Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
The world lost a great man today, one who became our image of one of the greatest bullies/heroes of modern literature. Alan Rickman had a gift of imbuing his characters with life, from the villain Hans Gruber in "Die Hard," to the sympathetic Colonel Brandon in "Sense and Sensibility." He will be missed, always.
"Albus? How?" Severus Snape blinked his eyes against the white glare to take in the form of Hogwarts' greatest headmaster.
"Look at yourself, Severus," Eyes over half-moon spectacles twinkled madly. The potions master looked down, taking in his young form, the lack of fine wrinkles on his hands, the clean robes and -he held out a lock- clean hair.
"We are both dead, then." His hair hasn't been completely free of potions fumes since he was sixteen, despite several advances in haircare potions.
"Ah, but death is the next great adventure, my dear boy." Ah, there was the Albus Dumbledore that Snape remembered.
"Your next great adventure is greeting me?" He drawled familiarly.
"Severus, of course," the Headmaster responded (even mentally, even having been headmaster himself, Albus Dumbledore was still the Headmaster).
"And what now, Albus? Do we have tea?" An eyebrow was raised.
"Lipton tea?" A pitcher of American-brewed iced tea appeared in Dumbledore's hands. Severus shuddered. How Americans drank that rubbish, the potions master would never know.
"Akbar's Ceylon, as you well know," the lanky man responded. Two cups appeared on a table as the Headmaster's Office shimmered into place around them. Convenient, Severus thought. Each man took a chair.
"Now this is tea," the Headmaster sipped, then pulled a bag of lemon drops from a pocket, silently offering them. Snape shook his head, and the man took one for himself, sucking lightly upon it as he sipped his tea.
"Rarely have I spent a more pleasant moment, than that which was spent in the presence of an old friend and a cuppa," the Headmaster sighed.
"I am sorry," Severus whispered. For so many things, but especially for his role in the Headmaster's death. And Lily's.
"Could you speak up, dear boy? I couldn't hear you."
"Killing you, for that I am sorry," he spoke louder, looking down at his cup.
"My dear Severus, you know that I do not blame you, that I would not have lived much longer regardless," Albus spoke sternly.
"And you were able to save young Mr. Malfoy. He seems to be on a better path now, yes?"
"Not without the Dark Lord's downfall," Snape shook his head, "but if Mr. Potter succeeds…"
"Ah, yes, shall we look in on that?" Albus set his tea down.
"Look in? There is a way to watch events unfolding?"
"Why of course!" The Headmaster drew Severus over to the pensive. They fell in, and watched as the Second Voldemort War concluded.
"After all this time," Severus shook his head. Finally, Lily's murderer was dead.
"You are ready to see everyone else now?" Albus asked him. Snape blinked. He could see everyone he'd ever lost, now that he was on this side of the veil. I can apologize to Lily.
"Some of them," Severus drawled as they 'exited' the pensive and left the Headmaster's office, "But if Potter tries anything, I reserve the right to hex him."
Did you catch the acrostic?