As the Dementor kissed him, Severus expected to meet pure darkness soon. What he did not expect was to also feel great relief resonate within him. With a start, he realized that his soul was whole again. He could feel love again. Before he could think anymore, he was assaulted with his darkest memories, from the first time he witnessed his father abuse his mother to the time he killed Harry Potter.

With great difficulty he managed to occlude his mind or whatever was left of it. He was horrified.

"I have been a fool. In my wisdom, I took for granted the oft believed claim that dementors feed on souls. The truth is far sinister. They feed on the despair they cause in the souls near them as well as the souls they store within them. The kiss was not to consume, but to store. How long until my mind cracks? Or will this despair continue forever more? If a soul truly can not be destroyed, my mind will never break! I will suffer eternally! There is no redemption for me! What have I done?"

In his despair, Severus failed to notice that he had stopped cycling through dark memories. When he did, however, he wondered what could cause this. As he pondered upon it, he could feel, for the first time since his incarceration, a pleasant warmth building up within him. Before he could question it, he heard a voice he didn't dare believe he could possibly be hearing.

Severus!

"It can't be! Hellspawn? Have I gone mad?"

Severus! Thank the heavens! You still exist! I won't fail you! I made a promise!

"What are you doing, you crazy bird?!"

Remember when I tried to free you from the Rod? I'm going to try that! I'm going to destroy this dementor! I'm going to save you!

"Are you mad?! You'll die!"

But the phoenix did not respond in words. All he could feel in response was compassion and love.

If Severus still had a body, he'd have cried.

"Do it then. I can never apologise enough for what I've done to you."

I forgive you.

And then Severus was on fire. The flames of the phoenix wrapped around him as the body of the dementor collapsed around him.

As the fire subsided, Severus could see the world in stark clarity. It was then that he noticed the dying phoenix. He rushed to it and tried to wrap himself around it.

"Hellspawn! No! You fool! What have you done to yourself?!"

The smoking chick chuckled despite its pain and looked to Severus' disembodied spirit.

I did it Severus. I saved you.

"But you're dying!"

Is that so bad? I did what I came to this world for. I can die in peace now. Thank you Severus. I hope the afterlife treats you better than life did. Let's go home, Severus. Let's go together.

Severus smiled. Yes. He was ready to go. He was ready to accept his redemption from the one being that gave everything for its belief in him.

Looking upwards, he said "Yes. Let's." As the phoenix faded away, so too did the Half Blood Prince.