and I kissed her furiously.

After leaving Hogwarts, we were married in a small ceremony. I didn't know much about my family at that time; my mother would not come without my father, and I would not have my father there. Lily's parents were there though; that meant that Petunia and her husband made a show, the human walrus. Apart from them, it was friends; the Longbottoms, Remus, the Prewitt brothers, Albus even came, and for some reason Horace Slughorn. Potter and Black, of course, weren't around. The grudge never did die. He didn't need to work, but I often saw Sirius at work. He worked in the Ministry of Magic, in the Department for Magical Games and Sports, apparently changing the world one Quidditch game at a time. I worked in the Department of Mysteries, not as an unspeakable, but the potions division. I did research and creation of spells and potions. Initially, I worked checking spells, potions, curses and jinx's that had been created to ensure that they were safe. Witches and Wizards were often creating and forgetting essential components of the make-up of magic. I proved to be a talent and was soon a part of the team that came up with the Wolfsbane Potion. From there, there was only up.

It was in 1980 that our son was born. I'll never forget the moment she told me. I had never been as excited in my life, and I will always remember the day I brought my son home. That was the day that Lily wasn't everything anymore, Harry was right with her. Lily insisted on having my name in there, I was adamant that he had something else for his first name; there was no way I would saddle my son with 'Severus', Harry, after Lily's Grandfather, he had always been a kind man. Harry Severus Snape was born on 1st August 1980.

A/N: Thank you for reading, this is just the prologue, and this story isn't a priority for me right now, it's a side note, updates are likely to be slow.