Chap7: Sweet Memories
A/N:- Hello everyone… I know I am one day late. I am sorry. But u know how life can get tiresome and hectic… its almost 12 in the night and I didn't have time to get it checked from my beta… so sorry in advance if u find any mistakes. Thank u all who reviewed and read. Its always wonderful to have your reviews. Thanks a lot for them.. and keep reviewing….
Lily stayed that night at Hogwarts discussing with Dumbledore as many aspects as possible about Harry and their future. She was concerned about his security. Dumbledore assured her nothing could get worse.
"Everything related to Harry's security is being taken care of at spinners end… you should shift as soon as possible." Dumbledore said. Lily just nodded.
Next morning Lily packed all the remaining stuff at their house in godric hallow with the help of the house elves. Most of the things were destroyed in the attack but still some stuff was unharmed. So gathering it in some boxes, she was ready to floo. She shrunk all boxes to one and levitated it with her.
Severus had connected the floo from Godric Hallow to Spinner's End for some time that afternoon so Lily could arrive safely.
"Snape manor, Spinners end." Taking floo powder in one hand and a sleeping Harry in other, she threw it in the fire place and reached the spinners end. Severus had asked his house elves to make all the necessary arrangements for their stay. He was reading some parchments on his armchair when they arrived. He had blank look plastered on his face but was happy inside. He wanted to hide this from Lily and everyone to keep his façade.
He stood when they steeped out from the fireplace and called the house elf.
"Perry" he called. With a small pop the house elf arrived and bowed in front of her master.
"Yes, master called?" she asked. She was wearing an old faded jumper.
"Take the guests to their assigned room and help them with unpacking." Severus told the house elf and turned to face Lily.
"Lunch will be served at 2. Make yourself comfortable. If you need anything call Perry. She will be at your service." With that he left them and composed himself with his earlier parchments.
Perry took the levitating box down and started walking towards the guest room followed by Lily. Lily reluctantly took every step her eyes wandering here and there. They reached the room. Perry opened the door to the room. It was decently decorated. There were fresh colors, a bed in the middle, a window to the right and a door at the back of the room leading to the bathroom. There was a closet near the bathroom door. It was sweet and simple. Perry put the box near the closet and turned to Lily.
"Mrs. potter, should I get you something?" she asked.
"No, thank you Perry. I will call you if I need anything." Perry bowed and left. Lily placed Harry on the bed and put charms on him so he won't fall from the bed and walked around the room. Unshrinking the boxes she unpacked everything with her wand. Soon all the stuff was unpacked and placed properly. Harry was starting to get up by that time. She took Harry in her arms and cuddled him. Harry was awake by then and looked around to see everything new. He was not in his old room nor was he in Hogwarts. He looked around to meet Lily's eyes and asked her
"Mum, new woom?" she nodded. She didn't know what to explain to him. Harry looked around once again and was happy.
"I like." He told Lily. Lily smiled.
Meanwhile Severus couldn't concentrate on the parchments he was studying. Lily had given way to a huge lot of thoughts in his mind. He just couldn't decide how he was supposed to behave. Should he behave in a friendly manner even after her calling him 'Snape'? or should he remain cold and unaffected at the time when she needs most of the support? But why was he even thinking this? She needed support but it wasn't expected from him. He was nowhere in her frame. He decided to act as cold as he could (even after she being around him all the time, that was difficult). She was the only one around whom he got weak. In fact she was his weakness. He remembered how she used to be with him.
He was hiding behind a bark of the tree which faced her house. He was looking through the door at the back of her house. She just had stopped a vase of flowers from crashing to the floor. She just had performed an accidental magic. She was a witch like he was a wizard but she was a muggle. Her family did not notice this but he did. She was kind looking. She had deep green eyes with a frizzy red hair, but she looked beautiful. She wore a green dress which enhanced her features.
He would watch her everyday, from behind that tree. He was fascinated by her charms. He would think if they could become friends. Her sister was very grumpy with her. He hated her. Once both the sisters were in the park playing and Severus was watching her with keen eyes a little away from them. Her sister was screaming at her about something. He neared them to see what exactly was the matter. The 9 year old Lily was crying and was apologizing to her sister.
"How did you stopped the swing Lily?" she was screaming at her.
"I don't know tuney. I really don't know. Please believe me." She was crying. Severus unknowingly came near them and screamed at her sister.
"She is a witch, you idiot muggle." Severus interjected.
"Who are you? You don't know us. You are a stranger and we don't talk to them." Petunia replied rudely.
"I am not a witch." Lily told him sternly.
"Don't talk with strangers Lily. i will tell mom. Lets go." Petunia started dragging Lily towards their house.
Few days later when both of them were roaming around he saw them again and followed them. The reached the pond which was nearby. Lily was playing with the leaves fallen from the tree and a leaf started flying around her. Petunia looked stunned and gasped.
"LILY" she screamed.
"Last time I did not tell mom about your stupid pranks but this time I am definitely going to tell her." Petunia yelled.
"NO, tuney stop. Please don't tell mom about this. I promise this wont happen again" she begged her sister.
"You can't stop it." Severus spat angrily and stood near them. Both of them starred at him.
"You are the same boy from the park. You have no business interrupting us."
"I am interrupting as it happens with me all the time." He told them.
"You are weird and so are you." Petunia said pointing first at Severus and then her sister.
"No, you are wired. We are gifted."
"Lily lets go. I don't want to talk with this rude boy." She ordered Lily who was blankly starring at Severus.
