Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters, storyline, and universe belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling. This is just something that popped into my head.
"I'm sorry, Severus."
The sentence drifted over his supine form as he felt his body numb and slacken.
"Lily?" he thought, wishing he could turn his head nearer to the sound. The ghost of a palm smoothed against his forehead, cool lips soothing his brow.
"He was never your burden to bear, Sev. Thank you. I'm sorry and I forgive you."
The breath left his body in a barely audible gasp, her name on the tip of his tongue. In death, his body relaxed in a way it was never able to do in life, as he finally found the peace and absolution he was searching for, for so long.