"You got a fast car... I wanna ticket to anywhere…maybe we can make a deal…maybe together… we can get somewhere."
Tracy Chapman: Fast Car
Over the summer, Lily started to control her power, channelling different emotions to do different tasks. She was able to summon things to her, like the salt and pepper at dinner, and books from her bookshelf while she sat on her bed. Her mum and Dad wondered what she was doing in her room for so many hours. As a new project, Lily would try and see how many ornaments she could levitate with her mind.
Lavender had this feeling that Lily was doing things in her room she shouldn't. She had strictly forbid her to do magic at the table because it upset Petunia, Lily reacted to this by blowing the bulb in the dining room.
"Petunia." Lavender called, "Can you come into the kitchen please." Petunia floated into the Kitchen.
"Yes Mum," Lavender sat down and mentioned for her to do the same.
"Petunia, I want you to start spending some time with your sister." Said Lavender, at this news Petunia folded her arms and huffed.
"Look, she's had a hard time adjusting to not having Elle around." Continued Lavender, "I think she might benefit from spending some time with you." Petunia huffed but resigned to the fact that her Mum wouldn't budge on this.
"Urgh, fine." Said Petunia, "Just so long as she doesn't do anything…" Petunia motioned with her hands.
"Weird, ok." Lavender nodded.
"I'll have a word with her." said Lavender, "Now get your shoes on, and I'll go get her." Petunia walked away and Lavender walked upstairs to Lily's room.
"Lily, can I come in?" She heard some things bang the surface of her room.
"Yeah, sure." Lavender opened the door. Lily was sitting cross legged on her bed with a book in front of her.
"Lily, Petunia said she's take you to the park." Said Lavender, Lily's eyes lit up even more if it was possible and bounded off her bed.
The Marauders Proudly Present Lily Evans in: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Six
Written By Chambers10
As much as Lily wanted Petunia to look interested, she wasn't. She took Lily into the park and sat on the swings. Lily looked over at the bushes and then back to where her sister was next to her.
"Bet you can't get as high as I can." Said Lily mischievously starting to swing, Petunia looked over furiously as Lily grinned and started to swing.
"Lily, stop!" shouted Petunia, Lily didn't hear her as she swung higher and higher into the air.
"Should I jump?" shouted Lily with a laugh.
"No Lily, don't do it." shouted Petunia, with her sister's words nothing more than echo, Lily Jumped. She wasn't afraid, she had done this a hundred times before, and she soared through the air and landed on the asphalt.
"Mum told you not to!" said Petunia angrily, she stopped herself on the swing and stood up, hands on hips.
"Mum said you weren't allowed, Lily!"
"But I'm fine." Said Lily laughing carefree. She looked over at her sister, and a grin came across her face.
"Hey Tuney, Look at this. Watch what I can do." Lily walked over towards the bushes that surrounded the playground and picked up a petal from one of the bushes. She turned round and waited for Petunia to advance closer to her. She smirked and opened her hand, she concentrated and made the petal pulsate. Petunia watched it for a few seconds before shouting.
"Stop it Lily!"
"Why?" said Lily throwing the petal down to the ground again, succeeding in freaking her sister out. "It's not hurting you."
"But it's not right." Said Petunia, her eyes still lingering on the flower that Lily had thrown on the floor. "How do you do it?"
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Lily jumped, Petunia shrieked and ran towards the swings. Almost expecting Lily to join her. But she hadn't.
Lily was rooted to the spot, but looking curiously at the person now joining them in the park. It was a boy who had jumped out of the bushes, he looked peculiar, he had long greasy black, which looked like it had been overgrown for a few months, and his clothes were badly mismatched. Jeans which showed off his ankles, an overcoat which looked like it belonged to his dad and a weird looking shirt that Lily had never seen before. His face was pale and thin, shallow in some places, with a greasy complexion, like his hair.
"What's obvious?" asked Lily slowly, she started to back track a little. A little scared at this boy who seemed to know an awful lot about her. The boy looked over at Petunia, and then back at Lily.
"I know what you are." He whispered.
"What do you mean?" asked Lily a little nervously, still taking small steps back.
"You're…" he looked round again, seeing if anyone was watching him. "You're a witch." He said in excited tone.
Lily felt anger course through her, she wanted the swing to hit him in the face. How dare somebody come up to her and call her, her of all people, a witch.
"That's not a very nice thing to say to somebody!" said Lily. She turned round and walked back towards the swings.
