A Glimpse of Fire: Severus Snape meets Lily Evans

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters. These are solely the characters created by J.K. Rowling.

Dialogue ended in "*"- quotes taken directly from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by: J.K. Rowling

It was a warm sunny day, and as usual, Severus went out for a long stroll in the forest. For the past few days, his feet had been leading him to an often deserted playground, except for two girls. The elder of the two had always seemed to be giving her younger, red-haired sister warnings about things she should not be doing. On this particular day, they were seen playing on the swings, as Severus crouched behind and over-sized bush and watched the red-haired girl in amazement as she suddenly leapt from the swing at its highest peak, and landed softly on the ground, flat on her feet, like a graceful cat.

"Mummy told you not to! Mummy said you weren't allowed. Lily!"* the older girl scolded with her hands on her hips.

"But I'm fine," said Lily, still giggling. "Tuney, look at this. Watch what I can do."* She skipped over to the bush that Severus was hiding behind as he held his breath, careful not to breathe incase she noticed him. Although he was bursting with excitement that he had finally found someone like himself, he still hadn't exactly worked out what to say to her. It would be difficult to make her believe him, not to mention that every time he looked at her emerald green eyes, his stomach did several back-flips. She plucked a tiny flower off of the bush, held it in her hands for a mere second, then opened it again and held it out for her sister to see. Severus peeked slowly around the bush to see what she was doing, and saw that the flower was opening and closing its petals.

"Stop it!" shrieked Petunia.*

"It's not hurting you," said Lily, but she closed her hand on the blossom and threw it back to the ground.*

"It's not right." Said Petunia.*

Severus stifled a giggle at Lily's remark but felt a twang of hurt at what Petunia had said. She reminded him of his father.

"How do you do it, Lily?" Petunia asked, curiosity and longing in her voice. At this point, Severus could no longer hide his joy and sprang out from behind the bush, startling the older girl, but Lily stood her ground.

"It's obvious, isn't it?"* Severus said.

"What's obvious?" asked Lily.* She sincerely looked confused. He glanced at Petunia, hovering by the swings, and deciding it was best not to tell her, lowered his voice and said to Lily, "I know what you are."*

"What do you mean?"*

"You're…you're a witch," whispered Severus.*

She looked highly offended and scolded, "That's not a very nice thing to say to somebody!"* she said as she marched off, nose high in the air, towards her sister.

"No!"* said Severus. He knew he had blown it, but also knew that he had to tell Lily everything, even if she didn't believe him.

"You are a witch. I've been watching you for a while. There's nothing wrong with that. My mum's one, and I'm a wizard,"* he pleaded with her.

Petunia laughed coldly.

"Wizard!"* she scoffed. "I know who you are. You're that Snape boy! They live down Spinner's End by the river,"* she told Lily, as she looked at him with disapproval. "Why have you been spying on us?"* she asked him.

"Have- haven't been spying," said Severus*. He shifted his feet uncomfortably, then added, "Wouldn't spy on you anyway, you're a Muggle."

Her face was one of shock and anger as she glared at him. "Lily, come on, we're leaving!"* They strode off. Lily glanced back at Severus, a look of disappointment and curiosity crossing her face. He stayed looking after them as they walked away in silence, feeling slightly disappointed at himself for not getting her to believe him.

He came back day after day, watching from behind the same over-large bush as he always had, until one day she came alone. He was curious to see that her sister did not accompany her side, but his face was soon replaced by shock as she silently called out, "Severus?" A small smile spread across his face when she said his name. He quickly jumped up, eager to hear what she had to say.

"Yes?" he answered her.

"Is it true?" What you said the other day, about me being a witch and all?" she asked nervously.

"Of course it's true!" and knowing that this may be his only chance, he took her tiny, small hand in his rather large and clammy one, and led her into the forest as he said, "C'mon, I'll tell you all about it." They headed off into the forest as Lily gave a shout of glee and a wide smile spread across her face. Severus chuckled to himself as tiny butterflies fluttered in his stomach at the feeling of her hand in his.