"No, I want to talk to him. I am not going anywhere." She told her sister. Severus smiled and raised his hand and many leaves that were fallen on the ground began revolving around them. Lily was surprised but she was smiling at him. Petunia was shocked and ran away from them screaming.
They spend the rest of the evening by the lake. He told her that he was a wizard and the school they would go to at the age of eleven. She was happy that she was not they only one who could do all such stuff. He told her as much as he could about the wizarding world. she heard him enthusiastically with wide eyes.
From that day they spent much of their time together. They became best friends. They would share their each and every thoughts, experiences. She would sometime visit his home when his father would be away from house. She once tool Severus to her house where he told them that they were wizards. Her parents thought that the children were playing a prank on them. But it was proved that they were telling the truth when a letter came delivered by an owl on Lily's eleventh birthday. It confirmed that she was a witch and Severus was not playing a prank. Petunia was dumbfounded and envied her sister as she was some sort of witch and will go to wizarding school too. She cried most of the night. All were very happy and went to Diagon Alley to do the school shopping. The Evans were new to everything but Severus helped them with all the things. They got their new wands and were ecstatic about its use.
The day before they would take the Hogwarts express Severus and Lily were lying beside each other near the lake were they became friends. That had became their favorite spot to play and talk all about the wizarding world.
"I wish we both are sorted into the same house." Severus said expectantly.
"It would be really nice if we are in the same house, we will have lots of time together and I won't feel alone." Lily told him.
"Tomorrow we will leave for Hogwarts, I m really excited." Severus said earnestly.
"I am happy but am equally scared too Severus."
"I told you not to fear. You are not the first one from muggle family. There will be many students like you too. And I will always be there for you and you know that, don't you?"
Lily smiled at Severus and mouthed "Thank you" to him which he returned with a smile.
The morning of first September was very fresh and warming for Lily. Petunia was still not on talking basis. The evans and Severus along with his mother reached the station. They were ready to pass through the barrier to reach platform no 9 & 3 quarters. Lily was slightly hesitant to go but Severus held her hand and give it a light squeeze.
"Don't worry Lily. Just hold my hand and run along. Trust me." With that they took a run and reached the platform and the black Hogwarts express came into view. Lily was flabbergasted looking at it. Soon they found themselves a compartment and bid a goodbye to their parents and were waving till they were out of sight. They took their seats and were having normal conversations when a raven haired boy along with a curly haired boy entered their compartment. They took a seat with them and raven haired boy was staring Lily which caught Severus's eye. The raven haired boy introduced himself as James Potter and the other one as Sirius Black and tried to make conversation with Lily. Severus did not like the way James was eyeing her.
They were standing outside the great hall to be escorted for sorting. Lily was twitching with nervousness. Severus didn't leave Lily's side for once. He was again holding her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. Lily felt some of the nervousness leaving her. McGonagall called "Lily Evans" Lily looked at Severus before stepping up to the sorting hat. Few moments later the sorting hat shouted
"GRYFFINDOR"
Lily left for her table and gave Severus a small smile. Severus was sorted into "SLYTHERIN"
They used to meet everyday in the library studying and on weekends by the lake or on the grounds of Hogwarts chatting. James would always play a prank on Severus but Lily just hated him and ignored any of his attempt to become friendly with her. The first year went by happily.
On a summer afternoon during the holidays ,Lily was running with a book in her hand laughing and Severus was chasing her to get back his book.
"Lily stop. Give back my book" Severus screamed.
"Came and get it back Severus. Catch me if you can." Lily smirked.
"I will get both you and my book. Just wait and watch."
Severus caught Lily and bought were fighting for the book. Both were unaware that they were on the edge of the lake. At that moment Lily pushed Severus and with a splash he ended in the lake. Lily was rolling on the ground laughing and catching her breath. Severus was angry and turned his face from her and was planning the revenge. Lily called him and gave her hand asking to come out. Severus turned and smirked at her and pulled her in with him by her hand. They both ended drenched in water from head to toe. Those were one of the finest days of his life when they were together.
With a smile on his face, he was dragged to the present world when Perry arrived informing him that lunch was ready. She was surprised to see her master smile.
"Have you informed the guests?" Severus enquired.
"I am on my way, master." Responded Perry.
"you set the table for lunch. I will go inform them." With that, Severus left to retrieve Lily from the guest room.
Lily was engrossed in her own thoughts and memories of James. Harry was playing with his toys happily besides Lily. The bedside table had a photo frame of Lily and James on their wedding day. James was kissing Lily in it. Both were smiling at each other. Those were one of the happiest days of Lilys life. She was missing James. His absence broke her from within. Unknowingly a lonely tear left the corner of her eye and trickled down her cheek which was noticed by Severus who was standing at the door looking at a heart broken and depressed Lily. She picked up the photo and clutching it near her heart hugged Harry. She whispered in a lonely sad tone,
"James, I miss you."
"I wish I could tell you how much I love you."
Hearing these words from his beloved's voice, all the childhood memories that made him smile a few minutes ago disappeared and anger took its place in his mind. He swiftly turned back to the dining table where lunch was ready and Perry was waiting for them to arrive. Severus took his head seat at the table.
"Are the guests coming master?" Perry asked.
"I suppose its your duty to inform them. You are the house elf, not me." Severus angrily spat. Perry noticed the sudden change in her masters behavior and rushed to inform the guests.
A/N(2):- I know I took some memories of Severus from deathly hallows and added some of mine… I hope u don't mind… and please review…..
