Chapter 4: The First Fight
August 31, Cokeworth, England
The memory swirled once again. Lily and her parents awaited the arrival of the member of the Wizarding community, who would help them buy Lily's stuff than escort her to the train. The escort arrived at 9:30 precisely. She said her name was Augusta Longbottom, that's Professor Longbottom's grandmother, and she was rather strict, though she did say that her son would also be attending Hogwarts for his second year this year. That makes two people that I know of who will be/are attending Hogwarts, Lily thought to herself, one who I actually know, Severus (Albus' middle name) Snape, and the other who I had heard of, Frank Longbottom.
The memory swirled so that it was evening. Mrs Longbottom was saying that she would be at their house at the same time to show them where to board tomorrow. She also said that she would bring along her son because he's also going. If he is anything like her, I don't think I want to meet him.
The memory swirled and I found myself, once again at the park with Lily and Severus. They were sitting crossed legged underneath what seemed like hundreds of trees.
"So tell me about the Ministry of Magic." Lily said.
"Well, the Ministry is really strict. At the Ministry, you can train to be an Auror, like a police in the Muggle world, or you can be a member of the Wizengamot, like a court, and the Ministry can punish you if you do magic outside school, you get letters," Severus said before Lily interrupted him.
"But I have done magic outside school!"
"We're all right. We haven't gotten our wands yet." Severus reassured her. "They let you off when you're a kid and you can't help it. But once you're eleven," he nodded. "And they start training you, then you've got to go careful."
It was quiet for a while as each child was absorbed in their own thoughts. Lily grabbed a stick that had fallen and started twirling it as though it was a wand. Suddenly, she dropped the twig, leaned in towards Severus and said, "It is real, isn't it? It's not a joke? Petunia says that you're lying to me," Well, of course Petunia would say that, I thought to myself. "Petunia says there isn't a Hogwarts. It is real, isn't it?" She asked.
"It's real for us. Not for her. But we'll get the letter, you and me." He said.
"Really?" Lily whispered.
"Definitely," Severus responded confidently.
"And will it really come by owl?" She asked.
"Normally. But you're Muggle-born, so someone from the school, or the Ministry, will have to come and explain to your parents." He said.
"Does it make a difference, being Muggle-born?" Lily asked obviously troubled with this.
Severus hesitated before saying, "No, it doesn't make any difference."
"Good," Said Lily, relaxing, after having been reassured.
"You've got loads of magic, I saw that." He said. "All the time I was watching you…" Stalker, I thought as he trailed off, noticing that she wasn't paying attention. He looked at her greedily, and I felt a little repulsed, but I managed to stomach, since he was important to one, or both, of my parents, and obviously, my Grandmother.
"How are things at your house?" Lily asked.
A small crease appeared at his forehead before he replied, "Fine."
"They're not arguing anymore?"
"Oh yes, they're arguing," He said as he unconsciously picked up some fallen leaves and started tearing them. "But it won't be that long and I'll be gone." That sounded almost poetic.
"Doesn't your dad like magic?" Lily asked.
"He doesn't like anything, much,"
"Severus?" A small, almost cruel smile, twisted at his lips as she said his name.
"Yeah?"
"Tell me about the Dementors again."
"What d'you want to know about them for?" He asked.
"If I use magic outside of school -" Lily started before Severus cut her off.
"They wouldn't give you to the Dementors for that! Dementors are for people who do really bad stuff. They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban. You're not going to end in Azkaban, you're too -" He stopped and turned red and starting shredding the leaves again, before hearing a small rustling noise behind a tree. Petunia, who had been hiding behind the tree, had lost her footing.
"Tuney!" Lily exclaimed, while I, the other Lily, thought, she's out to get you Granny, run while you still can!
Severus jumped to his feet and shouted, "Who's spying now? What d'you want?"
Petunia, who was breathless and alarmed at being caught, was struggling for something mean to say. She finally came up with, "What is that you're wearing, anyway?" She said gesturing at his shirt. "Your mum's blouse?"
All of a sudden, there was a loud crack to be heard, Lily screamed, as a branch above Petunia's head fell and hit her on the shoulder. Petunia staggered backwards and burst into tears.
"Tuney!" Lily yelled, before turning on Severus. "Did you make that happen?" She demanded.
"No." Severus looked both scared and defiant.
"You did!" She said as she backed away from him. "You did! You hurt her!"
"No - no I didn't!" But the lie didn't convince Lily. She gave him one final burning look, before tearing off to find her sister.