To A New Beginning
This was originally a one-shot story that I wrote back in 2018 (boy, those were the days), a little project I did just due to an itching desire to write a story on an idea that popped into my head. Sadly, the story hadn't aged well since. Well, the last half didn't. The first half was fine upon re-reading but the second half was pretty bad. It was way too summary-like than an actual story. I must have rushed it for some reason.
Upon reflection, I realized that I should at the very least give it a rewrite as a small story as opposed to a one-shot. I'm expecting this to be a 3-chapter or 5-chapter story. It'll be short but I'm fine with that.
Also, the original one-shot story that shared the same name has been deleted due to its poor quality. Here's to hoping this one will be far better.
While this part of my Severus Snape series, it will not be given a number or have any connection to the other stories. It's just a simple AU.
Hope you guys enjoy 'To A New Beginning'!
Chapter One:
The Offer
Rain fell against the window, hitting the glass with little force as they dispersed onto the wood of the outside frame, soaking deep into the cracks as more followed. Lightning echoed from a long distance, shaking the house that sat in the darkness of Spinner's End of Chokeworth, with only a few street lights to light up the sidewalks. Like the people who lived there, the streets were empty and only the sound of rain and lightning could be heard.
Sitting in against the wall of his uncomfortable bed, Severus Snape stared at the window, his eyes searching the abyss beyond the light, hoping to catch a glimpse of the house he so wished to see. But the darkness denied him even that. He could only see what he has always seen since the day he was born.
Another noise reached his ears, making him close his eyes as a man's voice could be heard from the other side of the bedroom door, followed by a woman's. They were growing louder until the raindrops could no longer distract him. He moaned and covered his ears, sinking into the bed to lay on his back. But the yelling and anger only grew louder, fueling his inner anger and irritation. Why he was cursed with such a life was beyond him.
Reaching his limit, he crawled off of his bed and approached his closet, reaching inside for whatever he could find. Grabbing a pair of jeans, which were torn and very old, including a dirty jacket and a pair of shoes that had holes in them, he changed and immediately walked out of his bedroom, not bothering to shut the door. He walked down the stairs and the hallway at the bottom, passing the living room as two hidden figures yelled at each other, one throwing a beer bottle against the wall, shattering into pieces. Not bothering to look their way, he reached for the doorknob and turned it, pulling the door open to the outside that awaited him. But he had no fear of it. If anything, he felt the need to embrace its wild nature and soak in its freedom.
Slamming the door shut with great force, he threw the hood of his jacket over his head and walked straight into the storm, feeling the rain beginning to soak right into the fabric and embrace his skin. He heard the lightning in the distance but paid no attention. His eyes followed a single path, cutting through the park that surrounded the neighborhood, feeling his shoes sink into the mud and wet grass as he walked, his head hung low. His hair was wet, mixed in with the grease.
As he walked, he failed to notice a cloaked figure following him, keeping a good enough distance to conceal his presence.
After a while, he found himself in front of the house he was thinking about, not knowing how or when he found the small sidewalk leading to it. He stared at the windows, where the light was shining through. He could see a family at the kitchen table, a man and a woman, including two teenage girls. One of the girls was paying no attention to what was going on, refusing to join the laughter of the other three at the table.
He stood there, hidden within the darkness for an unknown amount of time.
The dinner came to an end and the family began to clean up. One of the girls was washing dishes with the woman, while the other helped the father with the table. Soon enough, they were heading to the living room.
Without realizing it, he had walked up to front door and knocked. The shelter of the porch protected him from the rain, but he could still feel the cold rainwater on his skin, reaching his bones and muscles beneath. But he bared through it, refusing to shake.
Realizing what he had done, his heart raced and he felt the need to run away, to escape back into the darkness. But his body betrayed him as the door opened and a girl of blonde hair answered. She frowned at him and turned around, "Lily, a friend of that freak school is here to see you!"
Without looking back at him, she walked away, leaving the door open.
A second later, a girl of red hair appeared, her green eyes widening at the sight of him. She appeared to be surprised and worried, but her expression quickly changed as she glared at him, quickly exiting the house as she closed the door slightly. Turning around, she folded her arms above her chest and kept her distance from him.
"What are you doing here?!" she hissed.
Her words pierced his heart, instantly regretting ever coming. He removed the hood and stared at her, frozen in place until he found his voice, "I'm... I'm... sorry..."
