Jumping Rope

Severus stared at the twins, Calla and Lily.

Lily smiled. "You'll have fun."

Harry nodded.

Severus dipped his head. "Very well. I shall endeavor to find some amusement in this game of yours."

Lily giggled.

Harry's brows furrowed. The boy sounded so old for being so young.

Lily tugged on the sleeve of his dress. "Come on Calla."

Harry turned to her. "Who shall be jumping first?"

Lily looked at Severus. "Why don't we let Severus?"

Harry asked him. "Would you like to jump first or turn the rope?"

"Turning the rope."

Lily clapped her hands together. "Then I call the middle."

Harry grinned and took out the rope. He handed one end to Severus their hands brushed for mere seconds. "Stand over there so Lily has room to jump."

It didn't take Severus long to move to the spot indicated. Once Lily moved to the middle they began to turn the rope. And watched Lily jump the rope. Counting to twenty-seven before she missed a step, or a jump as the case may be.

Lily glanced at Harry. "Your turn Calla."

Harry handed the end of the jump rope he held to her and moved to the middle.

He'd never gotten to enjoy jumping rope. Dudley wouldn't let him. Not that Uncle Vernon ever bought him any either.

Thus he only made it to thirteen jumps before he miscalculated and wound up jumping right onto the rope rather than over it.

He looked to Severus. "It's your turn."

Severus frowned. "I prefer to continue as I have been."

Lily smiled, "Severus don't be scared."

He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest, "I am not scared."

Harry tensed. That movement. That tone. Somehow familiar and yet not. Severus. Severus Snape!

Giddy he giggled.

Severus glared at him.

"Severus you're too cute," he couldn't help but say. Young Severus with the motions of the adult Severus to him was indeed adorable. As any little child might prove.

He blinked when he noticed the color appearing on Severus's cheeks.

Lily, "No teasing Severus, Calla."

Harry nodded. "Of course not Lily. Severus please take your turn. We promise not to make fun whatever happens."

Severus stared at him, at Calla, then handed the end of the rope to him and moved to the center.

Harry couldn't believe it. Had this been the adult Snape the man would have probably thrown something at him. Like a jar of disgusting insects used as an ingredient in a potion.

What he and Lily learned soon enough as his arm grew tired, Severus was precise, determined and agile. He reached fifty jumps of the rope before Lily and Harry let go of the rope.

Lily, "Sorry Severus. My arm got tired."

Harry nodded. "Mine too. You were great."

Lily grinned, "Amazing."

Severus glanced at Harry and Lily with a little smile. "Thank you."

Petunia called out, "Calla! Lily! What do you think you're doing with that freak!?"

Harry whirled around. Wished he had his wand. But that was back in his own era.

"Stop calling Severus a freak." He glowered at her.

Petunia blinked.

Lily walked up to Petunia. "Please Petunia. Be nice to Calla's friend."

Petunia frowned in Severus and Calla's direction but took Lily's hand. "Mother and Father have lunch ready."

Harry glanced at Severus. "You can join us."

Petunia, "Father wont approve."

Harry ignored her. "So, will you, Severus?"

Severus looked warily at Petunia.

Harry placed a hand on Severus's forearm. "Please?"

Brown eyes turned to Harry. "If that is your wish, Calla."

Harry smiled. "It is." He took hold of young Snapes' hand, his other taking hold of the jump rope.

Petunia walked stiffly ahead with Lily.

Harry didn't care. Petunia would just have to get used to it. For however long he was stuck in Calla Evans body. The aunt he'd never known existed.

When they reached the picnic table Harry placed the jump rope on one of them and let go of Severus's hand.

"Mom! Dad!"

Mr. and Mrs. Evans turned to him. "What is it Calla?"

"Can my friend join us?"

Mr. Evans quirked a brow. "Who is your friend."

He went to stand beside Severus. "This is him. Severus Snape."

Severus looked up at the adults and then stared down at his feet. His long lanky hair curtaining his face.

Severus's brows drew together. He peered toward Calla from his veil of hair.

Mrs. Evans smiled. "Of course your friend is welcome. Hello Severus."

Severus looked up. "Hello ma'am. Thank you for inviting me to stay."

Mr. and Mrs. Evans smiled and sat down beside each other.

Petunia and Lily sat side by side.

Harry sat down. He glanced at Severus who still stood. "Sit with me Severus?"

Severus blinked. Then sat down.

Harry wondered why he wasn't getting himself a plate. "Severus," he took a paper plate and handed it to him, "you can pick whatever you want. Except we can't have anything from that bottle," he pointed to a glass wine bottle.

Severus grimaced at the bottle. "I would never partake of that vile excuse for a beverage."

Harry stared for a moment, wide eyed, at young Snape. There had to be something behind the vehemence.

"Well, let's plate our food and enjoy."

He nodded and proceeded to choose a chicken sandwich, grape tomatoes, sliced cucumbers – lightly salted, four cubes of Colby jack cheese, a pecan cluster and a cup of cider. Much like Harry's own choice, but he chose mozzarella over Colby jack and a strawberry treacle over a pecan cluster.

Harry as they ate determined that he'd try and become this young Severus Snape's best friend. Then once they were old enough – if he were still trapped in this body – and went to Hogwarts he'd enlist his aide. Without telling him everything. As there was much he didn't need to know.

The glares Petunia kept directing at Severus he knew might make it difficult. But Lily, his mother in his time at least would no doubt help. And the Evans, the grandparents he never knew, didn't seem to mind him, as Calla, having Severus for a friend.

A/N: Continue with their time before Hogwarts or shall I time jump to their sorting?