Ashes
WARNING: See Chapter 1. Additional: Just to remind you guys, incase you missed it: MPREG. Not telling you who though. You have to read it to find out.
DISCLAIMER: See Chapter 1.
A/N: HAPPY 2014! This isthe EPILOGUE. It has been one amazing journey of mystery and revenge. I hope you enjoy the last hurrah for Ashes as much as I did writing it. This is especially dedicated to those who took the time to review and offer me words of encouragement, not only during the posting of the individual chapters, but during the writing as well. This story was completed on January 15, 2013 –almost a year from the publication of this Epilogue. By the way, I'm still open to feedback and suggestions. You'll never know when a new tale would sprout from my convoluted mind. -C.
LEGEND:
"Dialogue/ speech" 'Thoughts'Notes/ flashback
0101010101010101010101010101010101010
Ashes
By: C.M. Oliver
©2013
0101010101010101010101010101010101010
EPILOGUE: Everett
"Papa! Papa!"
A young boy of no more than eight was seen running across the grounds of Hogwarts, carrying a small satchel. His dark, messy hair blew across his face as the gentle breeze moved with him. His steps were light and quick like thunderbolt, and the smile on his lips were like sunshine.
"Papa! Papa!"
The man he had called 'Papa' was by the front steps of the mammoth Castle –as usual, patiently, eagerly awaiting his son. The smile on the man's lips widened as he saw his boy come running towards him.
"Papa!" The boy's eyes were shining with amusement by the time he had finally reached his Papa's side. "Papa, look! I found an Emerald Lily in the Forbidden Forest! It was growing near Hagrid's Hut, would you believe that? I found an Emerald Lily! I found an Emerald Lily!"
The man chuckled, seeing his boy jump up and down in excitement. He gently grabbed a hold of his son's shoulders in an attempt to stop him from bouncing.
"Alright, alright. Let's show it to your Father then, shall we?"
The little boy halted in his steps, before rolling his eyes, his dark irises flashing. "Really, Papa. I found a rare plant in the forest –and that is all you say?" The man laughed at his son's woefully indignant tone. He ruffled the boy's already messy mop top hairdo. "I'm not the Potions Master here, so forgive my inadequate reaction to your astonishing discovery."
The boy ducked from under his arm and tried to flatten his hair out. "Really, Papa –anything but the hair. It is enough that I get teased by Uncle Ron that it looks like a wild Hippogriff's nest! I mean, it's nowhere near Aunt Mione's –"
The man laughed harder. "Do you know that that Hippogriff's nest doubles as a Cushioning Charm? If it wasn't for that hair, I don't know how many times my skull would have cracked open from falling off of brooms."
"Father says I can't ride brooms or play Quidditch until I'm forty," the little boy looked positively mortified. "He's merely joking, isn't he?"
"I'm sure he is," the man gave his son a reassuring pat on the back. "You Father is just being protective of you. he loves you very much –as I do."
The little boy smiled and enveloped his Papa in a tight hug.
"I know, Papa. I love you too."
The man returned the hug. "No matter what, remember that I am always with you, okay? I'm proud of you, my Everett –"
"Everett! Where are you?" Another voice rang from a distance. The little boy named Everett gently pulled away from the embrace.
"That's Father! I need to show him my Emerald Lily!" Tiny feet carried the boy across the main hall to the entrance to the dungeons. The man by the Entrance Hall could only look, following his son with brilliant emerald eyes filled with longing.
"Father, look –an Emerald Lily!"
The man called 'Father' bent down to receive his son in a hug, pride evident in his fathomless onyx irises. "Will you look at that?" He eyed his son's find appreciatively. "Let us place it in a nice pot away from sunlight –I will then teach you to brew the Wizard Pox Cure."
"Okay," said Everett. "But Father, can I say goodbye to Papa first?"
"Papa?" Everett's father's eyes widened momentarily. The surprise on his face quickly softened however, as realization hit him. The dark-eyed man glanced around, as if trying to find someone, or something. After a few awkward moments, he relented and sighed. "Of course, son. Tell your Papa that I miss him and I love him, okay?"
