A/N: I don't own Harry Potter
This is for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
April Auction
Day 24 - Auction 2 – Dialogue: "I love you. Why is that so hard to believe?" / "Because I never thought anyone would."
Word count: 338
"I love. Why is that so hard to believe?" she asked looking up at him, her eyes shining with tears. He'd tried pushing her away again. This time, she'd nearly left before spinning on her heals, marching right up to him and kissing him hard enough to nearly knock him from his chair.
"Because," he paused. "I never thought anyone would," he admitted. "After Lily."
"Severus, Lily never loved you, you know it, I know it, and it's time to accept that. She loved James. She was just stringing you along, please, let her go already. I'm here, and I do love you. I'm tired of trying to compete with a memory, a which isn't even real."
"How dare you!"
"How dare I what? Tell the bloody truth. I'm sick of seeing you losing yourself, so hung up on something that happened over a decade, nearly two decades ago!" She threw the book she'd had in her hand on the floor. Things always got thrown when they fought, and they always fought over the same three things. Lily was number one.
"I am not...losing myself."
"Yes, you are, you blame yourself for her death. Not James' death, not Harry being an orphan, just her death. Severus, please, look at me and tell me you can let go of her." He'd never done it. Now that she thought about...wasn't this what had started the fight before this one?
"Hermione." He looked into her eyes, they seemed to shimmer bronze and gold in the flickering candle light. "I love you too, and you're right. I need to...I...I need to let her go. I can't live like this anymore, can't live wishing I could change the past. We both know it will never happen. Harry doesn't blame me, not anymore." Hermione nodded. Harry, in some bout of infinite wisdom had forgiven Severus. Now, all he had to do was finally forgive himself.
"I love you too, Severus. And I'll be right here to help you, every step of the way."