Always

Disclaimer: It is with a heavy heart that I admit that the exclusive rights to Harry Potter don't (and probably won't) belong to me.

(A/N: Dedicated to TheBooyahEffect because she hates James, and I'm afraid she'll bite my head off at some point if I make her keep liking James/Lily stories…=09)

I'll be your shoulder when you need someone to lean on
Be your shelter
When you need someone to see you through
~*~
I'll Be - Reba McEntire

"Hey, Lily," A young Severus Snape said, jogging to catch up with his redheaded friend, ignoring the disdainful looks her sister, Petunia, was giving him. Lily turned to smile at him, waving a little and pressing her books against her chest.

"Hey, Sev," she greeted, giggling slightly as her friend tripped over his own pants. Severus looked up at her with a sheepish smile, his cheeks turning a shade of pink.

"Do you want to play today?" he asked as he got up, pulling his pants up to his waist and tightening the belt. Lily shook her head, the corners of her mouth turning down.

"I have to go to school." The sentence almost sounded resentful.

"Again?" Severus asked, making a face and scratching the back of his head.

"It's everyday, you twit," Petunia growled. She rolled her eyes, reaching out to grab Lily's arm. "We are going to be late."

"Later, Sev," Lily shouted over her shoulder as Petunia pulled her away. So Severus sat down outside of the school to wait for his friend.

..ooO0Ooo..

Finally the bell rang and Severus stood up, straining his eyes to look for Lily, but she didn't come out until some time afterward, wiping her tear stained face with her sleeve. Severus frowned and walked toward her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, looping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him as they walked away from the school.

"Nothing," she answered dryly, biting her lower lip and looking away from him.

"Were they picking on you again?" This time Lily couldn't stop the tremulous sob rising through her body as Severus pulled her into a hug.

"I-I was playing and suddenly there were li-little sparks of light an-and they saw," She stopped, hiding her face on the crook of his neck, her hands fisting at his sweater. "and they called me a f-freak! And Tuney didn't – she didn't scold them!"

Severus held her as she cried, biting his tongue to stop himself from telling her exactly how much of a freak he thought her sister was.

"You're my only friend, Sev," Lily admitted once she'd calmed down enough. Severus gave her a smile and handed her a crumpled tissue he'd fished from his pockets.

"When we go to Hogwarts, you'll have lots of friends!" he exclaimed, holding his arms out to show her just how many friends she would have. Then his face fell as he muttered: "Lots and lots of friends."

Lily giggled, rolling her eyes and taking his hand. "Don't be silly, you know you'll always be my friend."

Severus raised an unbelieving eyebrow at her. "Always?"

Lily nodded solemnly. "Always." And then she laughed, letting go off his hand as she set off running away from him. "Come on. The last one there is a rotten egg!"