When Lily was able to get away from her sister, she would meet up with Severus in a small thicket of woods, where he would tell her all about the Wizarding World. She knew she asked the same questions over and over again, but he didn't seem to mind in the least.

They sat there day after day, dreaming about what it would be like when they went off to school. Lily had many questions for Severus and he answered each one with a proud smile on his face.

"…and the Ministry can punish you if you do magic outside school, you get letters"* he told her.

"But I have done magic outside school!"*

"We're all right. 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," he nodded importantly, "and they start training you, then you've got to go careful."*

They sat in silence for a while, then Lily leaned in close to him and his heart stuttered at their close proximity.

"It is real, isn't it? 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?"*

"It's real for us. Not for her. But we'll get the letter, you and me."* he said.

"Really?" whispered Lily.*

"Definitely, "said Severus.*

"And will it really come by owl?"* she whispered, her eyes lighting up.

"Normally," said Severus. "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?"* Lily asked with a bit of fear in her eyes,

Severus hesitated before answering.

"No, it doesn't make any difference."*

"Good,"* said Lily, sighing in relief.

"You've got loads of magic. I saw that. All the time I was watching you…"*

They lay out on the leafy ground, looking up at the canopy of leaves that shielded them from the light of the hot sun. Severus lay there, thinking about what it would be like if every day was like this one. Just him and Lily, alone, together. He was shaken out of his fantasy when she spoke.

"How are things at your house?"*

He frowned slightly, a small crease forming between his eyes.

"Fine," he said.*

"They're not arguing anymore?"*

"Oh yes, they're arguing,"* said Severus, his frown deepening. "But it won't be that long and I'll be gone."*

"Doesn't your dad like magic?"* she asked.

"He doesn't like anything much."*

"Severus?"*she asked.

His stomach did several back-flips before he answered.

"Yeah?"*

"Tell me about the dementors again."*

"What do you want to know about them for?"*

"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-"*

'Pretty,' he thought to himself, his face turning red. A small noise startled them both. They turned toward the direction of the noise, and saw that Petunia, who was hiding in a tree, had lost her footing.

"Tuney!"* Lily said, surprise in her voice, she looked over at Severus who had jumped to his feet.

"Who's spying now?"he shouted. "What d'you want?"*

Petunia was shocked. She was struggling for something insulting to say to him.

"What is that you're wearing anyway?"* she snapped. "Your mum's blouse?"*

Severus looked down at his shirt, then back at her with rage in his eyes as she smirked at him. There was a loud crack- as a branch over Petunia's head fall and hit her on the shoulder. She staggered backwards, tears forming in her eyes.

"Tuney!"*

Petunia looked at Lily, tears running down her face before she turned and ran out of the thicket. Lily rounded on Severus.

"Did you make that happen?"*

"No."* Severus said, looking scared.

"You did!"* she said, getting up and backing away from him. "You did! You hurt her!"*

"No- no I didn't!"

But she wasn't convinced. She turned her back on him and ran off after her sister, leaving him miserable. Even after she left him, he still came back every day. After a long day of waiting and hoping for her to show, he got up and began to walk away, until he heard her yelling, "Severus, Severus!"

He turned around and saw Lily running towards him, waving a piece of parchment in the air. He ran towards her.

"Severus! I got it, I got my letter!" she squealed, hugging him around the waist.

He hugged her back gently as he whispered in her ear, "I told you!"

She pulled away from him slowly, her emerald green eyes staring into his dark onyx ones. They stood there for several seconds until she suddenly, once again, hugged him tight around the waist, leaning her head on his chest. He inhaled the sweet scent of vanilla as his chin rested on the top of her head.

"Oh, Severus. I'm so sorry about the other day. I didn't mean to yell at you. I was angry at her too, I told my parents about it and they yelled at her too. I'm really, really sorry, Sev."

"It's fine Lily. I understand. And if you got your letter that must mean that I got mine!"Severus said.

"Well let's go and get it!"Lily yelled, a smile lighting up her brilliant face.

"Wait, we?"Severus exclaimed.

"Yes, we silly. Who else?" Lily giggled.

