*apparates with… Snape* *Snape sneers and gets a Bloody Mary* *seats himself resplendently in the couch*

I can't believe you ALL bought it! Severus and I make one hell of a team, it seems. Hee hee. So you think Severus is down and out because someone shot a puny little AK at him? *Snape rolls his eyes* Such little faith you got there… *cackles*

Okay, that was far too much consolation for y'all. *winks*

Chapter 8 *hits play*

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            "Harry. Come on. You can't stay in there for ever. Harry!" Hermione's muffled voice was heard outside his door, but Harry didn't answer, nor did he make any move to let her in. He shut his eyes tighter, scalding tears rolling down, hot and silent. How could I let this happen? The damn bastard should have known better. He breathed in shakily, and stroked Sasha's triagonal head, still curled up in his bed.

It had been two days already since Severus Snape died to save him. Everyone dies so that I can live. I didn't bloody ask them to!

            Harry didn't know if he was grieving or raging mad at the Potions Master. How could he be so thoughtless, how could he saddle Harry with his death, after everything they had been through together? Why hadn't he given him a hint? Why, why, why? He sighed and rolled over, turning his back to Sasha. It was not like anyone ever bothered to explain things to him in time.

"Harry, I am not leaving until you open this door, or I curse it down!" Hermione's voice tore through his musings again. Harry smirked mirthlessly. I'd like to see you try. He wasn't sure he was not angry at his friends, either. Why had he bothered training them, if they had been so lousy so as to cause Snape to come over to protect them like the rest of the students? Why had he bothered to consider himself better than the rest?

"Harry, you have to eat. I am opening the door now," Hermione called, and still Harry paid no attention. He wanted to disappear. It would be best for everyone, and nobody would have to consider it their obligation to give up their lives for him. Harry found himself smirking again. He had wished the Potions Master dead so many times in his life, he never expected to feel as if he had lost part of himself when Snape actually did pass on. Perhaps he will become a ghost, and he will bother me that way. Harry wished it badly that at least he would have that way of communicating with the person that dropped him a lifeline when he thought that all was lost. Perhaps Vernon should have finished the job that day. Everything would have been so much simpler.

***

            Sirius Black looked at himself in the mirror and frowned in puzzlement. There were tear marks down his cheeks. But Sirius had no tears for anyone. He had shed them all the day James and Lily died, so completely that he had resorted to laughter to hack up his despair and pain. So where had these tears come from now? He turned his gaze from the mirror and walked out of the bathroom.

"If anyone told me I'd cry over your death you greasy git, I'd punch them in the face," Sirius muttered. He sank in a chair in Remus' office, and covered his eyes. He felt guilty, and that bothered him, because it was guilt he could not alleviate. He could not apologise or make up to his black-clad rival anymore- and he had not had the chance to tell him he really did not mean any snide remark he said. Right when he had discovered the potion maker's signature from the letter sample, too. I didn't even congratulate him on it. He heard the door open and Remus walked in. He looked strained, but in control.

"The git went and died a hero's death. We hadn't considered the possibility that he'd willingly jump in the way of Avada Kedavra. He died for real! What am I to do now?" Sirius said softly. Remus sighed.

"You go and pick up where he left off. Harry has not come out of his room yet. He will starve himself to death soon," Remus said tiredly, rubbing his temple.

"I can't blame him. Snape taught and supported him this past year… much more than I did," Sirius shut his eyes again. "I want to take his place in the plan. I will chance it- there are many black dogs around that are not necessarily Sirius Black."

"No, Padfoot!" Remus said so sharply that Sirius jumped in his chair, "the plan is aborted. There will be no more staging of anyone's death. It is too dangerous- and Harry can't suffer any further losses. You are his godfather for god sakes, you go there and make sure the boy gets a grip!" the DADA professor virtually pushed the ex-convict out the door and shut it. Then he breathed deeply, and shut his eyes, putting his forehead against it.

            Soon enough, his fireplace roared and Dumbledore's face showed in the fire.

