Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or its wonderful characters, and I'm only writing this for fun.
When he woke he was laying face down on the ground, if it could be called that. He realized that it was neither hard nor soft, warm nor cold. Turning his head to one side he slowly opened his eyes. In a moment of panic he thought they weren't able to focus, until he realized that there was nothing to focus on; no sound, no smell, nothing but a thick mist that hung lazily about. Nothing to fear.
If felt so good after all the chaos, horror, and pain that lead up to this point that he closed his eyes once more, content to lay there forever.
Alas it wasn't to be.
He wasn't alone. Even with his eyes closed he could sense someone was standing over him and he tensed, too afraid to look up and relieve the suspense.
Finally a voice cut through his panic.
"You don't fool me, Sev. I know you're awake."
He recognized her soft, playful tones at the first syllable. His eyes shot open as wide as they could go and he tried to get up too quickly, lost his bearings, flopped back down, and settled for sitting. The sight of the beautiful young woman to whom the voice belonged froze him more effectively than the strongest body-bind.
"Lily..." he breathed.
Her smile was full of understanding and kindness. "Hello Severus," she said. He didn't respond. He continued to stare at her, his face white with shock and his mouth set in a thin line. Growing concerned, Lily crouched to his level. "Are you alright? You're trembling."
Suddenly he noticed her proximity and scooted away, nearly getting tangled in his robes in the process. Finally he managed to stand.
"Are you afraid of me?" Lily asked with a mix of hurt and amusement.
"You can not be real," Severus coldly asserted. Now that he was getting over his initial shock, his usual serious demeanor was returning. "I don't know what you are - if you're an illusion, or something else - but I refuse to be played by some petty chimera."
"Oh Sev," she sighed. Her eyes met his, green to black.
Even though she was smiling, he could easily read into some deep sadness she seemed to carry.
He almost gave in, and realizing that made him shudder. Even as he tried to hold himself with confidence, he could feel panic flowing like ice through his veins. He was more terrified of this apparition than he had ever been of Voldemort. After all, nothing the Dark Lord could say or do truly mattered to him, but Lily... Lily was the only thing he had ever cared about, and even if she wasn't real, she had the power to harm him in ways that his enemies could only dream of.
He tore his gaze away from her, his head lowered and turned to the side, face hidden behind the sheet of his greasy black hair.
He was barely aware when she started speaking again. "I won't try to convince you that I'm real, or that you're safe. All I can tell you is that you can't get rid of me unless you let me go, and we both know that's not going to happen."
"Why are you here?" Severus's voice was hoarse.
Her smile was back again. "I've always been here," she said. "I've been waiting for you."
His brow scrunched up with confusion, which made her laugh. It was a soft and gentle sound, with not an ounce of cruelty in it. "Do you remember how you got here?"
His gaze grew distant as he strained to recall, then he gasped and his hand flew up to his neck where there should have been a deep wound, burning with venom and weeping blood. Nothing. His skin was unmarked.
"Am I...?" he couldn't finish.
"I'm afraid so." Though she didn't look the least bit grave about it. In fact she was positively beaming.
He reeled and started staggering away. "No... no you're lying. I can't be... I have to find Potter... I have to..."
Lily stepped forward and took his arm to keep him for keeling over. "Sev," she said gently, "Sev, it's okay. Look at me! Harry found you. You gave him your memories, and he's already seen them. He knows what he has to do. It's okay."
A hand clutching his heart, he gaped at her as through he had never seen her before. "It's over?"
"For you? Yes. Your part's done. You can rest now." She looked at him with concern, taking in how pale and ill he seemed. "And you look like you need it! Why don't we sit down?"
Breathing hard, he nodded dumbly and went limp. His body was suddenly flooded with an absolute relief he had never once experienced in life, and it compelled him not just to sit, but to sag to the ground and lay down once more. He turned his head to Lily when he heard her laughter.
"I'm sorry for stressing you like that," she said. "After awhile you forget how hard it is to be alive."
He gave her a weak smile in return. His arms and legs spread out, he closed his eyes and let the wonderful feeling of complete freedom wash over him.
18 Years Later
The trees of the Forbidden Forest were laden with snow from a good blizzard that blew in just before the holidays. The deep chill settling in since then meant that even the sun shining down from a cloudless sky could do nothing to free the boughs of their new white coats. Not a living thing stirred that night. Only death was more peaceful. The moon was little more than a waning sliver, but still managed to light up the pale world below, and around it the heavens opened up, a sparkling universe speaking in an old and mysterious tongue that no human could decipher.
