The Return of Severus Snape – Chapter 1
This is my first fan fiction so please read and review. This story occurs right after the end of Deathly Hallows but ignores the 19 Years Later Epilogue. I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters that honor goes to J.K. Rowling.
Severus Snape lay on the hard floor of the Shrieking Shack feeling the cold waves of blood loss wash over him. Finally he was free but he wasn't going to be able to enjoy it, oh the irony. Well if this was how his sad life was going to end, Severus was glad it was ending quickly. He closed his eyes and let the darkness consume him.
Suddenly the darkness was replaced with a bright light almost like a summer day and he hated summer days. Severus' eyes flew open and found he himself in a white room that seemed to stretch on for miles. He quickly stood up, straightened his robes and started walking. Severus wasn't sure of where he was going but he refused to stand there and wait.
"Impatient as ever Severus," came a soft feminine voice.
"Lily," Severus spun around quickly and beheld the object of his desire and the bane of his existence.
"You have finally fulfilled your destiny and in the process saved my son. For that I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Severus looked a Lily for a moment; she was just as beautiful as he remembered but he was a different person now. It was time for him to move on and in more ways than one.
"Not to cut this reunion short but why am I here, or is this the afterlife that I have heard so much about."
Lily rolled her eyes, "Well actually this is the part where I tell you about the second chance you are being granted."
Severus' cold black eyes stared back at Lily in disbelief. A second chance, this had to be some kind of sick joke. Sirius or some other retched human being was going to jump out and laugh at him, and then the real tortures of the afterlife could begin.
"Must you always think the worst of every situation?" Lily questioned him.
"It's been my previous experience that the worst is usually what will occur. Now what of this second chance that you spoke of?"
"Because of your numerous years of service to the Order and the great personal risks you undertook you are being given a second chance at life. One that I hope that will lead you to happiness Severus because you could use some," Lily walked towards Severus and reached out for his hand.
Severus let her take his hand as she led him towards a large ornate white door. Lily looked up at him and placed her hand under his chin.
"I missed your friendship Severus but this is not your time. You deserve a much better life then the one you have led and through that door is your second chance. Goodbye Severus," Lily brought his head down to her level and lightly kissed his cheek.
Severus took one last look at Lily then quickly turned on his heel, his black robes wrapping around him. Severus threw open the door and stepped through. If he was granted a second chance he was going to make the most of it.
Air hit his lungs and jarred him out of unconsciousness. The cold floor started causing his joints to ache and make him wonder if this second chance was worth it. Severus was now a free man with no commitments to anyone; the question now running through his mind was "What does a free man do?"
The Great Hall was slowly starting to quiet again. After Harry returned, he reported what he had found out about Professor Snape and that he had been on the side of good all along. As far as Hermione was concerned the wizarding world had lost not only a hero but also a great mind.
Ron was tightly clutching Hermione's hand and it wasn't until this moment that she realized how uncomfortable this made her feel. Ron was one of her best friends and she had confused this friendship with more complex emotions. Now she was backed into a corner, she didn't want to hurt Ron but she couldn't lie to him either.
"Ron, does this feel right to you?"
"Now that you mention it, no not really. I think with all of the crazy things that have been going on I just got confused," Ron looked at her and gave her hand a quick final squeeze.
"I'm so glad you think so too," Hermione felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and she quickly hugged Ron.
The Great Hall was almost empty; many of the people who had been there had departed for home to be close to their loved ones. Ron had left to be with his family and Harry had left to be with Ginny. Hermione's parents wouldn't understand what had happened tonight and she had always felt more comfortable at Hogwarts. Only the staff members and a handful of students remained.
It was at that moment that the Great Hall doors flew open and there stood the dark and brooding potions master. As Severus stood in the doorway he looked around the room, his eyes meeting the familiar faces. This was real; it was all real; this was his second chance.
The faces of the people in the hall surprised Severus they looked like the genuinely cared. While this was touching in some strange way, it wasn't about to change his typically response to such occasions.
"Are you all going to continue to stare at me like a group of dunderheads? Because if that is the case I will turn around and retire for the evening."
"Oh Severus," Minerva ran up the aisle towards him "We thought you were dead."
"It would seem reports of my death have be greatly exaggerated."
"Severus perhaps we should go somewhere and I can inform you of what has happened."
"Of course Minerva," Severus stepped back to let Minerva through the door, then followed her out his black robes billowing behind him.
Hermione sat there is awe; Professor Severus Snape was alive. Her stomach did strange things and her heart raced in ways she couldn't quite explain. It must be because she was tired, that would be the only explanation for what just happened. Hermione quietly left the Great Hall and walked slowly towards Gryffindor tower taking her time as she tried to explain away what had just happened.
After his meeting with Minerva, Severus began to prowl the halls of Hogwarts. While he knew there would be very few students remaining, hunting the halls had always given him time to think. He had still not answered the most important question and one the Minerva had also posed to him "What does a free man do?"
As Severus turned a corner, his mind lost deep in thought, he ran directly in Hermione Granger.
"Oh, I'm sorry Professor. I was a million miles away," Hermione tried not to look into his piercing eyes; just being near him made her heart beat faster. What was happening to her, maybe she was coming down with some sort of illness.
"Ah Miss Granger I see you are without two thirds of the golden trio."
"Yes they went back to the Burrow but I would much rather be on my own. I have a lot of things to think about."
"I seem to be in a similar situation but maybe you could provide me with some assistance," Asking the know-it-all of Hogwarts was probably asking for trouble but if anyone could give him an answer it would be this know-it-all.
Hermione pondered this for a moment, what could he ever need her help with. This was Professor Severus Snape potions master what question could exist that he doesn't know the answer to.
"I will try to help you in any way that I can Professor," Hermione looked up at him and his eyes washed over her.
"What does a free man do, Miss Granger?"