At this moment, Snape only felt that his thoughts had become even more chaotic, while the emptiness inside him seemed to have expanded many times over.
He had once believed that as long as he bore enough weight, enough pain, he could in some sense atone for the sins he had committed.
Yet Lily told him that none of it had been his fault.
The guilt he had carried for more than a decade had suddenly been emptied away like this, and all it did was make the void within him seem even larger...
Then what exactly was he?
That question echoed in his heart, torturing him again and again until it felt as though his very soul was about to be torn apart.
Then, a voice he loathed beyond measure rang out.
It was James Potter's voice. "What's wrong, Snivellus? Are you planning to cry here and then spend the rest of your life cowering like a worthless loser?"
"James!"
"Get lost!"
Lily and Snape spoke almost at the same time.
Harry pursed his lips, wanting to say something too, but before he could act, he caught Sirius Black and Remus Lupin looking at him. Both of them gently shook their heads.
Trusting them, he swallowed and ultimately chose to remain silent.
James Potter walked over to Lily's side and gave her an inconspicuous nod, along with a meaningful look.
Lily seemed to understand what James Potter intended, so she said nothing more.
James Potter's tone still carried its usual frivolity and provocation. "Lily, you can't seriously let him curl up there without saying a word to him, can you?"
Snape looked at James Potter with undisguised disgust.
He raised his voice and growled, "Get lost!"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" James Potter met Snape's gaze,