Chapter Text
It was an unusually cold day at the end of August.
The sky was covered with dark, ominous clouds that blocked even the smallest rays of sunlight.
And the large, dirty, soot-covered chimneys of the old factory at the end of the deserted street added to the atmosphere.
To the left and right stood rows of identical small brick houses.
Each one more abandoned than the next. It was clear that this was a place where poorer people lived.
At the house at the end of the street, whose windows were adorned with white-grey curtains, the door suddenly burst open.
A small, thin boy with jet-black hair ran out and sprinted down the street.
His little face lit up with joy.
He ran along the steep, littered embankment that led to a small river and disappeared around the corner of a house.
A short time later, he appeared behind another corner of a house in the neighbouring town.
This area was the complete opposite.
Everything seemed peaceful, and the well-maintained houses had lovely front gardens, most of them full of flower beds with the most colourful flowers that could be smelled from metres away.
A few moments later, he approached a beautiful, light-blue painted family house and rang the doorbell.
The front door opened, and a tall blonde woman with a friendly smile looked down at him: ‘Hello, Severus.’
Severus, slightly out of breath, replied: ‘Hello, Mrs Evans. Is Lily home?’
She nodded and opened the door fully: ‘She’s in her room. You know where it is.’
He nodded, slipped past her, and darted up the stairs that led to the first floor.
Having arrived upstairs, he was just about to enter the room to the right of the staircase when the door to the room opposite opened.
A thin, ash-blonde girl stuck her head out: ‘You.’ Her voice was filled with disgust, and her brown eyes seemed to shoot lightning in his direction.
Severus glared back just as grimly.
He didn’t like Lily’s sister. Petunia had often insulted him—and especially Lily—in the worst ways.
He was convinced that she was jealous and was taking it out on Lily.
His eyebrows were drawn together, and his deep black eyes had taken on a cold and distant expression: ‘What do you want?’ His voice sounded challenging.
But before the blonde could answer, the door behind Severus was opened so suddenly that he almost stumbled backwards.
And before he could properly regain his balance, a small red-haired girl had thrown her arms around his neck: ‘Sev! He's here! He's here!
A kind witch brought it over this morning.’ Her green eyes sparkled with joy, and her face was glowing.
Severus's expression brightened in that moment as she hugged him.
Every time she was near, his negative feelings disappeared, and he felt better.
When she also started waving an official-looking light brown envelope in front of his nose, his black eyes shone.
‘I got it too,’ he said, pulling the same envelope out of his too-large dark blue jacket pocket.
Lily hiccupped with excitement: ‘And now? Where do we go from here? What happens now?’
Severus had just opened his mouth to answer Lily when a contemptuous snort interrupted him: ‘If I were in your place, I would be ashamed. How can anyone be so excited about that? It’s disgusting! Revolting!’
The joy disappeared from Lily's face, and her shoulders slumped.
‘Don't say such things, Petunia,’ she pleaded.
And Severus looked at her angrily: ‘Be quiet if you have no idea!’ He didn’t want Lily to get hurt again.
Behind Severus's back, Lily nodded so hard that her red hair bounced.
The one addressed got bright red spots on her neck out of rage: ‘I don't have to take that from a little freak like you, Lily,’ her voice became shrill with anger.
‘What’s going on up there with you?’ a deep voice, obviously belonging to Lily's father, called up to them.
Lily swallowed her pain and anger: ‘Nothing, Dad, everything’s okay.’
She grabbed Severus's hand, left her sister standing there, pulled him into her room and, without giving her sister another glance, slammed her bedroom door behind her.
Petunia stared at the closed door with disgust.
Then she disappeared into her own room, trying to slam her door even louder than Lily had slammed hers.
Once in her room, Lily sank discouraged onto her bed.
Severus sat down hesitantly next to her: ‘Don't listen to her,’ he said softly.
Lily looked over at him, her eyes shimmering suspiciously, and she wiped her eyes with her sleeve: ‘Why does she say such things, Sev?’
The boy hesitated briefly: ‘She’s jealous. You... we’re something special and she’s not. We’ll go to Hogwarts and learn magic, and she won’t.’
He shyly placed his hand on hers, trying to comfort her.
He didn’t want her to be sad, but he also didn’t really know how to comfort someone.
He had never done it before and had never experienced being comforted himself.
His words didn’t fail to have an effect.
At the moment he said the word Hogwarts, her face lit up again, and she jumped off her bed: ‘Oh, I’m already so excited!’
