Hey everyone. Yeah, I know, I'm posting a new story. I've been kind of sitting on this fic for a while and in an effort to get my creative juices flowing again, I decided to go ahead and post this.

I've thrown out the conventional rule book on this one and so this is an AU fic. It features a non death eater Snape and he doesn't really hate Harry this time around, he's still got plenty of snark and sarcasm but none of the hatred for Lily's son. There will be a few non canon pairings too as i wanted to explore some of the less popular pairings.

This fic contains some sensitive subject matter and language and drama. It also has a brief mention of alcoholism. (This very brief mention of Snape's drunken father was the reason it took three times to get it posted on the other Harry Potter Fan Fiction Archive.. *rolls eyes* )

However, all of you loyal readers should know by now exactly what to expect from my fics. Still just to please the site admin, I'll go ahead and post the usual disclaimer:

Disclaimer: The is a work of pure fiction, and I don't have any ties to JK Rowling. It is written for the enjoyment of fellow Harry Potter fans and to the betterment of the writer. Not a single Knutt or Penny is being made from this work of fiction.

Alright, now get on with it. See you at the bottom!

June 1977

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

It was the day before graduation, and classes were out for the year. Four friends sat under the big trees sharing a basket of goodies, courtesy of the school elves. Their final year of magical schooling was completed and that is what they were celebrating.

Severus took a long swig from his icy butter beer, enjoying its crisp goodness. Across from him sat Lily Evans and her best friend, Audrey Fey Lynn. Next to Severus sat Rory Dawson; Audrey's cousin who had come to their school after the brutal killings of his parents.

Rory had come to Hogwarts a sturdy boy with shaggy brown hair and hazel eyes that had been full of fear and suffered from horrible night terrors. His half-blood status didn't sit well with the Fey Lynn family and so they had flatly refused to take in the boy. He'd felt rejected and showed it in his temper and that had landed him the top spot on the list for detentions. He'd had no place to go, so he became a year round student at Hogwarts.

It was at the start of the next year that a small miracle happened. Regina Dawson, a very kind student from Hufflepuff befriended him and though he tried hard to scare her off, she saw through him and became even more determined to win his friendship. She was a patient listener and when the day came that his internal dam broke and he told her everything, she took it all in and held him when he cried. After that day, they'd been very close friends.

It was that friendship that paved the way for Audrey, Severus and Lily to accept both into their group of friends. They were the only circle of friends to include members from each house. Lily from Gryffindor, Severus and Rory from Slytherin, Regina from Hufflepuff and Audrey from Ravenclaw. It didn't even take two years for them to become tight-knit circle of friends.

Though the members of their houses gave them grief for 'fraternizing with the enemy', they stayed close and took up for each other when they got into tight spots. Working together, their grades improved and Rory became one of the happiest students in school.

It was just after the end of 5th year, that he realized that if not for Regina, he'd have been expelled by then. That knowledge caused him to be most devoted to the sweet Hufflepuff. Regina drank it all in and also came to the realization that in seeking out his friendship, she'd gained his heart instead, and when he asked her out, she whole-heartedly accepted.

And now, there they sat two years later, a very close knit circle of friends that now sat contemplating the newest conundrum.

Audrey's arranged marriage.

"It's final, Sev." Audrey told him in resignation. "My parents sent out the invitations for the wedding already. We all knew this was going to happen. I've been betrothed to Nathaniel since birth. They've given me no wiggle room to speak of and in a month I'll be the new Lady Jensen."

Severus sighed. "It's bullocks! You've scored so high across the board. All that potions knowledge and you won't be able to do anything with it, except to brew cold and cough remedies for the bastard's heir."

Audrey sighed again and she gave a small smile. "Yes, but I'll brew the best damned cold and cough medicines in all of England."

They all knew that she was trying to lighten the situation, but it wasn't very effective, if there's one thing that the Ravenclaw girl hated worse than the Marauders, it was tears and somber situations. That and the marriage she had no choice but to give into. She was a pure-blood and the Jensen's wanted an heir...and her parents wanted the connections their union would give them. Audrey's obedience would give them both what they wanted. Only Audrey would suffer from this marriage. Not that either family gave a damn.

