After returning from Diagon Alley, Severus did little other than see Lily, read his new (and old) books, and marvel at his wand. It seemed strange, after all these years, that he could simply go off to a magic castle, and not worry about his father hitting him or his mother fearing him. To add to the absurdity, Severus knew he could perform many tasks without a wand, and now wondered what he would do with a wand.

By the time the 1st of September came, which in that year, was a Wednesday, Severus had devoured his new knowledge. Previously, he'd read the entire The Standard Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk, making a concerted effort to understand the complex theories of the different spells, and now he moved on to Magical Theory, and a History of Magic. He breezed through A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, One Thousand Herbs and Fungi, and Magical Drafts and Potions. The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection was interesting enough, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was positively enthralling.

Lily, meanwhile, had tried hard to get a grasp of all the complicated terms and decided that she liked the sound of Transfiguration, Herbology and Charms. Defence Against the Dark Arts seemed threatening, suggesting there was lots of dark magic to fight against, and implied the need for defence, which she did not find comforting in the slightest. Potions didn't seem too bad, only potentially dull, and that was her opinion of History of Magic, too.

And so it happened that Severus found himself in the Evanses' car, travelling leisurely down to Kings' Cross Station with Lily and her entire family. The journey was reasonably uneventful, with the highlight being when Severus plucked up the courage to tuck the wayward strand of the sleeping Lily's hair behind her ear, and earn the glare of Petunia, the doubtful look of Mark, and the beaming smile of Rose.

Severus couldn't blame Lily for being asleep, really: the journey was a little bit longer than four hours in duration, and they had to get there for eleven, having started off at about twenty past six. That was early, even for Severus, and so he did find himself yawning occasionally, almost as much as Petunia glanced in the wing mirror to see if her toilette had smudged. Whether she was hoping to impress the Muggles in Kings' Cross, or the wizards on Platform 9 and 3/4, Severus didn't know. The latter would be ironic, but he decided to settle on the assumption that the older girl was doing it just to up her own self-esteem, which was fairly low, as he had found out from their chat on the day of Professor McGonagall's first visit.

*

Finally they reached London, and upon entering the station, Lily took her parents through the wall first, shortly followed by Severus and an irked Petunia. Neither he nor she could suppress their gaps of awe, however, when they saw the gleaming red train and the smoke. A wrought-iron archway stood where the ticket box had been, bearing the words 'Platform Nine and Three-Quarters', and a sign overhead said, 'Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock'.

But that couldn't describe the sight. Wizards and witches in a colossal variety of prismatic robes and pointed hats crowded the platform, and their excited and terrified children chattered in high-pitched voices to whoever would listen. Some struggled with trunks; often fathers competing in a vain attempt not to break a sweat as they lifted their offspring's luggage and tried to pretend that theirs had been lighter when they'd been young.

Severus waited to one side as Lily made her goodbyes to her parents and tried to quell his longing for his own parents to be there, different and highly supportive. So lost in his thoughts was he that he didn't notice Lily in front of him, until she grabbed his sleeve and dragged him to her parents.

"You didn't think you'd get away without saying goodbye, did you?" Mark asked, raising an eyebrow.

Severus chose not to reply, and instead stood stock still as Rose enveloped him in a motherly hug as kindly didn't move until she moved away. Mark gave him a firm handshake.

"You make it, Severus," he advised. "Don't break it. And keep my daughter safe."

"I will, Sir," Severus promised. At least that was one he could to do his utmost to keep.

Lily had moved on to Petunia.

"I'll miss you, Tuney," she stated, standing before her sister.

"I won't miss you," the older replied shortly.

Lily stared at her, anguished.

"...I'm sorry, Tuney, I'm sorry! Listen_"

She caught Petunia's hand and held onto to it tightly, despite the girl trying to pull away.

"Maybe once I'm there – no, listen, Tuney! Maybe once I'm there, I'll be able to go to Professor Dumbledore and persuade him to change his mind!"

"I don't – want – to – go!" Petunia exclaimed, yanking her hand out of Lily's grasp. "You think I want to go to some stupid castle and learn to be a – a – you think I want to be a – a freak?"

Lily's eyes filled with tears, and Severus considered stepping in. But this was Lily's battle; this was her conversation with her estranged sister. Only she could do this.

"I'm not a freak," Lily said hotly. "That's a horrible thing to say."

"That's where you're going. A special school for freaks." Petunia seemed to be warming to her theme. "You and that Snape boy... weirdos, that's what you two are. It's good you're being separated from normal people. It's for our safety."

Severus privately thought that Petunia had a valid point, but of course he would never tell Lily that.

Lily looked briefly at her parents, who were enjoying the setting, and when she spoke again, her voice was low and fierce.

"You didn't think it was such a freak's school when you wrote to the Headmaster and begged him to take you."

Petunia turned scarlet.

"Beg? I didn't beg!"

"I saw his reply. It was very kind."

It had also been the wrong thing to say.

"You shouldn't have read – That was my private – how could you – ?" Whispered Petunia.

Lily glanced sideways at Severus. Petunia gasped.

"That boy found it! You and that boy have been sneaking in my room!"

Lily, having made her stupid mistake, was now on the defensive.

"No – not sneaking – Severus saw the envelope, and he couldn't believe a Muggle could have contacted Hogwarts, that's all! He says there must be wizards working undercover in the postal service who take care of_"

"Apparently wizards poke their noses in everywhere!" Petunia exclaimed, now very pale. "Freak!" She spat, and flounced back to her parents.

Lily cast one look at her triumphant sister, and ran onto the train to hide, bursting into tears as she went.