She pulled the letter out of the envelope and began to read it aloud:
‘Dear Miss Evans,’ she giggled briefly, ‘Miss Evans… how that sounds.’
Then she looked up at him pleadingly: ‘Please tell me everything again that you know about Hogwarts, Sev.’
He smiled: ‘Well…,’ he made a small dramatic pause.
Lily was visibly so excited she almost burst: ‘Come on, tell me!’
Her voice was full of suspense.
She changed her sitting position and looked at him with big, shiny puppy eyes: ‘Please, Sev.’
He chuckled: ‘Okay, okay, stop that. I’ll tell you. I can tell you everything my mum told me and what I’ve read about.’
When she nodded, he took a breath and began to explain: ‘Hogwarts is a large, old castle and is located in the Highlands of Scotland. Muggles can’t see it because there’s a protective charm over the castle; they only see a ruined fortress.’
Lily, who had sat down on her fluffy, flower-patterned carpet in front of her bed, listened intently, her mouth slightly open.
Severus smiled down at her and continued: ‘Next to the castle, there’s a large forest you’re not allowed to enter because lots of dangerous magical creatures live there.’
Lily interrupted him: ‘Which ones, for example?’
‘Centaurs,’ Severus began listing, ‘and Thestrals,’ then added, ‘but also unicorns.’
‘Unicorns!’ Lily’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Severus nodded: ‘Yes, but they’re also supposed to be quite aggressive, especially towards men.’
‘Oh,’ she now seemed a little disappointed, but he smiled at her encouragingly: ‘But towards women, they’re said to be very gentle. My mum even petted one once.’
These words visibly cheered her up again.
‘There’s also a big lake on the grounds. A giant squid is supposed to live there, and there are lots of other magical water creatures too.’
‘Ugh.’ Lily shuddered briefly. ‘Sounds scary.’
Then she smiled: ‘And what about Hogwarts itself?’
He smiled at her excitement: ‘In Hogwarts, there are four houses: Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor… According to my mum, Gryffindor is supposed to be really mean and arrogant. Each house has its own common room and dormitories for boys and girls. I want to be in the house my mum was in—Slytherin.’
Lily listened attentively: ‘Then I want to be in Slytherin too.’
Lily thought for a moment and then looked at him again.
‘And… how—how does it actually work? Do I have to take a test or something?’
Now she looked a little uncertain.
Severus shook his head: ‘No, don’t worry. Your house is chosen by the Sorting Hat.’
Lily laughed out loud: ‘A talking hat? I don’t believe you! Tell me the truth, Sev.’
‘It’s the truth!’ He looked at her a little uncertainly, and it was clear that he was afraid of upsetting Lily.
‘Okay, I believe you.’
Severus exhaled quietly, relieved: ‘Thanks.’
‘So how does it work with this strange hat?’
‘I don’t really know exactly. It just gets placed on your head, and then it somehow looks inside you and figures out your personality or something, and based on that, your house is chosen.’
‘That sounds kind of creepy,’ Lily laughed a bit nervously.
Severus nodded: ‘But don’t worry, it’ll all be fine, and we’ll both be in Slytherin, and everything will be great.’
He smiled encouragingly, but there was a trace of sadness in his eyes, and he didn’t sound completely convinced.
Lily now looked at him with concern: ‘Is it still bad at your home? How did your dad react?’
Severus pulled his legs up quietly with a sigh and hung his head: ‘Not well.’
In truth, it had been even worse.
Tobias Snape had told him that he regretted every single day of his marriage to his mum and that Severus was the worst thing that had ever happened to him.
Severus sobbed quietly and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
‘Oh, Sev,’ Lily hesitated for a moment, then climbed onto the bed and hugged him.
Severus hastily wiped his eyes again.
He didn’t want to show vulnerability.
Didn’t want to give anyone a chance to attack him: ‘I hate him.’
‘You’re amazing, Sev. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.’ Her voice was so firm that he knew she wouldn’t tolerate any disagreement.
He smiled shyly: ‘Thanks.’
Lily smiled back kindly.
‘And what happens next exactly?’
He looked briefly confused: ‘What do you mean?’
‘With Hogwarts.’
‘Oh, right. So my mum said that for Muggleborns, a teacher comes to them and takes them to Diagon Alley. You can buy everything you need there. Things like robes, schoolbooks, cauldrons, and of course potions ingredients, and obviously your wand. You got the list, right?’
