Hello,

Chapter 2 is up, and just a tad longer. Thank you for all those that followed the story after only the first chapter, that means a lot. Now please remember that reviews are what keeps writers going. So, please, please leave a review.

2 – Forgiveness

Harry was not sure what exactly had happened the moment he had stepped into the warm embrace of the Veil. He had expected it to be cold, unwelcoming, and perhaps even painful. But it had filled him with warmth, and a feeling that he could only relate to arriving to Kings Cross every year on September first. The feeling of coming home, of completeness.

He had nearly immediately lost consciousness as the power he had stepped into was too much for his core to handle. Too much for his mind to comprehend. Now, hours later, he stirred, nearly immediately noticing that he was comfortable and felt well-rested. He was in a bed, enveloped by a heavy duvet, a smell of flowers meeting his nose. Even before he opened his eyes, he knew he was at peace.

"Good Morning, Master Harry Potter," a deep voice spoke, and Harry, for the first time in weeks, didn't immediately scramble for his wand but instead slowly opened his eyes, glancing at the elderly man, who stood by the door. Then the dimmed lights in the room revealed a man with a twinkle I his eyes Harry was sure he'd never see again after their last encounter only a years months ago.

"Headmaster," he immediately gasped, jumping from the bed, acutely aware of the fact that he had been placed into a soft, silky dark blue set of pajamas. His pale, gaunt skin stood out against it drastically, and his face heated up despite himself.

"Oh, but I am no longer a Headmaster," Dumbledore smiled, not saying much else, as he walked forwards and enveloped the young man before him in a hug. Harry was surprised at the strength the man held but readily hugged him back, nearly hanging from him, burying his face in his shoulder, willing his tears to stay back.

"I am so proud of you, my boy," Dumbledore said again, wrapping one hand around the back of his head, stroking through his hair.

"I am so sorry," Harry croaked out, again, as he had done so often over the last several months, acutely reminded of all the people he had been unable to save.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Harry," he said, pulling him from his chest firmly, establishing eye contact, forcing him to believe his sincerity that was so strong in those steel-blue eyes. "If there is one to apologize, then it is me. I regret many things, but none as much as how very ill-prepared I left you."

Harry didn't dare speak on that. His lack of preparedness had been a distinct disadvantage and limiting factor during their hunt for the Horcruxes. Had he known more, had he been prepared better, it would have saved lives. It would have saved them heartbreak. The silence was thick, and uncomfortable, and Harry was about to mumble a quick acceptance of the apology, reassure the man perhaps that he had done nothing wrong, when Dumbledore suddenly straightened.

"I think there are some others who wish to see you before your appearance before the court," Dumbledore spoke with a gentle smile and with a flick of his wrist, the door opened, and several people nearly fell in.

"Fred!" Harry gasped out, rushing forwards and pulling the red-headed twin to his feet. "I am – Fred!" He croaked out again before he hugged him fiercely, face tight with unshed tears. "I'm so sorry, Fred, I am so sorry!" He gasped out, not able to hold the tears as they rushed from his eyes, nearly burning his skin. He saw Hermione's face behind them, and the pain and sympathy in her eyes made him avert his head.

"Harry, none of this was your fault." Fred laughed, pulling the man from his chest. "You weren't the one that threw the hex. Without you, none of us would have lived. Nobody blames you, Harry." He said, patting him on the shoulder strongly, his mischievous grin still the same, spreading over his face.

"I should have been there," Harry said as he wiped a hand over his face, nearly gasping when he saw Remus and Nymphadora Tonks appear behind Fred, both holding a fulfilled smile for him.

"Don't you dare blame yourself for our demise," Tonks said immediately, swatting him upside the head before embracing him. "You did all you could, and more so. We were all there out of our free will." She hugged him fiercely before pushing him to Remus, who embraced him as well.

"How's Teddy?" He asked, stroking through the boy's hair softly, a longing ache in his eyes.

"He's perfect," Harry smiled, nodding fiercely. "He's the cutest little thing," he promised. "He's still with your mother now," he said to Tonks, "But Ginny and I were ready to take him once all this frenzy died down. We want him to have a normal life, and right now we just can't-"

"It's fine; I think my mother needs him now, as much as Teddy needs her." She interrupted his hastened mumbling gently, and for a moment, her eyes betrayed the face of composure as tears welled up, but she quickly blinked them away.

"There's one more who would like to talk to you, Harry," She said, after a few moments of silence, waiting as the trio quickly shared their greetings, exchanging quick hugs, muttering to one another, building each other back up.

"Sirius?" He asked, and Remus's face broke out into a grin.

"No, Sirius is currently out and about, you know him… probably chasing down some girls. We tried getting the word out to him, and I'm sure he'll be here before you know it."

