Chapter Eleven: The Morning After, Waking Up, and Goodbye
Seven A. M. February 14, 2005 Valentine's Day
CUCK-OO CUCK-OO CUCK-OO CUCK-OO CU-CRUNCH!
Harry had sent a particularly nasty blasting curse at the clock, which now lay in pieces on the floor.
"Whatever did that poor clock do to you?"
Harry froze, staring at the blankets. He really couldn't take this, not after the night he'd had. A pale, long-fingered hand came in to his line of vision. It came up to cup his chin, gently tilting Harry's head back. "Hello love."
"Good morning Severus. Grand to see you. You know, I do believe this is what losing your mind feels like."
A dry chuckle, "As if you had one to begin with."
Harry actually smiled at this. He'd missed Severus so much, but most especially his snarky sense of humor. "I love you too."
Severus smiled. "I'm sorry for all the ghosts and such but, I didn't know how else to help you. They wouldn't let me see you, or rather you see me."
"Who? Why?"
"I can't tell you who, not even if I wanted to. As to their reasons for letting you see me now, I'm not completely sure. I think that maybe, you've moved on. If you had seen me before, it would've only hurt more. But since you've let me go, they're allowing me to say goodbye."
Harry started to deny this claim, but stopped at the realization that the man was right. Sometime during the night, he had let him go. He would never stop loving Severus, of course, but now, perhaps, there was room for someone else.
They reached for each other, Severus wrapping his arms around the boy's shoulders. Harry's own arms went around the man's waist. They held each other for a long time. Severus pulled back slowly. He gave Harry a quick peck. "I love you Harry. I'm sorry I had to leave you. Goodbye."
"I love you too Severus. I forgive you. Goodbye."
Severus smiled. Harry's grasp on his memory had kept him anchored to the younger man's side. A rather horrible experience; being always near but never being able to touch or even be acknowledged by the man he loved. He could finally move on. He ruffled his hand through the messy black hair one last time, and disappeared.
Harry smiled slightly. He would miss Severus, but, this parting didn't leave him feeling sad. The tearing he'd felt in his soul since the man's death was gone. In its place was this warm, almost fuzzy feeling that resembled hope. Hope for what he didn't know. The future, another love, a life without the oppressing sadness. It could be any, or none, of those things. He supposed he would know when he found it.
A/N: Please remember this is not the end. A few more chapters to go my lovelies. :)
Oh and in case there are any questions about the time I had him wake up - if I'm remembering correctly (and I could be wrong, but I doubt it) classes started around 9am, so this gives me 2 hours to work with. And if there aren't classes that day (which I doubt since Valentine's Day in 2005 would've been on a Tuesday), it still works, now doesn't it?