IWSC
Round Two: The Ring
Mahoutokoro: Despite having a high regard for his legacy, Tom Riddle didn't think twice before ending the rest of his family line. Write about a character whose actions contradict their ideals.
Year 2
[Quote] "I miss you more than I remember you." - Ocean Vuong
[Genre] Drama
WC: 1040
Not enough
The giant snake lunged at him and before he had any time to react, his body crashed to the hardwood floor. Blood was running down his neck and he was freezing. He was shivering, but couldn't move. His weak body was surrounded by a puddle of his own blood. He was stuck to the drying fluid, but couldn't do anything about it. His eyes fell shut and he was slowly fading away…
"Sev, Sev, Severus!"
He slowly opened his eyes. It took him a moment to focus his vision. He almost couldn't believe it, but he was met with the most beautiful eyes in the world.
"Lily," he rasped. Not thinking about his injury, he lumped at her and hugged the young witch with all his might. His heart jumped and his body felt oddly light. His injuries and his aching shoulder were forgotten.
She embraced him and Snape couldn't keep his tears abay. He bathed in her warmth and inhaled her floral perfume. His every fiber came alive. He felt younger and rejuvenated. His hard work and sacrifices have paid off in the end. This was everything he ever wanted. She was his and he would never let go of her ever again.
He tugged a streak of her red hair behind her ear. "I'm so glad that you're well. What have you been up to?"
"I've been dead." He momentarily lost control over his facial expression, but Lily burst out laughing. "It's alright. The more important question is what have you been up to?"
She looked at him with big eyes. Snape felt his throat constrict. Ha had dedicated his life to her and yet now that they were face to face with each other he felt awfully inadequate. She was so perfect and he was, well, he was Snape.
He took a moment to figure out what exactly she wanted to hear. "I've been keeping an eye on your boy?"
"Harry?" Her eyes lit up with joy. "My baby. How is he doing?" She tugged on his flowy robes. "Tell me everything I need to know."
"Potter is no longer a baby," Snape said dryly. He took a deep breath. "But I've been keeping an eye on him for the last few years."
She was leaning forward, stabilizing herself on her hands. Individual hairs tickled his pronounced nose. "And? Is he taller than me? In what house was he sorted? Is he doing well in school? Does he have a girlfriend? Or a boyfriend? How -"
He put his finger on her lip. "He's about your size, a Gryffindor. As for his academic achievements, well, they are somewhat lackluster. Unlike us, for Potter, there seems to always be something more exciting to occupy his mind."
"Just like his father," Lily giggled.
"Yes," He gritted his teeth.
Lily kept pressing him about Potter and Snape was getting uneasy. He sacrificed his life for her and all she wanted to talk about was Potter. He was no longer entertaining this nonsense. "I've been looking out for your son, but we're not that close. It would be highly unprofessional since I'm teaching at Hogwarts."
"Hm, I don't know, our community is so small…" Lily rambled. "It's so weird though, I never thought you would enjoy working at Hogwarts. You like it quiet, and structured, and children, they're so messy…"
"I do not enjoy it."
"Then why are you working there? You're a brilliant potioneer. There are so many options. You start your own pharmacy or do research for St. Mungo's…"
He took a deep breath. "That's the price you pay for trying to save someone's life." Snape stared at her.
She swallowed hard without breaking eye contact. "Aren't you happy that you're doing the right thing now?"
"What? You can't be serious right now? I've given up my entire life and you want me to be happy about it? I've navigated two powerful wizards breathing down for the past twenty years. How do you think I'm supposed to feel grateful about that?"
"It's no one's but your own fault that you've ended up in this situation. Did you really think that there wouldn't be any repercussions to joining a genocidal maniac?"
"And now you're blaming me? Have you forgotten how horrible your James was to me?"
Lily sighed. "No, I'm just saying that you have chosen your friend, you have chosen the side you were on and you have chosen to get involved. There is a big difference between teasing someone in school and supporting genocide. You've had almost 20 years more to grow up than James and you're still acting like you did nothing wrong."
"That's rich coming from you. Not everyone grows up with such a perfect family. Everyone was always doting on you. You can't even see what others are doing for you. And then you threw it all away for some brat."
She shook her head. "I'm sorry you feel that way. All I wanted for you was to be happy, but you chose to be bitter. You were given the gift of life for twice as long as I was and you wasted your opportunities. I'm sorry for you. I always wished for you to have someone to live and die for too."
"You were that someone."
"But you don't understand," Lily took a deep breath. "I want you to be nice to others and yourself, to do the right thing, so that you can build real friendships, ones that don't rely on getting the most out of. You had decades to build your own family and you chose to sulk and now you are putting all the blame on me."
She looked frantically around.
"Where are you going?" He grabbed her arm.
"I need to make sure that my baby isn't going to join me."
"You can't just leave me here. I have done everything for you. You own me. I don't want to spend eternity all alone."
Lily bit her lip. She looked at him with her beautiful green eyes. "Your best wasn't good enough." She tore her arm out of his grip. "And I don't owe you anything. You, however, owe it to yourself to make peace with yourself. This isn't my journey."