Chances are:
I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. They all belong to JK Rowling.
R & R please. Thanks.
Chapter one:
The Night before Lilly's wedding to James Potter.
Lily was sitting in front of her vanity mirror. She brushes her hair, slowly and deliberately, looking into her mirror. She inspected her face. Her eyes a lovely green colour, her hair, shiny and red. Her face, sadly enough had spouted a couple of pimples, but nothing magic couldn't get rid of. Apart from that, she looked pretty enough but tomorrow she wanted to look beautiful. To feel beautiful. Behind her, on the bedroom door, hung her wedding dress that she had picked out with a friend a mere two weeks before the wedding. It was to be slightly informal wedding, nothing too big, just some close friends and family. Lily knew that really she and James just wanted to get hitched. Then there was a knock on the door.
"Yes?"
"Well, well, you look gorgeous the night before your wedding". Sirius said. Lily giggled. And then she tried to look stern.
"You shouldn't be here. Isn't it bad luck?" She asked.
"That's if the groom sees the bride. Since I'm merely the best man, I'm more than allowed to be here." He explained. And then he pulled out an envelope, addressed to "Lily Evans".
"Here. It arrived earlier for you." He handed it over to her.
"Thank you. And tell James, that he better look smashing tomorrow."
Sirius, while looking bemused, nodded, and left the room. Lily opened the letter, reading it slowly. It was a letter from Dumbledore, explaining that he was very sorry; he could not attend their wedding. But that he wished all the luck and love in the world. Lilly smiled. He was a sweet man, who always cared about everyone at Hogwarts. Then there was another knock at the door. Lily frowned. She had told Sirius to leave. Why would he come back? Then without waiting for an answer, the door swung open. There stood Severus Snape. Lily gasped, shocked, she had not thought she would see him ever again.
"Severus. What are you doing here?" Lily said, rattled by his presence. He had a way of looking deep into your soul.
"Forgive me, for barging in on your home. It is out of character for me to do this. But I knew I would never forgive myself, if I did not at least try." He explained.
"Try what?" Now, Lily was twirling a piece of her hair around her finger, nervously. Severus was not known for doing spur of the moment things. He was cunning, calculating.
"Lily. I am sorry for calling you the filthy name that I will not speak of now. I was a coward then. I was a mere child, not a man at all." She shook her head, she had a feeling she knew what would happen next. Or at least what he would say next.
"Lily. I am here to beg of your forgiveness." Then without realising what he was doing, Severus swept Lily up in his arms and kissed her. A kiss that was long-over due. Lily kissed back, before pulling away, coming to her senses.
"I am getting married tomorrow. How can you come and just sweep in, thinking all is forgiven?" Lily demanded to know. "And how can you kiss me, knowing I'm engaged to another man?"
"No, of course not. I'm not a fool, Lily." He spat out. "I was merely wondering. I… I'm ashamed to say this. But I'm not sure I could forgive myself for letting this opportunity go." He swallowed as if that had been a difficult thing to say.
Lily sat, shocked. She loved James, for sure. Yes, he could be arrogant, and rude to others. He thought a lot of himself. But he would be a good husband, and a great father. Severus, on the other hand, was at times cold, or hardened by the world. He wasn't what you would call husband material. As a result of this, Lily had pushed her feelings down, deep inside and chosen the more appropriate man to marry.
"Severus, I don't know what to say." She struggled to come up with the words to say what she meant.
"Fine. I'd say from your clumsy attempt at being coherent, you have made it more than clear. I'm sorry to have bothered you, and wish you years of luck and happiness with James Potter." Severus spat. With that he turned on his heel. The door slammed shut behind him. Tears welled up in Lily's eyes. And soon she began to blame herself. Why did she not go after him?
Severus' heavy footsteps pounded the pavement. He swept his cape around his thin figure, braving the chill to hurry back to his hotel. He was angry with himself. Why did he think Lily would just up and leave James for him?
"Of course she wouldn't you fool." He said out loud to himself. He loathed to think of her marrying that oaf. James Potter. An arrogant man, full of himself with a lack of respect for others. And his friends: Sirius Black, who was nothing more than a carbon copy of James, werewolf Lupin, a vicious creature indeed. And Peter Pettigrew, a mere wannabe, in their little circle. For some unknown reason, Lily had been drawn to their group, and then to James Potter, when they were all in school, at Hogwarts. Severus shuddered to think of the beautiful woman that was Lily, and the fact that she had chosen to marry James. Of course it was completely understandable that James would fall for Lily – She, like her name, was a beautiful flower. She was kind, and saw a special light in everyone.
"Including myself" Severus muttered to himself, as he opened his hotel room door. Inside, was a small bed, a club chair that had seen better days, and table and chairs. It was not much, but then Severus never needed much. He sat down in the chair, and rubbed his eyes, they felt watery and sore. He had come to win back Lily and now realised he went about it all wrong. But now, there were no more chances. It was over, and Severus had lost. James Potter had won. He was to be alone for the rest of his life. Severus was determined to now harden his heart. Love had no place in a rational world. Or at least in his heart. Severus vowed to close his heat off, to never let another person get that close again, that night.