Severus had originally planned to take Draco out for his first Halloween, Narcissa and Lucius finally caving in and allowing their son to participate in the muggle activity. It was supposed to have been a fantastic evening, with his Godson dressed as a Wookie- his favorite characters from the film. All week long, the blonde boy had run about the corridors of Malfoy Manor, making his best attempts at sounding like Chewbacca.

But all that was not to be. Lily Evans had been slaughtered and Severus had been nowhere near well enough to be around anyone, let alone gaggles of small children being led about by their mothers. Lily should have been out there with Harry, the Potter spawn no doubt dressed as a lion or something equally as ridiculous.

But she hadn't had that opportunity, she'd been robbed of that. She was lying cold and dead alongside her husband, and Severus had played a large role in her demise. Above everything else, that bitter truth hurt the most.

It had been a full day since the slaughter, and yet Severus still cried, his body never once running out of the hot moisture. Most of the Wizarding World was out celebrating the Dark Lord's downfall, but Severus was heaving with sobs. Lily Evans, the first person to bring joy to his dark life, was dead. Because of him.

"Sevus?"

Severus didn't move, neither did he turn away from the wall to acknowledge Draco. He didn't want to alarm the small child with his red face and tears. Eventually he would tire of being ignored, and go off in search of Dobby.

"Sevus?" Draco persisted, tugging at his cape. "Sevus sad?"

He swallowed hard, willing his hoarse voice not to betray his anguish.

"Yes, Dragon." Severus croaked. "I'm sad. Very sad."

"Why?" Draco asked, giving voice to his favorite word.

"My friend is dead." Severus whispered, the words physically paining him.

"Dead?" Draco babbled, butchering the word with his toddler speak.

"She went away." Severus sniffed. "Forever."

"Go bye-bye?" Draco wondered, tugging at his cape once more.

"Yes."

And just like that, the sobs started up again, but this time with renewed vigor. His body shook, strangled noises came from the back of his throat, and his eyes flooded over countless times. The pain was too much to bear, far worse than that of the cruciatus. And there would be no reprieve from this pain, it would haunt his being forever, darkening whatever spark of happiness still remained in his soul.

"No cry, Sevus." Draco pleaded. "No sad."

"I'm sorry."

And he was. He was remorseful for so many things, and the regret burned at him without rest. He was sorry for calling Lily a mudblood all those years ago, sorrier yet for not changing his ways for her. He was sorry for falling in with the older boys in his house, and letting them fool him into thinking the Dark was the best place to be. He was sorry for taking that ugly Dark Mark, and he was sorry for ever hearing that damn prophecy.

"Sevus, up." Draco ordered. "Sevus hug."

A hug. Factoring out Draco, Severus hadn't received a warm embrace since his fifth year at Hogwarts. His mother had died the summer directly before, and Lily had cut him off towards the end of that hellish term. An animalistic noise escaped him, the sound a mixture of every negative emotion known to man.

"Sevus!" Draco whined, sounding teary.

Severus sighed, but turned to eye the toddler. It wouldn't do to have both of them sobbing, would it? Narcissa was already a wreck, what with Lucius locked away in the Ministry being questioned relentlessly by countless aurors. Someone had to be strong by Draco and, as Godfather, that role fell to him.

Holding down an arm, Severus allowed Draco to use it as leverage in order to pull himself up off the floor. Lying the small blonde directly in front of him, Severus blinked slowly as Draco planted a sloppy kiss on his nose and snuggled into his arms.

"Love you, Sevus." Draco warbled sweetly. "Forever." He slurred.

"Severus loves you, too." He breathed.

"Forever?" Draco pressed, tapping Severus's chin with a clumsy fist.

"Always." Severus promised. "Forever."

"Sevus sad?" Draco asked, unused to people expressing anything but joy around him.

"Severus is still sad." He sniffed, his voice wavering.

"Oh no." Draco frowned, kissing his nose again. "Poor Sevus." He commiserated, in much the way Dobby did for him.

They remained that way for the better part of the morning, only separating when Dobby came in to fetch the boy for lunch. And although the pain hadn't abated during their cuddle-session, the selfless love from his Godson had done wonders to keep Severus from taking his life that night.