"I look stupid with this cane." Snape hissed under his breath as he limped towards the open door ceremony.
Sind Charlemagne rolled her eyes and reached over, taking his arm and helping him walk. "You look dignified."
"No, I look crippled." He countered, fighting against the uneasiness that was in his stomach. He had been to graduation services before, but for some reason, he didn't care to admit- this one he feared. He tugged on his collar and looked down distastefully at his navy robes. That were tailored to his body with prefect precision, down to the black gloves he wore and the boots that shined with pride. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, revealing his blind left eye and the scars that adorned it, proudly.
He felt at home in his own skin now, finally and he had always thought that once he donned the navy again, things would be whole within and without. He could not understand why he felt so disconnected now.
It took him a second to realize the cause, and it came, only as he walked closer to the Hogwart's graduating class. He realized how very much a part of his life Hogwarts had been. He felt slightly guilty now, having spent all his years longing for Hecate only to discover he had made a new home here and had loved it just as dearly.
But, he didn't regret his choice. For the first time in his life, he was everything everyone wanted him to be and more importantly, he was what he was and there was no mask to hide behind.
But there were still signs of war; Hogwarts itself was standing as proud and as untouched as it always had but it was colder now, distant. It no longer held the warmth and security that had once made it so beloved. Now it was something that seemed cruel at the worst, and very fragile at the best. It occurred to him now, that Hogwarts had been a refuge for so many, and would never be that again. Not to his generation or the next. For them, Hogwarts would be forever the place of death and the final battle that had marred everything. It was something that would be remembered as a tribulation few were prepared for and many failed.
As he walked closer, he could hear Professor McGonagall speaking in her low, lyrical voice. Dumbledore sat behind her, leaning heavily on Professor Lupin and looking like he was about to pass away at any moment. Snape felt a stab of pain as he saw his Headmaster suffer so, but knew he could do nothing to soothe the pain. Besides Lupin, Amissa Moon sat, her hand on his leg protectively. The other House Heads, Wyvern, Flitwick and Sprout were sitting on the other side of the podium, listening to Minerva speak. Off the platform, two Aurors flanked each side, standing proudly and erect. He spotted Sean, the Auror he had 'killed' that night years ago before the war was something real. Sean turned his eyes, meeting his eyes and nodding slightly in salute before looking straight ahead. On the other side, Sky Falls stood beside Desmond Moody.
Snape felt Charlemagne pull him into the empty chairs behind the students were the visitors were seated. He looked down at the rolls of assorted parents, family members and younger Hogwarts students before bowing quickly to Minister of Magic Byron and flashing a quick smile at Jamie. She smiled back at him, glanced at Sind and wiggled her eyebrows.
Snape laughed a little and reached up to fiddle with the necklace that hung around his neck. His slid his fingers over the St. Michael figure before leaning back and turning his attention to Minerva.
"…You were the best of us all, and the brightest generation I've ever had the privilege of teaching. Yours was a generation born into a great war, one that lived- and unfortunately fought- in a great struggle and that has made you a youth touched by fire. Yours is a terrible way to come of age but know that you have exceeded our every expectation of you, and that we have never been so proud. In closing, remember in the end all we have is each other, united for a better goal for all people. Thank you, all of you for all you have lost, and everything you have given us for this cost." She looked down and inhaled deeply. "And now, to those in attendance, I present to you, the graduating class of 1997."
Snape was certain he had never heard a more earth shattering cheer in his entire life and despite himself, he smiled and joined in. Besides him, Charlemagne was screaming at the top of her lungs and Jamie had gone as far as jumping on her chair.
A few shrieks burst through the festivities as the Weasley twins set off some firecrackers that turned into frogs. Snape stepped back as the children began to run into the visitors, milling around to say last goodbyes, thank family for coming and just celebrate after such a long time.
Snape walked towards the teachers, leaning heavily on his cane and smiling at weakly at them. Sprout saw him first and jumped off the stage to hug him. He laughed as he was passed from Sprout, to Sinistra, to McGonagall, finally landing in Moon's arms. He held Amissa for a long time, inhaling.
"Do you think he's proud of me?" He whispered into her ear.
Amissa smiled, "We all are."
"Auror at Arms Alexander Snape." Dumbledore called, nodding thoughtfully. "It has a nice ring to it."
"Thank you, Headmaster. I wish I could say that I am here on a purely social visit." Snape began formally. "But I'm here for Hecate."
Dumbledore's face paled suddenly. He stepped back as if some long buried nightmare came to his mind. "What has happened?"
"Happened?" Snape asked, playfully. "Headmaster, you're so insecure." He pulled out a stack of letters from inside his coat. "Acceptance letters from Hecate Academy, I'm to deliver them. If you'll excuse me.."
"Wait…I feel I should apologize, Severus." Albus said, quietly. "You see, I had always thought, secretly, that you had acted rashly, foolishly all these years. While I was certain you had suffered a great lost by losing your partner and his family, I never understood how you could have been so crushed to go to such ends." He looked down, as his voice broke. "But having lost Victoria and Aiden, my own family, now I get it. I understand." He looked up. "You can never let go. I get it now, I'm sorry."