"NO!" the boy called from behind her. She looked round, Lily almost pitied him having to wear that ridiculous coat. It made him look like a bat, the way the coat billowed around him.
Lily turned to Petunia, Petunia looked at him head to foot, turned back and shook her head. For once, Lily was inclined to agree with her sister and nodded.
"You are though!" the boy shouted, pointing at Lily, "You are a witch, I've been watching you for ages. But there's nothing wrong with that. My Mums one, and I'm a wizard."
Petunia laughed.
"A wizard." She said before continuing her laughing. She stopped before nodding slightly.
"Yes, I know who you are." She said, "You're that Snape boy!" Petunia turned to Lily. "They live down Spinner's End, by the river." Lily knew by the tone Petunia didn't think much of it. And looking at this ragged boy in front of her she couldn't blame her.
"Why have you been spying on us?" asked Petunia. Snape began the shuffle comfortably in the hot sun.
"Haven't been spying." He said darkly, "Wouldn't spy on you anyway." He added spitefully.
"You're only a muggle."
Petunia pulled a face and gripped Lily's hand.
"Lily, come on, we're leaving." She said forcefully. Lily and Petunia walked through the gate and set of home. Though Petunia didn't look back, Lily look one final look at the Snape boy, he looked dejected.
"I knew those Snape's where trouble." Said Petunia leading Lily back home, "Oswald's brother used to hang out with him and said he was weird."
"What did he used to do?" asked Lily curiously.
"Weird stuff!" said Petunia with finality in her voice. Lily looked back towards the park which was now out of sight. A witch? As they got home Lily started to ponder what Snape had said. She always thought she was psychic. A witch though?
No.
Witches wore black and made potions, they had black cats running around them and had warts. They couldn't make things move with their minds. No, that Snape boy was being stupid, she couldn't be a witch, she just couldn't be. And him, a wizard. Merlin was a wizard. But she couldn't think of any others.
"And he made the light bulbs blow up." Said Petunia still thinking that Lily was listening to her.
"Wait! He did what?" asked Lily. Petunia looked down at Lily strangely.
"That Snape boy made all the light bulbs in the community centre blow up." Said Petunia, "They say he should be sectioned, and I agree Lily. I do, his dads a no good lay about drunk who apparently, but you didn't hear this from me, beats his wife as well. No wonder that boy's so messed up." Lily looked back towards the park as they walked up to the house.
Petunia let herself in and disappeared upstairs. Lily was left in the hallway still contemplating the Snape boy. She thought about it all the way up to her room, a witch, a wizard. Did they even exist?
They could do, I might explain some of the things that Lily could do. Lily walked into her room and walked to her book shelf. She looked over the titles and picked out some and threw them on her bed.
"Lily?" Lily looked up to see her mother.
"Hey Mum." Said Lily going back to looking at the books. "Mum, what do you know about witches?"
"Witches?"
"Yeah, witches." Said Lily lightly. Lavender thought for a moment before walking into Lily's room.
"Why do you want to know about witches?" asked Lavender.
"New project." Said Lily, "What do they do exactly?"
"Uhm…they brew potions, they have black cats and fly on broomsticks." Said Lavender, "There not real Lily."
"I know that." Said Lily, "I was…thinking of writing a story about one." said Lily removing the last book.
"Oh? Ok." Said Lavender. "Oh Lily." Lily looked up.
"I have your blanket here." Said Lavender fishing it out of the washing basket. "It's been in the airing cupboard for almost a week."
"Mum, I think I'm a little old to be having a blanket." Said Lily going back to her books. Lavender sighed. She clutched the fabric in her hands, she looked at Lily. She was defiantly getting older, maybe she just wasn't ready for her to move on so quickly.
"Ok Sweetpea." She said now smiling.
She walked back out into the hallway. Lily made sure she was gone before closing her door and walking over to her bed. She looked at the books and began to read. She sat cross legged on the bed making notes on the different attributes that the witches had. In all the books witches did what Lily expected them to. Brew potions, wear black, and fly on broomsticks. Not making things blow up or move things with their mind. It didn't make sense. Why would it?
Lily frowned and went to her window seat and looked back at the park. She needed to speak to him again. She had to, he could answer any unanswered questions she had. A witch? Lily Evans, witch. It didn't have a ring to it.
The next day, Petunia was out with her friends, and Lavender was busy at home. This left Lily to do as she pleased. She walked to the park and sat on the swing, she knew he was out there. She could feel the hairs on her neck stand on end.
