For eight years Snape has been surrounded by darkness, crushing his temples, oozing from cracks, blocking the light. The ground was slipping away from under his feet, and grayness thickened over the world, the starless sky looked reproachfully at those who remained below.
It seemed to him that he had been wandering in the dark for eternity and trying to catch at least a spark, to hear the echo of unearthly magic. Her magic.
He knew that he had not kept his oath, he knew that magic would definitely demand its price, he knew that there would be no return from this man-made hell, but from time to time he could hear a barely audible voice, almost a whisper, calling his name. And the voice gave him warmth, as if the sun rose for a moment in his darkened world, forever chained in an icy embrace.
Some part of his consciousness, not clouded with a curse, tried to shout, stubbornly telling him that he had made a terrible mistake, that not everything was lost, that she was alive and was waiting for him on the other side, somewhere where the sun was shining. His Pumpkin.
Thoughts in his head were deafening, but his magic responded to her magic, calling him away from the forest, towards the light, where it was warm, where there was no scalding cold, where the sea was rustling with waves.
And then her voice spoke to him, talked about something almost in a whisper, begged him to return, to hear her pleas, to forgive himself. And from this voice, his heart sank and he wanted to run forward, headlong and into her embrace.
"How could you? Tell me, Severus, how dare you leave me? Eight years, two months, seven days... I miss you so much, you great bastard. Please, Severus. Come back. To me".
And now he continued to hear her parting words, sitting in a hospital ward with sterile white walls and looking blankly at his godson:
"Draco? What? Where..."
"It's okay, godfather, you're safe," Draco replied with a beaming smile.
"Yes, about that, actually..."
"And before you start promising me detentions with washing cauldrons, I assure you, Granger is fine too, she is with Lavender, they have a scheduled examination of the other patients, she will return in the late afternoon. Now, I must examine you. And yes, someone really wants to see you too."
And before Severus could finally orient himself in what was happening, a worried Lucius entered the room, followed by Minerva, who almost rushed in, not even hiding her delight.
He was surrounded by friends and former students, it seemed that all of St. Mungo had come running to look at the professor who had miraculously emerged from his stupor, but the main person was still absent.
Lucius asked Severus about everything, stayed silent for a long time, briefly outlined the post-war situation in the wizarding world, and invited Severus to a dinner party.
Minerva did not bother herself with useless questions, instead burst into tears and hugged Severus like a mother hugs a prodigal son, and in parting told him that his position in Hogwarts was still waiting for its true teacher.
Draco did not become shy in front of his godfather and former Head, and without unnecessary details, he honestly laid out his version of what had happened to Snape and fled for a planned detour, leaving his godfather tormented by pangs of conscience.
Later in the afternoon, arrived Lavender Brown who was intending to become Lady Malfoy one of these days.
"I'm so glad to see you, Professor! And don't frown at me here, I've spent the last eight years with you, I replaced Draco and Hermie, I consoled them and came up with new treatments for you, and when that didn't help, I brewed your signature tea with bergamot and lemongrass. Not so bad for a Gryffindor fool, right?"
"Miss Brown," Snape began, but Lavender waved her hand at him and winked.
"She will be back. Wait a couple more hours, she will definitely return. And don't frown. Many years have passed, but wizards live a long life, and with modern research in the field of wizarding medicine, we have every chance of gaining immortality. Look out the window: February is almost over."
And she left, leaving Snape to contemplate her words. Lavender was right, as was Draco and Minerva and even Lucius, but so many years have passed, what should he tell her?
Hermione returned closer to midnight, entered the room, and stopped in confusion, losing her step.
Snape wanted to rush to her this instant, to scoop her in his arms, to hide her from everything and everyone that dares cause her pain. He closes his eyes instead. And then there was the pain. Pain, suffering, aching, and agony, his very soul bled from his craving for her. And as the first snowdrop breaks through the icy ground, so the careful touch of her hand gave him hope.
"Severus… Oh, Severus."
"You are alive..."
"I am. You kept your vow, you managed to save me. Everything is ok."
"No, no, Hermione, we've lost eight years, don't you understand?"
"Hush, Severus. It's okay now. We won the war, we will be able to overcome the echoes of this darkness."
"So, where shall we go now?"
"February is over, Severus," Hermione smiled, snuggling closer. "Remember, you always told me that April taught us to rejoice and laugh, May taught us to love. January - to start a new life, and February - to wait... We have done our waiting."
"Let's go home, Hermione."
Hand in hand they left St. Mungo to enter the first spring dawn and new life. February was over.
Spring has come.
End.