In exchange for an entire year away from his disgraceful son, Tobias Snape agreed to let Severus go to Hogwarts. He refused to put any money into it, but his mother later told him that her parents left her some when they died. She would take him to Diagon Alley the next day along with Lily and her family.

Severus was excited. All of the stories his mother told him would now be brought into reality and he would get to share it with the girl of his dreams.

Yes, Severus realized that, while he was only eleven years old, he was in love with Lily Evans or close to it. They were best friends. He only wished that her sister didn't have to get in the way of it. Petunia hated him and she hated the fact that Lily was magical.

The day came when, finally, his mother told him to get ready because they were going to Diagon Alley. With his letter held firmly in his right hand, Severus followed her down the road toward Lily's house.

Her parents were enthralled with all things magical. They loved everything to do with it and Severus was exactly the same. Though he was a wizard, he'd never been allowed to go anywhere that had magic. His mother wasn't even allowed to do magic at home because of his father.

After a long day at Diagon Alley, having spent quite a bit of money on all of the school supplies needed for a first year, they returned to their town. The next day they would head off to the train station and board platform 9 3/4.

"That was fun," Lily commented.

Petunia crinkled her nose, "It was awful. I think you're all freaks."

Lily looked ready to cry, "You don't mean it, do you Tunie?"

"Magic isn't normal," Petunia continued. "You're weird."

"We are not," Severus interrupted, angry at seeing his best friend in tears.

"Yeah you are," Petunia argued.

Severus shook his head, "We're not. You're just jealous, Petunia."

The older girl looked at him in disdain, "Why would I be jealous of a freak like you? Your father doesn't even come home half the time. I've seen him stumbling down the streets in the morning like he's been at the bar."
Severus would have attacked her if it wasn't for Lily's arm across his chest.

"Stop it!" she cried.

"Sorry, Lily," Severus said.

Petunia just crossed her arms and looked the other way.

Upon returning home, the Snapes said goodbye to Evans family and slipped through the front door of their house. Tobias Snape passed out on the couch, a bottle of beer held firmly in his hand.

Eileen walked up the stairs without a word and Severus could hear her bedroom door close behind her. He followed slowly, weighed down by the bags he carried. He walked passed his parent's room and into his own at the end of the hall.

In his own room, Severus set the bags on the floor and began to go through them. There was so much about magic that he didn't know! Immediately, he pulled out a book his mother gave him and began to read through it. He absorbed the knowledge, not wanting to feel out of place when he arrived at Hogwarts. This was his chance to become something. Finally, he wouldn't be inferior and he could learn to stand up to his father.

Severus continued reading late into the night and around midnight he heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. A door opened and slammed shut. He tried to ignore it and immerse himself in his book. His father's booming voice wiped out all chance of that.

The next morning his mother seemed more worn out than he'd seen her in a while. Severus was up most of the night reading and from the time his father came tromping up the stairs to when Severus went to sleep, the yells continued.

Severus was worried about his mother. If he went to Hogwarts, who would be here to watch over her? When he voiced these concerns to her, she assured him that she would be perfectly fine. He knew better, but decided not to argue.

At 9:45, they left to the Evans' house. They would all be going to King's Cross Station together. Lily was no longer afraid of not getting her letter, but rather missing the train. Severus assured her that they wouldn't, but she still bounced beside him in the car as they travelled down the street.

Petunia scowled at them from the next seat over, but didn't dare say a word while her parents were in the car. Severus was glad that she wouldn't upset Lily anymore that day because he hated to see her cry. He did his best to keep his friend's attention away from her sister's disapproving frown.

The train station was very busy that day. People were everywhere, but Eileen Snape led the way through the crowd confidently. Severus was surprised at how she conducted herself when they weren't around his father. She seemed almost normal except for the dark circles under her eyes and the nervous flinch whenever someone bumped into her.

They stopped beside a wall between platforms 9 and 10.

"Alright," Eileen said. "All you have to do is walk straight at the wall. If you're afraid you might want to run."

Her eyes landed on her son.

"Severus, why don't you go first?" she suggested.

Severus took a deep breath and started toward the wall, putting his head down and closing his eyes. Instead of colliding with the brick like he expected, he went right through! Children were everywhere. Lots of them wore long robes, but still others were wearing plain muggle clothing. Behind him, Lily and her family came through the wall. His mother was the last.

"Come on," Eileen said. "Let's get you a seat on the train."

The group started toward the train slowly, their way blocked by the crowd of students and their families. Lily was bouncing excitedly, a smile stretching her face. She grabbed Severus' arm happily.

"This is so cool!" she breathed.

Severus smirked at her in amusement.

Eventually they arrived at a door to the train. Lily's parents were nearly in tears. Severus' mother looked at him with a thin smile.

Lily hugged her family as Severus stepped up to his mother. She did not initiate the hug, but she put her arms around him when he hugged her. He figured this was good enough.

Grabbing their things, Severus and Lily boarded the train to find a seat. Many of the compartments they passed were already full, but they finally found an empty one near the back. They put their things away and sat down across from each other.

"I can't wait to get there!" Lily exclaimed.

Severus nodded happily.

The train slowly started moving and the door to their compartment opened.

"Can we sit here? No where else is open," a boy with dark, messy hair asked.

"Sure," Lily replied.

The boy took a seat, followed by his friend.

"My name's James, James Potter," the dark haired one introduced. "And this is Sirius Black."

Lily looked pleased that they were already making friends, but Severus wasn't so sure he liked these boys.

"I'm Lily Evans," Lily replied.

Three pairs of eyes turned to Severus and he mumbled his name.

