Disclaimer: So, I took my timeturner and my wand, went back in time, stole JKR's manuscripts, and Obliviated her, so now the Potterverse is MINE! Ok, fine, not mine.

The lesson ended, and he walked out with Lily, heading up to Defence Against the Dark Arts.

"What was all that about?" he asked Lily. As soon as the words were out of his mouth he instantly regretted it, forgetting for a moment that he was supposed to know all this.

Lily just grinned. "Not remembering much, are you? If that's the damage that Bludgers can cause then there's hope for James Potter after all."

Severus blinked. "Bludger?" He cursed himself again.

Lily flung an arm around his shoulders. "Yes, Sev, Bludger. That's how you wound up in hospital."

"Right. Sorry. Details are still a little fuzzy."

Lily just laughed. "You're all right. Don't worry, I'm not going near James Potter. He's an arsehole."

Severus smiled, but his mind was working overtime. If Lily thought Potter Senior was an arsehole, then how the hell did they wind up married and having a child? He erased the thought from his mind. This was a new timeline. Hell, maybe Potter Junior wasn't even going to be born. Excellent. One less Potter to deal with.

Severus flung himself down onto his bed, shutting his eyes. His first week in 1976 had been hell. He'd discovered the safest places to be were in the Slytherin common room, his dormitory, or in the presence of Lily. James Potter and his gang, consisting of Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. Severus snorted. How Pettigrew became a Gryffindor was beyond him. Coward. He would've been better suited for Hufflepuff.

It was strange for Severus, seeing those four together, all alive. As far as he was concerned, Potter and Black were dead. Pettigrew was a pawn of Voldemort, and Lupin was his teacher three years ago.

He couldn't believe Lupin when he saw him. The Lupin he knew was kind, he had helped him out in class. This Lupin wasn't exactly like Potter and Black, but he wasn't like the Lupin he knew. Mental, this was.

Something else Severus couldn't believe was how blind Dumbledore and McGonagall were. Surely they could see through Potter and Black? Surely they couldn't just let it all slide. Why did they feel the need to pick on him? Why him? What had he done to piss them off?

His classes were okay, but there were only two teacher's he recognised. Flitwick and McGonagall. The rest were all new to him. He had all but Arithmancy with Lily, but thankfully there was only one of Potter's lot in that class with him, and that was Lupin, so he was relatively safe.

Severus found himself growing closer to Lily, but he refused to think of her as a replacement for Hermione. He kept telling himself she was just a very good friend, but eventually he couldn't lie convincingly to himself any more. He was starting to have feelings for Lily.

After two months of life, classes, and torture in 1976, Severus found himself once again at the mercy of Potter and Black. Lupin was absent, again, and god only knows where Pettigrew was. Lily had gone back to her common room, and Severus was heading back to his. Unfortunately, Potter had anticipated this.

He was now being hoisted up in the air by his ankle, and was practically nose to nose with Potter.

"You still don't get it, do you Snape?" Severus swung out at Potter, who stepped back while Black laughed behind him.

Severus scowled and said "We're just friends, Potter. I have no other interest in her." Yes, he had feelings for Lily. He wasn't about to tell Potter that, though.

Potter laughed. "Bullshit. You're a Slytherin. Of course you have some sort of ulterior motive. You all do. You've befriended her, now what? What, exactly, do you want from her?"

Severus forced a smile. "Don't you think that if I had an ulterior motive, it would have made an appearance by now? I've known her since before we came here, which is longer that you can say you have. No Slytherin with ulterior motives would wait that long."

"Ah, but considering what your ulterior motive is, you would need to wait, wouldn't you?"

"I imagine so, if that were the case. But what eleven year old thinks of that in advance? So, you have nothing to worry about. Now, I would appreciate it if you would let me down."

Potter sighed and cast the counter curse, and Severus fell in a heap on the ground.

He started walking off, and Potter called after him "I'm watching, Snape. Both of you."

Severus just smirked. He possessed information that Potter did not. For example, Lily wouldn't ever touch him, not even with a twenty foot stick. Well, now that I think about it, Potter has probably guessed as much. However, I know. Speaking of Lily, must keep her around much more often. Safer.

Thank god Potter Junior hadn't been like this. That would've made his life hell. Well, it already was. But he spent five years without this before. Imagine if he'd grown up in this time. He shuddered to think. He thought two and a bit months was bad, well...

