Note from the author:

I have written this story a couple of years ago and decided that now was the time to rewrite it and to publish it again. It is a love story about Severus Snape and anyone who doesn't like a love story between him and someone else instead of Lilly should not read this. I have, however, made sure that the entire Harry Potter story, stays true. Snape loves Lilly in my story, but gets the change to love someone else as well.

This story has a sequel, which will be called 'Please remember' and that story will take place during Harry 's time on Hogwarts. It is, however, not yet written. :)

I hope you all enjoy this story and I would love to hear from all of you.

Cheerio!

Prelude.

Dear reader of my story,

It fills my heart with great joy that you choose to read my story. When you hold this paper in your hands, know that I am already dead. I choose to keep it a secret for my entire life. All the people who can tell you this are dead. James Potter, the man who drove me insanely mad, Sirius Black, he who opened my eyes, Remus Lupin, he who showed me what it was to have secrets and Lily Evans, she who changed my life forever…. All are dead, silenced forever.

And of course, there is Severus Snape, the key character of this entire story.

This story is meant for one person and one person only. Harry Potter, the son of Lilly Evans and James Potter.

Dear Harry,

Gods, what have you grown. When you entered Hoghwarts so many years ago, you were completely overwhelmed by everything surrounding you. You looked so much like James that for a moment I feared Lilly was gone forever. But when I got to know you better, I realised soon enough that although you look like James, you are more like Lilly. You fight for your friends; you put them first before anything else just like she would do. Your mother, Harry, was my best friend. And she was one of the best persons you can imagine. She had a way to see everyone's goodness. She saw your father like he truly was and she saw Severus Snape like no one had ever seen him. She saw a tormented man who tried to hide everything.

Lily showed this to me, Harry and because of her this story had happened so many years ago. Perhaps you already know bits. If I am dead, then Severus is dead as well and as such he will have given you all his memories, because Dumbledore made him do it. Or perhaps Lily made him do it…

You now will know everything, Harry, the complete truth.

It all starts with my fist year on Hoghwarts. Together with your mother and father and Snape I started my magical education. Little did I know it would turn my world upside down…

Miranda sighed. She gazed at the children next to the train and wondered whether they would accept her or not. Not that she looked strange or ugly, but Miranda was rather shy.

She played with a curl from her beautiful black hair and noticed a family standing not far from her. The two young girls, one with gorgeous red hair, were obviously having an argument and eventually the blond girl turned away. Miranda saw how her sister decided to leave as well. The girl walked towards a boy not standing before her. Miranda shook her head in disbelief. The girl was beautiful and obviously someone nice, but the boy… He was thin, with too long, black, greasy hair and wore a curious amalgam of clothing. He had something dark over him, something sneaky. Yet the two of them seemed to know each other well. The both of them left the platform and went into the train. Miranda decided to follow them and gave her mother one last hug. Nervously she took a seat behind the two children. She didn't want to listen to their conversation, but noticed she did it anyhow.

"I don't want to talk to you," the girl said.

"Why not?" the boy asked.

"Petunia hates me… Because we have read the letter from Dumbledore," she answered, obviously sad.

"So?"

It was quiet for a moment and Miranda decided she would ask if she could sit with them. They were obviously friends and since the girl had been upset because of a fight with her sister, she certainly wouldn't mind making new friends. Miranda stood up, but froze when she heard the voice of the boy again.

"She is just a …" He stopped abruptly; Miranda had no idea why.

"But we're on the go!" the boy continued, with joy in his voice.

"Ehm… Excuse me," Miranda asked. After hearing the boy's joy, who sounded like hers, she had walked towards them.

The boy turned around to face her and a strange expression appeared upon his face. Was it hate or something? Miranda went a bit paler and bit her lip. She didn't want to make a fight.

"What is it?" he asked, impolitely.

"Severus," the girl said, while she looked curious towards Miranda, "leave her alone. Is something wrong?" she asked, friendly.

Miranda had to smile.

