Companion

Chapter Two: Eyes

Lily crept slowly up towards a large berry bush and hunched halfway inside it, glancing trough it curiously towards the swings. She gasped as she saw her sister sit and talk to a slightly smaller boy with black hair that shone in the orange hot sunshine. It reminded her of the story of The Black Gold. She squinted slightly, concentrating on the pair.

He seemed content to listen to Petunia while sitting and swinging slowly with her, and Lily knew that if her sister were talking to someone, they must be high class. Or at least, perfectly normal. The boy did not look snobbish though, she mused and leaned herself more forward. Curiosity burned inside her and she let out a small sad smile, wishing it were her on the swing next to the boy, talking about whatever were her fancy for that day, feeling the sun on her new green dress.. her hair maybe in braids..?

«-Either way, I just do not see the reason for why Berta is to think she can be the chosen one in our ballet class.»

Severus nodded duly, still keeping a pleasant smile on his face. His bright green t-shirt soaking in the heat of the sun. His almond sharp eyes were kept on the taller blonde girl that he had met two years back, but his ears were prickling after hearing something to the other side of the swing. As Petunia rose from her seat, she made her flowing flower blue dress sway around her and she bid him a nice morning, saying she was off to the cafe again where her parents were waiting, before turning and walking with elegance and thinly veiled pride to her parents who had come from the Cattles to pick her up, as promised.

After she left he picked up one of the small clovers next to the swing he sat on. After a little while of concentrating really hard, Lily saw the small clover shine slightly more brightly in the sunshine before it did lazy turns in the air. The clover turned and swirled like a small helicopter, slowly whirling itself around before falling gently down to the ground. He leaned back in the swing to see a beautiful red haired girl holding one of the white flowers in her hand, doing exactly the same, imitating what she had seen him do.

Gasping, he kept staring at the girl with the hair of flames. She giggled, and he slowly started to swing again, watching her with a burning curiosity, before he jumped off the swing again, landing slowly from the air with uncontrolled magic aiding him. The girl looked at him with awe and surprise on her face, as she had seen him jump from the swing and float slowly down. As he walked up to her, she seemed as if she were about to turn and run away, before she took a stance and looked at him from underneath her hair, smiling uncertainly.

Severus held his breath as he saw the red hair swaying in the breeze, slightly wet and casting amazing fire-like shadows trough those rosy hues. But her eyes.. deep green. The green started to gleam, and lighten. As did his smile. "Hullo.." he awkwardly sounded as he stared at the angel in front of him.

Lily found herself drawn to those black depths, so vivid and friendly, dancing with auburn embers flickering in the sunlight. She felt awfully self-conscious of her old yellow flat dress at the way he stared at her. The black hair she had been so entranced in was right in front of her. Long like a girls, like hers. Down to the mid-back, just cut straight. She took a breath in her nine year old body, and started to stare back into those depths entrancing her.

"..Hi." She eventually sounded, before collecting herself. "Hi!" She said again, with more enthusiasm. "I saw.. you.. the clover.." Again she looked to the side, awfully self-conscious. Didn`t her father say that only freaks did that sort of thing?

The boy did not mind and nodded eagerly. "So did you. I can`t believe you are magical too!" He exclaimed it so innocently, full of hope..

"Magical? No, no, only freaks do that.." Her freckles stood out more as she looked to the side. The boy shuffled his feet and muttered lightly, having this confused look on his face. "What?" she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest worriedly. He looked up at her and stared in her eyes sincerely, making her unfold her arms.

«You are a witch.»

By some miracle, the girl had let him explain himself before she found something better than a handful of leaves to bat him on the head with. They sat at the swings together, looking at the sunset falling. They had talked all day trough. About witches, wizards, magic. About Hogwarts and the letter. About where he lived and the river she loved so much. They had talked, and talked, until they both sat there next to each other in silence.

"I`m Severus. Severus Prince." He said. Then looked at her and smiled carefully.

She smiled back. "My name is Evans. Lily Marie Evans." Giggling slightly she started to gain speed on the swing. "Want to be my friend?" She asked suddenly, and made Severus stare at her. Of course he wanted to! He tried finding out how to say just that, as his voice seemed lost due to the suddenness of the question. Lily seemed confused, then sad. He did not understand why, so he just nodded vigorously, hoping for the best. That seemed to do the trick as she lounged herself from her swing to hug him.

He nearly missed her whispering in his hair, as he tried holding their balance up together..

"You`re my first friend."

Severus`s throat constricted, and his eyes stung. He remembered his mum telling that everyone should have a best friend. So that they would never be alone.. and.. he liked her. She seemed so nice. And her eyes were beautiful, and her quirks were..interesting. "I`ll be your best friend, if you want to, Lily."

