Finally Found You

"Look...at...me..." he whispered.
The green eyes found black, but after a second, something in the depths of the dark pair seemed to vanish, leaving them fixed, blank, and empty. The hand holding Harry thudded to the floor, and Snape moved no more.

On 2nd May, 1998, Severus Snape went to heaven. He stood amidst the grass, his vision blurred. Slowly, his vision focused, and he found himself standing in the park where he had first met Lily. He looked at his hands. He wasn't wearing the full-sleeve robes as usual, but that wasn't what surprised him. It was his left forearm. There was no dark mark there. He turned his hands.

They weren't withered and rough from potion making and hardwork. Instead, they were smooth and pale. He felt shorter, but healthier. He walked over to the pond and bend over it.

In the reflection, he saw his own fifteen year old self standing there. He understood the reason. This period of his life consisted of his happiest time. It was the time when Lily was still friends with him. The time when he still had some hope... and something to hope for.

"Amazing isn't it?" He couldn't believe his ears when he heard the familiar voice behind him. He could never forget that voice. It was the voice that used to taunt him, curse him in his nightmares. But the difference was... the voice didn't really sound angry now, or that matured. The voice belonged to Lily Potter.

He turned around, and found a fifteen year old Lily Evans standing in front of him. He didn't know what to say. Should he talk or just run...?

For a moment, Lily stood in front of him, expressionless. Then she raised her hand, and... slapped him across the cheek. Strangely, he felt nothing.

"How dare you treat my son like that?! He didn't do anything wrong!" Lily glared at him. He didn't speak. Guilt consumed him. He didn't know what to say.

"Everytime I looked him... I saw his father, and... not you. He just reminded me of what I've lost."

"That is not an excuse." Lily said it a cool voice.

"I...understand. I'm sorry." He said, looking down. This was the second time he had apologized to someone from his heart. And it was the same person.

Lily held his hand, forcing him to look up. Her eyes had softened... her expression was a mixture of sadness and incredulity.

"I know you're sorry." She said softly. "You proved it. Thank you... for everything." Severus looked her, not sure if he had heard correctly or not. Lily took him by surprise, when she stood on tiptoes and kissed him on his cheek. His heart warmed. It felt like the old days, when Lily used to kiss him on the cheek now and then, just to remind him that she was here for him. She reminded him that despite his miserable life at home, he had someone who trully cared about him. Then, Lily spoke.

"I slapped you because you deserved it." She said gently. "And I kissed you because you deserved it more. Now you're free to slap me back."

"Wha... why?!" Severus asked, confused as well as nervous.

"For never listening to you. And for not giving you a second chance." Her emerald eyes watered. "It was indirectly my fault that you had to live such a hard life. I thought I'd just tear you out of my life and I'll be fine. But I never really thought about you. When I realised my mistake, it was too late. Too late."

"It was my fault you died Lily." His voice cracked.

"No, it wasn't." Said Lily. "Even if you were partly responsible, I'm sure you made up for it all your life. I am glad I have a best friend like you."

"You forgive me?" Severus said in disbelief. Lily chuckled.

"After everything you've done, I think you deserve that much." Severus looked at her. After few seconds of silence, they pulled each other into a hug.

"I promise you." Lily said in his ear, "that we'll be best friends forever."

Severus smiled against her hair.

"After all this time?"

"Always."

A/N: Thank you @thelastsign for hosting this contest. Thank you severusdowney for inspiring me on Severus and Lily's friendship. Hope you enjoyed it! :)