Act Of A Familiar II
Severus woke up and found his Familiar looking down to him from where she perched on the headboard looking down to him.
"Silly bird to come back on the day of…well…my fall I suppose." Snape growled out.
He held his hand out and allowed the raven to hop on it, bird cawing softly to him as he brought the raven close to his pale chest and held her close. "Do not be sad little one. This has been a long time coming as you well know."
The bird cawed out softly a few times and the pale wizard smiled down to the bird held in his arms.
"I suppose I should be sad. I will be dead in the next day or so, but I do not feel sad. I suppose I feel…..comforted. The destiny I knew for years suddenly before me, traitor I will be remembered as."
His familiar sang as much as a raven could and watched her master smile. "Wonderful for you to try to cheer me up, sweet Thanantos, but we are at The End of Time, thankful for it."
His bird cawed out disrespectfully when he placed her back on the headboard and watched her Master rise, scars crisscrossed upon his chest.
"Yes…" He growled out, and moved to dress in his forbidding robes one last time. "They are uncomfortable and you know how I feel about them. My penance. My sacrifice for her alone. Always her."
The bird shrilled out angrily and he held his hand up and silenced the black raven. "We've discussed this before Thanantos. You were right about Lily Evans….still I can't help myself. She was the only one for me even if she chose the wrong wizard and I helped HIS pathetic son."
The bird tsked at him.
"I will tell you again Potter is not my son! He has Lily in him to be sure, but also the brash foolhardiness of the prat James Potter!" He growled out.
He sat in his black leather chair and held his hand out. "You tried for years to convince me Harry Potter was my son. We both know that is not true. I believed you, silly bird and took blood from the boy in his second year to prove it!"
Thanantos hopped into his hand and looked to him with sadness and rubbed her beak on his cheek,
"Stop that now." He chided the bird.
"I suppose that is what he has going for him." Snape whispered. "Maybe he will come though after what I reveal to him at the end, curse Albus Dumbledore and his plans."
He held his Familiar close to his chest. "Only you will miss me." Allowing his tears to come out openly. "Me, hated murderer, DeathEater, responsible for death, and I have been that, many times."
He felt the bird struggle and released her, watching and land upon an ornate emerald crystal with intricate silver feet allowing it to stand.
"You will not tell anyone about that!" He snarled out.
The raven stood her ground, shaking her small head.
"Defiant at the end Thanantos?" Snape snarled out.
Snape stood and found that he could fault with his Familiar and resigned himself with one last command.
"It won't work anyway Thanantos and just an act of a drunken man that created it before he came to his senses. You know what is required and there is no chance. Now go to where you hid my letter. One year I remind you and then you can find a new Master."
His Familiar cawed out in sadness and left her wizard, for she knew that he wanted to be alone
"Good-bye." Snape murmured before leaving his rooms. It begins.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Hermione went back to the Shrieking Shack and looked down at the dead, unmoving body of Severus Snape, thick pool of blood that began to coagulate beneath it. It had been two days and despite the Golden Trio's pleas to retrieve the hated man's body, their pleas were ignored.
Harry held back with Ron Weasley standing behind him. When everything was over, the Potions professor's death hit her the hardest, telling them that she knew deep down he was good, reminding them of her defense of the man when they spoke ill of him.
She sank down and picked up the dead wizards hand and held it. "Professor Snape, we're here to take you home. Harry told us what you revealed. Despite what you presented I never doubted you and here you are, ignored by all except for us. I'm not sure if you had a will or anything, but will do the best we can for you."
Thanantos hopped down from the rafters above and landed on the chest of her dead Master holding out an envelope. If her Master ever knew her plans he would be upset as he planned for his will to be found well after he was dead.
Hermione took the envelope out of the birds beak, falling back when the raven took off, Ron and Harry moving away from the bird and turned, watching it fly past them.
Ron moved and sat beside Hermione and wrapped his arm around her. "What does it say?" He whispered.
Hermione felt Harry do the same and broke the seal of the envelope and opened the parchment revealed, hand trembling.
"I Severus Snape am dead for this was found during the witch hunt that no doubt began after my death.
My request is simple. My actions and my death proved I was for the Light. Let the Wizarding world know that for Harry Potter can confirm that and clear my name.
Second. Cremate me for I do not wish those that do not believe to spit on my grave.
Lastly, all of my books that survived the battle and my house at Spinners End will be given to one Hermione Granger. Spinner's End if it survives shall be hers as well. Brightest witch of her age she is and unable I was to nurture her, but perhaps my legacy will allow her to reach her potential. Miss. Granger, you are remarkable at potions and hope you pursue it.
It's done. I'm dead and there is nothing more to say."
Hermione folded up the parchment and sobbed out. "You both know the Ministry will ignore what we tell them. We have and yet we are here, only ones left to care."
Ron grasped her shoulder. "We can do what he wishes Hermione."
Harry sighed and stood up and looked to the body. "We'll cremate him and I will never end in my cause to clear him."
Harry pointed his wand to Snape's body and watched it rise up.
"Where do we go Hermione?"
Hermione looked to her friends. "The man lived in Darkness for so many years. Let's cremate him in the Light and spread his ashes to be free. Take my hand." Choking back a sob.
Harry flicked his wand and touched the body when it moved close enough and all held hands.
Hermione closed her eyes and thought for a moment before Apparating all away.
Ron looked around as it was still dark. "Where are we Hermione?"
The water washing against the shore was loud, reminding her that she needed to keep it together.
"Northumberland in England at Bamburgh Castle. I thought that he needed a castle since he spent so many years in one, protecting the three of us."
Harry and Ron turned and found a castle silhouetted in the night.
Hermione sat on the sand on the beach. "We'll wait for sunrise and do the deed before the muggles come about." Casting a Notice Me Not spell just in case.
Her best friends sat down beside her and soon Ron was asleep, loudly snoring.
Harry remained awake and held Hermione's hand until faint rays of sunlight appeared. "It's time."
Hermione woke Ron, who sputtered out for a moment before moving to stand beside them. "Let's do this."
They carried Snape's body close to the edge of the shore and placed it down before stepping back.
"Who is going to speak Last Words? He's a wizard and we have to follow protocol." Ron mumbled out.
Harry looked to Hermione and she reflected back his confusion. "Ron we were raised by Muggles. We don't know it."
Ron watched them surprised. "I forget Mate. It's simple. Say one thing and end it Be well in the Veil."
Harry spoke first. "I never knew what you did and promise will clear your name Severus Snape. Be well in the Veil."
Ron was next and unsure what to say. The man had been a bastard after until all was revealed at the end. "Rest in peace Severus Snape and be well in the Veil."
The two wizards looked to Hermione and waited for her words and minutes passed.
She looked to the dead body before her. "You've led such a life of deception Severus Snape. I wish you peace and despite all that will come out I will always remember that. Be well in the Veil."
They pulled their wands and focused, the body moving out until it was above the water.
Ron looked to them. "Ready?" He whispered out.
All nodded and they watched the body erupt in flames, ash falling into the water until there was nothing that remained of the once feared and hated professor.
All of a sudden a black raven soared out cawing sadly before disappearing.
A raven appeared at his cremation. Fitting for ravens are associated with death. Hermione whispered as they fell to one another and cried for the wizard that no one understood who helped them save the world.