The Four Options
Chapter 1: Albus Dumbledore
After imploring Harry in his own cold way to look at him, and as a result, for Lily to look at him one last time, Severus Snape died. His hand, whiter than his face, released Harry's shirt and fell with a dull thud to the dusty wooden floor of the Shrieking Shack, and Severus' eyes went dark all over, yet somehow, had a look of the contentment that his final wish was granted.
Severus was able to die looking into the eyes of the woman he had loved for nearly thirty years. It wasn't the way he wanted to die…he used to dream he would die looking into his wife, Lily Snape's eyes as they lay together in bed at an old age, after living a long, healthy and happy life. But that hope was forever stripped away from him through a mixture of his own anger-induced stupidity, Lily's hypocritical fury and James Bloody Potter's cruelty. Not to mention Severus' gullibility and Lord Voldemort's wrath six years later…the worst day of Severus' life.
But it's over now…he thought to himself.
Wait…how am I thinking? I died! I can't think. I should be burning…why am I not burning? Why is everything so white? It's blinding me!
Severus shielded his eyes and after rubbing them, he tried to open them…Either his eyes had adjusted to the light, or the light itself dimmed enough to not be too bright, but still beautifully white and heavenly.
Severus looked around. He seemed to be in an empty and heavily whitewashed King's Cross Station. He could see only platforms but he could hear agonised groaning.
He saw it came from under a pure white bench. Glimpsing beneath it, he recoiled at the bleeding, babyish, skeletal mound of flesh on the floor, moaning in pain.
Severus could see through the slits for nostrils that somehow, this was the Dark Lord, or at least a part of him.
Severus felt no sympathy whatsoever. This was the man who killed Lily and so many others, not that he gave a damn about the 'others'. It was only Lily he gave a toss about, and he had no intention of allowing anyone, particularly Dumbledore believe he cared for anyone else.
And as if on mental cue-
"Severus?"
Severus spun round and saw Albus Dumbledore, dressed in pale blue, almost white, with a sympathetic smile on his face.
"I regret that you came to be here so soon." said Albus softly. "I did intend for you to be unharmed by Voldemort when you killed me…but the plan went wrong."
"Does it look like I care, Dumbledore?" asked Severus coldly.
He still hadn't forgiven Dumbledore for using him, for wasting his life by holding on to a promise to make up for his role in Lily's death, only to find out that his efforts were in vain.
"I see you're still under the illusion that Harry will die." said Albus, his smile still broad on his face.
"You what?" snapped Severus.
"I couldn't tell you in life, but I have no reason to hide the net result of my plans now, Severus. The only witness is still alive and cannot hear us, besides, his tattered soul is too busy whining in self-inflicted pain to take any notice."
"Go on. I'm listening." mumbled Severus, with reluctant interest.
And so Albus told Severus all about how Voldemort made Horcruxes, and those were the soul fragments that Harry had to go and destroy, as well as being one of them, hence why Voldemort had to kill him.
"If he has to die, because he's a Horcrux, why do you say I'm under the illusion that he will die?" fumed Severus.
"Because," continued Albus, "Harry will only lose the piece of Voldemort's soul once the Killing Curse strikes him. His soul will be his and his alone at that moment and unlike most people who come here, Harry will have an additional choice to the one of moving On. He can choose to go back to Earth as himself and fulfil the prophecy, and finish off Voldemort once and for all."
Severus took a moment of silence to process this information. His sacrifice wasn't in vain, nor was Lily's. He had made a difference after all, he could say that he had made up for his sins as best he could.
"I see you seem to be unsure of things." said Albus.
"Meaning?"
"You don't seem to know what happens to you from here."
"Well, I don't understand where I am." admitted Severus.
"Well, you are in the crossing between the Wizarding World and the life beyond life." explained Albus.
"So why are you still here?" asked Severus.
"I need to explain the final parts of the mission to Harry when he arrives." said Albus. "But I have been On before."
"So you can go back and forth?"
"Not as a rule, but there are special circumstances." said Albus cryptically.
Severus rolled his eyes. He knew this mysterious nature only too well. He would be glad to be rid of it. But then to his surprise, he saw Albus' smile fade and his eyes now looked very sad.
"And now it is time for you to go On." he said.
"Why are you sad?"
"You'll see."
Severus now felt a sense of foreboding. His moving On made Dumbledore sad. But why? At last, he would be able to say how sorry he was to Lily. He could beg her forgiveness. Oh, he had no delusion that she would be happy to see him, nor harbour any feelings for him, nor show forgiveness for his role in her death and how he treated her son in life, but at least he could say…goodbye this time.
"I am…ready. I think." Severus murmured.
A train, also pure white but the exact same shape as the Hogwarts Express appeared with a coach. A compartment door opened.
"On you go, Severus." sighed Albus. "And goodbye. You were always a valuable spy and a close friend."
Not always, thought Snape bitterly. Would a close friend ask another to waste away his life being a spy? Would he threaten him with expulsion if he were to tell anyone he was nearly killed by a savage beast whilst praising his would-be killers? Would he ask him to kill that friend and risk tearing his soul apart like Voldemort? Would he deny him the chance to see Lily again in the Mirror of Erised? Would he fail to protect the woman he surrendered his freedom for?
"Um, goodbye, Albus." he replied and he boarded his train.
Albus watched morosely, as Severus' train pulled away. He knew what was going to happen, but Severus would not know until after he saw someone else first. It was all for the best. Severus would never be happy…but he might be when he accepts his fate…
First chapter done! Two more to go. This is just the prologue to my longer story idea. Hope you enjoy!