Part two
Chapter One
Old friends.

Diagon ally was always overwhelming. the sights, the smells, the general hustle bustle. For once Lily's energy seemed to match the teeming excitement, Severus however was his usual subdued self.

"Can we get my wand first?" She turned to him, asking sweetly.

"Robe fitting first, then wands." He answered in a way that did not invite discussion, Lillian gave a nod of assent and they set off. Entering the hustle bustle and drinking in the sights and sounds. Lily took a deep breath enjoying the many smells, the light smell of candle wax, the musty smell of new parchment, the smell of lemon balm for the new broom sticks. Soon Lillian was getting her fitting, the seamstresses nimble fingers taking measurements and pinning the robes. it took some time, then they were back out again, robes in hand.

Severus and Lillian pressed closer to each other as they made their way through the busy market. Severus led them, their hands at the some point intertwining as to not lose each other in the masses. Lillian took comfort in the steady strength of his grip. Olivander's wand shop was suddenly ahead, and the door chimed as if in welcome. Inside the noises of the outside did not penetrate. the musk of wood and dust was heavy in the muted quiet of the shop.

"Yes, hello?" a man appeared suddenly, peering down at them from a tall ladder voice warm and gravelly, his glasses askew on his pointed nose. Severus gave Lily a gentle nudge forward, a hand on her shoulder. Olivander climbed down, still squinting at Lily, as if he was looking for something in particular.

"Hello my dear, I do believe I have just the thing!" He announced after giving a little 'hmmm' noise. His excited air made Lily slightly nervous, but she still gave a small smile.

They tried several wands until they found it.

It was a stiff, thirteen and a half inch knotted Redwood with hair of the unicorn. Lily beamed as the wand created a fast growing flower garden to sprout between the floor boards. Conspiratorially Olivander leaned forward to speak in a low tone.

"'twas the only redwood and unicorn hair I ever made, good strong wand adept in the defense against the dark arts."

Lillian immediately fell in love with the wand, its dark reddish wood, the firm feel of it as it slice through the air and its knotted texture, the length of it already felt as if it was an extension of an arm. As she held it she could feel the warmth of its potential hum in in grasp, singing for her.

Severus paid and they left to go find her books. Lily was a little disappointed when he insist she put it back in her box but did so dutifully with a pouting expression.

Once again in the throng they moved through the crowd. An odd sensation suddenly prickled Severus, they paused, Severus's grip tightening on the girls hand for a moment as he surveyed his surroundings.

Butcher blue eyes met his across the throng. All too familiar Severus kept his expression carefully schooled as he removed his hand from Lily's, barely turning to regard her as he spoke.

"Go into the shop and do not leave until I retrieve you." Lily looked at him in confusion but nodded his tone broking no argument, leaving to go to the shop closest to them.

Lucius Malfoy and his wife Narcissia made their way through the hustle bustle and were all to quickly upon him.

"Why if it isn't our old friend Severus Snape." Malfoy said with a faint sneer to his tone.

"Good day Severus." Narcissia intoned, her face cold and blank.

"Lucius, Narcissia." Severus greeted them, then to Lucius he spoke. "I heard the good news of your release some time ago Lucious, have you been keeping well since then?" He watched Lucius's expression darken.

"Well enough, the courts seemed to find the charges against both of us to be folly. Has Hogwarts been keeping you busy, old friend?'"

"Only as brats can keep one busy." He answered, and suddenly Narcissia spoke.

"We would so love to catch up with you Severus, you and your little companion... would you consider joining us for an evening meal tomorrow. I'm sure you and Lucius have much to speak of." Severus with great care did not allow his emotions to surface, his face carefully schooled as he seemed to be backed into a corner. Narcissia's gaze was behind him, watching as Lily became particularly keen on a reptile enclosure.

" Yes, we would so love for you to meet our son Draco and catch up about the old days."

"Excellent, I look forward to it." Severus answered in a low reluctant tone that spoke otherwise.

"Dinner will be at seven then, good day Severus." Narcissia and Lucius both gave a small nod before turning away to melt back into the crowd.

Severus let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding and turned to find Lily.

.

.