"Have you heard about houses?" James asked.

Lily nodded enthusiastically.

"I'm sure I'm going to be in Gryffindor," he said. "My entire family was. It's in my blood."

"My parents aren't magical so I don't know what house I'll be in," Lily told him.

"What house do you want to be in, Snape?" James asked.

Knowing that his answer would cause trouble, Severus sneered, "Slytherin."
James and Sirius looked disgusted.

The rest of the train ride seemed too long to Severus. Lily spoke mostly with the other two boys and Severus stared out the window, commenting every now and then on something James or Sirius would say.

When the train pulled to a stop, Severus and Lily moved away from them. A man was shouting for first years and Lily grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the lake.

"Into the boats!" the man yelled.

Severus and Lily took their seats beside two other kids they didn't know. Lily gaped up at the castle.

"Whoa, Sev," she whispered. "It's huge."

He nodded.

She continued to comment about the castle's beauty and size until they docked. A hushed group of children made their way toward the school.

A witch dressed in robes and a pointy hat awaited them at the front entrance. Her face was stern, brown hair pulled up into a severe bun.

"Right this way, please," she said.

She turned and started into the castle, the group following behind. They were all quiet now, except for their occassional whispers about the castle or the upcoming sorting. They huddled together, nervous and afraid of what lay ahead.

Outside large wooden doors, they came to a stop. The professor turned around to look at the group of eleven-year-olds.

"In a few minutes these doors will open and you will be lead into the Great Hall. You will sit on the stool and the Sorting Hat will be placed on your head. You will be sorted into one of the four houses: Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. Your house will become your family during your time here. Your triumphs will earn you points and your mistakes will take them away. I will return shortly to retrieve you," she said.

The professor slipped through the big doors and was gone. The first years instantly began talking. What was the Sorting Hat? What house would they be put into? Would they be with their friends after this?

Severus was quiet, knowing exactly where he was going to be placed. Beside him, Lily buzzed with excitement.

"Do you think we'll be put in the same house, Sev?" she asked.

"Of course we will!" he exclaimed.

"But what if we're not?"

Severus shook his head, "We will be."

"Will you still be my friend if we're not?"

"But we will be, Lily. I know it."

"Will you, Sev?" Lily pressed.

Severus sighed and assured her, "Of course I will, Lily."

She beamed brightly at him and he smiled back.

The professor with the stern face slipped back through the doors and called them to attention. Finally, they were opened and the new students could see the Great Hall before them.

Lily gasped and silently, Severus was amazed as well. They walked down the center aisle in the front of the crowd, being gaped at by all of the older students.

"Oh, Sevvy, look up!" Lily whispered.

Severus did as ordered and was amazed at the sight. The ceiling was dark like the night sky and stars scattered across it. He'd never seen anything like it.

"How do you think they do it?" Lily asked.

"It's magic, Lily," Severus replied.

The girl sighed, "Wow."

They came to a stop at the front of the room and gathered around an old stool. On top of the stool was an even older grey hat. Severus guess this was the 'Sorting Hat', but didn't understand how this would help put them into houses.

"Abbey, Deborah," the professor announced.

A small girl with large glasses and even larger hair stepped up to the stool and her quivering form could be seen from the back of the Hall. The Hat was placed on her head and for a moment the room was silent.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Hat suddenly shouted.

Deborah Abbey sighed, relieved, and hopped off the stool to hurry over to her new table where the students happily congratulated her.

It wasn't long until the professor was calling, "Evans, Lily!"

Severus nodded encouragingly at her and watched as she made her way up to the Hat. It took some time deliberating about where to place her. Then, it took what seemed to be a deep breath and Severus held his.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it yelled.

Lily hopped off the stool and scurried over to her new table with a small smile on her face. Severus watched from his place in the group with a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had been so sure that they would be in the same house and there was no way he was going to be put in Gryffindor.

"Potter, James!" the professor called.

The boy with messy, black hair stalked confidently toward the stool. The Hat was barely on his head when it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

James Potter quickly made it over to his table and sat beside Lily as Severus looked on.

Finally, the professor said his name, "Snape, Severus!"

Severus walked up to the stool and sat, waiting for the Hat to be placed on his head. What he didn't expect was the voice that suddenly filled his ears when it was.

"Ah, another Snape. I wondered if another would come through here. Your mother was a Slytherin. You would fit well there, too. You're very smart, you could be a Ravenclaw. Hmm, best to put you in - SLYTHERIN!"

Severus was both relieved and disappointed. He knew he would be put in Slytherin, but now he wouldn't be with Lily. He wanted to be with his best friend, but he also wanted to stay as far away from Gryffindor as possible.

He hopped off the stool and started for the Slytherin table to his right. They cheered, but also sneered at him and eyed him as he sat down.

The rest of the sorting passed quickly and finally, the Headmaster spoke. He told them all of the rules and then gave them permission to start eating.

Severus didn't initiate conversation with any of the kids who sat beside him and most of them kept to themselves as well. A few seats down, though, a boy with brown hair piped up.

"My name's Wilkes, and you are?"

He was forcing everyone within a five-seat radius to state their names. Eventually the introductions came to Severus.

"Who're you?" Wilkes asked, his tone accusing as if anyone who didn't belong there would just come along and sit with them.

"Snape," he replied. "Severus Snape."

"What's your blood-status?" the other boy asked.

"My mum's a pureblood," Severus answered.

Wilkes raised his eyebrows, "What about your dad?"

"He's of no importance," Severus said.

This seemed good enough for the boy and he moved on to his next victim. Severus went back to eating.