Disclaimer: J.K. owns Sev and Lily. I'm not making any money from this. Damn copyright laws.
She laughs, crinkling her emerald eyes. Her crimson hair shimmers as he wraps it around his fingers, gently tugging it. It is like the scarlet and gold of her house, he thinks, but infinitely more beautiful.
She laughs once more. "Y'know, Severus, you love my hair more than I do."
Severus chuckles and kisses her.
*
He fidgets nervously, straightening his already perfect collar. Why must females always be late to dances, he wonders. From behind him someone nervously clears their throat. He turns around to see Lily looking at him shyly. His jaw drops as he looks at her.
She is absolutely beautiful. Gods how he loves her.
She is dressed in smoky green robes the exact shade of her eyes. Her hair is pulled up in a riot of crimson waves, bound by emerald hairpins.
She laughs as she notices his expression. "If your mouth was any lower somebody could drive a car into it. Now come on, we've got a Graduation Ball to attend!"
Severus snaps his mouth shut and grins happily. Lily grabs his arm and grins wickedly.
"Come on Sev. We're going to be late! I want all the other girls to see you and be insanely jealous!"
*
They sit together on a cold stone wall, hands lightly touching. They lean shoulder to shoulder, trying to comfort each other. Slowly Lily swings her legs against the stone while Severus taps his fingers against his leg.
Drawing a shaky breath he says, "It can't go on."
She bows her head in agreement, her crimson hair covering her face. "I know," she whispers. Almost out of habit he gently tugs on her hair, gathering it into his hands. Lily laughs, a sound filled with pain. She brushes her hair behind her ears and looks at him, emerald eyes filled with unshed tears.
"I love you Severus."
He tries to reply, opens his mouth to say those exact words. But he can't. Instead he kisses her, both knowing it is for the last time.
*
He stumbles, almost falling to his knees as he stares at the smoldering pile of wood that was once a home. The icy mask in his hand falls to the ground and shatters.
Around him the very wind seems to whisper her last words to him.
I love you Severus
.He clamps his hands over his ears and stumbles toward the nightmare in front of him. He clambers over the debris, frantically searching for her. Then he sees her, lying face down next to a shattered mirror.
He falls, cracking his shin on a burned table. Ignoring the blood dripping down his leg he crawls forward and touches her arm.
He sits down and pulls her broken body into his lap. Cradling her head to his chest, he whispers, "No… Oh Lily, wake up. Please wake up. Please. You can't be dead. You can't be. Please Lily! I need you!!"
He keens like a wounded animal, gently rocking her back and forth. Her clouded eyes stare into his very soul, silently accusing him of all he did wrong. Her once beautiful hair snarls in the wind, a tattered bloody flag.
"I'm sorry Lily." He chokes out, gently closing her eyes. "I love you too. I just couldn't tell you. I love you. Wherever you are, I love you."
The he cries, remembering her sparkling green eyes and crimson hair.
Eyes that will never again crinkle with laughter as he gently toys with her hair.
A.N. Melodrama, anyone? Oh the joys of Lily/Severus… I hope you enjoyed this lil' ficcie. And I know Snape seems too nice and sobby but hey, he wasn't always emotionless. Review and tell me how you like it.