Name: slashwriter
Title: The Soul Remembers
Chapter: The Moment of Death, A Little Picnic, The Hand of Friendship, Jump Rope
Word Count: 4,844
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Harry Potter nor do gain any monetary value from it. I simply dip my fingers into the playground.


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THE MOMENT OF DEATH
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He'd been hit. Hit by the dreaded Avada Kedavra. He'd seen his parents, Sirius and Remus. The marauders lacked their fourth. The one who had betrayed them. Albus Dumbledore had been there too and told him he'd a choice. To return or to continue and find peace in death.

He wanted to return. To the friends who remained. To the battlefield to make certain the fiend was dead and no one else need suffer. No one else need die. The causalities were many. So many. No more. Not after today. Not at the hands – the wand – the orders of Voldemort.

Before he woke however his head spun. Something pulled at his middle. Nausea unlike anytime he'd ever used the floo, apparated or been portkeyed away. Inwardly he screamed. In anger. In frustration. Appalled that he'd not awaken on the battlefield where Voldemort had just killed him. The place he wished to wake and face the monster that had so long ago ceased to be a man.

Someone touched his hand. So warm.

"I'll not be responsible if you don't wake up."

A child's voice. So young and yet so old all at once.

His eyes slowly opened. There before him stood a child no more than seven years old. With lank black hair and deep brown eyes – so dark they were almost black. The face with the rather large nose seemed familiar and yet he could not quite place it.

"Where am I?" His voice itself did not sound like his own. Or rather it did in a vague way. A voice from memories long since forgot. A child's voice that had never quite matched his experiences. Not then. Not even now.

The boy huffed and crossed his arms. "I would think anyone with brains would know. After all I found you here. You came here yourself."

His brows furrowed, "I don't know how."

"Magic. You're a witch."

Eyes widened, "A witch?" No, he was a wizard.

The boy crossed his arms and gave the smallest dip of his head. "Yes. Didn't you know?"

He shook his head. Best not to say anything at all. It was only then that he noticed as he looked to the ground that he wore a saffron dress and Mary Janes.

Sitting up he proceeded to stand and found himself an inch or two shorter than the boy. Taking note of this his eyes widened further yet. What the hell had happened to me?

"I can tell you about magic and the wizarding world."

Not knowing whose body he was in, whether he was somehow dreaming or not the corners of his mouth curled upward. He looked into the boys eyes, "I'd like that." But he knew.

A voice called out, "Calla!" Another girl perhaps a year or three older than his current body came up to him. "This is where you went off to. Come on, Lily and I have been looking for you."

Whoever Calla was he didn't know. Nor this girl. Not the Lily she spoke of.

Then she grabbed her hand and frowned at the boy.

"Get on home with you and your ugly clothes, boy."

Calla frowned, "That's not very nice."

The face seemed familiar as the girl frowned down at him. "You shouldn't be associating with freaks like him."

He yanked his hand from her, "And you shouldn't be so horrible and cruel."

The boy muttered, "I can take care of myself."

"Calla, I don't have time for this. Mother and Father sent me to find you. Or don't you want to go on the family picnic?"

He glanced at the scowl faced boy, "I'm sorry. I have to go. It was nice meeting you..."

The boys arms, still crossed, murmured, "Severus."

What a name for a child to have!

"What a..."

Severus's mouth thinned into a grim line. Did he think he was about to make fun of him?

"Handsome name. A bit long. Do you mind if I call you Sev?"

He inclined his head. "If you must."

He giggled. Only then did he realize he sounded more like a young girl than the young man he was. Or had been. Perhaps this was only a dream. The battle might still be waged around him, but here – here he was; dreaming. Maybe a curse?

Either it was his imagination, or one of the corners of Severus's mouth twitched for but a fraction of a moment as if he'd tried to smile.

"Maybe we can play again Severus. In the park."

Severus blinked and with one small nod he turned and walked away. His movements as twitchy as a spiders.

"That's not someone you should be making friends with Calla."

"Why?"

"He's a weirdo."