"Lily, what are your plans for after graduation?" Audrey asked trying to change the subject.

At that, Lily brightened up. "James and I are getting married in a few months, his parents gave him the keys to one of their properties."

Rory groaned at that. "I still can't believe you agreed to marry that tosser. Surely, there are better guys out there for you; it's not like you're beholden to pure blood traditions."

Lily couldn't help but smile. "I know, but you have to admit that he's changed and for the better, I made them promise to leave you guys alone and they have. Haven't they?"

The Marauders leaving the friends alone was just one of the promises she'd extracted from James. The others included that she could talk to Severus and the others whenever she wanted.

The poor besotted Gryffindor had been desperate to win her approval and had readily agreed to all her demands. Make no mistake, she'd fallen for him as hard as he had for her. She was no martyr, but she was very cunning. And before she gave herself to the role of being James's dutiful arm candy wife, she made sure that Severus wouldn't have to suffer from the antics of the school's resident trouble-makers.

"Yes Lily, but I told you that there was no need to sacrifice yourself for my sake."

Audrey snorted in a manner unbecoming a lady. "It's hardly a sacrifice, Sev. Lily may be modest, but it wasn't me that was caught behind the curtains of the 5th floor corridor last night." She couldn't suppress the teasing grin she shot the pretty red head. "You got lucky that Professor Slughorn was too buzzed from his celebratory drinking to do anything other than issue a warning."

"Ugh, please, I don't want to know what you and Potter were up to last night, I don't need that imagery in my head." Rory groaned as he took another sip from his drink. He was the only student never had to worry about the Marauders. They didn't dare mess with him

It was discovered during his second year at the school that he had some psychic potential. He'd yet to have any visions, but he always seemed to know when the Marauders had set a prank for him and was always at least one step ahead of them. It irritated Sirius to no end, and even James had given up eventually and had moved onto other targets.

Severus stole a look at Audrey as she bit into her chocolate eclair. Though he and Lily had been best friends since the day at the park where they'd met, it had been the sweet brown haired girl with hazel eyes and long eyelashes that had captured his heart.

Too bad she was getting married.

"What about you Rory?" Audrey asked.

"Regina and I are going backpacking to the Americas. We've always wanted to visit the continent and this is the perfect opportunity. It's just too bad that we missed Woodstock."

Audrey snickered. "Yeah, you missed that one by ten years."

Rory shrugged. "I'm sure we'll find something to do." He paused and looked at his friend curiously. "Hey Sev, you're being quiet. Now that you're free of schooling, what are you going to do?"

"Unlike you miscreants I enjoy school. Professor Slughorn has pulled some strings and I'll be studying at St. Magnus' Potioniers academy next fall. This summer, I'll be working at Slugg and Jiggers to save up money."

"You won't even take a vacation?" Audrey asked.

"No one to take it with, nor do I even have the money. My old man took every last penny to the grave with him. Filthy Bastard. I put up with his abuse all my life and I don't even get two nickels to rub together. The bank took everything except the house."

Audrey took her hand in his. "But at least you're free."

Severus could only nod.

Later That Night

Severus sat down on his bed and spared a gaze at his trunk. It was the only thing he owned besides his school clothes and dress robes that were new. The rest of his belongings were rather ragged. Lilly and Regina had clubbed together to purchase the dress robes for him as a Christmas gift last year. It was the one thing he'd cherish most. Tobias had squandered any extra money on his drinking habit and if not for his friends help, he'd be walking the stage in his school robes. All his other clothes had been bought at second hand shops. They're weren't nearly as nice as the other student's clothing, but with Audrey's help, she'd had them looking like new and in some cases had even used some magic to make them look just like the newest styles. He never could express in words how this helped him hold his head up high.

So he'd kissed her. It had been brief and they'd both been breathless. Sadly, they'd been ratted out by someone and the next morning, she'd told him in a hollow voice about her arranged marriage. Both she and Severus had been heart-broken. He'd often wondered since then, how their lives would be different had she not been beholden to those stupid purebred traditions. He'd come to really hate her parents.

