Title: Gratitude
Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape
Spoilers: All books.
Disclaimer: They do not belong to me.
Summary: Harry has so much to be grateful for.
"Hello." Harry's greeting went unanswered, for stone will not speak back unless it were a magical statue. Hermione would undoubtedly have all sorts of theories to explain why he felt the need to give voice to his words and visit the grave of his tormentor, even years after the man's death.
Some of those theories may even be close to the truth, but Harry no longer felt the need to have or give explanations for everything that he did. Ginny was no longer surprised when he left on a certain day each year, nor did she ask what he did. That regard was something that he cherished, almost as much as he cherished their children and the quiet peace of their lives entwined with his.
"I felt so sorry for you," Harry said thougthfully, a hand tracing the words on the tombstone. "Your memories explained so much about you and I felt so sorry for all you had suffered. But do not mistake my sorrow for pity -- you would hate that, and I have none to spare."
Most of the time, he said nothing during his annual visit. He would lay a bouquet of white and purple lilies on the man's grave and depart after a few moments of silent reflection. This year felt different to him and he stood there, his chilly hands thrust into the pockets of his jacket, giving voice to thoughts he had shared with no one else.
He liked to envision the man receiving his words and being unable to deny their truth.
"I understand why you hated me. I also understand why you hated yourself and the choices that you had made. But you were the one who made them, and I will not carry your guilt. Nor will I apologize for my mother's love or my life. You could have chosen differently and you did not. I just wish I had understood things sooner . . . and were you to hear this now, you would undoubtedly reprimand my foolish sentimentality and deduct House points."
A leaf, brown and crinkled, blew against the top of the stone. Harry heard the distant cries of a passing flock of geese and sighed, feeling the lingering sadness within his chest.
"A new James Potter attends Hogwarts." His lips quirked into a bitter smile. "And he is not a bully. Lily also attends now, and your namesake started last year. He already has had to meet with the Headmistress over pranks he has pulled on his fellow Gryffindors. But do not fear -- he pranks everyone equally. Legacies might not completely disappear, but they have changed."
With a wave of his hand, he cleared away the rest of the debris that had accumulated over the previous year. "I will undoubtedly return next year. Be at peace, sir. You have earned that -- and so have I." He turned then, and made his way out of the cemetary.
Ten points to Gryffindor. The words came to Harry's mind and he paused, shaking his head.
Had he looked behind in the moments before he exited the graveyard, he would have seen a tall, dark figure lingering where he had stood, a small smile on the lean face. Harry continued on his path, and the figure disappeared. A breeze blew in his absence, causing a few leaves to trace the letters on the tombstone once again.
Severus Tobias Snape
(1960-1998)
Hero
-End-