Disclaimer: The copyright of these characters, names and areas goes to J.K. Rowling. Authors note is at the bottom of the chapter.

Chapter I – To Hogwarts

The clattering of the Hogwarts express rocked the compartment slowly backwards and forwards. Severus had found a vacant one at the end of the train, away from the lively chatter of other children. The city view had just begun to speed away, making room for new sightings of meadows and small groupings of pine trees.

A rustling of soft fabric draws attention to the young boy occupying the compartment. His mismatched clothes lies on the floor in an untidy heap. The immediate impression is that of a mistreated chick, surprisingly thinner and more abused than by first glance, his state now visible without the ragged layer.

Bending down to search his small bag, the necklace gleams from his chest. In some way it seems like the only bright thing about the boy. He quickly dresses, seeming satisfied with his new appearance. The undershirt and robe is clean and soft against his skin and although already exited, his mood lightens a bit more.

They had indeed been too early for the train, thus making him spend half an unbearable hour more than necessary with his parents. They had been sour and bitter, the only comments being croaks from Tobias concerning the departure with his son or meaningless negative remarkings on his situation. He had seen Lily there, arguing with her intolerable Muggle-sister. Her parents seemed stupefyingly amazed at their surroundings, but, of course, they could only be ignorant to it all.

Apparently the argument between the girls had made Petunia terribly upset, leaving Lily very hurt by some insult or other.

He very much disliked seeing her standing there alone, on the verge of tears like that, but the thought of risking interaction with her parents, or – worse – Petunia, displeased him just a tad bit more.

Finally his parents had left him, mumbling their goodbyes and awkwardly stroking his hair or giving him a stiff hug. Severus didn't care, though – he was far too exited. They were finally going to Hogwarts after all these years! Him and Lily! Learning potions and magic together, being able to read together and probably share common rooms! His own breathing and relief almost became to much for him. He sighed audibly and stared resentfully at his Muggle-clothes. He could go a whole year now without having to wear that awful stuff… He felt like burning it! But, alas, he didn't know of any such incantations just yet, and come to think of it he might not get a new pair should he by accident "loose" them.

With a bothered expression he stuffed them into the small bag and entered the corridors with a fluttering heart: Now to find Lily!

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"See ya, Snivellus!" the boy called after him as Severus tripped out the door. It slammed directly behind him, barely missing his back, unable to hold back the outburst of laughter erupting in the compartment. Severus' face was flustered as he turned stiffly to look at Lily. Her eyes were still a bit puffy.

"Arses…" she mumbled, sending the door a sour look.

Without another word she walked on ahead. Severus followed her, now feeling a bit unsure as his rage was fading. The air between them didn't feel good. He had known, hadn't he? He knew the fight had been about that stupid letter. Why on earth had that Muggle-brat written to Dumbledore anyway? Addressing him personally like that… In his opinion he had let her down to easily. What had she been thinking?

"Lily?" he asked to her back. She didn't respond, on purpose he expected. "Are you still mad about that Petunia-thing?"

She turned sharply, making him instantly wish he could take the phrase back. He saw the hurt look return to her face. "She was really mad, Severus! We shouldn't have read her letter – why did you take it?"

He looked a little stricken at this. "Why did I-? You didn't seem to mind at that moment! You read it with me!" Lily didn't answer, but just shot him a look not so much unlike the one she had given him in the boys' presence. She turned and opened another door, which revealed the compartment empty. She flopped down on her seat and gazed out the window, leaning against it.

Severus eyed her for a moment, standing in the door. He felt a tiny fear flutter in his stomach, more than he felt regret for this silly matter.

"Okay," he said. "so I'm sorry." He sat down in front of her, but she pretended not to notice. "I said I'm sorry." he kept on. "I'm sorry, Lily."

Finally she looked at him with fresh tears in her eyes. "She called me a f-freak." She said with a thick voice. "Me a freak and you a weirdo!" A few tears fell but she wiped them away instantly. "She's never said anything like that to me before… Never… Not like that."

"But you're not a freak." Severus stated flatly, feeling desperately inadequate. "You – You can do magic, Lily. The way you do it – even without a wand… You're special - In a good way." She smiled a tiny smile, although she didn't seem to mean and it made him feel a little safer.

"You can't be the only one with magic powers coming from a Muggle-family." He stated. She really smiled now, beaming at him.

"You think so..?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes. Mum sometimes talked about Muggle-people going to Hogwarts." 'Although in a very different tone' he thought to himself.

Lilys face shone. She dried her eyes with the ends of her cardigan sleeves and laughed a little. They both secretly felt relieved by their own kind of burden. It didn't take long before the episode seemed not to have happened. They excitedly showed each other their wands; Lilys' was a long and light one, resting elegantly in her childish grasp. She asked if he would retell everything he knew about Hogwarts, and he did. They shared the same seat while taking turns to read the Tellings of Beetle the Bard. Lily told him about the Little Red Riding Hood and he told her that he had read about real Werewolves.

Time seemed unimportant on this destined journey with her. They also experienced the delights of the corridor trolley with marvellous pieces of candy! Lilys hair turned purple at one and Severus swore he could taste broccoli in another. The landscape flew past them along with the minutes, dragging the day with it as they went.

In the end all the days' experiences became too exhausting for Lily and she fell asleep on the seat opposite him. Severus watched her intensively with a look one might call greed, exhilaration maybe. The skies turned slowly darker outside the window as the train plowed through its costumed path. He studied her blood-coloured hair, her soft face and tiny body in childlike obsession and wondered what this magical place might truly be like. After all, books could only give you so much of an insight. To understand something and be a part of it, you had to really be there.

He still deeply hoped they would both be in Slytherin together… A lot of powerful men had started their days there and he aimed to be one of them. But not a lot of people with unpure blood had gone there, had they? Glancing at Lily again, he guessed it wouldn't be long before he found out.

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Authors note:

So that was chapter two! I thank those who have reviewed the first chapter – please continue to do so – and only have to say that it is on purpose that I chose not the end this chapter with them being sorted out at Hogwarts.

That will be the start of next chapter. I can't say how long it'll be before it's up – this one came earlier than I planned – but I have some research to do before it's finished.

Enjoy!

Thanks,

Victoria Grace.