Easter morning dawned bright and clear over Hogwarts, bringing out the greens of the lawns and forest. In several windows, as well as Hagrid's garden, lilies were welcoming the sun. Even though no church services were held, Easter was just as joyous a holiday as any other for the school's occupants.
For all, that is, except for the Potions Master, who was stalking down the corridor to Dumbledore's office.
Since the very first appearances of brightly colored egg decorations and white lilies over a week ago, his mood had been worsening, absolutely terrifying some of the first years.
First years… This year's bunch brought with it the boy he had been dreading having to teach for ten years…
Potter.
Snape's lips curled up as the face sprang into his memory. That face, the hair, his attitude... All so much like his arrogant father's! But his eyes…
He shook his head, driving the thoughts away. The stone gargoyle before him spoke.
"Any time you'd like to give me that password, you can bloody well go ahead!" The stone eyes looked insolently at him.
"Lemon drop." Snape said, distainfully.
"Awright then." The gargoyle moved aside, and Snape stepped onto the staircase, which carried him upward.
Upon reaching the door, he rapped just once upon the griffin knocker.
"Enter." Dumbledore's voice said, calmly.
He did so, surprised to find Dumbledore standing before his desk, not sitting behind it, as was usual for him.
"Headmaster, I wish to-"
"I know, Severus." Dumbledore held a silvery cloak out to him. He knew that Snape would not wish to be seen.
"Thank you, Headmaster." Snape said, nodding curtly.
Dumbledore nodded, smiling sadly.
"You will be back before lunch, I take it?"
"Yes."
"Very well. I will be expecting you."
Snape turned to leave, the faced Dumbledore again.
"Thank you, Albus." His voice was sincere, and he had to swallow the uncharacteristic lump in his throat to speak.
"I miss her, too, Severus. Now, you will have to leave quickly if you wish to be back before lunch." Unshed tears glittered behind the half-moon spectacles.
Snape nodded and walked to the door. As the passed Fawkes, the magnificent bird let out a low, sad note that panged his heart.
As he shut the door behind him, he heard one of the portraits, probably Phinius Nigellus, speak.
"I'll never understand why you do this for him, Dumbledore. Trusting him with an invisibility cloak at all. And three times a year!"
"Easter, Halloween, and her birthday," Dumbledore replied, "Are t he only times Severus truly allows himself to grieve. I trust him. Leave him be."
Snape swept down the stairs, almost as though running from the voices, both in the office and his own head. The gargoyle made a comment, but Snape didn't bother listening to its insolence. Once out of sight of everyone, he pulled the cloak over himself.
He walked quickly across the grounds to Hagrid's cabin. Once there, he stopped, bent down, and picked a single, perfect, snow-white lily. Turning, he walked hurriedly to the gates, disapperating the second he was out of Hogwarts' grounds.
He reappeared with a sharp pop in front of a kissing gate that opened into a cemetery.
He walked slowly through the gate, following a path he'd taken many times before, weaving through the graves of others. He knew the way to his destination by heart.
He stopped at the grave he sought and sank slowly to his knees.
Gently, he set the white lily down before the grave, a teardrop landing on the back of his hand.
"Happy Easter, Lily," He choked out, his voice breaking. "I'm… I'm sorry."
Unseen under the cloak and gripping the gravestone so tightly his knuckles were white, Severus Snape gave way to his grief in the Easter morning light, tears falling on the lily.