Severus looked in the mirror, and barely recognized himself.

He'd done it.

He'd survived Spinner's End until Hogwarts.

His nose had never been broken. His skin and hair were clean and tidy. He'd copied the style the nice shop girl had shown him. His teeth were white and pristine. He was wearing his nicest muggle clothes with his school robes within easy reach in his bag. He was even fairly certain that he was last scrawny than he had been before. His Nagini eye still stood out, golden yellow and gleaming, but Severus had grown used to it.

He bore very little resemblance to the resentful young boy who had lurked in Lily Evan's shadow.

There was only one problem.

His father had never come home with the car last night, probably sleeping one off in the back seat somewhere, and his mother was not responding to his knocks on her bedroom door.

He technically had enough money to hire a cab to King's Cross, but that would be bloody expensive.

He would rather try his luck asking Petunia's parents for a ride.

Throwing together his last minute things, Severus used his red wagon to haul his trunk the few streets over to the Evans' house.

Nervously, he knocked on their door.

A haggard looking Mr. Evans answered. "Can I help you?"

"I hope so, Sir. My name is Severus Prince-Snape, and I'm a friend of Petunia's. I'm headed to Hogwarts today, but my dad got called into work early with the car, and my mum's in bed sick, and I was hoping I could catch a ride to the station with you. I can help pay for petrol!"

"No, no, there's no need for that. A friend of Petunia's you say? Are you that little entrepreneur who's been charming all the neighbours?"

Severus blushed. "That's me."

Mr. Evans extended his hand and offered Severus a firm, manly handshake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Severus. I'll help you get your trunk into our boot while the ladies finish getting ready."

He rolled his eyes as he said it, making Severus snicker. He had to imagine that the now popular, image conscious Lily scrambling to get ready for her first day at a new school was what had Mr. Evans so out of sort.

He was struck by just how much he missed the man, from his previous life. Mr. Evans had stepped up to teach Severus how to be a man, when it became obvious that Tobias had no intentions of doing so.

Maybe he could get Petunia to invite him over for Christmas this year. Perhaps him and Lily would become friends at Hogwarts, and she would do it herself.

Severus sat in the back seat of the Evans family car as he waited for everyone else, not wanting to get in the way.

Petunia soon joined him.

"Lily's driving me crazy today," she groused immediately as she shut the car door behind her. "She wanted to curl her hair for her grand reveal but keeps whining that her curls don't look right. Mum's enabling her, of course, helping her redo everything over and over even though we're already running late. What are you doing here, anyway?"

Severus shrugged. "Dad went on a bender last night and mum's in one of her moods. I asked your dad for a ride. He seems nice."

Petunia snorted. "Any excuse to add more testosterone to the mix today, I bet. Not that he doesn't like you! I'm sure he does, it's just if mum and Lily are driving me crazy, I can only imagine that dad's already one fashion emergency from the looney bin."

The two continued to joke together in the back seat until Lily finally came outside, wearing a pretty green dress and sporting a hairstyle that risked trying too hard in a wedding party, let alone a train ride full of rowdy teenagers.

Had Lily really changed so much since last life or had Severus' infatuation merely blinded him to her foibles before?

Time would tell, he supposed, now that he'd be spending more time with her on familiar ground.

"What's he doing here?" Lily asked as she slid into the car on Petunia's other side. "Your dumb friend isn't invited to my special day."

Petunia's smug look would have horrified Severus in his last life. Now, he found it very funny.

"Dad invited him to ride with us," Petunia said casually. "It makes perfect sense, what with him being a wizard and in your class at Hogwarts and all."

"What?!"

Petunia had never told Lily what Severus was. He bit back his laughter. It was a bitchy move, but inspired.

"Nice to see you again, Lily," he said politely, as Mr. and Mrs. Evans entered the car.

Lily scowled at him, then at Petunia, but stayed silent.

"So, Severus, forgive my ignorance, but I was unaware that there were any other magical children in town besides my Lils. How long have you known that you're a… warlock?"

"It's wizard, Sir, and I've always known. My mum's a witch, although she doesn't like to advertise that. She's taught me a little about potions already. I've been teaching Petunia."

"I thought non-magical people couldn't do potions," Mrs. Evans said.

"Muggles like yourselves can't," Severus confirmed, "but Petunia's not a muggle. She doesn't have the type of magic that powers a wand, but she has an aura, and can see past anti-muggle spells and all sorts of things. I think she could be a great potioneer someday, if she decides she wants to."

Mr. Evans perked up. "Is that so? Sounds like a great opportunity, Tuney."

"She's got lots of magical options," Severus said quickly, not wanting her parents to pressure too hard in a single direction. "And muggle ones, too. It's very handy to be able to straddle both worlds."

Mr. Evans nodded pleasantly.

Mrs. Evans turned in her seat to give Severus a closer look. "You sound like a well-spoken, put-together young man. Why haven't you come around before"

Petunia fidgeted awkwardly beside him.

"I didn't want to impose," Severus said smoothly, covering for the fact that Petunia had never invited him. It seemed like she had been very protective and secretive of their friendship. Severus was not going to judge or begrudge her that. He'd never invited her, or Lily last life, over either.

Mr. and Mrs. Evans continued to pepper Severus with questions. Severus answered politely, and bit back his laughter when Petunia happily jumped in to show off what she knew.

Lily was not happy that the spotlight had been stolen from her on her special day. Severus should probably be worried about that. He was pushing her even further away with his mere presence here.

But, seeing Petunia preen under her parents' attention for once made it hard for Severus to regret this turn of events.

Severus took his time thanking Mr. Evans profusely for the ride when they arrived at the station, and then joked quietly with Petunia while Lily and her parents exchanged their heartfelt goodbyes.

Last time around, such displays had filled Severus with jealousy and bitter rage, but not this time.

He was happy for Lily, and hopeful that this time Petunia could use the time alone with her parents to grow closer to them.

Their good fortune didn't hurt Severus. He knew where he stood with his own family. He knew that he hadn't made any real effort to improve his relationship with them since waking in here. He knew he had made that choice for good reason and out of self-preservation.

It was an odd peace that settled over him along with the clarity of this top down perspective.

He wished no ill will against Lily, even though they weren't friends. Even though she had rejected him.