Finally! So sorry you guys for the wait! I hope you enjoy! :)


"Quick, here!" Lily hissed and pulled Severus behind a column. She peeked around.

"What's he looking at?"

"Not sure... I can't see too well." She smiled. "He's so handsome."

"Just like darling Potter I suppose." Severus retorted bitterly. Her face darkened and he noticed her fists had clenched turning her knuckles white, but she did not comment.

Now what would cause a reaction like that? What did he do to her to elicit such an emotion?

Severus felt his hate for the man deepen when he thought he had hurt Lily. Merlin forbid he had lain a finger on her for, Heaven or not, Severus would hex him all the way down to hell. He was still seething when he heard the voice of the only person (besides Lily) had had possibly been able to call friend. A very controlling one, but a friend nonetheless.

"But you already know." Dumbledore was saying. Severus risked a glance around the column, and watched as the old man wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulder and, gently, led him towards a bench away from whatever was moaning. Harry kept glancing back at the thing, but Dumbledore completely ignored it.

"I let him kill me, didn't I?" Harry looked up at Dumbledore with a confused expression on his face. Yes, you Idiot boy. Why else would you be here?

Dumbledore however looked overly pleased. "You did! Go on!"

"So the part of Voldemort's soul in me..." he gathered his eyebrows in concentration, "has it gone?"

So he was right. Severus smirked.

Dumbledore can't fool me. He glanced over at Lily who was peering at Harry with rapt attention. He reached out and touched her arm soothingly. She smiled at his touch, but did not look at him. He left her alone. After all, she was figuring this all out for the first time. She had been in the dark for 18 years. The creature moaned again, and Severus heard Harry ask.

"Professor? What is that?"

"Something that is beyond either of our help. A part of Voldemort come here to die." Severus heard Lily gasp, and she scrambled to his side of the column. All of the sudden, Severus found her draped over his lap, as she tried to stealthily peer at the thing moaning under the bench. He gulped uncomfortably.

"Uhm..." He managed to get out, and he could feel his cheeks burning in a flush. She looked up at him and giggled then, knowing what she had done, clapped a hand silently over her mouth. He smiled shyly and brought a slender finger up to his lips, shushing her. Severus glanced around the column at Dumbledore. Harry seemed not to notice anything, but Dumbledore had and gave him a discreet little nod and a knowing wink. Severus jerked his head back around the column just as Lily had. She removed her warm weight from him,and sat with her head resting against the cool marble. He could tell she was listening intently to what was being said, so he did not say any more. Instead, he reached down and took the small hand in his and smiled at her. He was pulled from his thoughts, however, when he heard his name.

"Poor Severus..." Dumbledore had whispered. He felt Lily's grasp tighten and he gave her a squeeze back.

"If you planned your death with Snape, you meant him to end up with the Elder Wand, didn't you?" Now that was a bit of a shock. Him end up with the Elder Wand? Lily looked up at him in admiration. She mouthed silently.

"Planned?" He gave her a small nod, and she grinned happily up at him.

She looked back towards Dumbledore and gasped. Standing up quickly she walked out from the protection of the column. Severus stood and reluctantly joined her.

"Sir." He heard her say. A very much alone Dumbledore smiled at the pair, walked closer.

"Ah, you two. I am most happy to see you. Especially together." He smiled jovially, and Severus blushed in spite of himself.

"Headmaster? What exactly have I missed?" Lily stepped towards Dumbledore and let go of Severus' hand.

"Please, my dear Lily, call me Albus."

"Alright." she looked from Dumbledore to Severus. "What happened after I died?"

Severus flinched, but Dumbledore continued smiling ridiculously.

"Well, that," he said with importance, "Is a very long story, and I'm not sure it is my right to tell it." He glanced at Severus, as if asking permission. When he relented with a small nod, Dumbledore looked back towards Lily.

"What do you know?"

"I know that Severus came to you, asking for my protection. I know it was because he loved me. I know that he spied for you even after I was gone. I know that he protected Harry as best he could his entire life. I know how he died, and I know that your death was planned." At this last statement she wagged her finger accusingly between the two of them.

"Well then, my dear, you almost have it! You are only missing one important point. Which is the fact of why my death planning was necessary. You see, I had figured out that Voldemort was using Horcruxes and was furthering myself in the search to locate them. I had found one, a certain cursed ring, and was about to destroy it when I noticed what the stone was. A Deathly Hallow. The Resurrection Stone. In my foolishness, I attempted to use it. I tried to bring my dear sister back... I wanted to tell her how sorry I was." Dumbledore paused for a moment, and looked down at his feet. Severus knew how the old man felt. Guilt was an extremely unpleasant feeling. Just as he was about to say something, Dumbledore came back to himself and continued.

