The Life of Severus Snape

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of the characters, story lines, and the dialogue in this first chapter all belong to JK Rowling and Warner Bros. The non-dialogue aspects of this chapter were written by me.

Severus Snape was not a good looking child by any means. His dark, lank hair curtained around his pale, angular face. His clothes were ill-fit —always too large or too small for his wiry frame— and peppered with holes and frayed seams. It was partly for this reason that he had sat himself behind some foliage to watch two girls who were on a pair of swings. His attention was focused on the younger of the two.

Her brilliant red hair tangled and twirled around her as she swung swung higher and higher. When it seemed like the girl could not swing any higher, she leapt off of the swing. Severus watched with intrigue as she ignored the protesting screeches from the older girl and her hands left the rusting chains. She seemed to fly higher into the air —instead of falling to the ground as one would expect— and land gracefully on the asphalt below her. The older girl dug her heels into the ground to stop the movement of her swing and rose quickly, placing her hands on her hips.

"Mummy said you weren't allowed, Lily!"

The girl's nasally, high pitched voice caused Severus to cringe in his place behind the bush.

"But I'm fine!" A musical voice came from the red headed girl, Lily, followed by giggling.

"Tuney, look at this. Watch what I can do." Lily beckoned for the other girl, Tuney, to come closer. Tuney, whom Severus realized was likely named Petunia, glanced around as if she were searching for someone. Lily picked up a flower from the base of the bush that Severus had concealed himself in. He reflexively held his breath, hoping to remain undiscovered. She stood up and Petunia crept forward, torn between curiosity and disapproval. As soon as Petunia was within clear sight of Lily's outstretched palm the flower began opening and closing its petals.

"Stop it!" Petunia shrieked, visibly disturbed.

"It's not hurting you." Lily protested, but eventually closed her hand around the flower and cast it to the soft soil below. Petunia crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"It's not right." She said, her face pinched in some indecipherable emotion. Severus could see that her gaze had landed on the now still flower and had lingered there. "How do you do it?" There was definite longing in her voice this time. Severus' muscles spasmed and in a sudden lapse of judgement he had leapt from the bush he had been sitting behind.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" It was almost as though he was being compelled to speak. Petunia cried out in combination of fear and shock, and ran back towards the swings. Lily stayed her ground, her eyes wide and lips slightly parted. She was startled but not nearly as badly as Petunia was. Severus realized his mistake, having startled himself with his own abruptness. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks, no doubt adding a rosy contrast to his pale skin.

"What's obvious?" Asked Lily. Severus suddenly grew nervous but he knew he was right. She was like him. She had to be.

"I know what you are." He said quietly. Lily's eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean?" She seemed to dare him to say it. Dare him to tell her what she was.

"You're...you're a witch." He whispered breathlessly. She gasped, as though affronted that he would suggest such a thing.

"That's not a very nice thing to say to somebody!" She turned, nose in the air, and marched off toward her sister. Panic rose inside him. She had to be! He saw her!

"No!" He said, sounding more confident than he felt. His whole body felt like it was on fire. He knew that he was most likely exhibiting a highly unsightly shade of red. He ran after the two girls, his oversized coat flapping behind him. They were each holding onto one of the poles of the swings, looking at him in mutual disapproval.