Severus' Confession
Author Note: Am I Joanne Kathleen Rowling? Nope. It's not mine, then. After reading about how JKR was influenced by Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities for the Snape/Lily/James triangle, I felt the need to write a slight AU story which was just born out of inspiration.
Severus Snape, in all his pallid, unkempt glory, walked the halls of Hogwarts, looking for someone close to him. After all the confusion in his brain, he decided to take a leap of faith. In an ironically Gryffindor-esque way, he needed to get something off of his chest. Speaking of lions, he finally found just the lion he was looking for. "Lily!"
"Yes, Severus?" Lily Evans turned around, facing her Slytherin friend, smiling faintly.
"Erm... oh, I... can we talk?" Severus asked, nervousness in his voice. Lily nodded. "Come on." he continued, leading her to an alcove. He inhaled and exhaled.
"What's on your mind?" Lily asked. Severus wrung his hands, looking pained.
"Lily... we're best friends, but I can't help what's in my head."
"What do you need to tell me?"
"Friendship is only a fraction of what I feel... I love you, and not just as a good friend. For months that's been weighing down on me, and nearly driving insane. If I didn't know better, I'd say that I had snapped already. Knowing me, I probably have. I can't live without you. You are, ironically, the one thing that made me keep a clear head when I thought would go round the bend. I would lay down my life for someone as wonderful as you. I would do anything. Absolutely anything." Severus sighed.
The confused Slytherin looked into the eyes of the one he loved. Such a wonderful, mesmerising shade of green. Emeralds is what those eyes were. And right now, the emeralds in question were processing Severus' speech. Lily cleared her throat.
"Oh. Severus... wow, I never suspected. Look, what you want... it's not going to happen. I'm one-man woman. And I can't let go of the one in my heart. But thank you for that speech, it's sweet." she said, full sincerity in her voice. Severus shattered inside. He couldn't believe it - he thought she might not feel the exact same way, but to hear she was truly attached to another... broke him. He sniffed slightly.
"Alright. I understand." he said, his voice barely restraining the sadness and anger.
"Severus-" Lily started, but he turned the other way. He couldn't look at her.
"Who?" he choked out. Lily swallowed, a lump in her throat.
"James. James Potter." she said, putting a hand on Severus' shoulder. He shrugged. Lily's hand slipped away, guilt flooding her face. "We'll always be friends. It's just... James has something you don't. Don't try to think of what that is." she soothed.
"I'll always love you Lily. My promise will stand, should that situation rise." And with a parting hug from his beloved, Severus Snape walked away to stalk the halls of Hogwarts in all his pallid, unkempt glory.
AN: I've never really supported Snape/Lily in a shipping sense, but I LOVE The Prince's Tale chapter in the last book and think Snape's love for Lily is the greatest unrequited love story ever. The AU tweaks that I explained in the summary held the piece together.
