Chapter Plug: Darkness Shadows Light by: Maddy

Beta Reader: Chi

A/N: Finally, the big chapter! Here comes Severus!

I Met You at Your Headstone

Chapter 3

It was a journey into Severus' past, and sadly it was one into his future as well. Harry learned quite a bit more about the man he was hopelessly in love with as he walked with Dumbledore through the little German town.

"This is where Severus spent his summers. I believe he was born and raised here. His home is a bit away from the town, although it is predominately wizard families. Did you know that he did not go all seven years to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked him as they walked along the dirt path that led away from the tiny village.

"He never mentioned it…I just assumed he spent all seven years at Hogwarts." Harry replied.

"Oh no. It would have been very difficult for him to have grown as close to Voldemort as he was while living at Hogwarts. Hogwarts was then, and is still today, one of the safest places on earth. Severus attended Durmstrang for his first four years, his last three were spent at Hogwarts. I think it really shaped him into the Severus we knew. At Durmstrang he was top student, had lots of friends, even had someone he was dating." Harry felt a twinge of jealousy stir in him, even though it was a completely ridiculous thing to feel. He also felt a little betrayed that he was hearing of his lover's past from Albus Dumbledore, instead of from Severus. "But, then his father died. I think that's when Voldemort really got a strong hold on him. He was already being taught the Dark Arts, and he was certainly running in the right crowd, but sometimes life throws curve balls. When his father died, Severus' mother seemed to come out of his shadow. She knew what choices her son was making and didn't like how his future looked. She was a smart woman. She moved so that Severus would come to Hogwarts. I did my best to try and re-direct him, but by that time he had such great scorn and hatred for anyone fighting against Voldemort that he was practically impossible.

Further more, at Hogwarts he didn't find any friends. He met a few boys in Slytherin that he quickly turned to the Dark Arts, but he never made any real friends. Your father, on the other hand, was extremely popular. He was dating the most beautiful girl in school, made top marks effortlessly, and all the teachers loved him. Not to mention he was quite the quidditch star. You know, sometimes I think that if Severus had not hated your father so much, they would have made the best of friends. Much like I see you and Mr. Malfoy." Harry looked a bit surprised at that.

"Malfoy and I, and I'm sure my father and Severus, are way too different to ever be best friends. Mild acquaintances is pushing it." Harry replied dryly, suddenly remembering Draco's laughter when Ron suggested he get a female date to the ball. How had he known he was gay?

"Well, surely you've heard that opposites attract. Nevertheless, Severus spent three years at Hogwarts during which he proved to me his intelligence. The entire time he was spying for Voldemort, and I had absolutely no idea. You think that you break rules often; Severus must have broken every one of them in the book while spying. I think that he rather disliked rule breaking as an adult, simply because he could then see the danger it had put his life in. You know that he never hated you, Harry."

Oh yes. He knew.

"I think it was just that he saw a lot of Voldemort in you, and a lot of your father, and the combination was a bit frightening. Rather others tell you so or not, you are extremely cunning and very sneaky for a Gryffindor. Stealth paired with bravery and a quick mind is quite the dangerous combination, wouldn't you say?" Dumbledore asked as they reached a rusty churchyard gate. From the small hill they were standing on Harry could see Severus's childhood home not too far away. It was rather large, and in surprisingly good condition. The church was small and a bit worn down. A few of the stones inside were crumbling away and weeds overran most of the graves.

"I don't know, sir. I think a lot of people in Gryffindor are smart and brave. It doesn't make me so special." Harry replied quietly. He was already focused on the headstones, trying to find the one that belonged to Severus.

"I think it does. It is not that you are simply smart and brave, it is that you can be just as persuasive of a leader as your father and Voldemort were. You lead people without even realizing it. Both Severus and myself saw the danger in you possibly being in Slytherin. Even knowing what the Dark Lord did to your parents, you have enough of him inside you to have made the perfect ally for him. We would have had quite the problem if you had gone down a different path and had brought half the school with you to serve Voldemort." Dumbledore explained as they walked among the graying stones. Harry shrugged. He really didn't think that that would have ever been the case, and he was a bit confused as to why Dumbledore was so intent on making him see that he had the capabilities to be a dangerous, evil wizard.

