Chapter One

AN: If you are strictly opposed to Snape/Lily, than leave now. I know this is an odd pairing to write about, but after reading Chapter 33 in DH, I decided this was a rather sweet pairing and it might change the outcome of Harry's life. Heck, he might not have even existed if this pairing happened. THIS DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS TO THE LAST BOOK!! So don't read it if you haven't read DH. And am not posting this to receive hate-mail from those who despise this pairing. I will be delighted to read constructive criticism, but please do not send me angry messages because you don't like this pairing! Okay, to the story now!!

Severus Snape was a small boy, even for his age of ten years old. At ten, he was like no other boy anyone had seen, with his sallow face, and stringy, black hair. His pale skin suggested lack of sunlight, although his love of this park told otherwise. Each day would find him sitting in this very park, reading books quite thicker than any boy his age would read, whose covers many thought peculiar, as they bore titles such as "Standard Book of Spells, Grade One" and "Magic Throughout the Ages".

On this particular day, Severus was hiding in the bushes in the park, watching two girls, sisters, swinging. One of them, obviously the youngest, swung a great deal higher than her sister did.

"Lily, don't do it!" the elder girl commanded hopelessly as the younger let go of the swing and dove through the air, landing with unnatural grace and ease.

"Mummy told you not to!" the elder, Petunia, complained as she stopped her swing with her feet then carefully stepped off. "Mummy said you weren't allowed, Lily!"

Lily giggled and replied, "But I'm fine! Tuney, look at this. Watch what I can do."

Even though Petunia saw no one else in the park, she was reluctant to see Lily's "talent". Severus watched soundlessly as Petunia walked to Lily, frightened almost. Lily held a flower whose petals opened and closed rapidly.

"Stop it!"

"It's not hurting you!" Lily replied as she dropped the flower.

Petunia, eyes on the flower, told her sister, "It's not right." There was a pause, then, "How do you do it?"

Severus, unable to sit silently any longer, jumped up and announced, "It's obvious, isn't it?"

Screaming, Petunia ran back to the swings, while Lily stayed where she was, despite how startled she was.

"What's obvious?" Lily inquired as Severus felt a blush on his face, wishing he'd stayed hidden.

Glancing at Petunia, who was well out of earshot, he spoke more softly, saying, "I know what you are."

Intrigued, Lily asked, "What do you mean?"

"You're…" Severus began, then, after failing to come up with a lighter term, said bluntly, "You're a witch."

Apparently offended, she told him sternly, "That's not a very nice thing to say to somebody!"

Angrily, she marched back to Petunia, Severus calling, "No!"

He flapped to the girls, who were both holding swing poles as if for protection from this strangely batlike creature.

"You are!" Severus told Lily. "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."

'Unlike my no-good Muggle father,' Severus thought bitterly.

"Wizard! I know who you are. You're that Snape boy! They live down at Spinner's End by the river," Petunia told Lily, her tone suggesting contempt for the address and it's residents. Why have you been spying on us?"

Severus, uncomfortable under her scrutiny, replied, "Haven't been spying. Wouldn't spy on you anyway. You're a Muggle."

Even without knowing the word, Petunia picked up on his spiteful tone, saying, "Lily, come on, we're leaving!"

The two left the park, Lily glaring at Severus before she turned her back to him and followed her sister.

Severus watched them leave, staring at Lily longingly until she passed from sight around a corner. Defeated, he fell to the ground, unwilling to return home just yet. Laying back against the soft grass, he stared up at the sky, seeing nothing but her face.

As if her face were a depression medicine, he sat up quickly, determined to somehow convince Lily of what she truly was. Excited with his new confidence, Severus jumped up and followed the path Lily took, seeing her in the lawn at the house at the end of the lane. Petunia was with her and they were fighting.

"… dangerous! You could have killed me!"

"Tuney, I didn't drop you out the window! I swear I didn't!"

"What else could have? I was lying on my bed and then suddenly I was flown out the window and dropped!"

"You should be thanking me! I saved you!"

"No you didn't! You just got scared that you'd get in trouble! You did it because you're mad. You wanted to stay with that Snape boy, didn't you?"

"Even if I did, that's not you're business!"

Petunia laughed a cold, angry laugh, screaming, "I can't believe you'd chose that boy over your sister! I can't believe you'd hurt me so you can run away with that Snape boy!"

In a small voice, almost crying, Lily told her sister, "I didn't do it on purpose. I'm sorry, Tuney, I'm sorry!"

Again, Petunia laughed angrily.

"I HATE YOU, LILY!! I HATE YOU!! I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!!"

Petunia stormed inside, leaving Lily alone. Lily dropped to the ground tears coursing down her face.

When she saw Severus, she whispered, "Teach me how to control it! How do I control it?"

Severus, feeling immensely sorry for her, sat down beside her and explained, "I can't teach you how to control it, but I can tell how about our world so you'll be ready to go to Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts?"

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They'll teach you how to control your magic and it will all be better. The headmaster, Professor Dippet, will send you a letter sometime soon."

"Mummy says witchcraft is an evil, devil-worshipping occult."

"Hardly. Only people with abilities Muggles don't have."

"Muggles?"

"Non-magic people."

By this time, Lily's tears had dried and she was looking at Severus, interested.

"Lily! Dinner!" came a sweet voice from inside.

"I need to go. How about we meet in the park tomorrow?"

Severus thought briefly about it, then, seeming to have a better idea, suggested, "Come to the park and follow the path behind the slide."

Lily nodded. As Severus turned to go, she remembered something.

"Wait! I don't know your name!"

He paused, as if contemplating whether or not to tell her, then said, "Severus. Severus Snape."

"Severus. I like that name!"

He smiled, his pack still to her before leaving.

"Bye, Severus!"

"Goodbye, Lily!"