The next chapter is the epilogue. I don't know when I'll post it. On the one hand, I love the idea of this story ending on Good Friday. On the other hand, I'm getting my COVID vaccine tomorrow morning (yay!) I have no idea how I'll feel afterwards, so I can't make any promises on when I'll post. If I don't post tomorrow it will be sometime next week.

Thank you again for all the overwhelming support! It is very, very much appreciated!

Severus had forgotten the joys of a good night's sleep. In the afterlife, he'd been aware of every little motion and sound. No matter how hard he'd tried to do so, he could not so much as close his eyes, much less tune out the world and his thoughts. Now, he could sleep, a true, deep sleep, with the one person he loved above all others in his arms.

It was one of the most pleasant sensations he'd ever experienced.

"Severus?" she cooed.

He groaned before holding her closer to his body. The sunlight may be peeking through the blinds, but he was in no mood to ruin the serenity of the moment.

"Severus?"

"Yes," he rumbled.

"You're still here."

"Where else would I be?" He mumbled.

"In heaven with the angels, watching over me."

"No." He kissed her on the forehead. "I'm where I need to be."

"Oh."

"Am I supposed to be somewhere else?"

"I would hope not, but I was so afraid last night was a dream, that I'd wake up and find out you weren't there."

He opened his eyes and gazed into hers.

"Did last night not feel real enough for you?" Severus asked before kissing her lips.

"It did." Her eyes glistened. "It was one of the most real experiences of my life.

He kissed her again.

"But I was afraid you would be here for only one night. I was afraid the Trinity would pull you away from me again." She brushed her lips against his.

"I'm staying right here where I belong." He ran his fingers through her hair. "Til death do us part."

"And then we won't have to ever be separated again, assuming we wind up in the same place that is." The color drained from her face. "Do you think we'll both make it to the same place?"

"If we try to live our lives as best we can and show as much love as we can to those who meet," his lips curled upwards. "Then I think we can both make it to heaven."

"I never thought I'd hear you speak of loving anyone other than me."

"I'm discussing agape love."

"I know, but it's still odd to hear of you speaking about love in any form towards anyone other than me."

"Just because I've decided to live in love doesn't mean I have to tell everyone about my new outlook on life."

"You're right," she smirked. "I'll tell them for you."

"I would strongly suggest not doing so. I have a reputation to uphold after all." He gave her a playful scowl.

"What will you do if I tell the whole world you're capable of love?"

"Things the angels would blush if they ever saw."

"Couldn't such behavior get us damned?"

"Perhaps," He purred. "You wouldn't want to risk our eternal salvation, would you?"

"No, I would not," she gave him a small grin.

"Then do not tell anyone I'm capable of loving anyone, save you, even if it is agape love." He captured her lips, reveling in the sensation of their bodies together.

Heaven could wait another few decades. Right now, he was experiencing paradise on earth.

"At some point, we need to tell people you're amongst the living," Hermione set her cup of coffee down on the kitchen table across from him.

"I suppose we do. After all, I do need to obtain more than one outfit." He took a bite of his blueberry pancakes.

"Given that none of my clothes fit you, I agree." She took a sip of her coffee.

"What do you think we should tell them?"

"I don't know." She began cutting her chocolate pancakes. "I'll go with whatever you say."

"If I told them I was resurrected they may find me crazy, or start a quasi-religious movement around me."

"I mean, they did start a religion surrounding the last man who was resurrected."

"Agree, and I do not intend to become a Christian missionary at the expense of my potions research."

"Except the Trinity may not want you to remain quiet." She took a bite of her pancakes. "They may want you to prove they exist."

"That isn't their style." Severus stabbed his pancakes with his fork. "If they operated that way, then everyone would've believed in them after Jesus rose from the dead."

"True."

"I think the Trinity wants me to live my life finding cures for people and helping as best I'm able, not spend most of it evangelizing to a people who would just as soon lock me away in a mental institution than believe I've been resurrected." Severus took another bite of his pancakes.

"Then what do you want to tell everyone?" She asked.

"I could always say I went into hiding on an island."

"Or on a mountaintop."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Harry saw me after our first fight. When he asked how to find you, I told him you lived on a mountain."

"Not far from the truth."

She took another bite of her pancakes.

"I could always say I was living as a hermit on Mt. Pilatus," Severus mused aloud.

"Why that mountain?"

He shrugged. "I just always liked the name."

"It's probably deserted enough, and being a wizard you could hide yourself fairly easily. Speaking of being a wizard," she sat up straighter "You'll need another wand."

"I suppose I do."

"That is, unless you can't perform magic anymore."

With the wave of his hand, his coffee cup rose until it was eye level with him.

"The Trinity really did give you all your faculties back then," she noted.

