Always - Severus Snape (COMPLETE)

The Alley of Awe

Professor McGonagall, as previously stated, arrived in July. Upon seeing the witch through the peephole in the door, Lily excitedly let her in, and then instantly rushed out in a quest to get Severus.

"Miss Evans, what are you doing?" The professor asked curiously.

"Getting Severus," Lily replied, pulling on a coat, and then her shoes.

McGonagall was astonished.

"But he lives so far away!"

Lily turned to the woman.

"You said he could come with us," she said fiercely.

"And so he shall," the professor said softly. "We can go by Floo. I've fixed your two fireplaces up for the day."

The three Evanses shared a look of confusion. Petunia was out for the day with a friend. She quickly explained.

"By using this powder," she took a jar out of pocket, "we can be transported to your friend Mr Snape's house through means of your fireplaces. Due to the fact that yours are obviously owned by non-magical people, or Muggles as we call them, I've had to connect them to the Floo Network for one day."

"Ah," Mr Evans nodded, understanding. Mrs Evans looked worried, but nodded nevertheless. Lily appeared extremely eager.

"I'll go first," she declared, walking towards the professor.

"Take a good handful – yes, good, very good. Now toss the powder onto the flames, step into them, and state your destination clearly."

Lily followed the professor's directions, and vanished from sight.

"Now, your turns," McGonagall commented, handing the jar to Lily's parents.

They took a decent handful each, and followed their daughter through the fireplace, before McGonagall stepped into the flames, too, and disappeared with a crackle.

*

Stepping into the Snape's house was a huge surprise for all four travellers. Severus stood, speechless, in the living room, but otherwise appeared to make sense of their sudden arrival. Lily was looking around with a curious air.

"Severus, is that your father? Shouldn't we wake him? Isn't he coming with us?" Lily asked, indicating the snoring man on the sofa.

"No, I mean yes, I mean no," Severus gabbled nervously, eyeing them all as they surveyed the mess that was his living room. "Yes, it is my father, and no to the other two."

"Oh." Lily seemed surprised, but continued to look round, now more quietly.

"My mother's not coming," Severus told Professor McGonagall, who seemed disappointed by this news. "Migraine."

"Do you need to inform her of your leaving?" Inquired the professor.

"No," muttered Severus.

"Him?" She pointed at his father.

He shook his head sharply.

"Very well. Lead the way, Miss Evans. The destination is The Leaky Cauldron."

*

Severus may have been surprised when they entered a gloomy tavern, McGonagall thought interestedly, but he did not show it in any way. The Evanses, on the other hand, were gobsmacked, and seemed to be waiting for an explanation.