There came a warm, deep voice… One that sounded so close to Dumbledore's but it wasn't so.
Sleep now, Severus…

A fantastic gust of wind blew over his chilled body, enveloping him in a great warmth, that traveled from his legs and feet to his chest and throat. The pain was dying… It was dying away, leaving him feeling so still and calm. The wizard was so tired… To sleep was wise. Being able to feel himself breathe, to be able to listen to the calming drum of his still-beating heart was some kind of miracle.

Allow your dreams to take flight. When you awake, all will be made clear. A warrior granted no leniency in his own world deserves firm answers. When you heal, you will hear.

Snape was still, curled upon the cold stone of the boathouse where he was meant to be left for dead, a brilliant warmth overtaking his once chilled body. Nearing him was not a man, but a great golden beast, with a mane as mighty and as bright as sunlight with warm, caring amber eyes. A Lion like no other came to the sleeping Headmaster, lowered his great head down to him… slowly rubbing his golden forehead over his shoulder, able to sense the agony and horrid experiences flow out as dreams replaced the wizard's thoughts. This was a mercy that no spell or potion could give…

As soon as the healing wizard was still and at peace, the Lion drew his great head back up to the destroyed castle above them, mounted over the great loch with pain and righteous anger filling his glowing eyes.

Time seemed like a useless aspect, as it seemed to draw on forever, at least in his mind. Nothing else mattered now. His work was done. If Death was this merciful, then for others, fearing it was moronic to say the very least. For a moment, he failed to recall what happened to him, until… like flowing water, it all poured over him. He remembered the pain, the dread… the terror in the eyes of the son whom he swore to protect. The mercy inside them that he did not deserve in the slightest.

A heartbeat, the sound of his own breath, the touch and feel of the moist ground beneath him and the serenades of distant birds, all of which greeted him like a friend.

If he only looked… if he opened his eyes right now, would these things be there?
Was this all true?
Had death been merciful to a shriveled soul like his?
Was he deserving to see beauty after what he had seen for all those 20 years of being in the dark…?
Would he fear it?

For the first time, after ages, it seemed… he, indeed, began to feel fear. Yet, the desire instilled in him to see it, finally… to behold it, was so strong that he opened his eyes to the brilliant sunlight that danced over the canopies of dancing trees.

He did and it hurt at first. Blinking in the light, Severus soon agreed that he was certainly dead because he was not where he was left to die, his throat was not thrashed or bleeding if his memory was not obliviated entirely. Surely, he gasped, remembering the agony that echoed in his memory, in his very core as he reflexively grasped his throat only to find that there was no trace of blood or pain.

"Lily— Potter!" he choked, having an image of those eyes staring back at him with so much fear. "Oh, Lord -" he coughed out, with so many horrid memories flooding through him. His memories were given away, sending the boy to his death… The thought that Potter was meant to die made those memories flow through his very tears. Severus was on his knees, gripping the grass hard with one hand while with the other clasped over his mouth, trying to stifle something that sounded like a loud sob begging to leap out from his lungs. Had everything gone to Hell after that moment, he could never know… and he could not recognize this place at all.

"Peace, soldier." came a great voice that seemed to echo against the tree trunks so much that he couldn't tell of which direction it came from at first.

Severus, although his soul was overwhelmed, instantly stood with a rejuvenated strength that made him bound up so naturally, his sharp eyes, all glossy with true tears of rage, darted to all sides of the glen. Surely, for once, he was uneasy and in eternal pain within, he was strong. By his feet laid his dark resin wand. Sighting it, would it be wise to grab it so hastily?

"Who has spoken to me?" he barked, sharply. "Show yourself!"

"Weary by the endless waves of war, you remain steadfast. There is no need at this time, brave one." the voice spoke once more and Severus felt a sort of calm try to instill itself in his heart.

He did not recognize this voice at all yet it seemed strangely familiar to him. Severus did not reply to it just yet, only that he felt a difference in his very being. Healed, as if the Dark Lord's assault had never come to be, strong as if no blood had been spilt and he stood so quickly. One thought was … how was all this possible, as he could not remember anything or anyone helping him between Potter's farewell and now?

His obsidian eyes soon caught sight of something extraordinary, even for a wizard of his caliber. There, atop one of the tree's bridging roots stood a great being, that was neither man or monster. Severus stood as still as stone when he unknowingly laid eyes upon his rescuer. A glow slowly overtaking the nearly permanent darkness in his eyes that beheld a massive Lion, with a flowing golden mane, with so much strength and power glowing brightly in contrast to Severus's own demeanor. For once, the wizard felt powerless, helpless even, at the might of this wise being that surpassed the purity of unicorns or the laments of Phoenixes.

