Part One: Reflections

Pleas read and review, I love this story, I hope you do too.

Disclaimer – you know the drill, I own nothing JK Rowling is brilliant.

Snape flinched as Dumbledore drew the curtains, the foreboding windows borne the spring sun shining brightly through. Snape tuned his back to the huge oak framed windows that were the main adorations in the Headmaster's office.

"You asked to see me, Headmaster?" The potions master asked.

"Severus, sit you look weary." Dumbledore said as he gestured to the large red velvet couch facing the Headmaster's large oak desk that was over 200 years old.

"Thank you, sir, but I prefer to stand." He said as he pulled back the long black robes that he wore so often that he knew no others.

"Please, I wish you would sit, you have been through much." Dumbledore asked as his blue eyes peered over his half moon spectacles straight into his beetle black ones.

"As you wish." He said as he sat on the edge of the seat trying his hardest never to let down his guard to anyone.

"Ah Severus, three long years has it been, and it amazes me everyday that we have finally won."

"The stronger will always win, I say."

"True, True, I nor anyone else could have done it without you, and I thank you." Dumbledore said holding out his hand.

"I would hardly say that, sir for all I have done in these past years will never erase a lifetime of sin and evil in my youth." Snape said looking away towards the ground.

"Severus, truly a most noble man, if only others knew you as I did." He said as he sat back in his desk chair.

"Other do not wish to know me as you do." Severus said plainly.

"Perhaps it is because you do not wish them your pain?" He asked in return.

Severus did not reply, knowing that he was mostly right.

****

"Ah enough talk about the past, I have called you here to make you aware of this years graduation ceremony."

"It is Potter's year, finally I will be done with him." Snape smiled.

"Ah, Severus I believe that you might actually miss him." Dumbledore smiled back.

"The day I shed a tear over Potter, is the day that I become a Gryffindor." Severus said half laughing.

"So, Headmaster are you planning so grand ceremony to honor the mighty Harry Potter?" Snape asked sarcastically.

"Severus, you know I do not treat Harry differently than any other student." He said in a way asking for reassurance, but found none from the Potions Master.

"I am sorry to say but it obvious to all the houses that Harry is placed on some pedestal, in which the Slytherins will never reach. Although Slytherins are cunning and will do anything to get what they want, they still look to you for reassurance, although they often find nothing, and so it is I that must keep them going, to help them see the way to the light, and not go down the path of evil as I once did." Severus said as he relaxed somewhat onto the couch.

"Do you really think I do this?" He asked worriedly.

"I know you do not do it with ill will or with purpose." Snape said again.

"I am so sorry, for I do not intend, and I now realize that the Slytherin house, and the whole school is very lucky to have such an observant professor as yourself."

"I am just serving my own penance."

"Well, this penance of yours has earned you the honor of presenting the Graduation speech this year. You have won the vote from all of the Seventh years."

"I, the speaker, this can not be."

"I assure you it is true. It was a very close vote, usually the vote is decided by the number of students in the house, which usually is.."

"Gryffindor.. Minerva has given the speech ten times in the 15 years I have been here."

"But thanks to three votes from a different house, you have been chosen," Dumbledore said as he rose from his chair.

"I see, well I will be sure to thank those students, seeing how much I enjoy addressing the whole school." Snape said sarcastically.

"I as always expect great things from you Severus."

"And on my honor as always I will not let you down." Severus stood and shook the Headmaster's hand.

"I await your speech Severus, and that is why I think it best I let you go." Dumbledore said as he walked him to the door.

"Rest assure if I must do this I will make sure no one ever forgets." Severus said, and with that he carried himself down the spiral staircase and down to the dungeon where his office awaited him.

"No one will ever forget." He muttered to himself.

End of Part One.

So what do you think? Just wait for the speech.