Chapter 25 – Regaining Memories

OoOo(Sev PoV)oOoO

I groaned as I woke up under the all-too-familiar hospital sheets. No doubt, I took another Cruciatus curse from one too many people at the last Death Eater meeting. Speaking of which, what day was it, and how long had I been unconscious? Why was there a brunette woman sleeping in the next bed over to my left with the curtains surrounding us but not blocking each other from view? And why the hell was my Dark Mark so faded out like he never existed?

This was very confusing. Where was Poppy when I needed her?

I sat up with a little difficulty and looked around once again. Oh, wonderful, a note. Perhaps this could explain a little more. I took it in hand. No. no, this couldn't be right. Surely Minerva wouldn't jest like this!

Severus,

I know things are confusing right now, but you've been hurt by a Potions accident as you were teaching sixth year NEWT classes. To put things bluntly, a de-aging potion went wrong, and you are now most likely wondering why your Dark Mark is so faded. I will have the answers to your plaguing questions in my office, but don't be alarmed when you see the two newer portraits, as it is part of what you don't remember. I will suffice to say that you were on orders to do both deeds by Voldemort and Dumbledore both. Yes, I know, you're confused, but I need you to trust Sarah. She is the brunette in the bed beside yours, no doubt left visible to you for her own sanity's sake by Poppy. She is also your apprentice, and she was the one who guided you last night into protecting your memories of your older life and years. I will know and wake up once you have fully read this letter, so come by my office with Sarah as soon as you can. Sarah knows the password, and I have told the gargoyle not to move for you unless she gives the password. I wish you the best of luck, Severus.

Minerva McGonagall

Potions Accident? De-aging Potion? Well, that explained why I couldn't remember anything, sort of. How did she know my Dark Mark was faded? How did she know I had it, for that matter? What the hell was going on here? Two new portraits? New apprentice – I never took one on that I could recall before, so why do so now? Why would I have taken my apprentice's advice to protect my memories? Oh, well, I may as well get this over with and wake the bloody bitch up.

"Sarah. Hey, Sarah," I said shaking her shoulder.

"Hmmn? Severus! Oh, severus, you're awake!" she gasped and hugged me. Wait, hugged? What the hell was going on here? I don't have relationships with my apprentice's! It's unprofessional, and Voldemort would have my hide if I married without his permission and outside the Death eater ranks!

"Get off me and take me to Dumbledore's office!" I snapped. "I don't know why the hell Minerva's settled there, but I'm not about to wait for Poppy to keep harassing me! No, I want answers!"

"Alright, keep it in your pants, geez," she moaned as we both got out of our beds. "Wow, you look so young… I just wish…"

"Less wishing, more leading," I ordered impatiently. This girl was a Mudblood, and a freshly trained one at that. she was powerful, yes, but a raw fighter and not very bright. Who the hell taught this girl?

OoOo(Sarah PoV)oOoO

We walked in silence to the headmistress' office, and even the password of "boojhy boojhy boojhy" couldn't fix things. Granted, it would have been funny, if I hadn't felt like I was on a death march. I knew he was confused at his being younger again and not knowing me, but I still couldn't help but love him anyways. We walked in, and he stared at two portraits in particular that I knew he was startled by.

"You may come back by later, Severus," Albus soothed. "Right now, you need to go to my penseive, my boy, and let Sarah show you the memories that the two of you bottled up last night. Don't worry about the other one – he'll come around eventually."

I had to half-drag Severus away from his own portrait, knowing he was staring appalled at what he looked like in fifteen years, and went straight to the penseive. I didn't know how to proceed, and I was worried about messing something up, so I decided to go in chronological order for him. It would be the easiest on his mind, I hoped, and so I set about arranging the bottles by the date that he'd written.

"I wrote these," he noticed. "So, these really are my memories from – from before the accident."

"Yes, we bottled them together," I replied, unable to keep my sorrows from leaking out to him. "Severus, I know you're hurting and confused, but please, please, just hear me out and let me show you all the memories that you bottles up. I know some of them won't be pleasant, but there are others that contain joy so profound, you wouldn't believe that you were so lucky to get it."

"And if I want to stop in the middle?" he asked skeptically. "What then?"

"Once we get to the halfway point, if you want to stop…" I paused, unsure of how to continue. "We'll get there when we get there. Right now, we need to focus. The sooner we get these in your brain, the better, and the more stable you'll be when someone approaches you. First things first – Harry's entering Hogwarts."

"no," Snape snarled. "I refuse to watch that Potter brat's memories!"

