A/N: Again, belongs to JKR and all bold is from the books. From now on, all updates will either (hopefully) be every week or every two. I still can't believe I'm doing this… Enjoy!
Lily
Severus Snape wasn't so bad. Sure, his clothes were odd but that didn't mean he was a bad person.
We had decided to meet in the little forest that separated Spinner's End from the rest of Cokeworth where I lived. It was a summer day and it was just a bit humid but the trees shaded us and a river flowed by, glittering in the sun. We sat cross-legged, facing each other and Severus had taken off that silly coat of his.
"…and the Ministry can punish you if you do magic outside school, you get letters," Severus explained.
"But I have done magic outside school!" I said worriedly. I didn't want to get punished for something I didn't know I wasn't allowed to do.
"We're all right," he assured me. "We haven't got wands yet. They let you off when you're a kid and you can't help it. But once you're eleven and they start training you, then you've got to go careful."
Wands… I picked up a twig and twirled it, pretending that it was my wand and that there was a trail of sparks in all different colors coming out of the end of it. It seemed so real but… "It is real, isn't it?" I asked, leaning toward Severus. "It's not a joke? Petunia says you're lying to me. Petunia says there isn't a Hogwarts. It is real, isn't it?"
I had even talked to Ally about magic and Hogwarts and everything but she said that she thought I had a great imagination and that I could maybe write a story about it. I could tell though that something was weird with Ally. She was usually very straightforward with her answers but this time it almost seemed like she was avoiding it.
"It's real for us. Not for her. But we'll get the letter, you and me."
"Really?" I whispered.
"Definitely."
"And will it really come by owl?"
"Normally. But you're Muggle-born, so someone from the school will have to come and explain to your parents."
"Does it make a difference, being Muggle-born?" Oh, I hoped it didn't. A magical school wouldn't be as fun if being Muggle-born made a difference.
Severus took a second to think before he spoke again. "No. It doesn't make any difference."
"Good."
"You've got loads of magic. I saw that. All the time I was watching you…"
I didn't really listen to what he said but just stretched out on the ground and stared at the leaves overhead being illuminated by the sun. I liked this. It felt nice but…
"How are things at your house?" I asked.
"Fine," he said, trying to sound calm. His life at home wasn't too great and I wished it was better. A nice person didn't deserve to have a bad family.
"They're not arguing anymore?"
"Oh, yes, they're arguing. But it won't be that long and I'll be gone."
"Doesn't your dad like magic?" I wondered how my parents would react to magic.
"He doesn't like anything, much."
Maybe we should talk about something else.
"Severus?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell me about the dementors again."
"What d'you want to know about them for?" Severus had mentioned them once but he didn't really say too much.
"If I use magic outside school –"
"They wouldn't give you to the dementors for that! Dementors are for people who do really bad stuff. They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban. You're not going to end up in Azkaban, you're too –" he stopped, sounding just a smidge embarrassed.
Just then, a rustling noise behind one of the trees made us both turn. It was Petunia. What was she doing here? Not that I really minded but still.
"Tuney!"
Severus didn't look happy to see Tuney and jumped to his feet, shouting at my sister, "Who's spying now? What d'you want?"
"What is that you're wearing, anyway? Your mum's blouse?" she asked as she pointed to Severus's shirt.
Crack.
A branch that was right over Tuney was falling. I couldn't do anything but scream as I watched it hit Tuney's shoulder and made her stagger backward. She burst into tears as I said, "Tuney!"
She ran away and didn't turn around. I turned toward Severus. "Did you make that happen?" I demanded.
"No." I could tell he was sort of scared but his voice also had something else that I couldn't quite figure out. It was almost like he was upset that I thought he had made the branch fall.
"You did!" I said, backing away. "You did! You hurt her!"
"No – no I didn't!"
I looked at him angrily and then ran off in the direction that Tuney had gone. I knew he didn't like Petunia but that didn't mean he could use magic to hurt her! That was an awful way to use magic.
