AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
The Trinity was unfair.
Sirius threwThe Gorgias across the room. His glow was bright orange.
Plato argued that the judges of the dead were supposed to be impartial. Defendants stood naked before them. That should have allowed the character of the defendant to remain the focus. Every deed would be discussed, and balanced against each other. The judges were supposed to be appalled by terrible behavior such as pureblood supremacy and murder. The promise of an afterlife was supposed to deter bad behavior, not overlook it.
Instead, Sirius, and presumably Severus, had been clothed during the trial, as had the Trinity. They went over every mistake Sirius had ever made, but didn't take the beauty of his soul into account. His soul had to be more attractive than Severus'. Why couldn't the Trinity behave more like Plato's judges?
Why were they so unfair?
Sirius glowered at the couch.
Why was everyone in the afterlife taking the side of an ex-Death Eater?
It was still odd to eat in front of a spirit.
Hermione took a bite of her leftover red chicken curry while Mr. Snape reread her notes. He scratched his chin before crossing his legs.
As she took a bite, Hermione remembered all the times her mother had told her how rude it was to snack in front of others. If one had food, she needed to offer it to others, not eat as if the other person did not exist. Still, the man across the table from her couldn't even smell her meal, nor did his mouth water at the memory of its taste. It was as if the food wasn't in the room.
"I think dittany may be part of our solution, though I hesitate to say that it is the only ingredient we will need," he did not look up from the parchment.
"After listening to you, I agree it holds promise." She took another bite.
"We may need another ingredient though."
"We could try leeches."
"Why would we do that?" He set her notes on the table.
"Leeches release peptides which help prevent blood clots. That could prove useful."
"That is an intriguing concept."
She took a sip of milk.
"Of course dittany and leeches can make the potion too acidic."
"Shouldn't the antimony help stabilize the Ph level?"
"In theory yes, though if we put too much in we risk weakening the properties of the unicorn hair."
"And if we use too much unicorn hair, then we risk outpouring the venom."
"You are a quick study."
"I've studied under one of the best potions masters in the world."
His glow brightened. "You truly believe that."
"Why would I not believe it?" She stabbed her chicken with her fork. "Your credentials speak for themselves."
"There is more to being a great teacher than academic achievements."
"You're right. In your case you also needed to save our lives on an almost daily basis. That you excelled at, which made you an excellent professor."
His lips curled up. "I suppose I did save you more than a few times."
"You saved me more often than I count."
"I believe I saved you nine hundred ninty-nine times."
"How did you reach that number?"
"I have my ways."
"Care to explain them?"
"They're a spiritual secret."
"Sure," she drawled.
His glow became a warm yellow as she ate in silence.
"Why do you run a bookstore?"
She glanced up from her plate.
"When Dismas announced that I was to visit your house, I thought you were teaching at Hogwarts. I never expected you to be running a bookstore."
"I've always loved books. It seemed natural for me to own my own bookstore."
"No, it doesn't."
She set down her fork.
"Many people like books, me being one of them. Still, most of us do not so much as consider owning a bookstore."
"I'm different. I love books enough to sell them."
"You have the potential to be so much more than you give yourself credit for."
"I give myself plenty of credit." She frowned. "My store is one of the most profitable in Hogsmeade. I run things very well."
"Of course you do. I did not mean it the way it came out." His glow dimmed. "I only meant that I expected your name to be in academic journals, for you to be famous for creating new spells and proposing new theories. Why can you not run a successful bookstore and create academic theories in your spare time?"
She snorted. "Because I'm sick of being famous. If I see my name in one more publication I'm going to scream."
He closed his mouth.
"That's one reason I like being behind a desk, I don't need to face anyone. I can run my business as I see fit and not have to interact with anyone except for Beatrice and maybe a few books sellers. Otherwise I'm alone, which is the way I like it."
"I never suspected you would enjoy a solitary life."
"I enjoy my privacy. If I must be alone to maintain it then so be it."
"I had the same reasoning in life."
"I'd imagine you miss your solitude being locked in with Sirius when I am not around."
"You haven't the foggiest clue."
She took another sip of milk. "Perhaps in heaven you'll finally be left alone."
"I do not know if that will be the case. From everything I've heard, spirits enjoy their time together. The second I pass the pearly gates is the second I will be swarmed by others eager to give me a tour of the place."
"Perhaps you won't miss you privacy then."
"I think I'll miss it more than ever. Then again," he paused. "If I'm supposed to be in eternal bliss then I should be able to wander off on my own every once in awhile."
She smiled. "I could almost see you sitting alone on some cloud, meditating on some potion, enjoying your solitude."
"When you put it that way, that would be akin to hell."
"How?"
"I could think of every potential potion in existence, perhaps even know how to brew them. Yet I won't have anyone to share my knowledge with."
"Heaven probably doesn't need many potions."
"No, but earth does. I will know all the answers, yet the knowledge would be useless since I cannot help anyone."
Her voice softened. "Perhaps that's why you came down here; to give the world one last gift."
"It seems so small now." His glow grew dimmer. "When I think of what I could have done had I not joined the Death Eaters, it makes me wonder if I squandered my life."
"If you hadn't joined them, there would've been nobody to spy for us. Had there been no spy, then we never would have defeated Voldemort."
"Perhaps there is some accuracy in that statement."
"It is a very accurate assessment and you know it."
His eyes betrayed his doubt.
"I know from Dante and the little Catholic theology I took that Purgatory is a place to rethink one's life, but it shouldn't be a place to beat yourself up. You should be preparing to release your pain so you can join heaven."
"That's much easier said than done."
"You've beaten yourself up so much in your life. In some ways, your whole life has been Purgatory."
"Jesus said as much during my trial. He said I had been more purified than many souls who'd spent eight centuries in Purgatory."
"Then release your pain and allow yourself to be happy."
Mr. Snape twisted his lower lip.
"I mean it. Stop thinking about what you didn't do and focus on the peace you deserve."
"I will, provided you do a favor for me."
"What?"
"Stop settling."
"I'm not settling."
"Yes, you are."
She swallowed.
"You could accomplish so much more than you are now. If you wanted, you could be the greatest researcher the Wizarding World has ever seen, along with selling the textbooks others use to make their own great discoveries. Stop doubting yourself and start living your life."
"I am living my life."
"You're surviving your life, not living it."
She took another bite of her curry.
"One day you will be in my position, and the Trinity is going to ask you how you lived your life. Do you want to spend even a moment of your afterlife considering all you've done with some obnoxious dog barking in your ear?"
"Does Sirius still become a dog?"
"No, though he'd be quieter if he did. At least then I could make a muzzle out of the clouds and put it on him."
Hermione covered her mouth and laughed.
Mr. Snape's glow brightened.
"I am sorry they put you in a room with him. I can only imagine what he's putting you through."
"I regret being placed with him but," he grinned. "I do not regret being tasked with helping you."
"Really?"
He shrugged. "You are an adequate companion."
She burst out laughing. "I love it when you use that word. It's so you."
His glow softened.
"For what it's worth, I'm glad you were tasked with helping me too. It's made my life much more interesting."
"Be careful Ms. Granger. I could make your life more interesting than you might like."
She sat up straighter. "I think I can manage it."
"I suppose you can."
Hermione took a sip of her milk, confident that she could handle whatever Mr. Snape and the Trinity had in store.