Chapter 9: His Fault
Severus settled himself on a chair in the Common Room. He was feeling slightly down today. He had noticed (and he certainly hoped he was imagining it) that Lily was a bit friendlier with Potter these days, and it made him want to jinx Potter into a Chocolate Frog. Or do something worse to him.
Potter already had enough privileges; he didn't need Lily as much as Severus did…
He knew he really needed Lily, and more than ever now…
They had been sitting by the river in silence, and Severus would frequently pick up fallen leaves and shred them to pieces.
"Sev?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you – alright? You look sort of down…"
"I'm fine."
Lily still looked unconvinced.
"Are things getting any better at your house?"
"Well, not really. They could be worse, though."
"Your dad - does he hit you?"
"He used to. But he's stopped ever since I started going to Hogwarts."
Lily looked concerned. She found his hand and took it in hers; as soon as she had touched it, his fingers relaxed…
Feeling exhausted, Severus went to the dormitories to get some sleep.
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Lily and Mary walked into the Great Hall to the Gryffindor table, sitting across from James and Remus.
"Hi James, hi Remus," said Lily brightly.
"Hello," they chorused.
"So, what've you been doing all afternoon?"
"Homework," said James.
"You're kidding," Mary joked.
"By the way, Moony, where's Padfoot and Wormtail?" James asked.
Remus shrugged.
"In the detention, probably."
"Mind you, Moony, I still have to do Professor Falx's essay."
"Me too," said Mary. "Do you like him?"
"I think he sort of looks like a walrus," James admitted, as everyone laughed.
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Severus felt slightly sick as he watched the Gryffindors laughing at something they obviously found very amusing.
He didn't touch his food, as he watched with disgust the Lily was joining in with her fellow Gryffindors' conversation.
How he longed to talk to Lily…he hadn't had a direct conversation with her for a whole year now, all because of one stupid word…
It was all Potter's fault – why did he have to humiliate Severus in the first place?
Blaming it on Potter, Severus found very helpful, as he half-heartedly finished his dinner.
Yet, as he walked back to the dormitories, he knew deep down that it was his fault that he had lost his best friend.
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