The grounds of Hogwarts, never willing to bend to complete serenity, were quiet on that early morning in late May. Not a single bird seemed to sing, not one shadow imposed itself from the forbidden forest, and even the lake itself was still as death.
It was as if the castle, in all its ancient glory, had imposed a moment of mourning on its inhabitants.
The white tomb sill stood, a beacon of what was lost and what was gained for the light.
The man's attention, however, was on the slightly smaller monolith right beside it. Cased inside the gray tomb, a poor reflection of the resident, was the forgotten hero of a war that raked the nation. Inside, one of Hogwart's greatest Headmasters and protectors was laid to eternal rest.
The man knelt beside the tomb, no longer trusting his legs nor his being for support.
The ashen memorial was icy to the touch, but somehow warmed the figure as he considered it.
It had not been an easy feat getting it there. So many still doubted the deceased's loyalty, still clouded by the mark of murder against him. Nothing short of testimony under veritaseum and three different pensieves would convince a stricken world of the hero's innocence.
The figure shifted uncomfortably, remembering the looks of disgust and utter rage his proposal had received. No one, even after the verdict was passed and gone, seemed to care that their lives had once rested in the hands of this man. That the world, slowly rebuilding and growing each day, owed itself to the very body rotting away inside the gray tomb.
Letters of an honorable name were traced proudly as the figure remembered the man they represented. How many times they had fought, times they had sneered, and how many times they had deplored each other's existence. Then, how many times he had saved his life, had risked it all in order to ensure his well-being, and had lied if only to protect him.
"He's really gone." Harry Potter whispered as tears fought to roll down the boy's cheeks.
Severus Snape was dead and buried. All that was left were bitter memories and lofty words.
In Loving Memory of
Severus Snape
A true hero and a good friend