Title: She's Gone
Author: Meatball
Summary: An unhappy Valentine's Day fic about Severus Snape.
Author's Note: Alternate universe, out-of-character. In this universe, Lily and James had broken up as teenagers after a stupid fight, had never married, and were still alive. Severus had married Lily, and James was the jealous one on the sidelines.
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Severus leaned closer to the mirror, examining his long hair. Had he seen…? Yup. More grey.
He sighed, and turned away, slipping on his teacher's robe as he strode towards the door. Regardless of whether the sun rose or set, or whether his hair was grey or black, or whether his wife came home or not, he still had to teach his damned potions classes.
"Dad?"
Severus sighed again. "Yes, Harry."
"Is Mom coming back?"
Snape gave his son a dry glance. "I don't know. Shouldn't you be at breakfast?"
Twelve-year-old Harry looked down at his feet, his Slytherin robe adding bulk to his slender frame. "Yeah, I'm going. It's just that…" He looked back up at his father, his vivid green eyes so much like Lily's that Severus caught his breath at the sight of them. "Did you know they're saying that she's going to marry Professor Potter? How can she? Isn't she married to you?"
Severus winced. He would have preferred not to discuss this with Harry, but long ago, he'd made a promise to his infant son to always tell him the truth, no matter how painful. This was one of those times when he wished that he'd never promised such a thing. "Yes, Harry, she is," he said. "And unlike Muggle marriages, wizarding marriages are a bond for life. However, there are ways to undo such bonds. They're expensive, and time-consuming, and involve a lot of time at the Ministry, attending counselling sessions. But yes, life bonds can be undone. However, it's a painful process, emotionally, and not something to be undertaken lightly." He gave his son an apologetic glance. Harry frowned at him.
"But if she wanted to be with Professor Potter in the first place, why did she marry you?"
Severus lowered his gaze, thinking of the half-empty bottle of love potion that Lily had discovered a few days ago, while searching for a suitable hiding place for her Valentine's Day gift to him. The tears, the disbelief, the shock…and the discovery, when the potion had worn off, (for after discovering the potion, Lily had prepared her own food and drink, not allowing Severus anywhere near), that she did not love Severus, had never loved Severus, and in fact, still loved James, who had faithfully waited all these years for her.
Her rage had been frightening, when she had discovered the potion. By contrast, her departure, after the potion had worn off, was icy and formal. She had announced her decision to petition the Ministry in order to sever their marriage bond, and she was going to marry the man whom she truly loved: James Potter. She would be in touch regarding custody arrangements for Harry.
Sadly, Severus raised his eyes to meet Harry's, and did the one thing that he had promised never to do. One more tarnish on his nearly-blackened soul. He lied.
"I don't know, Harry." He closed his eyes with shame. "I don't know."