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

Chapter Seven

The floor beneath Severus' feet began to wear as he paced the length of his chamber. Tasseled hair hung loose over his forehead and shoulders, his body tense with contemplation.

Had he pushed her too far?

His veins pulsed with anger at the thought. The remains of his heart hanging by a noose in his chest, fear of losing Lily tugging it tighter and tighter.

Severus forced in a breath and rubbed at his weary features.

Lily was safe. She was in his bed. Some small, possessive part of him found too much delight in that observation. Stealing a glance at her face, placid and peaceful with sleep, Severus let the edges of his mouth curve. His bed.

Brushing the length of his fingers over his robes, Severus let out a small laugh. Who was he kidding?

He couldn't afford to romanticize. He knew better than anyone there would be no winning in this war. Not for him.

Only cold, stark resolution.

He needed to stay focused on the plan.

He never cared much about what parts of himself he'd have to sacrifice in the process. He just needed Lily to survive.

Rubbing at his left arm, Severus pressed against the raised tissue of his Dark Mark. A scarred representation of a tattered soul - a reminder of who he'd become.

Who could ever love him? The thought brought Severus back to reality.

He ended his pacing at the edge of where Lily lay. Her chest rising and falling in quiet rhythm. Brushing his thumb over the freckles of her face, Severus thought of the young girl he'd once known. The girl he'd spent his childhood chasing.

Severus couldn't help but feel like those memories belonged to someone else.

Running his thumb along the plump outline of her lips, Severus let himself imagine what it would feel like to have them pressed against his own. To have her scent entwined with his.

The sun and the moon.

Stomping down on that all-consuming need to possess, Severus turned his gaze towards the adjoining chamber, where his potion station and supplies lay waiting. He needed to do something with this unrest.

"Reno."

"Master Severus," Reno instantly appeared, bowing in candid enjoyment. "How can Reno be of service?"

"Could you alert me when Lily wakes?" Severus spoke low, his hand still close enough to Lily's face to feel the exhalation of her breath. "I'm going to go finish what was started."

"Of course, master. How long does master expect to be?"

Severus turned towards the window to their left, the full moon still singing its praises through the paned glass.

"I'll be back before dawn, Reno." Severus threw his cloak over the breadth of his shoulders, glancing at the elf. "And don't give me that look- you know better than to worry about me."

"Reno is always worried about master."

Severus grunted in amusement as the house-elf stared at him through pleading eyes.

Severus vanished from the room with a crack.

The scent of moss and dirt greeted him as he stood upon the hill overlooking the abandoned outpost. Lycanthrope cries rolled through the night and Severus felt cruel enjoyment cascade his senses.

He wasn't back here to collect more souls. He would save that for another night.

He was here for blood. He would hunt and slaughter them all.

Grinning into the chill of the night, Severus cracked his knuckles, letting the darkness within him take over.

Yes, he was going to enjoy this.

***

Hours had passed by the time the first rays of dawn began to illuminate the horizon.

Severus hiked over mounds of grassy terrain, the black of his robes stained with the gore of the night. Satisfaction coursed through him.

The self-pitying fool he'd allowed himself to be earlier in the night faded beneath the clarity of a righteous kill.

Or twelve.

He needed to get back. Lily would be waking soon, and he wanted to be there when she did.

Digging into the depths of his cloak, Severus pulled out a calming draught. The thrill of the night sat heavy on him, he needed to settle his nerves.

Taking one last breath of misty forest air, Severus drank the potion and dissapparated.

***

Landing back in the heart of his living space, Severus heard a familiar giggle reach his ears.

"Lily?" Severus rushed through the curved entryway to his chamber. "You're awake." Relief sank into him, furthering the effects of the potion he'd just taken. "H- how are you feeling?"

"Conflicted," Lily responded. "But that's nothing new."

Severus didn't know how to respond to that knowledge.

"The rest of the death eaters.. " Lily began.

"Are taken care of."

Lily looked unsettled as she pushed herself into a seating position, the realization that she was in someone's else's bed taking over. "T-thank you. For... for bringing me here."

"Where else would I have brought you?" Severus searched her face for any sign of safety... something that told him she didn't regret the activities of last night. He found nothing. "About last night, Lily I'm"-

"Sorry?"

Severus frowned, casting his face down with acknowledgment.

"The only thing you should be sorry for is finishing the job without me."

Severus felt his heart pounding in his chest, his body filling with an emotion he didn't recognize. "So, she doesn't hate me?"

"Next time can we not use me as bait?"

Severus hadn't intended for it to be that way, but he supposed he had... used her... as bait. Fuck, he was bad at this. "Try again tomorrow?" He dared a glance at her.

"If you're lucky." Lily pulled the duvet to the side, slithering out of the comfort of his bed. "Right now, I have shit to handle. Not to mention answering to a whole Order on where I've been all night."

The Order. Severus rolled his eyes.

Taking a seat, Severus cradled his head through the length of his fingers. "I have intelligence for you." He spoke. "Tell them you've been working on strategy." That got her attention. "Voldemort plans to go beyond the veil with me next week... his forces will be disorganized and scattered."

"And?"

"And... there's a prophecy we need to lay siege to." Severus didn't know why he felt unease releasing this information. "I've confirmed it to be within the department of Mysteries. It is a foresight of the war... of Voldemort."

"Interesting..." Lily began slow paces, her mind already wandering in thought. "Who knows of this?"

"Dumbledore does. You should inform him our forces are aware of its power and intend to intercept should its predicted outcome be... unfavorable to the Dark Lord."

Lily sighed, "I'll see what I can find out. Are you going to be alright?"

"Don't indulge me with your concern."

Before they could share any more words, a silver-white image of a large dog manifested before them.

Sirius' patronus.

"Lily, we need you." It repeated. "James has been captured."