Excerpt: Portrait of a Man

He thought Lily might be able to see it on him, first chance she really looked. The poor, broken family. The boy who suffered in near silence, anger seeping deeper into his soul with every outrage his mother had to bear. He wore his shame like a cloak around him, a dark shadow that seemed to encase him from head to toe. She, Lily, seemed to radiate light with every step she took. One glance at the dark ugliness that followed her, coveting her warmth and light and Severus suspected she'd feel little more than repulsion. Somehow, he knew she'd never show it. She'd be nice enough, polite even, to anyone. And he could accept the small bit of kindness her pity would afford him if it gave him the chance to get to know her better. It was the best he could hope for.