Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea and this manifestation.

Warnings: Unbeta'd, raw story; gender-bender; het; threesome; bashing of the Lily variety.

A/N: I don't particularly like author notes, but I think this one-shot needs some explanation. There was this Harry/Severus story that I read some time ago (it's been so long that I don't remember the title). Basically, Harry defeats Voldemort, Lily comes back from the dead because she wasn't really dead, and then Lily takes Harry to the states where she meets up with a not-so-dead-turned-biker-hippie Albus and then they have to cure Harry of some weird illness and so Harry is turned into a girl. Then Lily and Harry start some café and Remus and Severus stop by. It turns out that Lily was in a threesome relationship with Severus and Remus while in school and she married James for some reason (I can't remember). James and Sirius are ghosts that only Lily can see and hear (though Severus can see/hear Sirius). Lily, Remus, and Severus have their threesome relationship while girl!Harry pines after Severus. Then I can't remember what happens, but Lily becomes pregnant with Remus' child and so they are going to get married, and then while Severus and girl!Harry are intimate with each other, Severus calls out Lily's name. Anyway, this is about when I had stopped reading because I just couldn't stomach the fact that Harry was okay being with his/her mother's old lover. I also did not buy into the authors reasoning for why Lily could move on while James is still present (to her). Sirius was the only one with some sense, but then the author changed that as well, and so I just stopped. Well, the story came back to me and I don't think I'll ever write out a full novel-length of the idea, but here's a one-shot of what I thought should have happened.

… x … x … x …

How could I ever trust him again?

How can I know for sure that his feelings are truly for me?

How do I know that when he looks at me, he sees me?

How do I know that when he touches me, it's me he's thinking of?

How do I know it's me that he loves and not her?

I don't, and I can't.

… x … x … x …

"Lily!"

That moment when we connect, our magic mixing and touching, our souls souring as our climaxes rush over us — it's a sacred moment.

It should be sacred.

She tainted it.

When Severus came down from the high of his release, he seemed to realize the gravity of his mistake, as he turned to me with a horrified expression plain on his face.

He opened his mouth, to fill the room apologies, no doubt.

I never gave him the chance. Before a sound was uttered, I was up and out the door, a sheet wrapped around my nude body.

… x … x … x …

Why did I think that it would be different?

Why did I allow myself to hope?

Have I not learned from my previous mistakes?

When I had my world turned upside down, becoming a girl, all I could think was that Severus would no longer look at me and see James Potter reflected back at him.

I never took into account that my resemblance to Lily Potter would bring its fair share of troubles.

Then again, I never took my mother — pure, perfect, Lily Evans — to be a slut.

Showed what little I knew.

Why couldn't she have stayed dead?

… x … x … x …

"Rose! I have good news!" One look into that happy, glowing, face and those hands clasped with Remus' and I instinctively knew what she was going to say.

Merlin! Was there one person she hasn't slept with?

"If it isn't related to you going back where you came from, then I'm not interested!"

Those snarled words morphed her smiling face into a stricken expression.

Good. Why should she be happy when she's the one who ruined my life?

"Rose!" How could you say something like that to your mother?" I couldn't contain the sneer as Remus protected — comforted — her.

"That slut is not my mother. She's an imposter — a fake — and I can't stand the sight of her."

I turned on my heels and ran out the doors of the café.

… x … x … x …

Red hair. Green eyes. Porcelain skin.

I hate them. I hate her. I hate myself.

Could I not escape her? Could her taint not be removed?

Will it withstand the sharp edge of a razor?

If I were to cut deep enough, would her taint be removed?

… x … x … x …

"Harry, love, look at me." Soft hands, soft voice, beckoned me to look into gentle, loving, grey eyes.

Draco. My dragon. My prince. My savior and protector.

"What troubles ail you, princess?" Gentle hands carded through my short, choppy, hair — massaging my temples and sending me into a light doze.

"Nothing troubles me. I was just thinking that it's time to buy some clothes. I can't just keep wearing yours!"

"Of course you can. You look so cute in my large shirts." Trust Draco to hide his possessive nature behind compliments.

"Well that's all and good, but transfigured bras are not as comfortable as the real deal." I knew I had him there, though his defeat was no reason for the end of my massage!

"Let us remedy that today — right now. I cannot bear to hear my princess feeling discomfort."

I may not love this man, but with his gentle, loving treatment, he could easily replace Severus in my heart.

… x … x … x …

Engaged. Severus just could not wrap his head around the concept.

His godson was engaged to Rose — to Harry.

He had lost — to his godson; he had lost his love to Draco Malfoy.

Lily was in no better condition, he observed.

He supposed it was more from the fact that they had to find out through Witch Weekly and The Daily Prophet, than about the actual engagement.

"I hope you realize that this is just what you lot deserve."

"Sirius!"

"I'm sorry to say it, but Sirius is actually right for once, Remus."

Severus absently noted that the ghosts had found a way to bypass the confinement of the attic.

"Lily, I don't hold it against you for moving on, since it seems that you never loved me in the first place. I can forgive you for that. What I can never forgive you for, is cheating on me, for hurting Harry, for going back to the living. Once dead, always dead. Did you miss the memo? You should never have returned, Evans. That way, Harry could have gone on with his life without ever finding out what a slut you were — are. Your pure image would have been conserved. No. I can never forgive you for that."

Lily cried harder with every successive sentence.

Severus couldn't find it in him to care.

He had to find Harry.

… x … x … x …

"I'm sorry, Severus. You must understand that I just can't believe you. I don't trust your feelings. The one time I did, I was humiliated. I simply cannot go through that again!"

"Rose — Harry! Give me a second chance!" She gave him a pitying glance.

"I can't find it within myself to do that. I have Draco now, and he loves me for me, not her. Not once has he called me by her name. Not once. Why would I give that up for the uncertainty you hold?"

It was only then that Severus saw.

"I loved you once, Severus Snape. But you never saw me for me. Now, I've found someone who has and I just cannot bring myself to love you any longer."

There wouldn't always be a second chance.

He had royally screwed up.

He was too late for that coveted second chance.

Too late.

Why couldn't Lily have stayed dead?