Disclaimer: As usual characters are not mine, they'll never be. And well, any mistake let me know, I actually correct them if you tell me.
So, finally, the last part, just a brief epilogue, I feel I needed to do it.
Enjoy!
Exile
by Uyuki
Epilogue
A couple of months passed in silence. The Death Eaters weren't doing any moves, so as the Aurors. Neither of the groups knew what to do and so they were in some sort of temporary peace with each other.
The only one living in constant alert was Severus Snape.
Since his conversation with Lupin they both started to talk a little more. Not too much, because Snape still didn't like him very much. But nonetheless, being the only one around him made him nicer towards the old werewolf.
He would go to Lupin's house every two days, sometimes he even slept over, specially around full moon nights. Severus would make the potions for both of them and they would stick together the night.
Howling at each other, and sometimes fighting a little. But never lonely anymore.
It was nice to have someone to share the damn curse. Deep inside, Severus was actually grateful that Lupin trusted him.
One night, a few days after the last full moon, both adults were in the living room, having some tea. Remus saw him a few minutes before saying what he had in mind.
"Tell them."
"What?"
"Tell them, tell the Order what you did, tell them why you did it."
"What for? I doubt they'll even listen", said Severus lightly, "Why would they listen to a killer."
"You're not a killer. You were a spy who just follow orders."
"C'mon Lupin, be realistic."
"I am! You are the one who has given up on everything! I told Minerva that I saw you, and you want to know what was the first thing she asked?"
"Is he dead," guessed Severus with a sarcastic tone.
"Is he alright?"
Snape said nothing, but Remus could see on his face that he was surprised. He never expected that someone was worrying about him. Not a bit.
And Minerva was the last person he thought of. He was so sure she hated him.
"Please, come with me. Just tell them what you said to me, let them judge. Don't judge for them. What can you loose?"
Severus smiled briefly. The old werewolf was right. He had nothing else to loose.
If they believed him, he could go back somewhere, he could go back to the Order and help them.
If they didn't believe him, he would go back to where he was now, seeing Lupin every now and then.
If he spoke, he wouldn't loose anything. If at all, he would gain trust again.
"Fine then, I'll go."
-o0o-
Two days later, some members of the Order where at Sirius' house, trying to figure out what to do next. Minerva was silent. She hadn't said anything to the other members about Severus, she didn't know how will they react to those news.
She knew everyone had his own views about the Potions master.
She knew quite a lot of them hated him for what he did. But that in the inside, they didn't believe he did it for Voldemort.
She knew that some others were curious about him.
She knew that she was desperately searching for a reasonable explanation.
She knew that Lupin trusted him, just as Dumbledore did.
She knew that Harry didn't want to see him ever again.
And then, she heard the door. It was probably Lupin, he said he had something to show them and that it was really important.
Some other members stood up when Minerva did, and the all went to see what Lupin wanted to show them.
But when they saw him, they're breaths freeze for a moment.
Severus Snape was with him.
Nobody knew what to do. Should they kill him? Should they embrace him? Should they just ignore him?
But none of them had to do anything, because Minerva did it for them.
She walked towards Severus and then she did something anyone expected her to do. Not even Lupin.
She embraced him, relieved that he was alive.
"Where have you been?"
But Severus couldn't talk, he didn't expected this to happen either and he didn't even saw her in the eyes when he entered the house. He was so sure that they would yell at him.
"Don't do this to me again, don't worry me like that", she said before she let him go to see him in the eyes, "Now tell me. What happened that night?"
Somehow, Severus knew that Minerva would believe him. Maybe because she knew him for so long, maybe because she knew that Dumbledore knew what he was doing, maybe because she was her friend.
It didn't matter to him that no one else believed him, if Minerva did, then that was all he needed.
Even if he kept on living in exile.
There, finished finally. I just needed this kind of closure. Of course I have no idea what is going to happen to Severus, but I would like him to go back where he belongs. I stand firm that he is not evil (although I could be wrong… only Jo knows the truth). And I think Minerva would stand by him if he were good.
So, Eraina, thanks again for this amazing challenge. I hope you enjoy reading it. And for all the others that read it I hope you liked it too.
See you!
