Hey guys,

I hope you've all gone back to my first chapter and read my author's note explaining why I'm doing this. This chapter is exactly the same as it was in the original version, I've just cleaned up the format a little.

I: That Snape Boy

Nearly ten years had passed since the cold January night on which Hazel and Lily Evans were born. Despite being virtually identical, with dark red hair, pale skin and a smattering of freckles, the two couldn't be much more different if they'd tried.

Hazel was a tomboy; she kept her hair short and was almost always covered in cuts, bruises and mud from long hours outside. She was rarely still and had a tendency to play practical jokes (most of which were targeted on their stuffy older sister, Petunia) when forced to remain indoors for too long. Hazel was the more recognizable of the twins not just because of her short hair and boyish attire, but due to her large mismatched eyes and the violent sneezes she sneezed when too near a cat.

Lily was more feminine; she wore her hair long and liked to keep her clothes clean. Her eyes were both green; as was Hazel's right eye, whereas the left had stubbornly remained baby blue. Lily didn't really approve of Hazel's horse-play. She preferred to spend the time that she was stuck inside either reading, or helping their mother with the housework.

Our story starts one evening in early summer when Violet Evans, tired of her three pre-teenaged daughters getting under her feet as she tried to clean up after dinner, sent them to the nearby park. While Petunia and Lily played on the swings, Hazel took the opportunity to perfect her tree climbing skills.

Hazel was a whisker shy of her current record; roughly three quarters of the way up one of the large Horse Chestnut trees when she heard Petunia shrieking at Lily. She looked down from the tree in time to see her twin swing higher and higher, and then leap off the swing before landing, slower and far more lightly than was normal. Hazel grinned, she and Lily had been making funny things happen for about three years now; it drove mum mad when they did it when they were out of house.

Wanting her turn at flying, Hazel leapt from the branch she'd been standing on- the air seemed to cushion her as she descended, slowing her down; she hit the ground hands first, and tucking her chin into her chest she rolled smartly and finished on her feet as neatly as any professional acrobat.

"Mummy said you weren't allowed!" Petunia shrieked.

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

Petunia glanced around but the playground was deserted apart from the three of them; Lily had picked up a fallen flower from one of the bushes. Hazel was at her twin's side in a heartbeat, Petunia however advanced more hesitantly, 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.

"Cool!" Hazel exclaimed, grinning.

"Stop it!" shrieked Petunia.

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

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

"It's obvious, isn't it?" a boy asked, jumping out from behind the bushes. He was a strange looking individual with sallow skin, a large hooked nose and greasy, shoulder length black hair. He had a shrunken look about him but that might have been something to do with his huge coat.

Petunia shrieked and ran backward toward the swings, but the twins, though startled by the boy's sudden appearance, remained where they were. The boy seemed to regret his appearance. A dull flush of colour mounted the sallow cheeks as he looked at Lily.

"What's obvious?" she asked, nervously.

The boy had an air of nervous excitement. With a glance at the distant Petunia, now hovering beside the swings, he lowered his voice and said. "I know what you two are."

"What do you mean?" Hazel demanded, taking a step towards the boy.

"You're…you're witches," he whispered, but his voice carried to all three of the sisters.

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

She turned, nose in the air, and marched off to join their sister by the swings.

"No!" the boy yelled as Hazel, almost reluctantly, turned to follow her sisters.

The sisters considered him, two of them, united in disapproval, holding onto the swing poles as though they were enough to protect them from the crazy boy. Hazel however took a step towards him, watching him curiously so as to gage his reaction- he looked wary.

"What do you mean we're witches?" she asked- she knew that there was something different about her and Lily but she'd stopped believing in magic a couple of years ago.

"You are," the boy nodded, taking a step towards her, closing the gap- Hazel had to fight the urge to back away from him. "You and your sister are witches. 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 laughed coldly.

"Wizard!" she snorted. "I know who you are. You're that Snape boy! They live down Spinner's End by the river," she told her sisters. "Why have you been spying on us?"

Spinner's end was not a pleasant neighbourhood.

"Haven't been spying," said that Snape boy, shifting uncomfortably. "Wouldn't spy on you, anyway," he added spitefully, "You're a Muggle."

"Lily, Hazel, come on, we're leaving!" Petunia declared shrilly. Lily obeyed her sister at once, glaring at Snape as she left. Hazel however felt the need to apologize for her older sister's behaviour.

"I'm sorry about Tuney- I'm pretty sure she's scared of dirt," she jabbed her thumb in her two sisters' direction. "I'm Hazel by the way, and my twin's name is Lily."

"Severus," the Snape boy nodded. "Can you tell Lily that I'm sorry for scaring her?"

"Sure," Hazel nodded. "I've got to go- but if you like you can play with us sometimes?"

Severus hesitated for a minute then nodded. "I'd like that."

Despite being the first of the group to accept Severus, Hazel quickly found her opinion of the greasy haired wizard quickly deteriorated. She'd never met a person who was better suited to his name than Severus Snape- he was far too serious for his own good; he was also creepily fond of Lily. Since Severus had entered their lives Petunia had taken to avoiding them, as if the boy's… unusual appearance would spread to her by association.

As the months passed Hazel came to feel like a third wheel whenever the three of them got together. It was as if Severus didn't want her around; Lily however didn't seem to notice. In the end Hazel decided that it might be better for her if she left Severus and Lily alone- Lily would sneak into her room at nights to tell her about what she'd learned about the Wizarding world that day so it wasn't as if she was missing out. Still, Hazel couldn't shake off the longing she felt for her own magical best friend.

