AU- The One Time Severus Snape Changed His Mind, And Where it Led Him.

NOTES: This is an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE fanfiction, which means that what follows IS NOT CANON and therefore you should not COUNT it as canon. If you do not like it, there is a back button just at the top of the page, you can avoid having to read it altogether. I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of it's characters, they belong to J.K. Rowling, my Queen and Goddess of literature, and to Warner Bros. Studios.

The idea behind this is- What if Snape had not pursued the Dark Arts? What if he had chosen to avoid infamy and glory?

It has been said that the thoughts of the people can change the world, if only the people act on those thoughts.

Imagine; a thought changing the world, altering the course of the way the world turns. Something so insignificant, changing everything. After all, the average human being thinks over fifty-thousand thoughts per day, so could one out of fifty-thousand have any real impact on the physical world?

Could it be?

That just one thought was all that was ever needed?

Could it be that simple?...

Severus Snape got a glimpse of Lily Evans at the Gryffindor table, a dark-haired boy who had been sorted shortly after her leaning over to say hello, before the world disappeared and was replaced with the inside of a musty old hat.

He wondered if she was watching his sorting.

Oh what a mind, what a mind... turbulence, oh yes, most definitely turbulent. You've got a storm in here, boy.

'A storm...?'

Let's see now... very good, very good... you have all the qualities- but what is this? There's a spark there, oh yes...

Severus squeezed his eyes shut, thinking about snakes and the color green and all the things he knew he wanted.

The hat chuckled, dark and a little bit sinister. Are you sure, boy?

'S-sorry?' he thought.

I'm a magical artifact, boy! You cannot lie to me, I see everything inside this greasy little head of yours. You dream of glory and things beyond your understanding- but your memories speak of something else entirely... Are you sure the path of Salazar is where you want to travel? It might not be as impressive as you hope...

Severus opened his eyes, looking into the hat, beyond it somehow, to where he knew Lily sat at the Gryffindor table. He thought about the musty old book of dark magic he had found in his mother's old trunk, about the power he knew it held within it's pages, and he thought about sweet, friendly, infinitely kind Lily Evans, who would never hurt a fly unless it threatened her friends and family. Lily, who liked him just as he was.

Then you know exactly what you should choose...

The hat said nothing else, merely opened up it's tattered flap of a mouth, and screamed it's answer for the hall to hear.

"Do you need a ride home, Sev?"

"Erm. I'm pretty sure my mother is going to come pick me up."

"Why don't we call her, come on, we live close enough, it shouldn't be a problem."

Twelve year old Severus smiled weakly as he pulled off the green and silver tie, tucking it into his bag and pulling a grey, too-large sweater over his white shirt. "I suppose..."

"Pffft. You make such a fuss, but you have fun, I know you do."

"Me? Have fun? Lily, you wound me."

She laughed.

"Heeey there, Snivellus!"

"Snivelly, how are you?"

Severus groaned quietly, trying his best to tuck his nose further into Unfogging the Future. James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin had arrived just behind where he sat along the edge of the lake. Remus looked hesitantly on as Potter approached Severus.

"Having a good read there, Snivelly, enjoying it?"

"Bugger off, Potter."

James jerked back, face full of mock hurt. "I'm crushed, Snivellus! Come on, lemme see what you're reading there, is it good, would I enjoy it?"

James made a grab for the book, but Snape wrenched it away. The boy's eyes darkened, and he pulled out his wand. "Accio book!"

The book zoomed into Potter's hands, and Snape jumped up from where he sat to make a grab for it, but he found himself tumbling head-over-heels from a Leg-Locking jynx from Black. He swore, doing his best to get himself back to his feet and grab his wand.

"Lets see, what were you reading there, Snivelly..." Potter flipped through a few pages to the marked one Snape had been turned to, when he did, his face fell. "What do flowers mean, Snivelly? Oh no, you were looking at the lily, weren't you?"

"GIVE THAT BACK!" Snape roared, finally reaching his wand and lunging at Potter from his knees. "Relashio!"

