Bring Me To Life : A Continuation
by I Got Tired of Waiting

Part I : The Past to the Present
Closets, Minds, and Other Things Out Of Which One Comes

Harry's research into light-forms and music over the previous twenty years, while interesting in its own right, had only been done to mark the time until Severus was ready and willing to give up his position. And while he'd been ready to move on many years ago, he never forced the issue, knowing Severus had not yet finished his plans for expanding the school and securing their successors.

So he waited, his obscure efforts aimed solely at sustaining Severus and growing his own plans for their final years together without all the draining distractions of their current life. Despite Severus' claims about his impatience, Harry was actually quite good at waiting. It was all relative; Severus had waited over a century, Harry just barely managed the twenty years.

Careful, Severus. You're paying more attention to me than your speech. That's the third time you've stopped and graced the thin air with your keen, penetrating wit and talent.

And who says I'm thinking of you, you conceited, limelight-seeking brat? At Harry's appreciative chuckle, he added, Ah, the advantages of old age. I'm beginning to understand why Albus decided to live so long. Certain... peculiarities... are hidden quite well in the speculations of senility. I'm just softening them up. By the time I get done with this, they'll be happy to hear my announcement.

Our announcement. And since when did you start using so many Muggle expressions? You used to hate them. In fact, I seem to recall your infamous diatribe: 'How Ever Did the Muggles Rise from the Mud?'

Well, erm, I sometimes find their loquacity... Oh never mind, and returning to the last part of his speech, Severus wrapped it up.

It was over. The conflicts, the suffering, the wild excitement, the dullness of routine, the swinging cycles of good and bad, black and white. Ended were the times when all their efforts were directed for the good and benefit of others. Severus' plans were now complete and no longer needed his guiding hand to keep them moving and growing.

Now it's our time, he thought with unexpected pleasure and customary impatience. Our quiet island, the library we've been building all these years, my research, and Severus' plans for explorations. Ah, I can't wait!

Now seated with the rest of the staff while listening to a short speech from one of his many well-wishers, Severus glanced over at Harry, secret amusement shining in his eyes as he caught the gist of Harry's thoughts. Patience, my love, has always been my virtue, not yours.

Harry raised an eyebrow at that, looking incredulously at his lover. Oh? And who is the impetuous one? Not me! he shot back.

Hmm--I seem to recall a certain person playing with their wand while reading a spell. Seems to me that's what got us into this mess in the first place. His eyes danced.

I think we've clearly established that that was thoughtlessness, not impetuosity. You're the one who went along with it and escalated it. And I might add, recently shot several bottles of Champagne all over our guests...?

Touché! Do you think we need to teach them the cleaning spell? Severus chortled, highly amused.

Quiet, you insolent... Potions master!

Imbecilic student!

Sniping Snape!

Potty Potter! Severus sent with a chuckle.

Mine... sent gently with a sweet mental caress.

Mine... a tender whisper imparted with a tender touch.

Harry would have responded, but his more personal thoughts were cut short as hundreds of shouting voices joined to wish Severus a Happy One-hundred and Tenth Anniversary as headmaster of Hogwarts. As Harry added his discreet applause to the raucous merriment, the quiet part of him commemorated with bittersweet memories a very different occasion, for today also marked the day of Albus Dumbledore's death.

I know. I miss him, too. Severus held out his hand to Harry. Come. Join me up here; this day is as much yours as mine.

With a noiseless sigh, Harry stood and walked away from his obscurity, hating the knowing looks he received from some in the audience. As he reluctantly joined Severus on the dais, he sought the comfort of his friends' encouraging faces before turning to regard his husband. Satisfied? he asked with wry amusement, his eyes fixed on Severus' face.

Barely. If I have to suffer, so do you, Severus replied, giving him a half-smile.

"They're at it again," Ron murmured into Hermione's ear, his beard tickling her.

"So I see. Still, it's good to see them together. They're still so reserved in public," she whispered back, liking the way his whiskers caressed her cheek.

"Do they have much choice?" His face softened. "I wish Draco were here to see this," Ron whispered, "he would have known how to distract the nay-sayers."

