IWSC, Summer School, Ravenclaw.

Theme: What is dodgeball about except the art of avoidance. Task: Write about avoidance

Prompt: (time of day) sunset

THC, Monthly Challenge, July.

Theme: I saw them across the room, their arm around a new lover. The first person I ever loved. The first person I'd ever kill.

Prompt: (season) Winter

Warnings: Death, murder, dark themes.

Word Count: 1090

Beta(s): Aya, Dina, Charlotte, CupCakeyyy

Severus Snape drew his cloak closer as the glistening snow continued to castrate down around him. The footsteps he left behind were quickly swept over by a blanket of white, and what little progress he made through Diagon Alley was hidden away. He had managed to avoid the majority of the snowstorm by hiding out in the Alley's shops, meaning that his robes were still just as black as they had been when he had put them on this morning, the few snowflakes that stuck to them quickly melting in the magically-heated buildings.

Quickly, he ducked into another shop, not wanting to be out in the white flurry any longer than he needed. He was here to buy a few things, then return to his home where he could hide away from the rough winter that was upon them.

Brushing off his robes to get rid of the loose bits of snow that hadn't melted, he looked around the stationery shop. This was the last store and all he needed was some ink. As though on a mission, he marched forward and grabbed two inkwells before turning to head to pay for them. However, he stumbled over his feet as he saw a flash of auburn hair across the bustling store.

It was Lily.

His first friend.

His first love.

Unfortunately, she wasn't alone. Right next to her was his former bully, James Potter. He had his arm slung over her shoulders as though he owned her. The mere sight made Severus' eyes burn with sadness and he quickly turned away, not wanting to be seen.

Seconds later, unable to stop himself, he glanced up at them again: they had now turned to look at one of the stands, presumably to buy something. Severus shook off his nostalgia and used their distractedness to grab the inkwells again, quickly purchase them, and rush back out into the harsh winter.

He dashed down the street away from the awful sight until he was able to apparate to the safety of his home.

That night, Severus couldn't stop the thoughts from causing a rampage of emotions: sadness, regret, hate, anger. Slowly, over the course of a few hours, the anger grew. It burnt slowly within him, kindled by his swirling thoughts inside as he realised why things with him and Lily hadn't worked out. James Potter. The boy who had relentlessly bullied him for years, who had ridiculed him, who had humiliated him, who had stolen his best friend.

He wouldn't get away with this. Not if Severus had anything to do with it. By the time dawn came, James wouldn't be smiling anymore.

And Severus knew exactly how to strike that smile off his face.

Eyeing up his wand, Severus felt a smirk cross over his lips. Tonight, he wasn't going to step down. Not like he always did. He was going to go all of the way. He had been burnt too many times. It was time for payback. For revenge.

Throwing on his darkest cloak, he grabbed his wand and Apparated to Godric's Hollow. That was where James Potter lived. Soon, that cosy cottage would be a nightmare; unlivable forevermore.

The snowfall had stopped, but Severus didn't care for the steps he left behind in the soft snow. It wasn't like he'd be able to walk off after committing murder. He knew this was a decision that would change his life irrevocably; he didn't even mind that he'd likely end up dead or in Azkaban. Nor that he was destroying the rest of his life mere months after graduating from Hogwarts.

He approached the door, slowing down and silencing his crunching footsteps to not alert them of his presence.

"Alohomora," he whispered. The lock clicked quietly and the door silently swung open revealing the hallway within.

Step by step he walked through, the hallway decorated in bright, vibrant colours that were no doubt Lily's input. Then up the immaculate stairs. It was the second room he checked where he found two figures lying still on a double bed with bronze sheets.

Severus stared at the two bodies for at least a minute; he still couldn't believe how quickly Lily had agreed to live with the oaf that was James Potter. How quickly she had ignored all of the terrible things he'd done and shacked up with him.

And yet, she still couldn't forgive him for one mistake!

He had given her everything! And she just threw it all back at him; years he had been there for her, been her friend. Yet, just one small mistake and she threw him away. Leaving him in the gutter as she went crawling into the arms of James Potter.

Raising his wand, he found the correct figure. The sunlight began to shine through the thin curtains as the sun rose behind him, casting an ominous shadow of him onto the floor. He didn't hesitate. "Avada Kedavra."

A bright green light filled the space, then left as quickly as it had appeared. James Potter jerked up suddenly. "What—" he blurted out, grabbing his wand. However, his eyes found Lily who hadn't moved.

"If I couldn't have her, neither could you," Severus said, his voice distant as he stared at the lifeless body. He had done that. He had killed the love of his life. It was truly over.

"What did you do!" James screamed.

Severus didn't answer, he didn't move his eyes from Lily. She looked like she was still sleeping, but he knew she wasn't, soon her body would cool and never heat up again.

The room brightened more as the winter sun rose above the horizon, casting the cool light of day upon them all—Lily would never see this sunrise, she would never see the sun float into the sky, she would never feel the heat on her face again.

She'd never breathe.

Never speak.

Never…

What had he done?

Why hadn't he just killed James?

Why didn't he…

His eyes widened in realisation as they met James' grief-stricken ones. Green—the colour of Lily's eyes—erupted over the bright room and Severus accepted death instantly.

In the second bedroom at Godric's Hollow, a cold woman lies beneath the bronze covers in the bed, a cold man lies prone on the floor darkening the gold carpet. One warm man sat alone, frozen though his heart still beat, hoping that the winter sun could warm him from the horrors he had seen.

It wouldn't.