"Are you alone, Remus?"

Remus turned and nodded.

"Yes, Headmaster."

"Good, because your new pet is up and about," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled sadly.

***

            Everyone in the DADA classroom was numb and silent. It was 5th years Gryffindors and Slytherins, but not a sound was heard. Double Potions had been cancelled- there was no teacher to teach it. Most of the Gryffindors looked sad, some had watery eyes, others looked confused and uncomfortable. On the Slytherin side, the differences were so blatant that one could think each Slytherin student was reacting to a different event: Some students were still weeping- others could barely control their enthusiasm over the death of their Head of House. Blaise's face was blank and pale- Draco looked as if he had been sick many times over- Pansy looked like she had been partying non-stop and Crabbe and Goyle looked hungry.

The door opened, and the atmosphere was even more tense- for Harry Potter had just walked inside.

            He looked ghastly: His clothes were rumpled up under his black robes, his hair was uncombed (even for Harry's standard), his eyes were dead and vacant- he truly looked blind now, in more ways than just the physical one. He paused a little in the aisle, tilting his head to the side. He looked like someone just dropped him on the earth and he was still dizzy. He too, had no expression on his face, a stony mask put up so that he could face the world. His lips were pressed tightly together, his back was rigid and straight. Draco swallowed and sighed. He looks and walks just like he did. I wonder what had Snape's loss been.

Then, Pansy let a giggle escape her lips. Harry's response was so fast that most students only saw a blur: his wand was out, aimed, and a gagging curse was fired at her. Harry sneered.

"Any others willing to openly celebrate Severus Snape's passing, make sure I am out of earshot," he said in an almost metallic voice, then quietly, calmly directed himself to his usual seat near Hermione and Ron. Hermione hugged him tightly, although he did not find the energy to return her hug.

"I'm alright, 'Mione…" he said, and the instant he said it he felt the tears threatening to attack again. He was not alright. But he owed it to Snape not to show it- and he would not give anyone the satisfaction of seeing Harry crushed. Sirius had been right- Snape would sneer and goad him if he saw him thus lamenting. He would therefore do things the way the Potions Master would have liked.

            Then, Remus Lupin entered the classroom, and the upheaval from the Slytherin part settled down. The new death eaters did not want Dumbledore's wrath on themselves. Remus sighed and looked at them all.

"I am glad to see that today everyone is present," he said gently, and Harry fidgeted. Remus continued: "For those that are interested, Professor Snape was buried yesterday in his family's private cemetery on Snape Manor, as he had wished in his testament. There was no ceremony or funerary procession because…" Remus smiled sadly, even a little fondly, "the Potions Master did not want such un-necessary rites. That is the reason there was no such announcement put up in the past two days."

Some students smirked. Blaise smiled thinly. He didn't want hypocrisy in his last dealings with the world. I can understand. Draco looked down at his hands.

            Remus did not allow the heaviness to linger.

"He would also not want you to miss a lesson so close to your OWLs, so let's start today's lesson. Turn to page 388."

***

            "All Hogsmeade trips have been cancelled for the remainder of the year. No student will be allowed off grounds without the escort of a professor or his parents. The Ministry will monitor all mail in and out, so keep in mind that all your correspondence will be opened and read through before it reaches you. Professor Dumbledore will cover the needs of Potions class until a new professor is appointed- either by the Headmaster or the Ministry. There will be a wake held for those wishing to honour Professor Snape's memory this Thursday at 8. That will be all," Professor McGonagall finished reading the parchment she had in her hand, then looked around the students in Gryffindor common room, pressed a tartan handkerchief on her mouth and exited rather quickly for her standards.

"Who would believe old Snape would actually kick the bucket? I thought he'd haunt the castle until the end of time," Seamus said sadly after she was gone, and some nodded their heads in unison.

"I didn't believe I might actually miss him. Ten points from Gryffindor!" Lee Jordan mimicked the stern voice somewhat accurately. Many students shivered, then giggled mirthlessly.