The girl scoffed, shaking her head, "You've already apologized, and I said no."
"I didn't mean it," his voice was beginning to shake. From what, he didn't know.
"Doesn't matter if you didn't mean it, you said it!" her voice was full of disgust and anger. "My friends were right about you. Even James, despite how much of an arse he is."
He almost smiled if it weren't for the hatred in her eyes.
"I already told you," she walked towards him, her face inches from his. "We're done. I'm done." Her voice was confident and full of emotion, directed fully at him. "Don't ever talk to me! No, actually don't ever come near me again!"
As she turned to leave, Severus felt himself search for something to say, something that would help him. But nothing came to mind. He watched her feet approach the door, her hand grabbing the doorknob and turning it, opening the door slightly, just seconds away from walking away from him for a second time. Possibly the last time.
His mind raced for a solution, something that he hadn't tried before. A part of him knew that he was no longer in control of himself, but the rest of him didn't care. Control didn't mean a damn thing for that moment. Not for her.
His lips moved and his heart poured forth his last card to play, one he thought he would never use in such a way.
"I'm in love with you!"
Lightning flashed in the sky as the redhead girl stopped, her hand loosening on the doorknob as she stood still, her back to him.
Time seemed meaningless to them, almost non-existent as they both stood where they were, unable to move.
Severus's eyes widened as he realized what he had said, his heart racing and his mind going wild. He mentally cursed himself for being such a fool, for saying such a thing out loud. His face lit up red, almost as much as the girl's hair.
After what felt like an eternity, the girl turned around, her eyes wide and her face red like his. She appeared to be in shock, letting the words sink in for her.
Realizing that he had gotten through to her, he debated with himself over what to do next. Hope rose in his heart, like a tire being filled with air. He couldn't help but wonder if this was his chance to win her back. A thought that excited him... and terrified him.
Knowing what he was to do was against everything he believed in, he threw everything he had into his next choice of words, choosing to damn his inner Slytherin for a chance at this.
"Lily," his voice was raw and full of emotion. "Since the day I met you, I've always been at my happiest. Whenever I'm with you, I forget about everything; my troubles, my life, my parents, my... pain." Lightning flashed in the distance. "My heart races at the sight of you, it aches when you walk away, and I can't help but want to see you see again." He paused, filling his heart leap at the sight of her shocked expression, believing he was winning. "I've refused to believe it until now... I've even cursed myself for it... but I do love you for the person that you are. I don't care if your a muggle-born or a Gryffindor. You're Lily Evans! The most beautiful witch I've ever seen! And I..." He paused, struggling to control himself. "... I... I can't lose you!"
Lily continued to stare at him, her expression hard to read.
"I can't lose you to Potter!" he spat with venom, the anger returning at the very thought of his rival. "I can't stand that he always gets what he wants, without working for it or without consequences!"
Suddenly, he felt himself losing control, a wave of unchecked emotion filling him.
"I hate how he can get anybody on his good side, with his looks and damn hair! But worse is how he can't stand how you constantly refuse him, so he goes out of his way to get your attention, even if it means making me suffer under his pranks! He hates me for our friendship, because of me being a Slytherin! How many times have I gotten worse punishment over what he has done! Or what Black has done! Or what he and all four of his mates do behind everyone's backs! Why do I need to suffer because of them when I all I want is to be left ALONE?!"
A long period of silence passed between them as the rain continued to fall, allowing for everything to settle down.
As his anger subsided and his control returned to him, Severus suddenly realized what he had said and how he had said it, his heart deflating. He felt angry and ashamed of himself for losing control, for unleashing his emotions all at once. A part of him knew that he had overstepped his bounds, overdid it by way too much. He knew that he had lost before Lily Evans spoke, breaking the silence.
"It's too late... Snape," his heart twisted at the way she said his last name, almost as if it could shatter. "You talk as if as you're the victim, but you've had your fair share of attacking Potter as much as he has to you. He even saved your life, and you never thanked him. I don't know what was down there, but I know about how he saved you!"
'He was only protecting his friends!' he wished to speak out loud, to tell her what had really happened. But his voice betrayed him, not allowing for the truth to come out. 'If you knew that Sirius was responsible and that it was Remus's beastly side he sent me to, you would know why Potter did what he did! If it was anyone else, he would have left me to die! He said himself that he hates me for my own existence.'