"But you chose the right path. I don't think Severus had much to worry over when you were breaking rules by tromping through the Forbidden Forest at night. It's funny to think about…why some people choose a good life and others a bad one. I sometimes wonder if things would be different. I mean, what if Voldemort had had someone that was brave and smart, yet kind hearted to show him the right way to live when he was seventeen? So many things might have changed if he had not devoted his life to evil. He was a great wizard Harry. Can you imagine the things he could have done with his power if he'd used it for good? Seems to be a terrible waste." He finished quietly as Harry looked down at the long grave, an unmarked cross serving as the only headstone. It belonged to Severus. Somehow he just knew. Dumbledore did not ask him how he had known which grave was Severus' even though it was unmarked. He merely stood beside him in respectful silence.

"It was my fault. He knew I wouldn't be able to handle war, but I convinced him that I'd be fine. If he hadn't known, he wouldn't have given you that package for me, and the instructions about his burial. He went knowing that I was being over confidant, that I would get myself killed. He knew all along. It was because of my stupidity that he's dead. If I had only listened to him…to you…anyone. Everyone else was scared but me. I was cocky about it…and Severus had to pay the price. I will never sleep at night without this haunting my dreams. I should be the one under that headstone, not Severus." Harry said, starting in an emotionless voice but finding himself in tears before he finished. Dumbledore placed a comforting arm around his shoulders.

"It is not your fault. If I'm not mistaken, it was Voldemort that held the wand that killed him. He made a sacrifice for you. Don't let this torment you for the rest of your life and make his sacrifice good for nothing. You have been spared, given a second chance. Be grateful, and move on. Life is not over yet, Harry. Don't you feel it? Can't you see what Severus sacrificed himself to save? Have you not figured out why Voldemort was so intent to kill you while you were a small, defenseless babe? You are just as great as Voldemort; you can do equally amazing things! Even before Voldemort transferred some of his power to you, you still had one great thing in common with him! Listen and tell me you don't hear it!" Dumbledore exclaimed rather loudly, gripping his shoulders tightly. Harry was confused, trapped…but he listened.

'You've been given another chance…USE IT!'

And he heard. Dumbledore slowly relaxed his grip as he saw Harry's eyes widen in surprise and understanding.

"Voldemort's heart stone. I have one in me too, don't I? And you! You have one as well! You don't read minds, you use the magic from your heart stone!" Harry exclaimed, clarity coming to his eyes. It was all starting to make sense. Harry looked at the grave once more, a plan already formulating in his head. "I'm ready to return to Hogwarts. I have some things to think about." Harry said softly. Dumbledore nodded sagely.

"Yes, you do. The battle is just beginning." He said cryptically as he slowly exited the churchyard, leaving the rusty gate to swing open creakily in the wind. Harry looked at the mound of dirt, at the unmarked stone.

"I'll come back for you, Severus. Mark my words, I'm going to bring you back." He said softly under his breath, turning slowly and leaving to catch up to Dumbledore.

By the time Harry reached the school, his mind was so heavy with thoughts that he thought the weight would surely split his skull in two. Dumbledore suggested he go to his dorm and sleep on it, he'd have a house elf bring him up some dinner and a cup of hot chocolate later.

Harry took his advice, climbing the stairs to the Gryffindor tower and entering his empty dormitory. He was grateful for the solitude. His spirits dampened considerably when he saw the package. He didn't feel like facing whatever was in the box, but he found himself pulling the curtains of his bed and sinking into the privacy it offered, his fingers gently tearing the paper.

When he opened the cardboard box, he was surprised at what he found. A rather thin, large leather book, a smaller book consisting of rough paper with a plain black, leather cover, and a tiny velvet box. With trembling hands he pulled out the larger book first. He opened it slowly, to see a piece of parchment tucked inside that looked like it had been read and re-read many times before. It was a letter, apparently from Severus, addressed to him.

Dear Harry,

If you are reading this, chances are I will not be there to flip through this scrapbook with you. It is mostly of myself when I was younger, a few before then and some when I was an adult. After what I did to you, I know you probably could care less, but for some reason it seemed right that I have Dumbledore pass it along to you. The second book is one that could prove to be extremely dangerous if it fell in the wrong hands. It is my personal journal, and also has many of my own potion spells. The content inside is strictly for your eyes only. I trust no one else to see the potion recipes, or to read my thoughts. I don't even want Dumbledore to look at this. Please respect me in this. You might be tempted to use some of the potions contained, but I literally beg you not to. I will take a risk and hope that your honor will not allow you to misuse this information. Do not read the latter pages until you have had a chat with Dumbledore. I'm sure he has several things to explain to you before most of my ramblings towards the end will make any sense.