There were three varied cries of 'Protego', and Snape's spell bounced harmlessly away from Potter, who burst out laughing.

"What's this- Snivelly? Trying to find out what Evans means to you?"

He pulled a scrap of parchment from the book. A note passed from Lily to Snape in Potions class.

"Thanks for the help with that Solution in Slughorn's class, Snivellus, Bubotuber Pus makes me want to vomit. And look, she's written a little heart! What does Lily mean then, Snivelly? What are you so curious about?"

Black and Pettigrew were helpless with laughter, arms clutching their sides while Remus stood awkwardly off to the side, clearly not sure of what he wanted to do in the situation. There was just nothing he could do, not with three protection spells and his legs locked tight together. He swore and spat at Potter from where he lay on the ground, face full of dirt and chilly grass. Potter reined in his laughter to kneel down before him, and smirked.

"You're not going to get her," he muttered. "She woul-"

"SEVERUS!"

Lily Evans was bolting across the ground, hair whipping behind her, wand drawn and looking incredibly like a fiery-headed demon, and more enraged than Severus had ever seen her.

"You leave him alone this INSTANT! He's done nothing to you!"

"Evans! Looking good!"

She stormed up to James who, with a grin, removed the shield charms and opened his arms wide.

"How are you-"

The sound of Lily Evans' palm smacking hard against James Potter's face made several birds flit out of a nearby tree.

"You- you. You're a Gryffindor! I can't believe you-" she was at a loss for words, and so were the rest of them.

Silently seething, Lily helped Severus up and undid the leg-locking spell. He picked up his bag and Lily ripped the book from James' hands.

Together, they walked quietly back to the castle.

"Guess that's a 'No' to going to the Three Broomsticks with you, eh, James?"

"Piss off, Black."

"Sev? Oh God are you okay? What happened?"

Severus dabbed at his nose, trying to staunch the bloodflow. "S'nothin'..."

"It's not nothing... Was it Avery again?"

"Don't worry about it. See, look it's stopping! Just, let's head back to the library, alright?"

They were near the statue of the one-eyed Witch, bright red blood dotting the carpet while Severus continued to stem the flow from his nose. Said nose was, on a good day, already fairly large and hooked, but at this very moment it looked decidedly squashed up against his face. Lily pulled his hand away to get a better look.

"Oh, Sev... Don't move, all right? It's definitely broken." she forced him to sit down against the base of the statue, then pulled out her wand to point it at his nose. "This might hurt... here, hold my hand."

Lily laced her fingers around Severus' palm and he gripped back hesitantly, face going red beneath the smattering of blood and his hanging hair.

"Episkey!"

There was a loud snap as Snape's nose went back to it's usual hooked appearance. The blood seemed to halt and he rubbed his upper lip with his free hand.

"Thanks..."

"Tergeo..." she muttered, siphoning the blood away from his face. "You know if you stopped insulting their intelligence, they wouldn't bother you so much."

He grinned, a little weary. "What's a few broken noses over Avery's face screwed up wondering what 'ill repute' means in relation to his mother."

Lily laughed, a sparkling sound that filled Severus' chest. She sat beside him and sighed dramatically. "I suppose I'll just have to keep fixing your nose, then."

"It already looks ridiculous, so don't worry too much."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "I happen to like your nose very much."

Severus lifted a brow. "Really?"

Lily's cheeks pinkened. "Really."

Severus Snape smiled.

It was the first Hogsmeade trip of their sixth year.

"You've got a date with LUPIN?"

"Why is that so surprising?"

"Well he's a... look I've already told you my theories, plus he spends all his time with Potter!"

Lily gave him a look. "I know you don't trust Potter and Black, I don't either, but Remus is sweet, and smart, and he's been cracking down on those other three to stop being such bullies." she swung her scarf around her neck as they made their way past Honeydukes. "And about your theories... "

"You can't tell me it doesn't make sense."

"No, it does... It's just, look, Sev, I'm sure he's dealt with enough nonsense if it's true. There's enough of a stigma against... you-know-whats without us making it worse."

Severus scoffed. "Well he spends all that time with Potter, Black, and Pettigre- he's obviously got a horrid judge of character."

