Disclaimer: I own nothing, made up Rachel and her family and friends, and thats it. I don't own anything else, except for anything you might not recognize, but don't do anything to try and gaine money from me cause I'm a bum and don't have access to this...money you people are greedy for!

Summary: The war is finally over and Voldemort is destroyed. Severus Snape is on the run from both sides, and by chance is given the gift of a possible second chance, but who is it that has saved him and why does she remind him of an old school mate?

The Gift of a Different Life

Chapter 1

Severus Snape stumbled down a dark ally, his side bleeding and the rest of his body aching. Personally, he wasn't quite sure where he had apparated to but all he knew was at the moment he was safe. He sucked in a breath and leaned up against a damp wall trying to remember the events that had just happened a half an hour before. Harry had finally defeated Voldemort. The Dark Lord was finally gone. If he was spotted by anyone in the wizarding world, though, he would be sent straight to Azkaban for the Dementors kiss. The only person that could prove his innocence had died years ago. The young woman that had been his witness for the Unbreakable Vow he had made with Dumbledore. The Vow that he would do anything the man asked of him, even if that meant killing him, which is what Severus did. It's what he had to do to protect Draco and even Harry.

He continued to stumble passed the dark ally and down empty streets. Anywhere he turned, nothing looked familiar. It was a good thing because then there was less of a chance that the ministry would find him right away. His head began to feel light but he attempted to shake it off. Then a popping sound caught his attention. He shoved himself up against the wall of a house and glanced around the corner. Two death eaters were stalking down the street. Snape cursed under his breath and looked for any place to hide. A tall wooden fence was connected to the house. After whispering the Alohamora spell he slid in through the gate and locked it behind him. Severus began to attempt to walk across the green lawn in silence. There was a swimming pool in the center and then a large garden with a beautiful willow farther back.

Severus jumped when he heard a cat hiss, realizing he had stepped on its tail and jumped, "Shit," he cursed under his breath before turning and attempting to run when a light turned on in the house. The ache in his side suddenly began to burn and he collapsed onto the green grass.

"Someone there?" he heard a female voice call. It wasn't British, but an American accent. Severus glanced in the direction of the light and watched while feet in fuzzy blue slippers made their way toward him in a hurry, "Sir?" she spoke kneeling down next to him, "Sir are you all right?"

Severus looked up to be greeted with green/blue eyes, "Help…me…" he whispered with what strength he had, "They're coming…"

Her eye brows furrowed, "Whose coming?"

"Death…eaters…" he whispered before darkness completely over took him.

Rachel sat in silence while she watched her best friend, the young woman she shared the house with, pace around the kitchen, "Laura, I wish you would relax, for just a minute."

Laura's light blue eyes whirled in Rachel's direction, "Relax! Rachel, are you nuts?" if Laura had been Medusa her light blond hair would have been trying to bite at Rachel, "You brought a strange man into the house! Why didn't you call the cops or something? If Richard finds out about this he'll kill you!"

Rachel rolled her eyes, "He may be my twin, but he's still your boyfriend, Laura," Rachel pointed out while running her fingers through her dark brown hair.

"I still don't get it, Rachel!" Laura told her in a whispered, but harsh, tone, "Why did you let him in?"

Rachel looked down at her hands, "You remember my older sister, right?"

Laura nodded her head slowly, "Yeah… The one who was accepted to that…school for witches or something…"

Rachel gnawed at the inside of her mouth nervously, "Well, she always spoke of someone, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or something. She only told me his name once, Lord Voldemort, and that apparently he was a threat to all those who were non magical or were born of non magical parents."

"Yeah?" Laura crossed her arms over her chest with an unbelievable tone, "So?"

"His followers are Death Eaters, is what she told me," Rachel gave a sigh. "Last night, that man, he told me that they were coming, Death Eaters…and something in me told me I had to help him… The look in his eyes begged for help..."

"Something in you?" Laura questioned. "What? Do you have a conscience now?"

Rachel rolled her eyes, "Look, you have work to go to; I have the next three days off. I'll talk to him; see what I can figure out. In any case, he's going to stay here until he's healed, so just stay quiet about it for me, please? Just this once?"

Laura sighed and nodded her head, "You've always been good at judging people, so I suppose I can't give up on you now, huh? Just…be careful… and for the moment, don't let your sister know he's here."

Rachel nodded her head, "Have a good day at work, k? And tell my worser half hi for me."

