He will take the numbness of denial over the pain of acknowledgment any day of the week.
The wall continues to stand, staring blankly ahead, not believing Harry's lies.
There was a moment when they'd almost been equals, when they'd almost been what each other wanted, instead of what each other needed.
Snape was universally reviled. But then, he reviled the world in turn, so it evened out.
She shoots him a look, his favourite actually, made of equal parts exasperation, calculation, and a fondness that makes him feel like he could fly without a broom.
"You lost someone you loved. There isn't much worse than that, I think."
Harry breathes.
I got choked up at the first, and by the last, I was weeping.