Love sometimes isn't meant to be

Summary: Why would Severus protect the son of the man he hated the most? Even if he was Lily's child, Harry was the spitting image of his father. A Severus/Lily fanfic.

In his lonely home, Severus Snape stood over a cauldron. He carefully sprinkled some powder into the cauldron before stirring the contents. After a moment, he extinguished the fire and left the cauldron to sizzle for a moment. Satisfied enough time has passed, Severus grabbed a potion glass, which was next to him, and dipped it into the cauldron. Lifting it up, he poured out a little bit of the contents of the bottle before lidding it. He then placed it back on the table.

*TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP* *TAP*

Severus turned his head to see an owl tapping the outside of his window. Moving the pot to a safer spot, he then walked over to the window. He opened it up and untied the letter, which was tied to one of its legs. The owl flew away as Severus opened up the letter. His eyes widened in surprise, recognizing the handwriting. After reading the letter, he grabbed his cloak, which was on a rack and slipped it on. He immediately left his home, locking it up with his wand. Then, he trekked a considerable distance before disappearing in a puff of smoke. He appeared at the edge of a forest. A few meters from him, he could see a woman sitting on a tyre swing looking towards the setting sun, which coated fields in an orange glow.

"Lily?" Severus called out, quickly walking over to the tyre swing. The woman turned her around before smiling at the sight of Severus.

"Hi, Sevy," the woman known as Lily greeted, getting out of the swing. Severus looked at Lily in surprise before taking in a deep breath.

"How long has it been since we first met each other?" Lily asked, feeling the tyre with her fingertips. "If I remember correctly, this tyre wasn't here and there were no fences as far as the eye can see."

"Many things can change over the course of time," Severus said in a solemn tone. "Why did you contact me, Lily?"

"Is it wrong for me to see my best friend?" Lily responded in an amused voice.

"You made it clear to me that I wasn't your friend all those years ago," Severus stated, slightly irritated. Lily frowned for a moment before looking up at Severus, brushing a lock of her red hair off her face. A moment of silence settled between the two, subtly avoided each other's gaze.

"I wanted to tell you that I'm getting married," Lily finally spoke. Severus looked at Lily with wide eyes before anger plastered itself onto his face.

"To whom?" Severus said, barely containing his rage.

"To James," Lily told Severus. Severus felt his heart stop beating and his blood turned cold for two seconds as his mind tried desperately to process what he just heard.

"You're marrying Potter?" Severus barely managed to utter out in pure anger. Lily nodded her head to confirm it, showing her ring finger. A golden ring sparkled underneath the gaze of the setting sun.

"Why him?" Severus questioned, looking at Lily furiously. "Why him of all people?"

"It doesn't matter why," Lily answered, refusing to answer his question. "I just wanted to invite you to the wedding."

"I don't think Potter would like that," Severus said, snarling as he pronounced Potter.

"Actually, he was the one, who wanted to invite you," Lily confessed, looking right at Severus.

"What?" Severus responded, shocked. "Why would he do such a thing?"

"Because he knows that I still love you," Lily told Severus.

"You love me?" Severus barely managed to speak, shocked at Lily's words.

"Yes, I have ever since I was a little girl," Lily continued, her voice cracking a bit. "But, you broke my heart and James was the one, who comforted me."

"Lily," Severus spoke as he saw tears start to gather at the corners of Lily's eyes. "I-I-I didn't~"

"I know," Lily responded, wiping her eyes. "Honestly, I didn't want to come here, but James gave me an ultimatum."

"What type of ultimatum?" Severus inquired, clearly hurt.

"Either to choose you or him," Lily answered in a shaky voice, fingering her ring. Shock flooded Severus' mind before he gulped.

"Who do you choose then?" Severus asked.

"I already decided to choose James," Lily admitted, looking at the tree instead of Severus.

"Then, why did you tell me all of this?" Severus questioned in an angry voice, tears starting to gather around his eyes. "I would have been content with the spending the rest of my life knowing that the woman I love will never love me back."

"That's why I had to tell you," Lily responded, looking back at Severus. "I wanted you to move on." Then, she walked up to Severus and kissed him. Severus was surprised at this action, but soon intensified the kiss. Feelings of euphoria flooded his entire body from this one kiss. His mind was ecstatic that the woman he loved was kissing him. Then, it ended. The two separated before a moment of silence passed between the two.

"I have to go," Lily stated before walking away.

"Wait," Severus called out to her, but she ignored him, disappearing into a puff of smoke. He looked at the spot Lily disappeared before he placed a finger on his lips. He couldn't help, but smile at the amazing feeling he felt from the kiss.

"What are you doing here?" Lily asked Severus. The two were sitting in the Potter family home. Lily was cradling a baby close to her while Severus sat opposite her.

"Lily, I wanted to talk to you about the prophecy," Severus said, holding his hands very nervously.

