Scene 5: Fallen Angel

"How are things at home?" A thirteen year old Lily Evans walked the dark street of Spinner's End, hand in hand with her best friend, Severus Snape.

"Worse. He hasn't stopped since that trip. And she never does anything. Nothing, Lily! I don't understand why she puts up with it. It's not like he's worth it. And it's certainly not love." Snape's growl was fierce and frustrated, but she touched his shoulder, and slowly, he simmered down.

"Maybe it is," Lily reasoned softly. "Maybe she does love him. Love is blind."

"And deaf? Invincible, unfeeling? I don't think so. They two, both… they are terrible together. I simply cannot comprehend what could possibly have brought two such different people together."

Lily was silent, letting him carry on.

"And there's no one there," his voice was quieter, smoother now, and he curled into himself, hunching his back in his coat that was too big for him. "There's no one at home with me like you are at Hogwarts, or even when we're together outside of school." He hadn't meant to make it into this. It just slipped out. It needed to be said, had been bottled up too long. Severus turned to face her.

"When I'm with you, it's okay…"

Lily smiled tentatively, color rising in her cheeks in a lovely pink flush. She was so out of place in this bleak, cold environment. Silhouetted against the black house he had grown up in, she shone, like a lost ray of sunlight. A fallen angel, wandering lost. She did not belong here. She did not fit with him. Vibrant and whole, her bright soul had no place in his world of darkness. Lily Evans would never walk these dusky roads with him in reality. They would not look well at all, hand in hand in harsh light of day. So these summer nights with her… they were his dreams. A beautiful illusion.

They walked on, innocent blush still in full bloom in her cheeks, her hand hot in his. She was silent. Snape opened his mouth to say something more, but shut it again with a sigh. Lily noticed, turning to him. He shook his head and looked away.

He was so tired of pretending.