"I don't think that's such a good idea…"

Severus stood his ground as Lily tried to lead him the way he had been walking before she got there.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, remember what I told you about my parents? Lily, remember how I said they argue a lot?"

"Yes…?" she nodded.

"Well…it's only gotten worse." he said. He shifted his feet uncomfortably before turning his back on her and lifting up his shirt. Lily gasped as she saw all the red marks, scratched, and welts on his back.

"Oh my gosh, Severus!"

"It's really not as bad as it looks. I should probably be getting home anyway, it's late."

"Sev…" Lily said.

"Meet me back here at the same time tomorrow, okay?" he asked.

"Sure. I-I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," she said and she turned and walked away.

Severus sighed and headed home. He didn't want to leave Lily, but he also didn't want to make his father angrier than he was. He walked quickly up his street towards his house and entered as quietly as he could, but not quiet enough. His father caught him, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and dragged him into the basement. He removed his belt and held it in one hand, while his other hand ripped off Severus' shirt. In one swift motion, his hand came down with the belt and there was a loud crack- as it came down across the boy's back.

Severus awoke the next morning with even more marks across his back. He winced a little as he got out of bed and put on a shirt that seemed slightly clean. He quietly walked down the stairs and saw that his father was passed out on the couch, one arm hanging over the edge, clutching an empty bottle of whiskey. He snuck quietly over to the door, grabbing his Hogwarts letter off of the coffee table as he went, and bolted as quickly and quietly through the door as he could.

He walked quickly down the street and into the woods. He broke into a run as he reached the cover of the trees, trying to get to the thicket before Lily. It work, he made it there before her. He spread out under the canopy of leaves and hastily opened his Hogwarts letter. He read it through over and over again, his smile grower wider each time. He was finally going to be free. Free of his father, free of his mother, free of arguments, and free of abuse. His head snapped up as he heard the crunching of leaves nearby. He stood up and caught a glimpse of fire before tiny hands covered his eyes.

"Guess who!"Lily whispered in his ear.

"Hmm…" he said as Lily giggled. "Well, it smells like a troll-"

"Hey!"Lily yelled, crossing her arms across her chest, and in turn uncovering Severus' eyes.

"Relax," he said laughing. "I was only kidding. But really, you may want to try taking a shower once in a while," he said laughing, waving his hand in front of his nose.

"Shut up," Lily laughed, playfully smacking him on the back, but he winced at her touch. Concern spread across her face. "Sev, are you ok?" she asked.

"I'm fine, Lily. Really!" he said as disbelief flashed in her eyes, "I'm used t it. But don't worry, just one more month and I'll be free of them. Look, I got my letter too!" he said, flashing the piece of parchment in front of Lily's face, hoping she would drop the subject. It worked. She eagerly grabbed the letter, reading it to make sure he wasn't lying.

When she was finished, they both laid out on the crisp leaves and talked about Hogwarts, just as they had for the past couple of weeks. They lay there for hours talking, until Lily checked her watch.

"Well, I should be going." She said nervously.

"So soon? It's not even close to sunset." He pouted.

"I'm sorry, Severus. I meant to tell you earlier, but my family and I are going on vacation for a few weeks, visiting some relatives. I don't know when we'll be back." She said.

"Oh…" he stammered. "Ok." He looked at her with sad eyes, his dark ones gazing into her green ones for one last look before she left.

"I'm sorry, Sev. But I'll see you September 1st on the Hogwarts Express. "she said with a small smile, feeling guilty.

"Yeah, I- I guess I'll see you then." He forced a smile on his face and turned to leave, but Lily grabbed him by the wrist, pulled him into a tight hug, and placed a light kiss on his cheek.

"See you soon, Severus." She said quietly and she disappeared from the thicket, leaving a smiling Severus Snape behind her. He placed his hand to his cheek. He could still feel the warmth of her kiss as he stood there, and that feeling was the only thing that could possibly get him through the last summer month.

"Until September 1st." he said, smiling to himself, and he left the thicket, heading back home to endure his last month alone, only hoping that it would pass quickly.

A/N: Read and review please! Let me know what you think!