Allison
Mum and I were sitting in the Evans' kitchen with Mrs. Evans when Petunia came in crying.
"Mummy!" she cried, "Mummy!"
"What is it, Petunia? Why are you crying?" Mrs. Evans asked as she hugged Petunia.
"It's – It's that boy Snape! He – He did something and then a branch fell and hit me and it hurts!"
As Mrs. Evans soothed her daughter, Mum and I exchanged a look. Snape had used magic in front of a Muggle. Hopefully, Petunia didn't think too much of it because Muggles weren't supposed to know about magic. Stupid Snape. We weren't even in school yet and he was causing trouble.
Petunia had calmed down enough that she had stopped crying. "Hey, Allison, guess what?" she said, turning to me. "Lily's been hanging out with Snape more than she's been hanging out with you! Maybe she doesn't want to be friends with you anymore because you're so boring!"
"Petunia!" Mrs. Evans scolded.
"What? I'm just telling the truth so that Allison isn't fooled by Lily."
Snape was going to pay dearly.
….
Lily
There was a knock on the front door. I peeked out of the living room as Dad opened the door. A man with long silver hair and a matching beard was shaking hands with Dad. He was tall and thin and wore a nice suit. Dad welcomed the man into the house and led him toward the living room. I plopped onto an armchair and grabbed the book I had left on the seat and pretended to read as the two walked in.
"Lily, dear, this is Professor Dumbledore," Dad said, glancing at the man to make sure he got the name right. The man nodded. "He is the headmaster of a school that would like you to enroll for this September."
I looked up into the man's face. He had bright blue eyes that seemed to sparkle behind his half-moon spectacles and his nose was long and crooked as if it had been broken before. "Hello, sir. It's nice to meet you," I greeted politely.
"The same to you, Miss Evans," Professor Dumbledore smiled kindly.
"Would you like to sit?" Dad asked, gesturing to the armchair opposite mine. "I'll go get my wife."
A minute later, Mum and Dad, and even Tuney, were in the living room and sitting on the couch between the two armchairs.
"Now," Professor Dumbledore started, "this may be hard to believe, but your daughter, Lily, is magical."
"Magic?" Mum asked, bewildered.
"Yes, magic." Professor Dumbledore pulled out a stick from his pocket – his wand! – and waved it through the air. A lovely bouquet of lilies appeared out of nowhere and floated toward Mum. Mum and Dad watched, amazed. Petunia stared disbelievingly at the flowers with her mouth slightly open.
"So this school of yours? Does it teach magic?" Dad asked.
"Hogwarts is a magical school located in Scotland where many of Britain's young witches and wizards gather to learn how to use and control their magic. Will you allow your daughter to attend?"
Mum and Dad spoke to each other in whispers for a few minutes before Mum finally turned to me and asked, "Lily, dear, do you want to go to Hogwarts?"
I could barely contain my excitement. I grinned and said, "Yes! Yes, I really would like to go, Mum and Dad. Could I please? Please?"
They agreed and Professor Dumbledore handed me a letter with emerald green writing on the front. Petunia stomped out of the room quite loudly but I didn't care. I was getting my Hogwarts letter! I had magic!
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
I was going to Hogwarts, just like Severus said! Oh, I couldn't wait!
I almost forgot that I was going to be leaving Ally behind. I hoped she would be alright when I was at Hogwarts.
….
Allison
A brown owl tapped on my window as I sat on my bed reading a book. It held an envelope addressed to me in emerald green ink in its beak.
My Hogwarts letter!
I took the letter, gave the owl a treat and watched it soar away before opening the envelope.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Miss Jones,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
A smile broke out on my face as I read the letter. Hogwarts, here I come!
….
Severus
"Severus," my mother called. "Your letter's here."
She stuck out her arm at me and handed me my Hogwarts letter. I took it excitedly and tore open the envelope.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Snape,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Yes! Finally! I was going to leave for Hogwarts at last!