Lily's expression hardened, "I could never love you, Snape. You're a Slytherin! A Death Eater in the making! I thought everyone was wrong about Slytherins and how they always turn out bad, but I was wrong. I know where this life is leading you towards."
Severus began to shake, his heart feeling as if it was twisting into a knot. Tears poked at the edges of his eyes.
"Lily... please-"
"I curse the day I met you!" she continued, her voice rising. "The Sorting Hat placed you in Slytherin for a reason, and now I know why!"
"Lily!" he pleaded, throwing himself completely at her mercy, searching for any sign of hope that things can be fixed between them. "I'm sorry for calling you that word! I didn't mean it!"
"I don't care!" she cried.
Tears fell from his eyes, barely feeling them as they ran down his face.
"Honey, is everything okay?" asked a worried woman from behind the door.
Turning her head slightly, Lily replied, "It's fine, mum. Just dealing with an... unwanted quest." She locked eyes with him, showing the fire deep within. "I'll be inside in a moment."
Feeling the woman's gaze on him from the crack of the door, Severus couldn't bring himself to look Mrs. Evans' way.
"Alright, honey."
Hearing her footsteps retreat, Lily turned back to him.
"Leave!"
"Lily, please don't..." he pleaded. "I'm sorry for everything."
"I don't care!"
He took a step forward, making her step back from him.
"Why?" he unknowingly asked.
Lily glared at him and began to laugh, "Do you even have to ask? The real question is why not? Do you know what that word meant to me? What it meant to hear it from you of all people? I expected such from your friends, but from you..." She paused, choking on her words. "It's too late for apologies, I can never forgive you."
Severus's breathing stopped.
"Just go, Snivellus! I don't ever want to see you again!"
As she turned away from him and closed the door behind her, Severus felt his own heart shatter as the realization slowly dawned on him. He began to understand the meaning of what she had declared. What she had decided.
Finding the strength he walked down the stairs of the porch and down the sidewalk, drenching himself in the rain as it poured from the sky. He walked without a sense of direction, not even caring that his hood wasn't on. He just walked until his knees gave out and felt the ground rush up to greet him. He managed to land on his knees and hands, barely feeling the pain of the impact. He let out a cry that the raindrops drowned out. He felt the world begin to spin, his focus failing him, his senses dulled. He cried out his anger, shame, guilt, hurt and sadness; unleashing them all to an empty audience.
Darkness rushed in, embracing him as his strength left him to the mercy of the void, and finally fell against the ground, his body soaked from rain, covered in grass and mud. But he didn't care. A part of him wished to die, right there and then.
Just as he lost consciousness, a cloaked figure quickly approached from the darkness. Going onto one knee, the figure checked his pulse and then for potential injuries. Once satisfied, the figure removed the cloak and wrapped it around him, picking him up and disappearing into the night as the storm raged on.
At first Severus never took into account of how peaceful he felt. He basked in the dreamless sleep he was under, enjoying the comfortable covers beneath and over him, especially the pillows. But as his senses started to come back, he slowly began to realize that something was off. Something that wasn't supposed to be like the way that it was.
Slowly, a bright light formed at the center of the peaceful darkness, pushing it back until things started to come into focus. His eyes slowly opened, studying everything about the room he was in. He didn't think of anything wrong about the nice walls and windows, including the nice view of the city of London.
London?!
His eyes widened in panic, quickly rising by the waist. He looked around, throwing the covers off of him, he never noticed the new clean pair of pajamas or socks as he ran for the door, exiting the room as he found himself in a giant living room.
"Oh, you're awake!" someone cried out.
Turning to the person, he saw a man at a roundtable, sitting on one of the two couches as he drank from a silver cup. The man also had a copy of an unknown newspaper establishment, one that was clearly not from the British Wizard Society.
"Please, make yourself comfortable," the man spoke again, not once looking at him. "Though I highly recommend changing into something more... presentable. Hope you don't mind, but I had one of my elves change you into better sleepwear, even measure your size to get you better clothing. Mickey!"
Suddenly, an elf popped next to the man.
"Master called for Mickey?"
"Please help our guest with dressing himself. I trust you know of what clothing I speak of."
"Yes, master," the elf popped next to Severus, making him step back, only for the creature to grab his hand and begin dragging him back into the room. "No worries, sir. Mickey will help you dress."
In his moment of shock, Severus found himself being dressed into a fancy tuxedo and fancy shoes, changing into them right in front of a three-sided mirror with the help of the elf. Once done, he was led back into the giant living room, standing next to the opposite curved couch of where the mysterious man sat. He studied him over, trying to see if he could recognize him from somewhere.