Laura smirked, "Will do, don't worry."

Severus opened his eyes slowly and instantly shut them at the light pouring in through the large window across the queen size bed he lay in. After a moment of arguing with himself he finally began to open his eyes slowly. He was in a white room, but it was obvious it was a room in a house, not a hospital. When his eyes finally adjusted to the light around him he realized he had no shirt on and a white bandage was wrapped around his waist. He guessed this to be a guest room because it looked like it was barely used, but kept clean all the same. A white dresser sat next to the door to a hallway and on the other side there was a white door to a bathroom. White curtains hung next to the half way open window that let in a gentle breeze.

Slowly sitting up he noticed his black robes and under shirt sitting in the chair next to the bed he was in. Severus attempted to sit up but the pain in his side sent him instantly back onto his back. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the pain and slowly eased his breath from the sudden shock. This would be a problem.

I remember… he paused for a moment thinking to himself while he kept his eyes closed, I remember a girl…or a woman…she was wearing ridiculous slippers, covered in blue fuzz and black dog foot prints…or some animal's paw foot print… Did she help me?

He heard the door that lead to the hallway creek open and foot steps. A sigh escaped the girl's mouth and he cracked on eye open to look at her. She was slim, with some attractive curves, dark brown hair, and a tray was in her hands, "You don't have to be afraid of me," she spoke gently taking a seat at the chair and setting the tray of food on the side table, "I don't have a weapon and I can't use magic."

Severus stared at her. Those eyes…they look so…so much like Lilly's but…bluer… It seemed forever for him to come up with any words, and when they came out it sounded like there was some sort of frog in his throat, "Who are you?"

"Oh right, my names Rachel," she told him with a gentle smile. "What's yours?"

Severus blinked. He wasn't used to kind smiles; then again he had been stuck with Death Eaters for the last year, not to mention Lord Voldemort, "Severus…"

She nodded her head and then quickly shook her head as if remembering something, "I brought you up breakfast so… You can go ahead and eat up… I'll be back later to check on your wound and…" she paused as if thinking to herself. "If I can find a decent book I'll bring you one in…"

Severus nodded his head and watched while Rachel set the tray on his lap. A small whiff of her scent reached his nose. It smelt just lightly of lavender and flowers. She straightened her posture, gave him one last smile, and then left the room. Severus looked at the tray she had set in front of him and tilted his head. There were scrambled eggs, bacon, a pancake, toast, and orange juice. Slowly, he began to eat; now realizing how hungry he was. He hadn't truly eaten a full meal in three days because of the on going battle. It just felt so odd knowing that he didn't have to be on alert about a war anymore. If he was lucky he wouldn't have to deal with the Death Eaters or the Ministry until he was well enough to defend himself.

While he ate his thoughts turned back to the girl who had saved him, Rachel. Every little thing about her reminded him of Lilly. The reason he could never really hurt Harry, and the reason he had gone to Dumbledore for help all those years ago. Lilly had given him that same kind smile that Rachel had, Lilly had been his friend even when he acted like he didn't want it. The memory of Lilly was what had kept him alive all these years.

Rachel walked down to the kitchen to clean up the mess she had made while making Severus' breakfast. She had made some for herself, which she had eaten, but when she cooked it always was a mess. She jumped when she heard a voice that sounded like her sister's, "Rachel!"

She whirled around and in the fire place was her sister's head, "Bethany!" she snapped with a hushed tone, "I wish you wouldn't do that! Couldn't you just use the telephone!"

Beth's head smirked, "I could, but you see wizards don't have electricity or your muggle phone."

Rachel rolled her eyes and made her way over to the fire place, "So, what's up? You said the fireplace was only to be used for emergencies."

"Well, it isn't exactly an emergency but its good news!" Beth's head was smiling like Rachel had never seen before.

Rachel sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, "You going to tell me or are you just going to leave me hanging here?"

"Well I'm getting married in three weeks and Voldemort was defeated yesterday!" Beth's head did a twirl like she was doing a little dance.

Rachel smiled slightly, "That's wonderful news Beth! Send Ginger, your owl, over with the wedding details and I'll meet you when you want me to."

Beth smiled, "Great! Oh yes, and it's your job to find a date because I said so!"

Rachel raised an eye brow, "Um…okay… I'll see you later sis, I have to finish cleaning up after breakfast."

Beth's eyes widened, "Breakfast? You don't make breakfast unless company is over…is it a guy?"