He rolled his eyes and followed her to their house. Where outside he saw a girl with all long red hair and strikingly familiar green eyes. The ones he saw in his reflection. In the pictures of the woman he'd never gotten the chance to know.

She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him. "Calla! Where did you go? Where have you been? Petunia, where did you find her?"

He froze. Petunia. The name of his dreadful aunt. What in all the bloody blazes is going on?

Petnuia let out a weary sigh, "She was hanging out with filth at the playground no less. I don't know how she got their so fast. I thought twins did everything together."

Mr. and Mrs. Evans came out. "It's time for our Evans picnic girls."

Mrs. Evans exclaimed, "Calla! Why you're as pale as a ghost and that's saying something."

His mother never had more than one sister. He'd never heard of her having a twin! I must be dreaming. Why this I don't know. It's bizarre. I wish I could talk to Ron and Hermione.

"I'm fine... Mother."

Nibbling on his lip he looked up at her. "I met someone at the park."

"Who dear?"

Petnuia grunted, "A weird little boy with ugly, filthy clothes."

"Petunia!" Mr. and Mrs. Evans admonished her and she looked rather cowed.

They glanced to him again. "Calla? Who did you meet?"

"His name's Severus. He told me I'm a witch. That I did magic."

The two glanced at each other then back down at him. "That would... explain a lot. You and Lily have always done extraordinary things that we could never quite explain."

Petunia's brows furrowed deeper as she looked at her sisters.

Lily clapped her hands together, "This is wonderful. Did he say anything else, Calla?"

He shook his head. "We didn't have enough time. I might see him again at the park sometime. He said he'd tell me about the wizarding world."

Lily took his hands in hers. "You'll take me with you, wont you?"

He nodded.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

None of it would matter once he woke up from the odd dream. Time moved too slowly here and he worried he'd not wake quickly enough to take care of Voldemort. Not that he was needed any longer. Once Nagini was gone then there would be nothing left of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.

If only Professor Snape had not been bit. If only there were some way, anyway that he could save him! Many others too had fallen and he'd always wished for a different outcome, but alas it was not to be.

Perhaps he was dead if this were no dream. Another life? No, not with who these people were. Heaven? But why would he be his mothers sister and not still her son?

He'd find out. Even if he need wait to hear what Severus had to say. Or until he was old enough in his current body to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

 

******************
A LITTLE PICNIC
******************

 

Mr. and Mrs. Evans, his grandparents, or were they his parents? Just trying to figure that one out gave him a headache.

Thankfully the headache was nothing like what he suffered due to Voldemort.

"Calla? Hey Calla!"

He blinked as that voice dragged him from out of his thoughts.

Turning his head; he didn't care if he were in a woman's body, he was still male - usually. Awkward and frightening as that was. Not that he cared what body he was in.

"M... Lily?" He had to refrain from saying mom or mother and it wasn't all that easy.

"You were staring into space forever. Are you okay?"

Petunia who sat to his left grumbled, "Calla is fine Lily. You know she gets spacey sometimes. Its nothing new."

Harry frowned at Petunias' words, but reassured his mother, err, sister, with a smile. "Don't worry Lily. I'm fine. I was just thinking about what the Wizarding World might be like."

Lily clapped her hands together. "Me too! When do you think you'll see your new friend again? Severus?"

"I don't know," and he didn't at that. "But I'm sure he'll be at the park next time we go."

Petunia turned her head to frown at them, her face pinched. "Neither of you should be meeting up with that freak."

Lily gasped. "He's not a freak!"

Harry shook his head. So he wasn't the only one his aunt liked to pick on by calling him a freak. Thus far she hadn't called him in Calla's body or Lily a freak.

"Petunia, Severus is not a freak. He knows magic. Lily and I have magic. Are we freaks?" He asked knowing Mr. and Mrs. Evans were up front listening in.

He was surprised to see Petnunia's jaw drops and her eyes grow wide.

"I would never call either of you that. You're not freaks."

"Then why call my new friend a freak?"

"Because... because... b-b-because!" She crossed her arms and stared stonily ahead.