"No, Severus, they're all your memories," I corrected, on the verge of tears. "Please, please, just trust me enough to watch until he – until he – you want to know why the Dark Mark is so faded? Well, this will lead up to then. It's just one memory at the beginning or end of each of his school years, and I promise we'll be over and well – one is of when you were headmaster."

"I was headmaster?" he asked in disbelief. "how the hell did that happen?"

"Just watch all the memories," I sobbed, really close to crying, and I could feel the waterworks coming.

"No, don't cry. Please don't cry. I hate it when girls cry, it makes me sick when an adult woman cries," he said stiffly. "Fine, I'll watch my memories of Potter, but don't expect me to like them."

"I won't," I promised, trying to keep it in. "The memories are in order, I arranged them for you. I – I need to cry. I'll – I'll go and – and cry on Minerva's shoulder if you need anything. Just holler if you do."

"Whatever," he murmured as I left the room. "Stupid crybaby."

OoOo(Sev PoV)oOoO

Oh, joy, the Potter spawn is in Gryffindor, that meant I didn't have to put up with his bullshit! I was almost ready to do a happy dance. Well, if I weren't in front of a bunch of students anyhow. I withdrew, smirking, and pulled out the next memory. End of Harry's First year, Sorcerer's Stone.Well, here goes.

I gasped once I withdrew from the memory. So, the brat defeated Voldemort again, huh? Pure dumb luck. Well, I may as well look at all the memories I bottled up for keeping. What the-? Bloody Hell!

End of Harry's Second year, Chamber of Secrets.

End of Harry's Third year, Sirius Black.

End of Harry's Fourth year, Voldemort's Return.

End of Harry's Fifth year, Ministry of Magic.

End of Harry's Sixth year, Dumbledore's Orders.

End of Harry's (Seventh) Year, Headmaster.

End of Headmaster Year, Nagini.

End of Harry's Final Year, Celebrating

One day of ten years' worth – Potions & Firewhiskey

Memories of Sarah: Day One (Stalking)

Memories of Sarah: Rescue Part I

Memories of Sarah: Rescue Part II

Memories of Sarah: Blood Lineage and Poppy

Memories of Sarah: Training

Memories of Sarah: Christmas

Memories of Sarah: Graduation

Memories of Sarah: June's Excitement

Memories of Sarah: Moon-bathing

Memories of Sarah: Return to Hogwarts

Memories of Sarah: Penseive Protection

"Well, that explains a lot in a short amount of time," I huffed scratching my neck. "Twenty-Three memories, with no clue as to how long each one is, and Great Salazar Slytherin this is going to be a long night. Well, I may as well get started. Wait, Nagini? No, I need to focus. In order, Severus, in order. You'll get there eventually. Just… take your time."

I picked up the first one labeled for Harry Potter. Joy unbounded, I hoped the child almost dies in this one! With any luck, he'll get near-Death experiences in all of them! But what does Voldemort's familiar have to do with anything? Oh well, all in due time. Good things come to Wizards who wait.

I stuck my face in the penseive, and relived the memory of Potter in the hospital wing for two weeks, and I wanted to scream at those idiot twins who honestly thought they could give him a toilet seat. Really, Poppy would never allow it! Still, I couldn't deny that they had a good laugh and sent others laughing as well at it.

Year two, he almost dies by Basilisk but fails and defeats a Horcrux. Wait, what's a Horcrux again? Ah, yes, a piece of one's soul that's been sealed inside something. I wonder how many Voldemort made.

Year Three, I almost get killed by Remus Lupin (again!) and this time it was to protect Potter, a redhead, and a female. Weasley and Granger were the names, but it never sounded familiar. Huh, they must be his lackeys, just like James had the Marauders. It seems to me that they have a knack for saving the school instead of bullying it, however. Bah, the brats. Although, it appears that I turned into James Potter without realizing it, only without the cruel pranks. Oh well, who cares?

Year Four, the Triwizard Tournament, and he saw the Dark Lord return. Joy, that meant more spywork again, how fun for the older version of me.

Year Five, he charges to the Ministry and gets Black killed. Finally! And at Bella's hand! I must remember to thank her later if she's not dead or in Azkaban…

Year Six… he stole my Potions Book! I should have gotten him expelled for that! he used my Sectumsempra on my godson! Oh, wait, it was an accident… damn, that means I can't kill him. Wait, and I – I, Severus Tobias Snape, killed Dumbledore? Oh, this was bad. I should be in Azkaban. Unless… I'd have to talk to Portrait Albus.

