They say that the toughest goodbyes are for those that you loved the dearest, that meant the most to you. Harry would disagree, as he stood before those gathered within the cemetery to pay their respects to Severus Snape, he found this could be the hardest goodbye he has ever faced. How do you mourn someone who you so maligned? How do you make up for all the wrongs and hurt that you have caused over the years? Harry found that he could not think of any way to make up for these wrongs.
He had all but forced for this memorial to happen, blackmailing half the ministry about their behaviour during the second war into honouring the man that had sacrificed his freedom, his happiness and in the end his life for the world without Lord Voldemort that they could now enjoy. Ron and Hermione had questioned whether it was right, this memorial for their old Potions master, with Ron frequently bringing up all the times he had victimised Harry and that one right did not make up for so many wrongs. Hermione felt that Harry was doing this simply to make up for the fact that his Mother, whom she now knew Snape had loved for so very long, would have wanted something like this for her old friend.
In the end Harry had found an odd ally in the form of Draco Malfoy. When he had heard what Harry was arranging, he was dubious at first but rather quickly arranged for all of Snape's old Students to help out with the funding and arrangements for this memorial. Although there would be a portrait of him hung in the headmaster's office to honour his term as Headmaster, Harry had arranged for a small monument to be created in the Hogwarts castle in his memory. His body had been interred next to his mother in the family plot as his will had requested, but this would be in memory of the man who had sacrificed so very much for the freedom of those that would follow him.
So here they all stood, on a quiet July night in the Hogwarts castle, not far from Snape's old Potions room. Many had come to pay their final respects in memory of one of the greatest men Harry had ever known, but had tragically realised this too late. His hand wrapped around Ginny's for support as he withdrew his wand and raised his high, and others followed the gesture lighting the dark hallway with what looked like hundreds of stars as the memorial was unveiled.
From a distance it looked rather strange, a cauldron sat upon a stone plinth with a doe patronus decorated upon it. The words "In Memoriam of Severus Snape our beloved Professor and unsung hero, we honour you" were visibly carved into the stone, and highlighted in silver to make them gleam in the light. A closer look at the doe and the word always could be read beneath it. Draco had questioned this, thinking there had been some mistake but Harry had insisted it be included.
In all it was simple, and dignified much like the man himself, and Harry knew deep inside that he could never truly thank this man for all that he had done. Yet in this small way he could ensure that his memory would live on. Harry watched as the others slowly began to leave with a lighter heart, the unspoken emotion that showed on all their faces, told Harry that though most would never express it, they were glad their old potions master would be remembered for the man that he truly was. "Goodbye Professor" he bade quietly as Ginny leaned into his side for this last goodbye.