"I only hope we don't get saddled with a Lockheart for Potions- the castle will be in ruins before Easter," Fred said, not without some hope in his voice.

Then, Harry came in, and again everyone fell silent.

"You don't have to hold your breaths every time I enter somewhere," Harry snapped, then breathed. He continued, his voice a little softer:

"I hate it that Snape is gone, ok? but you don't have to stop talking about him when I am around- I like hearing about him. Oh, and as a prefect, Professor McGonagall told me that first years up to third years are not allowed out in Hogwarts grounds after 6 o'clock. Sorry, but this time I'll rat on anyone that disobeys," Harry said and walked past them and into his room. He felt his breath coming in short pants- he could not understand how he had managed not to lose it out there. But he was not out there anymore.

The Boy-Who-Lived sank on the floor and cried.

***

            Two whole weeks passed before Hermione worked up the courage to remind anyone of the Study Group. She didn't go to Harry first- she went to Blaise. The Slytherin was sitting alone in the owlery, and Hermione actually found her accidentally, when she went up there to send letters to her parents. She swallowed as she saw the girl sitting at the lowest rafter, looking out through a windowless window, still as a statue and silent.

"Blaise…"

Blaise turned to look at Hermione, her eyes deep and turbulent with sorrow. Hermione swallowed again and turned her gaze to the side.

"I don't think Potter will want to continue, Hermione," Blaise said dryly. Hermione bit her lip.

"He will want to, if he sees a point in it."

"A POINT in it? Face it, it was a BAD idea! We achieved nothing, we got Snape killed!" Blaise hopped down and advanced on Hermione like a predator.

"No, it wasn't us that got him killed!" Hermione protested, "it was that horrible Voldemort that killed him, and if we give up now, we are going to do him a favour! Is this how we will preserve Professor Snape's memory?"

"He is dead, Granger, get that into your thick skull! He is dead and buried, he is GONE. He is not coming back." Blaise tapped Hermione's forehead with her finger. But Hermione had thought these things through herself, and she would not let anyone around her crumble if she could help it. She grabbed Blaise's hand and said sternly:

"He is only GONE if you let him be forgotten. Is the man that tricked Voldemort going to fade as a memory? Or are we going to follow his lead and do what he did so well that Voldemort will think Snape has possessed every single student he taught? What will it be? Are we going to bury his spirit along with his body, because we feel so sad for ourselves? Is that why he died and gave up his life for? For a bunch of quitters?"

            The last word lingered in the air, and the two girls faced off, their glance bearing deep into the eyes of the other. Then after the longest time, Blaise smiled sadly.

"Did you rehearse that, Granger?"

Hermione huffed and blushed.

"Just the part about burying his spirit," Hermione muttered. Blaise smirked and clapped the Gryffindor prefect by the shoulder.

"You'll have Potter doing cartwheels if you throw this speech at him, Granger. Kudos to you," she said and they both walked out of the owlery.

***

            Harry walked in Remus' room without knocking, all business, his stride quick and his jaw set. Hermione had pushed all the right buttons in him, just like Sirius had. He was both thankful and infuriated to be so manipulated, but at least now he had some way of proving that Snape's sacrifice would not be in vain. He heard a low mew and pffft. Remus got a cat?

"Remus?" he called out, but the DADA professor was not in the room. He frowned and listened hard. No sound was emitted, but Harry knew that he could not have imagined it. He nudged Sasha's body gently- the sign that he wanted to look through her eyes, and soon enough he had the ability to look around the room.

And there it was. A rather small-sized pitch black cat was sitting on Remus' desk, the tail swishing in irritation, the head held high up. It looked like a pedigree cat, the coat was so shiny. It looked like a miniature panther.

"Where did you come from? Does Mrs. Norris know about you?" Harry told the cat as he approached. He outstretched his hand, but the cat didn't move. He barely touched the soft fur before the cat hissed again and Harry instinctively retracted his hand.