Lillian had left Severus's side, slightly unsure as she began looking at the near by exhibits of various reptiles, spiders, amphibians, and rats. The rats drew her attention, bright eyes and soft fur with little twitching noses that brought her attention. It stood on its hind legs, sniffing the air for a moment, that's when she heard it.

"closer... swallow you whole... yum... delicious. yes." Lillian's turned to the sound of the low whisper, frowning at first as she looked to either side of her to see no one was around her speaking. She sidled to her left, her ears perked. "I'll eat you, bite your head off." In front of her was a snake cage a snake with pretty rounded spot markings with its head outstretched and swaying as it watch the rat cage. The low voice seemed to emanate from it.

"Are you speaking?" Lily meant to say, but instead an odd hiss escaped from her own mouth. The snake looked over her while she held a hand to her mouth, perplexed and confused.

"human? feed me yess?" it asked her observing her with black slit eyes.

"can you understand me?"

"of course parselmouth."

"What's parselmouth?" A hand suddenly was on her shoulder and Lily jumped in surprise, her heart skipping.

Severus stood behind her, his expression dark and unfathomable. Lily's stomach flipped nervously.

"Come child." He ordered, tone flat. She took his hand, feeling his hands were cold and clammy sweat.

"W-where are we going?"

"Home." He said simply. Lily opened her mouth about to complain which he glanced at her, his hand tightening on hers almost painfully. "silence." He snapped and lily's gaze fell to the ground feeling a little sad and confused. All too quickly they reached the floo station and were back in Severus's living room her hand achy and numb from Severus's grasp.

"What you did there you must never do again." Severus said turning to her, his eyes black as pitch holding hers. She blinked, surprised and confused but afraid to ask.

"Doing what?" She said, almost a whisper.

"Speaking as you did, in Parselmouth." Severus answered watching the girls expression.

"That's what he called it.. the snake." she said still perplexed. "Is it a bad thing?"

"It is.. an usual trait and it would draw unwanted attention. Promise me you will never speak it again, especially in the presence of others."

"I- okay. I promise." Remembering her promise to Frienze so long ago, she knew it was important to keep such things. "But why?" she asked, the curiosity burning with in her. Severus turned away from her, the question unanswered.

"Stay here until I return." He said simply as if she never said anything at all. Taking a handful of Floo powder he entered the fireplace and was gone.

Sighed, chewing her lip with a thoughtful scowl between her brows.

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Severus appeared in Dumbledore's office in a whoosh of floo powder. The old wizard, blinked his writing hand pausing and he stood.

"I suspect this is not a social visit Severus?" Dumbledore asked, as Severus closed the gap between them.

"Malfoy has seen me with the girl, they have invited us to dine with them tomorrow evening."

"Lucius is bound to be curious about the girl and your loyalties Severus, Perhaps you may enjoy the meal?" Dumbledore said with slight amusement, Severus however was intense and serious.

"There is one other..." He began trailing before continuing. "The girl is a Parselmouth, I heard her myself today."

"Did you warn her?"

"Yes but she is unfailingly curious Sir."

"You worry about her." Severus fell silent his expression sober. "It is more than I had hoped that you might one day care for the girl Severus, you continue to surprise me."

"Should she find out..."

"She will find out Severus, one way or another, we cannot protect her. We ourselves do not know the true origins of her birth.. I too have found something very curious." Dumbledore motioned Severus turning towards a tall pedestal holding an ornate book which was opened in the center. Severus recognized it as the book of names which each new student will be listed each year who would be admitted into Hogwarts. Severus turned his gaze from the book to Dumbledore, unsure of what he was looking for.

"Her name is strangely absent... all students are accounted for in this year and next and next... the book simply has not registered her existence. Why? I cannot yet fathom." Severus expression became perplexed.

"I have seen her preform magic, just today she received her wand. She is clearly adept for her age."

"Ah yes, another question, her intelligence has always been far greater than for her age has it not? reading and writing so young. Even youngsters have need of teachers. she seems self taught and intelligent beyond her fellows." Severus could not argue that. Having himself been surprised at her veracity for books.

"Should she ask, what should I say?" Severus asked as Dumbledore was walking back to his desk.

"Tell her only what she needs to hear." Dumbledore waved, clearly dismissing Severus who felt he hadn't truly answered the question. After Severus disappeared Dumbledore again sat, muttering under his breath as he did so."Curiouser and curiouser."