As for the last item, it is merely something of sentimental value. It is something that belonged to me during my school days at Durmstrang that was charmed by Voldemort upon my entrance into the circle of Deatheaters. Though I am not proud of my time serving him, I have always kept this and worn it constantly. It has various magical properties that I'm sure you'll find useful. Don't get into too much trouble with it though, and for God's sake don't try and use it on Dumbledore. He sees right through it, as I found out the hard way. His 'special magic' eventually made him immune to it.

And now for the difficult part. Enjoy this, because it is probably the closest you will ever come to getting a love letter from me. I never meant any of the things I told you. Trust me, if it were merely my job standing between us, I would have quit immediately. But, you and I both know that there is so much more that divides us. Your friends, teachers…and yes, most certainly Black, would not understand. I cannot let you give all that up just for me. You have a bright future ahead of you, one that you will use to do many wonderful things for the wizarding world. It is better that I am no longer holding you back. You will find happiness again, I am certain of it. You must promise me that you will let the past remain in the past and let whatever feelings you harbor for me, if any at all, be buried with me. But know this. I loved you more than I have ever loved anything or anyone, but I do not deserve love from such a pure heart. Give your gold to someone more worthy, but don't forget me. I hope that I have taught you something that will come in handy. Merlin only knows how difficult it was to cram some semblance of intelligence into a Gryffindor, but I think that you will do quite well in the world.

You will always have my love,

Severus Snape

If the letter had not been his undoing, the scrapbook was. The first picture was of a small boy, not a day over eight, with a quiet smile and intelligent eyes. Even then his hair was shoulder length and blacker than onyx, yet he seemed so soft and innocent that it drove Harry to cry even harder. As the pages turned, the boy became a man. Most of the pictures were of Severus at what must have been Durmstrang. In the pictures he was sometimes smirking rather devilishly, other times actually smiling. His friends looked to be as dangerous as he was beginning to seem, but Harry could see that they were a thick group of boys, possibly very much like the Marauders he had heard so much about. Severus' mother must have compiled the thin scrapbook, because the captions underneath were written in a woman's handwriting. It also seemed like the kind of thing she might do; knowing what Harry had learned about her from Dumbledore. He looked at each photograph as though it were a precious, precious jewel. He ran his fingers over each frame, and read each caption several times. Towards the back of the book, the pages were empty. There was only one picture stuck in the pages that looked as though it was of Severus during his days at Hogwarts. He didn't look happy by any stretch of the imagination. He was scowling fiercely, arms crossed, eyes refusing to look at the camera. Harry didn't know who had taken the picture, but it had obviously been against Severus's will. From that point on there were no more captions and few pictures. In fact, it was mainly newspaper clippings. Most of them mentioned some new potion Severus had come up with that had aided the magical world. There were ten or twelve newspaper clippings all mentioning various accomplishments. Harry closed the scrapbook, setting it to one side. He wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at the journal. He didn't know if he could handle any more emotional discoveries. He bypassed the journal for the small velvet box. Severus had told him it had magical properties, that could possibly get him in trouble, and his curiosity was heightened. He flipped open the small box to stare at what appeared to be a small medallion. Two thin, circular pieces of metal were attached together. Around the edges of the medallion were ancient looking writings, and in the center was the mark of the Deatheater. On the back a glittering emerald snake lay coiled, with the words 'United by Blood' written in a half moon under it.

Without thinking, Harry slid it over his head. The minute he did the snake on the back let out a loud hissing that he immediately understood.

"You are not Severus." It said simply in an angry hiss.

"No. I'm Harry. Severus gave this to me. He's dead now." Harry replied in the serpentine tongue. The snake coiled over the medal and stretched out again.

"Ah, yes. Harry Potter. I know all about you. Don't you remember? Severus was wearing me when he kissed you for the first time. I was there when you made love…when he left you. But I have been in darkness for what seems like ages. What has become of Voldemort?" The emerald snake questioned quietly.

"I defeated Voldemort." Harry told it, anxious to befriend the little enchanted snake that knew so much about his lover.

"Severus and I suspected you would. I am glad that he is gone, but sad that my old friend is as well. He could understand me because of the enchantments Voldemort placed on me. Do you have any idea what I can do?" The small serpent asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"No…what can you do?" He hissed back.

"As you can see, I am made of two metal plates joined. Turn the Deatheater mark one full turn counter-clockwise." Harry did so, a surprised sound coming from his mouth when he saw he was no longer visible.

"You can make me invisible too!" Harry exclaimed. The snake made a laughing noise.

