Chapter 2

"Am I dead?" Harry asked.

Severus quickly moved away from Harry and answered, "I'm sorry to announce Mr. Potter that you are very much alive."

Harry gave a deep sigh and closed his eyes. "I was so certain when I opened my eyes… You were so close… I thought it had to be heaven," Harry whispered to himself, although Severus still heard it. In a louder voice Harry voiced a question. "Why am I not dead then?"

"Mr. Malfoy apparently was checking up on you and found you. He brought you here to Madame Pomfrey. She healed you, I brought you potions, and here you are… Alive, though I must say that you could stand to eat something."

Harry seemed to be lost in his own world. He was just staring at Severus. It had been so long since they had last seen each other. Harry thought that the pain of Severus leaving him couldn't get any worse, but seeing him standing there acting so aloof just turned that knife in his heart. I guess he really never did care. Why was I such a fool? I can't live without him. I just can't. I'm going to succeed next time. I swear it to myself. I'll plan it better. My life is nothing without my Severus.

While Harry was lost in his own thoughts, Severus was lost in his. He's so thin! I can't get over it! What happened to him. Why was he not eating? Why did he want to die? Now Severus was never one to walk around problems, so he came right out and asked. "Mr. Potter, why have you not been eating? And why on earth would you want to kill yourself?"

Harry look into Severus eyes and saw nothing but professional interest. He couldn't bring himself to burden his love. If Severus was happier without him, then he wouldn't get in the way of Severus' happiness. He turned his head away so that Severus would not see his tears and answered, "Nothing Severus. It is of no importance. When am I allowed to leave?"

"Mr. Potter. Do not take me for a fool. One does not attempt suicide for something 'of no importance'. I am not going to let this go. You are going to tell me your reasons or I will make sure that Pomfrey never allows you to leave."

"Why do you care Severus? Why? You kicked me out! What do you care what

happens to me anymore?" screamed Harry. He just couldn't keep it in anymore. The pain was debilitating. In the back of his mind he knew he would regret putting his burdens on Severus, but what his mind knew and what his heart was telling him were two different things, and he could not seem to stop his heart. Harry stopped screaming and continued in a very soft tone of voice, "I wanted to hate you. You took my heart and tore it apart. I thought you cared. I thought you could love me. I wanted to hate you so bad… But I couldn't. I loved you so much. I still do. I can't stop myself from loving you. It just hurts so much. When you told me goodbye I died inside. It was just a matter of time until my living body caught up."

At this point, exhaustion caught up with Harry and he quickly fell asleep. Severus couldn't understand what he just heard. How could he mean that much to Harry? Harry was so good, so pure. How could he feel that for someone as tainted as Severus. In truth, it was when Severus realized that he was falling in love with Harry that he decided he had to break it off. All that ever came from love was heartache. He knew (or thought he knew) that Harry could never truly love him. He thought he was just some toy to be quickly tossed aside when Harry got bored. The more Severus thought about it, the more he wanted to believe Harry. Am I really why he tried to kill himself? If it's true then what have I done? Oh god… what have I done? At this point Severus was breaking inside. He had caused the one he loved unimaginable pain. He imagined it wasn't unlike the pain he felt when he said goodbye to Harry, except that was his choice. It hurt so bad to say goodbye to Harry, but he wanted Harry to be happy. But instead he just made Harry feel worse than ever. He loved Harry so much. He still thought about Harry everyday, but he buried that hurt of lost love deep down in the empty pit that he thought of as his heart. But now he knew he had a heart because it was hurting more than ever before. It was at this point he realized that he had tears rolling down his cheeks. This caught him by surprise. He rarely ever cried. In fact he hadn't cried in, what, 10 years? But he couldn't stop himself. He had hurt Harry so badly. He had to fix it, but he didn't know how. Could Harry ever forgive him?

At this point Harry woke up again and saw the tears on Severus' face. "Severus, why are you crying?" he asked while wiping the tears off of his face.

"Harry. I'm so sorry. I thought I was doing the best for both of us. I couldn't imagine anyone in love with me. I wanted you to have a full life, to be truly happy. I didn't think you could get that from me. Harry, please forgive me. Please forgive me!"

"Oh Severus, I told you that I couldn't stay angry at you. I love you too much."

Severus quickly took Harry up in his arms and held him close. He never wanted to let go. "Please Harry, give me another chance. I want you back. I haven't stopped thinking about you since my mistake. I know I was wrong. Please, let me make it right."

"Oh Severus. I want you. Just please, next time you want to make assumptions, please talk with me first?"

"Ok Harry, I promise I will always talk to you about these things. I want you to be better. I've missed you so much."

"Oh Severus I love you so much."

"I… I love you too Harry."

A year to the date from this day Severus Snape proposed to Harry Potter and they were married the next month. They lived together for the next 130 years and never grew apart. The couple was well known for their achievements in the magical world and they shared all of it with the other. When Severus died from old age, Harry followed in the next 12 hours for reasons no one could discern. But all those who knew how much Harry and Severus loved each other knew that they just couldn't live being separated and were now together again in the afterlife.