Hey everyone! Thanks for sticking with me on yet another Friday! I'd say another 3 or 4 chapters to go and we're all done! Don't be sad! I may have another story on my hands already! Let me know what you think of this chapter (especially the Severus/Lily!) Enjoy! Love, Inspired.

Ch 15 Goodbye

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair. ~William Cowper

"You did it, Sev," Lily whispered from behind Snape. He turned around to see her standing there, tears in her eyes, holding her favourite flowers: lilies.

"I did it for you, Lily," Snape answered softly.

Lily smiled. "You also did it for another, a young boy whom you have treated quite unfairly for a long, long time. Now, you see the light in him. He cares for you, Sev."

Snape thought. He thought for a long time. Did Potter really care? He had in fact, tried his very best to slip this potion into his drink. He himself had seen that Potter was caring for his body right now.

Seeing the silent thoughts, Lily laughed, the sound ringing like a gentle song. "You must go back, Sev. You can't stay here forever."

Snape looked sorrowfully at Lily, his whole face twisted in a wretched string of emotions. "I can't go Lily, not without you."

"You can do it," she whispered encouragingly. "I will always be here," she said pointing to his heart. "And I will wait for you, until it is your time. Go back, Sev; go back to Harry and Dumbledore, and the world. They need you."

His heart ached; he wanted to stay here, with Lily. There was nothing more he wanted. To his surprise, Lily walked closer, and kissed him gently on the cheek. An electric current sprang from his heart. His eyes teared up, and he hugged her close for what he hoped would be forever. He wished she wasn't married. He wished that she had kissed him on the lips like in his dreams when he was a boy, but alas, she was already taken. Pulling away, she said, "Remember me. But most of all, remember yourself."

Her face started to fade; he grasped the air for her hand, but found he could no longer feel her touch. She was disappearing quickly. "Lily…no! Lily! Come back!" he murmured before falling back into the darkness.

"Snape! It's all right! You're here! It's Harry, we've got you, you're safe!" Harry said, jumping from his seat beside the bed.

Snape abruptly opened his eyes. "Potter?"

"Yes, sir, er, I hope you aren't too angry at us?" Harry asked hopefully.

Snape was disoriented. "How long have I been out, Potter?"

"A-about 3 hours, sir," Hermione answered before Harry. She had been fretting the whole time, they could have killed him!

"Are you all right? Sir?" Harry asked.

"Go get me some Firewhiskey –and not the glass you ruined." Snape ordered in a growl, collapsing back down on the bed; he felt awful.

"Right away, sir!" Harry jumped up and took Ron and Hermione with him to find a glass and the drink.

Snape used this time to collect himself. He had been out for a long time, and he needed to put up his mental walls once again. As he put the last wall up, he could feel is old demeanor returning, but not quite as harsh as before, Lily's voice was still echoing in his head, "He cares for you, Sev."

Cautiously standing up, Snape found his balance and walked back into his living room and sat in one of the chairs by the fire. His muscles ached, despite not having moved –as the students had told him- for three hours. A headache was slowly forming behind his eyes; he would retire to bed soon, but he had to talk to the three students that were now standing nervously in front of him.

"Might I ask why you three decided to give me this potion?" Snape asked wearily.

"After I –uh– after I saw those…memories…"Harry answered, clearly stumbling trying to find the right words.

Snape held up his hand. "I will give you a minute to compose yourself, Potter. I do wish for your explanation to be coherent."

Harry inwardly thanked Snape. He took a deep breath and tried his best to explain without getting into too much trouble. "You see, sir, after you threw me out of your office, I realized how those memories had affected your view on me. Because of my father, you didn't see me for who I was; not just James Potter's son, but Lily's also, and having my own qualities to me…" he trailed off.

Snape looked back at Harry with a look that did not match the man's nature. Guilt, it seemed, had worked its way past the man's defences and now was etched on his face.

"And I am sorry for that," Snape apologized. Ron looked at Snape, stupefied, he was so surprised, and he just stared at the man. Hermione on the other hand, had the respect to not looked dumbfounded, but smiled knowingly.

Harry smiled in acknowledgement. "Thank you, sir. If I hadn't seen those memories, I think I would still look at you like a git…no offense," he added.

Snape smirked. "I wish to hear it from the three of you, how did you slip it into my Firewhiskey without my knowledge?"

This time, Ron spoke. "The first time, you caught us when we were huddled in the dungeons. The second time, Harry tripped and then ran away, and the final time we had an elf help us. He put it in your drink before you got it, and then apparated us here."

"And how did you come across this potion? It is, in fact, a NEWT level potion. Surely three 6th years could not have executed this potion without the aid of an older student?"

"Actually sir, I-I brewed it," Hermione spoke up. She stepped a little closer, standing beside Ron and Harry. "We found the idea for the potion in the Ro-in the library, and then when Harry had detention, he took the book."

Snape was now extremely impressed. "That was an excellent brew, Granger, although a little strong, my pulse must have been very low for you to fret over killing me."

Hermione blushed. "How did you know?"

"What I dreamt up while under the influence of 'Late Dream' is nobody's business but my own," Snape said a little sharply, but nothing compared to his tone before the dream.

"Sorry, sir," Hermione said meekly.

"Off you go, it is well past curfew," Snape dismissed. Just as the trio turned to leave, Snape called back to them. "And Potter!" When Harry turned, his face had a hint of fear. Snape looked into his eyes; Potter feared punishment. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, sir," Harry said as he left.

I miss you, Lily... With that final thought in his head, Snape went up to get to bed.