Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Summary: Five times Severus Snape called for Lily Evans.

Genre: Angst/Friendship

Rating: K+

Circle

5

They had it out in the cold of the dungeons. He wasn't sure, analyzing their words over and over in the Pensieve, how it all began. It simply had, a neat, icy avalanche of harsh words and accusations that broke them apart. Their fury started a fire in the hearth. The flames burned without any heat.

"It'll never be enough, Sev."

He couldn't—wouldn't—understand what she meant. He said nothing and she collapsed, not to the ground, but inwardly somehow. When he remembered, he thought that there should have been an audible crack.

"You know, I used to sit at my window at night and I'd think I could hear you call."

Her voice was dead and it nearly stopped his heart. But only nearly, because his heart was gone by then.

"I guess I was wrong, wasn't I?"

Her words came out a whisper, childlike and searching. When she left he didn't stop her. The fire went out and the smoke pooled at his feet, choking and gray.