Chapter 1: The Orphanage

January 31st of the year 1978, just a day after her birthday, Lily Evans' life took an unexpected turn for the worst. A trip to the hospital wing had confirmed her terrible suspicions: at barely seventeen years of age, she was pregnant.

What's worse?

The child did not belong to her beloved boyfriend, James Potter, but rather his arch-nemesis: Severus Snape.

So, how did this all happen? Why did Lily betray James?

It was guilt.

Flashback

Being in her last year, this Gryffindor didn't want to graduate with the guilt and regret of never forgiving her ex-best friend.

It had been two years since their spat…two years since the git had called her a mudblood…and it had been two years since she vowed never to speak with him again.

However, in the end, she just couldn't live up to that promise. It was simply in Lily's nature to be unfailingly kind and all too forgiving. She was never one to hold a grudge or turn her back on those she cared for…not entirely.

This is why, on January 9th, she sought out Severus in order to make an amends of sorts. It was the black-haired boy's seventeenth birthday and this year she wanted to wish him well in person. Despite what had taken place in their fifth year, Lily still made it a point to send her old friend a card on this day, merely writing him a short "Happy Birthday, Severus," upon it, and nothing more.

Not once did she receive a letter in return. No, "Thank-you, Lily," or mentioning's that he had at least received the cards. But, in all honesty, the girl had never expected any sign of appreciation from the Slytherin.

Still, this made her wonder what kind of reaction she would be getting once she reached him. Severus had finally given up on begging for her forgiveness at the start of their sixth year and had been bitter ever since.

Feeling that there was nothing for her to lose, the redhead knocked upon the Slytherin's portrait and was soon after greeted by a rather rude fifth year, Lena Forthwaters.

"What?" the blonde spat, leaning against the doorframe, multitasking by sneering and glaring at the seventh year before her.

Politely ignoring the crudeness, Lily got to the point. "Is Severus in?"

"How should I know?" Lena retorted, crossing her arms.

"Well, you're in the same house," Lily pointed out, "You could at least check if you're unsure," she kindly suggested.

"And why would I want to do that?" she questioned, aggravating the opposite girl.

She sighed, "Please," the Gryffindor tried, "I really need to speak to him."

"Not my problem," Forthwaters informed her, abruptly slamming the portrait in her face.

Lily huffed, yet refused to give up. She hadn't marched all the way down into the dungeons for nothing. Moments after Lena had shut her out, the redhead began pounding on the picture frame, determined to catch somebody's attention.

"Hey!" Salazar shouted at her, "Stop hitting me you impudent girl!" he ordered, causing Lily to step back in alarm.

"I'm sorry," she told the portrait, sincerely. "I just need to speak with somebody inside. It's important," she admitted.

"So I've heard," Salazar responded sarcastically. Then, at Lily's questioning gaze, he added, "I have been standing inside here the entire time, darling," he said, gesturing towards the frame encasing him, also being the entrance into the snake's common room.

"Oh," Lily blushed, "Right."

"I suppose I could allow you to step in," Slytherin told her.

"Really?" she hoped.

"With the correct password," he assured her.

Irritated, Lily waved her arms about, "Of course I don't have the password!" she shouted, "I'm not in your house!"

"I know," Salazar smirked. "Did you honestly believe I would let a Gryffindor enter these quarters?" he asked her rhetorically, "Let alone a muggle-born," the deceased man eyed the girl in disgust, further angering her.

"That's it!" she shouted once more, making up her mind. Lily resumed her persistent, harsh knocking on the snarky portrait.

"Would you quit-" one of the Slytherin's began, opening the door several seconds later. He had been trying to study for his upcoming exams, which proved impossible with the distractive booming and banging from outside.

"Oh," caught off guard, the teen stopped yelling upon realizing just who was on the other side of Salazar's picture.

"Hi," Lily managed a small smile, "Can we talk?" she asked timidly, expecting him to decline her invitation.