"I know you're there." She said, trying to sound brave. "Look, I have some questions only you can answer." She saw a bush rustle and Snape walked out. He was still wearing that ridiculous coat and looked like he hadn't changed.
"I knew you'd see." Said Snape, with an exhilaration in voice he couldn't hide.
"I'm not convinced." Said Lily flatly, Snape's face dropped.
"I'm going to ask you some questions." Said Lily, "If you are who you say you are, you'll be able to answer and convince me." Snape nodded.
"I can move things with my mind." Said Lily, she got up from the swing and walked in front of it. With a burst of anger the swing swung back of its own accord, Lily turned to Snape. He watched with some sort of warped awe.
"Now you do something." said Lily.
"Excuse me?" said Snape.
"Make something move." Said Lily, "If you're a wizard, you can do it, right?" Snape nodded stiffly and looked around. Lily's eyes followed him as he walked to a round a bout. Snape held his hand out and concentrated, the ride groaned into life and span round slowly. It stopped and Snape smiled smugly at Lily who just nodded.
"Alright." She said, still unconvinced. "How do I really know I'm a witch?"
"You can do magic." Said Snape.
"Why can't everyone?"
"Either you're born with it or you're not." Said Snape, "That's why your sister can't do any." Lily nodded.
"But I'm not like any other witch I've read about." Said Lily.
"Is anybody who they really are?" Lily narrowed her eyes in a questioning way.
"Look at me." He said, "Merlin wore robes, had a white beard and a voice like thunder. But he was a wizard, just like me."
"You said your mother was a witch." Said Lily, "Is she like me?" Snape went a little red.
"A little." He said quietly. "But she can do the same things." Said Snape. Lily sat back down on the swing.
"So what happens now?" asked Lily, "If I am a witch…what happens to me."
"You got to a special school." Said Snape excitedly, "Hogwarts." Lily continued to eye him sceptically.
"Hogwarts." Said Snape excitedly, "Is a special school for people like us. That's where we go to learn about Magic."
"We learn about Magic." Said Lily. "What about…English, maths and science ." Snape gave a distortive snort.
"We don't need that stuff in our world." Said Snape, "Magic can solve anything."
"There's a whole world." Said Lily impressed.
"Oh yes." Said Snape, "We keep out of the way of muggles."
"What is that word?" asked Lily.
"What word?"
"Mug-muggle?" Said Lily.
"Non-magic people." Said Snape, "We can't let them know we exist."
"Why not?" asked Lily.
"Because then they'll want to know our secrets." Said Snape, "Imagine if everyone in the world could do magic. It wouldn't be special otherwise."
"But I'm normal and I can do magic." Said Lily.
"You're a witch." Said Snape, "You are not like anyone you know." Lily looked down at her hands and back at Snape. He had greed in his gaze as he eyed her. Her eyes were more sceptic. Could she really be a witch?
"When do you go to this school then?" asked Lily.
"Don't you mean us?"
"No." said Lily flatly, "You still need to convince me."
"Next year." Said Snape, "When were eleven, we can leave here and never look back." He added with glee in his voice.
"They take you away?"
"Only for school." Snape amended quickly, "You can come home during the holidays but for the rest of the year you stay at Hogwarts." Lily nodded understandingly.
"You get a wand." Said Snape, "Yeah, there's this whole shop where they sell wands."
"Wands?"
"Well how else are you supposed to do magic." Said Snape.
"I can already do it without a wand." Said Lily.
"Yeah, but were still kids." Said Snape, "Once we turn eleven we can buy our own wands."
"This seems too good to be true." Said Lily getting up from her seat on the swing. It was a mistake coming here, Maybe Tuney was right, he was odd, even for her. She turned round and headed for home.
"But it is!" said Snape, taking a desperate step forward her. "It is true, all of it!" Lily looked back at his desperate attempts to try and sway her.
"You don't know how long I've waited to find someone like me!" Lily stopped. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She turned her head toward Snape. His head was bowed, he looked lonelier than ever before.
"I thought I would have to wait till next summer." The sky above them began to grow darker very quickly. "But, I saw you, when you apparated everyone from the school away. And I knew…I knew there was someone else like me out there. I didn't feel alone." Rain started to fall from the clouds. Lily blinked, lost in translation as the drops began to wet her hair and the t-shirt she was wearing.
"Have you felt alone?" asked Snape, looking up at Lily. "Have you felt excluded, simply because no one understands you. Everyone calls you weird because you can do things you cannot control."
