InsaneJournal

It is months of Severus looking right through him, months of haunting the staff room, before Harry approaches cautiously.

“Severus --”

“Harry,” he breathes, closing his eyes tightly, “please.”

Hovering, Harry waits, certain that now, at last, Severus will face him.

But he doesn’t.

“Don’t you understand? If I look back now, I may never look away.” Severus opens his eyes then, but his apology is directed at the wall.

Harry opens his mouth, but hasn’t the breath to speak. He chokes on absent words, sinking back. He doesn’t understand, not Severus, and not how a heart without flesh can hurt.