coming home
The next morning Lily got woken up by Petunia. She shook her shoulders, she had a beaming smile on her face. "Lily, Lily!" Lily slowly blinked with her eyes. She hummed in response, Petunia was already fully dressed. "You will never believe what happened!" She pulled on lily's arm to help her out of bed. She gave Lily some clothes which she quickly put on. "Petunia tell me already!" Lily exclaimed. But Petunia just shook her head and pulled her outside. They ran hand in hand towards the city center. On the big screen was a happy relieved looking Severus. People on the town square were clapping and screaming.
"He won! Severus won!" Petunia hugged Lily tightly. Tears streamed down Lily's face. I knew he would make it, she thought to herself. All the sound around her was drained by her emotions. She had never felt this relieved. Petunia wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled brightly at her. Now, finally everything could go back to normal again. Severus his mother walked up to the two girls. She too had tears in her eyes. they all hugged and promised they would celebrate more when he came home.
-
Two days after the good news, Severus was coming home. lily couldn't wait, she knew Petunia didn't like Severus all that much but she too was in a good mood. Lily put on her best dress for the occasion. She woke up early. Petunia woke up about half an hour after Lily. Together they once again made their way to the town square. Petunia smiled down at lily. She was happy for her little sister. She didn't really like severus all that much. He was a very quiet and often rude boy, but he seemed kind towards Lily. So she just tried to suck it up and go with it.
Lily tugged on Petunia's arm trying to get her to speed up. A lot of people were already gathered around. Lily and Petunia stood a bit in the middle of the square. The capitol guards stood to the sides armed with weapons. They were quite intimidating altogether.
A few minutes later the big wooden doors opened and their stood Severus. Lily didn't hear much of the pep talk. She was too busy staring at Severus. He had changed awfully much she realized. He looked lots healthier than in the game, but also healthier than when he lived here in district twelve. He also looked better, like he had face surgery. His cheekbones seemed higher up and his hair was cut shorter. He wore a black suit. Lily would never admit it but he also looked quite intimidating. Lily almost didn't recognize the person in front of her.
Was this her best friend who had stood up for her? Was this the boy who had sat alone reading old books when he had no one to talk to? Was this the boy who would help Lily cook? No, it wasn't. This boy was no longer a boy, he was a man out of a war zone. Lily could see it in his eyes. They were dull, they no longer had a light in them. A light full of hope and passion. A need to help Lily with whatever she needed. A hope for a better future. A dream which he hoped so hard would come true. His eyes told Lily everything.
It was like somebody had grabbed his dream and crushed it till there was nothing left of it. Like somebody had grabbed the hope out of his heart and ripped it to shreds. This boy didn't dream, he got nightmares. And he believed in the nightmares. Not a second in the speech was he looking for something, not a second was he looking for lily. His eyes stayed in the same spot, right in the middle where nobody stood. Petunia squeezed Lily's hand. She gave her a worried look but Lily didn't notice.
Lily knew in that moment. It was like everybody realized in that moment. Severus wasn't coming home, and if he was he would never be the same. The games had changed him. He was a different person now. He belonged with the victors, not with district twelve. He was no longer one of them.
Lily didn't know what had happened. But at the end of his speech protests were brought out. People were screaming for him to tell the truth, for him to tell what he really thought. People begged and cried. But Severus didn't listen. He walked right back into the doors where he came from. Not a second of hesitation in his steps. He never glanced back. Lily didn't cry, her eyes felt dry. Like her tear suply was far gone. The only thing she felt was anger. But before she could scream out a gun shot rang in her ears. Before she knew it Petunia was pulling her back.
Lily did glance back, she would have regretted that decision for the rest of her life. At the front of the stage laid a lifeless Emma Vanity. Petunia's friend. She was on her side, facing them. Lily stopped dead in her tracks. Before she could do anything Petunia screamed. For the first time in years Lily saw Petunia cry. This time it was Lily's turn to pull Petunia back out of the center of the city. Petunia screamed and screamed. The sound forever echoing in Lily's mind. The pain was all to clear through her voice.
Lily didn't know what to do, this was her sister. Her big sister, the strong and brave one. The one who wiped the tears away, now it was lily's turn. They ran hand in hand all the way to the back of the city. They crawled under the fence, just like she and Severus had done countless times. they ran to the small river. Lily had let go of Petunia's hand there.
Petunia picked some flowers. They were white. She held the small white flowers in her hands. She stood with the water up to her ankles. She whispered something softly. Lily tried not to listen, tried to give her some space. Eventually Petunia squated down into the water. Her dress was getting soggy but she didn't pay it any mind. She carefully let the flowers flow. Flow with the river. They lazily made their way down the small hill, Petunia watched till they were out of sight and Lily did the same.
She walked over to Lily. She wiped away the last tear that fell from her eyes. Lily knew she wouldn't be seeing Petunia cry for a very long time. Petunia looked awfully tired. Her eyes held so much pain and emotion. Lily wanted to help her, Lily wanted to try and make her see happiness again. Then she whispered. "This is his fault, promise me you wont give your heart out for anyone to break like that ever again."
Lily couldn't help but reach out to hug Petunia tightly and whisper. "Promise,"