Chapter Eight: Worst Memory
"I'm sorry, but you need to see this."
He heard Hermione's scream for the second time that evening. This time, however, he didn't turn to see her fall; he kept his eyes on Severus. He had replayed this scene over a dozen times in his head. He didn't have to look to know what was going on. It was his worst memory. It haunted him. Never allowing him to forget just how utterly he had failed, how much he had lost.
Lucius Malfoy had escaped Auror custody after being arrested for killing his own son. He had come to avenge his master by killing Harry, bringing several death eaters along for backup. He found Hermione first. After killing her he had lunged toward Harry, the killing curse on his lips.
Severus jumped up from his chair, grasping Harry into his arms, turning his back on Lucius. He'd put his body in between Harry and the killing curse.
Harry watched as the green light struck his lover in the back. Tears rose to his eyes as he watched the man collapse. Memory Harry grasped at him, following him to the ground, begging and pleading with Severus to stay with him.
But it was far too late. There was nothing to be done. He'd lost his love.
The scene stopped once again.
"Oh come on," he choked out tearfully, "it was just getting to my favorite part."
"You've had your revenge. All of them are dead, yay good for you. That's not what this memory is about."
"What is it then?"
"It's the same as all the others sweetie. Why do think he did that?"
"I don't know."
And he honestly didn't. As far as he was concerned, since he'd done his job and killed Voldemort, he was expendable. Severus, on the other hand, was the most amazing person he'd ever known and as one of the very few potions masters left in the world, far more important.
"Because he loves you. Harry, you were the first person Severus dared to care about in years. He wanted you to have a life that wasn't focused on the war. He didn't want you to die. He wanted you to live. Even, if that meant living without him. You're failing him by not moving on. It's been five years. It's time to let him go."
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Your father and I love you so much. We are so proud of you; we always have been, never forget or doubt that. Goodnight sweetie. Expect the next ghost when the birdie cuckoos twice."
A/N: Alright so had some questions about chapter length: this is about the average length for all remaining chapters except chapter 9, which is about 3x longer.