Serpentigena

Chapter 11: Hello

It rained the day of Josephine's funeral.

Snape felt that it was fitting. He didn't mind the wet in the least as he stood by Neville Longbottom and Dumbledore as the coffin was lowered into the snug embrace of the earth. It meant that the horrible band that the Ministry usually sent to play at this sort of funerals couldn't be there, and the only sound was the murmur of the minister and the soft patter of rain as it hit the grass and the sharper plinks as it hit the black coffin. He didn't cry, much to Neville's disgust, but he bowed his head to pray, something Severus Snape loathed. He hated religion: it gave him no comfort. Remus Lupin had also put in an appearance, more for Neville's sake than anything. Harry Potter stood near Lupin, his face unreadable.

Once they had thrown in their handfuls of dirt, the men turned to go. Harry left for his apartment in Diagon Alley, Neville and Remus went to their adjacent flats in Godric's Hollow. Dumbledore and Snape got back in the carriage to go to Hogwarts.

Albus Dumbledore knew better than to try and comfort his colleague; he knew that while some considered Snape unbalanced or uncaring, the man was in firm control of his emotions. The Headmaster was certain that this sorrow would soon pass.

Snape stared out the window as the graveyard workers placed the headstone. It read in simple letters:

Josephine

1984? -2003

The rounded curve at the top of the stone was etched with roses, and at the base, nearly under the earth, was a cauldron at full boil. Snape watched it until the carriage pulled away, getting back to Hogwarts in a scarily short time.

Neville was waiting for him in the Potion's dungeon. Snape was dully surprised at his face. It was no longer round and scared-looking, but hardened.

"Professor Snape," Neville said, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "You knew."

"Knew what?" Snape asked wearily.

"Knew that she would kill herself."

"I did," he replied. All he wanted was a long sleep without dreams. When would this boy leave? A trace of his old haughtiness crept back into his stature. "Is that all?"

"No," Neville said. His blue eyes were steady. Something had replaced the sadness in his eyes—was it anger or hope? "I want you to help me get my parents back."

Snape had to think for a few seconds before the names of the two Aurors came to him. "Marcus and Jolene? Shit, boy!" he snapped. "Don't you think I've tried? I've tried and failed many, many times." He threw his hands up in a hopeless gesture. "I would if I could, but I can't, so get out. I'm tired."

Neville smiled and held up a tattered notebook covered from edge to edge in a cramped but precise script. "Josephine didn't leave us with nothing," he said a little wickedly, openly enjoying this advantage over his once feared Potions Master. "I found several recipes of her own design that may work."

The older man scrubbed at his eyes, raked a hand through his hair, and glanced once more at the notebook. "How did you get that?"

The young man shrugged. "It's not important. Will you help me?"

Snape growled and jerked open the door to his office. "If I must. Get out." Neville smiled and bowed half-mockingly, then left, his walk strangely self-assured. "Stupid boy," Snape muttered, but his heart wasn't behind it. "Melted more cauldrons than half the world combined." And improved the most of any student I've ever taught. Mildly disturbed by that thought, Snape went into his office to sleep it off.

--

Jolene still had a young face, though her hair was almost entirely white. She opened her eyes with a gasp, looked at Neville and asked huskily, "Son?"

Author's Note: This is the end. I think. Anyway, there may be a sequel, but only if I'm as crazily motivated as I was for this one. I'm thinking possibly a future Neville story because I kind like where it's going, but every time I try to add something to this chapter, it comes out screwy. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. And I'm so glad that you made it through this far! Review please!

-Raquel