Over the next several weeks, the castle was nearly repaired. Lupin was completely healed, thanks to his werewolf metabolism and healing, and Fred had recovered almost entirely. Snape was finally allowed to dress himself in something other than pajamas, though not his usual garb. Poppy refused to allow him a tight collar around his neck. He settled for his usual boots, black trousers, and the white undershirt he normally wore, but she'd forced him to leave the collar button and first button open. He felt terribly vulnerable, but knew that a tighter collar would irritate both the bandage and wound on his neck.

He'd been allowed to do more walking, which surprised the people around him, but it came as no surprise that he talked to really nobody. Severus had always kept to himself and no newfound freedom would change that. He was a natural introvert, and was incredibly independent as a human being. Granger would visit from time to time, at least once a week, and she'd informed him that she'd accepted a position as Medi-Witch Apprentice for Poppy. Poppy had actually tested her, and she'd, of course tested out of the entire first year of a two year apprenticeship, much to Poppy's happiness. The woman was desperate to retire after the war, and knowing Hermione would be able to take her place after the coming school year was an absolute delight.

She'd also told him that Potter and Weasley had opted out of their 7th year, as she had, though she intended to sit for her exams. They would head off to Auror training the following week. She spoke often of Weasley, of her hope for their relationship, but he couldn't help but notice that her tone seemed to convey that she felt the relationship was doomed. He said nothing about it all of course. It wasn't any of his business.

Minerva had asked if he wanted the position back as Headmaster, but he had neither accepted nor refused the offer yet. It had been his ultimate goal, to be Headmaster, but the way he had assumed that position had taken a lot of the success he'd hoped he'd one day feel out of it.

He wouldn't be prepared to teach a full load of classes come September, so Lupin's acceptance of the Defense posting had not broken his heart. Lupin was better suited to it anyway, and Severus had every intention of steering clear of the Dark Arts in every way. Speaking was still a struggle for him, so teaching all day would've set back his recovery considerably. Though his voice had returned mostly to its usual velvet, if he talked too much in one day, it quickly turned raspy and became painful.

As he stood in the Hospital Wing while Poppy fussed with his bandage, Lupin approached out of the corner of his eye.

"I hear you are allowed to walk about for a bit on your own now," He said tentatively.

Snape tugged at his opened collar uncomfortably. "It would appear you are as well," He said indifferently.

"Mind if I join you?"

"That would defeat the purpose of walking on my own." Snape's eyes snapped to Lupin's face. The man clearly held no ill intent, but Severus still had reservations, and his first instincts were to distrust, especially around a man who stood by and did nothing while he'd been relentlessly bullied.

"I'd like to talk." Lupin clearly wasn't going to back down, though he was also nervous because he was twisting his wedding band on his ring finger.

Severus narrowed his eyes and considered his options. Anger was harder to maintain, but easier to muster, but he was tired. "Fine."

He brushed by Lupin and began to walk. The werewolf caught up to him. "I thought you'd might like to see the reparations in the Great Hall."

Severus turned left toward the Great Hall. He hadn't been allowed out of the hospital wing since he'd been brought there from the shack, so he hadn't seen much of anything other than that, and the grounds through his window. The pair walked slowly, testing out their healing wounds.

They arrived at the Great Hall after a couple minutes, and Severus pushed open the doors. The hall reparations were finished, except for the window, much to their surprise, and Severus stepped forward into the vast emptiness of the room. He stared at the stage where he'd stood last, and then looked at the the window was still shattered in a Snape-shaped hole.

Lupin followed his gaze. "You know, I've never hated anyone more at any time in my life than I did when I saw you up front as Headmaster of this school that night." Severus turned to him angrily. His eyes were blazing, and he went to give a bitter and scathing response, but Remus held up a hand. "I've never been more wrong about a person in my entire life." Severus stepped back a pace and looked utterly confused. "But that's what we were meant to feel, wasn't it? We were meant to hate you, to distrust you entirely... I am under no illusion that your distaste of me was fake by any means, but the part you played... I don't know that anyone else could've done it. I don't know how you did it, truthfully. It must have been quite lonely."

"I had friends," He answered coolly. If he hadn't had those two friends, he might not have survived at all. He was caught off guard by Lupin's candidness, though the werewolf had always been that way.

"Still... You're very brave, Severus. I am... I am terribly sorry for my idleness as a boy whilst you were being tormented by my friends. Honestly, it was borne mostly out of fear that their antagonization of you would be directed toward me if I stepped in, and that's cowardly. I am ashamed of that, and I hope that someday you might forgive my inaction. We will be working together, in some fashion, for probably many years to come, and I would like it to at least be cordial."

Severus studied him. He must not have been allowed to wear his usual attire either as he was dressed in brown trousers and a light white T-shirt which Severus could see the thick bandages across his chest through the fabric. His hair was more grey than the last time he'd truly seen Lupin, and he looked quite exhausted. What Lupin had said had meant a lot to Severus, though he wouldn't be likely to admit that openly.

"Whatever lies ahead, I do not want it to be rooted in the past," Severus said. It was the best he could offer the other wizard, and Lupin nodded, and his eyes moved back to the stained glass. "They'd better fix that. Not sure what kind of lunatic would jump through that."

Snape didn't say anything, and followed Lupin back to the Hospital Wing in silence. Once he was back on his room, he laid in his bed to rest and sleep found him quickly. The road to recovery wasn't going to be easy, but if he could make it easier on himself, why shouldn't he?

"'In the east,' she says after a time, her gaze still downcast, 'there is a tradition known as kintsukuroi. It is the practice of mending broken ceramic pottery using lacquer dusted with gold and silver and other precious metals. It is meant to symbolize that things can be more beautiful for having been broken.'

'Why are you telling me this?' I ask.

At last she looks at me. Her irises are polished obsidian in the moonlight. 'Because I want you to know,' she says, 'that there is life after survival.'" ~ A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue