While Harry was sitting in the common-room thinking about his friendship with Draco, Severus was seated at his desk. He was thinking about the green-eyed boy, who reminded him so much of his old friend. He couldn't believe how much that child had changed his life, already. It scared him. Severus had been hurt so much in his life already. From his abusive, drunkard father and neglectful mother, to the marauders bullying, to losing Lily and taking the Dark Mark, to Lily dying. Before he could stop it, a memory popped into the forefront of his mindscape.

*START FLASHBACK*

I am nine years old, and I have just made a MASSIVE mistake. My mother is out today, doing... something. She hadn't told me what, only that she was going. And to be on my best behaviour for my father. I have been trying all day to be good, I cooked him breakfast, I mowed the front lawn, and I sat in my room reading, so I didn't disturb him. But I got bored... So, I decide to do something about it.

I go to my wardrobe and open the false bottom. Carefully I draw out the antique pewter cauldron, 'Magical Draughts and Potions' and the few simple ingredients mother had bought for me. I decide to brew a forgetfulness potion. It starts great! However, as I complete step four, I stir the draft three times anti-clockwise. The wrong way! Before I can react, the potion explodes with a "BANG!" Luckily, the liquid misses me by an inch.

Next thing I know my father is standing over me. Cigarette hanging from his mouth and reeking of bourbon. 'Oh no!' He grabs me by the collar of my shirt and hauls me to my feet. "THUD!" I am thrown across the room and into my bedroom wall.

I look at him and then at my door. Deciding quickly, I pull myself up off the floor and run as fast as I can out of my bedroom, slip through the lounge room, and am out the front door like a shadow. I run as quickly as I can towards the end of the road, where a small and quiet park is situated.

Squeezing my way through the brambles that lined the edge, I find myself with a tall English Elm blocking my view. Slowly, I peek around the corner and see two girls swinging on the swingset. One is tall and thin, she has a horse-like face, dirty blond hair and stands with an air of superiority. The other girl has fiery red hair, and unlike her sister, seems to have a friendly aura around her. I want to go over and talk to them, maybe I can finally make a friend. But I am too afraid and can't get my breath under control, instead I lay myself down underneath the Elm and close my eyes.

Just as I am on the brink of sleep, I hear a quiet giggle. Opening one eye, I see the red-haired girl standing above me, a small smile on her face.

"Hi, my name is Lily Evans and this is my sister Petunia. Or as I like to call her 'Tuney. We live around the corner, with our mum and dad, Daisy and Mark. Mum is a housewife and dad works as an accountant. What is your name?" The girl, Lily rambles, until she hears her sister clear her throat slightly.

Slightly shocked that these two have approached an obvious freak like me, it takes me a moment to form words and reply, "H-hi I am Severus, Severus Snape."

*END FLASHBACK*

Slowly the potions master shook his head to rid himself of that memory and wiped away the tear from his eye. It had been one of the worst and then happiest days of his life. However, before he could stop it, another memory pulled itself to the surface.

*START FLASHBACK*

I had just turned eleven at the start of the month, and now it was Lily's turn. I knew that she was a witch after seeing her using her accidental magic to stop her from falling when she flew out of a swing one day not long after we had met.

Lily will be receiving her Hogwarts letter soon, just as I had on my birthday. Looking at my clock, I realise it is only 6:30 am, I had gotten up earlier than I expected. Deciding I don't want to wait around for my father to wake up, I quickly grab my potions book, l leave my room, and walk out of the house.

I make my way to the park and sit under the Elm tree. Making myself comfortable, I open my book and start to re-read it to pass the time. Over the next two hours, I shift my position multiple times to ensure I stay under the shade of the tree.

I am so absorbed in my book that I don't hear Lilys' steps as she enters the park and makes her way over to me. Instead, I feel a slight tap on my shoulder, making me jump a foot in the air and pull myself into a defensive position. Quickly I realise that it is only Lily, and not someone there to harm me. I pull her into a fierce hug and ask, "Did it come?!"

She beams brilliantly and loudly announces, "Yes! I am really a witch! Oh, thank you, Sev! If it wasn't for you, I would never have believed it."

Before I have a chance to reply, she reaches up and kisses me on the cheek.

*END FLASHBACK*

Unbridled, another memory surfaced, his mental defences were slowly being demolished by the pain he felt when re-living them.

*START FLASHBACK*

I am sixteen now, in my sixth year of schooling at Hogwarts. Somehow Lily and I have retained our friendship, despite being sorted into rival houses. Well... we had until today.

I f*k up and call her a mud-blood, not that I thin of her that way. I am just embarrassed. I apologise immediately and try to take it back, but I know she will never accept it. I see the betrayal flash across her eyes, and I see the steely resolve they hold as she turns her back on me and walks away with him.