When she nodded, he continued: ‘But you have to exchange your money for that.’
‘Why?’ she asked curiously.
‘Wizards have their own money. You can get it at Gringotts. That’s what the wizard bank is called.’
‘And that’s in Diagon Alley too?’
‘Exactly.’
Lily flopped back onto her bed and looked up at him: ‘That’s complicated.’
Severus smirked slightly: ‘You will do it. And you’re not alone. I'm there too.’
Lily beamed at him: ‘Thanks, Sevy.’
He blushed slightly: ‘Don’t call me that.’
Lily just giggled and then sat back up: ‘Can I ask you more questions?’
‘Of course.’
‘What subjects are taught at Hogwarts exactly? It’s a magic school, after all.’
‘For example, Potions.’ His face lit up with enthusiasm and excitement.
Lily grinned: ‘I’d guess you like Potions.’
Severus nodded, and his black eyes sparkled: ‘Yes, of course! I’m already really good at it. My mum has taught me a lot.’
‘Wow’ Lily looked at him, impressed.
Severus lowered his head to hide his red cheeks, but he couldn’t suppress a proud smile.
‘There’s also Herbology, History of Magic, Astronomy, Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures.’
He kept talking and watched as Lily’s excited smile grew wider and wider.
When he continued, he lowered his voice a bit: ‘I’m really looking forward to Defence Against the Dark Arts.’
Lily thought for a moment: ‘And the wizards who use dark magic to hurt others, they go to Azkaban, the wizard prison, right?’
Severus nodded, and as he spoke, his voice grew even quieter: ‘Right. You… I already know some curses.’
As Lily’s eyes widened, he nervously fiddled with his fingers: ‘I found an old book from my mum. It explains some spells,’ he murmured.
‘You want to hurt people?’ Lily’s voice sounded shocked.
Severus shook his head firmly: ‘No! Never! I don’t even have my wand yet. It’s… it’s just the only thing my father can’t control, but I can and it gives me a feeling of safety and that I can defend myself, once I have my wand.’
When he nodded, she continued: ‘Does… does your dad hit you? Or your mum?’
‘No, but he often yells at us or throws things at us.’
It was obvious that Lily didn’t really know what to say.
Finally, she said quietly: ‘I don’t really know what to say, Sev. I’m so sorry, you don’t deserve any of this.’
He closed his eyes and tried hard not to cry.
He didn’t want to cry, didn’t even want to think about it.
He just wanted to get away from his father.
To somewhere safe, where he could have peace.
Lily briefly hugged him.
Then she put on her cutest face: ‘Would you maybe come with us to Diagon Alley?’
This clearly cheered Severus up, but there was still a hint of uncertainty on his face: ‘Are you sure your parents would be okay with it?’
Lily nodded: ‘Of course. They like you a lot, and Tuni probably doesn’t want to come anyway.’
At that moment, the door opened, and Petunia stumbled in. It was clear she had been eavesdropping at the door.
While Lily almost fell off her bed in shock, Severus jumped up angrily and glared at the blonde: ‘Were you spying on us?’
Lily glared at her sister: ‘What is your problem, Petunia!?’
Petunia ignored Severus and turned to Lily: ‘YOU are my problem. You and your little wizard friend! Why would I want to come? To a place full of freaks and misfits. Just like you, Lily!’
The shelf above Lily’s door, lined with colourful porcelain pots of small cacti, wobbled threateningly and finally fell to the ground in front of Petunia with a loud crash and clatter.
With a shriek, Petunia jumped back and pointed at Severus with a finger painted in pale pink nail polish: ‘I knew it! He’s dangerous! He’s already attacked me before! The thing with the branch! Remember, Lily.’
Severus looked at her, startled, but her words turned his expression into anger: ‘That wasn’t on purpose!’
Lily looked at him with a mixture of confusion and doubt: ‘What do you mean by that?’
Severus looked at her, baffled: ‘How could I have done magic without a wand? That kind of thing just happens when you’re angry or scared. Something like that must have happened to you before too. It happens to many young witches and wizards before they learn to control their magic skills.’
Lily became thoughtful and nodded: ‘Once, I put out a fire like that. I saw the fire, got scared, and then suddenly there was a rush of water in the air that put the fire out. I didn’t even know that I was a witch at the time.’
Petunia stared at Lily, stunned and with eyes blazing with anger: ‘You don’t believe him, do you?’