Mr. Evans spoke from the drivers seat without turning, "No one should call anyone a freak my dear girls."

Lily shook her head and whispered, "I think Petunia is jealous, because she's never been able to do magic like we can."

That in itself was sad. But he wasn't sure that his aunt would have been all that different if she had been a Witch. Although, just maybe, she wouldn't have married Uncle Vernon and he wouldn't have Dudley Dursley for a cousin.

That was one thing he wouldn't be able to change. For he could not gift someone with magic

It took a moment for the three of them to realize the car had come to a stop.

Mrs. Evans turned her head to look in the rear view mirror. "We're here. Petunia you get out the cutlery and dishes. Calla get the small picnic basket. Lily get the picnic blanket. Your dad and I will get the larger picnic baskets."

Harry didn't mind getting the cutlery and dishes. And secretly wished he'd really been able to do something like this that he could remember with both his Mom and Dad. However their lives had been snuffed out much too early by a mad man while they were trying to protect him.

Once everything was set the family of five sat down to enjoy their picnic.

Petunia asked, "Calla Lily when we're done we could get the jump rope out and we can take turns."

Harry blinked.

Lily grinned, "That will be fun!" She took a dainty bite of her chicken salad sandwich.

Maybe Aunt Petunia could be nice. At least to her sisters and parents. Odd.

Harry had to admit that jumping rope had been fun on the way back to the Evans home. More so when he was the one jumping rather than turning one end of the jump rope.

Lily clasped her hands together. "Calla."

"What?"

"We should take the jump rope to the park tomorrow."

Petunia glanced at them. "Why? We can always play at home."

Lily nodded. "I know, but maybe Calla's new friend..."

Harry got the hint and grinned, "Would like to play." But was Severus the type to play with jump ropes?

'What am I doing? I have to figure out what's going on.' He couldn't stay there. Not when he had to make sure a certain vile maniac was no longer on the loose. But there wasn't anyone he couldask.

Petunia's face twisted into a hideous scowl. "Why would you want to play with that filthy little boy?"

Harry sighed. "Just because he doesn't look right to you doesn't mean he can't be fun to play with. Or a friend."

And there was just something familiar about Severus that he couldn't quite place his finger on. Yet. But so far he was the only one he'd come into contact with that had some knowledge about magic, of witches and wizards. Probably even of Hogwarts or other magic schools.

He couldn't wait to meet up with him again. In the meantime at least he got to spend time with his mother. The mother he never got to know. Even if it was as her sister rather than as her son.

Having reached the Evans home he got out behind Lily.

Petunia looked down at them as she opened the trunk. "I'll get the heavy stuff and you two can get the rest."

Lily smiled and Harry had to wonder what had happened between these two that had made his Aunt tell all manner of horrible things about his Mother.

Petunia picked up the largest picnic basket. Well it was half empty or so. "I'll do the dishes this evening."

Lily, "But it's Calla's turn."

"I don't think she's finished all her home work. Why don't you help her? I'm just giving her more time."

Lily nodded.

Harry blinked. Ugh homework. But since he was in a seven year old's body, or something like that, he supposed it wouldn't be too difficult.

Lily grabbed his hand once everything was in its proper place and Petunia got started on the dishes.

"Let's go finish that homework."

"Right." He gave her hand a small squeeze.

 

 
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THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP
*******************************

 

Last night had been exhausting. As much as he enjoyed spending time with his mother, Lily Potter, he wasn't used to studying so much. And taking a shower had been weird, however there was no one he could tell that to or why.

So he sat there with Lily across from Petunia while Mrs. Evans, the grandmother he'd never known, got the stove going. He could already smell the bacon grease and pancakes.

Mr. Evans came into the room with robe, pajama bottoms, slippers and a news paper tucked under his arm.

Lily, "Father?"

He sat down and turned his head to the right. "Yes my little Lily?"

She giggled.

Petunia half rolled her eyes and was that a smile he saw trying to break through? Harry could barely believe it. But thus far this Petunia had proven to be a little more mellow than his adult Aunt.

