General Disclaimer of Everything: I own nothing.

Warning: Attempted Suicide

"Sectumsempra."

Severus Snape considered the results of his latest spell, and nodded in satisfaction. Developing this one had been the work of mere hours. When he flicked his wrist this way, it caused the most pain, the deepest cuts. When he pronounced it that way, it was nearly impossible to heal with magic. In fact, some healing charms might just aggravate it further.

Severus sat down on the cold tile and leaned back against the stall door. He had already hexed Myrtle so that she couldn't tattle on him and ruin it. Not that she could object to death. That would be hypocritical of her. But she might run for a professor just to spite him. Myrtle had never liked Severus but that was nothing new.

Despite the ghost's presence, Moaning Myrtle's bathroom was the ideal place for this. No one was likely to ever come in here. Even less so now because it was the start of Christmas break. It would be ages before they discovered what he had done, and even longer before they found the body.

Merlin, he felt so tired, tired of everything. And cold too now, but blood loss was supposed to do that. Little shivers ran up and down his spine, his body fighting him. Trying to keep him alive when he so obviously wanted otherwise.

He watched the flame of the candle with half lidded eyes. It danced and guttered in the draft. He could almost imagine that it was Lily. Sweet Lily with her bright hair and her bright smile. She had been his only spot of color in a slowly darkening world. It had been his own fault for driving her off, but it was better this way. She wouldn't mourn him if she hated him too. And how could she not hate him after what he had called her?

"I'm sorry, Lily," he muttered to the candle, "I didn't really mean it you know."

But Potter had summed it up perfectly hadn't he? With seven little words, he had summed up Severus's entire life.

"It's more the fact that he exists."

That was when Severus fell over the edge. He realized what he'd have to do. Because Potter and his friends were right. He was a stupid, greasy git. Nobody cared about him. He might as well die.

His vision was starting to grey. It must be close to the end now.

"says this is the best place to make a potion because no one ever comes in here." Potter's arrogant voice cut into his thoughts. Could his persecutor not leave him alone to die in peace? He wondered languidly. No. For as long as he existed, Potter would torment him, even if it was just the hallucination of an oxygen deprived brain. Simply because he existed. Well, he wouldn't have to worry about that for much longer, would he? A breathless giggle escaped his lips.

"What was…?"

"Shit!"

"...so much blood..."

"...get...Pomfrey…."

"The stall's locked!"

There was a sharp bang as the door was literally blown off it's hinges. The sound echoed around in his head. Severus fell to the floor, his support gone. His eyes fluttered closed.

"Snivellus?"

"Come on… can't...Snape."

"...hear me, Snape?"