She chuckled, "Of that, I have no doubt. But Harry will think of something. I hear he has something special planned for tonight."

As if her words were his cue, Harry moved his arms gracefully over his head, the fingers fully extended, facing his unruly silver hair. His lips moved in the whispered cadence of a long complicated spell. The crowd grew quiet, eyes fixed on him. He rotated his wrists so his palms faced the audience; without breaking the rhythm of his spell, he brought his hands down slowly, palms facing the floor until they reached waist-level. Abruptly closing them into fists, he twisted his wrists and arms to face upward and, flinging his fingers wide open, released the spell, "Lumos Severus".

The audience gasped as every light in the Great Hall extinguished as if snuffed, the lingering scent of hot wax and smoke the only things sensed in the darkened chamber. Drooping slightly from the enormous effort of casting the difficult spell, Harry took Severus' hand, entwining their fingers.

I hope you like this, he thought as streams of light began to flicker at odd intervals. In ever increasing numbers, they swirled in coloured arcs, dancing across the room in time to a simple tune, which soon became a haunting melody making their hearts soar. Pulsing, weaving, joining, separating, the streamers came more frequently until the smiling faces of the room's occupants were lit by the glowing strands of flickering light. Smiles of child-like pleasure, for the magic of light was the first to be learned and the hardest to master.

Harry was such a master and could make the light dance to any tune he desired. And he desired Severus. He had painted this portrait of his lover, the complex weavings of light and sound reflecting the complex nature of the man to whom he was bound. The sensual, yet sometimes violent joinings and separations of colour, light, and harmony were a delightful recreation of their moments of passion. Each pattern, each dance, composed a symphony to the joys of living with Severus. The whole was one of exquisite beauty. The spinning strands and breath-taking notes crescendoed in an explosion of light, light so white and pure it took their breath away, pulsing ever brighter until, as one, they were forced to close their eyes, the afterimage burned into their eyelids, the music in their souls. And then, once again there was darkness and the song ended as a dim echo, leaving them aching for its loss.

In rapid succession, the floating candles lit till the room resumed its former brightness. Their separate hearts still beating as one in time with the symphony's fading pulse, the crowd stood in silent wonder for a few heartbeats before exploding into wild applause for such a masterful performance.

Without thought, Severus tightened his hold on Harry's hand. Speechless for once, his eyes brimmed with the emotion he'd never shown for Harry in public before. But Severus wasn't aware of the people surrounding them; he saw only Harry. He'd felt the love, the passion his husband had poured into the work and, responding with a fervour all his own, he harshly buried his hand in Harry's hair, pulled him close, and let his lips speak into Harry's the words he couldn't find to tell him how much the gift had meant to him. How much Harry meant to him.

The crowd silenced, stunned as Severus finally, after more than a century, publicly declared his deep, abiding devotion and commitment to Harry, his husband.

After an instant of forever, Severus ended the kiss and the embrace. Staring into Harry's eyes, their hands entwined, he murmured, "So beautiful." Volumes spoken, Harry gazed back, green eyes to black. He looked down and said nothing.

Releasing Harry, but not his hand, the daunting silence slowly touched Severus' awareness. He sighed. Well... That was one of my more brilliant moves. Seems we made a quite a spectacle, he thought ruefully. Are you all right?

Chuckling quietly, Harry squeezed his hand. Oh, yes. Quite fine. Better than fine. Spectacular comes to mind, he replied, his lips still burning from the kiss. Well, at least we gave them something real to talk about this time. Harry's internal chuckle reached him the same time as his thought.

Think we'll get some tasteful jokes out of this one?

Not a chance!

They both smiled.

"Now that we have your undivided attention... I have an announcement to make." Severus' eyes swept the uneasy crowd. With a dramatic sweep of his arm, he declared, "I am retiring as Headmaster of Hogwarts."

