Summary: Severus had to try one last time. Was there any hope to get his best friend back?

Rated: K

Genre: Angst

Content Tag: Unsolicited Persistence/Perusing of Someone


No Going Back

Severus Snape stood a safe distance away from the familiar childhood home of Lily Evans, hoping the witch would be home if he decided to set foot on the property. They just graduated and returned home yesterday, but he didn't have the guts to get tangled with the rowdy Gryffindors celebrating in the Great Hall to confront her then. He knew that if he didn't do this now, he never would.

Swallowing hard, Severus forced himself to close the distance, pushing the small gate to the garden open before standing before the pale yellow door. His hand knocked on it before he could tell himself not to.

A moment ticked by before Lily's green eyes soon met with his. She almost immediately went to slam it closed, but he halted it with a firm hand pressed against it.

"Lily, wait."

Green eyes glared back at Severus. He swallowed hard and resisted the urge to just leave. He needed to try one last time to salvage this friendship.

"Please, is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

Lily firmly shook her head. "You can't. Not anymore."

Severus hesitated to respond.

"Clearly you do not get it, Severus," she continued after a moment of silence. "The problem was that you changed to please the people who didn't really matter. They still don't, but you had to push aside those who truly cared about you for what? Getting even? Finding purpose?"

"I—"

"Goodbye, Severus."

The door clicked shut with a bitter finality.

He'd lost his best friend for good.


Originally Written For:

The Houses Competition

Word Count: 260

Originally Written: April 2018