Chapter Three:
A Time to Mourn
Severus patted down the final layer of dirt on the makeshift grave, murmuring, "I'm sorry, little bird."
He could still feel the soft feathers twisting in his hands, could see the frightened bird's eyes, hear the breaking bones. His heart was engulfed by sorrow for what he had done, for Aunt Amarette.
With one last glance at the bird's grave, Severus turned to walk to the lakeside. Collapsing on the bank, underneath a large beech tree, the Slytherin felt the weight of Amarette's death again on his shoulders.
"It's my fault. It's all my fault that she died," he told himself angrily. "Why was I so selfish?"
Severus thought back to the day two months ago that he had sat with Amarette in her kitchen…
… "Aunt Amarette, is it true You-Know-Who is recruiting?"
"Yes, I'm afraid," Amarette had told him with a grim smile. "Why do you ask?"
"I got an owl telling me how to become a Death Eater."
Amarette's kindly face had grown grave and dark. "Severus," she had whispered, scared. "I won't let him take you. I swear on your uncle's grave I won't."
"Thanks, Aunt Amarette," Severus had breathed, relief filling his every pore…
… "Sev?"
Lily's voice jolted him from his reverie.
"What do you want?" Severus sneered, furious.
"I saw you from the tower. You were just whispering, 'Aunt Amarette. I'm sorry. It's my fault he killed you.' Who killed her?"
"Why would I tell you?"
Lily didn't even flinch. Instead, she sat beside him.
"Because I'm you're best friend."
"Not anymore."
Lily looked hard at him as if she didn't know if he was serious.
"Sev, listen, James doesn't matter. You're…"
"So he's James now?"
Lily couldn't say anything to this. It's true, she had always called him Potter. Severus continued in fury.
"You told me last year that you hated Potter and that would never change. But now you say you love him. How can I trust you anymore?"
Tear spilling down her cheeks, the sorrow apparent in her eyes, Lily whispered, "You can't."
A/N: At this point in the story I started to wonder which path it would take. Obviously Lily still cares for Sev even though she says she loves James. James cares for Lily, but does Sev?