Chapter 6

When Severus regained consciousness, he found himself in another place, one that was familiar and utterly welcomed. He looked up at the faces that were staring down at him.

"He's moving," someone said unnecessarily. "You think he's all right?"

"He's opened his eyes," another unnecessary comment was heard.

"He looks all right. Loviet didn't have time to do too much damage."

"He doesn't seem to be in pain. Madam Pomfrey's an excellent nurse."

"He's not a specimen." Severus snapped.

Everyone flinched.

Dumbledore chuckled. "It seems our dear professor has returned, memory, temper and all."

Severus struggled to sit upright. When he looked at the various faces, he moaned.

"I'll never hear the end of this."

"Don't fuss." Hermione said.

"Me! Being saved by a bunch of Gryffindors and one Auror."

"Three Severus. Harry and Neville have both joined the Aurors."

"I shall send my condolences to them," replied Severus with glee and derived pleasure from the baleful looks on the two young Aurors' faces.

"Maybe we should just place another Memory Charm on him." Harry muttered under his breath and felt justified when Severus, angered by the flippant suggestion, next shouted.

"Ten points each!"

"For what?" Remus asked.

"Potter, for his cheek as always." Severus had not taken points in a long while and he proceeded with vengeance, even as he was aware that the students had already graduated from Hogwarts. "Longbottom, for nearly cutting my arm off when we were fighting here last year."

"Professor. That was a stray shot! I didn't see you!"

"Which makes it even worse. An Auror indeed. And Granger…" Severus paused, "For just being here!"

"Strange, I didn't think my presence would be so averse to you Severus." Hermione emphasised his name, "You didn't seem to mind dancing with me or bringing me into your room just days ago."

Severus ducked his head, refusing to let anyone see his embarrassment.

Remus was the one who broke up the awkward silence, "He let you into his room?" and hence succeeded in turning the situation more awkward.

Severus could not contain himself. His head shot up again and threatened Remus, "Don't you start any nonsense."

"We did nothing much." Hermione admitted. She saw Harry's and Neville's expressions and scowled, "What?"

"I think it's scarier the fact that he was dancing." Neville said.

"I think it's scarier the fact that women actually like him." Harry contributed.

It was Severus's turn to scowl. He turned to Hermione, "What have you been telling them?"

"Just what I've been witnessing in Daniel's for the past few days. You know, your life as a pianist. What? We had to sit here for hours waiting for you to wake up. You didn't think we'd be playing Monopoly did you?"

"I believe I have to retract my statement before." Severus said. He groaned more dramatically. "I'll never hear the end of this. Me!" He abruptly came to a stop, realising what he had been about to say.

"Being a mild-mannered pianist and the adoring object of women?" Dumbledore suggested.

Actually, Severus wanted to say, "Me! Being infatuated with her!" but he had no wish to contradict Dumbledore. There would be more sniggers. He could see them bottled up in everyone, including Moody.

Dumbledore decided they had teased Severus enough, "I'm glad you're well Severus." He turned to the others, "Let's give him a rest."

As the group of visitors left the Hospital Wing, Moody turned to see him and spoke for the first time while he was in the room, "Good to have you back old man." There was no hint of distaste in his voice, and Severus was surprised.

When the whole group was in the hallways, Severus could hear them chattering.

He heard Harry ask, "So, Hermione. Did you two snog?"

Then he heard loud, obnoxious smacking sounds, Remus laughing, and Hermione going, "Don't be childish Harry."

Severus leant back and spent the better part of the day thinking of the future. For once, he agreed with Moody. It was good to be back home, even if it meant the Hospital Wing for the time being. Merlin knew the number of occasions he had visited Poppy and listened to her nagging regarding his carelessness.

At one point while he was resting, she came to check on him, taking the opportunity to scold him for not defending himself against Lucius. There were things that did not change.

And there were things that did. After recovering his memory, Severus found that he had not returned to the man he had been before the war. There was something, something that had changed, that made him feel liberated. A sense that he was the same person, but also reborn. Part of it, he knew, came from the release of his burdens. There were still amends to make, but it might be that he had helped to make the world a safer, happier place for generations to come. And to that extent, he had made peace with himself.

But more, the year in the Muggle world did him more good than could be imagined. It had given him an optimism he had never experienced before. If he had not lost his memory, he believed that free as he would be, he might have continued living day by day as morose as he always had been. It was easy, too easy to return to the world he had constructed for himself, where there was no ray of hope, and only the drive to survive. In his forty years, he had not had the chance to discover how wondrous life could be. His childhood chained him. He spent his school-time envying others and being subjected to everyone's derision. His rash act of joining the Dark Lord destroyed what self-worthiness he might have possessed. Before, he had been only cynical and friendless. But becoming a Death-Eater had completely killed him inside. He could not feel anything except hatred, for the world and for himself. He had been a lost cause. Even with Dumbledore's patience and companionship, Severus had been wasting away and could not have cared less.

But the period in London had given him a new lease of life, an eagerness to live even. Now, he did not choose to wait for death. He had been given a second shot at choosing his path.

And perhaps, he was now given the courage to continue in that path.

The memories washed over him, plaguing and healing him at the same time. And a tear trickled down his cheek as he smiled.

For the longest time, Severus Snape felt alive.

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A/N

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