To Live and Love
Written by Stop and Go
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September 1st had arrived, bringing along a new terrified group of first years through the doors of Hogwarts. Among the new wizards was a greasy haired boy near the back of the group. The other children kept away from him. He's weird, the others whispered amongst themselves, Severus Snape is so weird! He did not care however; the boy knew his knowledge of magic far surpassed any other person in the group. That's all that will matter in the end, he thought to himself, justifying his social inept. His beady black eyes looked at the floor in front of him. What sort of humiliation awaited him in this castle?
"Hello there!" a voice from behind Snape called brightly. He looked up to see a pretty redhead extending her hand to his. "I'm Lily Evans."
Snape hesitated before taking her hand in his. Girls like her never talked to boys like him. "I'm Severus Snape."
She flashed him a wide smile. "Do you know anything about the sorting? Only both my parents are muggles so I don't really know what to expect…"
"Sorry, I haven't heard anything."
"Oh, that's quite alright. I was just hoping …" she replied with a disappointed air. In the distance someone shouted her name and Lily excused herself, promising that they would talk later.
Did that really happen? Snape thought to himself. She talked to me! Me!
Slowly the group formed a single line and filed into the Great Hall. Many first years gasped and stood in awe of the sight in front of them. The hall was decorated in the colors of the four houses and the long tables were filled with students chatting animatedly to each other. Most had never seen such a spectacular and warm place as this. The older students glanced at the incoming students with slight interest before turning their attention to a tattered hat upon a chair. That's when the hat's brim opened and sang –
"With just one quick glance at this hat,
You might just think I'm plain.
But I am here to assure you that,
I am not the same.
I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat,
And I have just one task.
Though many of you know this,
Still some of you may ask.
I divide you - I will sort you,
Into houses, there are four.
So come on, step on forward,
While I tell a little more.
Perhaps in Gryffindor you'll find,
Is where that you belong.
If you're brave and noble then,
This house will not be wrong.
Or maybe you reside in Hufflepuff,
Where loyalty rules all.
Those joining are the patient few,
Who will answer to your call.
The third of all the houses,
Is clever Ravenclaw.
For here, those of learning,
Will always conquer all.
The last of Hogwarts' houses,
Holds cunning in regard.
These Slytherins will always win,
By keeping up their guard.
So come and give this hat a try,
I promise you no harm.
With the correct house and friends in tow,
You'll succeed in spells and charms!"
The hall burst into applause as students were called forward. Snape broke his gaze at the scene before him and returned to examining his shoes. When he heard, "Evans, Lily" sorted into Gryffindor, his summoned up all his courage. Perhaps he too would join Gryffindor.
"Snape, Severus!"
He scurried forward towards the chair and shoved the hat onto his head. Like a prisoner awaiting his sentence, Snape awaited the name of his house. He did not expect to hear a small voice inside his head.
"Ah, I see bravery in you. Intelligent, certainly but a thirst for power … Best be in SLYTHERIN!"
Snape opened his eyes to see an ocean of students on the far left rise up and applaud. He hurried over to the table and sat down next to a boy with extremely blonde hair and piercing gray eyes. From across the hall, he spotted the girl with the red hair sitting next to who he remembered as "Potter, James", "Black, Sirius" and "Lupin, Remus". He saw her laugh in delight at something someone said and felt hollowness in his gut.
"Vile Gryffindors. Their whole house is filled with mudbloods and blood traitors."
The blonde haired boy turned to him. "I'm Lucius Malfoy. Sixth year here."
Snape introduced himself.
Lucius smirked. "Snape is it? I've heard good things about you. Heard you're going to be one of the best in your year. Pity, the recruitments for our house this year were a bit disappointing." At this point, a frightened brunette boy moved down three seats towards his friend. "Shame that that Black boy became a Gryffindor but I always knew I didn't like him as much as his brother. My family knows their family well. At least they have their priorities right. Keeping their bloodlines clean of any muggle filth that comes along. You are a pureblood, aren't you?"
"Yes," he lied.
The feast ended and the prefects were calling out to the first years to follow. Snape rushed past Lucius and towards the stairs leading down to the dungeon. In his haste, he accidentally knocked someone over, Lily Evans. He helped her up and she brushed off her robes.
