Always
In the cool shade of their old oak tree, the two lay looking up at the sky, forming animals in each fluffy white cloud overhead. It was a comfortable silence which washed itself over them and the lake of Hogwarts, bathed in the golden sunlight of spring.
Severus looked over to his Lily, so content with inventing a bunny she hadn't noticed. He lingered on her form, drinking in how beautiful she looked to him. Cheeks dewy with the flush of youth, emerald twinkling sweetly under each pass of those long brown lashes. How he loved this woman.
With a quiet smile he listened to her describe how much fun they would have this summer, just like all their summer's past, and how much she hoped it would never end. Never ever.
"Lily," the man interrupted with a whisper, still tracing the curve of her face with his eyes. "Do you think this really will last forever?"
The woman stopped talking and frowned at him, forming cute little wrinkles around her eyes. Severus felt his heart's nervous flutter as she took her time finding an answer. Then, right before he thought himself defeated, she simply smiled and nodded, face burrowed further into the arm folded beneath her head.
"Piece of cake, Sev. Friends can never be parted for long. We'll be together forever, you'll see."
"Do you promise that, Lily?"
The girl smiled again, locking eyes with him.
"Mmm....always, Sev."
"Always..." He slowly repeated her promise, enjoying the way such a word made him feel. His heartstrings tightened, as Lily smiled for him. Only him.
Just then the man woke up to his chamber of darkness, swallowing deeply as he realized it was only a dream. He was at Hogwarts still, but it had been many years since he lay under that tree with the one he loved. Just a memory, a wonderful bittersweet memory.
But, unlike the usual dreams of Lily, no tears came afterward, no uncontrollable spasms of a broken heart. For once Severus felt peaceful, as a feeling so foreign and wonderful washed over his mind.
For once Severus knew he wasn't alone.
And as he stare up at the blackness of his room, his lips curled into a fleeting smile, a small tribute to a friend he knew was still watching.
"Always, my Lily."