Finally, his sixth year at Hogwarts was nearly over, and as he set about packing his stuff, a thought struck him. Where was he supposed to go over the holidays? He couldn't survive on his own without magic, and since he was still underage he wasn't exactly allowed to use magic out of school. He ceased packing and made his way to Dumbledore's office.

He knocked, and upon hearing Dumbledore's "Enter", he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Ah, hello again, Mr. Snape. How are you faring?"

"Quite well, sir. I just have a question."

Dumbledore gestured for him to speak, Severus began explaining the situation, but the headmaster stopped him before he could finish.

"I was wondering when you were going to ask that. I must ask you, where did you go during the summer holidays in your own time?"

Severus blinked. "Well, I went to my parents house, mostly." He didn't add that he often went to Hermione's as well. He was trying to move on, no matter how hard it was.

"Spinner's End, by any chance?"

"Yes, sir. How did you know?"

"Just a lucky guess. That, incidentally, is where you go now. Your parents are there. I daresay they are the same as they were when you left your own time."

"You mean, they technically went back too, only they don't know it, or something?"

Dumbledore inclined his head before saying "No doubt they will be the only ones you recognise from your time?"

Severus smirked, and said "Actually, sir, I also recognised you, and –." He stopped.

"And...?"

"James Potter."

"How would you know Mr. Potter? Surely he would look older?"

Severus looked down. "I wouldn't know, sir. But I mistook him for his son when I first arrived here."

Dumbledore nodded. "I see," he said, as if he didn't want to know any more. "Well, Mr. Snape, when you arrive at Kings Cross your mother should be waiting to take you home. If not, well, you know where it is. I shall see you next year."

Severus saw it as a dismissal and left, saying "Thank you, sir."

Just as Dumbledore had said, Severus' mother was waiting for him at the station, just as he remembered her. Nothing appeared to have changed, and for that, he was grateful.

As they journeyed to Spinner's End, Severus' thoughts turned to his father. It seemed in this timeline they were still together. He supposed it was because there was less divorce in the seventies. But, when he actually thought about it, he didn't know if that was the case. Perhaps his father was nicer now.

Yeah, right.

He arrived at home, as everything was as he remembered. Well, almost. His father was still around. Still the same unpleasant, sarcastic, magic-hating arsehole he knew. Great.

Almost two weeks of holidays had passed, and he had refrained from venturing out too far in order to stop himself doing what he wanted to most. What he really wanted to do was just go and look at Hermione's house. Or rather, what would have been Hermione's house. He wondered if it was there, and if it was, who lived there. Finally, after about two and a half weeks of holidays, he had to do it. Pocketing his wand, he left the house and walked to the house.

It was still there, looking perfectly normal. There was definitely a family living there. Probably Muggles, he thought. He turned to go back home, but stopped as he heard someone calling his name.

He whipped around, and saw someone running out of the house.

"Lily?"

It indeed was Lily, and as she reached him, she flung her arms around his neck and hugged him.

"Severus! I've missed you! Where the hell have you been?"

Severus leaned back, bemused. "Lily, it's only been two weeks."

She frowned. "Nearly three. You never wait this long before coming to see me."

"Well, you could have come and got me."

Lily leapt back. "I would have loved to, but you still won't tell me where you live. Spinner's End, I know, but that's all you tell me. I'm not about to go knocking on every door trying to find you."

Severus tried to smile. "Sorry. I just, well, I haven't been very well," he lied.

Lily finally smiled. "It's okay. I've been so bored without you."

The two spent the rest of the day together, and as it got dark, Severus got up.

"I should probably go. Dad'll get shitty if I'm late."

Lily sighed and said "Okay. Tomorrow?"

He smiled. "Yeah."

He turned to go, and Lily pulled him back, kissing him on the cheek and saying "Tomorrow, then. Bye, Sev."

Severus watched her walk back to her house, and he made his way back home, not caring what his father might do to him.

Bit longer. Also a longer wait. Am very sorry. This is why I hate sixth form. Far too much homework. Oh well. Holidays soon. Can write more then. Well, holidays start on September 25 (I live in New Zealand), and I aim to have one more chapter out before then. I'm getting there, slowly. Bear with me.