Sighing softly, he gave the trunk one last look and began to disrobe.

Just as he pulled his shirt over his head, an owl came pecking on his window. He smiled sadly, walked over to the window, and pushed out the pane. Audrey's owl, Hepburn flew in and landed on his arm.

It held a missive in his beak.

Severus sighed, this wasn't the first message from the girl who held his heart, but he knew it would be the last. With a heavy heart, he walked over to his desk and pulled the last owl treat from the bag. He softly approached the owl andtook the missive, trading it for the owl treat.

He watched as the owl flew out the window for the last time.

Once he closed the pane, he picked up the envelope and opened it. Inside was a single sheet of parchment and to his surprise a lock of her hair tied in a silver ribbon.

He sat back on his bed and opened the missive. It read:

Sev,

I wish more than ever to be able to say these words in person, but I just can't form them without breaking down in tears.

I love you, more than you can imagine. You have no idea how much I wish things were different. I wish we could have run away together, seen the world and even gone with Rory and Regina to see the world. More than anything, it's you I wanted to give myself too. Not that flake I'm about to marry.

Sadly, we can't change anything; whether or not I like it, I'm going to be a married woman soon.

I may never set my eyes on you again, but I want you to promise me that you'll seek out the love and happiness that has been denied me. Find a witch that loves you more than I do and then settle down with a family of your own. It's my own way of living vicariously through you.

No, don't roll your eyes. I'm pretty groovy myself, but I'm not the only groovy witch out there. Your match is out there somewhere, you just got to get out of the potions lab long enough to find her.

Like I said, I wanted to give myself to you, but since I can't, I wanted you to have a part of me.

Find happiness Sev.

All my love,

Audrey

Severus Snape shook his head as he tucked the letter and lock of hair safely in to the envelope and then put them into his trunk,

It just wasn't possible. There was no witch for him but Audrey. And she would never be his.

As he lay in bed minutes later he thought once more of his witch.

I love you too Audrey.

Then he fell asleep.

Three years later

The house was in flames, the supposedly dead Audrey held her daughter close to her. She pulled her cloak around the both of them and looked at the house one last time. Then she wordlessly cast a spell on the both of them, disappearing into the night and then apperated to Muggle London where Rory and Regina waited for her.

They both embraced mother and daughter. "We're on scheduale sweetie, Regina told her gently. We'll get you to America and get you settled in. It's going to fine."

"I miss my son already. I know he'll be okay with Nathaniel, but how can a mother leave her baby boy like that?"

Rory gave her a sad smile. "We'll periodically check in on them, and send you word…or we could do what I suggested first and contact Severus…"

"No, you know I have to make our death believable. I even had to sacrifice my wand just to gain my freedom. Just promise me that you'll keep an eye on my son, at least send me letters to tell me how he does?"

"Ok, we'll do what we can." Regina promised handing her a small suitcase and diaper bag. This is everything you're going to need for the trip. The cruise ship will leave in an hour, lets go.

The Next Evening

Severus' hands shook as his horrified eyes scanned the latest issue of the Daily Prophet.

His love was dead! She'd perished in a potion's accident. The aurors were blaming inferior ingredients and were calling it an accident. Strangely the husband wasn't suing anyone…

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose as he sat back in the chair. This was all too much for him to handle. If the death of Lily wasn't bad enough, now he'd lost someone else he cared about. Lily had been a dear friend…but Audrey was someone he loved desperately.

He stared dubiously at the Wizarding News Paper and then hurled it into the fire.

Part of him seriously doubted the accuracy of the report. His Audrey was his potions rival in school and yet she'd died from a potions accident blamed on inferior ingredients.

That was the only part that was plausible. She was great at potions but her prowess when it came to Herbology left something to be desired.

Severus shook his head and sat forward in the chair and stared into the fire. "Audrey...wherever you are: Be safe and come back to me someday. I love you."

So, what do you think of this? Let me know in your reviews!