Trelawney's acute inner Eye, part two.
Severus gazed dumbly up at the half-demolished house.
"No." He whispered.
Inside, he ran through all the cold, dark rooms, almost feverishly needing to see Lily. Reassure himself that she was OK.
He paused at the staircase.
Slowly, one step at a time, he ascended the stairs.
Stepping over the male body on the landing, he pushed open the door to the nursery.
His heart melted, and his knees crumpled beneath him.
He half-stumbled to the the body on the floor, and gently lifted her head.
"No, Lily! Wake up, please, Lily, wake up!"
He shook her slightly, then when she didn't open her warm, green eyes and smile at him; he moaned in anguish; and clutched her cold body to him.
He whispered her name into her soft red hair; and promised the stars showing through the demolished ceiling that he would never forget her, would never love another.
He rocked back and forth as he prayed to the stars for Lily.
He pulled back from the lifeless embrace, and choked back a sob as Lily's head fell back; no life of her own to hold it up.
He bit his lip, and with one of his own hands, gently propped up her head; like you would with a sleeping child in your arms.
With his other hand, he wiped away his tears that stained her face; the dripped onto her porcelain skin.
Behind him, a wizard in a long purple robe picked up the screaming baby Harry.
Severus barely noticed, and he cried into Lily's shoulder, clutching her to him.
"Severus." Albus's weary voice was barely heard by the despairing man.
"Severus, you have to let go."
Severus shook his head, mumbling into Lily's hair.
A strong hand gripped the Potions Master's shoulder, pulling him back.
"No. No. No!" Severus chanted, keeping a hold of Lily. "No, Lily. No..."
"I'm sorry, but she's gone."
At Albus's weary words, Severus looked up, horror painted on his young face.
"...No. No, she can't be." A single tear ran down his cheek as he pressed Lily's cheek to his own, rocking slightly.
"Let go, Severus." Albus sounded tired, yet Severus was almost desperately clutching his only love.
"I... I can't. I can't, Albus." Severus admitted, shaking his head as his voice cracked with fresh tears.
Albus sighed, and placed the now sleeping baby Potter back in his undamaged cot, before gently prising Lily from Severus; and helping the man up; his hands around Sev's waist.
"There now." Albus said, not unkindly.
Severus looked down at the woman sprawled on the floor.
She almost looked to be sleeping... Eternally.
"Lily." Severus sadly pleaded like a child wanting a confiscated toy.
Sighing, Albus wondered how best to comfort the man. He wasn't really one for touch- so hugging was out...
Severus looked up and turned around to the elder man, and bit his lower lip; his brow furrowed in selfless pity, and, quite against his usual mannerism; threw his arms around Albus, needing compassion and consultation badly.
Once over the initial shock of being hugged by Severus Snape; Albus relaxed and put his arms around the thin man, patting him on the back.
"Albus..." Severus whispered into the man's shoulder.
Albus twitched his nose; Snape's breath in his ear tickled.
"I could bring her back." Severus thought out loud.
Albus pushed back from the embrace, and held Severus at arm's length. "How?"
Severus looked back to Lily, and stepped over her, so she was in-between him and Albus, and pulled out his wand.
"I could use the old magics." His voice sounded distant, and faraway.
"Severus." Albus's voice was now sharp, and warning.
"I know the incantation, I could-" He looked up to Albus. "I could- I could!" He smiled, his watery eyes smiling at the idea of Lily being alive again.
"Severus. That's suicide." Albus started, slowly moving around Lily towards the deluded man.
"But Lily would be alive." He countered.
"So she could be killed by Voldermort again?" Albus was harsh, but in those few moments Severus was silent; Albus disarmed him, caught his wand, and apparated him away.