Harry was very familiar with what Azkaban was and what it stood for.

The first time he had heard of it was at his third school year, when Sirius Black had escaped. He had been told about this rocky prison island away from the british shore, guarded by dementors whom would feed on the despair of the prisoners.

Harry knew dementors, very well, even to this day he still feared the ghoulish creatures whom would make people relive their worst memories over and over.

Harry had seen what that prison did to people, how it drove them insane. Barty Crouch Jr whom had probably already been out of his mind even before going to prison had clearly been beyond off his rockers when he escaped. Bellatrix as well.

Even Sirius whom had been the most sane of the bunch was still damaged beyond repair, there had always been something slightly off about him, a disconnect to the real world, even if he only meant well.

Yes Harry was familiar with Azkaban and all it stood for, but this was his first time ever visiting the place, it was not something he looked forward to.

Azkaban was on a island made solely from rocks, just far enough away from the English coast so you could barely even spot it from shore.

There was no connection to the floo network, you couldn't even go there by portkey. Flying anywhere near the area was illegal, the only way to get there… Was by boat.

It was a small boat similar to a fishing boat, able to contain just a handful of people, mercilessly being rocked by the big gray waves from the ocean, it wasn't a pleasant ride.

To even be allowed to visit Harry had needed to deliver a visitors form, to explain his visit and allow them to run background checks on him.

Something told him his application had been pushed through a bit quicker than others just due to his name.

Even so, it had taken him three weeks to get the permission, and ones he got it he had been asked to be ready the next day.

It was now over a month ago since the final battle, a month ago since Snape had been judged and send to Azkaban so swiftly.

Harry could not help but wonder what a mere month would do… The people he had met who had been in Azkaban had been in there for years, over a decade in fact, and it had driven them insane. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after only a month?

Something told Harry he was being optimistic. As they neared the island Harry could feel the familiar cold that could only come from a dementor… You could tell because the cold would come from within instead of the outside, and Harry flicked his wand to call out his patronus. A great silver stag which would proudly stand behind him as his protector.

He wasn't even the only one, to his right Harry could see a silver seal having fun in the waves, and not to far behind him was a big badger.

As Harry stepped unto the island, he couldn't help but look up, to try and see if he could even see the top of the massive tall stone wall in front of him. It was huge… and gray like everything else here.

The stones, the waves, the iron bars… just gray.

The moment Harry stepped inside, he could hear the screams, screams from deep within the bowels of this place. They didn't stop while Harry signed the document showing he had indeed been here, and then he was led through a door.. To the screams.

"MY LORD! HAVE MERCY!"

Harry halted, then he turned his head to see a man with long blond hair, sitting on the knees in his cell.

"No! I didn't know! DON'T HURT THEM!" then, Lucius's Malfoys head turned, and Harry was met by his wide open blue eyes, panicked. Strains of dirty blind hair falling over his face. "Help me… HARRY POTTER! JUST GET HARRY POTTER AND HE'LL SHOW MERCY!" he shouted throwing himself at the bars.

Immediately a guard stepped between Harry and Lucius. "Get back inmate." he demanded.

Lucius how-ever sobbed, he was clearly deeply affected by the dementors right now… He probably didn't even know where he was at the moment…. What would Snape be like?

It didn't look good as Harry moved further inside, the sobs and screams didn't spell well. He tried to ready himself. Knowing Snape would hate for Harry to see him in any kind of disgraceful position, and yet… There they were.

Could he even get any real responses out of Snape in here? It seemed… Pretty unlikely.

Then finally they stopped in front of a cell and Harry halted, this cell, was quiet. Slowly Harry stepped forward so he could peer through the bars.

And in there, he saw a man. This man though wasn't screaming, neither was he sobbing. He was just calmly sitting on his brink, looking out in the air with distant eyes.

"Erhm." Harry hesitated. "Professor Snape?" he asked.

Slowly the man turned his head, and a pair of intelligent piercing eyes met Harry's.. It really was him.

