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Chapter 3
The Last Time I Saw Your Face
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Professor Dumbledore stood behind Harry Potter and Rebecca Jameson, who were from the Ministry of Magic, as they looked down inside a massive whole in the ground that was located just outside the Forbidden Forest. They were here under a secret Investigation for Dumbledore, sent by the Hogwarts former Deputy Mistress, who was now the Minister of Magic. Albus and Minerva still saw each other as often as their duties allowed, and Minerva happily had applied to Albus' request for a second inquiry at this spot. The reason? Eleven years ago to this day, the staff and students lost one of their own in the final battle against Voldermort. Professor Severus Snape had been missing from the Castle for hours that day, and it had been Hermione that had sensed a powerful magic going on close by. She had dragged Harry and Ronald Weasley out to this clearing only to arrive in time to see Severus get struck by the killing curse as he had casted Voldermort into the next dimension.
The only thing that had been left of the evil Wizard and the former Death Eater had been this large hole in the ground. Hermione had been completely devastated. She had screamed and cried for Severus Snape for several weeks later. It wasn't until near Graduation that Ron had been able to knock the sense back into their Best Friend. Hermione had slowly came back to life and reviled in knowing that they had finally rid the world of Voldermort forever with the rest of them. All thanks to one man.
After Graduation, Ron and Hermione had finally decided to explore the feelings that had been growing between them the last few years, before she had fallen in love with Severus, and he had started seeing Emily. They quickly realized they were in love and married after Hermione completed a one year University program for Teaching. Their young son had been born when Hermione had been still in School. They had named him William after Ron's oldest brother who had died early in the war, and also after Severus. William Severus Weasley would be later joined in the world by a younger sister, but the baby had died in it's sleep one year later while Ron had been away with Harry at a Quidditch game in east London. Harry would never forget the look in Ron's eyes after he'd gotten the call about young Elizabeth. Ron had never stopped hating himself to this day for not being there for Hermione. It had placed a unrepairable damage to the Weasley marriage that had never fully recovered. Harry sometimes thought they only stayed together now for young Will's sake.
Harry smiled as he thought of his God son. Young William would be eleven soon and about to start his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in one week. Also Hermione would be happy in having her Son finally at the School with her and Ron fulltime. Hermione was the Potions Master after Snape had passed on, and Ron had become the fulltime Quidditch Instructor, passing placement on a National Team to be near Hermione, and be there more often for William.
"Um, Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked quietly, after standing up in the dark cold air from the large hole. "I don't see anything that could suggest anything strange. This place hasn't sang of Dark magic since Lucius Malfoy had been put away in Azkaban."
"That's not what I was hoping you and Rebecca could tell me, Harry," Albus Dumbledore replied softly, and then looked to Harry and the young woman.
"What were you wanting us to look for then, Professor?" Rebecca asked. Her dark eyes seemed to glow in the night sky along with her perfect dark skin.
"I have reason to suspect that Severus Snape may still be alive and will be joining us again before the term begins."
Harry just stared gaping at Dumbledore.
"Sir, I don't understand. Professor Snape is dead."
"Come inside my office and I will explain." Dumbledore said.
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- I'm so sorry for taking so horribly long with this Chapter. I've been very sick lately with a terrible cold and it's been horrible on my writing time. Also I'm sorry that Severus wasn't in this one like I promised but I couldn't fit him in yet. :P I tried, believe me. I couldn't just work anything out. But he will be in the next one for certain. ;) Thank you for your time and for reading this. :)
