Chapter I: Loss

"James!"

The scream ripped from her bosom, as she watched in horror when the brilliant green ray of light made contact with him. James' body formed a graceful arc, standing motionless for a split second, before collapsing, his face forever imprinted with the silent shock of death.

Her last memory was of Voldemort turning towards her, a ghastly, revolting grimace that might have resembled the twisted smile on his features, and pointing his wand at her…she saw the same shade of green glisten at the wand's end, before the world suddenly darkened in a void of black…maybe she was dead at last…

Lily Evans slowly stirred to life. Her head was pounding with a severe headache, powerful enough to render her thoughtless for a moment. It was with shock that she realized she was currently in her dormitory room at Hogwarts. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary – yet, she somehow felt younger…her Hogwarts graduation had been two years previously.

Deciding to look out of the window towards the grounds, Lily was astonished at the sight. Students were out and about, walking or studying beneath the shade of trees, and the sun was reflected in the calm waters of the lake. Nothing urgent seemed to be happening – if she indeed were as awake and alert as she felt, then today would be a regular weekday in the life of a Hogwarts student.

However, Lily could not comprehend her current situation. James and her had dated for a year, and she suddenly recalled his death – the details were forever imprinted within her mind, and yet, she saw him in the company of Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, sitting beneath a birch tree near the lake.

It was only then that her mind caught up to her senses. A sudden pain in her hand alerted her to the fact that she was squeezing a very irregularly shaped metal object tightly in her fist. She opened her hand, and sitting in her palm, was a Time Turner.

A multitude of questions sprang up at once in her mind, but simultaneously, Lily began remembering details of her sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…

Professor Dumbledore had entrusted this particular Time Turner to her – it was in the beginning of the year, in September – he had told her to keep it secret, because of the power the heirloom represented; for, she recalled, it had the power to not only traverse time, but as well, completely erase it.

Lily Evans sat down on her bed, contemplating her predicament. Her gaze landed on a book, titled History of Magic, Grade Six, and judging by its new cover, she had recently purchased it.

The Time Turner had thrust her three years in the past – by its own doing, or by her will, she did not know, but felt powerless to attempt to find out.

A hesitant knock on the door startled Lily, momentarily distracting her from her thoughts.

"Come…come in," she managed to utter.

The door opened slowly, and revealed the thin and slightly hunched form of Severus Snape. Wearing black robes and looking apprehensive, his sharp black eyes met Lily's confused green ones.

"Severus?" Lily said in complete befuddlement. "What are you doing here?"

"Don't you remember?" he replied, somewhat affronted. "You said you wanted to see me urgently this morning."

"Oh, I did…what about?"

Wondering what could have possibly afflicted Lily, Severus started to turn in frustration, thinking that she was purposefully trying to fool him.

Only in the last moment did he notice the Time Turner clutched in her right hand. Instantaneously, an old, tattered page jumped in his mind's eye. He had read about this artifact before, and the powers it held…but why would Lily have it? Especially since it was the only one of its kind in existence.

Deciding on a wiser course of action, Severus chose to interrogate Lily later – as of the present, he needed to know what she had done, and ventured to inquire.

"James," she whispered in return. "He died; Vodlemort killed him."

Lily said it in a way that would make a listener think she was describing a nightmare. Severus knew better, however. She was telling him the outcome, if she dedicated her life to James Potter – if she made that mistake a second time, he would be killed again.

"I know," he said. "You need rest, Lily. I'll do my best to prevent anyone from coming up here while you sleep."

She was glad he didn't inquire further into her life with James. Retelling the details of his death was one feat that Lily did not feel brave enough to discuss, having witnessed it firsthand.

"Thank you, Severus," she said quietly.

He nodded, and closed the door behind him. Lily laid down on her bed, and let sleep take her over once again…

A/N This is the first chapter of this story...I've never tried an S/L fic before, but I hope this one turns out to be good...be on the lookout for chapter 2. :)