The Beauty and the Beast Effect

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING; I MERELY ENTERTAIN MYSELF IN J.K. ROWLING'S WORLD.

A/N Alright, not really any Severus and Hermione in this chapter. This one has a little more of a serious theme, a little of remorse on several people's parts. And also an explanation as to why Severus is white and has green eyes. Takes place on Wednesday the 10th
Also, I may not update as often anymore. I post faster than I write, and I've almost caught up to myself.

Chapter Ten

Forgive and Forget

Severus sat in his human form by the door to the prefects' bathroom. He could hear Hermione's harmonious voice over the steady thrum of the shower. Her sweet voice seemed to wrap around him like a soft cloud. He leaned his head against the door, closing his eyes in pure and absolute bliss.

"Severus?" Harry muttered.

Severus opened his eyes to glare at the dark haired boy, "What have I told you about that?"

"Sev," he amended, "Don't you think someone would think you were a creep if they saw you like this?"

"Do you?"

"Do I what?" Harry asked.

"Do you think I'm scary just sitting here?" Severus modified his question.

"I… well a little," Harry confessed, "I guess I just don't understand why you sit here when she's showering."

"It's not because she is showering that I'm out here," he explained.

"Why then,"

"Here, put your ear right here," Severus guided Harry's head to the door, "Listen."

"I hear the shower," Harry said.

"Listen closer," Severus commanded.

"I… she's singing," Harry gasped, "Oh, she's singing!"

"Yes, she's singing," Severus whispered in awe.

"That's why you stand here every day," Harry cried, "I forgot how much you loved her voice."

"Yep," Severus said as he heard the water stop with a click.

"Come on, we had better go," Harry tittered.

"Fine," he answered, "Um Harry… there's something I need your help on,"

"Yeah?" Harry said urging him to clarify.

"Have you ever heard of the deathly hallows?"

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"Ginny," Hermione called to her friend.

"What's up?" Ginny turned from away from her book.

"Harry said Sev is here today. Do you happen to know where he is?" she asked, tying and failing to sound casual.

"Er... I, uh… no," Ginny finally replied.

"Come on, I can tell when you're lying, Gin," Hermione reprimanded.

"Well, all I know is that Harry thought that they would be back in time for dinner," Ginny said skittishly.

"Are you positive, that's all you know?" she wheedled.

"Um… I think they mentioned the forest... maybe,"

"Thanks Ginny," Hermione smiled, "And, I was wondering if you would… uh… help me choose something to… um… wear for dinner?"

"Nope," Ginny smirked.

"Ginny, please! I need help,"

"No you don't, honey," Ginny comforted, "Sev likes you for who you are, or at least he should. If he doesn't, he's not good enough for you anyway."

"Okay…" Hermione said doubtfully, "Will you help me on Monday for my date though?"

Ginny deliberated for a moment, "Yeah, I guess could…"

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"Here it is," Harry yelled, and Severus ran over to him.

"This is the resurrection stone?" he asked looking at the cracked ring Harry held.

"Yep," he answered, "Are you sure you're ready for this Severus?"

"Yes," Severus nodded boldly and grasped the stone in his hand.

He turned it over three times knowing precisely who he wanted to see. His thoughts flew to the fiery Lily Potter, his first love. Next he thought of her handsome husband, James Potter. Sirius Black came next in his thoughts followed, after a moment of hesitation, by Albus Dumbledore.

Harry and Severus watched as one by one they all appeared. Their wispy forms were somewhere in between a living body and a ghost.

"Sev," Lily was the first one to speak, calling him by his old familiar nick-name.

"Lil," Severus cracked a smile and pulled the beautiful lady into a friendly embrace.

"Severus...I didn't mean for things to happen they way they did," She murmured through tears, "I feel terrible for never speaking to you again,"

"I understand, Lily," he took a deep breath, "That's why I brought you here. I needed to apologize, to all of you."

Severus glanced at the two marauders present.

"So do we," James said, speaking for all of them.

"I know that I was horrendous some twenty years ago," Severus said, "My vision was cloudy, and I didn't understand what I was doing."

"None of us know why our actions were as they were," Dumbledore remarked with a sad smile on his face.