Snape looked like he had lost some weight, his hair was even more tangled than usual and he had started to grow somewhat of a beard, which was part of what threw Harry off. How-ever what was really strange was his eyes, which didn't look clouded at all, his posture looked relaxed and then slowly he stood up as he walked towards Harry looking at him with slight curiosity.

"It's… Me. Harry Potter." Harry tried, not quite sure what to say.

"I am aware of that Mr. Potter." Snape replied in his usual smooth voice. "Unfortunately you are a rather difficult individual to forget." he commented as he crossed his arms.

"Oh." Harry blinked, suddenly hit by how that sounded like something Snape would have said at any given day back at Hogwarts... As usual Snape had a gift for making Harry feel pretty stupid.

"What I don't understand is what you are doing here." Snape then continued as if he was standing in his own office giving a lecture. "I do believe my testimony was quite throughout."

Suddenly Harry realized all the guards behind him had tensed, Harry looked over his shoulder and realized all their eyes were wide in shock and surprise. Clearly, this sort of reaction from an inmate… Was not normal. Snape did indeed seem… entirely normal.

"Your testimony was very extensive indeed." Harry stated. Then he frowned. "Sir, forgive me. But you seem rather unaffected by the dementors." he had to point out. "How?" he asked.

Snape frowned slightly, as if he was genuinely confused over that one as well. "I'm not sure." he admitted. "I am definitely guilty, and they are definitely affecting me." he commented thoughtfully then turned back to Harry. "I suppose, what-ever they are able to show me in my head, I already lived through in real life. What-ever they are doing to my head… I've simply been through worse. So it doesn't quite seem to have the same affect."

Harry gaped. The way Snape so calmly spoke about it… And what he was saying, it seemed… beyond weird. Then Snape offered Harry another one of those soft smiles which were so wrong and so foreign on this persons face. "The worst is over." he stated as if it was a huge relief to him.

"You seem… So at peace!" he finally blurted. "Why? After all you done!"

"yes indeed. After all I done, finally." Snape exhaled deeply, really looking like he had been freed of countless of burdens. "I suppose for the first time in my life. I'm finally free."

Oddly Harry looked around then back at Snape whom was behind bars, him and Snape had very different ideas of what 'free' meant!

Snape seemed to catch unto his confusion and chuckled slightly. "There are more than one kind of prison Harry." he stated.

That made Harry gape gobsmacked! He couldn't remember Snape addressing him by first name… Ever! And he had convinced that if he was ever going to do it, his words would be drenched with venom. This seemed… so casual. WAY to casual. Then he returned to a stern face. "Professor Snape. You are going to tell me what you left out of your testimony!" he stated.

Snapes black eyes looked at Harry, still with that mild curiosity to them. "You found something lacking?" he asked.

"YES!" Harry stated. "You listed all your crimes against wizardry! But not one single one of your heroic deeds! You only offered half a testimony!"

That made Snape look curiously at Harry. "Heroic deeds?" he asked as if he was only mildly curious. "That's your department Potter, not mine. As you have been so keen to remind me over the years."

"Just answer me this!" Harry demanded. "Dumbledore! The night you killed him… was it part of Dumbledores plan?"

There was a stunned silence, even Snape looked shocked and surprised at Harry. Then his lips folded into an amused smile.

"And what, Mr Potter, would your case be for that?" Snape asked.

"Dumbledore was already dying." Harry stated. "He knew he was dying, he was surrounded by death eaters. That night he was going to die… no matter what. He knew it, he had known it for months! So… he ensured he would die in the way that would best aid the wizard society. By planting you Severus Snape! As Voldemorts most trusted follower!"

Snape looked at Harry, then suddenly his lips curled into a smile, then he laughed, a bubbling laughter coming from his throat making Harry's eyes widen.

Perhaps Harry's first assumption that Snape was doing just fine was wrong, He had never heard Snape laugh before! And like this, like he thought this was extremely hilarious. It ran cold down Harry's back. Snapes laughter... Was not pleasant.

