"Terrifying wasn't it?" Snape appeared out of the darkness, the light forming slowly over his head as he stood beside the lectern.

"Hardly." Hermione had to keep herself from scoffing, despite the man in front of her being a few years younger than herself she couldn't forget the man who had written him into existence, "What else do you have?"

Snape narrowed his eyes slightly obviously not too keen on her tone. However, instead of lashing out he merely smirked and offered out his hand once more.

Hermione stepped forward into the light taking his hand again. She couldn't help but notice how smooth it was, how real it felt against her palm. Her eyes flicked to his face as he turned the pages, his eyes shifting to hers as if feeling her gaze. Just as she felt the courage to say something she felt her fingers press into the pages and she was gone.

Hermione found herself in someplace so familiar it made her heart actually ache. Her hand went to her chest as she tried to push back all the memories that came with it. It was hard, it had become so dark behind her eyes that she could hardly breathe let alone see the memory that was supposed to be in front of her.

Slowly, as the sounds of exploding stone and terrified screams abated she could hear another. A girl, her sobs soft and quiet within the hollow walls of the astronomy tower she now found herself in. Hermione took a shaky breath and raised her head to look about for the source.

"Lily?"

The heartbreaking sob cut short and Hermione pushed herself further up the stairs to find Snape, maybe in his first or second year slowly approaching Lily who sat curled up at the steps.

"Sev..." Lily sniffled and wiped at her eyes trying to give him a brave smile, "What..." She hiccuped wiping at her eyes again, "What are you doing here?"

"I...I come here a lot myself..." He slowly sat down next to her jumping slightly when she leaned into him, "What's wrong?"

Lily shook her head a little taking his hand in both of hers, the boy letting her do whatever she needed to his person while his head tilted down to try and see into her eyes.

"It's my housemates... They're vile...and cruel..." She glanced up at him, "I wish I was with you, in your house."

Severus' lip quirked a little but he shook his head, "They're not any better...trust me..." He pulled up his robe to reveal a bright red curse on the top of his arm that read, 'Half-blood'.

Lily gasped softly taking his arm into her hands, "Oh my gosh..."

"It's okay, I sort of asked for it..." He gently pulled his hand away shaking his sleeve down. "But what did your dorm mates do to you?" He looked over her person but couldn't find anything out of place.

Lily sniffled and leaned her head back onto his shoulder, "They thought it would be a right laugh to take all of the first year's homework and dump them into the black lake..."

Severus chuckled softly to which he received a strong glare that quickly sobered his features, "I'm sorry about that...What if I help you catch up? Surely, with the two of us, it won't take long..."

Lily gave him a teary smile but shook her head, "I can't have you write my homework for me. That's cheating."

Severus shrugged a little, "They started it, besides I'd only write what you wanted me to."

"That's sweet Sev but..." She pulled his lax arm tighter to her chest, "I can do it... though... I'd really appreciate the company while I do." She looked up at him with a soft smile.

"I can do that." He turned his head away letting her hold him tight. He never rested her head on hers, in fact, he looked wholly uncomfortable by the contact altogether. Still, he let her hold onto him for as long as she needed.

Hermione could already see the differences between the two, even in their first year, it was so obvious that they were set on different paths. It pained her to see it so clearly as surely they were much too young to have noticed it then. It was a painful shame, given how much they complimented each other and yet, the puzzle pieces didn't fully fit together. Snape needed so much more than Lily could have possibly given him. A tragic realization that no doubt the man he had became clung to desperately.

Hermione felt herself falling back out of the memory and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Oh, yes. These were most terrifying.

As she landed back into the darkness it suddenly struck her, like a quaffle to the head. These were terrifying. They were absolutely horrific. It didn't take her mind but two jumps to remember one of the first memories she had ever seen. How terrifying it must have been to a young boy who'd never even known what love was. Who'd never been touched kindly or with respect? How awfully confusing it must have been to try and understand something so infinitely complex. 

Hermione took a hesitant step forward and as soon as her foot landed the light returned and so did Snape, his eyes even more critical of her now.

"I think...I'm starting to understand." Hermione offered softly trying to keep her face as emotionless as possible.

He said nothing, the smugness that had been there previously replaced with a solemn maturity. He offered out his hand again and she gladly took it.

Hermione found herself outside this time, wonderfully shaded by a large tree. The calm waters of the black lake gently lapping at the frosted shore. It didn't take her but a moment to find Snape beneath it. Curled as far as he could be inside its large roots. He looked older now, definitely taller. His face was lean but healthily so. His legs took up most of his frame easily hiding his narrow chest behind them. He looked peaceful, the book in his hand keeping his attention. His long hair that now fell just beyond his shoulders tucked behind one ear. Hermione guessed maybe his third or fourth year. He definitely looked like he'd had a growth spurt as Harry and Ron had.

She'd just leaned down to try and read the title when a raucous laugh from behind her caused her to turn. A frown immediately on her face from the look Sirius had as he approached.