He patiently allowed the low buzz of comments to rise to a steady murmur. Still gripping Harry's hand, he raised his free hand for silence. Getting it, he continued, "As this anniversary indicates, I've been here for far too many years. Now that our world is fairly secure, it's time for me to step down. My portrait's painted and I'm ready to hang it on the wall of some obscure back hallway we've not yet opened." He grew solemn and all of his hundred and forty-nine years showed in his face. "I grow tired. I... We have earned the rest." His hand squeezed Harry's almost painfully.

"However, we leave the school in capable hands. The Board of Governors has approved our choice of replacement. Colin Longbottom is the new Headmaster of Hogwarts." He waited for the cries of surprise to die. "As you know, Colin has been the Deputy Headmaster and Potions master at Hogwarts for the last twenty years and the Head of Slytherin House for the past ten. The Wards have been transferred to his control. Colin will make an excellent headmaster and we wish him all the best in the coming years."

Amidst enthusiastic applause, Colin soon found himself the centre of a large group of well-wishers. Severus snorted at the display.

Behave yourself, Harry chided him for the umpteenth time.

Never! Where would be the fun in that? he shot back.

Sighing with the ease of long practice, Harry shook his head and thought, Shall we make our graceful exit?

While I would dearly love to stay to listen to the sycophantic whinging of drooling well-wishers... Quick, before they remember we're here.

Harry rolled his eyes. Severus smirked, raising an eyebrow. Departing the dais, they walked towards the doors of the Great Hall, still unconsciously hand-in-hand, the crowd parting for them but otherwise leaving them alone. However, near the doors, Ron and Hermione stopped them.

"Well, we almost made a clean get-away," Harry murmured.

Glancing at Hermione, he looked significantly at Ron, and then back to Hermione. She shrugged and looked away. Not good then, he thought, feeling a little sad. She turned to glare at him fiercely and he understood. I won't say anything, he spoke with his eyes. She nodded, satisfied.

"Not so fast, you two. You're not sneaking away without saying good night to us first," Ron said with a mock growl.

"Oh shave it, Weasley," Severus said severely. "I thought we were eating breakfast together tomorrow morning."

"Oh, we are," Hermione replied. "But we wanted to wish you both a happy anniversary." She smiled. "Your other anniversary."

"Ah, yes," Harry said smugly, thinking of their 'celebration' two nights before, "that one."

"Here," Ron said, holding out a largish package.

Looking at Severus for confirmation, which he got along with a more normal snide comment, he said to Ron and Hermione, "Come. Join us in our rooms where we can be private."

"All right, lead the way," Hermione said with a soft laugh.

Don't we always? Severus commented as they slowly walked to their quarters.

After settling down with warm snifters of old brandy Severus had acquired in their travels together, they finally relaxed from what had been a long and tiring day. Severus made the comment that the brandy, though old, was younger than he was.

"Think they'll miss us?" Harry asked.

"Not with the Forget-Me-Please charm I cast before we left. One of the more useful things Albus taught me," Severus replied with a small smile.

"Here, you can open this now," said Ron, rising painfully from the old love seat and handing Severus the large package.

Setting his snifter on the table by his side, Severus took the package with a nod of thanks and began removing the paper wrapping. Harry leaned over to get a better look at the book revealed under the plain brown paper. Severus reverently ran his hand over its fine old leather. At his touch, letters flowed across the cover, "Memories Our ."

Mystified, Harry touched the cover and other words filled the gaps, " Of Life."

"Memories of Our Life," Harry read aloud. He looked at Ron and Hermione. "A memory book? Thank you so much!"

"Yes, and you're most welcome. It took us forever to gather all the photos and I went to Diagon Alley several times to find the book we wanted; it's very old."

"Older than me?" Severus chuckled. "Must be positively ancient, then."

They turned the pages and were greeted by wizard photos of Ron, Hermione, and Harry at school along with Draco and even one of Snape, the Potions master, with green slime dripping off his hooked nose.

"Good thing Creevey's not here right now," Severus growled watching a glob of slime fall off the ceiling onto his photo head. "What a scowl! I must practice that more often. Might have come in handy last month with the Board of Governors," he said, his face scrunching up into a ridiculous parody of the expression he'd often worn at the time. The others laughed uproariously at the sight.

