As I was slowly becoming aware of my surroundings, a voice cried out, "Sev!" It was a voice I had yearned to hear for uncountable years, a voice that made it seem as if everything was all right, the voice that, to me, was that of an angel. Though she had only said one small word, it brought tears to my eyes, and as I turned around with my eyes closed, I could not help wondering whether this was all a dream. The most wonderful dream that I did not wish to wake up from. Dare I open my eyes? As I was pondering this, a familiar scent of flowers wafted up to me, that had for many years made me feel calm and happy whenever she had been near me, the smell I had for so long missed after she had gone, and nothing had been able to put my mind at ease after that. Slowly, slowly I opened my eyes, holding my breath, and what I saw in front of me made me feel...happy. Actually happy. Something I had thought for so long now that I could never feel again, because the one person who could make me so happy was gone. But there she was, her face glowing, smiling up at me with shining emerald-green eyes. All those years, I had been satisfying myself by looking into the eyes of her son, but it had not been the same. It had never been the same. As I looked into her eyes, I could not stop the tears. She smiled sadly and clasped me to her, as if she could never bear to let me go. "Oh, Severus, thank you! Thank you so much! Words can never, ever repay how much you have done for me." There was so much I wanted to say to her, but the words just wouldn't come into my mouth. I had a feeling, though, that she already knew everything. "I'm sorry" were the first words to come out of my mouth, but she knew why I'd said them. Smiling, she took my hand and said, "I should be the one apologising to you now, Sev. I over-reacted that day. You were angry, but you apologised. I should have accepted. It was just a word...a true word - Mudblood. You were going through a tough time too." In that moment, we both understood each other perfectly. "I love you, Severus. I've always loved you. I've never seen a person who could love more than you, though. All those years, you were jealous of James because he seemed all heroic, but now, you're a hero. Even James agrees." And with that, to my horror, another figure materialised out of the white smoke. James Potter. He was sneering. As he drew nearer, however, I saw that it wasn't the usual sneer upon his face, but a sincere, friendly smile. "I'm sorry...Severus. For everything. I owe you so much...for my son's life. You are braver than anyone I have ever known. It would mean a lot to me if you could forgive me, but I understand if you can't." Any other time I would have delighted in hearing these words of apology coming from James Potter, but this time, I felt like...just forgiving him. Was it something about this place that made me understand how others felt? Where was I anyway? As if understanding what was going through my mind, Lily said, "You belong in this world now, Sev, the afterlife." And though she was standing next to James, for the first time ever I did not feel jealous. It must be because of where I was now, it seemed to be a place full of contagious happiness and positivity. I smiled at Lily, and then at James. A friendly smile, inviting them to start over...as friends. I liked it here. I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to be happy, but here, for the first time after so long, I felt happy. Truly happy.
