Disclaimer: NOT MINE!
Author's Note: I am officially losing sleep over this damn fic, I'm gonna end it and end it now, and if you dun like it THAT'S TOO BAD! You try doing this, the story was SUPPOSED to be left hanging, that way, whatever happened, it was all on you. You guys had control in the end, but apparently none of you wanted that, sometimes I don't either. So thanks for driving me insane.
Chapter 4: THE END DAMN IT!
Harry sat there a bit flabbergasted for a few minutes.
"Harry…Harry are you all right?" Dumbledore asked, snapping him out of his trance.
"Yeah…yeah I'm fine, I'd better go."
"Yes, that would be best."
The final year at Hogwarts seemed to zoom before his eyes. Defense Against the Dark Arts, one of his favorite subjects, quickly switched places with Potions. It was just like before. He dreaded going to that class, Snape being the only reason. He was just as nasty and cruel as he'd been all the years before. It was as if, Harry had dreamed August First, even Dr. Laurel became a distant echo in his mind, since he Dumbledore, Snape, and Lupin were the only people in the Wizard world who knew about his visits (save for Dr. Laurel himself).
Yet, even Snape couldn't deny the boy's natural talent for that subject, he did well on his N.E.W.T.s and with his Quidditch position reinstated (Ginny was kind enough to resign when she heard the news) life seemed…well perfect. By the time January rolled around, even Snape's horrid remarks (or lack there-of) could bring him down.
Through the year both men (for Harry was a young man now) knew they felt it. There was something…something between them that WOULD NOT let up. They could feel each other's eyes, even, in the dead of night, taste a flavor that they would have sworn long forgotten. So, in an effort to keep himself from going insane and running into his office, Harry pushed himself harder in Quidditch, and remained so focused in his studies, even Hermione looked like a slacker. And then in June, they came. Two letters that would change his life:
A beautiful barn owl and a Great Horned Owl raced at top speed toward him. They even tried knocking each other out of the air in an attempt to get to him first. They ended up landing in front of him at the same time, so he took the letters at the same time lest they peck him to death. When they were gone he opened the one delivered by the Horned Owl.
"OH MY GOD!' He cried as he stood out of his seat.
"What? What is it?" Ron asked looking up from his porridge.
" 'Dear Mr. Potter, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the Auror Training Program! Upon inspection of your N.E.W.Ts we found that you excel quite satisfactory in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions, Charms and Transfiguration. While your O.W.L.S were not as satisfactory as one would hope, and you would need to take an extra year of training , we would be honored to have you as part of the Ministry team. Please reply to this letter no later than July 1, so instructions can be sent to your residence. Good luck and welcome to the Ministry Family. Sincerely, Argus Lond, Head of Auror Training, Ministry of Magic!' "
"That's great!" Ron grinned. He'd gotten his Ministry letter a week before, but not for an Auror Position, it was for the position Ludo Bagman (having been horribly de-moted from his stunt three years ago) used to posses, and of course, Ron jumped on it in a second. "What's that second letter?"
"I dunno." He shrugged, and ripped it open. The grin that possessed his face QUICKLY disappeared.
"What's wrong?"
" 'Dear Mr. Potter, we are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen to play for the Puddlemore United. While we are well aware that you have been studying to be an Auror, a current player, Oliver Wood, has brought to our attention your amazing Quidditch Skills. After inspection of your playing we would be honored to offer you a ten year contract of a hundred thousand galleons every half year!...Please reply to this letter no later than July 1…' "
"Whatcha gonna do mate?"
"I've been wanting to be an Auror forever, I never even thought about a Quidditch career-"
"Okay, think about it like this." Hermione piped, looking up from her book. "What happens if you get really badly injured and you can't play anymore? I mean, it's not uncommon. At least, in the Ministry you'll have security and if you get injured there you can still take up another position, whereas, in Quidditch, if you become an injured and can't play, it'll take you longer to come up with another job."
"Good point." Harry smiled.
"Yeah, and if you're in the Ministry we'll still see eachother loads!" Ron's grinned
"Yeah! See! Okay, got any parchment on you?"….
3 years later…..
Harry, with difficulty, passed his Auror exams. He was low ranking, and to his relief, NEVER received special treatment for being "The Boy Who Lived". His Hogwarts years were happy memories, at least that's what he told everyone. He convinced Ron into sharing a flat with him in London, and there they lived, in constant bliss. He had managed to drown out any traces of happy memories with Severus Snape. Things were so hectic at work, he hardly had time to think about anything else, and he was grateful. But, like always, a fateful day rolled around. He had known inside it would come, he just kept wishing it was tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow…
"Hey Potter!" Jordon (yes LEE JORDON) called. Harry looked up from his paperwork. "Letter for you."
The handwriting was familiar…too familiar. He shoved it in his robes, and didn't dare look at it until he got home.
After Ron was asleep in his room Harry went out into the living room and sat by the fire. He ripped open the rice paper a little too roughly to find his ex-teachers neat writing.
"Dear Harry,
Why I'm writing to you after all these years, I don't know. Maybe I should have been man enough to tell you that night, instead of letting you storm out of my house. I couldn't bare it, any night without you. I would wake up from nightmares, relieved, thinking I was going to find you next to me, and you were never there, I feel almost foolish, if it wasn't the truth. The whole truth is, I couldn't stand living any day without you. I was content at Hogwarts only because you were there. Even though your eyes always stared at me with that same hatred and contempt, I knew underneath…you felt just like me. But we're both too proud to say anything until it's too late aren't we? As much as I hated your father, I won't deny he wouldn't be proud of you, as I am. I like to think I had something to do with you're turning out the way you did. Whether it was because of the years of cruelness I dealt to you, or the night of love I shared with you, I don't know. I only know, that I have never loved another as I loved you, and I don't think I will ever love anyone that way again, and so, that's why I decided to write to you. There's no way in hell I could tell you all of this knowing I could see you again.
I heard you and Weasley are living in a two bedroom flat in London, and since I have no living family, decided to leave my house and all of my fortunes to you. I've left it in writing in my office so no one else has to read this letter. It's for you and only you, like my heart.
Your's always,
Severus Snape"
Harry stared at the letter, and re-read it four times. He was gone…he was gone…
The funeral was two weeks later, every Slytherin he could remember from school was there, Dumbledore, having finally reached that oldness that he was forced to resign from Hogwarts, was also there. Harry forced himself to stare at the ground, he couldn't bear to look at the casket, to look at the headstone, because then it would be final.
Snape's body had been found in a bedroom on the second floor. The third door on the left, just across from his office, the room Harry had shared with him on August 1. He went back to Snape Manor alone after. He was greeted by a familiar, yet teary eyed House Elf, who burst into tears at the sight of him. He welcomed him in, and Harry showed himself about the house. He went into the office where he found parchment and quill, where ever he was he knew he could read the note he was leaving him.
Tired from pent up agony he went across the hall to the bedroom. It was spotless, as if it had been cleaned three times today. He flung himself on the bed, and cried himself to sleep, sadly for him though…he never woke up.
When the Ministry went to the house to look for him, it sent a shock wave across the Wizard World. The house elf confessed to putting a dagger through his heart while he was sleeping: "That is a evil boy he is! Driving my master to be killing himself!" He sobbed. The note that was found on the desk was published in the Daily Prophet, it read:
"I've never loved anyone in the world, the way I loved Severus Snape, and would die to have him back."
Okay, that's it. It was sappy and fluffy, please don't make me do this again. I hate getting teary when writing my own junk.
