Severus Snape looked over towards Lily Evans at the Gryffindor table. She was in the arms of James Potter, his enemy. They'd had a mutual hatred towards each other since their first day of Hogwarts, when they'd met in the small compartment on the Hogwarts express. Lily Evans, on the other hand, had been his best friend until the end of their fifth year, the day of their Defence Against the Darks Arts OWL. He'd said something really horrible to her, and now it was too late to take it back.
He was elbowed by his friend Avery as their group got up from the table to head back towards the Slytherin Common Room. He followed wordlessly. Now that Lily was in a relationship with James Potter, he hadn't been talking all that much. Just paying attention to his school work and Prefect duties, and other things that took his mind off of Lily. He knew that he was in love with Lily, but Lily hated him. He didn't blame her for that though. If he had been in her position, and his best friend had said that to him, he was fairly sure that he'd hate them until the end of time.
Instead of sitting and gossiping with his friends by the fireplace, Severus went straight up to his dormitory, which was empty, and pulled a photo album out of his trunk. There were so many pictures of him and Lily in there. It never made him feel any better, but it was nice to think, even just for a little bit, that she did care for him, and that she wanted him back.
But it was useless to wish, because he knew it would never be. Instead, he closed the book, and walked over to his trunk. Inside was the robes he was going to wear to the dance that was tomorrow night. He didn't have anybody to go with, but that didn't mean he couldn't try once more for the love of his life. He closed his trunk and wandered over to his bed. As the other people in his dorm came in to go to bed, he pretended to be in deep slumber, thinking about the one person he wanted to be with for ever.
**
The lake was shimmering with brilliant coloured lights, made all the better by the light reflecting from the half moon. He looked over towards where Lily and her best friends were sitting. He smiled to himself as he stood up. He was going to go over and ask her to dance. It was his last chance. He was almost there when something made him look up. Also going over to Lily was James Potter. Of course, Severus knew that James couldn't have been far, but he hadn't wanted to admit that to himself.
As James took Lily's hand, Severus' hopes died. He had wanted to hold on to the last shred of hope until there was no way he could hold on to it for any longer. He saw Lily's loving smile to James, and, although he hated the git, he couldn't help but be happy for Lily. She'd found true happiness in this world, and that's all he could really want for her. Although, he was a little jealous that she hadn't found true happiness with him.
He turned to go back to his seat, maybe grab a butterbeer. But, just as he did, he felt somebody's eyes upon him. He turned to face Lily, who was in James' arms. But she was smiling at him. Maybe there was hope after all. But still, he knew that he couldn't be with her now. The love of his life was also the love of someone elses.
I'll bet he gets the nerve to walk the floor, and ask my girl to dance
She'll say yes, because these words were never easier
For me to say, or her to second guess, but I guess
That I can live without you but, without you I'll be
Miserable at best.
- Miserable at Best by Mayday Parade