To my faithful and most treasured readers,

I have recently been going through a really difficult time in my life in which many things have occurred, however now I am in a more positive point of mind and while I am busy, I am confident I can manage my time in order to write. I apologise profusely for being so negligent and I will give my hardest effort to keep all informed and in the loop. If you have any comments, questions or concerns feel free to private message me or leave a comment and I shall get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you all, and without further procrastination here are the edited chapters of my fanfiction "Animus Vinctus Magia"

Lots of Love,

M xx

References, Quotes , Characters and etc. taken from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter. However Plot line/ twists and additional characters have been included. NON-cannon.

Rated T, for some explicit language.

Genre: Romance, Friendship, Comedy and Family.

Chapter One

Before She Came Along

Severus Snape sat in the train car with his one true friend, Lily Evans. He had developed a little bit of a crush on the Muggleborn, but that all changed about four or five months ago. On the night of his eleventh birthday, he saw her for the first time. She at first seemed like a figment of his imagination, for she was just a dream, but she came back every night. Each time just little bit stronger. Her name was Hermione Jean Granger. She appeared to be his age with bushy light brown hair, slightly tanned skin and innocent brown eyes. Her teeth were slightly on the large side, but she was still beautiful to him. He asked her whether or not she was real and she replied with the simple response of 'yes.' When he asked whether she would be at Hogwarts, she was hesitant, but soon answered with the same response of 'yes.' He discovered they were alike in many ways. She too was a book worm with a thirst for knowledge, who was also outstandingly bright and had a passion for potions. These factors combined intrigued Severus.

So here he was on the train, dressed in his un-housed robes, thinking about his brown-eyed girl. He was ecstatic, he couldn't wait to meet, his Hermione. He had searched this afternoon, on the platform for her, but he couldn't see her there. He cheered himself up with the thought that maybe she was already on the train. He munched happily on a ' Chocolate Frog' examining his card which happened to be the last one he was in need of. Albus Dumbledore, the current Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he would be spending the next seven years of his life. He liked 'Chocolate Frog' cards; he wanted to collect them all. That way, when he was grown up and had a son, he would be able to pass them down to him.

Severus' father wasn't a good father at all, in fact he was terrible. Severus never wanted to end up like him. The cruel, menacing, horrible and bitter muggle man, beat both Severus's mother, Eileen and Severus himself. Although his mother wasn't that great either, she was a sour witch, with a hatred for most everything, apart from her son. Tobias, Severus's father had made her this way. A soulless cavity. Although Severus had some of the physical characteristics passed on from his parents, he wasn't like them. He had a slightly larger nose than most, his hair although it appeared greasy, wasn't. Instead it was shiny and soft to the touch. He was quiet a handsome boy and quiet a cunning one as well.

The train slowed to a stop, he looked at his best friend, who was smiling brightly back at him. He pulled his familiar- a raven he had named onyx- down from the overhead compartment, his metal cage clanking against the metal bar which stopped the luggage from falling off the shelves should it begin to slid about.

"Sev, are you excited?" Lily asked, her face vibrant with excitement.

"Yes…" He said, his voice morose, but his excitement, probably ten times as strong as hers. He couldn't wait to see his brown eyed beauty. The excited first years all left the 'Hogwarts Express' in a flurry of black sweeping robes, but Severus' were the ones that seemed to billow, even with the lack of wind.

" 'ere we go. First 'ears follow me" bellowed a strangely deep voice, children were in awe, and also slightly frightened by the half- giant. He led them to the boats which transported them to the castle. Severus held out his hand once inside the boat to his friend, she smiled graciously at his gesture then sat beside him. The boat gently edged itself towards the castle, the dark night illuminated by the flickers of mere oil lamps hung upon large poles which reached out in front of them. The boat was under magical enchantments allowing it to move long the top of the water with an almost grace, no matter how sluggish the pace. The boat jerked as it hit the soil on the opposite side of the lake. Severus maneuvered his way out, stepping onto the packed dirt and mossy rocks before turning to Lily to help her out.

