A Second Chance
Chapter One
Redemption
He felt his life slipping away. He had just enough time to get the memories to Harry before it slipped away completely. He watched as Harry gathered them from him. He wanted to look at Harry one last time.
"Look..at...me." he forced out of himself. Harry turned and looked at him, but before he was able to say anymore, his life slipped away completely.
Severus Snape woke with a thud. He sat up with a start. Looking around he was in some sort of train station, but there was an unearthly glow engulfing the whole place. Confused, he stood up slowly to try to get his bearings. The last thing he remembered was giving Harry his memories, but there was something else after that, something important.
"After you gave Harry your memories Severus, you died." A familiar voice said from behind him. Severus spun around to see the source of the voice.
"Albus. I ah..well if you're here I guess that is true." Severus looked down to his feet. "I was hoping to survive this and be there for the boy.."
"You were there when you needed to be." Albus interrupted him. He walked over to the bench next to Severus and sat down. "Come Severus, I have just spoken with Harry. He did what he was meant to do and he's gone back to complete the battle." Albus gestured for Severus to sit next to him. Severus hesitated for a moment, still unsure of what was going on, but complied with Albus's request.
"Interestingly enough, he inquired about your patronus. I think he truly understands you now, and you've gained an admirer, and true friend in Harry."
Severus snorted "A bit late for that innit?"
"It's never too late for anything."
"That will sure comfort me while I'm sitting around in" Severus looked around at his surroundings "King's Cross station is it? Ahh, eternity in King's Cross. Everything I've hoped for all my life, afterlife, whatever!" Severus slammed his fists on his legs in frustration.
"Severus, your deeds have not gone unnoticed. The ah, powers that be have watched your every move since the night that Lily died. An event like that can truly make or break a person. It did a little of both in your case, but it ended up making you a true hero."
"Where were they when she died? Why didn't they save her!"
"Severus, what was meant to happen, happened. They could not have stopped it, even if they chose to interfere, which they never do."
Severus buried his face in his hands. "She should not have died. I failed her." His tears started falling out of his eyes, and dripping through his fingers. "She should have seen Harry grow into the man he's become."
"Oh she has seen it. She is always watching him."
"Not what I meant Albus."
"But it's what was needed."
Severus sat up. "Bah! Putting a boy through all of this is never needed."
"Sometimes the path we are given isn't always an easy one, but it teaches us what we need to know to become the person we need to become."
Severus scoffed. "That sounds like a convenient way of patting people on the head and sending them on their way without answering their question."
Albus sighed. "Severus, I am not going to argue this with you. You and I are here for a reason. The powers that be have chosen me to speak to you on their behalf."
"Oh how convenient, they aren't here themselves to answer questions." Severus lifted his hands to his mouth to amplify his voice. "What are you scared of, that you'd have to take responsibility for your actions?"
"SEVERUS!." Albus yelled, exasperated.
Severus sighed. "Ok ok. Fine whatever, I'll listen to what you have to say." He crossed his arms over his chest and slouched, glaring at Albus.
"As I was saying, the powers that be have been watching you since Lily died. They know the incredible love you have for her, that it never stopped after she died, that it helped shape who you became. They also know it left you with a great sadness. You never got to hold true happiness in your hands and welcome it into you like a fire on a cold winter night."
"Such poetic words for saying 'fate fucked you over and made you miserable.'" Albus glared at Severus. Severus sighed "Ok ok I'll keep quiet."
"As I was saying, the powers that be know of your steadfast heroism and faith in Harry and what needed to be done. They have decided to do something that is one of the rarest things to occur in the universe. They have chosen to give you a second chance."
"A what?"
"A second chance. Severus, you are going to get a chance to live again and experience the true happiness you deserve."
Severus was speechless. He looked down at his hands, his vision slowly being blurred by the tears forming in his eyes. A second chance? Happiness? He had been so lonely, so miserable for so long he didn't even know if he would recognize it.
"I know this is a lot to take in Severus, but we haven't got much time. Their plan for you is to, well - be reborn to a new life. Your soul will remember what has happened in this life, but this new life will have no conscious memory of what has happened."
Severus breathed heavily. "Reborn? I.." his voice trailed off in shock.
"I know this is a lot to take in, but we haven't got much time." Albus put his hand on Severus's back. "This is what you deserve Severus. Do not be frightened."
A warmth came over Severus. He heard bells ringing in the background. Albus smiled and stood up.
"It is happening Severus. I wish your journey to be steadfast, and to not see you back before your time." Albus stood, and was followed up by Severus. The men embraced each other as the warmth increased in intensity until Severus was no longer standing there.
He felt like he was being pulled. Closer and closer to a target, but he had no idea where he was being pulled to. He was surrounded by fluid and darkness. Hands grasped his shoulders as he was slowly pulled out into a bright room by the hands. The light was blinding. He didn't want to be here, he was so cold. The hands wrapped him in a blanket in a blanket and put him down on a surface. He could feel the surface moving up and down. He struggled to open his eyes, not knowing what he was seeing. A woman's face came into view and she smiled.
"Hi Sean, welcome to the world. I am your mommy."
