Withered

'I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!'
Lily blinked.
'Fine, I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus'

Severus regretted calling her that. He'd called her a "Mudblood" when all she did was try to help him. Poor sweet Lily. The kind soul that always cared for him, stood up for him, He knew he would never forget the shocked gaze from her bright green eyes. The bright eyes that had always gleamed with warmth and glee. Those pair of green eyes.

How could he even hurt them and make them gleam with waters of sorrow?

Lily would always spend time in the Hogwarts Library before dinner, and he would often accompany her.

He waited outside the library that day, afraid and abashed to go in. He didn't know what to tell her, he didn't know if he could meet the emerald eyes after he'd humiliated them. But he waited still, for the person whom he loved.

'Fool idiot! Why would you say that?!'

'She'll come out any moment, when she comes out, APOLOGIZE!'

As Severus paced around muttering things like that to himself outside the library, he quickly noticed the flaming head of Lily turned down, accompanied by Hestia Jones, a fellow Gryffindor.

'Lily!' Severus breathed her name, and she looked into the pair of dark eyes.

She blinked once, closed her eyes, sighed, and then looked at him. Not saying a word.

'Lils, I'm soo sorry! I really mean it! Please say something!', Severus said hopefully.

'Shouldn't you be calling me "mudblood"?', she asked with no expression, while motioning Hestia to leave.

'I said that to stop James!', Severus lied. The truth was, he didn't know why he called her that.

'Really! Did you really!' the redhead asked him in a surprised tone.

'Yeah! What if he makes you do something to stop bullying me? You know forces you like to go on a date with him or you know…..'

'Oh! Sev, please! You know I won't! Like me and Potter, Ugh!' she assured, while he just looked at her.

'I would rather jump off a cliff than do that!', she assured him again, which lit up Severus' face.

'Well, can we keep our friendship a secret?', Severus asked in a low tone.

'What?', Lily asked in a confused tone.

'Umm, I'm sorry! You know… to keep Potter away… That's all nothing else'

'Oh!' Lily said in an exasperated tone, 'Sure, I guess if you want to keep Potter away…'

'Thanks, have to go see you later' the Slytherin walked off in a hurry.

Lily didn't see her Slytherin friend at dinner that day.

"Does it make a difference, being Muggle-born?"

Snape hesitated. His black eyes, eager in the greenish gloom, moved over the pale face, and the dark red hair.

"No," he said. "It doesn't make any difference."

'So, you really called her a mud blood huh?' Alecto Carrow said.

'Yes', Severus replied keeping a stern look on his face.

'Really did put her in her place..' someone said from the crowd.

'But how can we trust him? He's a "Half-blood"!' another voice said resulting in many murmurs.

'All my life my Muggle father has made sure to make my life and my mother's a living hell! I hate those lots. To really prove my loyalty to this prestige community, I'm proud to tell you all that Lily Evans is no longer my friend and I don't care about her!' Severus Snape told the group of Death eaters, trying not to show that he was lying. In reality, he cared a lot about Lily. He thought that maybe he could protect her if he was a Death eater.

'Well then, if you're really interested in pure blood dominance come to Hogs head this weekend' Alecto Carrow informed Severus.

"That was nothing," said Snape. "It was a laugh, that's all —"

"It was Dark Magic, and if you think that's funny —"

After that day whenever Severus, never reacted when he saw Lily at Hogwarts. Not even his usual "Lily smile". But when they were alone, it was like nothing had changed.

But one day as they were talking in the Astronomy tower Lily noticed that Severus seemed a tad bit distant.

'Are you all right Sev?', Lily asked her friend who was zoned out into his own thoughts.

'Nothing Lils, I'm good!', the Slytherin replied with a nervous smile, running his hands into his hair, which resulted in one of his sleeves coming low, revealing a dark curve-like imprint on his hand.

'What's that on your hand?', Lily asked with a touch of curiosity and Severus realizing what she could be talking about covered his arm quickly.

'Nothing', the dark-robed one said with a smile.

'Come on Sev! It's just me!' the green-eyed said.

'Nothing!' he said with a smile but harshly, that didn't stop the brave Gryffindor who pushed the part of clothing away to see the mark she never hoped to see. She saw the Death mark on Severus Snape.

Her best friend.

He was a death eater now.

It could only mean that. When Lily realized this she swiftly moved away from Severus.

'Lils, I can explain!', the Slytherin said.

'You're a Death eater!' Lily breathed

'Lils-

'What's the deal with you always wanting to ruin your own life?'

'Please, Lil-

'It's all a plot, one day you're gonna kill me to prove your loyalty!'

'Lily, no, never. You've got it all wro-

'Never come near me again. I don't want to see your face ever AGAIN!' Lily said in a still shocked voice and rushed out.

Severus knew he messed up.

Lily never even looked at him or talked with him. And the Marauders didn't tease Severus again.

Severus caught Potter talking with sweet Lily in his 6th year, and ran to the Astronomy tower, where Lily talked to him for the last time.

". . . thought we were supposed to be friends?" Snape was saying. "Best friends?"

No matter what Lily might think about him, Severus knew that he would Always care for her.