Prologue
"Does it hurt to be at my mercy, Lily?" The crooked teeth that were touching her ear hissed, exceptionally high for somebody who was holding a knife at an innocent woman's throat. The tip teased her neck gently, vibrating against her shaky breath. But when he said that, those small words, her green eyes jumped open.
A long time ago, a boy had told her what mercy meant. And as she stood there, her life on the line, the words suddenly to be more important than anything, she discovered her life-long mistake. The only time you'll truly be at mercy is when you're finally free from the world. At the time, she thought it was a sexual innuendo (he was quite creative at those!), but now, years later, she realized it was only a mere statement probably taken out of an old book that he was forced to read. Not once, even now that she had forgiven him, did she realize that he was trying to be a regular person. It was a tad sad that now, when she may never see him again, that she finally realized he was a hundred percent right.
Because, just like he said, being at mercy wasn't losing anything. Or dying. Or being in regret. It was losing strength to hang onto the world, and even though there may have been a million times she would've wished to be gone away from the sick world, the idea of truly losing all those ties that forced her to be here sounded unimaginable. Something worth begging of mercy.
She suddenly digested the scene. The boy was going to kill her, and when he did, it will take hopefully a lifetime until she is able to touch James again. She would have to watch the man she loved love other woman because she wouldn't be able to rest without him. She would have to watch him grieve over her and nearly kill himself before he could accept that she was gone. He would continue with the war, living off her memory, and that was it. She, in other words, would be gone.
She found herself shaking her head.
"No," Her voice leveled, "You don't know what mercy is, Severus. You'll never know."
And at that moment, her story had ended. Not because she was going to die, but because she finally understood what life was about. That was the moment she realized her purpose.
AN: So before I post more, I need to know if anybody is actually interested. Yes, I know that this isn't part of the story, but yet the moment Lily relives her story, but tell me if you would give it a shot so I can continue? Reviews appreciated