It felt like Lily's life story being told in front of her. She was alone, she was constantly being called weird or strange because of the things she could do. Thunder rolled in the background as Lily looked at him curiously. Maybe this Snape was right, maybe he was what she was looking for since Elle had left. A friend.
Lily's gaze went to the floor and back to Snape. The rain and made his hair now fall in front of his head, covering his face. Lily smiled in the corner of her mouth.
"Let's talk some more." Said Lily walking past Snape, Snape looked round and saw Lily looking back at him. She smiled at him and continued to walk. Snape walked after her out of the park. Lily led him into the woods under the rain, Lily led him into the small alcove which was thickly covered by overhead trees. Lily sat down on the leafy ground and looked over at the river running past.
"I believe you." Said Lily, as Snape caught up and joined her in the thicket. His eyes feasted greedily on her as he sat down next to her.
"Now." said Lily, "Tell me everything about this world."
"Everything?" asked Snape.
"Yes." Said Lily, "I'm Lily, by the way. Lily Evans."
"Snape. Severus Snape."
Lily was fascinated by this new world that Sev was creating in front of her. A world filled with elves, unicorns and other magical creatures. After a lot of persuasion, Severus told her about all the darker creatures of the world. One in particular caught her mind. Dementors. They seemed to be odd creatures, misunderstood more than feared in her eyes.
Most of the summer days were spent with Sev, in the thicket leaning everything about the wizarding world. Lily was always on the edge of her seat as Sev explained all the different aspects. Wizards became adults at seventeen and they teleported everywhere, or apparated. Sev explained that's what she did to everyone at her school. He asked her if she could do it again. Lily didn't know if she could. All she knew was that she didn't want the summer to end.
"I'm gonna miss this." Said Lily sadly.
"The time we spend together." Asked Snape.
"Yeah." Said Lily, "I don't want to go back to school."
"Why not?" asked Snape. Lily screwed up her face.
"Everyone at school thinks I'm strange." Said Lily, "Ever since I apparated them away no one will talk to me."
"It's a shame you don't come to school." Said Lily, "It wouldn't be so lonely otherwise." Snape looked down, almost wishing the same thing.
"I'll still be there." Said Snape, "Me and you, all we have to do is stick out another year here and then we can go." Lily half smiled.
"Only a year to go." She said.
The time was torture, knowing this world was only a few months away but it seemed lifetimes. And the way Sev was selling the world to her made her want it all the more. A new chance to reinvent herself. If this world had rejected her, this new one would embrace her with open arms.
Only the time went much more slowly at school. She still hadn't made any new friends since Elle left, mainly because no one liked her. Wendy and her gang still picked on her, but even that had become less frequent. Wendy was to enthralled in boys to pay Lily any sort of attention, most of the boys didn't really pay Lily any attention either. The rumours (Not that Lily associated herself with any gossip.) was that most of the boys still liked her, but where afraid of her.
It didn't bother her too much. She had Sev for company, could that have something to do with it. But she still followed the same routine. She would work, read in her break, work again, and then read during lunch. Sev would sometimes come to school. Oh how she envied him for being home schooled. But he would sit in the bushes where Lily would read and they would chat. Lily wondered what Sev did with his days. But after school they would hand out. They would go to the thicket and Sev would regale her with stories for her about the wizarding world. They would also practice magic as well. Lily was more advanced than Sev and could control more things, but Sev was learning, maybe that's what he did during the day.
Lily would then go to her granddads and do her homework and go home. Sev never really liked it when Lily had to go, but she had to, and they would spend the weekend together anyway. But Lily never really thought her two worlds would collide.
Lily and Severus where walking in a more built up area of Cokeworth. There where rows upon rows of terraced houses. Old houses for the workers of the old cotton mill during the revolution. It had kind of unnerved Lily coming down here. It was, rough, unpolished, not the sort of place she would go willingly. It's why she liked her neighbourhood more. But Sev came from here, so she was willing to give a try. Lily had bought them both an ice cream and they were walking down a street which branched out in all different directions.
"So how long have you lived here?" asked Lily licking her cornetto.
"Since I can remember." Said Snape eyeing his ice cream.
"It's only ice cream Sev." Said Lily playfully, "It won't kill you, it's actually quite nice." Sev took a lick and a small smile crept into his lips.
"It does taste good." He conceded.
"I can't believe you've never had it before." Said Lily, her eyes subconsciously searching around for trouble. The high houses scared her but she didn't show it.
"My Mum and Dad don't really let me try things like this." Said Sev. Lily smiled sadly.
