Snape poured the memory into the Pensieve. It was time to revisit that day, so long ago, when Lily was still friends with him, and wasn't in love with the arrogant toerag that was James Potter. Fifth year again, he mused. But this time, he had the answers to her questions. This time, he knew when she was coming from. He braced himself, and plunged into the Pensieve.
"Are you sure, Lily?" A young Severus stood in front of Lily Evans, wand raised.
"Come on, then, Sev!"
"I don't know what this'll do!"
"All the more reason to find out!"
"What if it hurts you?"
"Then take me to Pomfrey. No grudges held. Come on, Sev, please?" One look at Lily's face and Severus caved.
"Alright. Ready?" Lily nodded. "Divinus Spectrum!" An arc of electric blue hit Lily, and she stood, suspended in air, before falling.
"Lily! Lily!" Severus ran over to her, helping her up.
"Severus?"
"Yes? I'm here, Lily. I'm here." Severus panicked.
"Severus? Severus! Sev, how's Harry? How's Harry? Is he fine? Does he miss me?" Lily grasped at his arm. "Severus, how's Harry? Does he miss me? So young to lose everything. Too young to lose his parents!" she sobbed. Severus felt chills down his back, as if somebody had walked over his grave.
"I don't know, Lily. Who's Harry?"
"My son, Severus, my only son...Severus, how is he? Please, Severus."
"He's fine, Lily. I'm sure he's doing fine."
"No! No, Sev! My son!" She sobbed, doubling over, before crying out. "Severus!"
"What is it? Does it hurt?"
"Severus, how could you? Why did you tell him?"
"Tell him what? Tell who what?"
"He's after us, Sev. He thinks the prophecy, a child born in July, he thinks it's Harry! He's going to kill us. He's tracking us down. He's going to kill us all!"
"Harry? What? Killing? Who?"
But Lily doubled over in pain. "No! Please, please, please! Make it stop. I swear, I'll do whatever you want! Just make it stop!"
"Finite!" Severus cried, hoping. Anything, anything!, just to make her stop screaming. Lily fell to the floor, and Severus rushed to her, helping her.
"Who's Harry? Who's after you? What did I tell then? Who did I tell?"
"Sev? Who's Harry? Are you alright?"
"Lily, you have to tell me. Please, Lily, I need to know!"
"Did somebody slip you a Babbling Beverage? I bet this is Potter's idea of a joke. Come on, let's get you to the hospital wing."
Snape swirled out of the Pensieve and stood there, unmoving.
"Harry's going to be fine, Lily. I'll watch over him. Until my last breath. I love you. I'm sorry.