The weeks pass and summer flits past barely leaving an imprint. Each day Severus had watched for her, memorised her words and practiced his own for the day when he said hello. The leaves were still clinging to the frail arms of thin trees when she stood alone gazing in wonder at a certain leaf. Her hair flows past her face blocking him from her sight and he cannot help it. He extends his hand toward the tree and softly guides the leaf to rest on her small cream palm. He wants her to believe it was natures magic so turns to disappear again but she is too fast for him. She spins, stares accusingly at him and asks "Did you do that? You did, didn't you?"

"Did you do that? You did, didn't you?"

He knows he cannot lie to her so nods gently.

"Show me," she demands.

He doesn't know what to show her, magic doesn't work that, he can't force it not at his age but he feels a burning need to show her, to impress her. Burning. That's it. He fills his thoughts with her hair, with the sun's fire and almost instantly leaves fall around them burning red, yellow, gold fire.

She smiles entranced and spins as if to catch every second desperate to miss nothing.

"You can do magic? Wow I'd love to do magic." She pauses as a new idea hits her. "I don't wanna be a witch, they're evil. I don't want to be evil."

"You're a girl, a girl who does magic is a witch," "Sorry" he whispers as her face crumples at the very thought so he doesn't tell her. He doesn't tell her she's magic too.

"I'm lily."

"Severus" the whispered reply.

The other sister is calling just out of sight so Lily runs away throwing back a "Bye Sev," as she goes.

He watches as she disappears, missing her already.