Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter and all of its associated characters are not mine, I just play with them.

Summary: If especially strong-willed, sometimes the dead can interfere with the events of the living. Lily Potter is an exceptionally strong-willed woman and she is not happy with the course of her son's life. So she is planning and saving up her energy so that she can set her son's life to right. Severus Snape will be in for a life-changing surprise as well.

Author's Note: This is my cliche -Snape saves Harry from the Dursley's- fic, but hopefully with a unique twist.

Prologue

August 1986

Six year old Harry Potter tried to get comfortable but was finding it extremely difficult. Harry wanted to go to sleep but was unable to sleep in his favorite position- his back- due to his sore rear and thighs. He hadn't meant to break the plate during breakfast; but in his haste to clear the table, a plate slipped from his little hands. Unfortunately, his Uncle Vernon hadn't left for work yet and he was absolutely furious. He went on about ungrateful and unnatural freaks before taking off his belt and delivering what he thought to be a very fair and necessary dose of discipline. Vernon 'knew' that it would not do to let freaks like his nephew get uppity, who knew what they would get up to if not strictly kept in line.

The morning's discipline was what led to Harry laying miserably on his side, alternately rubbing his sore rear and fanning himself to take the edge off of the summer heat that always seemed so much worse in his tiny cupboard.

He was desperately hoping that he would hear the music again tonight. Sometimes, after days when Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had been particularly angry with him, he would hear what he assumed to be a quiet lullaby.

After a half an hour of trying to get comfortable on his toddler mattress, Harry heard the beginning of the lullaby he had hoped to hear. He always heard a woman singing in a gentle voice and the music never failed to make him feel safe and loved. Tonight was a bit different, though. As the lullaby went on, Harry could feel a cool breeze flow across his face. He tried so hard to stay awake so that he could enjoy the feeling of the music and the breeze, but sleep quickly claimed him.

October 1988

Harry was running as fast as his little legs could carry him. Dudley and his friend Piers – who was undoubtedly just as nasty as Dudley- were playing their favorite game, "Harry Hunting". Harry knew he had to get away. Not only would Dudley give him a thrashing, but he would be late getting home from primary and would be in trouble for not being there to start his chores on time. As he was running, he suddenly heard shrieking and barking behind him that was quickly getting further away. Harry took a chance and looked behind him and what he saw made him stop dead in his tracks. Dudley and his friend were being chased by a very scary dog. Harry couldn't help but stop and watch as Dudley jiggled as he ran away. Dudley made it to the street corner and turned. The dog let out one more snarl, then flickered, sort of like a dying light bulb, and disappeared. Harry rubbed his eyes but could not deny what he just saw. 'That dog really did just disappear. I wonder if it came from the same place that my music does?' Harry walked the rest of the way to Privet Drive in peaceful contemplation.

July 1989

Harry knew that tonight was going to be a terrible, painful Friday night. His Aunt Petunia had taken Dudley to a movie and Uncle Vernon had come home in a dark mood. He had already resigned himself to going without dinner and thus silently swore that he would stay out of his Uncle Vernon's way. Unfortunately, Harry was unable to keep his promise to himself because as he was walking out of Dudley's bedroom with a bundle of dirty laundry. He walked straight into Uncle Vernon. "Watch what you are doing, boy!" Before Harry could even stammer out an apology, Vernon brought his hand up and backhanded Harry across the right cheek. Harry would have counted himself lucky if that had been the end of it, but Harry's balance was already incredibly off due to the large bundle of laundry in his arms and so the force of Uncle Vernon's backhand was enough to make Harry stumble and to the side. Fate was truly working against Harry tonight because instead of finding purchase on the floor, his foot met only empty air and Harry began a dangerous fall down the stairs. Harry was surprised when he felt a soft presence behind him stop his fall. He stood on the steps as a woman pointed a stick at his Uncle and whispered a word that sounded something like "oblivion", sending him into a slack-mouthed stupor. After that, the pretty woman began to flicker, much like the dog had from a few years ago. She gave Harry a sad smile, and then disappeared completely. Harry turned to look at his Uncle who seemed to be shaking himself out of his stupor.

Finally orienting himself to his surroundings, Vernon found the boy staring confusedly at him. "What, are you dense now, get on with your chores". Harry hurriedly made his way down the rest of the stairs and towards the laundry room. He was mystified that his Uncle seemed to have no memory of the mysterious woman that had saved Harry from a terrible fall.