Still wearing the scowl, he somehow made himself look like Lukas Peabody, the current Minister of Magic, a 'righteous moralist' and one of their worst detractors over the years; it had been he--as then Director of the Hogwarts Board of Governors--who had required the Weasleys' Custos Morum when they'd adopted Lenore. Severus hated him and would rant at length about how very much he missed Cornelius Fudge, who'd been merely an idiot and Arthur Weasley, who'd been a prince.

"Now Severus, I'll have no more of your--unnatural--practices," he snarled in an uncanny imitation of Peabody's pernickety, nasal voice, "We must set a 'good example' for the children, of course. I must insist that you and Mr Potter reside in separate quarters for the duration of the term."

Stopping mid-laugh, Harry stared at Severus, his jaw hanging open, feeling the strong latent anger under Severus' imitation of the Minister. Trying to lighten the mood, he exclaimed, "He didn't? Oh Merlin, what did you tell him?"

Severus struck a pose, like he was behind his desk, the whitened knuckles of his folded hands the only indicator of how furious he'd been. "I told him, 'The only unnatural thing I see here is a prick hiding behind his verbal cajones. Separate quarters? Absolutely not! We are most discreet while out in the student body, but what we do with each other's bodies is of our own concern. Now, butt out of my private life; I can only handle one arsehole at a time.'"

Three pairs of rounded eyes gazed back at him. Harry was the first to recover, his body twitching as he fell back on the sofa, arms clutching his stomach, legs on the floor, as he writhed with the force of his silent laughter. Ron and Hermione were in no better condition, both desperately trying to gulp in air, their faces turning purple.

Severus sat there, a small smile of satisfaction brightening his austere face.

Harry let out a humph of air before settling back helpless in his peals of laughter, his hand on Severus' arm. Severus' mouth began to twitch, his perspective restored and within moments, the four of them were belly-laughing.

"Oh god--oh my god--oh my," Ron chuffed. "Oh, gods, a moment worthy of Draco."

"No," huff, "Draco--would--have--been--more--graphic," Hermione finally gasped out.

Their laughter increased and then faded until they were reduced to quiet chuckles and low hiccups. Ron pointed at the book still in Severus' lap. "Keep going," he commanded loftily.

Severus raised one sardonic brow at him, but complied. The next photos were of Severus and Harry including one from their wedding.

"Where did you find this?" Severus queried, his eyes fixed on the photo of the two of them, the cord wrapped around their hands during their binding. Albus beamed at them benevolently, his hands on theirs. Harry was gazing longingly at Severus whose half-lidded eyes devouring Harry's was the only indication of how much control he'd been exerting at the time. He remembered that moment with a slight shiver of distaste at the compulsion they'd been under. He much preferred the chosen loving than the coerced. Were we ever that young? he asked himself.

Ron told him it had been found a few months ago in the Dumbledore Archives. "When the curator would neither give nor sell it to me, I took it upon myself to--liberate--it from the collection." Ron stated proudly.

"In other words, you stole it," Harry said with a grin.

"That's such an ugly term; I prefer 'returning it to its rightful owners', myself."

"He stole it," Severus said to Harry with a laugh.

Subsequent pages were eagerly turned and shared.

When they came to the photo of a champagne-soaked Ron from this evening and one of a triumphant Severus, Harry asked them, "How ever did you get these in here so quickly?"

"Dennis took the pictures with that self-developing film you designed and he gave us the pictures as we were leaving to intercept you. Hell, he's been combing through his brother's photos for months for us. The rest, as they say, was magic," Ron replied on a laugh.

Severus turned the page to the last picture in the book. It was on a page by itself and was of them locked in their timeless embrace at the end of the Lightspell. Their intimate stance bespoke their long-shared passion as their bodies pressed close, and love shone on their lined faces. As they broke apart, eyes to eyes, hand to hand, the wonder and joy of their devotion glowed from their very skin.

Harry gently ran his finger over the photo as it began to cycle a second time. "So that's what we look like now," he said softly, a catch in his voice. "Not so much different than what we were, then," he slowly finished, turning back to their bonding picture.

"Don't go soft on me now, boy," Severus said, hoarsely.

