Harry walked up to where Snape was sitting and he lightly placed the palm of his right hand on the man's shoulder as Snape sobbed. He wanted to cry too. The tears were stinging behind his eyelids as he tried to keep them hidden. What had happened was all too much for him and looking at Snape, he realised that he didn't or couldn't even begin to understand what it must be like for Snape. When his touch didn't bring about any reaction by Snape, Harry took time to open the envelope in his hand. He slid out the sheet of parchment and began to read. With every line, he felt tears slide down his cheek and his fingers trembled slightly as well.

Dear Sev,

Tonight I had to teach James how to change Harry's napkin aka diapers and he wasn't too pleased about it. You see, by the time poor James was unclipping the clasps at the baby's side, he couldn't bear it. I'm sorry to say your son is a messy boy.

Your son. Our son.

Oh Sev, if I could just undo the past I would most definitely do so! I always wanted to end up being your other half and to die in your arms when the most dreadful hour might present itself. It might not be so dreadful with you by my side. I have always loved you so much sweetheart and there is not a day that goes by when I don't want to slap myself sharply for marrying James. I'm so sorry. I keep saying this over and over again because I know that someday; you will hate me so much for ending up with James that it will cause you to hate me.

Dear Severus, if that time presents itself please remember this: when I made love to you in our seventh year, I wanted nothing more than for you to always be my first. I wanted that moment to last forever. When you kissed me, Severus, it was the only time I felt so real and complete that anything seemed possible for me. James is a terrible kisser to note. Actually, he hardly kisses me at all since we got married and the baby came along.

I'm sorry, Severus.

There I go again. I don't feel like waving my wand to erase that line but as I'm writing to you, whenever I find myself penning you a letter, I always end up crying. I'm crying right now, wishing you were here to see what Harry is doing as I write this second. He is standing up in his crib staring at me and babbling in baby language. His sharp green eyes are peering out at me through the crib posts and all I can think about is that night when you held him in your arms. You were the first to hold him. Do you remember? I had called for you as soon as I delivered him using Ellen my owl. I remember penning that short letter, what was it...'come quickly' or something of that sort to you and sending it along with Ellen. When you came a mere five minutes after, the nurse was just swathing the baby in cloth and even before she asked if you were the father, you asked to hold him. Severus, I wanted to cry so badly when you asked that! You knew it was probably James' son and yet you asked to hold him in your arms!

Then you just stood there with him in your arms, playing with him, tickling his neck and picking up his tiny hand and kissing it. It was so cute to watch! Then without even asking if he had a name, you said. 'I think you should name him Harry, after your father Lily.'

Do you remember that? Of course you would because you never forget things at all.

I was just thinking about how long we have been best friends and not a day had presented itself when I thought you were not going to be there for me. Even when we fell out over that 'Mudblood' incident, I knew that had I wanted your help, I could have gotten it. Deep down, Severus, that incident did hurt me deeply because out of all the people that I knew, you were the last one I expected to call me that. I must say that I couldn't sleep that night after that incident because I kept wondering what I had done to deserve such a name. I kept racking my brains to bring up a situation where I had hurt you but it wasn't hard to bring up one. James.

Severus, as I sit here now, I have to tell you the truth. Since we met at age seven you have always been the most lovable person in my life. I have always loved you and no matter what situation presented itself before me to doubt your love for me, I had always believed you were my bestest friend. The dark arts never separated me from you because when all the other dark friends of yours scared me, I wasn't scared by you because I knew you had a heart and your heart was entirely filled by me. Your scent and your hair, your eyes and your touch: I can still remember it all. I can remember that picnic we had in the forest when I showed you the box of chocolates James had given me for Valentine's Day and you got angry. I had done it to make you jealous of course. Anything to get you to admit your love for me was what I often did but you never did say you loved me until James and I were together and he almost raped me.

That night was horrible because he wasn't drunk like he admitted he was and I was so prepared to give him a chance after being so angry at you for not saying you loved me. There I was walking down by the lake with him and he pushed me down when I started to talk about you. He demanded to know what was it about you that had me so heart flushed and when I challenged him back, he began to forcefully grab out at me and kiss me hard enough to make me cry. When he was about to rape me, you came out of nowhere and pulled him off of me. You were the one who kicked him hard and spat in his face after you saw what he had done and he ran off.

