Writer: Azure K Mello
Title: A Bond Never Dies
Part: 78 of 82
Words: 478
Warnings: Angst. Non-canon.
MRHG, No really, you're cool.
Right then and there Severus felt himself being pulled apart by her child. James watched as the other man studied Harry and reached out slowly. He scrumptiously grabbed Severus' wrist before the man could move. Focused on his power and felt red mist pouring through his veins and into Severus. He read the man's deeds, thoughts, and aims.
"It never would have worked," James said in a soft but deadly tone. "Even if you had succeeded in getting me out of the picture she never would have loved you. She loved Remus. And we both know how you feel about Remus."
Flinching at the name, as though it were a new wound, Severus spoke softly when he said, "I didn't know the prophesy was about you."
"So then why did you tell him?" James asked, confused by the turn of the conversation.
"I truly thought that he was on the right path. I thought he was promoting knowledge and power. I thought he would save us all. I thought he was going to make the whole world alive and aware. He was lying, manipulating me for the child I was. And I didn't realize until it was too late."
"So Lily had to," he glanced at Harry who was watching with avid interest, "pay the price for you to see that he's a lunatic?"
"Have you seen the Longbottoms? Many people had to suffer before I could see the errors I had made."
Anger barely in check James said, "Are you looking for forgiveness from me?"
"I'm the reason your wife is dead and your boy is a stone underweight and covered in scars. I can't ask for forgiveness. All I ask is that you try to believe that I'm doing all I can to remedy my actions. I'll never be able to but I am working."
James saw the circles under the too thin man's eyes, he saw the images he had stolen from the other man's head of being tortured while acting as Dumbledore's spy, he saw nights spent sleepless as Severus vomited over memories and new trespasses and said, "That's all I can ask." He thought of childhood rivalries and how cruel he'd been to this man and said softly, "Be safe, Severus, you're no use to the old cheerful bastard if you die to atone. Be safe." He saw the red, angry burns he'd left of the man's wrist and felt nothing. The man had not flinched. James continued on his journey up to Minerva's quarters.
"Tha's the boy frem your dweams," the minute Harry said it he clapped his hand over his mouth.
"What?" asked James not understanding.
"I'm sorry. I didn' mean of do it. I was scarwed and you was smilin' so I looked in yours dwaems and you and hims were fightin' and Remus told you of shut up and sit down and you dids. I know I shouldn've dones it but I didn' wanna wake you."