Lily smiled, "Well Father. Calla and I were wondering if after breakfast we could go to the park?"

Petunia's brows furrowed.

"Have you all got your homework finished?"

Lily and Harry nodded.

Petunia, "As did I."

Mr. Evans gave a nod. An affectionate smile smoothing his features as if he'd just been trying to look stern. If that were the case then he hadn't done a very good job of it. But then Harry himself was used to the sternest of countenances.

"Then you may. As long as your mother agrees. Still I don't think she has anything planned so it should be fine."

Mrs. Evans glanced over her shoulder. "Petunia, could you be a dear and get the oranges out and start squeezing them?"

Petunia rose with a gracefulness that Harry didn't remember her ever having had.

He watched her walk to the pantry and grab a bowl of oranges and something out of a drawer.

Felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to gaze at the eyes that had always been like his own. For he got them from her. And he still found it odd that no one had ever mentioned her twin.

Was she dead? Alive? He shivered, or a Death Eater? Whatever she was or wasn't in his true time line, he wanted to find out.

First however he wanted to change a few things. To tip things in his favor against Tom Morvolo Riddle; against Voldemort.

Yet all he had done thus far was speak to a child named Severus and enjoy spending time with Lily Evans and even, shocking as it was, Petunia Evans and the maternal grandparents he hadn't known either.

As he waited to dig into the delicious smelling breakfast and fresh squeezed orange juice he hoped that Severus would be at the park as early as they'd be.

[line]

Carrying a tote bag his mother, the twin sister of the little girls body he inhabited held his hand. When she began to skip along he had no recourse but to do so as well.

Petunia called out to them. "Don't you two go getting lost."

Mrs. Evans chuckled, "They'll be fine Petunia."

Mr. Evans, "Why don't you join them?"

Harry wasn't sure he'd like that, but couldn't hear the rest as they'd gotten to far away to hear the rest of the conversation.

When Lily let go of his hand he continued to skip a few more feet before coming to a stop and turning around. "Lily?"

She grinned, "I'm getting the jump rope out. If your friend isn't here today then we can still play with Petunia."

"I don't know. What if he is?"

She quirked a brow at him. "The rope is big enough for two jumpers. Maybe even three. We can all play."

He didn't dissuade her, but he had a bad feeling about it. Petunia obviously didn't like Severus. Not when she called him horrible names like she had yesterday.

Feeling a tingle on the back of his neck he turned around. There wasn't anyone there.

He blinked as a memory brushed against the fores of his head. 'You're a wizard.'

Well perhaps thinking like a Muggle wouldn't get him anywhere.

Tilting his head back he stared up into one of the trees and noticed a sooty face. Which had a few streaks from eye to half way down the cheeks.

Old black clothes and greasy hair.

Poor kid.

'There's just something about him.'

"Sev?"

The boys face hardened and he looked away. "Leave me alone."

"Sev come down."

"No."

"Sev come on."

"Go away."

With a roll of his eyes he began climbing the tree. Not caring that it might tear the dress he wore. This time velvet green with a black belt.

"Calla!" He heard Lily gasp.

He glanced down. "I'm fine Lily."

He looked up, "Sev. What's wrong. Don't you want to talk to us? Play with us? We brought a jump rope and we could all take turns jumping."

He turned his head and frowned at him. "Why would you want to play with me?"

"Because I like you Sev. I thought we could be friends."

Harry reached out a hand to Severus.

Severus glared at the offered hand as if it offended him. But Harry knew the signs of neglect. Of abuse. Had suffered them himself too many times to count. And if only he'd had a friend, a real friend before Hogwarts then maybe he'd have been happier. Less lonely. Felt less like a freak as his Muggle guardians were always calling him.

Then, just as he was about to lower his hand Severus reached out to take it.

Harry smiled, green eyes lighting up. "See, that wasn't too hard, was it?"

Severus grunted.

Then directed a small smile at him.

'How precious.'

Lily called up again, "Are you two love birds coming down?" She giggled.

Harry felt his face heat up at the insinuation from one so young. Or from anyone.

