Disclaimer: Rights to Harry Potter belong to J.K Rowling, not I, obviously.

Authors Note: A new story idea that came upon me this morning. Enjoy… hopefully.

Imprints

Written by: Syanne

Prologue

There was nothing particularly magical about dying. Death was the same whether you died a wizard, a muggle, or as any creature.

Severus Snape found he much liked dying. The dirty floor that was beneath him seemed a fitting enough place to die for him; he was not too good a man to be bitter that he would die here and now. The venom that had entered through his neck, was now coursing through his veins up to his heart, was not a bother at the moment either. There were no thoughts for Voldemort, no hope for Harry as he went with Severus's memories in hand, no bitterness toward James Potter any longer. And no… There was neither any love for Lily Evans in his mind. The memory of green eyes no longer lingered…

This wasn't as bad as he had thought it would be. What with the Dark Lord always seeking to skirt death, Severus had even begun to fear death himself. Surely it must be some monstrous thing if all wizards and muggles alike avoided it so keenly.

The rhythm of his heart could barely be detected inside his ribcage had anyone been there to check for it. His breath was shallow and tired, as if he was arduously climbing a great hill. His eyes stared out past what was here in this dusty old shack, seeing something out in the distance, that no living person would be able to.

"Oh wow." He breathed out shakily.

And it was as if he had finally come to the top of the hill, and could finally take a moment to calm himself before he took his next steps.

"Oh wow." Down fluttered his eyelids; they closed for what would be the last time.

He took his last breath in, and then expelled it gently.

"Oh wow."

The universe opened up before him. This was more great and wonderful than anything he had thought possible. It was if everything each philosopher through the ages had said was true. The cosmos was a terrifying, monumental expanse of space, and he himself was nothing in it, but everything at the same time. Just a speck drifting through, a fleck, a dot, he was an atom. What he was contributed to the great formation of the universe and in that moment he realized that while many had thought him exceptionally great in life, he was just like everyone else. Everyone else was there among him; floating, drifting along, coming together as atoms to form this universe and all others.

This was death, and it was better than anything in life had been. For once he found that he belonged, not as some pawn, he would not be used by any man here. He belonged as everything did, no different: not any better, or worse. Had anyone been able to look in on this, there would be nothing for them to distinguish any atom from another. He could not be seen. A deep, overwhelming comfort rose up and he allowed all thoughts to dissipate. He was content to simply exist here, and never be who he had once been, again…

Severus Tobias Snape: Born: 9 January, 1960. Died: 2 May, 1998.

A/n: The final moments before Severus's death are loosely based on the last moments of Steve Jobs, whose last words were supposedly: "Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow." before he died. I was inspired by this, and wondered what he was seeing in his last moment, and thus wondered what any of us must see right before death comes. This is how Imprints came to mind for me. This will hopefully be a novel length fanfic. I hope everyone has enjoyed this. Reviews are always appreciated. Flames are always welcome, as well. I could probably use a beta reader, if anyone is interested, please contact me.