Severus Snape had always been good at lying and his life had always been rather tragic.

At the discovery of his magic ability, his father, a muggle, left with nothing more than an angry note. His mother, a Pureblood witch, had never quite been the same.

Snape was emotional as a young boy, and always teased by the others because of it. Sadly, only two people showed him any decency during his stay at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Firstly, there was Professor Dumbledore, a wise old man who appeared to have an attraction for lost souls.

At the end of his third year, when his emotional problems had caused him more pain than ever, Dumbledore took him aside and offered to let him stay at Hogwarts over the summer and learn Occlumency, saying that it would help him in his later years. Severus couldn't have been more enthusiastic.

His only friend went by the name of Lily Evans. She understood him better than anyone else he would ever come to know. And, yet, though she was the only one who had ever shown him any sympathy, he had gone and ruined it.

Through the Occlumency he had learned, Snape had forgotten how to show any emotion whatsoever. Not only was it terribly unhealthy, but it also ended up chasing Lily away.

This is what came into Severus's mind when he saw her in the park that particular fall day. He hadn't seen her since their last day of Hogwarts, but that wasn't to say he didn't know what had gone on in her life.

'Merlin, how could she have changed so much?' he wondered to himself. She was anything but the young girl she'd been when he first met her nearly ten years ago. She had thick, long red hair in a deep shade of red. Her charming smile glistened as she laughed. While he couldn't see it from where he stood, Severus knew that, with better vision, he would be able to see her almond-shaped green eyes.

Lily laughed again, this time, the man sitting beside her on the bench joined her. 'James Potter,' Severus frowned.

James Potter was everything that Severus was not, and, among one of these traits, pride was a huge matter. James Potter was a very proud man.

Severus Snape had to agree with his pride, however, for James had many things to be proud of. He had always had wealth in his family, and still, he had a wonderful job at the Ministry of Magic. He had close friends who would always remain loyal to him. While he hadn't a superb appearance, he was anything but unfortunate looking. Not to mention, he had Lily.

'And a son, by the looks of it.' Noticing the source of their laughter, Severus noticed the small child trying to stand on James's knees by holding onto his hands.

Severus decided immediately that he would hate this child forever. 'What happened, Lily? You used to hate James Potter!'

Truthfully, he knew the answer. It had happened the night Lily's parents died. The whole school had seen her crying over the letter, and Severus wanted to be her source of comfort, but James had beaten him to it.

Severus couldn't deny that she looked happy. St the same time he was at his lowest point, she was at her highest.

Finally, Severus turned, and, his fists clenched, he walked out of the park.

James Potter walked into the house, his son in his arms. "So, did you see who was in the park today, Lily?"

Letting the warm air circle around her as she took her coat off, she took Harry from her husband's arms so he could do the same. "No, who?"

James looked her in the eye. "Snape was watching us."

Lily sighed, shook her head, and looked at Harry. "Don't you ever become like that man, Harry. Don't you even dare.

She sat down on one of the couches inside her home, completely oblivious that any harsh name Severus Snape had ever called her was all a lie.