Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. If I did, Severus Snape would be alive.

Eyes of Dark Depression

Cold, bitterness and a Death Eaters soul was seen when one would look into the eyes of Severus Snape. And that's what Snape wanted people to see. Luna Lovegood didn't believe that her potions professor was a cold, bitter Death Eater. She thought there was more to it, she just needed to see for herself.
"Why are you here, Miss Lovegood?" The monotone voice of Severus Snape rang out. Luna came out of her daze. She had been distracted by the Thestrals. "I was just out for a walk" Luna replied, walking over to Severus. "Miss Lovegood, you shouldn't be out here. I strongly suggest you return to the Rawenclaw Tower, before I start taking points from Ravenclaw." Snape said, looking down at the top of Luna's head. Unfazed by the threat of house points taken, Luna looked up, and instantly found herself looking into dark eyes. Luna saw something. Not coldness, nor bitterness, nor the eyes of a Death Eater. Instead she saw large black pupils, bordered with chocolate brown irises. She saw a shield of hate and cold, icy bitterness. She looked beyond the shield. Luna saw the soul of Severus Snape. Some people say the eyes are the entrance to the soul.
Lovegood saw pain and misery, sadness and hurt. No comfort or love. No happiness or joy. Guilt and regret also clouded within Severus. Anxiety and stress growing inside Snape.
Luna felt something hit he heart. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She couldn't take her eyes of him. It felt like hours of searching to Luna, though it'd been only a few seconds in time.
"What are you staring at, Miss Lovegood?" Snape said, breaking her daze. "Your eyes" replied Luna, not hiding the fact. The two stood there in an awkward silence, until a baby Thestral walked up to Severus, weaving itself between Snape's legs and cloak. Snape kneeled on the ground, his cloak folding itself around him. The Thestral nudged Snape's chin with its nose, much like a house cat, requesting food.
Luna sat down, cross-legged, amazed that someone else accepts the Thestrals. Severus took an apple from his pocket and held it out to the baby Thestral. The Thestral sniffed the apple, and rejected it. Severus through the apple to the side, and pulled a chunk of meat from his pocket. The Thestral took it happily and ran to its mother, chewing the meat. "So, you can see them, too?" Luna asked, curiously. "Yes...for too long" Snape said, mumbling the last part. "Thestrals are seen by people who've witnessed death." Luna stated, looking out into the distance. "My mum was quite the extraordinary witch, but one day, one of her spells went wrong. I was nine." Luna explained. Snape wasn't really interested in his students personal lives. "Who died that you knew?" Luna asked, fearlessly. "Return to your dormitory, Lovegood" Snape said coldly, Getting up. Luna sighed, disappointed. She then got up and started walking back to the castle. Luna looked over her shoulder, "you have eyes like your soul, professor Snape. You're depressed, and are blocking out light by building a wall of darkness. You can always talk to me, though, professor. Goodnight." Luna spoke then skipped into the trees.

Snape stood there, starring into the distance. 'I need to avoid that girl. She sees through my shields' Snape thought. The last thing someone spying on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named needs is to be seen through by a little girl. If a little girl can see through him, what will happen in the future. Dumbledore almost saw through him, saying he seemed depressed. Did he really have eyes of dark depression?

A/N: chocolate chip cookies for all...(nervous giggle)