She kisses him, hard and biting and desperate.

"Lily gets everything she wants," she says, breathing heavily. "I want something of hers."

"No." He tries to free himself from her grasp, but she won't let go.

"She's never going to love you," she says matter-of-factly, and moves closer. "Face it, Severus," she hisses, her lips brushing his ear, "This is as close as you're ever going to get."

The gauntlet thrown, they stare at each other for a moment.

Then he crushes his mouth against hers.