Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Chapter 21: Severus, Lily, and Petunia?

Severus checked himself in a mirror to make sure there were no sign's of tears before going upstairs to Potter's room. Without bothering to knock, he pushed the door open and walked in. Harry was lying on his stomach on the bed, staring at the wall. He didn't even bother to look up, knowing who it would be. Severus walked over and stood next to the bed, feeling a bit nervous about talking about his time with Lily.

"Mind if I sit down, Potter?" Severus said softly.

"Suit yourself, sir." Harry muttered, still sounding angry.

Severus sighed before sitting down. He was not good at this. An awkward silence fell between them, neither knowing what to say. After a few minutes, Severus cleared his throat before speaking.

"She was my first and only real friend." Severus said softly.

Harry sat up quickly in surprise and looked at Snape. Snape wasn't looking at him though. He was looking at the wall across from him, lost in thought.

"I remember the first time I met Lily. She couldn't have been more then about 8. It was one of the times that I had run away from home. I had been wandering around aimlessly and came across a small park. Unwittingly, I walked into something that I had no wish to be part of. There were a few older boy's teasing a dark haired girl. She looked to be around my age, maybe a little older. Later I was to find out her name was Petunia." Severus said softly, almost as if he was alone.

Severus turned and looked at a bewildered Harry. He smiled sadly at him before continuing.

"After I had gotten rid of the bullies; Petunia kept following me around. She had it in her head that I was defending her. I was trying, unsuccessfully mind you, to get rid of Petunia, when I heard someone start yelling. I turned to the source of the sound and there she was. This little red-headed spit-fire; running straight at us. Petunia looked annoyed. I was intrigued. She came right up to me and stood as tall as she could. She was glaring straight into my eyes. She threatened me with a few things she aught not to of even known about." Severus said with a hint of laughter.

Severus got quiet and turned to look at the wall again. He seemed to lose himself in thought and Harry was reluctant to disturb him. As it was, he didn't need to worry about it.

"After Petunia calmed her down and explained, according to Petunia, that I had helped get rid of the bullies, Lily seemed to change. She smiled and started talking as if we had been friends for ever. When she smiled at me something changed in me. It was like a weight had been lifted. I felt free. I could be myself and neither of them seemed to care. We became friends after that. I found out that Lily was a few months younger then me and Petunia was a few years older. I used to run from home everyday just to go see them, mainly Lily. I spent more and more of my days at their house. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were great. They were the parents I had always wished that I had. Lily and Petunia were the sisters I never had. We became closer. They were more of a family to me then my own was. Then the day came when I got my letter. It was the best and worst day of my life. I would be able to leave home, leave my Father to find other ways to take out his anger. Unfortunately, I would still have James to put up with. Worst of all, I had to tell Lily I would be leaving." Severus said softly.

Severus got up, leaving the book laying next to Harry on the bed, and started pacing around. Harry picked up the book cautiously, not sure if Snape would allow him to look. He opened the book and saw his Mum looking out at him. It looked to be a Muggle picture, as it was not moving. Turning the page he saw a picture of Snape, his Mum, and Aunt Petunia. They all looked happy, with even Snape grinning at Lily.

"When I got there, I could here Petunia's shrill voice yelling about freaks and such. I went in and found them all in the hallway. Lily had a familiar looking letter clenched in her hand and tears running down her face. Petunia ran from the room and Mr. and Mrs. Evans looked bewildered. I was more then a little shocked, but happy at the same time. I went over to Lily, smiled at her, and pulled out my own letter. I explained to them all as much as I could. Petunia changed after that. She became spiteful. She wanted nothing to do with me or Lily. When it came time to leave, Lily and I went together. We sat on the train together in our own compartment. Even after I was sorted in to Slytherin, Lily and I stayed friends. James and his little fan club took up the practice of making my life miserable. The first time Lily caught them at it, she went right into protection mode. I, in my humiliation, called her a Mudblood and told her to leave; I could fight my own battles. She took no heed to me and ended up hexing Black. They were shocked to say the least. No one had ever gone against them before, and here was Lily not only threatening them but hexing them, too. James became obsessed with getting Lily to look at him, let alone talk." Severus said, sounding irritated.

Harry looked up as Snape sat down next to him again. Severus reached over and turned the page to the last picture. It was one of Lily and Snape in the Library at Hogwarts. They looked to be laughing silently about something, leaning over a book together.