"Thanks … Severus, isn't it?" She said, her green eyes looking pleasantly into his.
He nodded numbly.
"Well, I'll see you around then." Lily waved goodbye to him as James Potter whisked her away.
Severus Snape felt a small smile creep onto his face as he watched her leave. Perhaps Hogwarts wouldn't be so bad after all.
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With the last day of classes before Christmas holidays coming to an end, everyone in the castle was filled holiday cheer. Hogwarts had outdone itself this year; huge pine trees covered with live fairies stood in every room, garlands of holly decorated the halls and every archway held mistletoe for unsuspecting students. Many students were saying goodbye and wishing each other a Happy Christmas.
Snape was not one of these students.
The Slytherin first year was headed towards the library, a safe haven away from the ridiculous antics of the other students. For some reason that he could not understand, Snape was extremely unpopular among his peers. Most cast him wary looks and avoided him in the hallways. A few, on the other hand, teased him mercilessly. Most prominent were James Potter and Sirius Black.
In fact, these two were quickly becoming troublemakers-in-chief. Snape couldn't turn a corner without being hexed by Potter or Black. Of course, he couldn't take this sitting down. Perhaps Snape's tendency to jinx two of the school's most popular students earned him a reputation as a cold-hearted boy looking out only for himself. His life at Hogwarts had become anything but pure bliss.
Despite Lucius Malfoy being what he probably considered kind towards Snape, he felt rather alone in the looming castle. The kindest person he had met here barely spoke to him and recently kept far away from him. No doubt she had heard the stories Potter told to anyone who'd listen about Snape's 'cruel intentions'.
"Snape! HEY SNAPE!"
Usually, the voice that yelled this would belong to one of the Slytherin gang tracking him down to copy his homework. Other times, it belonged to Potter and Black chasing him down to cure their boredom. However, this voice was light and soft. It belonged to a gentle soul.
"What do you want?" Snape muttered beneath his breath. Lily Evans never came to him without leaving him hurt and confused.
She didn't flinch at his reply. Instead, she held out a beautifully wrapped box and smiled. When Snape didn't take it, Lily took his hand and placed the gift in it.
"Have a good holiday!" She chimed happily before walking away.
He watched her leave before turning to examine the small package in his hand. It was wrapped in golden paper that caught the light and was tied with red ribbon into a neat bow. If Lucius saw me now … He smirked but his expression softened when he unwrapped the gift.
Inside the box rested an ebony ring engraved with S.S. Snape scoffed. Lily clearly knew nothing about him.
But really, wasn't it the thought that counted?
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End of the year exams passed in a blur. Severus Snape felt sure that he had passed each and every one of them. He had taken to studying in every spare moment of the day. No one found his studying schedule particularly strange. Snape was anti-social. Also, spending his time in the library meant time away from Potter and Black who became increasingly annoying as the end of the year approached.
Now there were two people he couldn't wait to be rid of.
For now though, he was sitting underneath the large beech tree near the lake. His pale skin seemed to glow in the grass as he delved into a large book Lucius had lent him. He was struggling to concentrate though; Lily and her friends were a few feet away from him gossiping about the latest romances throughout the school.
Snape glanced upwards towards the group of girls and saw Lily looking defiant. The sun makes her hair look pretty, he thought to himself happily before realizing that if he voiced this out loud, he'd be a dead man. Then, against all good reason, he began to listen to their conversation, hoping to hear the lovely tinkling of her voice.
"That Sirius Black," a brunette girl began, "is so cute! He's got that long hair and oh those eyes! And he's so charming and funny! I wonder if he even knows my name!" She giggled.
"Then say something when he's standing next to you!" Lily teased.
"Look who's talking Lily! Like you even utter a sound whenever James Potter is around." The brunette countered.
A look of disgust flashed across her face. "Potter? You think that I actually like Potter? I find him an arrogant prick that needs to deflate his head. I swear, if he asks me out one more time … "
From beneath the beech tree, Snape smiled and returned to his book. A new thought crossed his mind that had him in the happiest mood he'd been in all day.
After all, its not everyday Severus Snape and Lily Evans find something in common.
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A/N: It's been so long since I've written anything but I've got a good feeling about this one. Expect more soon. I'm on a roll.