A/N: This is the Seeker from Pride of Portree writing for QLFC Finals Round 1.
Prompt: An italicized word or phrase for emphasis AND a simile. Pairing: Severus/Lily (OTP of Keeper, CypressWand)
Thanks to my team for looking through it.
Word Count: 1262 (+2 for the title)
Disclaimer: I have no intentions of making money from this story, so all the recognisable stuff belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Lex Amoris
Looking at the passing meadows, he sighed, squeezing his eyes shut. The green of the vegetation was far too similar to her eyes. Like everything else in this world, his one true friendship had proven to be temporary. For the first time since his first year at Hogwarts, he was riding the train alone.
He stared at the empty seat in front of him. She would have been there, laughing at his rants about his so-called friends. But because he couldn't control his tongue, she had left him — just like his mother had.
The compartment door flew open, and his friends entered, sly smirks on their faces. "Why are you so glum, Sev?" Evan Rosier asked.
Severus stiffened; it felt wrong when anyone other than her called him by a nickname. It was only made worse by the fact that Rosier was so obviously mocking him.
"Ah, has the dark prince fallen in love?" asked Regulus Black. "The cold-hearted Snape? The unfeeling Snape?"
Barty Crouch, the last of his friends, thumped his back. "Who did you fall in love with? That long-bearded Dumbledore?"
"Shut up!" He cringed when his voice came out as more of a squeak than his patented drawl. They settled down in his compartment, munching on their goodies and talking, but to him, it felt wrong.
"I need some air," he said, standing up. His friends made pitying faces, but he knew they'd be laughing behind his back as soon as he left.
He was stalking down the corridor when a compartment door opened. Lily strode out, looking as beautiful as a blooming rose. Then, her eyes fell on him. He started to speak, but her nostrils flared, and she shut the door in his face.
—o—
He stared at the tiny phial of Amortentia in his hand, his blurred vision forcing him to further focus on the decision he was trying to make. One slip of his wrist was all it would take. She would come to him, begging on her knees.
Is that what you want? he asked himself. Is it right to take her choice away?
Had he ever cared about what was right? The morality — or immorality — of an action only bothered him when it came to her.
He left the Slytherin common room, a small box of Honeydukes' best chocolates in his hand. Could he do it?
Honestly, he didn't know.
—o—
"Sev, what are you doing?"
Severus turned around, looking like guilt personified. "N-nothing, Lily."
Her green eyes narrowed, and she advanced towards the goblet he had just poured the potion into. He willed the liquid to change from its current pink back to its original orange.
He gritted his teeth in an effort to stop himself cursing; why had he thought Pumpkin Juice, the ingredient most reactive with potions, would be a good idea?
Lily snatched the goblet from his hands and peered into it. Severus' hopefulness was quickly dashed.
Lily looked horrified, her deep red brows knitted together. "Severus… you didn't…" She looked up and met his gaze; the expression he wore gave her all the answer she needed. "How could you?" she exclaimed, dropping the goblet, and running from the room.
"Lily! I'm sorry!"
He awoke drenched in sweat with the sheets tangled around his thin legs. He heard snickering from beside him.
"Lily! I'm sorry!" mocked a voice from his bedside. Rosier.
Severus bit the inside of his cheek to keep his mouth shut and untangled himself from the sheets so he could leave to get a shower.
—o—
In the Great Hall, he saw her sitting opposite the blasted Marauders. She was chatting merrily with Lupin, but her gaze was set on Potter as she nodded along to the conversation. The sight made his blood boil. His resolve, which had shaken after his dream the night before, strengthened.
Hidden inside the pocket of his robes, his fingers curled around the phial of the potion he had brewed. It was strong enough that just one drop would make Lily his. He clenched his wand. One incantation was all it would take to switch the potion with her pumpkin juice. But when those green eyes glanced in his direction, searching for something that Lupin was pointing at, he knew he couldn't do it. His fingers tightened around the phial, and it felt like he was crushing his heart — but the choice was Lily's to make; he didn't have the right to take it away.
—o—
"Today, you will be brewing me something creative. You may consult your books if you wish. The one who brews the best potion will win a tiny phial of this golden potion. Just enough luck for twelve hours!"
Severus tuned Slughorn's voice out. He had enough confidence in his skills that he knew the vial in Slughorn's hand would be his by the end of the lesson. All he needed was to concentrate.
His book was still in the bag — he didn't need it. His mind absorbed information about potions like a sponge soaked water. His hands, as they always did when he was brewing, gained a mind of their own and started preparing his workbench — even as he racked his brain for a creative enough potion to impress Slughorn.
All his senses focused on the bubbling cauldron in front of him; his legs brought him to the supply cupboard without his knowledge, and he picked up the correct ingredients. He went to Slughorn's private stores next. Few students had that privilege, but Severus had won over the eccentric professor years back.
He worked in a daze until, at last, he was adding the final ingredient. His potion was ready. He stared at the liquid bubbling away in his cauldron.
The Draught of Living Death.
It would never be anyone's drink of choice. With one dose, the victim would become a living corpse. A wan smile curled his lips.
The bell rang, and Slughorn went over to each worktable to check the potions. He came to Severus last, because apparently, he too already knew who would win the Felix Felicis.
"Bravo!" Slughorn cried. "A Draught of Living Death! I've never in my whole life seen a potion this perfect from a student. The clear winner is Severus Snape!"
He pressed the tiny phial into Severus' eager hands.
Severus turned to face the class. He could barely suppress his smirk when he saw the Marauders' drooped expressions. From the Slytherin side, he could feel his friends' greedy gazes on him, as if he would share his luck with them.
—o—
He took the smallest sip of the potion from his prized phial. There was no way Lily would say no to him if he asked her out now. He strode in the direction of the Lake where he knew Lily and her friends would be sitting.
He stopped a few metres away from their group. Her eyes turned to him and glazed over. No insults thrown yet, he thought. So far, so good.
He walked to her, stopping right before her crossed legs. He opened his mouth, the words on his lips, but he couldn't say it. He thought about how, after Lily had rejected him, his choice had been taken away. He thought about how his friends had turned on him. He couldn't do that to her. Even though he hadn't used a potion on her, it still wasn't right.
"I'm sorry, Lily," he whispered. He saw the understanding in her eyes. Forgiveness. Acceptance. Empathy.
He couldn't bear it. He turned and ran away.
—o—
