He sat in his dark black armchair on spinners end, thinking. He slowly began to rise as he heard a knock on the door. The greasy haired sallow skinned man opened the door.
"Severus!" Dumbledore boomed striding into the cold dark living room.
"Merry Christmas, don't look so surprised to see me" Dumbledore chuckled as he made himself at home.
"Yes, well…Merry Christmas Albus" Snape struggled to get these words out.
"I have some presents for you." Dumbledore announced.
"Oh well I wasn't expecting company, so I don't have anything for you." Severus looked sheepish, guilt was not something he felt often but Albus was different. He just couldn't explain it.
"Oh nonsense, here this is just a little silly one from me." Dumbledore said.
"Thank you, sherbet lemons…well thank you." Snape looked confused at the strange present.
"Yes well, they are my favourite, could I possibly have one."
"Help yourself"
"Now Severus, I have something a little special for you…from Lily."
Severus Snape's cold, black as coal eyes began to water. He held back his tears, she has James now he told himself, don't be pathetic. Dumbledore pretended to be busying himself with the sherbet lemons.
"Here…"Dumbledore handed Severus the gift.
"I must go Severus." Albus Dumbledore left Spinners end and disapperated with a pop into the night.
Severus put the gift aside, Lily had James. She would never want him in the way he desperately needed her. He couldn't go on like this. There was no point to life without Lily. He had to do something. What though he couldn't decide. He was evil that's why Lily didn't want him. That's why Lily wasn't in his life. His love for the dark arts drove her away. He had no soul.
Voldemort! He felt his dark mark burn, the pain was unbearable. The physical pain was awful but the emotional pain when he felt it was horrific. It was a constant reminder that all those years ago he made the wrong choice. What should he do, should he join his master? What would Dumbledore think and Lily?
"I don't care" he yelled.
"But I really do" he whispered then slowly tears ran down his pale face. He would open Lily's gift then he would decide.
Slowly the unique potions master ripped open the present. Inside was the first Christmas card he had ever sent her and a photo of them hugging aged eleven. Before anything else mattered. Snape thought, when they were so innocent. There was no such thing as the dark arts in the worlds of those two eleven year olds, just each other. Severus was Lily's world and Lily, Severus's.
There was also a letter:
Dear Sev,
I know it has been a while since we last spoke. I miss you, I can't live without you. Don't take this the wrong way, I love James but I love you too. I need you in my life. You are my only family, you complete me. I know you went the wrong way, but you're a good man Severus, you can change, please don't ever forget it. Please meet me at my home 9:00pm Christmas day.
All my love Lily.
"I can change" Snape whispered.
"I will change" Lily had saved Snape from himself. There is light and dark in everyone but Lily Potter, Lily Evans helped Snape see the light in himself.
"Expecto Patronum" Snape Chanted and watched the doe galloped around him.
"Always"