"It would appear so." Severus grinned as the cup floated to the ground. "I did not strain myself at all either. Not only did they give me back my powers, but they seem to have increased them."

"Magical powers aside, we still need to get you a wand, break the news of your resurrection…"

"Hermione?"

Severus' heart raced. He hadn't expected to hear that voice so soon. Yet, it felt right that this should be the first call he received.

"I'll be back," Hermione stood.

"No," he took her hand. "I'll get it."

"Are you sure?"

"I've never been so sure of anything."

She gestured for him to go to the fireplace. Once he reached his destination, he took a deep breath.

"Hermione."

"She's here." He looked into the fireplace. "But she is not alone."

The face on the other side's mouth was agape, his eyes wider than the full moon.

"Hello Draco," Severus gave him a smile.

"You, you're…"

"Resurrected."

"H-how?"

"Let's just say when the Trinity wants something done they'll conquer death to do it."

"I-I…"

"I was in shock too." Hermione stuck her head in the fireplace. "But he is here."

"I..I…" He shook his head. "No, this isn't happening. Y-you can't be real."

"Come in Draco, and let me prove to you I'm real," Severus replied before backing away from the fireplace.

For a few agonizing moments, nothing appeared. Then, Draco materialized, his face colorless, except for the ashes smudging his cheeks.

"Hello Draco," Severus said once more.

Tears streamed down Draco's eyes as he embraced Severus. "It is you!" He gripped him tighter. "It really is you."

"Yes, it's me." Severus returned the embrace.

Draco's body was racked with sobs. A few times he attempted to speak, but no intelligible words could escape his lips. Severus rubbed his back, his own eyes misting as well.

He was alive and home.

"Hermione?"

She glanced at Severus, who was engrossed with looking at pictures of his godson's children. A sense of peace washed over her as she stepped towards the fireplace.

"Hello, Luna." Hermione bent into the fireplace. "What brings you here?"

"I hope I am not interrupting anything, but James has been asking to see you."

"He has?"

"Yes," Luna's eyes sparkled. "He just learned An' Her-i-o-nee."

"Ooh that's so adorable!"

"We know this is last minute." Harry appeared beside her, holding the child in question, "But we thought you'd like to hear it for yourself."

"Well," she glanced back to the sofa.

"Go ahead," Severus couldn't hide the joy in his eyes. "We might as well get this done and over with."

"Are you sure?"

"I am certain."

"Fine," she redirected her attention to the fireplace "You may both enter."

"Oh no, not if you have guests," Harry began.

"Perhaps the guests want to meet us though," Luna's expression was serene.

"He does want to meet you."

"Oh a he," Harry teased. "I was wondering if you would ever try dating again."

"Well," she drawled.

"He isn't another ghost, is he?"

"Severus was a spirit, not a ghost," Luna corrected him.

"Fine, spirit," Harry said. "Is he a spirit?"

"Just step inside and I'll explain everything." Hermione backed away.

The Potters appeared before Hermione. While the parents dusted themselves off, James stared at Severus.

"Come on James, tell Aunt Hermione what you told us," Harry began brushing off his son.

"An-wel."

"Yes, we saw an angel at the museum yesterday, didn't we?" Harry chuckled.

"No, anwel." James pointed to Severus.

"Actually, I am a resurrected body." He stood. "Not an angel."

Harry froze mid motion while Luna stared at the former spirit. There wasn't a hint of surprise in her eyes. Had the Trinity informed her of their plan, or was she just that spiritually in tune?

"Oh," James' face lit up before he reached out his hands to Severus.

"I, I," Harry was erect.

"Yes, I am back from the dead. Yes, I did forgive you while I was still in my spiritual form, and yes, that forgiveness still stands."

Harry's lower lip quivered.

"And yes," Severus relaxed. "I would very much like to be a godfather to your godson, assuming it's okay with Hermione."

"It's more than okay with me," she replied.

"C-can I hug you?" Harry asked.

"If you must." Severus couldn't hide the light in his eyes.

Harry raced over to him as if he was a child running to his parent. He clung onto Severus, as if he would ascend to heaven at any minute. Severus took hold of him, wondering if he'd ever been hugged this much in his life, much less in one day.

Then again, he'd never felt this much love in his life. Not even in his afterlife had he been surrounded by so many who only desired his presence and friendship. It was a new experience, yet one he wanted to maintain forever.

Severus glanced up at the sky, saying a silent prayer that the Purgatory Program could save other souls in need as they had with him. The Trinity knew how much everyone needed to experience and share love.

And Love is the order of the universe.

A little note on Mt. Pilatus: it is a mountain in Switzerland and allegedly the place where Pontius Pilate killed himself. Legend has it on certain days, you can see his ghost washing its hands, trying to get the blood off. I figured it'd work for Severus' alleged hideout.