Author's Note:

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the scene by JKR, but I did tweak it to suit my needs.

Reviews and Comments: To Sara: Thank you! I did want to give a bit of chills, to show how even at an early age the Blacks were trying to stamp the kindness out of Sirius, to make him believe what they believed. Thank you! To Millie15128: Thank you! Yes, that was a typo, which I fixed. Thank you so much! To CherrySara: I understand that the excitement for chapter 321 of ASC took precedence, but thanks for reading! Yes, we saw a snippet of this in ASC from Sirius' memory — a lot of these chapters will be like that, though a lot of them will be new as well. Thank you! To MarinePotterfan: Well, I didn't want to reveal the title of the third story, but yes, that's what I was going to call it — Third Time's the Charm — so I revealed the name on tumblr since apparently it was guessed already. To Speedyconzalis: Thank you! I love that you want to show my story to your friends, thanks for being a part of ASC for almost two years!

To wolfjinx15475: Yes, I think reading them in chronological order will bring more emotions to the surface (I hope). Thank you! To Whatfunny: Thank you! To tim2604: Nope, not the most pleasant memory, but I am posting in chronological order and this was the earliest memory. Poor Sirius indeed, he deserved better. Yes, the chapters will be told from the POVs of Sirius, Remus, Lily, James, Peter, and Snape. Thank you! To scrappy8: Thank you! To Shivani: Thank you! I'm so glad you're excited! To alix33: Agreed. Thank you! To Griffind00r: He is a horrible and vile man, trying to brainwash his son! Sirius was just too stubborn! Thank you! To the frozen flame: Thank you! Yes, it will get worse for poor Sirius. To Nuno Neves: Thank you! To saucyswimmer: Thank you! Yes, there are similarities here between when Harry was five, they are both so sweet and precious and just not realizing how horribly they are being treated. Yes, I did do it on purpose to contrast them. Sirius is already showing a bit of rebellion and an interest in Muggle mechanics. Thank you so much for such a beautiful review!

To cath: Thank you! I am going to take that as a compliment! To Ellieoryan7447: Sirius definitely doesn't see why he has to treat people differently, he is a natural born gem! And he is a little star already! Thank you! To marauders_mowopapr: Thank you! To TiffanyToms: I know! Poor baby Sirius, he deserves better! Thank you! To Susanne_BK: Thank you so much for saying this is the best news you've heard in ages. I hope you enjoy it! Thank you! To CorbanD17: Thank you so much for the vote of confidence! Thank you! To Bellmel: Sorry to make your heart ache, poor little Sirius and his sweet childish innocence. He definitely deserves a big hug! It's not a dangerous story to read… just full of emotion indeed! Thank you!

Reminder — this story is full of snippets and time jumps.

My posting schedule: Weekly.

Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.

As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!

CHAPTER TWO:

The One With the Muggle and the Witch

July 1970…

The nearly deserted playground was grim looking in the low evening light. A single huge chimney dominated the distant skyline. Two girls were swinging backward and forward, and Severus Snape watched them with interest. He was a skinny boy, no older than nine or ten, and gazed at them from behind a clump of bushes. His black hair was overlong and his clothes were so mismatched that it looked deliberate: Too short jeans, a shabby, overlarge coat that might have belonged to a grown man, and an odd smock-like shirt. He was small, sallow, and stringy for his age.

It wasn't the first time that he had come across the Evans sisters, Petunia and Lily, but it was the first time he'd watched them for such a length of time. He'd suspected for a while now that Lily was like him: Magical. But he was positive that today had finally proven it. There was undisguised greed in his thin face as he watched the small redhead swing higher and higher than her sister.

"Lily, don't do it!" Petunia shrieked.

But Lily let go of the swing at the very height of its arc and flew into the air. She had quite literally flown, launched herself skyward with a great shout of laughter; her long red hair blowing behind her in the wind. Instead of crumpling on the playground asphalt, she soared like a trapeze artist through the air, staying up far too long and landing far too lightly.

"Mummy told you not to!" Petunia shrieked again.

She stopped her swing by dragging the heels of her sandals on the ground, making a crunching, grinding sound, then leapt up, hands on hips.

"Mummy said that you weren't allowed, Lily!"

"But I'm fine, Petunia," Lily said, still giggling. "Tuney, look at this. Watch what I can do."

Petunia glanced around nervously at the deserted playground before moving closer to her sister. Lily had picked up a fallen flower from the bush behind where the boy lurked. Petunia advanced, evidently torn between curiosity and disapproval. Lily waited until Petunia was near enough to have a clear view, then held out her palm. The flower sat there, opening and closing its petals, like some bizarre, many-lipped oyster.

"Stop it!" Petunia shrieked.

"It's not hurting you," Lily said, but she closed her hand on the blossom and threw it back to the ground.

"It's not right," Petunia said, but her eyes had followed the flower's flight to the ground and lingered upon it in silent amazement. "How do you do it?" she added, and there was definite longing in her voice.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Snape called out, no longer able to contain himself.

He jumped out from behind the bushes as the girls looked around for the voice.

Petunia shrieked and ran backward toward the swings, but Lily, though clearly startled, remained where she was. A dull flush of colour mounted Snape's sallow cheeks as he looked at Lily. Maybe jumping out at them hadn't been the best idea after all.

"What's obvious?" Lily asked, beautiful almond shaped emerald green eyes pierced in his direction.

Snape tried to hide his nervous excitement at the thought of finally talking to the girl. With a glance at the distant Petunia, now hovering beside the swings, he lowered his voice. "I know what you are."

"What do you mean?" Lily asked, looking startled. "I'm a girl."

"Yes, but you're also… you're a witch," he whispered.

Lily looked affronted. "I am not! That's not a very nice thing to say to somebody!"

She turned, nose in the air, and marched off toward her sister.

"No!" Snape exclaimed, his cheeks flushing even darker. "I-I didn't mean it like that."

The sisters considered him, united in disapproval, both holding on to one of the swing poles, as though it was the safe place.

"You are," he said to Lily. "You are a witch. I've been watching you for a while. But there's nothing wrong with that. My mum's one, and I'm a wizard."

Petunia's laugh was like cold water.

"Wizard!" she shrieked, her courage returned now that she had recovered from the shock of his unexpected appearance. "I know who you are. You're that Snape boy! They live down Spinner's End by the river," she told Lily, and it was evident from her tone that she considered the address a poor recommendation. "Why have you been spying on us?"

"Haven't been spying," Snape said, hot and uncomfortable and dirty-haired in the bright sunlight. "Wouldn't spy on you, anyway. You're a Muggle," he added spitefully. "No one cares about Muggles."

Though Petunia evidently did not understand the word, she could hardly mistake the tone.

"Lily, come on, we're leaving!" she said, shrilly.

Lily obeyed her sister at once, glaring at Snape as she left. He stood watching them as they marched through the playground gate, leaving Snape standing there in bitter disappointment as the Muggle left with the Witch and left him once more alone.