The Princess and The Half Blood Prince

Apologies

Severus hadn't been out of his room since our encounter earlier. I wonder what he's doing? Brooding probably. I sighed staring out the window. Rain was still pouring. I started to raise my hand and whistle, but stopped short. Stranger isn't here anymore. I sighed again fighting back the tears.

"You were always here." I whispered to the empty air. Across the room Rhys hooted at me.
"You want out I suppose?" I got up from the window.

Rhys swooped out of his cage making s circle of the room before landing on the window. He hooted looking at me expectantly.
"It's raining cats and dogs. You're going to want back in in two minutes." I popped the window open. He took off.
I shook my head.

I walked out of the room. Rhys would have to hang out if he wanted back in the house any time soon. I opened the Raven doors across the hall. Stepping inside I didn't hear anything which meant he was most likely in his room.

I knocked on the door. Silence. I knocked again. More silence.

I cracked the door enough to poke my head through. "Severus?"

No answer. I opened the door wider. "Professor Snape?"

Still no answer. On a whim I walked into the room. Everything was quiet. Maybe he wasn't in here. I turned to leave when a picture frame caught my eye.

It was laying face down on the bed. I picked it up gently. Inside was a smiling woman with red hair and green eyes. Her eyes reminded me a lot of Harry's. The picture had been torn in half and the other half was wrong side out in the frame.
Carefully I pulled the back of the frame off to flip over the picture. What I saw nearly made me drop it. The man holding a baby was the spitting image of Harry Potter. More importantly however; the man staring back me looked like a younger version of my own father.

A cough came from behind me causing me to nearly drop the frame again. I looked up at Severus. Then I placed the picture back as it had been before closing the back of the frame. I understood. He loved her. He still loves her.

I looked him in the eyes, "When I was sixteen I got my muggle driving license. My boyfriend and I were out. It was raining much like this. We had our first big fight, and I wasn't watching the road. I didn't see the dump truck that had drifted over into our lane. I was to busy screaming at him." My voice cracked. "By the time I looked up it was to late. I hit the brakes and we slid sideways. His side of the car took the brunt of the impact." I took a deep breathe to steady myself. "The last thing I said to him was I never want to speak to you again. Now I never have to."

I set the frame back on the bed. He opened his mouth like he might say something before shutting it again. I gave him a heartbroken smile.

"I'm sorry Ira." I heard him say as I reached the door.
"You know where to find me if you want to finish what you started." I called over my shoulder.

————Severus————

I watched her leave. I took a step towards the door but stopped short. I couldn't. I can't. I swore.

My thoughts drifted to the picture. She was smiling at him and their new born son. That smile could have been directed at me. At least that's what I tell myself.

I was Draco's age when the death eaters approached me. They sang a pretty song, made me feel like I belonged at first. It wasn't something I had ever felt at home or at school.

I called her a mud blood when she turned me down. How many times had she begged me to stop hanging around those people. How long did she try to save me? That's how I repaid her. That's why, no matter, I cannot. I will not love another.

I picked the picture up. Taking the back off I flipped the other half back over. She was so happy here. Despite the war. He. They made her happy. I placed the back on the frame.

I found some plain brown paper among my things. Carefully I wrapped in. In neat calligraphy I wrote: To:Harry.