Written for the 'Can You Write A Romance?' 2nd annual challenge on the HPFC.

Lily/Severus

'barbarous'
For SeductiveInnocence.

Another bit of angst. Why? 'Cause I'm an unoriginal, unacademic sadist. So there. :P

xx Avril


one; gaze.

"higher, tuney, higher!"

gaze at her, little boy, from behind the bushes. stare as her lips curve into a mulberry smile, as her ruby curls bounce with every movement. look at her emerald eyes sparkle when she laughs, and listen to her playful banter with her sister – the girl who secretly envies her little sister's magic.

gaze at her, little boy, from afar, dreaming of the day when you finally dare to go up to her and introduce yourself.

( but you were never a gryffindor, were you? )


two; laugh.

"hi, i'm severus. what's your name?"

laugh with her, little boy, with the girl you've been dreaming of for so long. listen to her windchime laugh and echo the sound as best as you can – but she's much too perfect for you, isn't she, best friend or not?

laugh, little boy, while you still can – hold her tight while she's still yours.

( because she's lily, and she's like quicksilver, and she's going to slip from your grasp, one day. )


three; fall.

"you're my best friend, sev."

"so are you, lils."

fall for her, little boy, (too) quietly, (too) quickly, (too) deeply. fall for your best friend, a little more with every word she says, with every day that passes when she's with you. fall for her pretty smiles, her sparklygreen eyes, her teasing chatter. comfort her when she cries, listen to her when she rants about everything under the bloody sun -

and fall for her, little boy, even though you know she'll never do the same.

( because, she's perfection, and perfection doesn't go with brokenness.)


four; lie.

"i don't need help from a filthy mudblood!"

"fine, then, snivellus."

lie to her, little boy, that she's being paranoid, that 'the boys' are just having a bit of fun – that they're not being barbarous in their cruelty. lie to her, because she'll never want you, and you're tired of not being wanted. push her away, then, darling, and tell you that you don't need her, don't want her; and pretend you don't see the hurt in her (muchtoogreen) eyes.

lie, little boy, because you need her more than you'd ever dare to admit.

( because she's lily, and she's your best friend, forever and ever and ever. )


five; regret.

"lily! LILY!"

regret, little boy, that you didn't try harder. regret that you broke off the friendship for your own petty means, that you never told her you loved her, that your love couldn't keep her alive. And remember, forever and ever and ever, the night when you saw her lying on the floor, eyes wide and lifeless, mouth open in a silent scream.

regret, little boy, whenever you see her (toogreen) eyes in the face of the boy that you hate.

( but isn't it just a little too late for that, honey?)


Reviews make my day.