"Who – Mom? Dad?" He asked, even as Remus motioned for him to follow.

"No, Harry, not this time. Their death has been a long time; they're beyond the reach of this Realm," He said, stroking the boys back at the look of disappointment. "It's Severus," he said, and Harry's eyes immediately shot up.

"Snape! Where is he?" There was so much he wished to ask the man, to say to the man. But, instead, his insides immediately went tight as he rushed after Remus. After Professor Snape had given him the memories, Harry had initially not had much time to think on the man's actions in the past. But over the past two years, he had often thought of the man. Often reflected back on his early Hogwarts years, and hadn't been able to stop the guilt that spread through him at their treatment of the man, despite the man doing nothing but saving his life over and over again.

"He is awaiting you in the library," Remus said, leading the way while Tonks held back his two friends.

Their walk much resembled a tour through Hogwarts, but it felt lighter, warmer. The walls were lined with windows that looked out through a thick forest, light blue clouds, while those spaces without windows either were draped in heavy carpets or had beautiful portraits, sporting either famous wizards and witches or beautiful scenes of landscapes.

"Will you be fine on your own?" Remus asked, still a little hesitant about the relationship between Snape and Harry. He knew all his doubt should have been washed away when Snape appeared in this Realm. The Realm of Heroes of Magic, but there was still this slight hesitation he wasn't able to shake.

"I'll be fine," Harry said firmly, and with one last smile at Remus, he stepped through the door before them.

Harry's mouth nearly instantly fell open. It seemed like the library he had stepped into held every single magician's book ever written. It was grand, probably 40 times the size of the Hogwarts Library, four stories high, lined from bottom to ceiling with books, tombs of different ages, genres, and styles. He craned his neck to look around, turning on his heels to soak it all in.

"I had expected this reaction from Miss Granger, not you Potter." Severus drawled from where he sat, by the Fireplace, holding a tomb on his legs, heavy throw over his legs.

"I can appreciate beauty," Harry said softly as he drew closer, looking at the man intently. He looked healthier, younger. The deep lines around his eyes didn't stand out as heavily now that his face wasn't as pale as it used to be. His hair, also, wasn't greasy, though it still curtained his face in the same intimidating fashion as it had during his entire tenure as a student.

"I am as healthy as one can be, I assure you, Potter. Now, if you can desist of your childish staring, sit; we must talk." Harry immediately sat opposite his Professor. The Professor who had shared his memories with him. The Professor, who had always been cold, hat always hated him but had yet shown his most vulnerable memory with him.

"How are you, Professor?" Harry asked after a few seconds of silence. The man looked healthy, probably for the first time, Harry thought; he looked at peace.

"Free of the poison, I assure you. Though, I admit, I feel rather healthy all around," Severus answered after a few moments, thinking hard. He was warned nearly a week ago that Potter would make his appearance, being called before the ancient wizard gamot, an honor not bestowed since the founding of Hogwarts. But, he had to be honest; he was impressed. Finally, the boy before him, the bane of his existence, the reason for his wake nights, would be bestowed with honor by Merlin himself.

"I wanted to ask your forgiveness," Severus finally said, carefully wording his thoughts. He leaned forwards slightly, forcing the boy to look at him. "I have never been kind to you or even made an attempt to look past your appearance and see you for who you were. It was only this last year that I learned to see you for the man you are, not the one I felt you were." This wasn't easy for him. Severus could vividly remember the last time he had asked for forgiveness, and it was the night that he had left the dark and begged for acceptance into the light. Dumbledore had been kind, but he knew it never mattered how hard he worked; he would never leave his past behind him.

"You've long been forgiven," Harry said quickly, earnestly. "I think I forgave you when I saw the memory of my father in your pensive." He blushed slightly as the man looked at him with a frown.

"I don't know if I could have forgiven my father either," he added quickly. "I was bullied most of my life, you must know. My muggle relatives were never too fond of me. So, I feel like I know what you have gone through."

"Let's also not forget that I bullied you for your entire time at Hogwarts, Potter," Severus added quickly. He couldn't explain why, but he would not accept the boy's readiness for forgiveness so quickly. He needed to make amends. He needed to earn it!

"I'm ready to forgive you, Sir," Harry said, again, firmly. "Those days are behind us now. We've all done things we're not proud of."

"Stop with this noble Gryffindor bullshit!" Snape snarled angrily, getting to his feet. "You have every right to be angry with me! I want you to be angry, for Merlin's sake!"

"Anger clouds emotion," Harry said, smiling softly at the irate Professor. "How could I be angry after you showed me your memories?"

The Professor paused, then sighed as he slowly sat back down. "I came to ask your forgiveness and to thank you. I know you've made several public announcements clearing my name and have been quite adamant in stopping any heretics who would try to pin the past on me."