"Ah yes…the Invisibility Cloak. I suppose my next trick will have to be more novel. All right, I have one in mind. Turn the Deatheater three times around clockwise." Harry quickly obliged. "Now get off the bed and jump…though be careful not to hit your head." The snake advised. Harry felt a bit silly, but he crouched down and jumped…shocked when he easily defied gravity and barely avoided protecting his head from colliding with the ceiling. As though he weighed only a feather, he began to slowly float down. When he wished to be on the ground, his weight gradually increased until he could control the speed of his descent.

"That's wicked!" He exclaimed with amusement.

"Quite." The serpent replied sounding slightly bored. "Severus was a spy for Voldemort while he was a student here. Voldemort enchanted me so that I could aid him in his spying. Using that trick, he could jump from windows, make quick escapes…you name it." Harry eagerly held the medallion up in front of him.

"What else can you do?" Harry asked, smiling for the first time in what felt like years.

"Turn my side one and half turns clockwise." He instructed. Harry suddenly blushed bright red when he saw that he could now see through every wall, every piece of furniture as he willed. He had a very clear view of Lavender in the shower. The blush quickly faded and his eyesight returned to normal.

"That doesn't help much…I don't really like girls." Harry replied. The snake chuckled.


"Neither did Severus…especially after that rather mortifying incident with Professor McGonagall." Harry found himself laughing in spite of the situation he was in. His new friend was everything he'd needed. He soon found himself reading the letter to the tiny snake, asking him about the pictures, questioning him about what was in the journal.

"I know all about my heart stone. I've been having this dream." Harry began. The snake, who had told him his name was Dante, listened attentively.

"Tell me what was in it." Dante instructed.

"I can see the Forbidden Forest. The trees are white and gold. Off to my right, I see a vast ocean and a hazy land far off in the distance. I'm in a grassy meadow, and Voldemort is in front of me lying dead. Then, this hand is on my shoulder and I hear this voice. I know it sounds odd, but I feel like I know this man, though he isn't Dumbledore. He asks me if I think someone's heart can be evil. I tell him that I think Voldemort's was. He then says something about evil intentions coming from the mind, and not the heart, and that I have a lot to learn. Then he's gone and I see this intense light erupting from Voldemort."

"The heart stone." Dante insinuated.

"Yes. It bursts out of him and is hanging over him. The voice tells me something like 'The choice has already been made, yet hasn't.' Then he tells me to find the questions I'm looking for and make my choice." Harry finished. Dante coiled and uncoiled a few times as though deep in thought.

"Your dream is full of hidden meanings. First of all, the trees were gold and white. White symbolizes embarking on a journey and gold is the finish, the last stage. This could mean you have finished one journey, but will soon start another. Perhaps referring to what will come after you have defeated Voldemort. The ocean and the distant land almost always mean that you are destined to travel someplace foreign to you. As for what the voice said, it is obvious he is telling you that the magic from the heart stones is not evil, even if the heart stone comes from Voldemort. That is a good lesson to learn. A person is never completely evil, because evil intentions come from the mind. A heart is incorruptible. With the right nurturing, a person can always change. Dumbledore taught that to Severus. So, the dream was trying to tell you that Voldemort's heart stone is not evil…why do you think that is?" Dante asked. Harry seemed to think hard about it.

"I…hmm…well, the only reason that comes to mind is that I have a kind of prejudice against evil magic and dark objects. I mean, they always lead to trouble. If I thought Voldemort's heart stone was evil, I wouldn't use it."

"So you think that the dream was telling you to use the stone." Dante summarized.

"So was the stone itself." Harry informed him.

"The stone? It spoke to you?" Dante asked surprised.

"Yes. Lupin has it in his classroom. He was letting everyone touch it and was telling the legend behind the stones. The entire time I could hear the stone whispering to me, telling me to use it. It…it said I could use it to bring back Severus." Harry added tentatively. Dante curled and uncurled in deep meditation.

"Let's organize what information we have. Tell me if I leave anything out. You had a dream prophesizing the discovery of Voldemort's heart stone. The dream tells you that the stone is not evil, even though Voldemort was. Then, Lupin shows you the stone and it talks to you, telling you to use it to wish back Severus." Dante summarized. "Now how did you come about getting me?" He asked.

Harry explained the visit to the grave and his confusing conversation with Dumbledore. Dante listened attentively, occasionally flicking his tail or stretching over the medallion.