I don't know what to do anymore, I have no one. My mum died while I was in my second year of schooling. The ministry said it was an accident, a potion blew up while she tested alternate ingredients. I know the truth. Potions were the only part of the magical world she had kept when marrying my muggle father. She knew what ingredients would cause what reaction. She had done this on purpose. She had left me with the burden of my father.

Just as I start thinking back to the day I was told, I hear the smooth, baritone voice of Lucius Malfoy say, "Snape, follow me. There is someone interested in meeting you."

*END FLASHBACK*

That was the beginning of the end. He had been taken by Lucius, the then Malfoy heir, to meet the Dark Lord that night. Two days later he had taken the Dark Mark. Severus, thinking of the day he took the Mark, provoked yet another memory forward.

*START FLASHBACK*

I am now twenty, and just a few months ago, I had overheard a prophecy. I then delivered the prediction to my then master, which led him to discover who the child destined to defeat him would be.

I have just left a Death Eater meeting where the Dark Lord tells us who he believes the child may belong to. The first couple I know, but only as acquaintances, Frank Longbottom had been in the year above me, and a Gryffindor. His wife, Alice Longbottom was also the year above me but a Ravenclaw.

It is the name of the second couple which chills my blood to the bone. James Potter, the ringleader of his tormentors, and his wife Lily Potter nee Evans. I haven't spoken to Lily since that horrible day in our sixth year. I know I need to do anything in my power to protect her, so I apparate myself to Hogsmeade Village and walk to the Hogwarts' gates.

*END FLASHBACK*

With his mental defences now in tatters, Severus could not stop the memories if he tired.

*START FLASHBACK*

It is October 31st 1981, Halloween. I am sitting by the fire in my quarters in the dungeons of Hogwarts. Suddenly I feel excruciating pain in my left forearm, quicking rolling my sleeve back I notice the Mark is starting to fade. I know the Dark Lord has made his move against the Potters', and by the looks of it failed.

My heart filled with hope, I apparate to Godrics' Hollow, remembering Dumbledore mentioning it. As I land, I smell fresh smoke, making my eyes water and my heart constrict. I look around and run to where I can see smoke emanating from, terrified. As I reach the house, I notice that a section of the roof seems to have been blown apart. I take a deep breath and start forward.

Gently, I push on the door, and it swings open with a loud CREAK! Stepping inside, I see the James Potter at the bottom of the stairs, his wand loosely held in his grip. I reach down and feel for his pulse. Finding none, I scramble past his body and up the stairs.

As I arrive on the top landing, I see three doors. Two are closed, and the last one seems like it is only being held on by the bottom hinge. Rushing forward into the open room, I fall to my knees at the sight before me. Lily lies, a fierce expression etched into her face. I pull her into my arms and cry out all the love and regret I have ever felt for her.

I hear a soft whimper and look around the room. Finally, my eyes lock on the crib just behind Lily. I see a small infant, looking at me with bright green eyes.

"Ma-ma?" the child asks me when we lock eyes.

I stand up, gently pull the boy from his crib and hold him against my chest. Soon he falls asleep, and just in the nick of time. As I lay him back on the bed, I hear the booming voice of Sirius Black finding his best friend, James and start howling. I cast a light silencing charm, to stop the mutt from waking the sleeping child.

I place a light kiss on the child's forehead (where a new lightning bolt shaped wound is rising). I whisper to him, "I promise that from now on I will do everything I can to keep you safe and make sure you are happy."

Taking one last look at the broken body, now dead, of my long-lost best friend, I cast both the disillusionment and silencing charm upon myself, and slide past Black on my way down the stairs.

*END FLASHBACK*

Severus had had enough, he refused to re-live anymore of these memories. He summoned a sleeping draft and promptly swallowed it. The man made it to his bed, just, before he passed out.

AN: Hello my darling readers. I hope you have enjoyed the trips down memory lane. I will be going back to the actual storyline in the next chapter. This chapter has by far been my longest, please do not expect them all to be this long from now on. Having said that, I would like to share that I wrote 1,900 words (not including the authors' note)!! I am so proud of myself and I hope some of you are too.

Thank you for reading,

Your author,

~SlySlytherin97

P.s. I hope all of you are staying safe during these crazy and scary times of Coronavirus. If any of you ever need someone to talk to, or even just someone to listen to you rant. Please message me at anytime and I will reply as quickly as I can.

P.p.s. I would like everyone to comment where in the world you are from... Maybe, just maybe we can support each other through these trying times. Laughter is the best medicine after all!