"Hey there Snivellus, fancy a shower? The whole castle reeks!" The group of boys behind him, James included, gave a roaring laugh while Severus just closed his book with a glower, his wand coming to his hand.

"Are you sure your friends aren't just downwind, Black!?" Severus snapped back coming to his feet, wand at the ready.

Sirius grinned and tapped his wand to his chin, "You know, didn't think of that but considering where I'm standing now. It has to be you! Expelliamus!"

Severus blocked the first spell but the second and third spells that came from James and another boy hit their mark causing Severus' wand to fly over his shoulder.  He snarled and couldn't help but look away, giving Sirius the chance he needed to lift Severus into the air.

"Bath time!" Sirius shouted with glee as he flung his wand and subsequently Severus' body towards the black lake.

Severus hit the water awkwardly on his side and head first. The water was cold as spring had yet to warm its waters. The shock of it caused him to inhale a bit of water as he struggled to correct himself in the water.

The chorus of laughter only crescendo-ed when his head finally popped up over the surface, his eyes wide with fear as he struggled desperately to keep his head above water. He'd never learned to swim and his head was bobbing dangerously.

Hermione felt that same fear from his childhood all over again as the chorus of laughter tried to block out all other sound. However, the world only went slightly blurry unlike before and she could very clearly see a flash of red hair arguing with James before another splash echoed.

The laughter slowly died when Lily took to the water, having seen the event from afar she had told one of her friends to get a teacher before she hurried down herself. Things that Severus would find out later. For now, she swam towards him, robe discarded.

"Severus! Severus take my hand!" Lily reached forward as she neared him, her hand tightly taking his. She gave him a sharp pull towards her before turning in the water.

Hermione squinted as she watched, this memory was more detailed, more defined. She hadn't expected to see anything when he hit the water though her heart did skip when his body hit the surface.

Lily made it to walkable level and helped Severus stand as best he could. He was still coughing and sputtering when Lily wrapped his arm around her shoulder, her hand pressing against his chest to keep him upright.

"Breathe. Just Breathe." Lily soothed before turning her furious eyes on Sirius, "You're a right arse!"

"Language, Miss Evans." Came the stern voice of McGonagall, she was followed by Slughorn who looked completely lost over the entire situation. Minerva moved closer helping Lily to sit Severus down on a tree root, her wand running over him as he shivered violently and continued to let out a gurgled cough.

"It was Black who'd done it Professor." Lily snapped, her eyes narrowed over the elder woman's shoulder, "Severus didn't do anything!"

"Is that true?" Minerva glanced over her shoulder, blindly transfigurating two large towels from her handkerchief and wrapping one around Severus then Lily, a quick-drying charm to their sopping clothes to follow.

"He smelled." Sirius snarled, "He was stinking up the whole castle!"

"That doesn't give you the right to throw him into the black lake!" Lily shouted over Minerva's shoulder.

"Quite, Professor Slughorn would you kindly escort Mr. Snape and Miss Evans to the hospital wing? I need to take care of some disciplinary matters." Minerva stood with a stern look of disapproval on her face.

Severus came to his feet slowly, he could see someone watching from the castle. His eyes widened a bit before he quickly lowered his head and pulled away from Lily when she made to help him. His face filled with shame and his brow furrowed with frustration.

Hermione turned to look at who he saw but whoever it was had gone. Her eyes narrowed a bit. Whatever he had seen had changed his demeanor dramatically. Unfortunately, the scene began to change and Hermione made a point to ask when she would return.

Hermione found herself in front of the wall holding the Room of Requirement. She could hear footsteps behind but didn't bother to turn as the door had already been formed she knew it had to have been Snape approaching.

Only when his darkly clothed form caught the corner of her eye did she turn just enough to confirm her thoughts. He slipped through the door after checking the hallway. Hermione didn't have to follow him, instead the room appeared before her.

It had transformed into a gorgeous high ceilinged swimming pool. At least the size of a muggle football pitch with amazingly beautiful tiles and a gorgeous mermaid design below the clear waters. Hermione felt awfully jealous for not having found this room before she had had other things to worry about, she would have absolutely loved to swim in it.

"Severus! You made it." Lily stepped out from behind a dressing screen, her long legs exposed to the low light, a towel of Gryffindor colors wrapped over her bare shoulders. She was wearing a modest one-piece swimsuit with a small lion on the chest of the low neck. 

"I did, but why am I here...?" Severus had only briefly glanced at her exposure before his eyes had shifted beyond where she stood to the calm waters of the pool. 

Hermione found herself dumbfounded by his response to Lily. She would have thought his reaction to seeing her in such a state would have elicited some sort of teenage boy mutterings. The Yule ball certainly had for her anyway in regards to Ron and Harry. The fact that he hadn't even attempted to appreciate her exposed state in the slightest when he so often had been found watching her extremely close left Hermione without words. It was a curious and troubling reaction. 

"Well, I'm going to teach you to swim." Lily said proudly dropping her towel on a nearby lounge chair. 