"The past is behind us. I believe that the final battle of Hogwarts is where people showed their true light. You never had the opportunity to show the world your true face."

"So are you as ready to forgive the Deatheater who didn't appear to the battle? Those who fled?"

"There are trials every day, Professor. I've been from one trial to another, giving testimony, sharing my memories of terror in a public forum. I believe that those captured are giving names in hopes of clemency. You would be proud of Draco Malfoy," Harry said softly. "He's made several court appearances himself. He admitted to taking the mark, under threats of death and torture from his father, both proven accurate by his mother through the truth Serum. Malfoy has made it his mission to be as transparent as possible. He's probably named as many Deatheaters from the private circles as others combined. Malfoy has proven invaluable as the focus has shifted to capturing and prosecuting those who committed unspeakable crimes and weren't captured at Hogwarts or seen in the battle." Harry explained. "Draco, sadly though, has been charged as well. His role in allowing the infiltration of Hogwarts has been discovered, and he will stand trial for that next week. Minister Weasley will consider all the good-"

"Potter," Severus interrupted finally, taking a deep breath, forcing his voice to remain calm. "Malfoy has made his own decisions and will have to carry the responsibility for those. I've given him plenty of opportunities to turn his back on his heritage, and he refused. I feel no pity, nor do I need you to ease me into acceptance."

"I just thought you'd like to know that we're not taking his-"

"Thank you. I have called you here, though, to speak about the impending Wizard Gamot," Severus interrupted again. His chest ache whenever he thought of his Godson made it difficult for him to focus on the task at hand. "What do you know of it?"

"Hermione and I tried to research it, but there's very little information provided," Harry said quickly before his eyes wandered to the tombs that laid before Severus. A feeling of deep gratitude filled him. "Well, Hermione did most of the research. We tried to help at first, but we were more in the way than anything else. But I feel like you've done all the research there is to be done."

"Once I heard the word of your nomination, I felt it was only just that I would bestow upon you the knowledge I was able to acquire," and with that, Severus carefully stood, placing the heavy book on the table. "There's very little documented about the procedure you've been invited to attend. But what I was able to find is that you'll essentially, and this is a theory, Mr. Potter, I'm sure you remember what that means?" After a brief pause, he continued, "You'll be granted a wish; there'll be parameters, I am sure, but a wish it is. I came to ask you to be careful. I am sure you've heard stories of wishes gone wrong. The same will apply here. I warn you to meddle with life and death."

"But-"

"I am sure that Weasley will ask for his brother to be given life. And Granger will probably ask for Remus, while you ask for Tonks if only to give Teddy his parents back. Hermione hasn't lost anyone close to her, and she's not material enough to ask for riches. She's smart and too proud to ask for knowledge she could procure herself. You, you are too selfless to ask for anything for yourself."

"I could-"

"Don't you dare assume I ask that you ask for my life," Severus snapped so harshly that Harry shrank back. But the blush confirmed Severus' suspicion.

"I warn you to meddle with life and death. You've heard the stories of Beetle the Bard? There's reason to believe that the same kind of wish had been granted there. So you mustn't meddle with death, Mr. Potter."

"Then what is it any good for? If I can't save those who needlessly died?"

"Who said it was in vain? Look at the lives saved, boy!" Severus cried out in exasperation.

"Too many died!" Harry yelled back, getting to his feet as well. "I can't be the cause of people's deaths any longer! My parents! Cedric! Sirius! Dumbledore! Fred! -" His voice broke at that point, and he lifted his right arm, covering his face, as a deep sob wrecked his chest.

"If I have this one chance, to bring those back to life that have a chance to a happy life, how dare you suggest I don't?" He growled angrily before yelping in surprise when Severus lunged for him, pulling him close.

"How dare I? How dare I? Don't forget who you are talking to Potter! You have no right to meddle with death!" Severus growled, pulling the boy until he stood on his tiptoes. "Do you hear me?" He shook the boy softly.

"But-"

"If you try to halt death, you're no better than-"

"I wouldn't do it for myself, damn it, Snape! I'm not like him!" Harry snapped back, pushing away from the man, taking two steps back for good measure. He would lie if he said this encounter hadn't frightened him somewhat.

"I'm not suggesting you're him; I'm suggesting you're taking the same liberties with magic as he had intended," Severus said before he sighed.

"You have no concept of what this may do," Severus sighed before he opened one of the heavy tombs, flicking to a chapter he had bookmarked. "This speaks of the consequences of denying death," he said, thrusting the book at the boy before he picked up the next one, but as he went to give it to him, he halted. The boy hadn't even attempted to read the first but held it limply by his side, crying into his elbow.