"That was the last time we spent time together. She started dating James and I refused to talk to her. I felt betrayed. Not only had James taking our Fathers love from me, but now he had taken my best friend. I closed myself off from everyone after that, refusing to get close to anyone. I threw myself into my studies more and more. I learned as many curses as I could find, including the darker ones. I studied harder at potions, my only true passion. I was determined not to be hurt again. Every once in awhile; I would catch Lily watching me. She looked sad and disappointed. I refused to acknowledge her." Severus said sadly, running his finger lightly over her picture.

Harry looked at Snape, seeing a totally different person sitting there. This was someone that he could sort of relate to. Someone who had everything taken from him just as he himself had had.

"On the last day in our seventh year, I got a letter informing me of my Mothers death. James must have got the same one. He confronted me in front of everyone in the Great Hall. It was during Dinner. I was more then a little angry. I felt it was my fault. Once I started Hogwarts, I never returned home. Father had started taking his anger out on Mother. It had become too much and she had taken her own life. Ironically, it was a poison. One that Mother had started on, trying to get it so it would be untraceable. It was intended for Father. I had perfected it during my studies and sent it home to Mother. It was never meant for Mother. In a way I think I always knew she was planning on taking it herself." Severus said sadly.

Harry sat waiting silently while Snape prepared himself to go on.

"Lily came between us, and she must have seen the hatred and darkness in my eyes. She stepped back into James with a shocked look on her face. I could see the Headmaster coming towards us. I grinned at them all, then without a word, turned and walked away. Once I was out of the Castle I ran towards the end of the wards. I got to my parents house long before James or Dumbledore. At first Father looked surprised, then he looked a little frightened. He could see his worst fear coming true. The funny thing was if it hadn't been for him, I never would have turned out just like my Great Grandfather Snape. By the time anyone got to the house, father was dead. It wasn't a quick death either. I made him suffer all the pain and suffering he had put not only me through, but also Mother. They found me standing over the crumbled remains of my Fathers body with a satisfied smile on my face. I looked at them. Dumbledore, James, Sirius, Remus, and Lily. I could see the disappointment in both Dumbledore and Lily. They had still had faith in me, which I had been more then successful of killing. I grinned at them, raised my wand in a salute, and disappeared." Severus said emotionlessly.

Harry was shocked. Whatever he had been expecting, that was not it. Severus got up and went to the door. Before leaving he turned to look at Harry.

"Contrary to popular believe, I never went looking for Voldemort. He came to me." Severus said, and then went out the door.

Harry felt numb. Shocked. He had known that Snape was capable of doing such things, just never thought he'd admit to it. He had known his Mother was a loving, caring person, too. For her to stand beside Snape through all that only to have it thrown back at her was unthinkable. Harry sat there lost in thought for hours, trying to understand everything.

Severus sat at his desk in his study with a glass of Fire whiskey, the bottle close at hand. He had never intended to tell Potter so much, but as soon as he started talking he just couldn't stop. It was the first time he had ever talked about it to anyone. He had never even told Dumbledore all of it. Just enough to satisfy the old mans curiosity. Tina only knew because she was there through most of it. Severus sat there lost in his memories, and fighting the ghost's he had inside.

After a few hours, Harry went down to find Snape. He wanted to return the album and ask a few questions. He found him in his study. He was sitting in his chair with his arms crossed on top of the desk and his head lying on top of them. It was dark in the room, the only light coming from the hallway. Harry went in and sat in the chair across from him.

"Professor?" Harry said, trying to get his attention.

Severus lifted his head and looked blearily up at Harry, not really seeing in the dark. After seeing who it was, he sat up slowly and looked at him suspiciously.

"I wanted to return your album to you, sir." Harry said, handing the book to him over the desk.

Severus made no move to take it. Harry set it down in front of him and placed his hands in his lap. He wasn't sure how to start and having Snape watching him so intently wasn't helping any.

"Thank you for showing me, and for telling me about my Mum." Harry said softly, feeling awkward.

Severus still didn't say anything. Harry sighed and got up to go.

"You're more like Lily then you know." Severus said quietly, startling Harry.

Harry stopped by the door and turned to look at Snape.

"She was fiercely loyal and defended whomever she thought of as family. She would defend them no matter what their sins were." Severus said, picking up his forgotten, half full glass and taking a drink.

Harry walked slowly back over to the chair and sat down. He wanted to know as much about his Mum as he could and Snape seemed to be in a talkative mood.

