The Woman I Killed

[CicadaInvasion]

The Woman I Killed

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related materials belong to JK Rowling. I lay no claim to them.

A/N: This was written Pre HBP, and occurs at some point during Snape's career as a Death Eater

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She was his only true friend, the kind that can be relied upon, even unto death.

Severus Snape knew she was gone, gone forever, because of him, because of his pride, and because of her pride.

At least her pride was the kind of pride worth having.

~

Kieran Callahan was not the type of person people noticed. She was a quiet brunette of small stature with skin the color of death and deep sunken eyes. Yet, beneath her pale face and dark eyes burned the fiercest loyalty known to humanity. Friendship.

Severus Snape could rely on her for anything – even her life, and she could rely on him. Throughout his school years, his relationship with his fellow Slytherin had grown from acquaintances to inseparable.

Now here he was, staring at her from beneath his mask, as she shielded another friend from death. She did not cry. She did not scream. But she did not know. He knew if he had told her everything, she would have tried to help him, but it was too late for him. Life had cast him into a bottomless pit of darkness. He could see her, reaching to help him from far above. She was a half-blood. She was impure.

With the rise of the Dark Lord, times had changed, and she could no longer rely upon him. His best friend was no longer his priority. His master was, though unwillingly. He had betrayed her for the substance of death. Yes, it was too late for him. He was not worthy of her friendship anymore...had he ever been?

A brilliant flash of green – it was now too late for her. She had crumpled to the floor, and the loyalty had disappeared from her glassy eyes. He should feel sorry. He should hate himself. But he didn’t. He felt nothing.

They were both victims of circumstance, he thought. I was forced to kill her for pride of blood; she was forced to die for pride in her vows. Vows she would never go back on. Her loyalty to him, and to Dumbledore and his order...it had cost her her life.

Yet, she had never wavered. He had only cut the rope that bound them. She had been his last tie to reality, and he had just severed it. He was trapped in a never ending nightmare. A nightmare that had taken away his heart, and his common sense. And she had never questioned his loyalty...had she even realized how things had changed? I should have told her. Too late now. He looked down on her corpse, looked at her face, still plastered with courage and surprise. She was dead.

So what?

So, she was gone. He had lost his one true friendship. She would spend an eternity underground, and he would continue to fall beneath her. She couldn’t catch him anymore.

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CicadaInvasion

I know it's short, but when I tried the longer format, it didn't work for me. This is the whole thing. It was meant to be short, powerful, meaningful.

Please leave feedback!

[CicadaInvasion]

Hey everybody, I got some advice on this, and added some things for clarification...I hope you still like it!

Thanks Azura's Heir!

Cic

[CicadaInvasion]

I have gone back and revised this again. Please tell me what you think!

Cic