"Thanks Sev" She thanked before walking ahead. He was oblivious though, as he squinted in the dark looking for Hermione. He soon gave up seeing how it was impossible to see with hardly any light at all. The first year students were led to the entrance where a stern, but beautiful women stood waiting. She cleared her throat and began speaking in her thick Scottish Gaelic.

" Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup" there were whispers amongst the other students as she mentioned the well known and honored House Cup. Severus was familiar with most of what she had said from reading Hogwarts: A History. He had to say he was quite interested to see what house he would be placed in, as long as it wasn't Hufflepuff he would be just fine. He truly hoped he would be in Gryffindor, like his Hermione, he knew she was in the house because of her robes. Unfortunately he had never seen his own.

Severus hadn't noticed the professor leave, but she walked over wearing a seemingly rare smile.

"We're ready for you now" was all she said, before leading the students into the Great Hall. They were at once amazed by the scene in front of him. The high ceilings were charmed to look like the nights sky. Candles floating just out of reach, even when you stood on your tip toes. Severus saw the giant he had seen earlier, sitting at the Head Table, in the middle of the table was a large ornate chair, upon which was a man with a long white beard, and crescent glasses, he appeared to be quite old as well, wearing dark blue robes and funny socks. He was a rather odd man. He caught Severus staring and sent the melancholy boy a smile, there appeared to be some sort of twinkle in his eyes. Severus was shocked, no grown man had ever smiled at him, especially not a smile that wasn't condescending and cruel. The old wizard seemed excited, and maybe even proud. Severus smiled slightly back, the wizard nodded politely. Severus knew who he was of course. He was Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster and one of the greatest wizard's ever to have lived. Severus was shook from his inner thoughts by the dark haired female professor once more.

"When I call your name, you will step up on to the platform, sit on the stool, and I will place the sorting hat upon your head, and you will be sorted into your houses" she said, before calling the first name. Severus was buzzing with excitement as he waited to see his brown-eyed girl step on to the platform.

"Evans, Lily" He heard being called. Lily looked at Severus before, stepping up and sitting on the stool. The older witch placed the ratty old hat on her head before stepping away. It appeared to be saying something, but Severus couldn't hear. He was too distracted.

"Gryffindor!" was all he actually caught. He was practically jumping on his heels in anticipation. The G's came and left without any trepidation. Severus was crushed, Dumbledore noted his sudden change in demeanor, making sure to find out what was wrong later. Severus' name soon was called. He stepped onto the platform, almost dragging his feet, as he sat on the wooden stool. The hat sat on his head. He listened as it prattled on.

"Such a brilliant mind. But so hung up on the girl, who may never exist. Tut tut. Passionate about potions, huh Prince, Interesting….cunning… must be SLYTHERIN!" the ratty old hat said, Slytherin cheered. Severus slid from the stool, after the hat was lifted from his head, and trudged to the Slytherin table.

Life at Hogwarts was rather hard for Severus, he discovered this early on. Lily was the only one that spoke to him, but even she couldn't take away the hurt, and make the boys stop messing with him. He wanted his kind hearted Gryffindor, who he dreamt of every night. Even in his sleep he cried, and every night she would be there in his dreams to sooth him, and hold him as he did so. One night he asked her why she wasn't there with him. She smiled softly, and replied.

'It isn't my time, my half-blood Prince' he sobbed at that; he needed his friend and secret love. When he woke in the morning he was faced with the harsh reality. James Potter and Sirius Black insisted on making his life a living hell, and no amount of detention from the head boy, Lucicus Malfoy, would stop the cruel Gryffindor. When the children left for the summer, Severus stayed at Hogwarts. His mother not wanting him home and him not wanting to go, made it the easier option. His summer was peaceful, with no one to pick on him, he was able to relax and read. He wasn't ashamed to admit he spent a lot of time asleep, being the only time he could spend time with and see her. She seemed to have changed slightly. She'd grown up. She was quite feisty as well as an insufferable know-it-all. But mind you so was he. She was his insufferable know-it-all, and he told her so, she had smiled brilliantly, before saying 'I'll remind of that in a few years' he'd been slightly confused but shook it off.

