It was the first time he saw her after that fateful day. His forearm still ached from the branding, but he was still eager to prove himself. Lucius Malfoy squeezed his shoulder encouragingly as Severus prepared himself as a guard, in a row of a dozen other Death Eaters. Severus was unsure as to why they were gathered outside Hogsmeade, of all places, but Lucius assured him that they would not be recognized. No one knew who the Death Eaters were, after all. Not long after the Dark Lord had vanished out of view, the Death Eaters were joined by a number of witches and wizards. Severus recognized them as Dumbledore's petty band, the Order of the Phoenix. As the two so-called armies began to duel, Severus wondered briefly where Lily was. Surely she would not have passed on the opportunity of a good fight, never Lily. Sure enough, he soon saw her battling Avery, her red hair wind-swept and her fierce-looking face almost blue with cold. Avery was soon knocked out the way, and Lily instead focused on Severus.
Extremely grateful that his mask covered his face, Severus was shocked by the look of pure hatred on Lily's face as they began to duel. True, she didn't know who he was, but the idea of the woman he loved loathing him so much made him slightly sick. They dueled for some time, but this did not surprise Severus. They had always been evenly matched while in school. Severus cringed as he sent cure after curse at Lily, while she reflected them easily. Soon enough, one of his fellow Death Eaters would come to help him, and she would be killed. There was no way she could survive a double attack, an incredible duelist though she was.
"Think you're something special, don't you Death Eater?!" she spat at him suddenly, "But I disagree. Evenly matched by a woman, how embarrassing for you!" Severus didn't reply. He stepped back, in an attempt to avoid her, but his mask got caught on a tree-branch, and was wrenched free.
Horror rose in Severus's chest as Lily saw his face for the first time. If not for her eyes, her expression was unreadable, but her eyes looked tormented.
"You…no…you're…" she gasped, stepping back. Severus stepped forward, reaching his hand towards her.
"Lily…" he said, egding closer, but she stumbled back, her wand raised.
"GET AWAY FROM ME, DEATH EATER!" she shouted, her expression wild. It was the despair and fear in Lily's voice that made Severus turn and begin to run, not looking back at the wizards and witches still in battle.
"Where the hell do you think you're going, Snape?!" exclaimed Lucius Malfoy, from his duel with Frank Longbottom. Severus didn't reply, but disapparated once he was out of view. He knew he would be tortured for this, but he didn't care. If there was ever a time that all hope was lost, it was now.