Lily of The Valley

Chapter 4

Lily of the Valley

For the next several days, Severus never left his rooms, spending most of that time in a daze. Once a day, Albus would come and update him on Harry's condition. It started as four broken ribs, a broken arm, bruises, malnutrition, and a coma. Madame Pomfrey had done everything for him that magic would do: the bones were fixed, the bruises were fading, and now it was just a matter of time until Harry woke up. Albus would then offer comfort and advice, which Severus refused, and Albus would withdraw from the room quietly, leaving him alone with his thoughts once again.

Lily... She had been so beautiful. Severus picked up the beloved crystal snake and made himself remember all the things he had forcefully pushed into the back of his mind.

They had met their first year at Hogwarts; she was beautiful then, even as a child. Very few people didn't notice how beautiful she was. She was tall, and not too thin, with her deep auburn hair and shining green eyes. The boys weren't the only ones that took notice; she was envied by most girls at Hogwarts as well- even the older ones. However, her beauty went much further then what she looked like. It was the way she carried herself, her intelligence, the way she treated others. Everyone was equal to Lily. She treated everyone as a friend- even the Slytherins; even Severus Snape. He was shy, awkward, and no one really liked him in the beginning--except Lily. She always treated him with respect- like he was human. It started out innocent, a study date in the library. And Lily learned more about "Sev", as only she called him. And... then it was eating together, walks together, holidays together. Over the years they grew close; no one knew Severus like Lily did. She was the only one he opened up to. No one looking at them could understand what the bright, outgoing, Gryffindor Lily Evans saw in the shy Slytherin Severus Snape.

In their fifth and sixth years, they were nearly inseperable. They started planning a future together. Marriage, someday children... but then, in their seventh year, things started to change. Voldemort... Severus cursed his name and bitterly thought of how Voldemort was best at taking away people's happiness. The only time in Severus' life that he had ever been happy was when he was with Lily. Times were changing though, with Voldemort coming into power, and every being in the wizarding world lived in fear. It was just after their seventh year that Severus became a spy--unknown to everyone, even Lily. Until Voldemort was gone, he knew, they would never have the future they both dreamed of. And...then there was their last time together...

"Lily?" Severus whispered.

"I'm here Sev." Severus looked at her. It was dark outside, but in the light of the full moom, he could see her beauty.

"I came to say good-bye," he said reluctantly. "I have work to do, and I don't know when, or even if I will return."

"I know you have work to do. Ever since graduation, you've been away so much. Severus, when are we going to have our life together?" Lily asked him. She looked at him, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Lily," he hugged her tight. "my sweet Lily of the Valley. I'm doing this so we can be together. I love you." He kissed her softly.

She broke the kiss and pulled away. "I know," she whispered. She grabbed his hand and they walked in the moonlight around the lake in silence, and she suddenly stopped. "Severus. I want you. If you never come back to me, I want to know that we shared each other at least one time."

"Lily... Are you sure?" he hesitated. "It's a big decision. I thought you wanted to wait."

"You just told me that you may never come back to me. If that happens, I want to know that we had each other once. Please Sev. I love you so much." She looked at him longingly, and his heart all but stopped. How could he say no?

Another passionate kiss and they were pulling off each other's clothes. He lowered her gently into the grass, all the while kissing her. Her lips; her neck; her ears; her shoulders; her breasts. She moaned under him, willing him to go all the way. And when he finally gave himself to her, and her to him, the world seemed to stand still, each feeling a passion they never knew existed. Afterwards, they laid on the ground holding each other tightly, neither willing to let go of the other. Lily started to cry and Severus kissed her again. They both knew the time was coming when he'd have to go. She stood up and wrapped herself in her robe.

"I have something to give you," she said. She walked over to a tree and knelt down, and then pulled a small package out of a bag she had left there while they walked. She went and handed it to him. "Here," she said, handing it to him.

He opened the box. Inside was a crystal snake. Most of the body was coiled, but it's head was up and looked as if it was looking directly at him. It was a beautiful gesture; she knew how much being a Slytherin had meant to him in school.

"Oh Lily, thank you." he said softly, "I have something for you too." He pulled his hand out of the pocket of the robes which he had put on while she went to her tree. Out of it, he pulled a gold ring and Lily gasped.

"Please wear this." Lily looked at it, and was touched to see in the moonlight that it was engraved with a flower. A Lily of the Valley. She put the ring on and knew it would never come off her finger. The couple hugged and kissed one last time, and then he had to go.

"Whatever happens, I love you Severus," she said to him, crying once again. He gently wiped a tear from her cheek and kissed her on the nose.

"Goodbye, my Lily."

The knock at the door startled Severus out of his dream. He was surprised to find his face wet with tears. "Come in," he croaked.

Albus opened the door slowly. "Severus, he's awake."