"Take her away from here," Salazar demanded, "Go and speak with the fiend."

Despite her nervousness, Lily couldn't help but to roll her eyes, "I tried apologizing," she said to the founder, "It's not my fault you're such a prejudiced prat."

"Why you little-" Salazar began only to be cut off by the feisty redhead.

"Please, Severus?" she asked again.

"Alright," he reluctantly agreed. The Slytherin wasn't sure what his old friend wanted or why she was even speaking with him. It was for that reason that he became hesitant, not because he didn't want to talk with her, since he honestly did…Severus had wanted to ever since he made the biggest mistake of his life.

"Great," Lily's emerald eyes shined at him, "Why don't we go for a walk?"

He merely nodded in agreement, still not capable of uttering more than one word at a time. He then followed the Gryffindor out of the dungeons, up to the entrance hall, and out onto the grounds.

Once they exited the castle, Lily spoke up, having not said anything throughout their small journey thus far. "Happy birthday," she chanced a glance in his direction, curious as to what would come next.

Severus was taken aback. This is what she had summoned him for? He'd had two birthdays since their dispute and not once had Lily met up with him on the day. Sure, she'd sent him a short note each time…but that was always it.

"Are you going to say anything?" Lily asked, slightly annoyed after three minutes worth of silence surpassed them.

Severus awkwardly cleared his throat, "Thank you," he muttered, not bothering to face her.

Lily sighed, "Look, Sev," she began, catching his full attention by using the old nickname, "I don't want to leave here without saying goodbye," the girl admitted truthfully, "You were my best friend," she said sadly, "And even though I'll never forget what you called me," she added in a tighter tone, "I just don't us to hate each other anymore…"

Snape blanched. He had never hated her…where on earth did she get that absurd notion? 'Maybe when you deemed her a mudblood in front of the entire school?' he stupidly reminded himself. "I don't hate you," he informed Lily, looking at her for the first time since they had left the dungeons.

She returned the stare, but hers was much more disbelieving. "Then why did you call me a-"

"Don't say it," Severus pleaded, harsher than he had originally intended.

This, of course, frustrated the Gryffindor. "And why not?" she stopped walking, causing him to do the same, "You didn't seem to have a problem with it two years ago!"

"I said I was sorry!"

"That doesn't make what you said okay!"

"It was an accident, Lily!" he tried convincing her of the truth.

"Accident my arse," she ceased shouting and turned away from him. Her eyes had begun forming tears as she remembered the past. This was not what she came here for. Honestly, Lily couldn't recall a time where she and Severus weren't fighting. 'Ever since he was sorted into Slytherin,' she told herself. That was when their friendship began suffering.

"Lily," Severus called out softly, desperately not wanting to lose her a second time. He heard her sniffling and decided to take a few steps closer whilst her back faced him.

"I really am sorry," he apologized. "I wish I could take it back-"

The Slytherin was interrupted when Lily suddenly knocked the wind out of him, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso in an almost painful manner.

Shell-shocked and not knowing what else to do, Severus reciprocated the embrace and encircled his own arms around Lily's shoulders.

…

The day shared between the Gryffindor and Slytherin lead them into Hogsmeade.

Feeling tense and insecure after what had taken place earlier, Lily and Severus decided to finish their conversation over a few butterbeers…and possibly a firewisky or two.

Regretfully, what happened next was not remembered until the morning after.

End Flashback

"Are you certain?" Lily asked upon receiving the news.

"I'm afraid so, dear," Madame Pomfrey smiled sadly.

The redhead soon after broke into hysterics. She was scared, confused, and alone.

"Hush, now," Poppy rubbed soothing circles over her back, "I'm sure James won't be as upset," she tried reassuring the distressed girl.

This only made Lily sob harder, however, for the father was not Potter.

"I could fetch him for you if you'd-"

"No!" she quickly stopped Poppy, leaving the elder woman entirely bewildered. "You can't," Lily frantically shook her head.

