Random Fact: This chapter actually started out very differently, with Sev dragging himself out of the Whomping Willow and collapsing on the stairs, where he was found by a student up after curfew. Sev said all of that was not important and this resulted in a major argument. He won.
Slowly, Severus seemed to find himself in a dark fog. He felt numb. Am I finally dead? came to the surface of his mind. If so, this is a pretty crappy death! Then, slowly, voices made it through his fog. They were distant and muffled, but he was able to make them out.
"Is it really him, Poppy?"
"I believe so, Minerva. I believe this is, in fact, Severus Snape."
In this fog these names meant nothing to him, but whoever they belonged to was talking about him. If only he could find his way out of this fog! But no matter what he did, nothing seemed to change. He yelled out in frustration, and slowly the darkness and fog seemed to lift. Light poured in and then he saw a reddish-pink. That was when he realized that his eyes were closed. His eyes fluttered open, and hovering over him in concern was Poppy Pomfrey and Minerva McGonagall. He recognized them at once, though he did not when he was unconscious. It only took him about half a second after looking at their faces to realize that his scream had made it through the fog.
"Hello Minerva, Poppy." He said, his voice rasping. "I never thought I would see you again. After what I have done, I am surprised you preserved my life." There was no remorse in his voice, only the soreness. The burning pain was gone entirely. Poppy was a good healer. If he was lucky, she may have even been kind enough not to leave a scar to remind him.
"Harry told us what happened. He has declared you a hero. However, he would not tell us where your body was, so we could not find it to give you a proper burial. Thinking on it now perhaps that is a good thing. I do not pretend to understand how you survived or why you came back now. Perhaps you would be kind enough to enlighten us." As an afterthought, Minerva added, "It has been over three years."
He was not willing to reveal all that occurred when he "woke up dead" so instead he simply said, "I do not know the reason either. All I know at the moment is that I am alive."
"Well since you are alive, I would like to ask you a favor. You see, I am in a bit of a bind. My Potions Master is not as alive as you...and term is about to start back…"
"You wish me to be the Potions Master here again? Well, seeing as I am indebted to you for not allowing me to die on the stairs, I will. Could you tell me what has happened to Spinners End and all of my possessions?