"Severus," a scowl spread across Lily's face as she turned toward her old friend turned stranger.
There had been a time when Severus was probably her best friend. They had been neighbours, and Lily had known Snape even before Hogwarts. Looking back now, she had to admit that even as children they were vastly different. So much opposite to each other.
Lily had always been cheerful, with a happy personality and an upbeat spirit. She carried a warm, optimistic outlook and looked toward the future with hope.
Snape, however, was the opposite of everything she was. His childhood had been difficult. Lily could never be sure whether his parents had physically abused him or not. The one or two times she had tried to bring up the subject, Severus had brushed her off. Not wanting to intrude, she had let it go.
But one thing was certain, he had carried a heavy mental strain. Both of his parents were toxic, and the environment in his household was suffocating. Their angry shouts quarrelling among themselves often carried across the street. Both his parents had no care for the child they had produced. Severus was neglected, perhaps even an unwanted child.
And this shaped him. He grew cold and indifferent toward others, with a mindset steeped in bitterness and negativity. He did not have a single positive and optimistic bone in his body. He was completely opposite to Lily.
She had hoped that with time, Severus would be able to overcome all of it. But no. He had only become bitter and bitter. The hatred in his heart had fostered and grown.
Now that she looked back, Lily realized they had only become friends because of one shared aspect. Magic.
As a half-blood, Severus was aware of magic and Hogwarts from the very start.
He had been the first to explain it to Lily when he spotted her accidental magic. It was that moment which had formed the bond between them. They grew up together with Snape teaching Lily a lot about magic and various aspects. It did not help that Severus' own knowledge was lacking. On the other hand, Lily filled the void that formed in Snape's hatred. Her positive outlook and warm nature soothed Severus' pain.
The bond should have carried over into Hogwarts as well, where both had arrived as strangers among strangers, expecting to rely on one another.
But that was not how things turned out. Severus was sorted into Slytherin. And Lily still could not see why he had been placed in that house.
Even if not Gryffindor, Ravenclaw was the house best suited for that man.
In truth, he was ill suited for that house, but perhaps his fascination with the darker side of magic had been what guided the Sorting Hat's decision.
And Slytherin gave him the same life that he had been running from. The same toxic and suffocating environment.
Life in Slytherin had been difficult for him at first. His half blood status, his shabby sense of dress, his greasy hair and his ever present scowl made him an easy target for ridicule.
Severus never would have admitted it, but Lily knew that he longed to be acknowledged, to be accepted by his peers in his house. That he wanted to feel wanted. To be respected.
And, eventually, he was. His talents in magic, especially in the Dark Arts and potions earned him recognition. From a bullied student, he was drawn into their circles, particularly among those who shared his interest in darker magic.
It was that very leaning toward typical Slytherin behaviour that drove a rift between the two of them. Perhaps, in time, Severus had even started to see Lily as just another Gryffindor. Although he did not see her as one of his enemies like every other Gryffindor, she was still a Gryffindor.
And then came the day. The final nail in the coffin. The day James Potter had been bullying him, and Lily had stepped in. Still thinking of Severus as her friend, Lily had stepped in to save him. It was his embarrassment or simple anger spiralling out of control, Severus called lily a filthy mud blood.
Lily had been shocked to the core to hear such words from Severus' mouth. She had been unable to believe it.
Realization dawned upon Severus in some time and he apologised. And Lily would have accepted his apology but Severus had not really been sorry. He was sorry for saying that to Lily. He still agreed with that slur and would have been happy to use it against any other muggle born. And Lily could have never forgiven this.
"Lily," Snape said hurriedly, almost in an exasperated manner. "I want to talk to you about something."
"I do not want to talk to you," Lily snapped in frustration.
"How many times must I tell you that we are no longer friends? That whatever we had is gone. We have no connection left anymore. I do not want to keep any relation with you, nor do I wish to speak with you."
She did not wait for Snape's reaction and tried to march past the Slytherin boy.
"Lily," Severus stepped in her path, looking desperate. "Please. It's important."
Perhaps it was the desperation on his face or perhaps the fact that once, long ago, he had been her best friend that softened Lily's expression, if only slightly.
"Alright," she said through gritted teeth. "Say whatever you need to say."
"Not here," Snape whispered, his eyes flicking nervously toward the students passing in the corridor. "Somewhere else."
"Pandora," Lily turned to her friend. "I'll see you later."
The blonde haired girl nodded and departed. Without another word to Snape, Lily stepped back into the classroom they had just left. The students were gone, and the room was empty now. Snape followed her inside.
Lily stopped near the edge of the room, just before the rows of desks began, and turned to face him.
"Say it, Severus," she said. Her patience was wearing thin.
Severus took a deep breath as to calm himself and prepared himself for whatever issue he was going to breach.
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