"I'm Miranda Bloom and I… was wondering if I could sit with you. I don't have any friends here and …" she fell silent and stared at the ground.

"Of course, of course!" the girl replied, happily, "I'm Lily Evans and this is Severus Snape. We don't have friends as well. I'm glad I'm finally meeting someone else."

Severus seemed to disagree at first, but he sighed and nodded eventually.

"You can sit with us."

Miranda nodded, smiled again and took a seat next to Lily.

"I hope you get in Slytherin," Severus continued his conversation as if nothing had happened.

"Slytherin? Who wants to be in Slytherin?" a boy said. He was thin, like Severus, but seemed to be arrogant. Miranda, who was trying to figure out who he was, heard nothing of the following conversation but when Lily rose from her seat, she caught Miranda's interest.

"Come on, Severus and Miranda, we'll look for another compartment."

Miranda rose from her seat as well and left with Severus and Lily, but she was stopped by one of the boys bullying Severus. He had black hair, like his friend, but was taller and didn't smile. His dark eyes seemed to see right through her.

"Miranda? Miranda Bloom?" he asked, surprised.

Miranda got scared and tried to free herself from his grasp, but he held her firmly. Lily came to the rescue, but froze when the boy continued:

"I know you! You are the daughter of Mister Bloom, not? He who protects muggles."

"Yes," Miranda whispered.

The boy let her go and she got a curious look from both James as Lily.

"He works at the ministry, and yes, he fights for the protection of muggles. Is something wrong with that?" Miranda asked, nervously.

"No, not at all."

Miranda however, had seen the look upon Severus Snape 's face. It was a look of disgust. She blushed and realised it would look strange if she didn't defended her father.

"It is a good thing that he protects them. It's not because they don't have magic that…"

"You don't have to defend yourself," Lily interjected. She smiled softly. "I'm a muggleborn and the fact that your father protects people like my family means a lot to me."

Miranda smiled back.

"Now, let's leave them alone," Lily concluded and she grabbed Miranda's hand.

Lily and Miranda babbled the entire ride towards Hoghwarts and when they finally arrived in the castle, Miranda already knew of the friendship between Severus and Lily and the fight with her sister. The boy seemed to care a lot for Lily and the fact that she was a muggleborn seemed to mean nothing for him.

When the sorting ceremony started, Miranda was called as first. The hat was placed upon her head and immediately it shouted: "Gryffindor!"

With a smile she left the chair and walked at the table of Gryffindor. Lily was called after her and to Miranda's relief the hat shouted Gryffindor as well. Severus, who was still waiting till he would be sorted, seemed to be unhappy about it.

"Severus doesn't seem too happy," Miranda said, when Lily took a seat next to her.

"He wanted me to be sorted in Slytherin," Lily answered, while she looked at her friend.

Finally it was Severus 'turn and just like with Miranda, the hat shouted quite quickly. He got sorted in Slytherin.

Lily looked a bit upset and Miranda decided to cheer her up a bit.

"You know, we've got classes with the Slytherins, so you'll probably see him a lot. This sorting ceremony is not that important."

Lily smiled weakly.

"Perhaps you're right. I'm glad we're friends. We are friends, right?" she asked, a bit scared.

Miranda grinned.

"Of course we are!"

After that the girls didn't have much time to talk because the food appeared upon the table. Since they both were very hungry, they were too occupied with eating to see Severus watching the both of them. The sad look upon his face spoke more than words could ever do.

This all was the beginning, Harry, of something very beautiful and something very real. Other people might disagree with me about this, but they do not matter. Al that matters was Severus Snape, Lily Evans and me, Miranda Bloom. I was the daughter of one of the greatest muggles protectors of England. My mother and father loved each other dearly, but in my fifth year at Hogwarts something happened. My father got murdered when he was walking home. Now, we all know it was Voldemort, but in that time, everything was still unsure. There were whispers of 'Death Eaters' and every student from Slytherin was seen as a follower of the Dark Arts, including Severus Snape. Lily and I, however, decided to protect him against everyone, but especially, against your father…