"So where abouts do you live then?" asked Lily.
"You know."
"Not really." Said Lily, "I know of the famous spinners end." Sev smiled more.
"Just down there." Said Sev pointing to a greenish looked street. The sign was covered in moss and grub.
"The famous spinners end." Said Lily jokingly.
"It's not famous." Said Sev.
"It will be." Said Lily, "I'm going to go to Hogwarts and put Cokeworth on the map."
"Hey freak!" Lily sighed. No she thought, not now. She turned round, and sure enough Wendy was there with her usual gang of boys and girls.
"What are you doing down here freak." Said Wendy, "You can't come down here."
"I wasn't aware." Said Lily dryly turning back round, "Come on Sev."
"You and your freak boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend." Said Lily walking away.
"That's right, runaway you little coward." Said Wendy, "Stupid ginger can't fight her own battle. You're a coward." Lily stopped, her anger building up inside.
"No wonder your friend left, wanted to be away from you. Everyone still remembers what happened at school. You're still a freak."
Lily turned round and glared at her, she was smiling, still smirking. No remorse, no guilt. She hated it, she wanted to make her pay, for all the taunts, the pushing, the nights when she was made to feel worthless and humiliated in a crowd of people. Being laughed at for being different.
"Yeah, rich coming from a girl who never gets her hands dirty." Said Lily.
"Oh, look who's growing a back bone." Said Wendy, "trying to impress your boyfriend."
"No," said Lily walking towards Wendy "I'm sick of you, I've done nothing to you."
"Lily don't." said Sev, "She's not worth it."
"You don't know her Sev." Said Lily.
"And he'll have no chance to know me." Said Wendy looking at Snape.
"Jesus's you must be desperate if your hanging with this mess. He looks like he got his clothes from the Red Cross."
"Take that back!" shouted Lily.
"Or what!"
"Uhm Wendy." One of the boys said looking at her hair.
"Not now. Or what you stupid redhead freak! Gonna use some witchcraft with me."
"Wendy."
"WHAT!"
"You're turning ginger." Wendy looked up, her blonde hair was now bright red, she looked over at Lily who looked just as stunned as everyone else. Wendy brought the hair to her eyes and screamed.
"YOU!" she said pointing at Lily, "What did you do!"
"I…don't know." Said Lily, "Wendy I" before she could finish Wendy lunged for her, her eyes wild like an animal. She pushed Lily to the floor and scratched her face. Lily cried out.
"I'll kill you, you ginger bitch." Wendy shouted. The group she was with tried to pull her off Lily. But before they could reach Lily punched Wendy. Lily's knuckles cracked on Wendy's face, it made a reverberating sound which made all them wince. Wendy staggered back and fell back onto the cold pavement.
Lily stood up abruptly, blood trickling from the wound Wendy had left on her. She breathed deeply as she looked down as Wendy's lifeless form. Everyone looked at each other wide eyed and then at Lily
"HELP, SOMEBODY HELP!"
Lily was sat in a hospital hallway, her hand was bandaged and she had a thick plaster above her eye as well. The sound of the hospital couldn't disguise that she was in trouble, big trouble. She'd hit her, she'd hit Wendy, part of her felt good for doing it, the other consumed by guilt. She'd never hit anyone, or anything. It was just so out of character. She winced as her hand hit the chair lightly.
"She has a broken jaw and a few bumps and bruises but overall she'll be ok." Lily looked up. She could see her mum talking to a doctor. She instantly looked down at the floor.
"And what about Lily?" asked Lavender.
"She's broken her hand and suffered a nasty cut to the top of her head." the doctor said flicking up a page on his chart. "She's free to go home now."
"Thank you again." said Lavender, Lily could hear the footsteps echo on the floor and saw her mother's feet in front of her. Then her knees. Lily's gaze shifted.
"Up here madam." Lily looked up guiltily at her mother.
"What happened?" she asked calmly.
"You already know." Said Lily quietly.
"I want to hear it from you." Said Lavender. Lily sighed and winced as she held the edge of her chair with her broken hand.
"She provoked me." Said Lily.
"That, I can see." Said Lavender. "What happened?"
"Me and Sev were walking down spinners end."
"You went down to spinners end, Lily we've told you before not to go there." Said Lavender.
"But that's where Sev lives."
"Never mind, continue." Said Lavender.
"Anyway Wendy was down there and she started to call me a freak." Said Lily, she took a deep breath and looked at the floor.