Everett looked at his Father curiously for a moment, before shaking his head. "You can tell him yourself, Father," Everett pointed towards the direction of the main entrance. "He is just right there. Sometimes he's with a little baby with the same name as mine –but today, he's all alone. Maybe you can talk to him!"
For a moment there, hope was kindled anew I the dark-eyed man's spirit.
'Has it really been eight years, Harry?'
But as soon as it ignited, it was snuffed out. The man shook his head sadly, his obsidian eyes brightening with unshed tears. "I can't see him nor hear him, Everett. Even if he is there, I won't be able to speak to him nor touch him," he sighed meaningfully. "Only you can do so, it seems –"
"How is that possible, Father?" Everett furrowed his brows. "How come only I can see him?"
Severus Snape met his son's questioning eyes with a tiny, sad smile.
"Your Papa –he's been dead for a long time, even before you were born."
"So, Papa –Papa's a ghost?" Everett frowned. "I thought ghosts were supposed to be scary like the Bloody Baron… and aren't they supposed to be transparent like Sir Nicholas? Why does Papa look so nice –so real? Why is it that I could touch him if he's a ghost?"
The onyx-eyed man looked unsure. How do you explain to an eight-year old that his Papa was once the Master of Death –Death's Favorite? As he rocked his brain for the appropriate response to his son's query, the little boy beat him to it.
"I guess Papa's special," Everett said, smiling. "He has to be."
Severus found himself unable to resist mimicking his son's countenance.
"That he is, Everett. That he is."
"But if he's a special ghost –does that mean the little boy is too? Is my baby brother a ghost too?" Everett scratched his head. "How is Papa able to have me with you if he's already dead before I was conceived then?"
"A potion, my Everett," his Father said. "Remember the story –"
"Oh, yes!" The boy's face brightened. "I remember now! You made a potion –with Papa's blood!"
Severus nodded. "Yes I did, Everett. I love your Papa so much that I wanted to have a part of him with me while he's away with you brother –so I had you." Everett smiled.
"They can hear you, Father."
"Who?"
"Papa –and the baby. They are right behind you now."
Severus spun around, his dark hair flipping sharply in the cold morning air. "Ha –Harry?" He whispered as his hands tried to reach out for a specter at the spot behind him –one that he definitely could not see.
The one called 'Papa', who was once also known as Harry-Potter Snape and Christian Spane smiled, a small bundle wrapped in the palest icy blue nestled in his arms. As his former husband's hands wandered, he too, reached out to try and make a physical connection. Sadly, it wasn't to be. As Death's Favorite, he could only appear as a corporeal specter to one person –he chose his second son, Everett Harry Potter-Snape*. As much as he had wanted Severus to see him, it couldn't happen now. There would be another time for that.
"Severus… I forgive you. I'm sorry. I love you. Thank you. I await the time we will see each other again."
Severus thought he was hearing things, as a mild gust of wind blew across his cheek –much like a lover's kiss. He turned to his son, who was smiling. "Everett, did your Papa say something? What –what did he say?"
Everett, receiving a wink and a warm smile from his Papa, repeated the dead man's words.
"Severus… I forgive you. I'm sorry. I love you. Thank you. I await the time we will see each other again."
0101010101010101010101010101010101010
-END OF STORY-
0101010101010101010101010101010101010
*Legally, since Everett II was born of both Harry and Severus, he is entitled to carry the Potter surname –even if Severus and Harry are no longer married and Harry is already dead.
0101010101010101010101010101010101010
A/N: *Cries* Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with me, dear reader. Please feel free to take the time to leave a final note regarding your experience in reading this story. I hope to see you in any of my future works. In the mean time, you can keep in touch with me at:
FACEBOOK: C.M. Oliver is Eastwoodgirl (#cmoliverfanfiction)
FFNet: C.M. Oliver is Eastwoodgirl
Twitter: C.M. Oliver (a.t.)heyitschesca (#cmoliverfanfiction)
Tumblr: klaineloveandsnarrydreams (#cmoliverfanfiction)
P.S. My other SNARRY story, MUSIC OF THE NIGHT will also end soon –about a couple more chapters. If you have time, please check it out and maybe leave a comment or two. I would really appreciate it. Until next time –C.