She stopped walking, scowling. "Well he asked me on a date, so I guess he does have horrid judge of character!"

Snape blanched, looking sheepish. "I didn't mea-"

"Of course you didn't! If you'll excuse me."

She stormed away, auburn hair whipping about her head, scarf trailing behind her like a cape.

When she arrived at the Pink Lady later that afternoon, Snape was standing in the corridor. He was slumped against the wall, fidgeting with his hands and looking somewhat silly, all lank arms and legs, long hair and hooked nose.

"Ahem,"

He looked up. "Erm... Did you have a nice day?"

"I did. We had a lovely time."

Severus went flush. "O-oh."

"But I don't think we'll have another."

Severus failed dismally at hiding his relief. "Why's that?"

"Remus is lovely, he's very kind and very smart, but we both agreed that being friends is just more our speed."

Severus pushed the hair out of his eyes. "I'm really sorry, you know. I didn't mean... I just... Potter's such a git and I don't want to see you with someone whose going to hurt you..."

She smiled. "Oh, Sev. Your gallantry makes you say stupid things. Don't worry so much, alright?"

He nodded. "Heh, I'll try."

He was tall and dressed in dark robes, his cloak fastened by a silver snake pin. He was a handsome man, but his eyes were such a bizarre shade of brown that they looked nearly red, and the offer he had put forth to the both of them was sinister enough for them to turn down a side street and double back towards the castle.

"I was so hoping we could avoid Slughorn's party tonight... not that they aren't fun, but as it's the last week before exams..."

Severus nodded, glancing over his shoulder to where the man who claimed he was a Lord had approached Avery and Rosier.

"We'll visit that new bookshop another time, I suppose..."

Lily made a little noise of agreement and glanced up at Severus, whose long hair desperately needed cutting and was pulled back due to the warmth of the early spring day. "Can you believe we're graduating soon?... Seems like only yesterday we were waiting for our letters."

"Mmm..."

She peered at him. "You've been quiet all day. Is something the matter?"

Severus broke out of his stupor, he'd been miles away, thinking. "Oh, no no, I'm fine... Actually, come over here, I want to give you something."

He'd intended to give it to her later, but as their plans had changed owing to the surprise appearance by that man, he might as well do it now.

He pulled her over to a tiny cobblestoned alleyway and pulled a thin box from his pocket. He handed it towards her.

Lily smiled brightly. "What's this, incredibly early, or ridiculously late Birthday gift?"

Severus grinned. "Just open it, will you?"

She obliged, and removed the lid. Inside sat a pretty gold chain bracelet, with charms on seven of the links. Each charm appeared handmade, and seemed to correspond...

"Oh, Sev..."

A letter reminiscent of their first year, a melted cauldron similar to a mishap second year, an open palmed hand from an event third year, a tiny bell from a school ball held their fourth year, Head Girl pin, a scarf with the Gryffindor colors, and finally, a lily flower.

"They're all things that happened, the last few years..." he cleared his throat.

"Sev I love it. Did you make these?"

"Er, yes. I must say I'm not exactly... gifted with the arts like you are."

She threw her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. "Sev, it's wonderful! Thank you so much! I wish I'd gotten something for you."

"You don't need to get me anything," he muttered. "You're..." what did he want to say? He needed to say something, but what on earth was it? "You're more to me than anything else in the world." he blurted, and immediately hated himself for it.

She pulled away a little. "Sev?"

What was he doing? Why couldn't he stop talking? "You're my dearest friend- more than that. I don't know how to say it, but it's been that way for years, since I met you- I..." he swallowed hard. Say it say it say it just say it. "I love you."

Lily stared at him, and he took a step back. Why hadn't he just shut up? He was usually so good at keeping his words in check, keeping himself reined in, but the words had bubbled up and he hadn't been able to keep them down and-

She'd grabbed the collar of his robes and pulled him down, crushing her lips to his after a muttered 'Finally'.

Slughorn's party could wait for a while.

YEEEP IT'S SNILY IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT GO AWAY.