Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize. J.K. Rowling has that happy honour.I just enjoy toying around with her character.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the final battle at the end of his seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter sat alone at the Hogwarts Lake, watching the Giant Squid bask in the sun. It had been a week since Harry defeated the most evil wizard of the age, Lord Voldemort, and there were still signs of the battle on the grounds. Hagrid's hut was, in places, still smoldering, there were patches of singed and stained grass by spells and blood. As Harry sat with his knees pulled up to his chest and his chin resting on his knees, he replayed the events of the final battle in his mind.
Harry had been fighting the Dark Lord while his Death Eaters threw curses at anyone and everyone they could. Things were not going well for the side of the Light. The Aurors had been late in coming, and many older students had joined the battle, sacrificing their lives for the common good. Harry remembered well what had pushed him over the edge, made him cast that final Killing Curse on Lord Voldemort. Lucius Malfoy had bound Hermione and Ron and brought them to Voldemort. The Dark Lord, without a second thought, killed both of them and turned to Harry with a maniacal cackle. Harry had seen red and tears had flowed down his cheeks. He raised his wand and yelled the Killing Curse and Lord Voldemort had been no more. In the mass confusion that had followed, Aurors rounded up the Death Eaters and the Professors had seen to the injured. It was over. Light had prevailed.
Harry heard footsteps behind him, but he did not care. He did not care about the tears that streamed down his face.
"Potter." He did not need to turn around to recognize the soft, silky voice that said his name.
"Snape." He acknowledged, not moving from his position.
"This is not healthy, Potter. You cannot dwell on what has happened. You must move on." Harry had to suppress a snort.
"And why, pray tell, would you give a shit, Snape?" Harry sneered. "You, who tormented me relentlessly for years…"
"I 'give a shit', as you so eloquently put it, because you will destroy yourself if you carry on like this. I should know." Snape answered softly, his tone devoid of any hate or malice. He sat down next to Harry and the young man, finally, turned to face him.
"Yes, I suppose you should, shouldn't you?" Harry replied. He knew the professor had suffered his own losses, just as painful as Harry had suffered. He, too, had lost friends, and even family.
"Potter, listen. Everyone has been pestering you to 'talk' about your feelings and let everything out… but I will not do that." Snape paused here, and then he continued, "I realize that you have no reason to, but if you ever do need to talk or just need company, I ask that you come to me. If nothing else, I can give you a Calming Draught or something similar to aid you in particularly tough times."
"Why do you want to help me?" Harry asked. He didn't understand why Snape would care what happened to him.
"Because I don't want you to end up like me." Snape replied simply. Harry gaped. "I let my grief and sadness destroy the person I once was and I closed myself away from everyone so that I would not have to feel the pain of having friends or being close to someone. I do not want that to happen to you, Harry. Your friends need you, and you need them."
Slowly, Harry nodded. "All right, Professor. I will come to you if I need someone. You have my word."
Snape stood and turned to walk away. Then he stopped. Harry looked up at him curiously. With an oddly gracious look on his face, Snape raised the sleeve on his left arm, revealing pale white skin. "Thank you, Potter, for freeing me." Without another word, Snape walked back towards the castle.