"I lost my temper mum." She said quietly. "I turned her hair red and she lunged at me."
"Is that how you got that scar?" Lily nodded.
"I was just defending myself." her voice now barely a whisper. Lavender hugged Lily.
"I believe you sweet pea." Said Lavender.
"There she is!" Mr and Mrs Hawkins strode up to Lavender and Lily. "Wendy's ready for Lily's apology."
"Apology?" said Lavender confused.
"Yes, Apology." Said Mr Hawkins. "For breaking our little girls jaw."
"After she nearly gouged my daughter's eye out? You must be joking." Said Lavender. "Not to mention the years of bullying she's subjected Lily to, I'm surprised Lily hasn't snapped sooner."
"My daughter is not a bully!" said Mr Hawkins. "It's your daughter provoking her."
"You're delusional." Said Lavender shaking her head. "My daughter is not the only one, you can't admit that she has a problem."
"HOW—"
"Daniel, stop it!" Mrs Hawkins said shrilly, it made all eyes fall on her.
"Our daughter is a bully because you spoil her." she said low but fiercely, "She bullied people for years and you can't see that. Even now when she is clearly in the wrong!" The air was thick as they all faced off.
"Lavender I am sorry for our daughter's behaviour." Said Mrs Hawkins, "I am sorry that poor Lily has had to suffer as much as she had."
"Thank you." Said Lavender, "Lily?" Lily stood up.
"I'm sorry for breaking Wendy's jaw." Said Lily quietly.
"Apology accepted." Said Mrs Hawkins. She turned and touched her husband on the shoulder and led him away before they could argue.
Lavender turned to Lily who had a hard look on her face as they walked away.
"Where did you learn to punch like that?" asked Lavender.
"Magic." Said Lily quietly walking away.
Lily lifted the branch up that guarded the thicket. Sev was always there after school, but today, he wasn't. Lily looked around the small hideaway, and wondered where he was. Lily wondered if Sev was at his house. Lily had only ever been there once, to be honest, it wasn't a place she would usually go. Lily walked back out of the thicket, and set off towards spinners end.
Lily held onto her bag tightly as she made her way down past the river. What greeted her was row upon row of bricked terraced houses. They all had this strange greenish gloom about them. Lily looked down the road and saw some boys loitering further down the road. She wondered whether she should turn back, but instead she pressed onward, down the streets. She walked past the boys, they stopped talking and looked at her.
Lily felt uneasy but kept her face up as she strode past. She looked down the moss covered signs till she came to spinners end. Lily walked down the street.
She could of heard his house from her own.
Constant shouting, rowing, screaming at one another. Lily was glad she wouldn't have to live here.
"YOU ARE A GOOD FOR NOTHING DRUNK TOBIAS!"
"SHUT UP YOU SLUT!" a man shouted back, "YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL I LET YOU AND THAT RUNT LIVE HERE!"
"THAT RUNT." A woman screeched, "IS OUR SON, YOUR SON, MAYBE IF YOU SPENT SOME MORE TIME WITH HIM YOU WOULDN'T BE SO ASHAMED OF HIM!"
"HE'S A GOOD FOR NOTHING FREAK, JUST LIKE YOU."
"A FREAK! AT LEAST I'VE ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN YOU, YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING LOW LIFE!"
"RIGHT! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR BACK CHAT!" The door burst open. Snape came charging out. He looked furious and hurdled the gate. He looked over at Lily and turned bright red. With a shocked look he ran off.
"Sev!" Lily called after him. Sev just kept running. Lily sighed and ran after him, though he was quick. Lily was faster, she caught up with him as they came to a hill.
"Sev." Said Lily a little out of breath, "Sev, please stop." Snape stopped eventually. He took a couple of heavy steps before stopping and sitting on a rock. Lily caught up. She looked at the scene before her, they were at the top of the hill which looked down on the whole of Cokeworth. She could see the rows of houses, the small woods and the river as well as the old cotton mill with its huge chimney's.
"Bet you loved that didn't you!" said Snape heatedly.
"What?" said Lily breathlessly.
"You loved that, seeing my dysfunctional family." Said Snape, "Admit it."
"No." said Lily slightly taken aback. "I didn't."
"Don't Lie." Said Snape fiercely, "You loved it, seeing how shit my family is."
"NO, I would never think that!" said Lily hurt.
"Oh don't lie!" snapped Snape, "I bet you loved it, so you can laugh at me. You and your sister hate me, you think I'm worthless and pathetic."