And then you cried.

I just stood there looking back at you crying as well and I didn't know why you were crying. I had never seen you cry before and never thought you were capable of it but the tears had to be coming from you. You sank to the ground on your knees and asked me why I had been hurting you so much over the past few years then you admitted your love for me. It was supposed to be the happiest moment of my life when you did say you loved me but it wasn't because you were so anguished and I was so hurt at what James had done to me. That night when you kissed me for the first time, I have to admit that I wanted to lie in your arms and kiss you forever. It felt right and real. With your fingers in my hair and your body pressed against mine, I knew my mother had always been right when she said I'd find that one boy to love me one day.

When we made out in seventh year, it was incredible. Then that night when things changed us, and I got pregnant, we weren't ever the same again. You stopped coming to see me and James got even fiercer with you. He probably suspected you were seeing me but couldn't face me with such a proposition. Now looking back at it, you had placed yourself in such a situation for me to have you although there was still James in my life. You never cared if he was with me as well once you had me you were more than satisfied. Every time we met we ravished each other because the absence was too much. We were so hungry for each other's touch and feel that those times left me wanting more even though I was completely worked out. We brought out the deepest happiness in each other.

Dearest Sev, when Professor Dumbledore altered Harry's features to look like James as well, I didn't know what I had agreed to but I did agree anyway. I knew someday that you would tell Harry the truth and you would love him with all your heart that it didn't trouble me to let him pass as James' son. I knew he'd find out somehow. I just knew, Severus. I know that you will and when that day presents itself and Harry is in doubt I will help you convince him somehow. I will come if I have to when you gather the courage to tell him and we will both do so.

Severus, I will always love you and whenever I think of you, the places where you touched me always seem to tingle as if you had done it mere seconds before. I'd forget about James and think only about you and your smell and smile, your lips and courage. I'd think of when you used to comb my hair and when I taught you how to braid my hair. Oh the times when you'd get angry at me and turn your back and I'd put on my cute voice on you. It made you turn around and come rushing to me. It always worked.

Remember the time when I showed you the box of chocolates and the rose what you said? When I told you that I liked how the rose smelt, you said you preferred the scent of a Lily? It made me blush deeply at that! Then that time when you were over at my house for dinner and we sat next to each other? Remember when our hands brushed and you teased me under the table, right in front of my parents, by placing your hand on my thigh and running your fingers there? I remember how we would hold hands under the table and I'd touch you there for fun, just to see how you'd brave that serious expression on your face in front of everyone.

It was so thrilling after when you took out revenge after dinner. We had so much fun then. I'll always treasure those good times. I know you will as well.

Just a reminder before I go: remember that you are invited for Thanksgiving even though I know you wouldn't come. Don't worry with James or Sirius. They can't do anything to stop you from coming. To James, Sirius is Harry's Godfather but to me, it is you who are Harry's father and that matters far more to me. Please come. I love you and I want to see you. We got Harry a broom yesterday and he is learning to use it. I want you to see him in action Severus you can't continue avoiding me. I need to see you, please. Every day that goes by without me seeing you, it kills me! I need to hear your voice and see you. I long so much for you, Severus. Please come. You see how I'm babbling like dear Harry? It's because maybe like him, I want to see you again. Please don't make me come looking for you. If I am forced to, you and I will both have to, as you would say, 'ravish each other'.

Your Lily

'Harry.'

Harry dropped the two sheets of parchment and turned around to look at Snape. There he sat in the chair with his fingers pressed unto his temples and his eyes were swollen and moist. He was looking at Harry dazed. Harry was crying too after reading the letter and his knees had become weak as well. He all of a sudden found it hard to take deep full breaths of air and his head was fuzzy.

'I read it', he said bending to pick up the sheets and looking up. His voice was cracked just as Snape's was.

'Harry, I'm sorry', Snape said and he sighed deeply then got up. 'I'm so sorry. Will you ever forgive me for all the horrible things I have done?'

And without waiting a beat, Harry went forward and hugged the man who ended up being his father.