Chapter Three

I rather liked to think that my first actual experience with magic was a pretty positive one. Almost dropping the cake you put hours work into was certainly better than some alternatives. And really, Lily's first experience with magic wasn't the worst either. Just maybe what happened afterwards could have gone a bit better.

We were at the small park a block away from home.

Tuney was pushing Lily in the swing set as I sat on the ground making flower crowns for the three of us. It'd been 2 years since I'd first discovered my magic and I liked to think I was doing pretty okay considering. I was slowly learning how to work along side the magic enough to be able to use the magic non-verbally and without a wand, but it took practice and concentration of course.

Now, as I made the flower crowns and watched fondly as the petals moved as I'd remembered reading Lily had done, I paid almost no attention to my sisters voices. That was until was until I heard Tuney's terrified scream. I whipped around heart in my throat and hand stretched out, barely registering the magic at my finger tips. Lily had jumped from the swing from high, too high to land without hurting herself even if it wouldn't be bad. It hadn't even registered in my mind that Lily was moving slower than usual and that the scene playing out was an all to familiar one. The next thing I knew Lily was stuck hovering 2 feet above the ground and my hair was floating as both my sisters looked at me in shock.

I sat back as soon as I'd released Lily watching as boy stepped out of the bushes to speak to my sister. That was when I realized what had just happened. Of course.

This was something I'd read in the books, in Severus Snape's memories. In the memories of the boy my sisters had just walked away from angrily.

Oh.

"I don't think witch means the same thing to you as it does to us."

I watched as his head whipped around to face me, and I tried not to wince on the look of hurt on his face. Right he probably didn't feel so great after my sister who he'd hoped to become friends with had dismissed him so blatantly. It seemed from the look of surprise on his face that he hadn't expected me to still be here after Lily and Petunia had left.

"We take it as an insult."

I continued as if there hadn't been a slight pause.

" For us it means something of an old hag. It's like calling us ugly and rude. From what you said though it means something different."

I ignored the narrow and untrusting eyes through which he looked at me. It made sense that he felt that way but I was going to be kind to him, I was determined.

"It's not an insult to me."

"Then explain what it means to me, I'm sure it'd help clear up the situation," I said as I patted the ground next to me, inviting him to sit.

Slowly he gave in and sat down next to me.

"My name's Jessamine." I introduced myself, taking his hand with a smile.

"What's yours?"

"...Severus."

"Great. Now please explain the difference between my witch and yours Severus. Can I call you Sev? It's fine if I can't but I figured it's be easier..."

The boy nodded slowly as he looked at me curiously before launching into his explanation, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking. At least I had time before Tuney and Lily would get back to drag me home.

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