"It's impolite to stare, Mr. Snape," the man sat the newspaper down and looked up at him. "Please, take a seat. We have much to talk about."
Though hesitant at first, Severus obeyed and sat down, keeping his eyes on the man as he did.
"Who are you?!" he demanded.
The man smiled and offered his hand towards him, "Professor Hank Beckett of Ilvermony School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But to be more precise, my position is Potions Master and also one of the leading members of the Ilvermony Board."
Refusing to shake his hand, Severus continued to stare at him as he moved his hand back to his side.
"What do you want with me?"
Hank laughed, "So to the point and professional, but lacking of manners and patience. Then again, that's no surprise, considering your past."
Uncomfortable, Severus struggled to keep himself calm, "You've been spying on me!"
"Apologies. I had to know if my assumptions about you were right. And after what I've witnessed in my full two months, I'm more than satisfied with what I've learned."
"Are you holding me for ransom of some kind?""
Hank laughed, "Of course not! If you wish to leave, you are free to do so. The exit is right over there."
Without glancing back at the man who called himself Hank, Severus turned towards the doubles doors that he was pointing at and immediately began walking towards them. Just as his hand touched the surface of the cold steel of the doorknob, he stopped at the sound of the Potions Master's voice.
"But it would be such a shame to let you leave without at least hearing my offer."
Frowning, he turned back to him, "What offer?"
Gesturing towards the couch he had left behind, he replied, "Please, sit. It would be better that w-"
"I'm fine where I am!" he snapped.
Hank nodded, waving him off, "Suit yourself." Picking up his cup of coffee again, he drank the last of the liquid and sat it back down. "My offer, Mr. Snape, is to take you on as an apprentice."
While his expression betrayed no emotion, Severus was taken back by it.
"Why me?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at him.
Hank locked his own eyes with his, "Because out of everyone I've inspected at both the Ministry and Hogwarts, I've never come across someone as dedicated, cunning, and ambitious as you. I'll admit, I've come across those like you, but it's rare to do so. While you have your flaws, I do believe that under my guidance I can help you overcome them."
"But why go through all of the trouble just to learn so much about me?!" he demanded, fully facing him now. "Anyone else would have been smart to just skip over me without a second thought."
"Then I must be one of the smarter ones for doing my research before casting aside someone I barely know," Hank stared into his eyes, showing no hint of deception in them. "True greatness doesn't start out as big destinies like those stories society likes to read about, Mr. Snape."
As silence passed between them, Severus sighed and walked back to the couch, taking his seat.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?" he asked.
"Ask anyone at Hogwarts or even those at the Ministry. My name is well-known. But we're not here to discuss me, we're here to discuss you."
"Before you go any further, I wish to know why you've been following me."
Hank smiled, "I like you, Mr. Snape. Getting your info before accepting an offer from someone you haven't met. Intelligence is a useful tool that must never be overlooked." He called Mickey over and ordered her to refill his cup. "Would you like something to drink, Mr. Snape? I fancy a Coca-Cola."
Severus didn't respond, as he kept his eyes focused on him.
"Very well," he sent the elf off, popping away to the kitchen.
"You haven't answered my question!"
Hank shook his head, "So impatient. I can see my work will be cut out for me."
Mickey returned with his cup, taking a sip before he resumed, "I came to Britain in search of a new apprentice. Two of my own have graduated and are moving on to build their own careers. With summer now having arrived in America, I thought it was best I spent my time in Britain. If I couldn't find someone even worth looking into, I would move on to France, maybe try to find a Veela this time around," he chuckled. "The Ministry is full of fools and wannabes, so I asked for permission from Headmaster Dumbledore to inspect what Hogwarts had to offer and he was more than willing to let me come as a guest."
"Funny," Severus frowned. "I don't remember seeing you."
"You say that like I don't know how to hide myself," Hank winked at him. "At first, I wasn't impressed with the students of Hogwarts, let alone the teachers. Although, Professor McGonagall is a remarkable witch, but she's far past apprenticeship now. So I continued my search, despite my better judgment that I was wasting my time... until I saw you."
Severus leaned forward.
