the_debt_of_time

by the Carrows. He would spend decades as a spy, putting his life at risk only to lose it.
Arsehole or not, Severus Snape would die on the right side of the war doing the right thing.
"Do you need help?" she offered.
"I can manage," he drawled, rolling his eyes.
"I wanted to apologise to you." She shifted the strap of her bag over her shoulder
as she stood and faced him. "I shouldn't have punched you―"
"Twice," Snape interjected without looking at her as he continued to work.
"Twice," Mia agreed with a smile. "Granted, you did deserve it, but I shouldn't
expect others to be kind when I resort to violence so quickly. If it makes you feel any better,
you're not the only Slytherin I've punched in the face." She smirked, thinking of
Draco and Lucius Malfoy.
"I care as little for your physical altercations with my Housemates as I do for your
pathetic attempt at an apology." Snape looked annoyed when she did not take his bait and
instead smiled at him as though they were friendly acquaintances—not nemeses.
"I also want to forgive you," Mia said quietly, her smile fading.
Without even bothering to ask what for, Snape glowered at her and hissed, "Why
would I ever care to obtain forgiveness from you?"
"Because one day, Severus Snape, you're going to want it. One day, you're going to
do something you can never take back." Her gaze flickered to his left forearm.
Instinctively, Snape pulled it to his chest as Regulus had done.
Merlin, they're both really going to need to work on that if they plan to properly defect from the
Death Eaters, Mia thought, shaking her head.
"One day, you're going to realise the consequences of decisions you've made in
anger and jealousy, and you'll want forgiveness from someone, but it won't be there." She
looked over her shoulder to see Lily smiling brightly, being hugged by Professor Slughorn.
A beautiful fish was swimming around in the bowl of water that now sat on the man's desk.
Mia turned her attention back to Snape, who was staring at Lily, no longer with desire as
he used to, but with a sad yearning. Mia wondered if she ever looked like that when thinking
about Harry.
"Snape, when you get in over your head," she whispered, making a subtle gesture
toward his hidden Dark Mark, "remember, once you figure things out, that help will always
be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."