Forgiven

"I'm sorry!" Yes, of course he knew 'sorry' wasn't good enough. If it was, she'd be saying, 'Oh Sev! Of course you're forgiven. I know that stupid old git, Potter provoked you and that he should just rot in Azkaban. I love you much more than that!'

"I'm not interested."

It was obvious she wasn't interested.

"It's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious little Death Eater friends — you see, you don't even deny it! You don't even deny that's what you're all aiming to be! You can't wait to join You-Know-Who, can you?"

Severus looked at her, thinking that tears could fall out. But he said nothing. What she said was true. I want to impress you; he wanted to plead, to show how powerful I can become. Me, Severus, without all those riches, without skills in quidditch, with out that stupid hair!

"I can't pretend anymore. You've chosen your way. I've chosen mine."

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to call you a m-"

"Mudblood?" She interrupts haughtily. "You call everyone of my birth that. Why should I be any different?"

Lily turns to walk away.

Severus looks at her. She was even perfect from the back.

"Lily!'"

She ignores him.

"I think I love you."

She didn't look back, but she stopped moving.

"Lily. I've liked you for almost five years. Remember when we first met as kids? I called you a witch and your stupid sister-"

Lily flinched.

"Told you to get away from me. I had been watching you. All the time, trying to pluck up the courage to talk to you."

"I've made up my mind, Sev."

She whispered the password to the portrait.

"Lily!"

He grabbed her shoulders, and turned her around. Her green eyes were startling.

"Lily, please. I swear, anything!"

"This will just be a promise you'll break. Please. Let go of me."

But Severus didn't let go. He'd be losing too much.

"Anything, Lily. I'd give up being a Slytherin. No more dark arts. Lily, I swear!"

The fifteen year old boy, pledging his love.

You've chosen your way, and I've chosen mine. All those times, she'd tried to convince him to let go of his Slytherin friends. It's not worth it Lily, forget him.

He's your best friend, though.

Was.

Don't you love him, too?

Lily turned away once more, water trying to drip in her eyes.

But Severus was faster. "I won't lose you! Not to Potter!"

"So this is what it's about?" Lily screamed, even surprising herself. "Your stupid rivalry? Forget it!"

She should've left when she had the chance.

"No. It's about you."

He kissed her.

When he let go, tear were dripping down her face.

She brought up her hand, and as hard as she could, she slapped him.

"I forgive you." She whispered, and hugged him close.

Severus smiled.

Then he woke up, and realized that he had just lost his best friend.