Severus lowered his wand.

"… who are you?" he drawled, entranced.

The Lion's eyes sparkled before he strongly climbed down into the heart of the glen with him, a smile curling upon his lips which would be strange, yet it seemed so genuine.

"In your own time, perhaps … a potential friend?"

Now whisked away, to a place he had never once traveled; a forest so bright and grand, thick with mysteries with its only wizard now there to discover them. Now, before his very eyes, he was blessed with something that would only be thought as mere hallucination. Severus knew fully that he was in the presence of divine power, naturally…
His own magic was aware of it and he did not even dare to have second thoughts about using it against this mighty being.

Keeping his sight sharply locked on them as they came closer, Severus furrowed at them. All the while, he had his wand at the ready. There was an inclination to not raise his arm, however. An instinct that frightened him more than the being itself. The pure gold of the brilliant being in the sunlight was causing emotion to arise that he thought he had lost, once and for all, as a youthful wizard. That blessed feeling he often would shun… Hope.

No… No, no… This has to be an illusion of some kind. It is some kind of trick, a false hope. A farce! Had I been held in contempt of the Ministry for my work, trapped in this torment…? Severus's thoughts ran wild, at first unable to make sense of what he was seeing, and feeling.

"This is no farce, wizard. All I ask of you … is to only listen to what I have to say." was the soft, purring demand from the Lion.

"…and what, praytell, is it that you have to say?" Severus asked in a challenging tone, inwardly struggling with this experience alone. "Considering the precarious situation alone, if I am not too discourteous in saying such."

"So, it is in your true self that you do not trust in what you see. I cannot fault you for that."

The Wizard's focused eyes grew ever sharp and watchful. As a matter of fact, it was not the Lion he was fearing, but something far off that was barrelling their way.

From deep in the trees, something howled with rooted agony~ before a great minotaur tore through the brush with an axe in hand. Thick body covered from head to hoof in thick, ratted fur with a ruined set of armor covering his chest and shoulders threatened the two intended to throw down his axe upon Severus. He would have been struck dead if he hadn't launched an unseen shield that lit up the air between them, as bright as starlight.

The beast was sent back, flailing onto his back, only to be enraged further. Charging this time, the animal felt his horns being held by something strong with that wand still held high and pointed at him. Just after a moment, Severus just stared as he held the beast still, almost considering one curse in mind but the incantation couldn't escape him. The flashes of Potter having the gall to use it on him was the thought that made it trapped back into his very soul.

The Lion was near, studying the struggle very closely. At once when the wizard released the beast, he delivered a grand roar that shook the very forest they were in. Right then, that was when the minotaur took a step back.

"You have crossed into the wrong land, sorcerer!" it bellowed in a croaking old voice.

Severus arched his brow at the beast, giving off a daring glare as he took a bold step closer.

"Oh, am I? Can't a sorcerer bow to a half breed such as yourself?" he taunted.

"You dare enter a common ground, Borim. You have been sent by Yours Truly, while I attend a current matter." the Lion told the brute right off. "This land belongs to no one."

"What makes it a divine right to allow a Magi onto your land, oh great Cat!? This isn't the end of it- Mark me!"

The Lion merely gave his enemy a just, grim stare which sent him off in a feared, flustered hurry. Soon it was only them, alone, once more.

"Hadn't you a fine care to provide some slight assistance, given your experience." Severus prodded in a huff, stowing his wand back into his sleeve. "… a great cat indeed."

The great Cat in question turned wryly back to face him. "Yet, you valiantly stood your ground, rightly. With such vigor, no fear, not even a tremble in your voice and heart. As unmovable as the mountain side."

"Yet, you, my friend, have yet to answer me this. Who. Are. You?" Severus hissed, the passion in his eyes hiding the threat of tears. Trauma was hidden well and the great King knew that.

"I am the Ruler of this Land." he began as the two paced with the latter clearly on edge. "I have seen the anguish, the hopelessness, that is your realm. And I, in my own way, intend to bring Light to it."

Severus's lip curved for a moment, and for a split second he looked almost ready to weep, in fact. Yet he gave a dry, yet cruel chuckle.

"How folly! Admirable, but a foolish notion, good sir." Severus shook his head at the mere idea. "Even the most powerful magic cannot heal such damage."

"Oh, Severus." the King sorrowfully sighed. "You simply have fooled yourself. Having saved many from suffering awful fates. Hiding your true self for so long. Deep within the regions of your own caves, you are not cruel. You began the same as others."

Something flashed in Severus's dark eyes, as bright as the north star and he held still, as pale as the moon.

"You do not know… a Single Thing about me!"