"So, we're clear with the theory, right?" asked Lily excitedly.

"Yes, Lily," replied Severus, grinning but not looking up from the book. "I think we're quite ready to do it."

"But, Sev, imagine if we succeed at this." Severus glanced at her and was pleased to see her eyes shining with anticipation. "I mean, we're just fourth years. If we manage to cast a corporeal Patronus now, it'd be a huge achievement."

"Of course," said Severus simply. "Want to go first?"

"Oh, all right." Lily looked a bit flustered. "Right, happy memories, happy memories…" She shut her eyes, concentrating hard. "Uhm…no, one with Petunia calling me a freak won't do. Happy memories…"

"What about the day you got the letter from Hogwarts?" asked Severus. He knew how important that letter had been to Lily, and sure enough, he was rewarded with a smile.

"Expecto…Expecto Patronum!"

A silvery glob of light issued from Lily's wand suddenly, and she squealed.

"Great start, Lily," cried Severus. "Give it another try. Go on."

Five minutes later, Lily had succeeded in producing a form which, as far as they could make out, resembled a cat. They debated over the form for some time, and Severus assured her that it was a Kneazle. The large ears and too-long tail did not fit into the description of common cats.

Lily decided she would leave it at that for the day, and asked Severus to try the charm.
Severus hesitated a bit, then closed his eyes. He didn't need to search for any happy memory, for the present was good enough. Concentrating on Lily's face, he shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"

Something burst forth from the tip of his wand – a nearly fully-formed outline of a serpentine, two-legged creature with wings sprouting from its back.

"It's…it's an Occamy," whispered Lily, sounding awestruck.

***

"Escaped again, that bleeding blood-traitor and his Mudblood tramp, they did," snarled Amycus Carrow.

Severus hesitated at the door, deciding it was best not to enter as he had a vague idea as to who Carrow was referring to.

"Potter?" asked the cool voice of Evan Rosier.

"Yes," replied Walden MacNair in a tense voice. "Those were three Dementors cornering them, and we thought we had them good and proper, then out came a stag and a doe, and next thing we know, they've Apparated. The Dark Lord's not going to be amused."

"Stag? Doe? Are you talking about Patronuses?"

"Yerse," replied Carrow who sounded close to tears. "Bloody Potter and his wife have got a stag and an effing doe for Patronuses."

A doe? It was a Kneazle. It should have been a Kneazle. Severus had seen Lily cast her Patronus. It had always been a Kneazle.

He felt as though he couldn't breathe anymore. He turned away from the door, walked out of the warehouse and Apparated with a loud "Crack."

***

Dead.

The word sounded oddly discordant. Dead.

"Dead" was not a word which Severus had ever connected with Lily. Yes, he had had his fears ever since she'd run off with Potter, but he had hoped. He'd hoped she would be spared from the finality of death.

Dumbledore talked to him, consoled him, comforted him, reminded him that her son was still alive.

Cold comfort, thought Severus. Cold comfort.

***

Ten years had passed.

Ten years since Lily had been murdered.

Ten years since he had stopped hoping she might come back to him one day.

And yet…and yet, there she was. Silver. Glowing. Tender. Beautiful. Fragile. Strong.

A warmth.

A doe.

A power which kept him from slipping away from the perfect masquerade.

A Patronus.

A happiness.

**********

This was written for an assignment on Severus Snape over at MNFF Beta Boards.

DISCLAIMER: I am not J.. Although everything you can recognize belongs to her.