"Even after she knew what I had done. Witnessed the aftermath of it. Saw what I was capable of. She still defended me against everyone else. Even after I took the Dark Mark she stood up for me. I didn't take it right away, mind you. It took more then a little persuading on Voldemort's part. It took even more from Lily for me to go to Dumbledore." Severus said, twirling the dark liquid in his glass.

He took a drink from his glass before going on.

"Even all those times she stood up for me, she believed in me, the one time she decides to take James side is her downfall. I tried to tell her that Pettigrew was Voldemort's little lap rat, but James wouldn't listen, and Lily stuck with him in defending the little rat. What did it matter anyway? Black was supposed to be their secret keeper. Wouldn't listen when I told them that Black had decided to let Pettigrew do it instead. It was Pettigrew's one and only shining moment in front of Voldemort. He came straight from his meeting with Black. I was sitting with Voldemort at the table. We were having a heated discussion about one of the potions I was working on. We were both standing, leaning over the table, neither of us backing down. I was and still am the only one that can get away with challenging Him so openly. Pettigrew came charging in, too excited to talk properly, and interrupting our argument. After Voldemort gave him his punishment for daring to interrupt him, Pettigrew finally got his news out and Voldemort was more then pleased. I was more then a little disgusted. I went to Lily as soon as it was feasible to do so. When I couldn't get Lily to listen, I turned and walked away. That was the last time I saw her." Severus said, looking a little angry.

They sat there in silence. Harry didn't know what to say. Severus seemed lost in thought again.

"At least you tried, sir." Harry said softly.

Severus looked at him, eyes narrowed.

"What bloody good did it do? All the times she stood up for me, all the times she came between me and James. All that she had done for me and I couldn't protect her the one time she needed me. How do you think it made me feel? I could do nothing but sit back while my Master killed my only friend. The only constellation was that it was his downfall. I couldn't protect her from Him but she protected you. It was her that defeated Him, not that child everyone looked up to. She never got acknowledged for her part." Severus said dangerously quiet, getting to his feet during his speech and leaned over the desk.

"At least you tried. You did something. You didn't sit back and do nothing. When faced with going against Voldemort, you tried to stand up to him. You did more then I could. I stood there and watched as he gave the order to kill Cedric. I stood there and did nothing as Pettigrew murdered him. He was innocent. He never hurt anyone, and I did nothing to help him. At least you tried, sir." Harry said heatedly, jumping to his feet.

They stood there, both of them breathing heavily, glaring at each other over the desk. After a few minutes, Severus sank back into his chair. Harry slowly sat back in his own chair.

"You had nothing to do with Cedric's death." Severus said softly.

"Just as you had nothing to do with my Mum's death. We only have one person to blame for them both being gone." Harry said sadly.

Severus nodded in acknowledgement. He got up and went around the desk, stopping beside Harry.

"I suggest we both get some sleep." Severus said.

Harry got up and they went up towards their beds. At the top of the stairs Severus stopped Harry.

"You definitely have Lily's temper. She would have done the same thing, throwing something I said back at me." Severus said with a grin.

"Thank you for telling me, sir. You didn't have to tell me as much as you did, but it helped." Harry said seriously.

"She is your Mother, it is only right you know what a good person she was. Now, off to bed with you." Severus said, grinning at him.

"Goodnight, Uncle Severus." Harry said with a grin.

"Goodnight, Harry." Severus said softly.

They both went to their rooms to get some much needed rest.

Tina was at the bottom of the stairs, smiling to herself. Turning to go to her own room, she started to hum happily to herself. Things were definitely going good.

Xoxoxo

Thanx for the reviews. I really appreciate them.

I hope this explains things. I have Lily and Severus around the same age, with Severus being a few months older, so that they are in the same year. Petunia I have always felt is older then Lily. As for Severus's mother, I feel that giving the choice of being abused by his father and brother so that he could stay with her, and going to a place where he is treated with kindness and love, he would go to the latter. I feel that he does love his mother, but whenever his father was punishing him and she would try to protect him, thus getting hurt herself, he felt it was better for her if he went away. He was trying to protect her. I don't think he really knew that she was being punished in his place. I hope that makes sense.

I know that Severus went into a lot of detail about things, some not even related to Lily, but he was trying to get Harry to understand the kind of person she was. He wanted him to know what a good, caring, and loyal friend she was. Harry also learned more about Severus. The good and the bad.

Thanx for the reviews. I will try to have the next one up soon.

Rhi