I know it's dreadfully short, but don't worry, I'm putting up chapter nine right now. Please read and review!
Chapter Eight
Lilly woke up the next morning, warm and comfortable under the blanket, though she couldn't remember getting there. Severus was still beside her, still warm. She moved until her head was on his chest again.
She was beautiful with her eyes closed in the half-darkness of morning. Her almost liquid black curls spread out, contrasting with the white of the pillow before melting into the shadows. Severus closed his eyes again, reaching out with his other senses. She smelled like the first breath of air caught when moving up on a broom and it fit well with the feeling of her skin, smooth and cool under his hands.
She was awake but pretending to sleep still. He raised her chin and kissed each eyelid. He didn't know this part of himself anymore. It was like something old had awakened inside him… Lilly was like his wife; he was like the young man who had been convinced he would never fall to the Dark Lord.
He moved his arm to scratch his cheek just as she opened her eyes again. "What's that?" she murmured.
Severus sighed. "The Dark Mark. I was a Death Eater once, as I'm sure you know. When Voldemort wants us, he summons us through it. It burns when he calls us."
Lilly's eyes filled with sympathy and fear. "I'm sorry."
He shook his head slowly. "It's better that I can't get rid of it. It reminds me of who I was and it helps me become who I should be."
Lilly nodded and looked into his deep black eyes. "Do you miss her?" she asked.
"Who?"
"Your wife."
He nodded, his throat tightening painfully. "I killed her," he hissed to himself. "I loved her, but I killed her. I became a Death Eater to save her, but then I killed her." He closed his eyes. It haunted him… he could even now hear her voice whispering her last word—"Severus…" But he wouldn't think about that now. Lilly had nearly washed that pain away. He cleared his mind of anything but her.
As if she had read his mind, she whispered, "Don't worry about it now. You can't fix the past, but you can live the future. Stay with me. I need you, Severus."
He needed her as much as she needed him. Severus stayed with her.