"My sister might." Said Lily quietly, "But I don't." Snape looked up to see Lily's eyes filling with tears.
"I'm your friend." Said Lily, "At least…I hope I am." Lily walked toward Snape and took his hand in hers. Snape looked into her eyes, so green, it was like a beautiful rain forest.
"You are." Said Snape.
"Friends don't wish the worst for each other." Said Lily, "Were there to help each other when we need it." Lily said. Snape looked up at her, her green eyes trying to be understanding.
"Promise you'll be my friend?" asked Snape, Lily walked up to Snape and gave him a hug. Snape took a large inhale of breath as Lily was so close to him.
"Always, Sev." Said Lily.
"Always."
"Lily! Stop summoning the pepper!" said Lavender. She was rushing round getting ready for work while Petunia looked over at Lily with envy as she sprinkled it over her scrambled eggs.
"It's easier." Said Lily through a mouthful. She finished and pushed her plate away and scampered away from the table.
"She's seen that Snape boy again." said Petunia when she was sure Lily was out of ear shot. "Still thinks she's a witch." Lavender sighed and placed the mug she was washing away.
"Is he really bad news?" asked Lavender. Petunia nodded.
"Mum, he's creepy and weird." Said Petunia, "Convince that Elle to come back, at least she was tolerable."
"Well when she gets to secondary, she'll make new friends." Said Lavender.
"She doesn't think she'll be going to secondary." Said Petunia, "She thinks she's going to this special school with other people. This Snape is living in a Looney world, and Lily is doing nothing but indulging him." Petunia pushed her plate away and swung her bag over her shoulder.
"It's summer soon as well." Said Petunia, "She needs to understand that this fantasy world doesn't exist."
"I'll talk to her Petunia." Said Lavender, "Don't worry about that." Petunia said her goodbyes and walked out the door. Lavender sighed and continued about her housework.
"JOHN'S!" John headed the ball away from the cross and the barked for his players to move forward. He glanced over quickly and saw Lily reading her book contently on the football, looking up every so often and then going back.
"KEEP IN LINE!"
Lily giggled as she watched her dad play football; it was funny to watch really. But everyone listened to him and did what he asked.
"Lily?" She looked up to see Sev.
"Hi Sev." Said Lily, looking back at the game.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Watching my dad play football." Said Lily, her eyes now watching the game. "Then we play football afterwards."
"And you like doing this?"
"Yes." said Lily, "I get to spend time with my dad, what's better than that?"
"I thought maybe you'd want to go to the woods." Said Sev.
"I would, but my dad's playing." Said Lily, "Maybe next week when he goes away."
"Ok." Said Sev.
John looked over to see Lily talking with some strange boy. He didn't like him. The way he was looking at her unnerved him, but soon he walked off, and Lily went back to watching the match.
"Who were you talking to?" asked John as he and Lily walked home.
"When?" asked Lily.
"Some boy was talking to you." Said John, "Who is he?" Lily shrugged her shoulders.
"Severus." Said Lily, "He's a friend."
"Since when?" asked John.
"A few weeks." Said Lily, "He's alright, I do feel a little sorry for him."
"Why's that?" asked John.
"His parents fight a lot." Said Lily. "And he wears hand-me-downs."
"Was he the one you were with when you broke you're hand?"
"Yeah." Said Lily, "Do you like him?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you like him?" asked Lily,
"He hasn't given me a reason not to." Said John, just hating him for even talking to her.
"Tuney doesn't like him." said Lily thoughtfully.
"Well, be careful Lily." said John.
"I'm always careful." Said Lily.
"I already know."
"You never thought to tell me."
"Lily hasn't complained about him. I'm just glad she has a friend to call her own." Said Lavender.
"But what does she see in him?" asked John, "He's small and weedy."
"And you expected her to go with a jock?"
"A what?"
"A popular person." Said John. "According to Petunia we need to keep an eye on them."
"Associating yourself with gossip?" asked Lavender. "Doesn't sound like you."
"I thought we should know what sort of person this Snape person is." Said John, "I don't want either of our girls mingling with the wrong people."
"Look, Lily likes this Snape boy as a friend. I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt." Said Lavender, John nodded.
"But maybe finding out a bit more about him won't hurt." Said Lavender.
Lily walked down the road eating an apple and smiling, the sun was high in the sky, not a cloud in the sky, and a brand new book snuggled nicely in her bag waiting to be opened and enjoyed. School was in sight. All she had to do was wait for a few more weeks and she was going to get her letter to Hogwarts. Severus had told her so.
