Lily bent down and plucked a blooming flower off a small bush. Placing it gently in the center of her palm, she stared at it. Petunia looked at it, wondering what her sister was doing, when suddenly, she saw. The petals were opening and closing, moving at Lily's command, almost as if they were arms waving.
"Lily, stop it!" Petunia cried, scared of what was happening. Lily obeyed her wishes, but didn't let go of the flower. She continued looking at it, an expression of delight and awe on her face.
"Let's go home. Come along, Lily!" Petunia yelled, adopting her best commanding tone. For the first time ever, Lily didn't follow her. She continued watching the now still flower petals.
"Stop! You're a freak, Lily!"
Lily finally looked up at her sister. Petunia had never called her a freak, not even when she had flown off the swings numerous times. It hurt to hear those words. She let out quiet whimper when she felt tears sting at the corners of her eyes, however, she stayed put.
Giving one last irritated huff, Petunia Evans dashed away from her sister. She didn't know what had happened, but she knew that her sister wasn't normal. She wasn't like her.
"She's just jealous, you know," Severus said, walking out from his hiding spot. Lily spun around, surprised. She didn't know she had an audience.
"What are you talking about?" Lily asked, taking a hesitant step back.
"That girl.. Was she your sister?"
"Yes, Tuney- uh, I mean, Petunia. She's my older sister," Lily replied.
"She's just jealous because you're special, and she's not," he said. The way he had said it almost convinced Lily that it was true.
"That's a mean thing to say," she chastised him.
"You don't know, do you?" he asked, slightly bewildered. He took a step towards her, and this time, Lily took one as well.
"Know what?" she asked hesitantly. She wasn't completely sure about this person, but he seemed to know something she didn't. And she wasn't leaving until she found out why she could do all of these things.
"Why don't you sit down," the boy said, gesturing to a patch of soft grass. He held a hand out to her - offering a handshake.
"My name is Severus."