Prologue

It was the end, he knew it was coming. He fell back as the great snake lunged at him, wrapping around him like an iron fist. Severus Snape fell to the wooden floor hard, sending dust flying everywhere around him. The snake coiled itself, tighter and tighter around its prey. Severus could feel his ribs breaking, his lungs shrinking. Then as if he was not in enough anguish, Severus felt two sharp fangs plunge into his neck. He cried out in pain as he felt his blood gush from the gaping wound. Voldemort smirked and walked out of the room, Nagini slithering off in his wake. Severus's time was fleeting, as he lay there, darkness ebbed at the corners of his eyes. This was it…this was his end. In his last moments he thought not of his fellow colleagues back at Hogwarts. Not of those who were already dead or near it…but instead he thought of her: a young girl with shimmering red hair and sparkling green eyes. Yes it was her whom he thought of…for she was his only friend…his only love.

A ten year old Severus Snape sat atop the rickety staircase, his elbows on his knees and his head resting in his hands. He drew his brows together and sighed as he continued to listen to his parent's argument below him.

"Just when were you planning to tell me all of this Eileen? Did you not think I would find out!" his father, Tobias barked.

Severus heard something shatter upon contact with either the floor or wall.

"Tobias, you knew when we were married I was a witch, you knew of the possibility that our child could be as well! You knew the risks!" Eileen shouted.

Tobias grunted.

"And what are we supposed to do with his schooling? Hmm? Is he going to go off to that nut house that you attended?"

"Tobias stop! He is gifted in wizardry! He will make a fine wizard!"

"Shut up with all this 'wizard' crap! No boy of mine is going to wave a wand around and make sparkles appear out of nowhere!"

Severus heard a door slam shut, and another shatter. He assumed his father slammed the door so hard; it knocked the tea pot out of the cabinet. Severus licked his lips as he slowly stood. He carefully walked down the staircase, the aged wood groaning in protest. Severus stopped at the end of the staircase and hid behind the wall as he watched his mother. She withdrew her wand from her apron pocket and pointed it at the shattered tea pot.

"Reparo." She whispered.

The tea pot's pieces all formed together and rejoined as soon as she stated the spell. Eileen bent to the floor and picked it up. She placed it on the table and turned to the tea cup. She repeated her previous spell and set it next to the tea pot.

"Mum?" Severus murmured.

Eileen turned around to face him, quickly wiping away her tears.

"Oh! Sweetie, I didn't see you there…" she said softly.

Severus slowly walked into the room.

"Is Dad mad at me?" he asked.

Eileen gave him a small smile and shook her head.

"No sweetie…he's just a little surprised. I'm sure he'll come around."

She glanced toward the window and smiled.

"It's a beautiful day out, why don't you go to the playground up the hill?"

Severus looked at his feet.

"I um…the other kids…they make fun of me." He whispered.

Eileen drew her brows together and knelt down in front of him.

"Honey don't let what those children say get to you. You know what they say is not true. You are a wizard, Severus. Those Muggles can never be that, well…unless they are Muggle Born, but I doubt that any live around here."

She lightly kissed her son on his forehead before standing straight again.

"Okay Mum, I'll be back soon."

Severus walked towards the front door and stepped into the front yard of his house. The heat of the day hit him like a tidal wave. According to his mother, he would receive his letter to Hogwarts sometime in August. Then they'd get to go to a place called Diagon Alley to purchase his spell books and cauldrons, plus his wand. Severus couldn't wait until then. As he neared the playground, he caught a glimpse of a girl. She looked old enough to be around his age. Severus stopped dead in his tracks as he stared at her. She had crisp red hair that of which resembled the red leaves of autumn, and sparkling green eyes.

"Lily? Lily sweetie where are you?"

Severus hid behind the tree as he watched a woman approach the girl. She too had matching red hair.

"Time to go sweetie, daddy's going to be home any minute, and dinner's almost ready."

"Can we come back tomorrow?" Lily asked.

Her mother nodded.

"You know I always let you come play at the playground. Now let's get back to the house."

Severus continued to watch them until their forms disappeared behind the hill. Once they were gone, he slowly emerged from behind the tree, but continued to stare after them.

"Lily…that's a pretty name." he whispered to himself.