A/N: This is a rewrite of "Time Lost," one of my oldest fan fictions. This piece is considerably longer, and considerably better than its original, which I never finished typing because it was so horrible. If you'd like to check it out, I still have it up under this same account, but I recommend sticking with this one:D

Also, the Harry Potter characters are Rowling's, but the American witches that you'll encounter in this piece are MINE. I've used these before, but you MAY NOT. (To see more American flame witches in action, check out "Snape and the Flame Witch" under this account. [There's probably more but I can't think of them right now.]

Enjoy!

PROLOGUE

I walked to the lake like always. It was a beautiful day, and the bright, blue sky reflected on the lake's surface. The students were still on summer break, but I chose to stay behind. I had no other option: All of my family was probably dead.

I dipped my feet in the water casually, but I had a stern gaze on my face. It had been twenty years since I started at Hogwarts, and I couldn't determine when I would finally be allowed to leave. Whatever curse was upon me was a strong one, and it held me tight in its grips, without mercy.

I'd began to wonder if I would always be this way. The people I started Hogwarts with were now growing older, and one had joined the Hogwarts staff over the summer.

But even as I recalled the meeting I overheard between him and Dumbledore, all I could think of was Christmas morning during my second year at Hogwarts.

"Good morning," I whispered as I descended the stairs. Someone had beat me to the common room yet again. He appeared to be startled though, like I interrupted him while he was doing something important.

"'Morning," he murmured, sitting in a nearby chair.

"I'm sorry if I startled you. I didn't think anyone else would be down here so early," I said, trying to ease the mood. I walked to the couch that sat in front of him. That's when I realized who it was, and I quickly tried to hide a blush. I'd had a crush on him for months now, since the end of my first year. I silently wondered if he felt the same, though I knew he only had eyes for Lily.

"You didn't startle me," he responded, clearing his throat. "Do you have any gifts under the tree?"

"Probably not. My family isn't big on giving gifts, and no one else notices me," I replied softly. While I had a gift to give under the large tree, none would likely have my name on it. I was just that unimportant.

"What about that one?" he asked, pointing to a small, velvet box close to where I was sitting. My name was clearly written on the "To" part of the card, but the "From" section was empty.

I opened it to reveal a beautiful, purple amulet. I looked up to Severus with a stunned gaze. He wanted to smirk, but he withheld it. I looked back down to the presents spread beneath the tree. The one I was giving was beside my right knee, so I picked it up and handed it to the person it would go to: Severus.

"I think this one is for you," I muttered quietly, closing the velvet box and returning to my seat while he opened the wrapping.

"A notebook?" he questioned, holding up the black book with empty pages.

"I noticed you needed one thanks to the Potter boy's antics. I apologize if you-"

"Don't be sorry," he quickly said, interrupting me. This time he allowed himself to smirk. "Thank you. I really needed this. Parchment goes everywhere when you try to store it."

We laughed softly as footsteps sounded above us. We quickly went our separate ways.

Not much has changed, Severus, I thought, kicking the water fiercely. I was still invisible here. I'd been stuck in my thirteen-year-old body since my second year twenty years ago, and not one person had noticed.

Anger welled in me as I kicked the water, and I felt myself trying to cry. I withheld it, turning this anger into a massive fire ball. I used all of my force to throw it into the lake, screaming as I did.

As I sat on the bank recovering, I felt a wave of warmth hit my feet as the ball dissolved in the water. I was breathing heavily, and I was a little light-headed. But I knew someone was watching. I just refused to care.