The small smile transformed into a genuinely happy one at her words. He didn't imagine that he could feel happy again, but there she went, proving him wrong yet again.
"I would never give up on you. You mean too much, didn't you know?" Severus stopped short of admitting anything more, the anxiety of earlier returning. He managed to pull his hand from hers, albeit reluctantly, and pushed himself up slowly. The robe he wore smelled bloody awful [quite literally] so he peeled it off and removed his wand, taking his time over his still sore arm. Without thinking twice, he tossed the robe into the flames. Sable gazed upon copper and blackness, mingling until all that was left was a smoking set of ashes. He would have to scrounge to get another robe, but right then, he didn't care about the cost. He needed to distance himself from what had happened. A little more satisfied, he turned back to Lily.
"I think rest is all I need right now, but thank you. I shall have to thank Professor Slughorn most profusely tomorrow." Of his own accord, he was able to stand very slowly despite the shakiness of his legs. When he thought he would remain stable, he held a hand out to Lily to help her up, as well. "Please do me a favour and never let me do something so ridiculous again?"