'How Aeroplanes Stay Up'
A.N. This is sort of a sequel to 'Mistletoe,' that is, it fits into that 'universe,' if you will. This is not part of my post-DH series.
It started out a normal day. Severus got up, stumbled to his washbasin and made himself slightly more presentable, even though there wasn't anyone in the kitchen to see him. He then walked, slightly more steadily, to said kitchen, still feeling keenly the lack of companionship. Then again, he'd lost that, four years ago. In fact, exactly four years ago.
He should have known that it wasn't going to be a normal day, at that.
Severus made himself a cuppa and buttered a piece of toast. He was always on autopilot in the morning. He also hoped that no one he knew ever found out about his fascination with Muggle airplanes.
Something tapped at the window. Severus stood up from his chair, went over to he window and opened it. He took a couple of Knuts from the mug on the sill and placed them in the pouch on the owl's leg. He took the paper and the owl flew off. Severus watched it leave. Even dumb animals didn't want to be near him …
What was going on in the world today? Severus scanned the front page of the Prophet. More deaths, more disappearances, more sightings of He Who Must Not Be Named … more of the same. More of what had made the Prophet for the past nine years. Severus's lip curled. The only vaguely happy news was in the 'Births, Engagements and Marriages' notices. He scanned that, wondering who had managed to be happy in these dark – Dark – times.
He stared in disbelief. How could this have happened? How had it gone that far? How could she have –
James Potter and Lily Evans are proud to announce
their marriage on this day the 11th of June.
But that was impossible. How could it have lasted that long? How could Lily have married Potter? It just wasn't possible.
Then again … Muggle airplanes stayed up in the air without the Levitation Charms that wizards used on their broomsticks. If Muggles could do that … anything was possible.
Well, there went the whole rest of Severus's life. The past four years he had spent his time by throwing himself into experimental potions, trying his hardest to not think about Lily, to numb the pain, to forget her. And now she'd gone and married Potter.
Why?
Oh, right. Potter hadn't been afraid to go after what he wanted.
You don't even deny it! You don't even deny that's what you're all aiming to be!
Lily loved to be right. She crowed for half an hour whenever she got the better of Severus in an argument. Severus would be damned if he didn't prove her right in this.
He stalked over to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from the mug on the mantelpiece. Where was Regulus Black when you needed him?