The Golden Snitch seemed aware of having both Seekers on its tail because it zoomed in and out of the game. Snape and Potter were side by side now but neither bothered to pay attention to the other. They and everyone else had their eyes trained on the Snitch. They were traveling downward and downward, the ground growing more and more nearer.
Snape was determined to capture the Snitch. He glanced at Harry Potter and knew the boy had the same thirst.
Then something occurred to him that he had never seen before. He noticed how very much this boy reminded him of a child he had despised.
Harry reminded Snape of himself.
As a child, he had been slight, almost frail looking and already known to be something extraordinary. He was never allowed to be anything but his parents' son. He was pushed to do things no child should have ever dealt with. It had made him lonely, bitter and stern.
And Harry would also be forever the son of the Potters, Voldemort's last victims. He was expected by everyone, from Dumbledore to Hagrid to be that last hope against Voldemort. He was only a child and yet he was expected to take on a evil the likes of which had never been seen before.
And the Boy-Who-Lived had never faltered.
The Heir of Akel Dama smiled. "How ironic..."
The two Seekers collided as they hit the ground together. The crowd ahhed and jumped to the feet to see which one had gotten the Snitch in time.
Snape was on all fours. He had fallen that way off his broom to brace himself. Harry was on his stomach, breathing hard to regain his focus. The boy's glasses were strewed and his arms were stretched out in front of him, almost as if he was surrendering.
Snape's hand was brushing against Potter's. Snape tilted his head and met Potter's eyes. He smirked slightly at the boy before placing his hand over the boy's and slipping the Snitch into Potter's hand.
Harry felt the golden orb being transferred and began his jaw dropped.
"Oh do shut your mouth Mr. Potter." Snape said as he stood to rise. "You look like a dying fish." With that said the Potions Master rose to his full height and sighed to compose himself. He clutched his injured arm and pretended to be in pain.
The dying fish however took a little longer to raise and when he did he stared at the Snitch in his hand for sometime before raising it up for all to see.
"Students win! Students win! Harry Potter has caught the Snitch!" Lee Jordan announced amid the cheering crowds. "A Gryffindor has beaten the Slytherin Miracle Maker!! Students win!"
Both neither Seeker was hearing a word that Jordan was saying.
Snape had walked off the field and into the arms of Kaiya Alchemy, his daughter. Her proud smile and warm embrace was all he wanted in the world. He leaned down and kissed his cheek, gently calling her his child.
She responded by holding him tighter.
Then reality return. Snape felt his left forearm begin to burn. He closed his eyes and sighed. It was true, he would forever be apart from the life that played out around him. This world was not one he belonged too. The life he was pledge to was calling to him.
He looked up and met Albus Dumbledore's eyes. He knew his face said everything. Slowly he pulled away from Alchemy and walked towards the Forbidden Forest, falling into step behind Lucius Malfoy who had also quietly slipped away.
Just like that, the Truce was off and the war had begun again.
"Come on, Harry. Party at Hogsmeade." Roger Davies told his Seeker as the boy was lifted above his head by enthusiastic kids.
"Boy, Harry." Ron called, "Did you ever show that greasy haired bat!"
But Harry ignored them. He was too busy watching Snape walking behind Lucius in quiet dignity. The Potions Master never looked back and Harry continue to watch until his teacher's outline disappeared behind the trees.
"What's up? Snape threaten to turn you into a toad?" Ron joked.
"Bugger off, Ron." Harry rebuked, his eyes glued to the trees. "He's not that bad."