Summer came round again as it is wont to do when Spring passes and the twins' days at primary school came to an end. Lily and Severus had become absolutely inseparable; Hazel, not wanting to be alone over the long summer holiday, had signed up for as many sports clubs as she could find time for.

One morning in mid-July, just as the Evans family were finishing their breakfast, there came a knock on the door.

"Petunia love," George Evans said, just as his oldest daughter placed her knife and fork down on her empty plate. "Would you go and get the door?"

"Yes Daddy," Petunia nodded and left the kitchen- a few moments later her shrill voice came floating through to them. "Lily, Hazel, it's for you!"

The twins exchanged a glance; Lily's eyes were shining with excitement.

"You don't suppose…?"

"Our Hogwarts letters?" Hazel finished. "There's only one way to find out."

Standing at the front door was a strangely dressed man with flaming red hair. He smiled as he saw the twins.

"Lily and Hazel Evans?"

"Yeah," Hazel nodded- when Lily had told her that their letters would be delivered by hand she'd been expecting a person dressed in robes and a pointy hat- not this eccentric looking bloke in plus fours, a woolly cricket jumper and a tweed jacket.

"Excellent," the man's smile widened shaking them both by the hand. "Ignatius Weasely at your service, are your parents in?"

"Yes sir," Lily nodded as Hazel disappeared to get their parents. "Would you like to come in?"

Four of the five Evans and Mr Weasley had gathered in the living room. Petunia had retreated to her bedroom the moment that the strange man had crossed the threshold of their home.

"Sir, Madam," Mr Weasley began, addressing George and Violet. "I don't expect you to believe me when I tell you this- but I am Ignatius Weasley- professor of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I'm here to offer your two daughters a place at our school this September."

Here he produced two identical parchment envelopes and offered them to the twins.

"You're saying that my baby girls are witches?" Violet demanded, affronted.

The twins shared a look- they had decided, after a great deal of argument, not to tell their parents about their magic.

"It's true mum," Hazel announced. "Lily and me are witches."

"It's 'Lily and I' dear," Violet corrected her, absently- she rallied herself suddenly. "Don't be silly Hazel, magic isn't real."

"Oh but it is," Mr Weasley put in, he drew a magic wand from his pocket and waved it at the fruit bowl on the coffee table- the three apples and the pear sprouted legs and began to line dance.

Hazel and Lily watched the dancing fruit, fascinated by their first taste of real magic; their parents however, backed away, alarmed.

"The girls are going to be able to do that?" Charles asked- his voice quiet, probably due to the shock of finding out that not only was magic real, but his eleven year old twins were witches.

"That and more," Mr Weasley nodded. "Now girls, your letters,"

The letters; and the envelopes they were contained in were written on thick parchment. Hazel stared at the address on hers- it had her bedroom on it; wondering how people who had never met her could be so specific- if it wasn't so cool it would probably have been scary.

"Dear Miss Evans," Lily read out loud, having opened her letter while Hazel was still looking at the address on hers. "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

"Term begins on 1st September. We await your owl no later than 31st July. Signed Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress."

"Wow," Hazel breathed- scanning her own letter. "It all seems so real now."

Lily nodded, mutely.

The silence in the room was broken only by the tiny feet of the dancing fruit; until George spoke up, asking.

"What sort of fees will we have to pay for the twins' to attend this Hog-school?"

"Hogwarts Mr Evans," Mr Weasley corrected. "And there are no fees- centuries ago a group of prominent families in our world set up a trust fund so that not only was education free, but Muggle Born students such as your daughters are can buy their school supplies- we don't use Muggle money you understand."

"What's a Muggle?" Violet asked.

"A non-Magic person," Lily replied. "Severus told me- he's a half blood wizard."

Hazel however, had been looking at the list of school supplies. She frowned at the item relating to animals at the bottom of the list.

"Um… Mr Weasley sir," she began, dejectedly. "I don't think I can go to Hogwarts."

"What?" Everyone in the room was staring at her. "Why on earth not, my dear?"

"Because of the cats," she replied. "I'm allergic to cats."

To her surprise, Mr Weasley laughed. "Ah- my dear girl, that won't be an issue- they didn't invent allergy potions for nothing, you know."

And that was that- the Evans family (all bar Petunia) and Mr Weasley had piled into the family car and drove to London. Once they had parked in the capital, the wizard took charge- he led them to a fairly busy street and came to a sudden stop outside a dingy little building that stood next to a particularly reputable bookshop.

"Now, girls," he smiled. "This is the Leaky Cauldron- don't let the unassuming appearance fool you, this pub is famous."

"What pub?" George demanded. "All I see is a bookshop and a café."

"It's there," the twins declared in unison, pointing to the pub.

"There are spells on the place," Mr Weasley explained. "Muggles can't see it unless they've been inside- and they can only enter if accompanied by a witch or wizard, now, shall we?"

Without giving the older Evanses time to respond he led them across the threshold of the Leaky Caldron.

The Leaky Caldron pub was just as unassuming inside as it was outside. Violet Evans had been barely able to repress her distaste for the dark interior. Hazel didn't know about Lily, but she was finding it hard not to stare at the array of interesting looking customers. Mr Weasley led them straight through to the back of the establishment. He led them into a small yard which ended abruptly with a tall brick wall. He drew his wand and began tapping bricks.

All of a sudden the bricks began to move, to roll back and form an arch. Through the arch was a cobbled street lined with shops and stalls, witches, wizards and all manner of humanoid creatures going about their business.

"This girls, is Diagon Alley," Mr Weasley announced and practically bowed them into the alley.

Next chapter will be up asap.