The slowly setting sun revealed a multi-colored prism of gold and pink light bouncing off the trees, rocks, leaves, and grasses of the bright forest whose foliage was clustered tightly together. Leaves brushed against each other in the slight and gentle breeze and whispered, from one tree to the next about the two children lying side by side in the grass.

A red-haired, emerald-eyed young girl lay beside a slightly taller dark-eyed, dark-haired boy. Her heart was pounding rapidly, even though she had known the boy since age nine, and now, at age eleven, she found her feelings for him strengthen in ways she never thought she would. His heart beat faster than a rabbit's and in the silence he wanted nothing more than to take her hand in his and hold it tight.

To this boy, this girl had become a jewel in his ash life and her honey-sweet smile and bright eyes brought leave of gloomy days and welcomed cheerful ones.

"Severus?" said the girl. The boy perked up and smiled at the sound of his name on her lips.

"Yeah?" he looked into her deep, beautiful eyes.

"Are you nervous?" Her expression tensed.

"About what?"

"School, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, are you nervous about tomorrow? About going on the train and attending a- a magical school?" She sat up and looked out at the landscape before her.

Severus saw the worry in her bright eyes and said reassuringly. "Well, no and don't worry about it, Lily. Everyone will love you. I promise." He blushed at the rather bold remark he had just uttered. He had never before had the courage to speak to her the way he just did. He sat up and she turned her worried expression towards him. She instantly relaxed and her features softened.

"Really?" she asked tentatively

"Definitely," his face was close and his eyes hungrily searched hers.

Lily smiled and turned her gaze to the trees above her. They gleamed in the beams of light that were pouring through the forest canopy. The two weren't far from their homes which were nestled in small and generic developments.

Severus was a boy who came from a muggle father and a witch mother, giving him the blood status: half-blood. His mother had attended Hogwarts and it was now Severus' turn to attend and they would be leaving tomorrow, Lily and him.

He lived in a small and rather plain house in Spinner's End and Lily lived in a more befitting neighborhood not far from Sev's. They had met a few years ago when Severus confronted Lily on a playground near their homes and told her she was a witch. Lily's muggle sister, Petunia, was not thrilled to hear this.

Lily's eyes searched the sky and the sun was sinking, dropping below the horizon. The trees cast long shadows and Lily stood, brushing herself off.

"I should probably get home," Lily said rather abruptly.

"Are you alright?" Severus asked with concern. His eyes searched hers but they yielded no answer.

"Yes," Lily said smiling. "It's just getting late." She offered a hand to Sev and he took it willingly. Her small hand was soft and warm in his. He felt excited more than ever now about going to Hogwarts tomorrow, to be with Lily…he'd be able to see her every day and they might end up in the same house! His heart fluttered and his eyes danced about the scenery.

As they began to walk home together the sun was dipping lower and the sky was turning purple and peaked yellow.

Lily was the first person in Severus' life who actually cared about him. Her presence was refreshing and wonderful, especially compared to the attention he received at home.

In just a matter of minutes they reached Lily's home which was a fine looking average sized house covered in ivy and surrounded in bright colored flowers: petunias, lilies, small lilac bushes, hydrangeas, and tulips.

"Thank you, Severus," Lily said smiling.

"Anytime Lily," reluctantly, he started down the path to the street and turned to see Lily giving him a little wave and opening the door to her loving and comforting home. He smiled, going over in his mind the events of that day.

Severus walked slowly home. His mind wandered but as he neared Spinner's End his bouncy, content mood had shifted. Spinner's End was not a producer of the good feelings, only bad ones. He proceeded, one foot in front of the other down the street.

Even after darkness had fallen, he knew he would rather become lost in the darkness than back at his house in Spinner's End.