Title: Coming Home (494 words)

Author: Raven

Pairing: Harry/Severus

Rating: PG

Feedback: Yes please!!!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters mentioned are property of JKR and others, they are used without permission but without profit of any kind, no infringement intended.

~*~Coming Home~*~

This was the end, so when we were done, and had won the war, we were free to do what we wanted. So when it came time for me to begin my life again, you came to me with a question. You came to me in hope of an answer.

I hope you know that I couldn't have given you one, it broke me to do what I did. But we had to both move on, and I had to learn to live without a monster hunting me, pulled between the path of good and evil. I had to disappear, and I hope you understand, that I would've stayed, but I couldn't, not when this place reminded me of all the friends I'd lost, good and evil, hated and loved. I couldn't have stayed, and I'm sorry.

So when you asked, I couldn't look at you, I would have given in if I had looked into your eyes. And you understood because you didn't ask again, and you understood that I couldn't answer, because I would have said yes if things had been different, but they weren't. So when I willed you with my quiet plea to just walk away, because it was so hard to say no, to turn against my every instinct. You walked away, and I am grateful that you did, and I loved you all the more for it.

Because when you walked away, not looking back, I cried for hours, then left forever, to disappear, where no one would remember me, where no one would ask questions, where I'd never see you again. It was so hard not to look back, to leave the place I'd called my home for years.

A place where everything began, where I met you, where we loved each other, where we survived, and where everything had to end.

And everything has ended here, even you, and now me. Everyone connected with use died here, Ron Hermione, Draco, Blaise, Ginny, Fred, Percy, Dumbledore, Dean, Hagrid, Hooch and now you and now me. Hundreds all buried here, some dying in the war, others as sacrifices for the side of good, and others like you, who fought and lived and died when your time came, buried here because it was your wish, to rest in peace where so much was fought over.

No one came to your funeral, there wasn't one, just like you wanted, and only I'm present on this day, 10 years after your death, our 20th anniversary. To say goodbye to you, for one final time.

To say, that I love you still, just like I always have.

It's raining outside and the stars are all out, and I know your watching me, listening. And I'm happy because I'll be joining you soon, my love.

I'm coming home Severus, I'm coming home.

My answer was yes, it was always yes, and now it will forever be yes, because I'm finally coming home.

~~finis~~