"Excuse me?" Severus blinked dumbly pulling his eyes back to Lily's approach, his hands coming up as though in defense when she gently pushed on his chest.

"Go get changed, everything you'll need is behind the screen." She giggled, "I promise I won't look!" 

Severus stumbled slightly behind the screen when her manhandling had stopped, his brow deeply furrowed before barely muttering, "Why would you want to?" 

"Come on! Hurry up we don't have all night!" Lily had started towards the large staircase at the edge of the pool walking in a few steps before taking a small dive. Severus had peeked out only briefly before returning behind the screen. 

Hermione chewed the inside of her lip for a moment, before hastily moving over behind the screen with Severus. Lily may not have looked but she was exceptionally curious. Unfortunately for her, Snape had done what she had done herself many times in her early years of living in a dormitory. He only removed the basic of layers before pulling on a Slytherin-themed swim shirt, pulling out his tank top once it was on. He did the same with his shorts spelling off his worn boxers once he'd slipped on the long trunks. They too had a nice design, a large snake crawling up one of the legs. Her eyes ran down his pale legs surprised to find them no longer extremely thin and lanky but rather extremely defined with muscle. Her eyes shot to his arms next to find a small assortment of bruises and scrapes, she could have only guessed the origin of but no Dark Mark. At least, not yet. 

Severus slowly came around the dressing screen, a hairband appearing in front of his face before he began pulling his hair back into a low ponytail. Once finished he made it to the water's edge looking as though he'd been suckling a lemon through the entire ordeal. 

"Why am I doing this?" He whispered to himself as he took a few steps down into the water. 

Lily smiled as she swam up to him, "Because, it's my birthday and you owe me a gift." Lily grinned mischievously, "And the next time you find yourself in the water you'll know what to do, yeah?" 

Severus shrugged non-committally, though an old fear was slowly coiling its way in the bottom of his stomach, his chest growing tight the further he stepped into the water. He made it about waist deep before his body tightened too much to allow him to go further. 

"Severus?" Lily's voice had dropped to a tone of concern, her hand gently reaching out to take his hand, her fingers twining with his. She lowered her head to try and catch his eyes, "Are you okay?" 

"Ye-Yeah of course." He cleared his throat and gently pulled his hand from hers, "It's just...cold is all." 

Lily raised her brow at his blatant lie but decided not to call him out on it, instead she wadded back a bit more, "Well come on then, just watch what I do okay? I know you'll pick it up quickly." 

Hermione settled herself at the end of one of the lounge chairs, her eyes critically focused on the interaction between the young teens. It was perfectly evident to her that Lily was very obviously attempting to flirt with Snape. A realization that felt very odd inside her chest. However, her introspection on the matter was abruptly halted when Lily finally gave up on whatever game she'd been playing and merely pulled Snape into a kiss. Hermione's brows rose high into her hairline, the fairytale reaction both she and certainly Lily had been expecting anything but. 

Severus jolted back as though she'd just slapped him, his feet slipping slightly against the tile in his haste to put space between them. His eyes were wide, the back of his hand coming up to wipe at his parted lips, shock and anger trembling in his voice, "Why-Why did you do that?"

"Well, you certainly weren't going to." Lily looked hurt mostly, embarrassed definitely. Her light mood suddenly shattered, "Don't you like me, Sev?" 

"What does that have to do with...with..." He motioned towards her lips, a tinge of anger still lacing his tone. 

"You know you can be really dense sometimes..." Lily closed the space between them again, this time trapping the taller boy against the side of the pool, "And, it's called a kiss." She smiled and leaned up again, though this time she didn't force herself onto his person but rather waited for him to meet her. 

Severus glanced around for a moment as though something or someone was going to jump out at him and laugh at the situation he'd found himself in. His heart beating so hard in his ears he could hardly hear anything else. Lily's eyes were only partially closed and when his eyes met with hers an overwhelming sensation he had never felt before flooded through his senses. In that next moment, he lowered his head down completing the kiss. 

Hermione couldn't have looked away if she'd wanted to, not that she did in the slightest, she found no words in her extensive vocabulary to describe the scene before her. Awestruck came to mind but it was of her own relation to the scene and certainly had nothing to do with either teen. In fact, Snape almost looked pained when he pulled back a second time but when Lily moved in even closer his brows relaxed, and once more they found each other. 

As far as snogging went it was pretty tame, after all, she'd seen Lavender attack Ron with much more ferocity. That thought left a pang in her gut and she had to shake her head to rid herself of the memories tied to her name. When she focused back on the pair she could see Lily's hands moving from the edge of the pool and towards the bottom of Snape's shirt. His body immediately went rigid and his hands snapped her wrists in a vice-like grip. Then, just like a snuffed candle, the memory was gone. 

Hermione found herself standing back in the void but she didn't wait for Snape to appear to her this time, "Snape? Let me out!" 

His face suddenly appeared only a few inches before her own causing her to squeak, his dark eyes nearly seeing into her soul for the briefest of moments and then, just like that. She was back at her desk.