"The way you work caught my attention, especially in how you seem to ignore certain instructions. At first, I thought you were being reckless, but after some time I realized that the way you were doing things was actually the right way. So I kept my eye on you, to the point you were my reason for staying at Hogwarts longer than I originally planned. What separated you from all of the others was the way how you thought outside the box, how you never gave up, despite that I knew that was also a sign of being your greatest weakness.
"By the time a full second week was up, I was going to approach you on the final week of your fifth year and offer you an apprenticeship."
Severus felt dread at how silent he became after that sentence, his suspicions building as to why.
"What made you hesitate?"
Hank sighed, "It was what happened at the lake that made me hesitate to approach you. I saw the whole thing from a distance, but close enough to hear and see what was going on."
Shame filled Severus's heart, the memory still fresh in his mind.
"What I saw in your eyes was something I've seen plenty of times before. I was well aware of your... acquaintance with the Malfoys and those within your House. And I'm aware of who they are associated with. But I could also easily see that you were only with them because of what they offering you. I thought that if I could offer you something better, you would no longer be involved with their campaign.
"But what I saw at the lake made me worried that there was so much more to it than that. I started to rethink my decision, even putting off approaching you. There were so many times I was half convinced to leave for France as planned. I was so sure that what I saw was proof that you were fully on the path of becoming a Death Eater, that you wanted to be one. But something stopped me. There was something that didn't feel right about my evaluation of you."
Severus frowned.
"So once again, against my judgment, I stayed and thought things through. I noted down everything about you, from the moment you caught my attention to the day of the lake incident, to even investigating your home life. There was something missing from all of this and it was driving me crazy. I had to know what it was. And I drove myself deep into my studies of you, even keeping an eye on you while you were at home for the summer."
He took another drink of his coffee.
"Seeing what your home life is like in person, helped. It added more pieces to the puzzle that I was trying to complete before I was still missing something. It was so frustrating with how I couldn't see the problem. There were so many moments I wanted to give up and call it quits, but my stubborn side of me refused. I just couldn't stop."
Severus was drawn in, lost in his story.
"Then, one day, I finally realized what it was that I was searching for. The missing ingredient!" he looked up at him. "The whole time I was keeping my eye on you, I realized I was looking too deep. I realized that I needed to step back and look at your whole life as a whole, not by piece by piece. So I did, and within due time I realized what it was... you!"
Severus's eyes narrowed, confusion written all over him.
Seeing this, Hank expanded, "Everything that you've done and everything that has happened to you, has always been just you. Whenever you were bullied, you were always left alone to deal with the humiliation, even if that Gryffindor girl came to your defense."
Severus turned away, closing his eyes.
"Even something as small as changing the rules of a potions instructions, it was always you and you alone. Nobody was there to congratulate you or praise your work. Or the way how things are back at home. It was you who must deal with those hardships, with nobody to confide in. No matter where I looked, it was always just you."
The two locked eyes.
"What was missing was a positive influence of someone to guide you. I see now that the reason you wished to join these Death Eater associates was because they offered you a sense of direction, power, and safety. You wish to be recognized as an equal, to be around those who understand what it means to be intelligent. As much as I may admire Gryffindors for their bravery, I recognize their flaw in how reckless they are. I also respect Slytherin for their intelligence, ambition and cunning, but they lack the understanding of change and emotion. When I look at you now, I see a young, ambitious wizard who has great potential. You clearly have a talent for potions and thinking outside the box.
"But you are at a disadvantage in so many ways. You live in poverty, forced to use what you have in your possession; limited in education that you are obviously are above now; bullied by those who are rewarded for their behavior, while you receive no credit for your own hard work; misjudged for something as stupid as what House you were Sorted into; and even driven down a path that seemed like the only option to you by those who call themselves better than you."
Never before had Severus felt so vulnerable, so exposed. How this man saw through to him and broke down his barriers made him feel afraid.
"But I'm here to change all of that," Hank leaned up. "What my offer includes is access to some of my labs at Ilvermony, benefits that align with the schedule that I will provide for you, your very own room, permission to eat with other students or alone, free time to work on your creations, and full studentship to Ilvermony."
"But I don't have documents to travel overseas."
"That can be arranged, including anything else that will need to be done. I will recommend that you make yourself accustomed to the American Wizard Society; to learn our ways, our language, our life, and so on. But I understand that this will take time for you to consider."
He reached into his pocket and presented a piece of parchment to him.
Accepting it, he read what it contained: August 10th, Noon, Chokeworth Park!