It was the perfect night for stargazing.
Alone in a glade, a blond haired centaur had his blue eyes turned upward. His ears were alert to the sounds of the forest, but he had little fear of dangerous creatures happening upon him. Anything with half a brain knew better than to attack one of his kind.
A shooting star flashed through the atmosphere, causing him to frown and flick his tail in agitation. At the crunching of snow nearby he turned in time to see another centaur, this bearing a rich chestnut coloration an the lines of an age much greater than his own, emerged from the trees.
'Good evening, Firenze,' said the newcomer.
'Ronan,' he acknowledged returning his gaze to the stars.
Ronan joined him in his scrutinization of the heavens, but after several minutes asked, 'Why are you not at your school? I thought the young ones were about to return from their break.'
With another flick of the tail, Firenze answered, 'They are celebrating the renewal of their calendar. They call it New Years Eve.'
'Odd...'
'...Indeed. I did not feel like joining the festivities.'
Ronan looked at his temporary companion, stomping one front hoof, and then the other. 'So you come out here and risk the wrath of Bane and the others? That is foolish Firenze. You can see the stars just as well from your castle.'
'No. The torches pollute their light, and on a night like this...'
With a snort Ronan turned his head upwards once more. 'They are exceptionally bright, especially Mars.'
Firenze shifted his weight at that. His eyes flickered momentarily to his elder. 'Mars is not the only one that speaks.' He paused to stare at the glittering snow. 'They are waiting for something. The return of Saturn?'
The chestnut centaur shook himself uncomfortably and said, 'That is soon. Only a few days from now.'
Firenze smiled and nodded. 'Thank you, Ronan.' He turned and trotted away in the direction of Hogwarts castle.
Ronan watched him impassively. Just before the young blond slipped into the trees, he called, 'You should not tell the Wizards. It is not your place.'
Firenze continued and did not turn, but Ronan was certain he heard the words, 'If not I, than who else?'
The next morning, the Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry awoke much later than was custom feeling groggy and congested. Perhaps she had a little more to drink the night before than was sensible? Yet, in these times of peace there was little to be worried about, and she so seldom let her hair down - as the saying went - that she felt she deserved the occasional night of fun.
That being said, though not quite hung over she did feel a good headache potion was in order.
Getting up was a delicate and slightly painful operation to her aging body. After wrapping her night robe about herself, she shuffled over to the fireplace and took a pinch of floo powder from the childishly decorated clay pot her daughter had made for her many hears before. After tossing it into the fire, she stepped into the now discolored flames and said, 'Headmaster's Office.'
Stepping out of the floo on the other end, she managed to look graceful despite the lurching sensation in her stomach that she hadn't felt since her childhood. Spelling the soot away with a wave of her wand, she strode across the circular room to a cabinet that she kept fully stocked with potions.
It took her a moment to locate the one she needed, and after raising it in a mock toast to the sleeping portrait of a particular past Headmaster she said, 'Good morning Albus, and Happy New Year.' With that, she downed the potion.
The spicy flavor and slimy texture caused her to close her eyes and shudder, but instantly her headache vanished and she felt about twenty years younger.
When she reopened her eyes, it was to find that Dumbledor's portrait was smiling at her, eyes a-twinkle. 'Happy New Year to you as well, Minerva,' he said. 'And by the way, you had an interesting visiter last night. When you did not return after the party I advised him to leave a note on your desk.'
Quizzically she turned, and sure enough there was a neatly folded piece of paper lying on top of the school budget she had been working on.
After tapping it with her wand to determine it held no threatening magic she picked it up and unfolded it. She knew who it was from the moment it touched her fingers. There was magic alright, but a sort she had grown familiar with over the years, and it simply there to insure she was the only one to read what it had to say.
Smiling, she shook her head fondly at the direct and vague words.
Dear Professor McGonagall
The stars were very bright last night. They spoke of conflict. Something thought ended long ago shall begin again in nine days time, and a Ruler thought lost shall found before the passing of the Bull. These events will greatly effect the school for better and for worse, so be on your guard.
P.S.
I hope you and the students enjoyed your celebration.
Firenze.