"Look...at...me..." Snape whispered.
The green eyes found the black, but after a second, something in the depths of the dark pair seemed to vanish, leaving them fixed, bland, and empty. The hand holding Harry thudded to the floor, and Snape moved no more.
But the green eyes were burned into Severus's memory. Even as he felt his soul lift away from his body, the green eyes remained etched there. It felt as though he were Apparating to nowhere. His entire body felt as though it were on fire, but it felt strangely numb. All of his memories of life somehow became clearer, sharper as he spiraled for what seemed like a lifetime. When the sensation disappeared, everything came into focus.
He was in Spinner's End at the familiar playground where he had spied on a young Lily Evans, but instead of a swing set, there was a large, golden-framed mirror. As Snape moved closer to it, he saw "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi" carved deep into the gold. He peered into the mirror, but he did not see only himself himself staring back. Instead, he saw the almond-shaped, green eyes of a very-much-alive Lily Evans.
Severus fell to the rocky ground, grasping the edge of the mirror. He refused to look away from Lily, afraid she might disappear. Her eyes followed him downwards, and as their eyes met, she smiled. A few tears dripped down Severus' hooked nose. He regained his composure, stood and stared hard into the mirror, not believing what he saw. He reached his hand forward to meet Lily's outstretched fingers...
"I wouldn't, Severus," an all-too familiar voice warned.
Severus flung himself around to see Albus Dumbledore in baby blue robes and half-moon spectacles, just as he always was.
"What? What are you doing here?" Snape was bewildered by the old man's appearance. If this was heaven, why was the man who practically forced him to risk his life there? There should only be Lily in any version of heaven.
"I'm afraid we can be disappointed, even in the afterlife, Severus. Just trying to save you from an unfortunate experience. All you would have touched would have been cold glass," Albus replied, as always, not answering the question he was asked.
Snape cackled. "You owe me that much, I suppose."
"Indeed. That is very true," Dumbledore chuckled.
Snape turned back to the mirror, happy to see Lily still standing there right next to him, smiling. He felt his mouth pull up at the corners into a unfamiliar expression.
"Severus, do you know what this is?"
Without turning from the reflection, Snape answered "Of course. The Mirror of Erised."
"I mean this place where we are."
He turned from the mirror to face the old man once more. "You said yourself that this is the afterlife," he was haughty in his response.
Dumbledore laughed lightly. "I'm afraid I may have been a bit deceptive about this being the afterlife."
"Is it not?" Severus was horrified at the idea that he may have to let go of Lily Evans once again.
"It can be, if you so chose," Dumbledore turned to walk away, forcing Snape to chase after him.
"What do you mean by that?"
"One always has the option, Severus. If you chose it, I believe you can have a second chance at life. At YOUR life," Dumbledore smiled.
"What... what do you mean?"
"Severus Snape, you have been given a second chance at life. You can go back to the beginning of your previous life and relive it, fix your mistakes. It's not everyday you get an opportunity like this. Though, I suppose, since death is the price you must pay for an opportunity like this, it's not an opportunity you'd want everyday..."
"How is it, that even in the afterlife, you know so much?" Severus spat.
"When one has been around as long as I have, one gets to know some trade secrets," Albus said with a wink.
Snape shook his head, and caught a glimpse of Lily in the mirror. "I think I'd like a second chance."
Dumbledore's eyes sparkled. "I thought you might. Do try to remember your past life. It can be difficult, but if you really work at it, you will be even more wise this time around,"
"Good luck, my friend," Dumbledore pushed Severus to the ground, but Snape did not stop falling. He closed his eyes as the swirling began again, this time ending with a blinding light.