Severus Snape and the Siren: A Snily Tale

Chapter 10 - Bonds

Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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While the Marauders sputtered through their treatments in the Hospital Wing, Severus escaped from Madam Pomfrey's care as quickly as possible, desperate to find Lily.

As he roamed from area to area of the castle without any sign of his darling flower, his task began to feel impossible.

Where had she gone?

Had McGongagall taken her to her office?

Whisked her away somewhere?

...........Perhaps Lily had escaped to the Gryffindor Common Room for respite?

Severus's heart raced while he rounded yet another corner deep in Hogwarts' spiraling corridors.

A gasp of pure surprise left his throat as he nearly crashed directly into.....

"LILY!" He exclaimed before he could stop himself.

Their eyes widened as they both instinctively halted a split second before what would have been their violent collision in the hallway.

The privacy of the moment, which should have been a gift, seemed more like a curse as they stared at each other in the deafening silence that followed.

Although Severus's black gaze searched her fair face for any sign of mercy or forgiveness, as Lily stared back, he saw no hateful anger in her emerald eyes, only a glimmer of morose acceptance.

"Lily......" Severus began in his low drawl, "I am terribly sorry about what I said, it just.....it just...."

"No, Sev." She answered with a wry smile, "I'm the one who should apologize. McGonagall sat down and.....and talked to me about a few things. It was reckless of me to endanger your safety and for that, please believe me when I say that I am genuinely and thoroughly.....sorry."

Severus frowned as he watched tears of remorse gather in her beautiful, green eyes.

"You were only trying to help me, Lily." He began but she cut him off, "-No, Sev! I wasn't! I mean, I was trying to help you, yes, but it was a selfish, irresponsible way to go about it! McGonagall is right! I'm sorry, but....I.....I can't allow you to be near me anymore.......It's too dangerous."

Severus's dark eyes bulged.

His mouth dropped open as his face went slack as if Lily had just slapped him.

"W-What.......?" He stammered.

"Being near me is too much of a hazard." Lily sniffed as she forced back her tears, "I....I'm sorry, Sev, but I suppose we have to part ways. These next few years of my life....they....there'll be a lot of changes and I....I almost hurt you today. I can't pull you into my rubbish."

"Yes, you can!" Severus exclaimed, "Tell me what you need, Lily, and I'll do it! Tell me what you want, Lily......and I'll see it gets done!......There isn't a thing in this world I wouldn't do to see you happy!"

"That's very sweet, Sev." Lily replied with a bitter smile as she gazed into his pale face, ".....But the best way you can help me is by staying far away. I could never be happy again if you ever ended up hurt....or worse.....because of me."

"Lily...." Severus frowned, certain the hateful word he had spoken in an effort to protect them both had wounded her feelings beyond reasonable repair, "I am truly, deeply sorry for what I said, but you have to understand......"

"Oh, Sev!" Lily chuckled as she gave him a knowing smile, "Do you honestly believe I'm upset about that? Yes, I understand you said it because Mulciber and Avery were watching, I'm not daft, I know who their parents serve......The word itself though....Honestly, there are better insults you could have called me."