Cover credit to the wonderful DaughterofAear on DeviantART
Prolouge
The darkened room became illuminated by the tip of Severus Snape's wand. The faint image of the tattered scarlet and gold wallpaper peeling off the walls of Sirius Black's room came into view. A photograph of a girl with a brilliant shade of red hair that cascaded off her shoulders attached to a letter, caught Snape's eye. A letter about the life Snape was no longer a part of. The life Lily, the red-headed girl, had started without her former best friend.
The usual guarded look Snape wore was now broken, as tears streamed down his face. A flicker of hatred crossed his eyes. Hatred of himself. It was his fault Lily died, his fault their friendship ended. The night of Lily Evans death was tragic. It was the night Severus finally realized what he was. A disgrace, not only to himself, but to Lily. Severus' whole life, he had planned to be something more than the greasy haired boy who lived at Spinners End. He wanted to be known as someone worthwhile. Someone Lily would be proud of. That night, he failed her.
Recollecting what little self-control Snape still had, he hastily stuffed the picture of Lily in his pocket and left 12 Grimmauld Place.