Snape blinked, and nodded weakly. He put one arm around Albus and pulled him into a tight hug. For a long time, Snape just held him as Dumbledore cried, thankful he was finally able to return the favor. He waited till Albus had composed himself to pull away and whispered. "It doesn't stop hurting, but it'll get better. I promise."
"I believe you." Dumbledore whispered, before turning away and shaking Byron's hand.
Snape walked between the crowds delivering letters to students and glaring at them playfully as they turned and stared. Susan Bones jumped into his arms as he handed her the letter and kissed his cheek. He smiled weakly. "I'm proud of you, Little Day."
"I'm proud of you too." She whispered as she smiled, before running away to meet up with her friends.
He found Draco Malfoy sitting alone, staring at his diploma. Snape licked his lips as he walked forward, only to step back as Chandra Firestone appeared, Dora in hand and sat besides him. "Hello Draco," She whispered.
Draco didn't look up "Go away."
"I was hoping we could talk."
"Am I supposed to care?" He asked. "Do I know you?"
"No, but I know you. You're my nephew." Draco looked up, frowning. He glanced at the girl beside her and then looked back at Chandra. Chandra glanced at Snape for a split second before inhaling. "My name is Chandra, and I was married to Gideon Malfoy…your father's older brother. He died two weeks ago too."
"I'm named after Gideon." Draco said, quietly. He glanced at Snape who walked to them, placed the letter on Chandra's lap wordlessly then walked away. Draco inhaled and continued. "Who's that?"
"This is Dora. We adopted her last summer…"
Ron was looking up at Hermione from his place on bended knee and was stammering. In his hand was a simple ring box, and in it was an even simpler band. He was turning the color of his hair. "Well?" He demanded.
Hermione stared at Harry who had his arms folded and was waiting just like Ron was. She glared at him, and then back to Ron. "You two probably planned this all, you stupid boys!"
"I don't think she's going to say yes, Ron."
"Nonsense, of course I'm going to say yes!"
Ron blinked and stood. "Really?"
"Why wouldn't I? I love you!"
Snape groaned as he approached. "The romance is too much."
Harry looked up, and blinked. He took a step back, uncertainly. "Professor Snape?"
"Where you expecting the tooth fairy, Mr. Potter?" Snape asked, quietly.
Hermione was staring at him in a way that made Snape uncomfortable. She ran her eyes over his body uncertainly before musing. "You look hot, Professor." She looked at Ron. "What? It's true…"
"…okay, no." Snape shivered, and straightened. "This is for you, Mr. Weasley."
Ron smiled as he ripped open the letter. "I made it, Harry! I'm an Auror! I made it!" He jumped up and grabbed Hermione into a tight hug, before reaching out and taking Harry into the group hug. Harry laughed and clung onto him too. "I'm proud of you, Red."
Snape suppressed a shiver.
Ron stopped, and looked at Snape, demanding. "Where's Harry's letter?"
Snape shrugged, and checked his pocket. "…I don't have one for him. That's odd, I doubt the Academy would…Sind, do you have any letters?"
"Actually, I have one, Armsman." Charlemagne said as she walked to him. "I had to hide it from you."
"Here it is, Potter." Snape said, off-handedly, turning to reach out for the letter.
"Actually, Professor." Harry called. "It's not mine. I didn't apply to the Academy."
"What? Why not?" Snape asked, followed by Ron. "Yeah, Harry, why not? I thought we were going to America together?"
"Well, Ron…it's just that, I think I've had my fill of saving for a while. I'm tired of all this magic and everything that goes with it. I'm thinking of going back to a normal life and stay from magic…for a while." Harry whispered, looking down.
Hermione was staring at him, disbelieving. "You're leaving us, Harry?"
"Not forever, just for now. I want to be just Harry again for a while…I'll come back one day…" He said, pulling away from the group. "Maybe."
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances of uncertainty while Snape just met Harry's eyes and nodded. He smiled at the Boy Who Lived and bowed lightly. "Hurry back, Mr. Potter. We need our celebrities."
Charlemagne put her arm around his waist as she came near. She leaned over and kissed Snape's cheek. "And our heroes."
"So who's the last letter for?"
"Read it yourself."
Snape frowned at her playful voice. He looked over and read the letter. "Oh hell no…nah, uh-huh." He shouted, pulling away from her and walking away. "There is no way on God's green earth, no! He's not that cruel! I did not survive all this hell for this! I quit! No!"
Ron watched as Snape limped away, shouting both American and English obscenities before turning back to Charlemagne. "Who is it?"
Sind looked at the letter and shrugged. "I don't know. Who is Neville Longbottom?"
The End
Endnote: I want to thank everyone for reading my stories and I hope you had as much reading them as I had writing them. As you may have guessed, I wrote this story with hints that there might (and this is a very slim might) be a sequel to this story and if there is, you'll be able to see some of the old characters again. However, time shall tell. Again, thank you guys, especially Coesius who one of, if not my first fan. Along with her, thank you Karen, Ping, Megan, Aku Maru, Saerry, Sara, and everyone else who smacked some sense into me. Also, Amy (didn't think I'd forget ya, did ya? I love you girl. Anyways, no more sap. As I began most of my fan fiction, I end it with quote Midsummer's Night Dream: "
Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend. And, as I am an honest Puck, if we have unearned luck…Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, we will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call. So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, and Robin shall restore amends."