"Dumbledore told me about Severus's past, and some other strange things. Then he told me why Severus had sacrificed himself for me. He thought it was because of the heart stone, and because of all the possibilities for my power. I like to think it was because he loved me. I don't think Dumbledore knows about our relationship." Harry paused for a moment, trying to think back. "And I figured out he has one too. Then he talked about how I'd been given a second chance at life, and that I shouldn't waste it being depressed." That was about the only thing I understood." Harry said dryly. "Sometimes I feel like Dumbledore answers your questions before you even ask them. A conversation with him always makes me feel like I've missed something." Harry confessed.

"Yes, Dumbledore is a master of his heart magic. He can read people like they were open books. Probably the only reason he never figured out the extent of you and Severus's relationship was the fact that you didn't want him to know. I have no doubt that you haven't been using your own heart magic without realizing it. Even you have to admit that you have uncanny good luck. Some of that might be you manipulating the magic forces around you through your stone. You see, Severus was quite interested in the stones. He knew all about them. In fact, he did most of his research on them for Voldemort. All his notes on the topic can be found if you perform a simple spell on his journal. He kept them hidden. He did not like the stone magic. He was firmly against Dumbledore using his. It's a long story that I don't know most of to explain his prejudice." Dante explained in a weary tone. Harry's eyes narrowed and something seemed to be clicking.

"I think…"He began as he got off his bed and went to the window, watching the drizzle of rain patter against the water-repellent spell that served in the place of glass. "I think we are on the fringe of something very big. It almost feels like a puzzle, and I think I have another piece. In fact…when I concentrate hard enough…it's almost like I can see the whole picture…" Harry rambled, his eyes squinting against the rising moon. Dante remained quiet, letting him think his way through it. "In his letter, Severus told me not to use some of the information I might find in his journal. I bet you anything he was referring to his notes on the stones. He doesn't want me to use the magic of the stone…but," Harry paused and smiled slowly. "But Dumbledore does." He said as his smile grew even more. Dante could resist no longer.

"What do you mean?" He asked excitedly. He loved a good puzzle.

"At the graveyard, Dumbledore kept saying how I had all the components inside me to be a dark wizard, but he went on to say that I chose the right path. He then said something like, 'What if someone like Voldemort was given another chance?' But you see he wasn't talking about Voldemort at all. He was speaking of Severus. Dumbledore doesn't have any qualms about using heart magic. He thinks that the time Severus spent serving Voldemort was a waste. He was telling me that Severus had the chance to make the decision all over again, he might be able to do amazing things for the wizarding world. It might even be that Severus has to be brought back to life because he was destined to invent something that would change the world. Dumbledore wants me to use the heart stone's power to give Severus the chance to choose a different path. For some reason, Dumbledore wants me to bring Severus back. I just know it. He was giving me his approval today, I just didn't know it yet." Harry explained. Dante was impressed.

"This is an interesting development. It would seem that everything is encouraging you to bring him back…except Severus." Dante stated. Harry looked at the glimmering medallion snake curiously.

"You knew him best. Why wouldn't he want me to bring him back?" Harry asked. Dante seemed to think about his answer for a few moments.

"It could be any number of reasons. Severus was a rather unhappy person as of late…even more so that usual. It could simply be that he no longer wishes to live. But, it could go deeper than that. Like I stated earlier, Severus dislikes the magic of the heart stones immensely. And, even though Dumbledore uses the magic all the time, I don't think he knows as much about them as Severus did. I don't know exactly why, but there has to be a secret Severus kept even from me. Some reason he doesn't want anyone to use the magic of the heart stones. This is definitely a puzzle, but it is one that cannot be solved unless you trust the signs around you. It is your decision. Think about it before you act. Bringing him back would cause an immense amount of trouble, but you'd have Dumbledore's help. No doubt the old nut bag has a plan in mind." Dante stated wisely. Harry sighed heavily and left the window, tucking the scrapbook into the safety of his trunk just as a soft knocking came from the door. Harry remembered the aforementioned house elf that would be delivering him dinner. Absently noting that he was in fact hungry, he opened the door and thankfully took the cart laden with scrumptious looking food. He would have at least an hour before the other boys returned to the dorm.

"I need to make my decision soon. Lupin won't keep that stone lying around in his office forever. I'm going to look over what Severus had to say about the stones, and then I'm going to decide." Harry spoke aloud. Dante nodded and yawned to emerald studded jaws.

"I suggest you use your own heart magic. I'm sure it will not fail to point you in the right direction." The snake suggested.

"I know what my heart is saying. But I have to at least try to understand why Severus was against it. It might have nasty side effects that only he had discovered." Harry commented. Dante agreed and gave him the spell to reveal the notes Severus had hid in his journal. As Harry ate, he skimmed the pages, Dante reading along as well.

