Always (SNILY): Angst, Multiple POV, Dark Romance

Chapter Four

"She was the sun shining upon the tomb of his hopes and dreams—

He was the moon painting her in its glow, so vulnerable and pale."

-Funeral of Hearts, HIM

Severus sat perched on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the whispering embers of the hearth.

"Reno," Severus spoke suddenly.

The house-elf quickly appeared. "Master Severus." it squeaked by way of greeting.

"Tell Lily to meet me at the cemetery in Godric's Hollow tonight," Severus lifted his gaze, rubbing his calloused hands over his face. "I need her assistance with something."

"Reno will be most obliged. Reno will find lady Lily at once."

The house elf bowed, its ragged cloth rubbing the stoned floor beneath it- and dissapparated with a crack.

What was he going to do?

Severus was fortunate tonight's full moon would allow him to collect the direst ingredients for his potion, but he wasn't sure Lily would approve of his... methods. They'd need to capture a soul. A life for a life. The cost for crossing the veil and being granted access back to the land of the living. Severus had only ventured through it by necessity. The landscape of the realm was too... uninviting, even for him. A mist blanketed the void rock making it impossible to see more than five feet in front of you. Every moment spent under the weight of the mist was comparable to a dementer attack.

Severus had willingly given himself up to the darkness. Nothing remained worth feeding off except his memories and feelings for Lily.

He wasn't willing to sacrifice those.

He'd have to think of that later— for now he had to focus on procuring the potion.

Severus walked across the barren bed chamber of his residence and let out a sigh. The armoire creaked opened for him, sensing his presence. Selecting a set of black robes, Severus —

Reno poofed back into the chamber, filling the space with glee as he began bouncing up and down on his feet. "Lady Lily has agreed to meet with master Severus tonight." Reno's grin turned eccentric.

"That is good news," He smiled to himself. "Could you prepare some hunting gear for us? We're going to need it."

Severus slipped the outer layer of his robes over his broad shoulders and turned to meet Reno. "That'll be all."

Reno vanished from the room without another word.

***

Wind whipped against the stonewalled expression of Severus' face later that evening. Squinting his eyes, Severus let out a cloudy breath, watching it dissipate in the pale moonlight.

Taking a seat on one of the iron benches spread amongst the cemetery, Severus turned his gaze towards the headstones. Some elaborate, with wreaths of roses and other pleasantries hugging the stone and grass beneath it. Others, barren. Forgotten. The passing of time apparent and final. What would his tombstone would say when the time came? If he'd even have one. His body left to perish in an unmarked grave seemed imminent.

"Severus." Lily spoke as she stood at the entrance of the cemetery. Her presence capturing the dread of the moment... transforming it.

"Lily," Severus breathed, his chest expanding with hope and something else he couldn't name. "I'm surprised you came."

"Are you?" Lily began walking towards him, her hands trailing over overgrown ferns and vegetation on the paved walkway.

"Only a little," Severus smirked at her response. "I do fear you might hate me after tonight's events, however."

"You do have a way doing that." Lily laughed as she reached Severus' side. "Enlighten me on your plans."

Severus reached within his cloak, an obvious extension charm set within it... pulling out a bow and arrow. "This is for you. We're going hunting."