The Bravest Man I've Ever Known (A Severus Snape Fanfic)

Chapter 2

As Harry watched these memories of Snape and his mother, his mind raced even more. They were friends! Lily and Snape were friends! Before long another scene appeared. Harry was looking at woman next to Snape. This woman bore a great resemblance to Snape. The woman looked sour from what Harry could see. Harry saw Snape looking at a family of four, and saw Lily pleading with her sister. Lily pleaded, "I'm sorry, Tuney, I'm sorry! Listen, 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!" Petunia said, "I don't want to go! You think I want to go to some stupid castle and learn to be a...a....You think I want to be a freak like you?!" Lily's eyes began to fill with tears, "I'm not a freak, Tuney, that's a horrible thing to say!" Petunia said with relish, "That's where you're going! A special school for freaks! You and that Snape boy. Weirdos, that's what you 2 are! It's good you're being separated from normal people. It's for our safety!" Lily said, in a low and fierce voice, "You didn't think it was such a freak's school when you wrote to the headmaster and begged him to take you!" Petunia blushed, turning scarlet, "Beg? I didn't beg!" Lily said, "I saw his reply, he was very kind." Petunia whispered, "You shouldn't have read that! That was private! How could you!" Lily glanced over at Snape. Petunia glared at Lily, "That boy found it?! You and that boy have been sneaking in my room?!" Lily said, "No not sneaking! Severus saw the envelope and couldn't believe a muggle could contact Hogwarts, that's all! He said there must be wizards working undercover in the postal service who take care of..." Petunia, looking pale, interrupted her and said, "Apparently wizards poke their noses in everywhere! Freak!" She spat at her sister then went to where their parents stood.

The memory soon faded to be replaced by another memory of Snape running down the corridor of the Hogwarts Express. He was already wearing his school robes. He stopped at a compartment where some rowdy boys were talking. By the window was Lily, her face pressed against the window. Snape slid open the compartment door and sat down opposite Lily. She glance over to him then back out the window. She had been crying. Lily said, "I don't want to talk to you." Snape said, "Why not?" Lily said, "Tuney h-hates me, because we saw that letter from Dumbledore." Snape said, "So what?" Lily threw Snape a look of dislike and said, "So she's my sister!" Snape said, "She's only a.." He caught himself quickly, then said, "But we're going! This is it! We're going to Hogwarts!" Lily nodded wiping her eyes. She half smiled at Snape, in spite of her self. Snape said encouragingly, "You better be in Slytherin." James said, "Slytherin? Who'd want to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you, Sirius?" Sirius looked serious as he said, "My whole family have been in Slytherin." James said, "Blimey and I thought you seemed alright." Sirius grinned, "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you headed if you've got the choice?" James held up an imaginary sword and said, "Gryffindor , where dwell the brave at heart! Like my dad." Snape made a disparaging noise. James looked at him and asked, "Got a problem with that?" Snape said with a slight sneer, "No, If you'd rather be brawny then brainy..." Sirius interjected and said, "Where do you hope to go, seeing as your neither?" James roared with laughter. Lily sat up and flushed and look from James to Sirius in dislike. Lily said, "Come on Severus, let's find another compartment." The 2 boys said in unison, "Ooooooo." James tried to trip Snape as he passed as Sirius said, " See ya Snivellus!" As Lily slid the compartment door closed.