"It is an incomplete potion…and it was written by him when he was much younger. I'd say when he was about seventeen or sixteen. I recognize the ink used. He only used green ink when he was at Hogwarts as a student." Dante informed. Harry ignored the strange quirk of his lover and continued his interpretation of the documents.

"This is all very sketchy. Half of it I can't even read, and none of it seems to suggest any reason why the magic is dangerous."

"Something must have happened to him. Something in his past that shunned him against it." Dante mused while Harry seemed to be absorbed in something.

"Dante…I've just thought of something." Harry spoke softly. "Severus did all this research for Voldemort around the time that I should have been born. Voldemort wanted to kill me…because I would be easy prey to get a stone from. Oh God." Harry said as tears clouded his eyes. "What if…what if Severus was the one that told Voldemort I had a stone? He…he might not have killed my parents if it wasn't for the research that Severus did." Dante was quiet for what seemed like an eternity.

"For all you know, it could have been Severus who killed your parents and tried to kill you. You knew he was a death eater. How can it be that you are just now realizing that Severus might have been directly involved with their deaths? He was Voldemort's favorite. You knew he had a past, yet you still loved him. Do not let emotion cloud your judgement. Who knows what all hinges on you bringing Severus back? Now is not the time to play the blame game." Dante hissed rather annoyed sounding. Harry shook his head, looking sickly and confused.

"I…I would never…I mean, I've moved past that…I think. I…I don't know anything anymore!" Harry finally stammered, yanking the medallion off his neck and throwing it on his bed, snatching his broom and running from the room.

Harry walked through the hallways rather aimlessly. He saw students passing him, some of them giving him strange looks. He gritted his teeth against the pain in his head and the general feeling of nausea in his stomach. He felt himself crying. Before he'd realized where he'd gone, he was standing outside Lupin's office, his broom in one hand and his wand in the other. Harry did not have to use his wand to open the door, as it swung open before he even touched it. For the first time Harry was consciously using his heart magic, letting it pull him towards Voldemort's stone.

The classroom was dark and empty. Harry was breathing heavily, one hand gripping the doorframe as he slumped against it, not sure what was going on anymore. It felt as though his very heart was being forced to cease beating. With an amazing crash Lupin's desk drawer ricocheted backwards, the metal box flying into the air. The lock melted into liquid and dripped to the ground, the box shakily levitating towards Harry. He whimpered in pain, though at the moment it was strangely comforting, and extended a hand. The box flew open and the stone tumbled out. It fell dangerously low to the ground before Harry growled in frustration and it speedily came to his outstretched hand. Harry's skin was blazing; the green stone lit with an unnatural glow. Harry felt his heart literally pounding against his rib cage like some frenzied animal. He knew he was overexerting himself, but he wanted it out! He wanted it to be spent! He wanted some kind of release from the fucking pressure!

How he made it to a door leading outside, he didn't quite know. But he mounted his broom and was gone into the rainstorm, letting the pulsing energy of the stones lead him to his destination.

Rain poured from the threatening clouds, drenching the tiny graveyard. Harry had been flying so long he'd lost track of time, going continuously at top speed. When he'd reached the spot, he collapsed in relief and weariness. His broom went rolling as he collided with the ground outside the churchyard gate. He lay in the rain, the cold, soggy grass crushed under his weight. His hand never released its death grip on the verdant green stone. He began to sob, unsure why he was so lost and confused. All he knew was that he needed Severus more than he had ever needed him. He wanted him to slowly fuck him. He needed to be held in his God's arms and sheltered. He would slowly die if he didn't touch him again.

And he was angry. With each shaky step he made towards Severus's grave, the angrier he became with Voldemort for taking his last refuge from him. By the time he was kneeling in front of the morbid stone cross, the muddy dirt of the grave sliming against his skin as he placed the stone under the grave marker, he was such a jumble of anger and confusion that he would later remember nothing of the night. In fact, he did not realize when he began enchanting ancient magic in a tongue long dead. When the pounding rain became swirling green mist, he was not aware. And finally, as the air became thick with magic waiting to be used, Harry let out his plea.

"Give Severus another chance…another chance to choose to live a good life!" He called into the night with wild desperation.

And with this fervent cry, a young man of seventeen with shoulder length black hair and pale skin materialized in the graveyard.

~ Hogwarts Dropout

(Keepers do it in the air, Reviewers do it in the box)