1│The Unwritten Letter

The dimly lit chambers of Severus Snape's quarters were a testament to his obsession with privacy. Potion ingredients lined the shelves, rare books were stacked haphazardly, and a cauldron simmered quietly on the low-burning fire. Severus was in his usual brooding state, engrossed in grading essays from his Potions class, the only time his mind felt at ease.

As he reached for another parchment, his hand brushed against something unexpected—a small, weathered envelope tucked away beneath a pile of parchment. Frowning, he pulled it out, his black eyes narrowing as he examined it. The envelope was yellowed with age, the seal long broken. It was not addressed to him but bore the name of someone he had tried to forget: Lily Potter.

The discovery sent a pang through Severus's chest. He and Lily had been childhood friends, inseparable until their paths diverged, and he joined the ranks of Slytherin while she became a beloved Gryffindor. They had drifted apart, their friendship severed by choices made on both sides.

With trembling hands, Severus unfolded the fragile parchment and began to read the letter written in Lily's graceful script.

Dear Severus,

I hope this letter finds you well. It has been far too long since we last spoke, and I miss our conversations, our shared laughter, and the bond we once had as friends. I know we've grown apart, and our lives have taken different paths, but I want you to know that I cherish the memories of our time together.

I also want to thank you for your kindness during our years at Hogwarts. You were there for me when no one else was, and I will never forget that. I know we had disagreements and that I made choices that hurt you, but please believe me when I say that I never meant for it to come to that.

Severus, I hope that someday we can find a way to bridge the gap between us and rebuild what we once had. Life is too short for grudges and regrets. I hope you are finding happiness and fulfillment in your way, and I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

Yours sincerely,

Lily

Tears welled up in Snape's eyes as he read the heartfelt words of his long-lost friend. But he had known not to let his emotions carry him away. He had carried the weight of their severed friendship and his regrets for years. The bitterness that had defined his existence seemed to dissolve, leaving only a profound sense of loss and longing.

Severus folded the letter carefully and placed it back in its envelope. He didn't know how it had ended up in his possession, but it felt like a message from the past, a plea for reconciliation that could never be fulfilled. Lily was gone, and he had made choices that couldn't be undone.

He returned the letter to its hiding place, tucked away with his memories, and returned to his grading. But that day, a flicker of something other than bitterness stirred within him—a glimmer of the friend he had once been and the friend he had lost. But he knows that everything was done and he can't change anything even if he desperately wants to. But he cleared his mind of her thoughts and focused on the papers that needed correction.

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