Prologue
He scene was morbid. Strangely, even Mother Nature herself seemed to mourn. A small cluster stood huddled together, wind tugging at their black robes like the hands of restless spirits. Behind them, the castle stood dark and almost sinister against the dismal, grey sky. Her turrets a thorny crown placed on a face of stone.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, sliding her hands over the pottery urn. "Now you will always be a part of my world."
In one swift movement, she gave the ashes to the wind, and they watched silently as invisible hands swept them away, and dispersed them amongst the fields.
A tall man, with lines of untold wisdom on his face, and long silver beard came to stand beside her.
"She will never be lost child, hold her in here," he placed a hand over his heart. She turned to him, her brown hair whipping against a face showed only courage. Her cheeks were red from the cold, but no tears stained them.
"I know sir," she whispered. Then turned her back to her companions, to begin the short walk back to the castle.
A stern looking woman, with a care worn face approached the old wizard.
"I am concerned about her Albus. She doesn't seem to be coping at all with this."
Dumbledore turned his eyes to her, "I know Minerva, but losing a child is a trauma no young mother should have to face. We can't expect too much of her." With that, he too, headed back to the castle.
Slowly, the remaining people began also to walk. A young man with emerald eyes and a scar of unrivalled fame nodded his head to his companion; the lean gentleman ran a sweaty hand through his red hair and turned to look back.
"Why is he here?" He asked. Pointing an upturned nose at a lean man, still facing the cliff.
"I have no idea Ron, does it matter?"
Ron shrugged at this and followed the small group back inside.
Severus Snape ran his long calloused fingers across the grass, still wet from the morning rain. His severe black eyes bored into the backs of the two men.
I am here Weasley to pay my respects… to a child that should have been mine. With a bitter smile, he too began to make his way to the safety of the dank dungeons below Hogwarts.