Title: Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

Rating: K+

Warning: Angst with a dash of unrequited love and tragedy. (It's K+, so it's not too bad.)

Summary: He would've told her that he loved her; he could've told her that he loved her, he should've told her…but he didn't. *Severus/Lily*

Oh noes! It's yet another Severus/Lily fic for the Harry Potter masses! 0.0 This idea got stuck in my head and I decided to roll with it. This is my first time writing a Harry Potter fic, and yet I'm coming up with some OCs too. I don't own Harry Potter, dammit!

XXX

Severus would've told Lily how he felt in their very first and second years of Hogwarts if it hadn't been for that toe-rag James Potter. Every single time he would get relatively close to saying anything about how he felt the git had to come along with his little gang of muggish Marauders and aim yet another insult his way.

Lily would always come to his defense, throw a few spells at him, and call him a "selfish nitwit" before turning back to Severus with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. "What were you saying Sev?"

"Er, do you need any help with your Transfiguration?"

Severus could've told Lily how he felt in their 3rd year after a particularly bad row she had with her sister Petunia, the Muggle brat. He found her hiding behind the tree next to the lake down the road from their neighborhood, curled up in a ball and crying her eyes out.

She lifted her tear stained face when he put a hand on her shoulder. "Oh, Sev, It's you. I-I'm sorry, it's just—" she looked down at the ground "—I had another row with Petunia."

"So I gathered."

"Ever since I got accepted into Hogwarts, she's treated me like a prison inmate." She brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes and looked out over the lake. "I shouldn't let it bother me," she spat bitterly, "but," her mouth trembled, "It's cruel when people aren't loyal to their family and friends."

I'm loyal to you Lily. I love you. He tried to make the words come out, but they never did.

She bowed her head and looked at the ground. "What am I saying?" she dried her tears slowly but with determination. "People don't treat me like that. I have friends, and I have you," she smiled at him kindly, "I know I can always count on you, Sev."

Always...

Severus should've told Lily how he felt before she died. Looking down at her lifeless body in the destroyed house, he could almost see the vivacity float out of her corporal form as it took to the sky; but not her kindness…nothing could take that kindness away from her (because when it came to the one he loved, he could bloody well wax poetic if he wanted).

Time had played her trickery and beat him. The chances that he had were gone. When she had ended their friendship, he should've said something, anything, to let her know of his feelings, and he didn't. Even when her life was in danger, and her last days came and went, he did nothing.

Falling to his knees, he gathered her into his arms and held her close, pouring out all the emotions he had kept inside for years. He'll never have another chance to know how she was, never have another chance to see her newest smile in one of Dumbledore's photos, never have another chance to look at those beautiful eyes.

He was going to be haunted by those bright green eyes for the rest of his life.

XXX

What is this I don't even—? Tell me what you think; were they out of character or anything…? I think I got Lily wrong…but you know, teenagers=mood swings.

'Mug' is British slang for gullible, by the way. Review and you shall receive a hot mug of butterbeer. :)