Soon enough term started, again no Hermione. Was she a ghost? A Figment of his imagination. By the end of third year, he had been blocking her from his dreams and thoughts for almost two years, unable to deal with that fact he may never see her in reality. The Marauders as they called themselves- James, Sirius, Remus and Peter- continued to tease him mercilessly. Severus had many nicknames, Snivellus, Snivelly, Greasy Git. But they didn't hurt as much as what Lily had said the other day. They were in the library studying, he had just been beat up by James in the hallway. Lily sighed heavily.

"What?" He asked, his left eye sporting a rather large, purplish bruise.

"You know fighting with James won't solve anything. I don't understand you Severus. I mean you want them to stop but you provoke them, I can guarantee no one will want to love you if you get in fights and act so cold and mean all the time" Severus had looked up astonished by his supposed 'friend'. Gods he missed his brown-eye Gryffindor. Oh how he missed her warmth and comfort. Her love. He was angry with himself, angry he pushed away the one person he loved, and was loved by. Severus stood from the table, not looking at her, putting away his papers, and picking up his textbooks. She huffed in annoyance. He turned, slightly tearful.

"If I am cold and mean, then I don't deserve to be loved, I already knew that Lily." He said before walking away. That night Sirius tricked him into the tunnel underneath the Whomping Willow. Little did he know, he was in the same air-tight tunnel as Remus, it was a full moon that night. Luckily, he was saved in time. Lily stood shocked, she shook her head a Severus.

"What did I tell you!" She said angrily. Angry tears came to his eyes as he stomped past her heading to the infirmary by orders of the headmaster. Honestly he was fine, but he wanted to get away from her. Madam Pomfrey tutted as he looked at her frequent patient, he lay in one of the beds, crying silently to himself. The headmaster and Professor McGonagall came sweeping in.

"Mr. Snape" he sat up, wiping away the tears.

"Sirius and James have explained themselves and will be serving detentions for the rest of the school year with Filch" McGonagall said, two weeks figures, Severus nodded half-heartedly. Dumbledore looked at McGonagall, she looked back at her husband.

"Severus would you mind, coming with me to my office, I believe a talk is in order, don't you?" Dumbledore said, standing, Severus followed the elder man to his office, where he sat at the front of the Headmasters desk, Professor McGonagall stood off in the corner.

"Now Severus, I've noticed that you prefer to stay alone well apart from Miss Evans, but now you are distant from even her during your first day you seemed excited but that ended and now it's like you're waiting for something" Dumbledore said, looking at the young man in front of him. Severus fidgeted, squirming under his intense stare. He knew he could talk to Dumbledore, he trusted the headmaster completely. He took a deep breath, before replying.

"When I turned eleven I started having dreams" He mumbled. Dumbledore nodded, urging him to go on.

"I had them, until I began blocking them. No doubt I would have them again if I wanted" He said, stronger this time.

"And what, my boy are those dreams about?" the white haired man asked.

"A girl" Severus replied bluntly.

"Well those dreams for a boy of your age, it's part of growing up!" He said chuckling. Severus' eyes widened.

"Sir! Not those kinds of dreams! She is just there, she comforts me when I'm sad. She's is my only friend, and I love her but I fear she isn't real even if she says she is" He said shuddering at the headmaster's suggestion although he had thought of that he'd never actually dreamt of it, especially while in the presence of his Hermione, although he of course didn't think of that then. No this was more recent.

"So the girl she seems real and said she was?" Dumbledore said, looking for conformation, Severus nodded.

"She appears to be a Gryffindor" Severus said. Dumbledore looked at his wife he too had those types of dreams when he hit eleven, it was rare. The connection was called the ' Verum anima coeunt' or in English she would be his 'One True Soul mate' he had a sneaking suspicion, that like him at time. Severus' Verum anima coeunt had yet to be born. This of course meaning that she didn't exist yet. Dumbledore sighed, removing his glasses, rubbing his tired eyes.

