Now that Lily had finally gotten her Hogwarts letter, she had to endure eight months until school. Eight months, whose time had seemed to slow to a crawl, though she still had Severus to keep her company until then. Petunia had taken to calling her "freak" whenever she could get in a word. Lily's temper couldn't hold up under the stress, and she had accidentally made steam shoot out of her ears for a solid three hours.

"She doesn't understand us," Severus told her as they skipped rocks on the river. "She's ordinary."

Lily scrunched up her face, knowing that Severus was right, but not wanting to concede the point. Maybe Petunia was just jealous that Lily had magic and she didn't.

"But she still shouldn't call us freaks. It's not nice at all, Sev."

Severus gave Lily one of his sad smiles.

"Not everyone is as nice as you, Lily," he replied solemly. Lily scuffed at the dirt with her shoe.

"I know, but Tuny's just getting nasty now. You're the only one who talks to me anymore, besides my parents."

Lily could've sworn that the smile Severus wore was one of satisfaction.

"You're better than them anyway. Just ignore them," he told her. Lily sighed, knowing that she could never change her friend's mind, no matter how much she wanted to.

Sev had told her once that his father didn't like much of anything, but Lily had figured that that Mr. Snape just didn't like his son. Lily wondered why, but she never asked Severus anything he didn't want to answer. She had to admit that he was looking skinnier than usual. She didn't mention it, though. Severus was proud and didn't like having anyone's pity.

"Well, we won't have to put up with it for much longer, will we? In a few months, we'll be going off to Hogwarts," she said matter-of-factly.

"Right," said Sev.

"Well, I've got to get back home. Mum will have supper ready," she said, skipping one last rock before dusting off her hands. Sev nodded but didn't say anything. She knew he always hated going back home. Lily couldn't blame him. She had only met Mr. Snape once and he was a piece of work. She laid a comforting hand on Sev's shoulder. He didn't smile, but he didn't shrug her off either. "I'll be here tomorrow. Same time?"

"'Course," he replied. "As always."

Lily dreaded going home herself these days. Petunia would relentlessly call her "freak" when Hogwarts was mentioned. She set off down the street toward her house, which was only a few minutes away. It had been raining for the past few days, and the air had a fresh, earthy smell that Lily loved. It smelled like home. January had passed into February so Lily had made sure to dress warmly. She pulled her coat tighter as the wind blew around her. Soon she was at her front door. Sighing, she turned the knob and stepped inside, stomping any excess dirt off her shoes and taking them off in the hallway.

"Lily, is that you?" she heard her mother call.

"Yes, Mum!" she called back. "I was with Sev." Lily walked into the kitchen, where she found her mother setting the table.

"You were with the Snape boy again?" Lily nodded. "Good," said Mrs. Evans. "He's a quiet boy, but everybody needs friends, right?" Mrs. Evans gave her daughter a fond smile and stirred something on the stove. "Dinner's almost ready, dear. Go get Dad and Petunia."

Lily went to her father's office and opened the door slightly. It looked like he was going over some kind of sketch for work. He looked up at her and smiled wearily.

"Mum says dinner's ready," she told him.

"Right. Did you have a good time with Severus, then?" he asked. Lily shrugged.

"Same as always, I guess."

"Alright. I'll be out in a minute."

Lily shut the door and went to get Petunia. She knocked before entering, but not before she heard her sister talking on the phone to one of her friends.

"Honestly, it's like Mum and Dad don't even notice me anymore. It's all about Lily now. Her, and that skinny boy she's always with. They're both freaks. I don't see what's so special about them."

To hear Petunia say such nasty things broke Lily's heart. She had wanted to look up to her older sister, but now she couldn't, not when she couldn't accept Lily the way she was, and to say such mean things about Sev was uncalled for. Petunia didn't even know him! In a fit of temper, Lily pushed the door open forcefully and stood framed in the doorway. She clenched her fists and ground her teeth, trying to keep herself under control.

"I've got to go," Petunia said into the phone. A moment later, she set it back down on the receiver. "Don't you knock?" she sneered at Lily.

"Mum says dinner's ready," she replied, struggling to keep her voice even. She turned her back on Petunia before she could no longer contain her magic.

"What? You're not going to turn me into a toad?" Lily looked back at her sister.

"Why should I? You're already nasty enough as it is."