"Hey, Albus," I said worriedly as I stepped out to talk to him. "Do you mind telling me why I killed you? I haven't the faintest clue…"

"You did it because both he and Voldemort told us to," the Portrait next to Albus said. I swear, he sounded like an older version of me, and looked it, too. Wait a second – that was me! What the hell is going on? When was I headmaster? "Get back to the Penseive and you'll figure out why I'm on the wall. Judging by your question for the old sod, it's the next memory you've got to watch next. Go on."

I trudged back and watched my being named as Headmaster and the near-end of the school year approach. Lovely, the Carrows were here – no doubt dead by a student's hand by now. Oh, no, and I was attacked by Nagini during the final battle! No!

Well, I survived at least. Sad thing was, I had nothing to do, and was only at Potter's Graduation because I was the only one to be there for Draco since Lucius and Narcissa were in Azkaban for ten years. They'd been forced into it, they freely admit it, but still had to pay the minor repercussions because it was either that or death for the two. Draco, however, was given a fine and sent back to live with me after I'd been proven as a spy by – Potter, Granger, Weasley and the Order of the Phoenix? How did that happen? Oh, Dumbledore's portrait, okay. that made sense, so very much.

Wow, ten years of nothing but Potions and firewhiskey. I don't even want to know how bad it was as a spy in those final years of the war.

I stalked Sarah for that long? Wow. And for the love of Merlin, I kidnapped her? Well, she'd been willing, so I guess it's not really too bad since she was desperate to get out anyways. Wow, she was a muggleborn instead of a Muggle, I should have known.

Oh, now this was interesting. I trained her myself and crammed seven years of schooling into one! Now that is what I call a prodigy! And the look of pride on her face as she completed her NEWTS was so filling, so … warming and comforting. No wonder she was my apprentice! And… my fiancée? But did I really propose to her like that? How embarrassing! But, at least it made her happy. Crap, looks like I've got a wedding to plan…

Wait, no. I think I'm the happiest man alive! Married to a prodigy that I personally taught! Oh, I think my heart is about to burst! Did we sleep together yet? I hope not – I'm a virgin still, as far as I know!

Well, there goes that plan. So if I lost my virginity that late in life, while she that early… damn it! I was a cradle robber! Crap, the Marauders would never let me hear the end of it… if they were still alive. Thank Voldemort and the Death Eaters that they're all dead! Wahoo, freedom from oppression from all sides except the students! It's a wonderful feeling, really. It is. But the bad part is that now I'm hard and I want her now… hm… a sick day, perhaps? I'd have to talk to Minerva about this… once I got my blasted hormones under control, that is. Curses.

Well, back at Hogwarts. Hm, not much this year. Oh, wait a minute – the date on the parchment was two days ago! And… the Penseive Protection… was yesterday? But, this made no sense! Oh, the accident must have happened this morning, then.

"Sarah," I called out, my head spinning. "Sarah!"

"Coming, love!" she called as she raced to my side. "What's wrong? Did you finish them all?"

"Nothing, and yes," I groaned. "I – out. I want out. I – I can't stay here. Not while – not while we still have to cram a year's worth of – of – things!"

"Sh, Severus," she soothed as she put her hand on my cheek. Oh, god, I think I just got even more roused up. She has got to stop that. "Baby, it's alright. We've only been married about three months, there wasn't much that you missed out on except for quality bonding time over potions."

"You mean sex?" I whispered, and her face flushed.

"No, no I didn't," she whispered back, obviously embarrassed. "But, um… Oh. Oh, you – oh. Okay, I'll talk to the headmistress. Maybe she can give us a few days off… Kami knows you need it to help get used to being this young again. Would you prefer for me to be training with Poppy so I don't get you roused in class?"

"Yes, that would be lovely," I admitted. "Please do. Hurry, I don't know how much longer…"

"Minerva," she called out. "Headmistress McGonagall!"

"If this is about letting Severus rest and recover," she said scantily as she walked in a few minutes later with a twinkle in her eyes that rivaled that of Albus (Grrr!), "Then yes, you may take as much time off as you need to allow Severus to get used to his younger body again. Perhaps you can burn out a bit more of that youthful steam you didn't have before, eh, Severus?"

"Shut up!" I snapped and flushed at the base of my neck and up towards my hairline. This woman was going to be the death of me, they really were, these two. "Prince Manor, then?"

"Prince Manor? We've been staying at Spinner's End," she said confused. Oops, looks like I forgot about my mother's house. Oh well, better late than never. But, oh, crap, we had to get home before I broke the school rules and slept with her. "Oh, Minerva, could we borrow your Floo for a few seconds? We kind of need to leave as soon as humanly possible."

"Of course," she smiled as she went back to her quarters. Did she know what I was trying to hide?