August 1st, 1968

'Severus?' The sweet and gentle voice of an eight-year-old Lilly Evans disturbed the awkward silence that had been lingering on for moments on end. It was a relaxing Saturday afternoon with a serene, blue sky and chilling breeze that would gradually become colder as summer churned to fall.

Severus Snape and Lilly Evans happened to be resting in their usual spot beside the gnarled oak, far from the stressful reaches of their families. Everything was going well, with the two of them lying side by side, giggling at frivolous jokes meanwhile the occasional cumulus clouds drifted in and out of view. All had changed within a blink of the eye when Lilly cheerily asked, 'Hey, Sev, would you fancy having a cup of tea tomorrow, perhaps, at my house?'

Nothing but an uncomfortable silence ensued, leaving Severus wide-eyed and an anxious Lilly wondering if her friend even heard the invitation at all. 'Severus, are you alright?' 'Was it something I said?' Lilly leaned in towards the wizard beside her, who was now sitting up with an utterly surprised expression on his sallow face.

'Severus,' she repeated with a sense of growing agitation in her voice. Alas, Severus spoke but this time, he kept his troubled gaze facing down at the ground. He stammered as he spoke. 'Y-you're…i-inviting me?'

'Yes you,' answered Lilly. 'Who else would I be asking?' 'The grass, silly?' She couldn't quite comprehend as to why the boy acted so caught off-guard upon being invited somewhere.

Severus managed a tiny chuckle that Lilly immediately recognized to be fake. She narrowed her auburn eyebrows, as if asking him what was so funny. 'Honestly, Sev, you're acting a little strange and what in the world is so funny about having some tea with me?' The young wizard stopped forcing his artificial laughter, seeing upon the now insulted expression on his best friend's face.

'Oh, sorry..' he started. 'You might have misunderstood.'

'Clearly I have.' Lilly puffed, her arms crossed against her chest and her red mane of hair falling freely over her shoulders. 'So, do you want to come or not?'

'I'm not, er, sure.' Severus caught Lilly's eye at his last comment. The angry and hurt glare he was receiving definitely confirmed his own poor communication skills. 'I mean,' he began quickly, 'I wouldn't mind coming tomorrow, but I believe I have, er, plans.'

'Plans?' Lilly asked determinedly. Severus opened his mouth to elaborate on his refusal, but it seemed to be a rhetorical question. 'Alright, I see,' the young witch interrupted, beginning to get up off her knees. 'You're just coming up with excuses to not go. Jeez, you're no different than all the mean boys at school, too embarrassed to be seen with a girl!'

Severus jumped up to stop Lilly, but his attempts were in vain. Lilly was already stomping away in typical little girl fashion, her head held high in protest and her white sneakers turning green as they smashed against the wet grass. 'Lilly, that's not true!' He pleaded from behind her. 'Please, come back.'

Lilly wheeled herself around and for an absurd moment, Severus thought she was going to run back to him. However, all that came from her slight, pink lips was 'Wington Street, House Number 7. Just in case you changed your mind.' With these words, she turned on her heels and dashed away.