"Then what do I do, Sir?" The boy before him finally asked, lowering his arm, Lilly's eyes stealing his breath.

"Ask for peace, for fortunes, for love, and luck, if you must. Ask for Quidditch prowess, for the secrets to mastery of any subject. Hell, you may ask for half a brain for potions," Severus finally smirked before he sighed and took the tomb from the boy.

"I didn't mean to cause you any more heartache," he said as softly as his voice could go. "I merely fear of how much more heartache you bring upon yourself if you were to meddle with Death."

"I just want to make this right," Harry said, waving his hand around.

"You know, how incredibly proud your family is of you. Your friends, Remus, Tonks, and Sirius! The flipping Headmaster, Potter. He won't shut up about you and your wonderful accomplishments," he said, flicking his wrist, summoning a tray of tea and biscuits. He tried to ignore the boys longing face, the ache in those eyes for as long as he could before he felt the uncomfortable, unfamiliar pang to his chest end his foreboding composure. "And I, Potter, am too quite proud of the man you've become." He said, finally. The look of pure disbelief, wonder, and then deep humility that washed across the boy's face nearly took Severus by surprise.

"When is the Gamot, sir?"

"Shortly, but time is relative here. I have little idea of how much time has passed in the real world. It may have been a day; it could have been three minutes."

"I can't very well go in Pajamas."

"Well, Potter, magic is also relative here. There are no boundaries. Close your eyes, use your magic. What would you like to wear for the occasion? What outfit would you possibly wear to meet Merlin himself?"

Harry paled somewhat at that.

"Is there a book for etiquette for that? I've learned lately that I'm absolute balls at all this magical conundrum. How you speak, how you bow, how you act, how you dress, how you eat… who knew how many rules their way for everyday things."

"Welcome to the world of nobility. But alas, amongst all these books, there is not one that speaks of the rules for the Gamot that will take place. Therefore, I would advise that you treat it as formally as you can muster."

"Will you be in attendance?"

"I will be amongst the audience," Severus said curtly.

There was not much else to be said, and they had their tea in relative silence. Harry's mind reeled. If he could have one wish, any wish, that wouldn't allow for death to be halted, what could he wish for that would yet make everything right? This called for Hermione's intellectual abilities and for Ron's strategic thinking. Sometime later, a man in a black suit, black tie, and black hair picked him up from the library and brought him to another room, perhaps a grand study, but Ronald and Hermione were waiting for him there. All three were in nightgowns still, uncomfortably standing in the room, waiting for privacy.

"What did he want?" Ron immediately asked the moment the butler, it appeared, pulled the door closed behind him.

"He showed me the library," he said, smiling at Hermione's wistful look at the doors. "And spoke to me about a possibility of what the Gamot may be about…"

The study was comfortable, and as the two sat on the couch, with Harry in the armchair, they thought quietly of Snape's words.

"So, if we shan't meddle with death, what can we do? It feels wrong to ask for riches when given this one-time chance."

"We could ask to return in time, to the day of the final battle?" Ron said quietly. "That's not meddling with death, but rather with time. So we could make sure that those that passed away wouldn't be there."

"But so much could do wrong. We can't be everywhere at the same time. What if removing Fred from that corridor would alow for more Deatheaters to storm the castle? How many more would have died?" Hermione said quickly, softly interlacing her fingers with Ron's, as the boy looked away with tears in his eyes. Fred's death was still too fresh, too raw.

"What if we went back further?" Harry said, finally, carefully. "What if we went back to the night of Godrics Hollow?"

"That's too far," Hermione immediately said. "You're an infant; there's no way we could change the outcome of that night. Unless we went back to a time to halt Voldemort recruiting Pettigrew-"

"Then he would have gone after Neville," Harry said quickly, "And I can't do that to Neville and his family."

"What if we went back to when we were ten?" Ronald asked carefully. "With memories intact? We would have the knowledge of the Horcruxes. We could end this before it even started. Before Voldemort ever came back to power."

"I don't know if I can kill Voldemort at 10 years old, though. What if we mess up?"

"We're not alone in this," Hermione said carefully.

"What if we chose one adult, who's been trustworthy? What if we asked for Dumbledore to retain his memories? We would have a chance at a normal childhood? No heroism? No need for war? Dumbledore could make this all go away before it even started."

Harry swallowed softly. He would love to agree, but there was some degree of hesitation. Dumbledore had been great, but Dumbledore had also always focused on the light and, to a degree, would have gone to every length to ensure that the light was more powerful than the dark. Dumbledore had left Harry at the Dursleys to fend for his life, only to make him a self-sacrificing hero. Readied him like a pig for slaughter, as Snape had described it.

"I'm not sure," Harry finally said softly. "What if we asked for Snape to retain them?"