A/N: Hey guys, so I know I haven't updated any of my stuff in a while, but life has gotten crazy, but I promise to be back soon. This came to me randomly when I watched the Snape/McGonagall fight scene in the movie, so it's based strictly off of that, not the book. I hope you enjoy and please review, I'd love to hear from everyone!
There was fire in her eyes. He had seen the flames there before, had felt their burn before, and knew the damage that the raging fire could do.
It wasn't just the fire filling her green eyes that he knew too well. He knew her. He knew her body, her mind; he knew her physically and mentally more than any other. He had fallen for her, comforted her, made love to her, been saved by her– but that was a long, long time before, and he knew the flames had just extinguished their life together permanently.
Facing the truth that they were over made his heart stop, his stomach turn, and a lump widen in his throat. Ever since he had returned to Hogwarts, he had known that they would never be lovers again. After all, he had betrayed her, killed her best friend, and taken what was rightfully her position. Yet even amongst the hostility between them, they had brushed arms a few times, stared at each other a minute longer than perhaps was polite. He had caught her hand once in the Hall. She had squeezed, stroked his finger before looking up at him. Then they had broken away and parted, never speaking unless it was on business, strictly business. Those few moments in his reign had been moments where he still had hope–hope that someday they could find a way to resolve everything. He wanted to tell her that he wasn't what she thought. However, she had pulled her wand, stood before him, and he watched the fire melt away the only dreams he had managed to carry in his lifetimes.
His hand trembled against the wood of his wand, and he felt his hand falter, lowering his wand slightly before he realized this and restored his grip.
It was him against the world. He glanced at all of the hundreds of students who hated him. The boy across from him despised him and his confidents too were sickened by him. She was the only person that had stung. She hated him too. That was all that hurt, but it was enough pain to give in.
She fired the first spell, and if he hadn't spent years in the presence of the Dark Lord, then the Headmaster may not have blocked it in time. He had always known her to be a powerful witch, but never had he had to face her in a duel. It was more than slightly unnerving.
Another spell came, then another, and another. They continued to come, and he continued to block them.
After a few, he knew that he had to do one last thing for her. Even if she would never know, he needed the satisfaction. He had to leave, and he had to leave her in a state where she could be protected for as much time as he could allow. As she fired another strong spell at him, he deflected it so it stunned the siblings who had it in for her. They could easily kill her, no matter how powerful and strong she was. It was the most he could do without blowing his cover.
With that, he swept himself up in his cloak and Disapparated.
A witch, he would later conclude, who could hurt him still after years of nothing but pain, and could still make him love her with one glance, was one hell of a woman.