A/N: Hola, mis amigos! I never usually write anything Harry Potter related for fear of screwing it up, but I love Severus/Lily so much that I had to. I'm working on something longer, but while I write (which is a slow process!) I thought I would post some short little snippets to try and capture their relationship. I hope you enjoy them :D
He watches her from the shadows.
Her face is screwed up in an all too familiar expression of determination as she selects a memory so that he can't help but wonder what she is thinking. The boy in him hopes that she's remembering that happy afternoon they spent by the lake before it all went wrong; the Slytherin in him knows better.
Nothing happens the first time she shouts 'expecto patronum', her face all glowing with girlish excitement. She looks disappointed and for half a moment Severus considers going to her. He puts one foot forward, on the verge of calling out, "Li,-"
But then he comes into view. Potter. Always God damn Potter.
"I was thinking hard of my memory, just like you said, but nothing happened!" she spluttered.
"It's a difficult spell. Don't worry Lily, not many people get it right the first time," he touches her arm lightly. Lily doesn't seem to feel it, but for Severus it feels like an unforgivable curse aimed right through his heart.
"Did you? Get it right the first time?"
"Course I did," he says casually, running a hand through his dark hair. He hesitates, but then he stands behind her and grabs her arm. "Think of your memory again. Make it a good one. Ready?"
She nods, her red hair a halo of fire around her pale face. Carefully, he guides her arm, she speaks the words and the patronus shoots out her wand, brighter than Severus has ever seen one before.
It's a doe.
Severus feels his body slide down the wall.
Lily knows it won't come so easily with real dementors, but at least she's actually managed it. She beams at James and Severus sees a spark of electricity glowing behind her eyes that was never there when she looked at him. I could have helped you too, Lil. I can use defensive magic just as well as I can use dark magic, he thinks desperately, wishing he could tear Potter's arm off. I didn't mean to call you a mudblood, Lil. I love you. But he doesn't say any of those things. He is the coward his father always said he was. And he is a Slytherin. Nothing can change that, no matter what he feels.
Her patronus dances around the room, sniffing the air for signs of danger as it leaves a trail of silver in its wake before bouncing back to its caster's side. Potter grins at her and drapes an arm around her shoulders. "Awesome! That's really great! I'll show you mine now,"
His is a stag. It stands proud next to hers, the image of magnificence with its tall antlers.
The stag and the doe. Nature's most perfect match.
Severus has never cast a patronus, but he can imagine what form it would take. Maybe a spider or some other equally loathsome creature that hides in the darkness. He can't stand to look at them anymore, so young and so happy together, his heart burning with emotion. Who could ever love a spider when they had their very own stag?
Potter freezes then. So does Severus.
"What is it, James?"
"Someone's there," he murmurs. He approaches slowly, his mouth mutating into a wicked grin when he sees who it is.
"Snivellus. Excellent." He raises his wand, prepares to shout some hex. Like Severus couldn't stop it if he wanted to. Potter was never going to curse him again.
"James, no-," she grabs his arm, pulls him away. Her patronus disappears. For a moment, Severus' heart leaps, but then she gives him a cold look and he knows that she will never forgive him; she is lost to him forever.
"What are you doing? Actually, you know what? I don't care. Go stalk someone else. You make me sick. Go, Sev, just go!"
"I...," he starts, but his voice catches in his throat like a zip. "was just going to the library,"
Potter smirks at him. Malicious. Triumphant. Bastard.
Snape scuttles away from them then, retreating into the shadows; into the shadows where a Slytherin belongs.
A/N: Poor Snape, right? ): I promise the next one will be happier. I hope I got Snape's character right. Please comment! Criticism welcome!