Harry chuckled, "Quiet, You Slippery Snake Oil Salesman."

On a laugh: "Graceless Bludger Fodder."

Spoken harshly: "Snape."

Growled: "Potter."

"Mine," rumbled so softly no one else but Severus heard.

On a whisper: "Mine."

Clear dark eyes locked with misty green and then closed. Lips joined, their memories and minds fused into one. The spell chose its own moments.

Noticing their preoccupation, Ron and Hermione talked of other matters, giving them their privacy. When it became apparent they might not ever stop, Hermione nodded to Ron, indicating they should either end it or else quietly leave.

Ron chose to stay. Looking around the living room, everywhere but at them, he spied the boxes still awaiting transport and, clearing his throat loudly, broke the moment. "So, when are you leaving?"

Startled, Harry and Severus pulled apart abruptly but still sat cosily next to each other on their old, beloved sofa. By unspoken agreement, Severus set the book and wrappings aside and, taking a deep breath to steady him, answered, "Harry leaves tomorrow morning with the bulk of our personal belongings. After I brief Colin and Dana, I'll follow in the afternoon with the rest of the library and my own personal items."

He paused and picked up the snifter, "We transferred the Wards over to Colin and Dana yesterday. You might have felt the rumblings. It was most upset that Harry is leaving," he said with considerable understatement.

"I do not intend to spend my last days in this castle," Harry mumbled crossly. With a shake, he continued, "The bloody thing just didn't want to let go. I think it got too cosy over the years. With all the extra wards, and the expansion to Hogsmeade, and the Draconus Wards, its bond with us just kept getting deeper and deeper. One would think the bloody thing was married to us or something."

Severus started at that statement as did Ron and Hermione. "I'd never thought of it that way, but you may be closer to the truth than you think. Even now I can still feel part of the castle through you. Are we certain we transferred all the control over to them?" Severus asked.

What a disconcerting thought. Hogwarts and Hogsmeade were totally dependent on the Wards protecting them from Muggle discovery and if any small part was missing, the occupants would be vulnerable. What its collapse would mean to the rest of the Network was unthinkable.

Harry reached inside himself and Severus to feel the bond of both their relationship and their relationship with the castle. Finding nothing to disturb him, he shrugged. "No, I think we transferred full control. What I'm experiencing right now is almost like a memory, for lack of a better word, an afterimage of what we once shared with it," he finished, not quite certain he'd expressed it right.

Severus had taken his own hard look and as he caught the feeling Harry had, he nodded. "I concur. Control is definitely Colin and Dana's, although I'd not realised until now just how strong our bond was with the castle itself. I'm going to miss the ruddy thing."

Harry laughed at this, and said, "I know what you mean," as he stroked the hand entwined in his own.

Ron cleared his throat and they were suddenly aware of the others in the room. They'd forgot again for a moment. It happened often when they were alone with their friends, who tended to overlook the momentary lapses.

"I would like to propose a toast," Ron said suddenly, raising his snifter. When all had raised their drinks, he continued, "To old ties and new beginnings. To those we've lost and those we will meet, may our lives be as sweet as they have been today."

"To Albus and Lenore," Severus and Harry said together.

"To Draco," Ron and Hermione said in unison.

To this they saluted silently and drained their brandy.

Taking the book from Harry, Hermione flipped through their wedding pictures. "You two were lucky in a way. Only public opinion kept marriages like yours from being more common, whereas we had to fight the law to get married."

"Law and bloodlines, if I recall," Severus corrected with a smirk.

Hermione blushed. "Our law, your bloodlines--what a mess."

"We never decided who get the better end of the deal," Harry said, chuckling.

"I did!" Severus and Hermione exclaimed together.

Ron shook his head. "You're both daft. Harry, Draco, and I won."

Brow raised, Severus asked, "Oh? And how did you come to such an erroneous conclusion?"

"Easy," Ron replied, winking at Harry. "We didn't have to do anything but sit back and watch the two of you go at it."

Given the disdainful harrumph originating next to him and Hermione's squeak of outrage, Harry wisely swallowed his laughter.

TBC