Author Note: This will make little to no sense unless you've read Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities." If you haven't read it, I recommend it - while there are a couple dry parts, the general book is good.

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He was a regular Sydney Carton to James' Charles Darnay. Both pining for the same girl, only one succeeding in winning her heart. One obvious for her affection, the other more subtle. It would cause his downfall.

Of course, Carton sacrificed himself in the end. Severus, not so much.

Carton redeemed himself. Severus, not so much.

Could she ever see that he had tried for her? He had pleaded and begged and eloquently attempted to persuade the Dark Lord to change his mind. Only kill one. Leave the other. Oh, how the Dark Lord had mocked him that night when he came with his petition - leave Lily Potter alive. It was in that moment when Lily Potter drew her last, frightened breath that Severus lost all faith in the Dark Lord.

He liked to believe that he would have had a chance with Lily. That she would have appreciated all Severus did in order to spare her life. That she would forget all about her Darnay and settle for Carton.

Despite what he might have told himself, there was always that underlying truth - the inevitable fact that Darnay was always chosen over Carton. And what right did he even have to compare himself to that fictional man? Sydney Carton sacrificed everything, forfeited his life to save Darnay. "For the ones you love..."

No, Severus could not give his life for James. Severus couldn't give his lunch for James. But Lily...Severus would give all he had and all he didn't know he had for Lily. Only Lily. That sweet Scarlet Thread that strung them all together.

But in the end, Lucie chose Darnay. Lily chose Potter. And what sick twist allowed Lucie and Darnay to die while Carton lived on in his misery, forced to look upon the product of their love, forced to assist the constant reminder of all the possibilities he had lost?

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known." Carton says.

"It is a far worse pain that I feel, then I have ever felt before; it is a far worse struggle that I stand in front of than I have ever stood in front of before." Severus says.

And on that fateful morning after the loss, though the earth was cold and wet, the sky was clear, and the sun rose bright, placid, and beautiful, while Severus' heart receeded into the dark, stone cold fortress in his chest.

Is it considered a sacrifice if you live?

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ok, so this is really short, but it's just something that's been in my head and i wanted to get it down on something. maybe someone out there will appreciate it. hopefully.

peace!