Rachel rolled her eyes, "I'm going now Beth, lots of work for me to do! Bye!"

An hour after Severus was done eating he found himself attempting to stand. He was stiff, but his side didn't ache as much. He walked over to the mirror and froze. Something was off. He looked almost ten years younger. He looked almost twenty-nine. His mind wondered to the night before:

Six months before the battle Draco had gone to the Order at Severus' command. He had been dueling Draco last. He had all ready been wounded and was on the ground. The blond boy had walked up to him slowly with his wand pointed right at him, "Thank you," he whispered to him, and then he had muttered a spell that Severus couldn't hear. A bright blue light had shot from his wand surrounding Severus' body. Severus had apparated right then with only the intent on getting away to a place he didn't know. He remembered the pain that his body had under gone. It was like someone was ripping his bones out one by one and replacing them with knew ones, younger ones.

"Why didn't I realize it then?" Severus whispered to himself while touching his bruised cheek. He looked a young twenty nine, instead of a withered thirty-nine. His stomach was flat with a six pack like it had been those ten years ago. He turned to his robes and began to dig through one of the inside pockets. He had one last potion left. It was a healing potion. He swallowed the potion and forced himself not to gag. Another pain surrounded where his wound was and he let out a small cry of pain while he fell back onto the bed.

After a moment the door flew open and Rachel was there in an instant. Except Severus was all ready removing the bandage to show a blood stained scar to where his wound used to be.

"Oh…" she spoke while her face flushed slightly, "I thought you had hurt yourself…I'll um…yeah…" she looked around for a place to escape and quickly left the room and headed down the flight of stairs.

It seemed she waited down stairs for an hour. The shower up above had turned on, and then off ten minutes later. Rachel was sitting at the dinning room table and staring at her hands. Her nails were painted black and just slightly shiny. She gave a sighed and thumped her head against the table.

"Hitting your head against the table won't help you any," a voice spoke, almost coldly, from the hallway.

Rachel lifted her head slowly and looked up to find Severus. He was dressed in a white button up collared shirt and his hair still damp from the shower; "Hey…" she spoke clearing her throat and standing slowly. He was tall compared to her. Rachel stood about five foot five and her head barely met his collar bone. "So… How you feeling?"

"Better," he commented attempting to find a way to make this situation less awkward. He kept his eyes facing her while Rachel was looking down at the ground nervously, "I owe you my thanks and my gratitude," he commented taking a seat in the chair just across from where Rachel was sitting. She took the hint and sat as well. "You didn't have to, but you came to my aid and saved my life last night."

"It was nothing really…"

"Don't," he spoke almost reverting to his teacher tone, but he quickly softened it, "don't belittle what you have done for me. It was courageous; given the fact you seemed to know what I was running from…"

"Death eaters," Rachel nodded her head. Severus took the next moment to look at her. She was timid, had to be just a little over twenty years old, and she was pretty. Not a person's typical beauty, but in her own way. "My sister flooed me earlier and told me of Lord Voldemort's defeat… Were you in that battle? Is that why you were so hurt?"

Severus stared at her; he had thought she was just a muggle, "Are you a witch?"

Rachel quickly shook her head no, "No, nothing of the sort, my older sister, Bethany is. She became an auror two years ago, and has been working in the Department of Mysteries for the last year… I don't really hear much from her…"

Severus nodded his head, "Oh… but you obviously know plenty about her world?"

"Yeah, when she had gotten her letter I begged her to tell me everything she could find out about it. I had hoped the next year I would receive the same letter, but I was never as lucky," she shrugged her shoulders and glanced up at him. "Then again, I hear that not many people go to the school she went to…"

"Which school was it?"

"Amthrose school of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she explained with a shrug.

"I'm in America?"

Rachel smirked, "Yes… I thought you knew that."

Severus shook his head slowly, "I had no idea…what part?"

"Montana," she gave a shrug. "I know it's not too fancy, but it's beautiful here."

Severus gave and sighed and for the first time since he entered the room he looked away from her. There's no way…but… he looked back up at her, "Rachel… you never gave me your last name."

"Oh right, it's Evans, Rachel Evans."

So, this is my first Harry Potter Fan Fiction and so yeah. If you guys like it all, let me know…if not…I'm sorry? Anyway, it only takes one review of a person wanting me to update to update. More would be nice, but all I need is one. Ciao!