‘I do,’ Lily shot back defiantly.
Severus couldn’t suppress a triumphant grin.
Petunia turned around furiously, slamming the door as she stormed out of Lily’s room with her head held high.
‘Tuni,’ Lily climbed off her bed, ‘Wait.’
With these words, she followed her sister into her room.
But Petunia was nowhere to be seen.
Severus came after Lily: ‘Leave her alone… I think she’ll lose it even more if she sees us here.’
But he couldn’t resist taking a curious look around.
Lily nodded slightly: ‘You’re right.’
Just as the two were about to leave Petunia’s room, Severus noticed something on the perfectly tidy desk that caught his attention.
There lay an envelope, identical to the one the two of them had received that morning.
‘Lily, look,’ he pointed at the letter.
Lily looked at him, surprised and a little sceptical: ‘Is-Isn’t that? But that can’t be… or can it? But why would she react like that if…?’
‘Go ahead and check it.’
Lily gave him a doubtful look but then walked over to her older sister’s desk, grabbed the letter and began to read.
Her eyes grew wider and wider with every word she read.
Just as she was about to put the letter back into the envelope, Petunia burst into the room.
She had obviously been in the small bathroom that was located opposite the staircase and right in the middle of the two bedrooms: ‘What are you doing here?’
Then her furious gaze moved from Severus, who was standing next to her wardrobe near the door, to Lily, who was still holding the letter: ‘Did you read it? How dare you?’ she hissed in rage, her face turning red with anger again, ‘You’re the worst! Ever heard of privacy?’
And before Lily or Severus could get a word out, Petunia snatched the letter from her sister’s hand, pushed both of them out the door, and slammed it shut.
Lily crept back to her room, visibly feeling guilty.
‘She’s never going to talk to me again,’ she said miserably to Severus, who had followed her and was now sitting back on her bed.
‘She will, I’m sure. Don’t worry, okay?’
He didn’t want her to be upset and was visibly trying to cheer her up.
Lily smiled faintly: ‘Thanks, Sev.’
He smiled back and then couldn’t help but grow curious: ‘What was in the letter, anyway?’
Lily took a deep breath and made a dramatic pause: ‘You won’t believe it, but it was a letter from Albus Dumbledore replying to a letter Petunia wrote to him. She apparently asked if she could go to Hogwarts with me, but since she doesn’t have any magical abilities, it’s not possible.’
‘Seriously?’ Severus, who had stood up, widened his dark eyes: ‘Really?!’
When Lily nodded, he said with a satisfied grin: ‘I knew it, she’s jealous.’
Lily stared over Severus’ head at the pinboard above her bed.
Severus followed her gaze and took a closer look at the pinboard.
Spread across the entire pinboard were photos of Lily and her family. Some were taken at the beach, some at a petting zoo, and others showed Lily and Petunia rollerblading or cooking with their mother. Between the photos hung tickets from various landmarks, like museums or lighthouses.
‘We’ve never been on holiday,’ Severus said quietly as he looked longingly at the photos.
Lily kept her eyes on the pinboard and looked over at Severus: ‘Why not?’
He shrugged: ‘No money.’
His expression made it clear that he didn’t want to talk about it, so Lily just nodded.
Then Severus noticed a particular photo on Lily’s pinboard: ‘Hey, I’m in this one!’
Lily smiled softly: ‘Of course. You’re my best friend, after all.’
He smiled happily.
As it slowly got dark outside, he stood up: ‘I should probably head home,’ his growling stomach interrupting him.
Lily smiled: ‘Would you like to stay and eat with us? My mum and dad won’t mind.’
‘Are you sure?’
When Lily nodded, he lit up with joy.
A few minutes later, after Mrs Evans had called them down for dinner, Severus and Lily bounced down the stairs side by side and entered the large living-dining room.
‘Severus can stay and eat with us, right, Mum?’
The woman smiled kindly: ‘Of course. Take a seat.’
Severus hesitated for a moment before sitting down next to Lily, who was helping herself to a pile of mashed potatoes and pouring some gravy over them.
Olivia Evans placed two large sausages on Severus’ plate, which he thanked her for with a happy smile.
Petunia had refused to come downstairs, so they ate without her, which lifted Severus’ spirits noticeably.
When Lily’s father, Henry Evans, also offered to accompany him to Diagon Alley and help them with the things they needed to buy, Severus felt happier than he had in a long time.