He would be turning eleven soon. He was not excited for that, but instead just for receiving his letter, knowing it would be some time later in the year. He knew Lily would receive hers too. She had been his only friend this whole time. He had spent a lot of his tenth year of life practicing the dark arts, and then for some reason wondering if that voice had been right. For every spell he perfected he would hear the voice, saying something mockingly and every now and then he could hear a faint and oddly saddening laugh. It prompted him to think.
What is it I want in life? Well, I'd like it if someone was proud of me. At least I'd like to be proud of myself. Have no equal, have no match, at least in one thing. And yet again it was not the voice who asked a question, but himself,
But does that mean I have to become a Slytherin?
His birthday was bittersweet. His parent's gave him one gift, or rather his mother did, a vest with a silver and green serpent patch adorning it. It must have cost a decent bit but it was hardly impressive. His mother gave him a crude smile he could tell she attempted to come off as warm, but it was colder than ice. "For you, my dear Severus, I know you'll make me proud."
He knew soon he'd receive his letter, and the conflict in his heart grew. That afternoon Lily Evans gave him a box of assorted baked goods and smiled. "I'll get you something better next time, I promise!" Lily had no way of buying magical items, not yet, and as all they spoke about was magic she could hardly get him something when she had no idea what muggle things he might want. "Lily, you didn't have to do anything for me…that you did anything is as special as it will be" She smiled.
Severus went home that night and neither parent cared to see what was in the box his best friend, his only friend, had given him.