As more memories of Lily and Snape continued to fade and form, Harry watched each one with awe. Then one particular memory formed. One that Harry knew. It was the memory of when Snape was humiliated by Sirius and James. Snape had just finished doing his O.W.Ls for the afternoon and had gone to sit in the grass, under the tree, to look over the questions he's done for Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was the very same tree that Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione sat under. Harry spotted James and Sirius sitting not too far away. Remus was reading a book. Sirius said, "I'm bored. Wish it was full moon." Remus said, "You might, but we've still got Transfiguration. If you're so bored, you could test me." Remus showed him his book. Sirius snorted and said, "I don't need to look in that rubbish. I know it all." James spots Snape and said to Sirius, "This'll liven you up, Padfoot. Look who it is." Sirius' head turned and spots Snape as well. Sirius said, "Excellent, Snivellus." Snape had gotten up and was heading back to the castle when James said loudly, "All right, Snivellus?" Snape reacted so fast, it was as if he was expecting it. Dropping his bag, he went for his wand. He had his wand half way out when James shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Snape's wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud, in the grass. Sirius laughed. James said, "Impedimenta!" as Snape went after his wand. Snape laid there panting on the ground. James and Sirius advanced on Snape. James said, "How did the exam go, Snivellus?" Sirius said rather viciously, "I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment. There'll be great greasy marks all over it. They won't be able to read a single word!" Snape was still trying to get up. The jinx hadn't worn off yet. Snape said, panting, "You... wait....You .... wait..." Sirius said cooly, "Wait for what? What are you going to do, Snivellus? Wipe your nose on us?" Snape let out a stream of hexes and swear words. James said, "Wash your mouth, Scourgify!" Pink soap bubbles started to come out of Snape's mouth as he gagged. Lily shouted, "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" James said, "Alright Evans?" Lily said, "I said leave him alone! What's he done to you?" James said, "Well, its more of the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean." Lily said, "You think you're funny, but you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter! Leave him alone!" James said, "I will if you go out with me, Evans. Go on. Go out with me, and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again." Meanwhile behind James the jinx was starting to wear off, long enough for Snape to go for his wand. Lily said, "I wouldn't go out with you, if it was a choice between you and the giant squid!" Sirius said "Bad luck, Prongs." As Sirius glanced over to Snape, he said, "OY!" But it was too late, Snape grabbed his wand, got up, and pointed it at James. There was a flash of light and a gash appeared on James' face. His robes getting spattered with blood. James whirled around and a second flash was seen, only to find Snape dangling in the air by his ankles. His robes fell over his head exposing Snape's pale legs and a pair of graying underpants. I large crowd watched on as they laughed. Lily was furious. She shouted, "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Her wand was out, pointing directly at Sirius and James. James said, "Ah, Evans, Don't make me hex you." Lily said, "Then take the curse off him!" James sighed then muttered the countercurse. Snape fell to the ground. James said, "There you go. You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus." Snape spat, "I don't need help from filthy mudbloods like her!" Lily said rather cooly, "Fine. I won't bother in the future, and I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus." James roared, "Apologize to Evans!" His wand pointed at Snape again. Lily said, "I don't want you to make him apologize, your as bad as he is!" James said, "What?! You know I'd never call you a.... a you know what!" Lily looked furious as she said, "Messing up your hair, because you think it looks cool to look like you just got off your broomstick, showing of that Snitch. Walking down the corridor and hexing anyone who annoys you, just because you can. I'm surprised that you can get off the ground with that big fat head on it! YOU MAKE ME SICK!" She turned on her heel and hurried away. James shouted after her, "Evans! Hey Evans!" But she didn't look back. James said, "What is it with her?" Sirius said, "Reading between the lines, I'd say she's thinks your a bit conceited mate." James said, "Right, right.."There was another flash of light and Snape was back up in the air hanging by his ankles again. James said, "Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?" Harry watched as that terrible memory faded away once more.

Another memory began to form. Snape was now standing on a hill, wind blowing his hair around wildly. Snape was looking around with a look of fear on his face. He held his wand tightly in his hand. A blinding flash of light flew through the air. Snape dropped to his knees as his wand flew out of his hand. Snape shouted, "DON'T KILL ME!" Dumbledore said coldly, "That was not my intention. Well, Severus? What message does Lord Voldemort have for me?" Snape said wringing his hand, "No.... no message.... I'm here on my own account! I come with a warning....no, a request....please...." Dumbledore asked coldly,"What request could a deatheater make of me?" Snape said, "The.... the prophecy......the predicition..... Trelawney...." Dumbledore said, "Ah yes, How much did you relay to Lord Voldemort?" Snape said, "Everything..... everything I heard! That is why..... it is for that reason..... is thinks it means Lily Evans!" Dumbledore said, "The prophecy did not refer to a woman, it spoke of a boy born at the end of july..." Snape interjects, "You know what it means! He thinks it means her son! He's going to hunt her down....kill then all...." Dumbledore interjects himself and asked, "If she means so much to you, surely Lord Voldemort will spare her? Could you not ask for mercy for the mother, in exchange for the son?" Snape said, "I have...... I have asked him...." Dumbledore interjected again, and said with contempt, "You disgust me. You do not care , then, about the deaths of her husband and child? They can die as long as you have what you want?" Snape just stayed there on his knees, looking up at Dumbledore. Snape said, "Hide them all then! Keep her....them.... safe. Please....." Dumbledore said, "And what will you give me in return, Severus?" Snape gaped at Dumbledore and said, "In.... in return?" Snape thought for a moment still gaping at Dumbledore, then said, "Anything." The memory faded as another memory began to form.