AN: Severus muses about Lily. One-sided SS/LE.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter!

The Boy with Lily's Eyes

The End

Every time Severus Snape looked into Harry Potter's eyes, his heart deceives him once more. That treacherous and vile thing hammered quickly with hope as he peered into what he once thought to be his beloved Lily's. Then as quickly as the feeling went, it has gone; for he was reminder of the bitter truth: Lily is dead. And he, Severus Snape, had lent a hand in her demise. His stomach clenched with unwanted guilt. He wanted so desperately to die each time he was reminded of that fact. The only comfort he would have is shroud of the night, mixed with the warmth of Madam Rosmerta's strongest Firewhiskey that he would ingest every night.

Harry Potter was never 'The Boy Who Lived' to him. He was always 'The Boy with Lily Potter's – no, Evans (he refused to think that his precious Lily was Potter's) – Wonderfully Green Eyes'. Severus despised him for being born; for being the product of her and that imbecile James Potter's love. Yet he loved his Lily so dearly, it hurt. But at the same time, Severus saw Lily and could not help but love his eyes. In a twisted sense, he cared for that boy because of Lily and only Lily.

Severus and Lily were once close; almost glued to the hip if it weren't for their respective families. They were the best of friends even before they had gone to that wretched school that taught them magic and separation. He loved her then, and still loves her now. But he knew even years back in their Fifth Year of education that the moment he so stupidly uttered the word 'Mudblood' to her face, she was lost forever. It had been a moment of extreme anger and weakness; he had not meant to shout it at her face. The look of shock and the hurt that flashed in her eyes before it turned into anger broke his heart into millions of pieces. Severus Snape was always reminded of that time whenever The Boy with Her Eyes glared at him. He would suppress the shudder that threatened to erupt and the urge to get down on his knees and apologize profusely. Oh, he would have done everything to take it all back; to see his Lily happy again; to see her alive.

He knew it had been a foolish mistake to tell the prophecy to his Lord. Hell, it was a mistake to join Him and His stupid league of Death Eaters. As quick as one could say Dumbledore's whole name, she was dead. It was Halloween then when He struck. Severus remembered hugging dear Lily's body as he cried. If he knew that this was to be the outcome, then he would have never done it. Their time was just too short. It was unfair. Everything was unfair. Lily Evans had so much life in her that it seemed impossible to see her lying on the floor with her lifeless eyes staring back at Severus. He then took an oath to himself to see that her monster of a baby was alive; he owed Lily his life for her death, after all.

'Lily? After all this time?'

Always.

Before Severus Snape could contentedly die, he needed to see her eyes to remind him of everything he had worked for; for what he would die for. Nagini struck her fangs at him, and the Dark Lord left him to die.

Harry Potter came out of from where he was hiding; for once in his life, he got what he wanted. He would have laughed at the choice of whoever was up there for granting him a wish before he faced death. Harry Potter is, and would always be The Boy with Lily Evans' Eyes: the one and only reminder for what he has been fighting for since her death. But in that moment, he has finally accepted that Lily was never his. The last image that entered his mind was he and a young Lily, sitting close near a pond. He allowed himself that one last blissful thought, before he was known to The Boy with Her Eyes as the bravest man who ever lived.

I love you, Lily Potter.

He took one last breath before he, too, like his beloved Lily, perished.