"What about it?" Lily answered, rocking the baby in her arms gently.

"You know your son is one of the candidates for the prophecy along with the Longbottom child," Severus stated.

"Yes, it is the only reason why we're living in Godric's Hollow," Lily replied. Severus nodded his head before taking in a deep breath. Silence filled the room as Lily waited for Severus to speak.

"Lily, run away with me," he stated, looking right into Lily's eyes.

"What?" Lily responded, dumbfounded, before standing up.

"Lily," Severus said as Lily walked towards a cot near them. He watched her place the baby into the cot before turning around to face him.

"Why now?" Lily questioned, slightly angered. "Why do you come to me with this after I just gave birth?"

"Because I wasn't sure," Severus answered, standing up.

"Sure about what?" Lily responded as Severus walked over to her.

"Did you really think that I didn't notice?" Severus asked, looking right into Lily's eyes.

"Notice what?" Lily responded in a stern tone.

"The sad smile on your face during the wedding, the dissatisfied look in your eyes as your son was born," Severus answered. "Can you tell me all of that didn't happen?" Lily looked away from Severus.

"Lily, please just tell me the truth," Severus pleaded.

"What do you want to know, Severus?" Lily asked, hugging herself. "You already know that I love you and James."

"If you truly loved Potter than you would have forgotten your love for me," Severus continued, turning Lily around to face him. He could see that tears were starting to prickle around her eyes.

"Lily, I know about James' affair," Severus stated. Lily looked at him in shock before shaking her head.

"It was before Harry was born," Lily responded. "Both of them were drunk and she looked just like me."

"Are you sure it was a mistake?" Severus asked.

"Yes," Lily answered, but her voice was filled with doubt. The two of them stayed silent for a moment.

"Are you happy with your marriage?" Severus asked, grabbing Lily's hands. She looked at him before shaking her head.

"Then, run away with me," Severus stated, making Lily look at him in surprise. "Leave behind everything and let's run away together. We could live a life outside all of this." Lily looked at Severus before shaking her head again.

"I can't do that," Lily rejected, moving her hands away from Severus. A look of dejection appeared on Severus' face as she turned her head to look at her son.

"I can't leave behind my son," Lily stated, looking back at Severus. "I may love you, Severus, but my priority is my son."

"Then, take him with us," Severus said, his voice going a pitch higher in desperation. Lily smiled warmly, placing a hand on Severus' face.

"You're a good person, Severus," Lily said before moving her hand away. "That is why you need to find someone else. Someone better than me."

"There is no one else," Severus instantly responded. "I want you, Lily. Nothing will ever change that." For the first time in a long time, Severus could see happiness in Lily's eyes.

"If you truly love me, then promise me something," Lily said.

"Anything," Severus responded.

"If I am ever to die in the near future, I want you to ensure my son has a future," Lily told Severus, lifting up her pinky finger towards him. The latter looked at Lily for a moment before nodding his head.

"Of course," Severus promised, connecting his pinky finger with hers. "I promise that I, Severus Snape, will ensure the future of your son, Harry James Potter." The two let go while Lily chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Severus asked.

"It's just the first time I heard you say Harry's name," Lily answered. "You usually call him my son."

"If you want me to, then I shall call him by whatever you want," Severus replied, chuckling as well.

"It's fine," Lily responded. "As long as you don't call him Potter like his father."

"I cannot guarantee that," Severus replied, making Lily laugh. Severus smiled at the sight of a laughing Lily.

"It's good to see you smile again," Severus stated. "It's been too long since I last saw you like this."

"You always knew how to make me laugh," Lily replied, smiling at Severus before leaning towards him. The two kissed. Feelings of euphoria once again flooded Severus' mind as he deepened the kiss. Then, they separated, smiling fondly at each other.

"How happy are you right now?" Lily asked, noticing Severus' unusual grin and touching his cheek affectionately.

"What's that term your father would use when he's happy?" Severus responded.

"Over the moon?" Lily answered, raising an eyebrow. "So, are you telling me that you're happy as my father whenever his football team scored a goal?"

"More than that," Severus stated, just enjoying the smile on Lily's face. He would never know that it would be the last one he would see. For in a week's time, the only sound to fill Godric's Hollow would be the screams of a husband, mother, and a heartbroken lover.

A/N: I hoped everyone enjoyed this story. This is a one-shot, so I'm not sure if this is how it works. All characters belong to J.K Rowling.

This is for the Quidditch League Season 5 competition Round 1: Not my OTP. Pairing was Severus/Lily and prompts used were the song "Dollhouse" by Melanie Martinez, the image "s-media-cache-ak0. pinimg 564x/30/43/e6/3043e6ca6d2c176b58d424da640180cf . jpg", and the phrase," Over the moon."

Amount of Words: 1,809