"Mr. Snape, have you ever heard of 'Verum anima coeunt'?" Dumbledore asked. Severus' eyes widened… he was shocked he hadn't come to that conclusion. Severus nodded.

"I believe, that the young lady is your 'Verum anima coeunt' it is as you know quite rare to actually find your soulmate and this bond happens to few wizards. It is an honour but also a travesty. Some wait forever for their One True Soul Mate. But I believe the spell I used should be quite effective in order to locate the year you shall locate her if that would be quite alright?" Dumbledore asked the boy. Severus hesitantly nodded.

The headmaster waved his hand, and before them popped a ghostly image, the Hogwarts Express, chuffing down the track, it centred inside a carriage inside was a red-headed boy, a boy that looked the spitting image of and then his Hermione. She introduced herself, to the two boys and discovered them to be Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter. Severus' brow furrowed. Then it changed to the children walking into the Great Hall, it was Hermione's first year at Hogwarts, McGonagall looked considerably older, as she placed the sorting hat on her frizzy locks. With that she was sorted, and as she sat at the Gryffindor table, her eyes locked with a man. It was Severus, Professor Snape to be precise. The pictures continued through her years and whenever she was in the presence of Severus she would steal glances at the man. Severus watched as all the horrible things happened to his Hermione watched as she attended the Yule Ball with the Potter boy. Only for a boy that had a uncanny resemblance to Lucius Malfoy lead her to the dungeons, where they danced for the first time and where they both admitted the bond. Where he kissed her. He watched as she was captured by a deatheater he could only presume Bellatrix while on a hunt for something for the headmaster. Watched as she was tortured but escaped after being set free and saved by Lucius' wife, Narcissa? He watched as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was killed, he watched as his brilliant Hermione, figured out what had happened and caught. Peter who was then arrested? He watched as he spent the summer at Grimmauld Place and slept in the sitting room, Hermione by his side disillustioned. He watched as she bloomed even farther than she already had at the age of sixteen. He grimaced in pain as she entered her fifth year, watched as she was tortured again by a woman dressed in pink. He glanced on proudly as he saw her graduate. He watched as she became his apprentice. He gazed on as they were able to act on their feelings, be a couple. He beamed as she accepted his proposal. He sighed as he saw them live. Happily ever after, with brilliant children and a house with a potions lab. He looked happy as he watched her become his.

Then Dumbledore ended the spell, before looking at the boy. He hadn't even thought about Horcruxes. He had seen all of the horcruxes and where they were, all except little Harry Potter. The son of his best friend and his most hated school bully. Severus looked at the headmaster, as he looked to be in deep thought. But then it dawned on the young man.

"Professor…. I am so much older than her" He said horrified. The older gentleman looked at the young man who instantly seemed to shrink into the much younger boy he had met a while ago now.

"Severus, my boy. We live for an exceptionally long time in seventy years that will not matter, your worry is all for nought. All that matters is the happiness of both you and Miss Granger." The professor proclaimed.

"But understand this, Severus. Your priority now is to protect Lily Evans and her son in return you will be protecting Hermione, it's the only way" Dumbledore stated.

From that day, Severus ignored Lily's mean comments and he began to open himself up again, and his dreams and every thought was consumed by the girl, who would become a stunningly, heart-cripplingly beautiful woman. When school ended, he realized the only way to protect them was to become Lily's enemy so he became his most frightening nightmare. This nightmare would betray every principle held by both himself and his soulmate; not to mention the most hated human occupation the wizarding world had created. He became a deatheater.

On Halloween night, Lily and James Potter were killed, leaving behind a forever haunted son and a wrongfully accused friend. Dumbledore welcomed the man with open arms, the potions master soon became the potions professor and then also Head of Slytherin House. All the while, he waited for his love to grow up and become aware of the rare connection they shared, as he waited for the woman who owned his heart.

Author's End Notes:
So there it is, ladies and gentlemen, you have reached the end of Chapter One! Please review and comment. And while you may cringe at the completely clichéd title, I have to say this one is one of my favourites. But you'll have to wait to see my number one! Thank you for reading and I'll speak to you next time.

M xx