Still working my way through canon shifts...

[severity_softly]

Short ficlet (just over 500 words). Spoilers.

Title: What They've Become
Pairing/Characters: Snape, Lily (implied unrequited Snape/Lily)
Rating: PG
Warning: Spoilers for DH, mild violence, angst
Words: 500ish
A/N: I don't know how it's possible to equally love and loathe "The Princes Tale," but that seems to be what's going on in my head right now. So I let my rarely let out of the shadows Snevans muse play. ETA: I think I might have unintentionaly borrowed a line from The Princess Bride. Whoops.


She wouldn't look at him, striding along with purpose, her long orange hair fluttering behind her. Severus knew she didn't have anywhere to be. He had studied her schedule and knew when her classes were, when she normally studied, and when she normally took time off from school work. The only reason Lily was walking so hurriedly and with such determination was to get away from him. He knew that, but yet he followed still.

"Lily, stop."

"No."

"You still won't talk to me. After all this time?"

She didn't answer, and he kicked at the ground behind her, nearly stumbling when she got a few feet ahead of him because of it. "I saw you with Potter," he breathed, after catching up.

Lily rounded on him so quickly he walked into her, grabbing around her waist to keep her from falling backwards from the impact.

"Have you been spying on me?!"

He took a chance not to let go, letting his fingers linger on her until she brushed him away as if repulsed. It felt a little like being punched in the chest. "N-no," he lied.

"Don't lie to me."

How did she know? She had always seen right through him, every bit of him. She flayed him open, leaving him exposed, always. He often thought that was part of what he loved about her. No one else knew him like she did, not even his own parents.

"He's an arrogant, pig-headed berk, Lily! You've said it yourself!"

"He's changed," she said flatly, turning on her heels and marching away.

"You've changed," he called, following. Couldn't she see that she needed him? He could protect her from becoming something she wasn't, a bloody decoration on Potter's arm. It could be just like it had been when they were children... except more than just that. "You've become as dim-witted as a bloody Hufflepuff if you think he's good enough for you. How could you be so stup--"

He didn't see it coming, even though he had seen her turn again, but he felt her fist impact his face with such force that he staggered back. Cupping his bleeding nose, he looked back at her to find her eyes filled with tears.

"You've insulted me for the last time, Severus! Never do it again!"

"Lil-- I'b sobby, I'b--" he managed, ignoring the pain.

"Empty apologies," she snapped, but her voice cracked and the tears were spilling onto her cheeks now. "How dare you accuse me of being the one who's changed, Severus? Look in a bloody mirror!"

"Lily, ib's not--"

She wiped her tears, her voice going quiet when she cut him off again. "I hate what you've become."

His body went unnaturally cold and his insides gave a quick jolt, but she gave him no opportunity to reply, not that he would have even known what to say. This time when she turned away, she broke into a run, leaving him to watch her retreating form. All he could manage to do was stare after her.

If Lily hated him, he thought, all was lost.

Comments

[devilish--angel.livejournal.com]

I could so picture this happening.
It's so painfully lovely.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad it came off canonical, as I'm still having my issues with new canon. *g* This is helping me work it out, though. I'm not fond of her being his reason for redemtion either, actually.

Hey, just because there is no new Eileen canon, doesn't mean she couldn't still be Irma Prince, or any other theory that's out there. She's still just as much free game as she was a week ago. :)

[damedbx.livejournal.com]

hello! copied and pasted! BTW, in the mood for snape icons! Don't have one--yet! but here is riddle! LOL

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

copied and pasted?

[damedbx.livejournal.com]

yeah I highlighted your fic copied it and pasted it, but don't worry, i have who wrote it and all that. Just wanted to commented so i know where to go when i finished reading it! :D

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Okay, well, I don't mind if you've copied it for your own, to re-read and whatnot, but please do not repost it anywhere else without my permission. I like to know exactly where all my stuff is at, so I can pull it if ever a sticky situation arose.

Anyway, I'm glad you liked it. :)

[pixychelle.livejournal.com]

I like this very much. Not only does it ring true to what we know of canon, the twist that Lily may not only have been his salvation but his damnation as well is excellent.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

*G* Thanks so much!

[cacopheny.livejournal.com]

Man, back in their school days, I can so totally feel for Severus in this situation : ( I can feel it even more in your fic! I swear, so many fanfic writers (yourself included, my dear!) write so much better than JKR ^^

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

LOLZ, while I admit JKR is not perfect (and parts of DH did read like bad fanfic), I could have never come up with those worlds that she did. Thanks, though. It'd be nice if I could ever make as much money as she did writing my little stories. ;) Glad you liked it.

[mosaic.livejournal.com]

HUFFLEPUFFS AREN'T DIM-WITTED!!!!

*ahem*

I love it! As others have said, it very canonical and beautifully done.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

NOT ACCORDING TO TEENAGE!SNAPE! *g*

Thanks, love!

[mosaic.livejournal.com]

TEENAGE SNAPE'S MOM IS DIM-WITTED!

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

DON'T YOU BE MESSIN' WITH MY EILEEN!

[mosaic.livejournal.com]

TOO LATE! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[rosehiptea.livejournal.com]

Oh, I feel so sorry for Severus here. The last line is so true for him, I think. Great job.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[mysduende.livejournal.com]

That's nicely written. However, I can't see Lily punching his nose. I don't think he was that obvious of a doormat when it came to her. ;)

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

I guess it's a matter of opinion. After he's insulted her and spied on her, I wouldn't think hitting him was too far, and I think, at this stage in his life, he was too into her to hit her back (especially since it was such a strong feeling it never went away his whole life.) But that's just my opinion.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[damoyre.livejournal.com]

That's so sad :( Poor Snape.

*le sigh*

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

I know. :(

[sherlock2040.livejournal.com]

Awwwwww... poor Snape

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Yep. *pets him*

[pervert-bitch.livejournal.com]

Great! And now I feel even more sorry for Snape, if that is possible. Yes, Lily, he insulted you. But there was one time when you have thought the same as him about James Potter... so you could have explained :P Anyway. Both are so stupid and in the end hurted each other a lot, even if it was not intentional.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the feedback! :D

[solitaryraven.livejournal.com]

I just almost burst into tears reading that.

So utterly beautiful. I love how you've completely captured (at least what we know of) both of their characters. Perfect.

[severity-softly.livejournal.com]

Thank you!