"Really? Do you mean that?" Her eyes gleamed as she looked at him from point blank distance. He nodded, smiling hesitantly, which made Lily start to cry. Fretting, as he did not know what to do, he tried to do everything at once. It just resulted in stuttering however, and hands around her, on her back and on the swing.

"A-a-..Always?" She hiccuped, having her heart shaped cheeks become a slight puffy red. "Of course, Always." He nodded to emphasize just that, and stared at her still pretty face. That was when she grinned happily again, and Severus decided he did not understand girls.

2 Years later, summertime.

Ding-Dong!

There went the doorbell. Severus yawned lazily as he streched in his comfortable bed. His blue pajamas bottoms clashing against his purple night shirt that had golden and silver stars on. Mum.. he thought as he stared at the shirt. No matter how much he went to sleep without the damn thing, he always would wake up with it!

Ding-Dong!

Groaning he rose and nodded to the ringing sound, and went downstairs. It was just 6:15 he noted duly at the watch hanging in the hall. Taking a long, unceremonious stretch, before trodding silently in the hallway and then down the reddish-purple carpet covered stairs. He grinned at the thought of just who was on the other side.

As he stood in front of the door, with his hand on the polished brass doorknob, he checked himself quickly in the hallway mirror. Yep, it still were him staring right back. Grinning, he yanked the door open as quickly as he could while still being pretty silent. "Lily!" He exclaimed before actually looking at her. "Come on in."

«Severus!» She sounded equally back, just as happy to see him as he was for seeing her. He frowned lightly, seeing she seemed thinner from before last week. "Let`s go to the kitchen and see what mum made? I think she is awake now."

As they trodded into the kitchen, they saw Eileen making pancakes for their breakfast. As she noticed Lily she smiled.
"Hello, Lily. You are early up today. Come, sit down and I will put a plate up for you too."

Severus stalked over to the polished rowan table and chairs, sitting on the red checkered pillow that had been stuck to the chairs with a sticking charm.

Trailing in after him were Lily, dressed in the yellow shirt and skirt. Eileen pursed her lips before piling up pancakes, surrounded by bacon, a sugar bowl, honey bowl, syrup bowl and white bread. She heard Severus chuckle at her side, and she tried meekly to insist she did not need all this food. "Mrs. Prince,-" She started. "Oh, just call me Eileen, Lily. You know I do not like being called that. I feel so old." Lily just nodded and tried to continue. "Eileen, I have just eaten and I,-" Again she were cut off by Eileen, and Severus`s giggles. "Nonsense. I made too much anyway. Besides, you look so thin!"

Lily took a bite of one of the pancakes, chewing slowly before nodding to herself. This time she would listen, she seemed to think. "But I,-" Severus were now shaking with his laughter at her insistence. "No buts." Eileen cut in with mirth and sparkled as she waited for Lily to start eating again. Severus gave her a No Escape look and started on his own humongous pile. He seemed always much more hungry if Lily ate with him for some reason.

Lily ate only for Severus. And Eileen.. and that she was hungry.. fine, she was starving! Wolfing down her food as fast as she could while shooting happy glances at both of the occupants of the kitchen. She swallowed painfully and continued on to the bacon.

Eileen however was worried. Her son had told her and Tobias about his friend seeming to get thinner periodically when she had not eaten at their place for a while. She knew the Evanses were a good family. Marigold and her were good friends and young Petunia Anette seemed like such a nice young woman. Harold Evans seemed so fond of his daughter.. but she worried that he seemed to.. well.. not dislike, but distrust his youngest. She had a nasty feeling it was because of her being magical.

Again she pursed her lips and whipped the cream harder, making it more and more fluffy, until it turned into butter. Startled she looked at the pink bowl in her hands. "Well.. the cat can get this one." she muttered and Severus grinned cheekily at her. "No, Severus, we are not getting a cat." She said, seeing he were about to ask again.

Eileen were worried for Lily`s health. She were not physically abused it seemed, but she always seemed to get Petunia`s hand-me-downs. Never had she seen the girl do any sports or taking something like ballet classes. According to Severus, Lily did not like to talk about her life at home, and all she would say he had promised to not tell.

Secretly, she was proud of how loyal her son was, but her worry for the girl made her take a decision.

"Lily, would you be a dear to come and help me and Severus in my garden in the mornings? The summer heat is killing them if they do not get enough care, and I am being busy helping with all the birthdays coming up."

Severus`s eyes were sparkling again. Of course her baby would know what she was getting at. Lily being here early in the mornings meant breakfast for both of them. Lunch and dinner, too.

