Snape's Flower
He walked into the street. It was a dull, grey day. Clouds filled the sky and a threat of rain shadowed the sleepy town of Spinner's End. He carried on, trudging slowly through streets of dusty cobblestone. It was as if the world around him held no colour; today was an especially dreary day.
Reaching his destination, he sat down behind a bush that was dwindling in the leaves department. The park was empty. Good. His father never went to the park. Better.
He was somewhat enjoying his solitary time, when two unfamiliar girls around his own age came skipping happily down the path. He slid himself closer to the ground, curled up in an awkward position.
Severus watched as they hoisted themselves onto a pair of tire swings. They started chatting, but about what he wasn't sure. One of the girls in paticular caught his interest. Her auburn hair and bright, emerald green eyes stood in sharp relief against the faded backdrop that was Spinner's End. Her hair blew in the wind and her kind eyes twinkled.
She brought life into the town; she brought life into Severus.
After some time (an amount of time that seemed too short for him), the girls left. He watched them go, slowly breathing out a shaky breath. He realised in that moment that he would be coming back to see her again. Sometime soon.
Looking down, he noticed that a white flower lay at his feet, seemingly tucked beneath the brambles. It was bright and it's beauty was remarkable.
Just another reason to come back.
After a month of caring and visiting his flower (which he now knew to be a lily) and watching the girl (who he now knew to be named Lily) he had made a decision.
He was going to talk to Lily (the girl), and he was going to make every moment worth it.
Packing for King's Cross. Phew. Okay.
He threw one last pair of socks into the trunk when an idea, a wonderful idea hit him. In a hurry he grabbed an empty jam jar. He ran out the door. He ran to the park. He ran to his bush.
Slowly, carefully and steadily he raised the flower along with it's soil into the jar, closed the lid and prayed that it would survive the train ride over. Severus didn't know about flowers. Why would he? He wasn't a girl.
It had survived, and for some foolish reason, he had attributed this to his undying love for Lily Evans. So after the feast he snuck out and planted his lily somewhere on the grounds. Somewhere safe. Every day since, he'd been watering it, caring for it, nurturing it.
Snape woke with a jolt.
He forgot.
Last night he had not seen his flower.
Later that day, he would discover the consequences of his actions.
"I don't need help from filthy little mudbloods like her!"
...
"Fine."
"Isn't it wonderful?"
"Oh yes, we've been awaiting this for so long!"
"I'm ever so happy for them!"
His jaw clenched and his hands balled into fists. Of course everybody would be talking of famous, perfect Potter and his famous, perfect Lily.
His Lily.
Snape was suddenly in no mood to finish his breakfast. He paid the innkeeper and left in a hurry, robes billowing out behind him. He stuffed his hand into his robe pocket and fished out the remnants of a withered lily flower.
After flinging it down in the street, he attempted to find shelter from the public eye as silent tears rolled from the corners of dark eyes. He wiped them away in a huff.
So much for his lily.