"Okay, okay, so you don't like to have your head scratched," Harry smirked and broke the mind link with Sasha. "I wonder what your name might be?"

"I was tempted to call him Pain in the Butt, but he only answers to Sombre," Remus' voice made Harry turn slightly as the werewolf walked in.

"I didn't know you had a familiar," Harry said. "He's a beautiful cat."

"I am sure he appreciates the comment," Remus smirked, "but he's not mine, really. He's staying with me only for a couple of days or so."

"Who are his owners?"

"You wouldn't know the wizard that has him. How can I help you, Harry?" Remus said and sat down. Harry heard the cat softly drop down from the office. As he spoke he felt the cat's tail against his ankle as Sombre went to occupy the chair nearby.

"I am going to continue with the Study Group, Remus. But I want to teach them real combat. I know you can help me."

"Harry, if the Ministry finds out I am teaching you things that… that are in the grey area between Light and Dark, they will probably want to put me down or something."

"Nobody is going to tell on you- the Study Group is secret as it is. We have to do more than simple combat stuff. Blaise needs it, and we need it too if we are to be counted as part of those that fight, not those that are defended," Harry said, and Remus cringed at the way the last word was stressed. He looked at the black cat with pleading eyes, and bit his lip, but the black cat shook its head, its coal black eyes demanding. Remus sighed.

"Harry, Severus is- was already so very proud of everything you have done. You don't have to do anything more," he said gently.

"It's not a question of obligation, Remus," Harry said viciously, "it's a question of decision. I would feel a lot safer learning it from you than having to research it on my own." The threat was blatant in the voice of the Boy-Who-Lived. Remus sighed.

"Alright. I'll be there at the next meeting. I'll bring Padfoot with me."

Harry smiled.

"That's more like it."

***

            In the Forbidden Forest, Sombre made his way silently through brambles and shrubbery, looking for the special potions ingredient that he knew was harvested every new moon by the cream of Potion Brewers- especially those that worked for darker purposes.

            The plant looked like a slimy cactus aberration- a useless plant unless it was used as a fly trap. It was not considered magical, even if it grew close to magic plants, in a magic environment. It was the slime that interested the small black cat. Sombre's ears twitched as he leaped up a tree trunk, then settled on the branch over the plant. You will come for it eventually. The slime keeps only for a fortnight. If you have been as busy as I used to be under Voldemort's orders, you will need your signature ingredient very soon.

Sombre's tail swished in anticipation.

A dead man can wait forever.

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And that's that! I hope you have all been sufficiently consoled. *Snape smiles to himself and sips the last of the Bloody Mary* Heh. You don't think I'd kill him in the MIDDLE of a story, now would you? *laughs*

As for my reviewers:

Wolfmoon: Good girl/boy! Then this might even come as a disappointment.

Padfoot'sbestkeptsecret: I am honoured *bows*

Kemenran: Eh, dead is such a permanent term, isn't  it? *chuckles* I can't answer all these questions without giving away a LOT of plot. But I assure you that Snape does not want this to be predictable. *nod nod* As for Full Circle… 8sighs* I might not continue it… to be honest. If I don't though, I'll tell you what was going to happen. Okay? Also, I cannot say I like Umbridge or appreciate her as a character- I doubt she's realistic, even for a setting such as Hogwarts. So don't look for her.

kim carol: hehe, lucky you!

Rilaisseth: Have you gotten an explanation yet? *grins*

PhoenixPadfoot89: your wish is my command.

ShortyCS22: I am not half way there yet! I hope last chapter didn't seem like a way to end things quickly.

Ms. Padfoot: Really?? *grins happily* I wanted to see if my readers would ache for Snape like they did for Sirius… and you have to admit that I had Snape work much harder to get him to compete with the puppy, didn't I? *laughs* He's not tasted a Fuzzy Navel, yet. ;)

Maximum Poofy-Queen of AU: *dabs your tears* don't cry… nobody saw a body being buried, right? So don't cry, yet *s*