Seeing Snape like this, Will said nothing. He slipped silently out of the room, leaving Snape alone.
A long time later, Snape opened his tear-filled eyes. Not seeing Will put him somewhat at ease. It would hardly do for his student to see him in such a state.
He wiped away his tears but did not get up. Instead, he lay back on the sofa and closed his eyes, hoping to relive it once more.
But after only a few seconds, his eyes snapped open. No. This was all wrong!
He had thought he could experience it again. After all, it had come from his own memories. But reality dealt him a harsh blow: he simply could not.
The Happiness Charm had felt as though he had returned to those vivid memories, lived through those days again, and walked beside Lily once more.
It had been like starting over. Every moment had felt real, and none of the painful memories had intruded.
But remembering was different—
He had lived for thirty-six years. He had spent nine years waiting for her, twenty-seven years loving her, and a lifetime repenting for that one word: Mudblood...
Every memory surged over him like a tide. Longing, love, hate, ambition, dreams—they swept him away like towering waves.
The more he remembered, the more he missed her. The more he missed her, the more it hurt.
There was only one way to fall back into that dream... Only one way...
Will!
Snape pushed open the door and saw Will reading at a table near the edge of the Kitchens.
He strode toward Will—no, he practically ran.
"Professor, is it over?" Will closed his book.
"Again," Snape said, staring into Will's silver-gray eyes. "Right now."
"Professor, are you sure?" Will looked at Snape and sighed inwardly. Things