House: Ravenclaw

Position: Transfiguration

Drabble

Prompt: [Object] Snowdrops

Word Count: 836

Hanahaki Disease AU

Severus Snape still remembers the first time he saw Lily Evans. Winter had barely begun melting into spring and snowdrops were just starting to appear. Severus was sitting under his favorite tree with a book in hand, when he heard voices.

"Come on, Petunia! The snow is finally melting! I want to see if there are any snowdrops in the field," a lilting voice calls out.

Severus looks up from his book and looks in the direction the voice came from. A small breeze passes through the leaves of trees as he spots bright red from between them. He gasps and his eyes widen when he finally sees the girl with red hair.

"Hurry up! We're almost there," the girl calls out before glancing to her left to see Severus sitting under the tree.

She smiles and waves at him. Heat creeps up his face as his heart starts to beat faster. A smile tugs at the corner of Severus's lip and he shyly waves back.

It was at that moment that a seed started to grow. A seed that could one day kill him.

Laughter and chatter fill the Great Hall from Slytherin's table to the Hufflepuffs'. Lunch was in full swing and everyone's happy. Everyone but one fifth-year Slytherin. Severus glares at James as he flirts with Lily. He grips his potions book, nails digging into the soft leather as Lily laughs at whatever James says. Severus looks away, and his heart aches as he walks away from the person he loves. He quickly and quietly leaves the Great Hall, then he turns to head up into the castle.

Severus frowns as he suddenly feels something start building up in the throat. He quickly covers his mouth as a series of coughs make his body shake. Tears prick the corner of his eyes as he continues to cough. He lurches slightly forward as he feels something leave his mouth. Slowly, he removes his shaking hand and looks down.

There, sitting in his hand, is a small clump of white petals and a droplet of blood.

'No,' Severus thinks as his eyes widen. 'Oh no. Oh no no no.'

Severus sits in the hospital wing. He stares down at the snowdrop petals laying in his hands. He can hear Madame Pomfrey talk quietly to Professor Dumbledore and Professor Slughorn.

Hanahaki Disease. Of course, he'd get it. It makes sense, seeing as he loves Lily and she doesn't love him back. He's a Slytherin and she's a Gryffindor. They wouldn't last a day together. The glares and hate from their Houses would drive them apart. Like it already has.

So lost in thought, Severus fails to hear or notice as the other occupants of the room approach.

"So, snowdrops, eh? Did you know that they symbolize purity, innocence, and sympathy?" Dumbledore says, drawing Severus's attention up from his hands. "They also symbolize hope, since they are usually the first flowers to bloom at the beginning of spring."

"I know. I read a book about what different flowers symbolize and snowdrops is one of the flowers mentioned," Severus says as he glances back at the petals.

"Now then, we need to discuss what you are going to do," Madame Pomfrey says as she takes a step forward.

"I'll do the surgery," Severus states, looking down at the petals. "I know that she won't love me back. It will be better to get it done before she or anyone else hears."

"Are you sure? Once you do the surgery, you will never love her again."

"I'm sure."

"Alright. I'll let the healers at St. Mungo's know of your decision," Madame Pomfrey says as she turns and heads to her office.

"We'll be heading off now. I hope that it goes well," Dumbledore says as he and Slughorn leave the hospital wing.

Severus looks down at the petals. He takes a deep breath and releases it. There's no turning back.

Severus watches as Lily talks to James. His face stays neutral even as he looks away. He focuses back on his potion. Working quickly and quietly, Severus ignores the whispers being exchangedaround him. He knows that the Slytherins are talking about his disappearance while he was in the hospital wing. The Gryffindors either didn't know or didn't care about where he went. Typical of them.

'I'm going to miss loving her,' Severus thinks as he stirs the potion counterclockwise. 'She was always so nice and kind to me.'

Finishing the potion, Severus waits for Slughorn to come and check it.

'Maybe it's a good thing that I don't love her anymore. Maybe it's time to move on and find someone else.'

Severus knows that it will be hard to say goodbye to Lily. Hard, but not impossible. Yes, she has been the first one to hold his heart. But she won't be the last.