A Second Chance
Chapter 1: Death Is the First Step
Severus S. Snape lay on the floor in the shrieking shack, left all alone after Potter had left - Lily's son. Oh how things had changed - and he realized that he hadn't really hated Harry - he just couldn't look beyond his appearance. Now, now, Severus was looking with clear eyes at last.
A bitter grimace came to his lips - now, when he was dying, he could see there was more of Lily in Harry than there was of James, his old arch rival. If only things hadn't ended this way - but, at the same time, he was satisfied - the dark lord would be defeated today, and so, he didn't mind leaving this life like it was.
After all, he would be joining his beloved Lily again - and he couldn't wait to see her. So many years it had been since he saw her radiant face – so long ago that he had seen her face light up in laughter, joy or even in sadness. And when she was angry – ah, the fire blazing from her warmed him like the fire in the grate in the Slytherin common room.
How things had changed – he almost wished, right before he saw no more, that he could redo things all over again. His eyes closed – or he thought they had when he was suddenly in a white place – where exactly it was, he wasn't sure. It didn't have any kind of structures or anything noticeable. It was like a sheet of paper with nothing on it.
He turned around, trying to see if anything was in the other direction when he felt a tap on his shoulder and could suddenly smell lemons along with some sweet smell. He groaned just then and turned slowly to face – Dumbledore! "This is hell. . ." he moaned, his knees starting to weaken.
'Please say I won't be stuck with this old coot forever in hell?' he wished desperately when the man in front of him chuckled, but then sighed. "No Severus, this is not hell, as you think. I'm only here to help you decide where you want to go." He said, and nodded his head at something that had appeared behind them.
Why was it that the old coot could always seem to read minds? No, Severus mended, he could read minds – there would be no way that the old coot would know what he had been thinking without being able to read minds. Severus turned then and blinked. There was a train in the middle of the white field, and it had a sign that pointed to two different directions. The train was sitting on a track, and not too far ahead was two turns. "What's going on here old man?" Severus asked, his throat constricting. "I'm dead, right? Why am I here? Where is Lily? I want to see her – don't I deserve that after all I've done?" he asked with pleading eyes.
Severus watched Dumbledore's exprhession go from normal to a bit sad. "Yes Severus, you do. But then, you have a unique opportunity here – remember when you were dying, your last thought was that you wish you could do it all over again, right? This is your chance to change everything." Dumbledore said and smiled sadly before he popped a lemon drop in his mouth. "These are really quite good. Try one Severus." Dumbledore said, and offered one to Severus.
Severus rolled his eyes, but took one. Dumbledore beamed back up at him, his blue eyes dancing merrily. "Now then, you'll remember everything at first, but as time starts to move on, you'll gradually forget this life time. I'd suggest writing down anything you'd like to remember in here." He said, pulling out the elder wand and conjuring a diary. Severus nodded. "You'll be starting your new life out the day before your first train ride to Hogwarts. Take the opportunity while your on the train to your destination to write down what you need. Don't forget about the horcruxes – and Severus?" Dumbledore asked with hesitation.
Severus took in all this, and his mind started whirling. A chance to be with Lily again, alive with her, and win her this time – oh she would be his queen, and he would never allow himself to be in Slytherin again. "Yes Albus?" he asked, his thoughts interrupted. And as he looked at the man he'd both admired and hated for so long, the old man seemed to grow so much older and sadder. "I'm sorry." Said Dumbledore, tears streaking down his face. "I hope you'll forgive me. And I have faith in you Severus. You were always my favorite, even if you were a little moody."
Severus just started laughing. "Damned old coot. Fine, fine, your forgiven. After all, Harry will end up winning – of that I have no doubt." He said with a small smirk. Albus Dumbledore looked beyond shocked and amused. "First times for everything, I suppose. Now Severus, hop on that train. Here's a quill – don't worry, the ink won't run out, and Severus?" Albus said, pausing.
"Yes Albus?" he asked, a tear or two slipping by unnoticed. Dumbledore beamed at him again. "Have fun." He said simply and watched with amusement when Severus rolled his eyes at him. "Your not just an old coot – you're a batty, meddling old coot." Severus said before he felt something cool under his feet. When he looked towards the train, the white area had magically become an exact duplicate of 9 ¾ platform with the scarlett engine on the track. He popped the lemon drop in his mouth and shrugged as he climbled aboard. The train let out steam and took off, and he saw Dumbledore waving goodbye to him. Then Severus focused on the journal and quill that the old coot had given him.
It was time to get down to work. He didn't know how much he would remember when the train stopped, so he listed the following things:
1. Get sorted in a different house – not Slytherin.
2. Remus Lupin is a werewolf. Prepare wolfsbane potion before the full moon. Add a touch of ginger root to counteract nausea.
3. Treat Lily like a princess – never ever call her a mudblood.
4. Never ever go to Voldemort's side!
5. Find a way to get the Gryffindor Sword – or talk to the sorting hat when possible about it.
6. The Room Of Requirement is on the seventh floor opposite a tapestry of dancing trolls.
7. Find and destroy all the horcruxes, listed below.
8. Tom Riddle is Lord Voldemort .
He put hearts around Lily's name and smiled, but the smile fell when he started writing down the Horcruxes and where to find them. He would be with his beloved soon. Oh how much he wanted to embrace her and kiss her! He'd have a very hard time of letting her go, and thinking that, he chuckled.
Horcruxes:
1. Tom Riddle's Diary – Given to Lucius, might be in the possession of Ginerva Weasley.
2. Hufflepuff's Cup – Unknown Location
3. Ravenclaw's Diadam – Lost, perhaps check with the ghosts.
4. Slytherin's Locket – check Borgin and Burkes – he has it.
5. Nagini, his snake
6. Guant's ring – unknown location – maybe with Riddle.
7. Harry Potter, son of James Potter and Lily Evans
Severus couldn't help it, he had to cross off the name – that would NOT happen again. He would stop it from happening at all costs. Satisfied, he put the pen down only to pick it back up again and quickly scrawled under the two lists 'I LOVE LILY DAWN EVANS!' "Okay, that was a little rediculus perhaps, but. . ." he said and suddenly yawned. My, he was getting sleepy! "Maybe a quick nap." He muttered and closed his eyes, immediately asleep. Well, today HAD been pretty stressful – it wasn't every day that you died and were given a second chance after all. . .