Severus let go of his hand and stared down at the tree branch on which he sat. His face equally flushed.

Calla, "Lily, we're coming down."

He climbed down first. Not without couple of minor scrapes and getting his frock dirty.

Just as Severus landed on the ground as well Petunia walked up to them.

She did not look happy.

"Is he why you wanted to come to the park?"

Lily, "Well, he can tell us about magic."

Harry at the same time as her simply said, "Yes."

Petunia glanced from Lily to Calla and then settled her gaze on Severus.

"I'll be watching you, you little freak. Do anything to either of my sisters and you'll pay dearly. They're only paying any attention to you because of magic."

Harry frowned. "No we're not. No I'm not. I like Severus." He grabbed his friends hand. Sure mentally they weren't the same age. After all back home he was seventeen. Here he was seven or thereabouts. In a kids body. A girl at that. His mothers twin. He still had as yet to get over that.

Lily, "It's true we want to know more about magic. But we also want to be his friend."

Petunia sneered and then her eyes widened as she caught sight of Calla holding Severus's hand.

The boy was either too shocked to move or trying to assess the situation. Even if he did try to free his hand, Harry wasn't about to let go.

"You let go of that filthy mongrels hand right now Calla! You don't know where its been. Look how dirty he is."

"Nothing a good bath wouldn't cure. If you don't want to be nice that's fine. But Severus is my friend and I'm going to play with him. If you don't like it you can play by yourself." He just hoped Lily felt the same.

Lily looked between them. Worried her lower lip betwixt her teeth.

Harry held his breath.

She moved to stand beside him.

He smiled.

***

Severus scowled at Petunia. Wanting to say something, anything, but couldn't stop thinking that he had new friends. That one of them had held his hand not once, but twice now. And was defending him.

***

Petunia sputtered. "I'm telling Mother and Father about this."

Harry bowed his head. "Go ahead."

With that she turned around and stalked off. Far less graveful than she'd been that morning.

Harry and Lily spoke together, "I'm sorry about that."

Severus blinked.

Harry chuckled. It was like Fred and George. The thought of them caused an ache in his heart. For Fred was dead in his true time. And this time he wasn't yet a twinkle in his mother's eye. None of them were.

Severus, "Are you quite well, Calla?"

Harry smiled despite the anguish of memories and the need to return to his proper place in time in his proper body, "Yes. Just worried what you must think of us, because of our big sister."

Lily, "We're not Petunia."

Severus, "No. That you are not."

Harry grinned. "So... jump rope?"

 

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JUMPING ROPE
******************

 

Severus stared at the twins, Calla and Lily.

Lily smiled. "You'll have fun."

Harry nodded.

Severus dipped his head. "Very well. I shall endeavor to find some amusement in this game of yours."

Lily giggled.

Harry's brows furrowed. The boy sounded so old for being so young.

Lily tugged on the sleeve of his dress. "Come on Calla."

Harry turned to her. "Who shall be jumping first?"

Lily looked at Severus. "Why don't we let Severus?"

Harry asked him. "Would you like to jump first or turn the rope?"

"Turning the rope."

Lily clapped her hands together. "Then I call the middle."

Harry grinned and took out the rope. He handed one end to Severus their hands brushed for mere seconds. "Stand over there so Lily has room to jump."

It didn't take Severus long to move to the spot indicated. Once Lily moved to the middle they began to turn the rope. And watched Lily jump the rope. Counting to twenty-seven before she missed a step, or a jump as the case may be.

Lily glanced at Harry. "Your turn Calla."

Harry handed the end of the jump rope he held to her and moved to the middle.

He'd never gotten to enjoy jumping rope. Dudley wouldn't let him. Not that Uncle Vernon ever bought him any either.

Thus he only made it to thirteen jumps before he miscalculated and wound up jumping right onto the rope rather than over it.

He looked to Severus. "It's your turn."

Severus frowned. "I prefer to continue as I have been."

Lily smiled, "Severus don't be scared."

He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest, "I am not scared."