"Why ever not?" the healer inquired, "Afterall, he has a right to know, Miss Evans."

"It's…it's not his," Lily hiccupped, bowing her head in utter humiliation and shame.

"Oh my," Poppy gasped. "Then who-?" she was curious to know.

"I'd rather not say," the teen replied, ignoring Madame Pomfrey's disapproving stare. "I'll just be going now," Lily said after a few moments. She then made her way out of the infirmary before Poppy could protest.

…

'What am I going to do?" Lily asked herself after she was safely out of sight from everyone she knew. Telling Severus was definitely out of the question. 'He's a deatheater for Merlin's sake!' she scolded herself. And letting James in on the news would be a huge mistake. 'He'd never forgive me,' Lily inwardly cried. She needed help…the girl was only seventeen and had a whole life ahead of her. 'Who can I go to?' Lily asked herself, reeling over the list of people she could not only trust, but would be of use as well. Then it hit her. The head of Gryffindor house was like a second mother to this little lion in particular. The Scottish witch would know exactly what to do.

…

After practically running all the way to Professor McGonagall's office, she hurried and knocked on the wooden door.

What seemed like hours, were actually a mere two minutes before Lily was greeted by Minerva.

No time was wasted in telling her head of house all about what had happened. Lily explained how she couldn't possibly keep the child, yet most certainly could not abort it just the same. She stressed how neither James nor Severus could find out, but didn't see how this secret could be kept when her abdomen would soon be expanding greatly, making it completely obvious.

McGonagall had to take a very deep breath in order to register everything she had just heard. The Professor loved the girl before her as a daughter and would do everything in her power to help, but it all seemed so surreal. Lily, like anybody else would agree, was the last person she expected this from.

"It is going to be difficult," Minerva started, having formed a plan that would save this child from any further consequences. "But with a few glamour and concealment charms we should be able to disguise the process," she informed her, referring to the nine-month pregnancy term to come.

Refraining from getting her hopes up so soon, Lily questioned the inevitable, "What about when it's time?" Her voice was small and timid as she thought of the eventual birthing experience.

"Why don't we worry about that at a later date?" McGonagall suggested, preventing the girl from stressing over the matter any further.

Lily nodded in agreement, yet still felt the need to ask the woman, "Will you take the baby afterwards?" she looked into her professor's eyes, hopeful. "I won't be able to keep it…" she drifted off distraughtly, not bothering to list the many reasons as to why that were so.

"Of course, dear," Minerva assured the seventeen year-old. She then sadly walked forward and took the child into her arms.

…

Around 9 Months Later

It was on October the 4th that Lily's first child was born. After her seventh year at Hogwarts, she had purchased her own place and kept away from most everyone she knew. It had been hard enough hiding her predicament whilst finishing school, so Miss Evans couldn't have been more relieved when it ended. She'd told James and the others that she was going out of town for a while and wouldn't be reachable throughout the months that remained of her pregnancy. Only McGonagall knew the truth.

Once the baby was safely delivered at St. Mungo's, healthy and happy, Lily reluctantly held her out for the professor to take, knowing that if she were to hold the infant for much longer she wouldn't be able to let her go.

"Are you sure?" Minerva tried changing Lily's mind. The girl was absolutely stunning and so innocent. She had her mother's nose and lips along with her father's hair and pale skin. It wasn't until the child had finally opened her eyes that the color was revealed: emerald green. The pair would've been exactly like Lily's had they not shown obsidian specks within them, reminding the world that she was just as much of a Snape, as an Evans.

All the exhausted woman could do was nod her head. Utterly depressed, she knew there was no other alternative.

The animagus looked down at the small bundle within her arms then back at Lily. Minerva realized the choice had been made and that it was final.

Sighing in disappointment, Professor McGonagall took the baby girl to the nearest orphanage, hoping that she would someday find a loving family.