"As I said before, however, it was cursed. The magic would have killed me too, if Severus hadn't found me and healed me. He contained it to my hand, but I knew I was going to die soon anyway. That is when we began the task." He blinked at her. "Anything else?"

"Yes. Why did you not tell the others? He was hated! Hated! Everyone thought he was a Death Eater. They may still not know the truth! How will he be remembered?"

"I think your Harry will take care of that. He is truly a remarkably forgiving young man."

"They tried to kill him. The others." She whispered.

"I could hold my own quite well thank you." Severus said, and he glared at Dumbledore in warning. He musn't paint too pathetic of a picture of him.

Dumbledore looked sadly at them. "I'm afraid that was an unnecessary risk. Voldemort was an extremely skilled Legilimens. If he looked into one of the other's minds, it would all be for naught."

She was concentrating, Severus could tell, because she held her hand up to her lips and was looking darkly into empty space. "Thank you... er... Albus." His eyes twinkled.

"Well then. All aboard."

Severus turned slowly around and was amazed at what he saw. A great silver train stood in front of him. Though it was much quieter (in fact it didn't make a sound), it resembled the Hogwarts Express greatly in design. Dumbledore was already stepping into a compartment, and Severus felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down into those brilliantly green almond eyes, and lowered his lips to her ear.

"Ready?" he whispered.

"Only if you'll come with me." she breathed back.

"Of course, silly Gryffindor." and he leaned down to tenderly kiss her soft, inviting lips. He helped her into the train, and they sat down in an empty compartment.

"Lily! Look! On your dress!" A glowing golden number had planted itself on the breast of her dress. 238? What could it mean?

"Yes, well, there's one on yours too!" Sure enough a glowing 593 was on his robes. His stomach tightened. Their numbers were so far apart! What if that meant they didn't share the same heaven... The train lurched forward, and Severus felt Lily lean against him.

"I missed those train rides to Hogwarts, you know. When it was just me and you." She gripped his hand tightly.

"I did too, Lily. More than you know." She looked up at him, and she must have seen the worry etched there.

"Don't worry Sev. I know we'll be in the same Heaven. Just wait, you'll see." she looked deeply into his ebony eyes, "I know because it's what I've been thinking about ever since James..." She stopped abruptly as if she'd said too much, and her grip on his hand tightened further.

"What did he do to you Lily?" Try as he might, Severus could not keep the anger out of his voice.

"Later." she said and there was a pleading note in her voice, so he did not push her. When he found out, though... Severus' thoughts darkened when he began to ponder ways to torture the man for whatever it was he had done, when a high voice boomed over the intercom.

"471!"

He felt the train slow to a stop. Dumbledore walked passed, and winked at them, then quickly left the train. Severus looked out and could see a small cottage, watching Dumbledore's expression light up when a girlishly slight figure came rushing out to him. All he could see was their embrace, however, before the train pulled out of sight. It chugged silently through the white fog, and Severus caught glimpses every now and then of what, he deduced, must be other people's heavens. A Quidditch pitch, a lake, a mansion on a hill... Too soon the train began to slow again, and Severus palms grew sweaty in apprehension. What if they were seperated? The voice spoke again.

"238." It paused and Severus nearly had a heart attack. "593." Relief flooded him and he said in a voice filled with glee.

"I guess that's us, Lils." Quickly, they rose from their seats and moved to the hallway. Stopping at the door Severus turned to Lily.

"Ready?"

"On the count of three."she said with a grin.

"One."

"Two." He put his hand on the handle and opened the door. Stepped out.

"Three." The voice was not Lily's but someone else. Severus whipped around, and stared angrily at it's owner. Could he never get any peace?

"Lily. Stay back, my sweet." He nudged her away from him, feeling the train moving off and away from them.

"Lily! What the hell did you do to her!" James moved accusingly towards Severus, and he reached instinctively for his wand. It was not there.

"He didn't do anything to me, James." Lily was looking murderous. Severus held a hand out to her.

"I swear if you touch a hair on her head, I'll..." He looked menacingly at James, but could think of no threat that suited him well enough.

"You'll what, Snivelly? Kill me? Seems your Master already took care of that." He threw Severus' wand to him roughly.

Where had he gotten it?

"I'm no coward. I will not fight you unarmed." He stood at the ready. Severus loosed himself from Lily throwing her a 'stay out of this' look, and began to slowly circle James.

So it began.


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