Harry tensed. That movement. That tone. Somehow familiar and yet not. Severus. Severus Snape!

Giddy he giggled.

Severus glared at him.

"Severus you're too cute," he couldn't help but say. Young Severus with the motions of the adult Severus to him was indeed adorable. As any little child might prove.

He blinked when he noticed the color appearing on Severus's cheeks.

Lily, "No teasing Severus, Calla."

Harry nodded. "Of course not Lily. Severus please take your turn. We promise not to make fun whatever happens."

Severus stared at him, at Calla, then handed the end of the rope to him and moved to the center.

Harry couldn't believe it. Had this been the adult Snape the man would have probably thrown something at him. Like a jar of disgusting insects used as an ingredient in a potion.

What he and Lily learned soon enough as his arm grew tired - Severus was precise, determined and agile. He reached fifty jumps of the rope before Lily and Harry let go of the rope.

Lily, "Sorry Severus. My arm got tired."

Harry nodded. "Mine too. You were great."

Lily grinned, "Amazing."

Severus glanced at Harry and Lily with a little smile. "Thank you."

Petunia called out, "Calla! Lily! What do you think you're doing with that freak!?"

Harry whirled around. Wished he had his wand. But that was back in his own era.

"Stop calling Severus a freak." He glowered at her.

Petunia blinked.

Lily walked up to Petunia. "Please Petunia. Be nice to Calla's friend."

Petunia frowned in Severus and Calla's direction but took Lily's hand. "Mother and Father have lunch ready."

Harry glanced at Severus. "You can join us."

Petunia, "Father wont approve."

Harry ignored her. "So, will you, Severus?"

Severus looked warily at Petunia.

Harry placed a hand on Severus's forearm. "Please?"

Brown eyes turned to Harry. "If that is your wish, Calla."

Harry smiled. "It is." He took hold of young Snapes' hand, his other taking hold of the jump rope.

Petunia walked stiffly ahead with Lily.

Harry didn't care. Petunia would just have to get used to it. For however long he was stuck in Calla Evans body. The aunt he'd never known existed.

When they reached the picnic table Harry placed the jump rope on one of them and let go of Severus's hand.

"Mom! Dad!"

Mr. and Mrs. Evans turned to him. "What is it Calla?"

"Can my friend join us?"

Mr. Evans quirked a brow. "Who is your friend."

He went to stand beside Severus. "This is him. Severus Snape."

Severus looked up at the adults and then stared down at his feet. His long lanky hair curtaining his face.

Severus's brows drew together. He peered toward Calla from his veil of hair.

Mrs. Evans smiled. "Of course your friend is welcome. Hello Severus."

Severus looked up. "Hello ma'am. Thank you for inviting me to stay."

Mr. and Mrs. Evans smiled and sat down beside each other.

Petunia and Lily sat side by side.

Harry sat down. He glanced at Severus who still stood. "Sit with me Severus?"

Severus blinked. Then sat down.

Harry wondered why he wasn't getting himself a plate. "Severus," he took a paper plate and handed it to him, "you can pick whatever you want. Except we can't have anything from that bottle," he pointed to a glass wine bottle.

Severus grimaced at the bottle. "I would never partake of that vile excuse for a beverage."

Harry stared for a moment, wide eyed, at young Snape. There had to be something behind the vehemence.

"Well, let's plate our food and enjoy."

He nodded and proceeded to choose a chicken sandwich, grape tomatoes, sliced cucumbers – lightly salted, four cubes of Colby jack cheese, a pecan cluster and a cup of cider. Much like Harry's own choice, but he chose mozzarella over Colby jack and a strawberry treacle over a pecan cluster.

Harry as they ate determined that he'd try and become this young Severus Snape's best friend. Then once they were old enough – if he were still trapped in this body – and went to Hogwarts he'd enlist his aide. Without telling him everything. As there was much he didn't need to know.

The glares Petunia kept directing at Severus he knew might make it difficult. But Lily, his mother in his time at least would no doubt help. And the Evans, the grandparents he never knew, didn't seem to mind him, as Calla, having Severus for a friend.