Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot and even that is negotiable.

Chapter 11 – For Whom The Bell Tolls

Ginerva Snape looked out from the balcony in Draco's bedroom at Prince Manor. She was clutching a letter that she found on her vanity when she returned from the battle. It read:

My Ginerva,

If the worst should befall and I am no longer with you remember that I love you with all my heart. You are my heart, my soul, my every reason for existing. We will see each other again my love and when we do we will be together for eternity. There are not words to describe how much I love you.

Love Always,

Severus

There was also a letter for her unborn child with directions not to be opened until the child's seventeeth birthday. Ginerva put the letter in the scrapbook she decided to prepare for the child so he or she would at least have so memory preserved of his or her father for all time.

Ginerva needed a moment to collect herself before she said goodbye to her surrogate brother for when the dust cleared on the battlefield she found Draco mortally wounded. Currently he lay dying in his bed. The healers told her that it wouldn't be long until he passed.

Percy and Greg sat next to Draco's bed, surrounding him with support. If Draco was surprised by their efforts he said nothing. He knew they were there to support Ginerva as well as himself and he couldn't be more grateful to them for that. She would need them when he was gone.

Ginerva walked into the room and sat on the king sized four poster bed next to Draco. She took his hand. "Hey there Dragon."

Draco smiled at Ginerva, but the result was more of a grimace. "Fairy, it won't be long now. You three will take care of each other or I will have to come back from whatever afterlife the gods grant me and whoop all your butts into shape."

Ginerva wiped a tear from her eye. It would not do well to show weakness, but none of those assembled would tell or exploit her. They were her family and loved her as such.

"You better have a big piece of chocolate cake waiting there for me when I come to greet you after my time is up, Dragon. I expect the whole nine yards mister." Ginny said with a half smile and a shakened voice.

"That's the Fae I know and love, a demanding Princess to the end." Draco joked as he coughed up blood.

Ginny wiped the blood away from his mouth with a hankerchief. "And you wouldn't have it any other way."

"No, I wouldn't. I love you Fae." Draco said as the bell tolled one.

"I love you too Dragon. Dragon!" Ginny screeched as Draco's eyes glazed over with the second bell.

Severus found himself surrounded by a white light. He heard footsteps in the distance. On instinct he walked towards them.

"Severus my dear friend! I always thought it would be one of your students that would kill you. We even had a betting pool. I am glad or sorry to say that I lost, depending how you look at. When I was alive my money was on Neville Longbottom." Severus heard as the third chime rang. He knew that voice.

The owner of the voice walked out of the light towards Severus. "Albus." Severus said as he embraced him in a hug.

"Yes it is me my friend. I must say you have done well. Apparently I am not the only one who thinks so as the powers that be have decided to give you a second chance with her." Albus said as the chime sounded a fourth time.

"Severus, Ginny is your soulmate. Do you realize how rare that is? Do you realize the chances of finding each other are less than one in a billion? The powers that be have decided to reward you for your sacrifices and give you a second chance to be with your beloved. As we speak a soul is leaving its body, but the body has not yet parished. You have until the twelfth chime to make you decision. You can go back to life and be with her or you can go to heaven and wait for her. What is your decision?" Dumbledore asked as the fifth chime tolled.

Severus looked at Albus in wonder. "You know I never thought a bastard like me would be admitted into heaven Albus. Now that I know that I can – Heaven can wait." Severus said as the sixth bell chimed.

"I knew you would make the right decision." Albus said. A door appeared to Albus's right. "Go through that door and take your test."

"Test? I can only offer one word of advice. Forgive yourself." Albus said as he disapeared into the light.

Severus put his hand on the door and pushed it open as the seventh bell chimed. Before him stood Lily Potter.

As the third bell chimed Ginny put her fingertips to Draco's neck in order to feel his pulse. The beat was faint but there.

"He is still alive!" Ginny gasped as the fourth bell chimed.

Percy held her as the healers examined Draco's body. "He's gone into shock" one of the healers said as the fifth bell chimed.

"Do what you can for him." Greg said as he took Draco's hand in his right hand and Ginny's hand in his left as the sixth bell chimed.

"Hold on Draco! Just hold on!" Greg said as the seventh bell chimed.

"Hello Severus." Lily said as the eight bell chimed.

"Lily." Severus acknowledged.

"Why are you hear Severus?" Lily asked.

"Lily… I'm sorry. I'm sorry that my foolishness got you killed. I am sorry that I was such a rotten bastard to your son as I fueled the hatred that probably damned his soul when he killed me. I wish I could take it all back. I wish I could have been a better person. She makes me want to be a better person. I'm going home to her." Severus said as the ninth bell chimed.

"You are going home to Ginerva – my son's love." Lily said with an expressionless face.

"No Lily, I am going home to my love just as James was yours. I don't want to be bitter anymore. I am done being angry with myself, with the world. Forgive me Lily!" Severus said as the tenth bell tolled.

"I forgave you a long time ago Severus. The question is Do you forgive yourself?" Lily countered.

"I do." Severus replied as the eleventh bell tolled. Suddenly Severus felt as if he was falling. He fell into a space of warm air and opened his eyes to find the most beautiful sight a man could behold.

"Ginerva." Severus breathed at the angel leaning over him. He wrapped his arm around her neck and kissed her with the passion of a thousand suns.

When she pulled away he heard three gasps. "Dragon?"

I know it was predictable but I wanted to get the next chapter out so I didn't bother with suspense.

I hope you liked it.

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