esk and poured Snape's memories into the wide basin with its runic markings around the edge。 To escape into someone else's head would be a blessed reliefa133 Nothing that even Snape had left him could be worse than his own thoughts。 The memories swirled； silver white and strange；
and without hesitating； with a feeling of reckless abandonment； as though this would assuage his torturing grief； Harry dived。
He fell headlong into sunlight； and his feet found warm ground。 When he straightened up； he saw that he was in a nearly deserted playground。 A single huge chimney dominated the distant skyline。 Two girls were swinging backward and forward； and a skinny boy was watching them from behind a clump of bushes。 His black hair was overlong and his clothes were so mismatched that it looked deliberate： too short jeans； a shabby； overlarge coat that might have belonged to a grown man； an odd smocklike shirt。
Harry moved closer to the boy。 Snape looked no more than nine or ten years old； sallow； small； stringy。 There was undisguised greed in his thin face as he watched the younger of the two girls swinging higher and higher than her sister。
〃Lily； don't do it！〃 shrieked the elder of the two。
But the girl had let go of the swing at the very height of its arc and flown into the air； quite literally flown； launched herself skyward with a great shout of laughter； and instead of crumpling on the playground asphalt； she soared like a trapeze artist through the air； staying up far too long； landing far too lightly。
〃Mummy told you not to！〃
Petunia stopped her swing by dragging the heels of her sandals on the ground； making a crunching； grinding sound； then leapt up； hands on hips。
〃Mummy said you weren't allowed； Lily！〃
〃But I'm fine；〃 said Lily； still giggling。 〃Tuney； look at this。 Watch what I can do。〃
Petunia glanced around。 The playground was deserted apart from themselves and； though the girls did not know it； Snape。 Lily had picked up a fallen flower from the bush behind which Snape lurked。 Petunia advanced； evidently torn between curiosity and disapproval。 Lily waited until Petunia was near enough to have a clear view； then held out her palm。 The flower sat there； opening and closing its petals； like some bizarre； many…lipped oyster。
〃Stop it！〃 shrieked Petunia。
〃It's not hurting you；〃 said Lily； but she closed her hand on the blossom and threw it back to the ground。
〃It's not right；〃 said Petunia； but her eyes had followed the flower's flight to the ground and lingered upon it。 〃How do you do it？〃 she added； and there was definite longing in her voice。
〃It's obvious； isn't it？〃 Snape could no longer contain himself； but had jumped out from behind the bushes。 Petunia shrieked and ran backward toward the swings； but Lily； though clearly startled； remained where she was。 Snape seemed to regret his appearance。 A dull flush of color mounted the sallow cheeks as he looked at Lily。
〃What's obvious？〃 asked Lily。
Snape had an air of nervous excitement。 With a glance at the distant Petunia； now hovering beside the swings； he lowered his voice and said； 〃I know what you are。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃You'rea133you're a witch；〃 whispered Snape。
She looked affronted。
〃iThat'si not a very nice thing to say to somebody！〃
She turned； nose in the air； and marched off toward her sister。
〃No！〃 said Snape。 He was highly colored now； and Harry wondered why he did not take off the ridiculously large coat； unless it was because he did not want to reveal the smock beneath it。 He flapped after the girls； looking ludicrously batlike； like his older self。
The sisters considered him； united in disapproval； both holding on to one of the swing poles； as though it was the safe place in tag。
〃You iarei；〃 said Snape to Lily。 〃You iarei a witch。 I've been watching you for a while。 But there's nothing wrong with that。 My mum's one； and I'm a wizard。〃
Petunia's laugh was like cold water。
〃Wizard！〃 she shrieked； her courage returned now that she had recovered from the shock of his unexpected appearance。 〃iIi know who iyoui are。 You're that Snape boy！ They live down Spinner's End by the river；〃 she told Lily； and it was evident from her tone that she considered the address a poor remendation。 〃Why have you been spying on us？〃
〃Haven't been spying；〃 said Snape； hot and unfortable and dirty…haired in the bright sunlight。 〃Wouldn't spy on iyoui； anyway；〃 he added spitefully； 〃iyou'rei a Muggle。〃
Though Petunia evidently did not understand the word； she could hardly mistake the tone。
〃Lily； e on； we're leaving！〃 she said shrilly。 Lily obeyed her sister at once； glaring at Snape as she left。 He stood watching them as they marched through the playground gate； and Harry； the only one left to observe him； recognized Snape's bitter disappointment； and understood that Snape had been planning this moment for a while； and that it had all gone wronga133
The scene dissolved； and before Harry knew it； re…formed around him。 He was now in a small thicket of trees。 He could see a sunlit river glittering through their trunks。 The shadows cast by the trees made a basin of cool green shade。 Two children sat facing each other； cross…legged on the ground。 Snape had removed his coat now； his odd smock looked less pecular in the half light。
〃a133and the Ministry can punish you if you do magic outside school； you get letters。〃
〃But I ihavei done magic outside school！〃
〃We're all right。 We haven't got wands yet。 They let you off when you're a kid and you can't help it。 But once you're eleven；〃 he nodded importantly； 〃and they start training you； then you've got to go careful。〃
There was a little silence。 Lily had picked up a fallen twig and twirled it in the air； and Harry knew that she was imagining sparks trailing from it。 Then she dropped the twig； leaned in toward the boy； and said； 〃It iisi real； isn't it？ It's not a joke？ Petunia says you're lying to me。 Petunia says there isn't a Hogwarts。 It iisi real； isn't it？〃
〃It's real for us；〃 said Snape。 〃Not for her。 But we'll get the letter； you and me。〃
〃Really？〃 whispered Lily。
〃Definitely；〃 said Snape； and even with his poorly cut hair and his odd clothes； he struck an oddly impressive figure sprawled in front of her； brimful of confidence in his destiny。
〃And will it really e by owl？〃 Lily whispered。
〃Normally；〃 said Snape。 〃But you're Muggle…born； so someone from the school will have to e and explain to your parents。〃
〃Does it make a difference； being Muggle…born？〃
Snape hesitated。 His black eyes； eager in the greenish gloom； moved over the pale face； the dark red hair。
〃No；〃 he said。 〃It doesn't make any difference。〃
〃Good；〃 said Lily； relaxing。 It was clear that she had been worrying。
〃You've got loads of magic；〃 said Snape。 〃I saw that。 All the time I was watching youa133〃
His voice trailed away； she was not listening； but had stretched out on the leafy ground and was looking up at the canopy of leaves overhead。 He watched her as greedily as he had watched her in the playground。
〃How are things at your house？〃 Lily asked。
A little crease appeared between his eyes。
〃Fine；〃 he said。
〃They're not arguing anymore？〃
〃Oh yes； they're arguing；〃 said Snape。 He picked up a fistful of l