Time After Time.

A Harry Potter based fanfic by MCGEEandME.

Disclaimer: I don't own Severus Snape, or Lily Potter or James or Harry. But I do own Rose Griphons. And I own these events (well, most), and the actions these wonderful characters perform.

Note: I know that I'm just about half way through this. It might not be that long. But, I have every chapter from here mapped out. There should be 8 more chapters. So, here is chapter 8, Move Along….

Last night was the first night he didn't cry himself to sleep. But why had he been crying for the last three weeks anyways? He told himself he didn't love Rose. He loved Lily. Lily loved James. That was that.

He was a wounded animal. He sounded like a wounded animal. (Notice a wounded animal—Harry heard a wounded animal with Dumbledore at Kings Cross. It was also said Severus made a whimpering sound when crying over the loss of Lily.)Those sounds—whimpering noises—was a sound of loss and depth. But to him, it was a weakness. He let himself get too attached. Why did he always make the same mistakes over and over?

"Sometimes I feel that we sort too soon…"

-x-

Severus took a walk around town once again to free himself from thought. But everything he saw reminded him of her—the monuments, the shops, the people, even the walk itself. Finally, he sat down at a coffee shop (not the coffee shop he went to with Rose, thought) and ordered some water. He looked around the shop. Men and women were sitting together everywhere—couples, he saw. And it reminded him of Rose.

At the far end of where he was sitting, he saw a woman he had seen on his date with Rose—the large plump woman he had snickered at for she couldn't keep her dog still. And of course, there she was with her dog again, trying to get him to sit.

But Severus didn't laugh this time, Rose had told him that she wasn't any different then them.

Severus made his way over to her and watched as she patted the dogs behind, making his bottom go on the floor, and put her hand in front of him, telling him to sit. But, once again, he got up once she turned to drink her coffee.

"Here, let me help," he said. She watched as he reached for the dog, took his leash in one hand, flick his finger downward, and sternly told him to "Sit."

The dog sat instantly and Severus handed the leash back to the lady. Once he did so, the dog moved again.

"Thanks anyways!" she said. She looked very thrilled that he tried to help, that it was as if she didn't care that the dog wasn't sitting any longer.

"You're welcome," Severus responded. He watched as the lady tried to make the dog sit yet again. She made the dog sit, and then, miraculously, he stayed.

"I did it!!" she screamed.

"Congradulations!" he replied. And he an her both new it was because Severus helped.

-x-

It was time to forgive and forget. His past—those two strong words froze in his mind. Something had to be done about his past. Your future gives once you forgive your past. That was where he would start.

-x-

Every horrible incident he encountered would be visited. And more importantly—acknowledged.

-x-

His house at Spinner's End looked empty as ever—but still exactly the same. The wooden boards looked dilapidated and shabby, while the very small garden his mother had built for comfort flourished with yellow and purple flowers.

He entered the house—or the shack, as he always referred to it. It had never been his home—that was Hogwarts.

Severus strolled over towards his old room. It was surrounded with cobwebs and dust. But his things were still there: his old creaky bed, his dresser with clothes that might fit a doll, and others that fit his father, and his picture of Lily along with her signature he stole from the Black's house.

Next he went over to the yard, and began to tear up yet again. There stood his mother's grave in the back of the yard. The grass was over grown and stalky, but he still remembered the exact spot she laid. Subconsciously, he sauntered over to the edge of the yard and yanked some wild daises, his mother's favorite flower, and laid them upon her area.

"Love you, mom…." He muttered.

Severus was eight…

"Mom, how come Dad's always gone? Why doesn't he tuck me in at night?"

"Severus, Daddy sometimes needs to just take long walks so he can clear his mind more often, and that lets him yell at us less."

"Mommy, does he love me?"

"Of course, Severus, he just gets frustrated."

"Do you love me?"

"Always and forever."

"Always and forever, Mom."

Severus then noticed a large Oak tree in the corner of his eye he had forgotten about long, long ago. It was the tree he had carved his name in. And Lily's name was right beneath that, surrounded by a heart. Fortunately, Lily had never visited his house, so she never saw this note.

He rubbed his thumb over her name, bringing back memories that he drilled through his mind many times before. Even on bark, it felt smooth and wonderful against his thumb.

Before leaving the house for the last time, he planted two flowers: Lilies and Roses. And, he whispered, to himself only, "I forgive you. I forgive you dad, I forgive mom. I forgive myself."

-x-

The playground: some of the happiest moments in his life. So many times with Lily, and bad times with Petunia as well.

Severus gradually made his way to the swing sets and sat upon one. He could feel young Lily in his presence, sitting on the swing next too his…his imagination whirled, he could hear her speaking to him…but this time he was grown and himself, and she was twelve….

"Hey Sev, you've gotten big!"

"Yes, I have Lily."

"Why are you here alone?" she questioned.

"Because I chased away anyone I ever had."

She squinted for a moment, thinking. Then, she responded with, "Then get them back!"

"It's not that easy, I'm afraid."

"Why not?"

"It's like when we stopped being friends. You couldn't forgive me for what I said and did to you."

"But I'm sure I forgave you. I will always be your best friend, and you will always be mine." She gave a soft smile. Then, she went over to Severus, who nearly doubled her size, and took his hand in hers.

"You don't know what I did…" He looked down at his feet.

"You made up for it, I'm sure. I know you, Sev."

"No one knows me. No one understands me."

"But I do understand you, Sev. And I trust you. I trust that you would never purposely try to hurt me. And she knows you to."

He cocked his head, trying to figure out what he said. "Who?"

"You know who. Her. The one you get up everyday for. The one you love."

"How do you kn—"

"I can see it in your eyes," she interrupted. "You're in love."

"Is that bad?"

"No! I'm happy for you, Sev. You've let yourself become close to someone other than me!"

"How'd you get to be so smart?" Severus asked.

"Well, I do have this friend in my potions class who always helps me out, you see…" She giggled. Oh, that famous laugh. "And I hear I keep getting smarter!"

"You do!"

"Sev, do I ever find love?"

"Yes, you find love in a great man."

"Really?" Her smile widened and her face glistened.

"Well, he's great to you. He takes care of you and he makes you happy. Plus, you two have a great kid named Harry."

"That's my dad's name!!"

The two friends sat there for moments, not saying anything, until Lily spoke up.

"Sev, you will do whatever you can to get her back, right?"

"If she wants me back, then yes."

Severus sat on the swing, rocking back and forth, alone, still caught up in his thoughts. He really believed Lily had just spoken to him. He believed an angel had spoken with him. And ha was intent on keeping that promise he made her.

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone

Read between the lines
What's f---ed up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone…

Song taken from Green day (Boulevard of Broken Dreams). Does it fit?

How was it?? PLEASE PLEASE R&R, I get so excited when I get one!