"Lily." Lily turned and saw Snape.
"High Sev." She said brightly holding the handles of her rucksack.
"You want to go to the woods?" asked Sev.
"I can't." said Lily, "I have school, sorry, I wish I could." Snape looked downbeat.
"Oh, ok." He said lightly, "What about afterwards?"
"We'll see." Said Lily walking away, "See you later Sev."
The day was boring for Lily, she would sit on her own in the classroom and do her work. She got another A on her homework, the only one who did, which again got her snide looks from her other classmates. Lily stuffed the work into her bag and continued to do her comprehension work.
She loved the wind and the willows, she loved losing herself in her story almost becoming one with the page. She looked outside over towards the woods that surrounded the school and Saw Sev. She smiled and waved and he returned the gesture. She went back to her work.
She was really looking forward to seeing Sev after school. On one as usual paid her any attention, if they did it was only to call her names. When the bell rang at three Lily scampered out to see Sev. Her face was lit up even more when she saw Tuney standing before her.
"Tuney!" She said excitedly, "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I came to walk you home." Said Petunia, "I heard that Snape boy was bothering you."
"Snape doesn't bother me." Said Lily.
"Well he does if he waits around outside school for you." Said Petunia, Lily looked over towards where Sev was standing.
"You are coming home with me, like it or not." Lily sighed and followed her sister. She looked back at Sev who had sulked away.
"Why do you hang out with him?" asked Petunia, "He's bad news."
"He is not." Said Lily.
"You need to stop believing this rubbish about being a witch." Lily turned red and kept her voice low.
"But I am though." She said quietly.
"No, Lily, you're not." Said Petunia.
"How do you explain the things I can do?" Asked Lily.
"I don't know." Said Petunia, "But this nonsense about witches and wizards has to stop."
"But I am." Said Lily, "You'll see."
"No Lily." Petunia said in a pained voice. She stopped just outside their house. She looked down at her sister and sighed.
"Lily," she said gently, "You have to stop believing in these fairy tales. Your eleven years old, going to secondary school in September, once your there no one will believe these stories."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying, you need to start growing up Lily, you're very smart, smarter than me. But this Snape is dragging you down. You need to cut him loose or you're going to suffer."
"But I finally have a friend." Said Lily. "I thought you'd be happy for me?"
"Lily, I'm only thinking about what's best for you." Said Petunia, "Maybe, you should do the same."
Petunia walked into the house leaving Lily outside. She felt numb, for the first time she felt this might well be a fabrication.
"Come on Lily, Mum says your milkshake will get warm." Lily looked up at the house and walked in. She sat at the table where her milkshake stood with a couple of bourbon biscuits. She sat down and let her bag drop against the floor.
"Lily." Said Lavender, "I want to talk to you about your new friend."
"Petunia already has." Said Lily looking down at her drink.
"Right…" said Lavender.
"Do you really hate Sev that much?" asked Lily.
"I don't." said Lavender, "I don't. I just don't think that he's right for you."
"Sev's my friend, and besides, my homework is better than ever." Said Lily pulling her work out of her bag and pushing it over to her mum. Lavender looked down at the work which had one hundred per-cent on it and then back at Lily.
"Admit it." said Lily, "You don't like him because he comes from spinners end."
"No, of course not!" said Lavender.
"No, it is." Said Lily, "You don't like him because you think he's below us!" she took her drink and stormed upstairs. Much as she wanted to make a dramatic exit she did love strawberry milkshake. She went into her room and slammed the door. Only for every other door in the house to do the same. She sat on her bed with her drink and took a sip. Oh god it was good. She looked over at her book shelf and sighed.
Why couldn't the people in her life just get along? There wasn't anything wrong with Sev. Sure he was a little unorthodox, and his appearance wasn't that well-kept. But why did everyone think that he was somehow below her. She sipped on her drink again and got of her bed and walked over to her window seat. She sat down and looked at the sun in the sky. In the distance the park stood out, with a lonely figure on the swings.
Lily changed and opened her window and scaled the drain pipe, she landed on the drive and made off towards the park.
She walked to the park and over towards Snape. He looked up at her and then back at the floor.
"Sorry I'm late." Said Lily sitting next to him.
"What did your sister want?" asked Snape.
"She thinks your bad news." Said Lily.
"What do you think?"
"I think you're alright." Said Lily. "I don't care what my family think." Snape smiled at her. She smiled back.
"I can't wait till we go to Hogwarts." Said Lily.