Lily seemed, if anything, unsure if to accept. She was apparently bright too, but when she looked trough the living room and the glass door and saw the large backyard filled with flowers drooping in the heat, she decided to accept. She would need the money too if the letter would come this year.

"I would love to, Mrs. Prince!" And she nodded for emphasis, just as Severus used to.

It was then Tobias had come in the room, and Lily glanced at her plate of food. The trust Tobias had gotten from her had been hard-won and he had cursed her family both verbally and mentally. Holding the paper with one hand, he used the other to ruffle Severus`s head. He stopped abruptly and smelled the air and asked, "Son, have you been into your mother`s cabinet again?" Severus just nodded an affirmative while munching on his fifteenth slice of bacon. He had for sure been using his mom`s shampoo.

Tobias just shook his head and tried not to chuckle before sitting down. He glanced over the paper and seeing the shy smiling, fidgeting red-head in the chair next to his.

"Ah.." he smirked lightly at his mistake. "Lily. Haven`t seen you around the past week. Still looking to earn some money?" He asked, then stuffed a piece of white toast into his mouth.

"I already asked her to help me with the garden, Tobias." Eileen sang, smiling all the way as she brushed some of the crumbs from his rich brown goatee and kissed him soundly, making the two children giggle in their seats.

"Ah, but she may be interested in earning some more along with Severus still?" He raised a slightly bushy eyebrow at her. "Help me with painting the house to a new yellow with Severus and I`ll pay you. My back is not what it used to be.." he muttered the last part darkly.

Severus groaned at the prospect of work in the summer, but Lily accepted gladly. She were saving up money for the Diagon Alley trip and for Severus`s Christmas present. It was still summer, but she wanted to get a head start anyway.

"Come Lily, let`s go upstairs." He said after they had eaten a few more bites. Heading up the fuzzy stairs and trough the first creamy door into Severus`s bedroom. It was large and the window was open to give a small breeze in the warm room. Blue curtains were swaying in the slight wind. Severus immediately dug his toes into the furry carpet, prompting Lily to do the same as they sat on the bouncy bed.

Just as Severus had launched into another far and long tale about the house system of Hogwarts, and how Durmstrang and Beuxbatons did not have it, they heard a shriek of delight from downstairs.

"SEVERUS TOBIAS!" roared his dads voice from downstairs, followed by a more feminine singing voice, "LILY MARIE! Come downstairs!"

The two shared a glance. Severus shrugged, delighted and ran downstairs with Lily hot on his tail, only that she were sporting a worried look. Running into the kitchen, they found Eileen gushing at two speckled barn owls, both carrying a letter in their beak. One looked particularly proud, the other were just sleepy.

"Oh, Severus, take it. I think yours is on the left." His mother gushed between her cooing. Grinning broadly, he went to the left owl, with Lily right behind him and took the letter gently from its beak. While he opened his, Eileen helped Lily take hers from the other owl, who clearly were being preoccupied with trying to place one talon gently on the Tobias`s arm.

Severus nearly howled in pleasure as he saw the Hogwarts badge on the top of his letter, before reading trough it as fast as his eyes would go. Lily were not far behind and she seemed utterly relieved. "I got in!" they shouted in unison, and proceeded to dance on the spot. The now free owl had gone to the owl pellet bowl on the counter for a reward, while the other had found its way on Tobias left shoulder, and seemed to be snoozing, earning a giggle from Eileen.

"Mum loves owls." Severus whispered, earning a smile from Lily.

"What about your dad?" The man looked slightly disturbed and tried rolling his shoulder gently to nudge the owl to get off. It only resulted in a loopy hoot and it riding the rolling off, before going back to snoozing.

"The owls love him." He simply stated with a humored smile.

Lily went home for the evening, and saw that the living room had gotten one of those hyper modern television with color. Her father and sister were watching it while her mum were knitting more clothes to be sold to the neighborhood. She were unsure weather or not to tell about the letter, out of fear for their reaction, but knew she had to, eventually. Dread settled in her gut, for she knew that no matter what, she would probably feel bad.

"I`m home." She said, earning a humm of mhm`s. They did not even glance at her. Her temper flared and her eyes flashed as she snapped out sharply, "I got the letter."

Her mother looked up at her then and asked softly, slightly absentmindedly, "What letter?"

"The letter to Hogwarts! The school for freaks, remember?" She glared at them as much as she dared, before staring at the wallpaper to the other side. Her fathers voice brought a sickening feeling in her gut.

"Good. When are you leaving?" Her head snapped around and she looked bewildered at her.. her what exactly? Petunia continued when she had been silent for a few moments. "We don`t want you here."