"And what if you say is true?" Snape then asked amused. "Are you going to try to save me Potter?" he asked. "Am I the newest subject in line of people you feel like must be saved?" he asked.

"It's not like that." Harry stated. "I just want the truth."

At that Snape quieted and turned serious again.

"And I'm not the only one." Harry stated. "We are more, we know the facts don't add up."

"Don't they?" Snape asked.

"No. They don't." Harry stated. "I got another question for you to."

"Oh?" Snape asked.

"Lily Potter." Harry spoke and ones again the smile was wiped off Snapes face. "She was your friend, or so I was informed."

Oddly Snape looked at Harry, then he frowned as he looked to the side.

"Is that why you changed sides?" Harry asked. "Because of her?"

Slowly Snape turned back, looking oddly at Harry.

"Well?" Harry asked.

Snape frowned, clearly confused, another look to add to pile of looks that didn't look quite right on Snapes face. "It's been sixteen years." he commented in a distant voice. "And at last… my debt has been paid, my atonement is complete."

Harry blinked. "What… What do you mean?" he asked.

"I was the one, who caused the death of Lily Evans. Forgive me, Lily Potter." Snape informed in a steady voice. "Only I and Dumbledore knew, now everyone does… It doesn't matter anymore. I no longer feel the shame. Because finally, my role is finished, my atonement is complete. Harry Potter!" he reached out a slender hand pointing it at Harry. "Lily's son! Is alive and no longer in danger! My role is over, I am free." he stated lowering his hand again.

"Your… role?" Harry asked.

Snape smirked lightly.

For sixteen years… Snape had… played a role? Carrying all those burdens by himself. Then Harry looked up… That role, which Severus Snape had played, it had defined him, his very being. Now as he said, the role was over… That which had defined him, and without it, he was a different person all together.

But what kind of person? Something told Harry that not even Snape knew.

And another thing clicked into place… Snape was indeed entirely content, he really did see it as if his role had been completed and there was nothing left to do… But this.

"Are you really content with spending the rest of your life in Azkaban?" Harry asked.

"I am." Snape informed.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"It is a punishment fitting my crimes, I shall not run away, I never have." Snape replied.

"But you already paid for your crimes!" Harry pointed out. "You just said so yourself! Your atonement, after sixteen years is finally complete! This is just unnecessary."

Ones again Snape looked at him, with that slightly curious gaze, as if he was just curious about what Harry was going to do.

"And I don't think that is what my mother would have wanted either!" Harry stated.

Snape nodded. "Perhaps." he commented. "She was a very graceful woman, Lily Evans, seeing the best in everyone... Even a nasty child such as I."

Harry was frozen, he could feel a great lump in his throat, to hear Snape talk about... anyone like this was. It was out of this world, and that person out of all people being Harry's own mother. He wanted to hear more! Every single last word Snape had to say about her, Harry wanted to hear it.

"But, it is out of your hands. The evidence is staggering and the court of law has already ruled. You have better things to do, than speaking in the defense of a death eater. Your mother would want you to live a full life, and unlike you it is something I am certain of. Go home, Harry Potter." he asked. "Go home, and spend times with your friends and girlfriend. Go home, and forget about the war and every nasty thing that happened. Go home."

Harry looked at Snape, his green eyes looking rather harsh. "You are a stubborn man Professor Snape." he pointed out. "I suppose that will never change. How-ever, you ought to know by now, so am I." he stated.

Snape smirked amused. "Well, I shall be curious to see what you plan to do."

"You're not angry?" harry asked.

"My role of always holding a hand over you is over. The danger which faced you due to my actions are gone from this world." Snape stated. "If something were to happen to you now, it would no longer be my fault. You are no longer my concern, I am free from that burden. So… Do what you want Potter." he invited.

Harry exhaled deeply, he wouldn't get more out of this conversation, it had been enough though, more than enough. Finally the mystery had been solved for good.

Snape hadn't run away, not one single time… He had stayed Dumbledores man to the bitter end. He was one of their own.