"You have until that day to inform me of your decision. If your answer is no, or if you don't come, then I'll be on my way for France," he stood up and approached Severus. "Understand that if you do become my apprentice, you must be willing to leave everything behind. You may return to see friends and family, but your association with wanna-be Death Eaters will be finished. And as for your fascination with the Dark Arts, I'll only allow your research into such a subject for the benefit of studying it and learning how to fight against it. I will not have a student under my care creating more darkness than there already is. Understood?!"
Severus reluctantly nodded.
Beckett smiled, "Good! Now allow me to escort you back home. It's rather expensive for a bus ride from London to Chokeworth."
Sucking up his inner frustration, Severus walked with him out of the hotel, silent the whole time. Once the American Professor Apparited him back to the front door of his home and left him alone, he hurried to his bedroom, ignoring his mother's demands of where he had been. Slamming the door shut, he fell against his bed and stared up at the ceiling for hours.
Hours later, his mother knocked on the door later, telling him it was time for dinner. Though he didn't feel hungry, he forced himself to the dinner table for what his mum cooked up, ignoring the fighting between his parents the whole time. He ate very little of what was supposed to be chicken soup, not caring for the taste that soured his mouth. Once done, he excused himself back to his room, laying against the wall for most of the night.
His conversation with the American Professor hung over him, the offer weighing heavily on his mind. There was a part of him that felt embarrassed for being presented with such an offer. It felt more out of pity out of him, which only fueled his burning anger. But there was another side of him that felt... honored and excited by it.
Just the mere fact that his skills and abilities alone caught the attention of such a famous potion's master filled him with pride. And despite the fact that the lake incident nearly ruined his chance, it was still because of those skills that kept the professor's interest intact. He realized that it wasn't pity or charity, it was respect. Respect for his abilities.
His thoughts then turned to Lily and the final conversation they had.
His heart sunk deep within his chest at the very thought of her. Just the way she had looked at him sent a chill through him, causing a pain to emerge that made him wish he were dead. He couldn't even think of going back to that school, knowing he had lost her. Back to the one place he knew held no love or peace for him, let alone a future. He started to imagine Lily actually taking up on Potter's offer to go out with him, whether if it was because she wanted to or to spite him.
The pain worsened and he threw the pillow over his face, letting out a muffled scream that was only contained by how thick it was.
Right then and there, he made his decision.
The 10th of August arrived.
Rising early in the morning, Severus dressed in the tuxedo and shoes that he received from Beckett after a nice long shower, which earned a rant from his father. Even his own mother criticized him for the suit he wore, complaining that he could used the money for more important things, which made his father demand he give up to help with rent. But he paid no attention to them as he ran out of the house, carrying on his trunk and wand.
Despite how early it was, he sat on a worn bench of Chokeworth's park, waiting for the day to strike noon.
And like he had promised, Professor Hank Beckett of Ilvermony approached the small park in his fancy outfit, wearing a nice hat. He instantly recognized Severus on the bench and sat down next to him, eyeing his trunk.
"So, you've made your decision then."
Severus nodded, "I did my research and you are who you say you are. As such, I've decided to accept your offer."
Beckett smiled, "Very good-"
"On a few conditions."
Raising an eyebrow, he motioned for him to continue.
"First, I wish for you to change my name. If I'm going to be your apprentice, it won't be as Severus Snape."
Silent, the professor thought about the request with serious consideration before nodding, "As you wish."
"And second, no one must know of my past. I don't care how you do it or what lengths you have to go to, I don't want anyone to know. I need to start off with no connections. I can't have anything or anyone from Severus Snape's life holding me back."
Beckett sighed, "You're not making this easy, lad. But I can honor these requests. The only thing I ask in return is that you'll work hard and give me your best efforts. I'm taking a big risk in doing this. I trust that you know that."
Severus nodded, "I promise that I will dedicate myself to being worthy of this."
"Then we are in agreement then," he offered his hand. "To a new beginning."
Without hesitation, he accepted, "To a new beginning."
The two stood up and began walking away from the park, never once looking back.
Well, what ya think?
This was originally the mid-part of the original story I wrote, but it seems fitting to end it here this time around. We will explore Severus' time at Ilvermony and his life moving forward but it will not be fully expanded upon.
Think of Hank Beckett as a Raymond Reddington type of figure. I found it easy to imagine James Spader as the character, even to look like him.
Please leave a review and give your thoughts!
See you guys in Chapter 2!