Lily felt her eyes stinging sharply at the words, and returned hotly to her sister. "Well, you have to deal with it. We have to get back for holidays and su-" she were cut off by the droning of her father`s voice.

"We had a Professor Mcgonnagall here. She informed us that you could stay at that freak school during holidays." Her father continued slowly, as if she would not understand if he spoke too quickly.

"And at summertime, you can sleep in the yard. Food you are already snitching off from the neighbours." He glared at her, his eyes blazing furiosly with shame from hearing that the thing calling itself his daughter went and degraded the family. Even going so far as to try and be a charity case at his boss!

"If you continue this abusive manner against our family, you can just as well be where no-one can see you. So stay in the backyard!" He growled at her and turned to the television with a humph. When she tried looking at her mother trough her tears, she saw nothing else than emty sadness. Her mother had truly stopped caring. But she remembered that just two days years she still cared.. didn`t she?

"Daddy, she is ruining our family time.." Petunia whined. Her mother cooed at her and tried to comfort her eldest, no, her only daughter, Lily were sure. As her father`s voice rose he said strongly. "Get out. The house is for people, monsters."

"But.." she glanced upstairs, all her things, the clothes. She needed those!

"Get. Out!" He ground trough his teeth. And Lily ran out of the backdoor, before her father would smack her behind for talking back at him. When outside in the yard, she noticed she were barefooted. There were nowhere to sleep under, except the hedge from when she was just born, on this side of the fence.

The door opened and she saw her mother come out with something in her arms. She noticed it was her few clothes, an old bottle of shampoo and a very old fabric metal lunchbox. Marigold did not even look Lily in the eye. Her own mother did not want to look at her as she laid the items down in the grass before her feet.

When she spoke, it was barely audible. "I am sorry Lily. I am sorry you were born like this. Maybe if I had relaxed more, or been more in the garden you would not have turned out..-" She sounded like she choked as she stood straight and walked slowly back in. "Leave the lunchbox on the staircase here back every morning and you`ll get your meal for the day. I`ll give you a cup of washing powder every week to wash your clothes. If you keep the garden proper, your father will maybe make up a small spot to shield from the wind."

As she was to close the door, she turned and looked straight at her, saying loudly enough that a "And do not be seen." rang in her ears.

Standing now, in the backyard at night. Her few possessions laying in a heap before her and herself being expected to not be seen, to not exist. She wanted to go to Severus, to get comforted by his soft words but her shame stopped her from doing so. She should not bother him with what were her problems. He were too nice, he should not worry for someone like her.

So she sat down, right at the hedge, nearly under the hedge with her clothes serving as a matress, pillow and blanket. She stared at the white door with the brass handle and the stone steps, with dread. What were she to do? What could she do?

Lily closed her eyes slowly. Well, she would not bother any neighbours at least about this.. or Severus.

She hated herself. Every day she came to the Princes, eating their food, borrowing their shower. It was Severus who noticed she were washing her hair in the river, at their spot, just a week after having been put out. She were being persuaded to come and shower, to get her clothes washed along with theirs. And always, Eileen looked sadly at her. Always, Tobias seemed to glare at his newspaper when she went home. Home. The backyard was hers, at least. At night.

Every morning she put the metal box at the stone steps, and every evening she opened it to find her day`s worth. It never were much.. at least until she started using more time in the mornings on the yard. She got milk last night.

A part of Lily were scoffing at this. Acting like she was at fault, like she were less worth than them! Anger flared in her, and made her always regard her parents cooly. Her gleaming green eyes were always like ice when she laid her eyes on those muggles. She always dragged that thought back, when she remembered Tobias were a muggle, too.

"But he is not just every muggle." her mind told her.

She were eleven years old, and soon in two days, september the first would be here. She should just think of all the good things. Like a whole year away from this place! Her eyes softened at the thought, as she sat at their spot that night.

Her eyes looked at the river and she smiled when she recalled Severus`s words. "Tommorow we are going to Diagon Alley! Mum said you are to come too, so no arguing!" He were always so considerate to her. She could not wait until they were there. With the help of Eileen`s garden and their house, she had enough money for the books and clothes needed.

Again, she thought about Severus, as she were ready to fall asleep under the large oak tree. He were her bright spot, always listening to her. Making her feel important. She would do him proud, she would see what house he got in, then convince whoever she had to convince to let her be in the same house as he. They would have so much fun together, get so many new friends.

Lily closed her eyes carefully and found herself looking forward to tommorow. Diagon Alley.

AN: Updated this chapter too now.. hopefully less dreadful spelling mistakes :D

I actually like this chapter a bit, even though it does not have any particular action in it. Just something to set the mood and how the youngest Evans might be handling things.