"Still, that gives me no excuse," Severus shook his head, "Thanks to a recent chain of events, I have learned from my mistakes, and would ask your forgiveness, although I don't deserve it."

"Severus," James began, "You had my forgiveness the moment I saw how you had changed. I only hope you can learn to forgive me."

Severus looked through tear filled eyes at the man he once hated. Tears ran down James's cheeks as well.

"James I…" he choked out, "I would be honored to offer my forgiveness to you."

They shook hands and gave an awkward hug to one another. James looked at young face of that looked so familiar, yet so strangely different. The main differences were caused by his happiness around Hermione. No frown lines marked his face, and his eyes were alight with love.

"I know you have a greater reason to hate me," Sirius said hesitantly, "But I wonder, could you forgive me?"

"I realize you were young and stupid then, as was I. Now as a wiser man, I can truthfully say that I have put that behind me."

They smiled at one another before shaking hands. Severus clasped Sirius's hand tightly in his, and looked into his eyes. He saw pain in Sirius's eyes, but he also saw healing in them.

"Your eyes…" Sirius exclaimed upon seeing the shocking green rings, "I never noticed them before,"

Severus smiled and said, "As a Slytherin, it was safer to have black eyes,"

"So you colored them with a spell?" Harry spoke for the first time.

"Yeah, and I became so used to it, that I never changed them back. But when I changed into a cat, my true eyes shone through I suppose,"

"Severus," Dumbledore said, no longer trying to ignore the ongoing conversation, "Minerva asked me about why you were a white cat, a while ago. I told her, but asked her not to divulge the information to others. I feel I should tell you now though. The spell I created shows a person's truest self when they are transformed. Of all the small domestic animals, your soul was most like a cat. Cats are very fierce and brave, extremely curious, and the best cats are the ones who truly love their owners. I know many people consider you to be the bravest man they ever met," Dumbledorewinked at Harry, "And you have always been one to experiment with potions and spells. I don't believe the last characteristic needs to be explained"

"What about my coloring?" Severus asked slightly stunned.

"White is a pure color," Albus explained, "Although you try to hide behind black as a human, your heart isn't so dark. No, in your heart and soul you are a good person."

"Do you really believe that?" he asked.

"I do," Lily said in her soft voice.

"Same here," the dark haired men agreed together.

Dumbledore merely nodded with a twinkle in his eye. His arm momentarily wrapped around Severus in a warm embrace.

"Thank you," Severus choked out, "I have to go now, but I feel so light now that I don't have to worry about you all anymore"

"I love you Sev," Lily said as she hugged him again.

"You too," he mumbled back, still crying freely like everyone else.

"You're a great man, Severus Snape," James mused with truthful fierceness, "Never forget that."

Severus nodded and hugged his old enemy once more.

"We'll see you again, Snivellus," Sirius smiled.

"Yes, I'll meet with you, foul mutt, in a while," Severus grinned, and found himself clasping Sirius's shoulder amicably.

"Good luck to you Severus," the old headmaster said in a fatherly way, "I do hope to see you in Minerva's office sometime,"

"I can do that," Severus nodded.

"I love you Harry," Lily and James whispered in Harry's ear as they held him close for a minute.

"I love you too," Harry wept openly.

"Take care of yourself," Sirius spoke huskily, hugging Harry to him.

"I'll do my best," Harry breathed quietly as he pulled away from Sirius.

"Visit me soon Harry," Dumbledore told him.

"I will," Harry promised while hugging his mentor.

"Severus," Harry prompted.

"Harry," Severus replied, dropping the ring and watching them fade away.

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A/N I was kind of sad writing this one. I really thought it was important though. Anyway, I'm not going to write anymore about the rest of the day, even though, Hermione and Severus hang out a little. It's not that crucial. Mostly it's just them and Luna playing cards. The only important thing would be, they talk to each other more than they used to.

Next chapter is Hogsmede!! I'm excited. YIPEE!! R&R please.

P.S. As I was proofreading, I realized that Slytherin's colors were green and silver, and so green eyes wouldn't really have mattered. I almost changed it to: As a death eater, it was safer to have black eyes. However, he had black eyes before then. In my mind it's more of a: As someone pretending to be a pure blood, it was safer to have black eyes. It doesn't really matter. The only thing that matters is that he was ashamed of having green eyes, so he changed them.