Severus lay there, unsure of how long he had been in this hell; all time seemed to slip away in here, for he had no visitors. He didn't know if the war had begun or ended, if his friends had married or had kids, he didn't know anything but this cell. And the dreams, the visions, forced for however long, he knew it had been years, to relive the moment when the man he loved had turned his back on him. He and Lucius had been best friends and then lovers, they had spent their childhood together, and Lucius allowed him to be sent here. He may have been anyways, but if Lucius had fought for him, he could have had that comfort. Instead the man who he wanted to wed had become engaged to his accuser within a week, and they likely had a brood of kids, not even Abraxas had come.

He was shocked when the door opened, the only time it had, was when he was brought here. He had no human contact, not even for food, the one meal a day he received came via an elf. His eyes burned, he had not had any light in years, no window and there were no cracks around the door, permitted no candle. In the earlier years of his captivity he had been able to use a small amount of wandless magic for light, when the dementors were not close, but no longer.

Alastor Moody, hardly recognizable, cast a charm to help his eyes. "Come boy."

Severus stumbled to his feet."Where are you taking me?"

His voice had cracked from no use, and he received no response, as he was led through the prison. He was not sure what was a greater shock to his system, the fresh air and sunlight when they entered the courtyard, or that his mind was clear. Free from the dementors, he looked at Moody, and knew at least, there must have been war.

A man read a scroll."Severus Tobias Snape you have served your full sentence of ten years in prison. You are hereby released."

Moody handed him his wand and a small pouch."I am told that is all you have to your name. This portkey will deposit you in London."

Severus could not believe this, his ten years of hell were up, and he was a free man. He was surprised he had anything, prisoners were not given anything to start their new life with, and many became beggars and some ended up back here. It must have been what was in the tiny vault his mother hoarded away from his father.

Severus looked down at the portkey."Where am I supposed to go? I don't even know about the war."

Moody activated the portkey."Voldemort was destroyed six years ago, at the hands of Harry Potter, after the deaths of his parents, Lily and James Potter."

As the portkey was about to take him away, he was rocked by the news, one of only two people who came to his trial, was gone He wondered about others he had known, but he reminded himself as he was whisked away, that the world he knew was gone. His body was shaken badly from the first magic he had experienced in ten years other then dementors, and when he suddenly arrived he stumbled, but was caught by someone.

He looked up into the face of the person who steadied him."What are you doing here?"

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Remus had been at his friend's trial, and though he knew it was in vain, had done his best to gain him a new trial. Severus had been one of the first people who knew and accepted him for what he was, and had been his friend since they were eleven. Lily had helped, but her death left him alone, and no one listened to a wolf. His position teaching care of magical creatures was his only saving grace, the only work he could get.

He had known Severus would have no one, Lily and Abraxas were both gone, and he had come. He had known ten years in prison would be hard enough, without thrust alone into the world. Remus had been waiting for an hour, before a man he barely recognized, had appeared.

Remus smiled a bit at his shock. "You didn't think I forgot about you. Come on, I am taking you to Hogwarts."

Severus allowed himself to be led on the bus which Remus summoned. "You always seem to be there. Is it true about Lils?"

Nodding, Remus explained the war, and how many of their classmates like the Prewett twins, were killed. Peter had betrayed the Potters, and Lily and James were killed but Harry, their one year old, not only lived, but defeated Voldemort. He had been adopted by Sirius, and was living in London now.

Remus explained."Sirius never really forgave me for supporting you. But with Abraxas and Lily dead, I had to continue. I am sorry I failed."

Severus cut him off. "You never failed me; you at least were there, you and Lils. If I never hear the name Malfoy again though....."

As they got to school and headed for Albus, Remus felt a pang for the man, knowing how much he had loved Lucius. He too had been surprised when Abraxas had not shown up for the trial, for he had loved Severus, but the old man had died a year later. The last Remus heard, Lucius and Narcissa had one child, a son who was the same age as Harry, but if rumours were true, Narcissa had many lovers over the years.

Albus was waiting for them and looked to Severus. "I am sorry my boy. I wished there had been something I could have done then, or now."

Severus sighed. "I know. Without my name cleared I can't even apprentice any more. I am not sure why Remus brought me."

Albus explained Horace still taught, and was willing to hire Severus as his assistant. He would be little more then a lab assistant, but it was a job and a roof. Albus apologized he could not offer more, but even in a private school, he had limited power. If he tried to offer more, the governors would surely veto it, Lucius was on the board.

Severus remembered the tiny pouch he had."This is the only home I have left. I will take the job."

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Severus looked around the room, not apartments, but a room. It was larger then his cell, and there was a window. The potions classroom was still in the dungeons but he was given a spare room on the main floor, about the size of an office. There was a bed, a desk, bookshelves and a wardrobe. There at least was a small bathroom to the side. It reminded him of a prefect room, except no house colors.

Remus came in."Are you sure you won't take my offer? I don't need the second bedroom; Harry only comes to visit a few times a year."

Severus turned to look at him. "No, leave the room for your godson. You have done enough for me Moony."

He knew Albus had not thought to hire him on his own, not that he did not have misfits between the wolf, the squib and the expelled half giant, on staff. Remus had convinced Horace to help out his old favourite, and got Albus to okay it. He also had a feeling his limited time with Harry, was because of him. He never took the Black cousins for being close, but family honour and all. Besides, Sirius had never liked him.

Remus handed him some clothes. "I know they're a bit worn, but you won't get your first pay for a bit, and I thought you could use them. I'll let you settle in."

Severus accepted them."Thanks Moony." And after a pause. "Is he at least happy?"

Remus was not sure, he and Lucius had not spoken since school ended, never really friends except through him. Lucius had not protested Remus teaching, for care of magical creatures was an elective, and one he knew a lot about. He was not sure what to tell his old friend.

Remus settled for."He has a son Harry's age. The last time I saw him since school, was at the old man's funeral, about a year after you went to prison."

Severus even if the old man had not been at the trial, felt a pang. He had been good to Severus. "Good night."

As he placed the set of robes and few pieces of clothes in the wardrobe, Severus knew he should be happy to free, but all he felt was such loss. He should have been a potions master, for some hospital or take over for Horace, instead he was a lab helper, who lost ten years to prison. So many of the people he knew were dead. He found a few things in the room, and realized Remus must have saved them, when he was locked away. A few old books, his cauldron, and a second hand chess set. He remembered learning chess with Lucius from Abraxas, all the hours they spent. He would have sent it away, but this set had been from Lily.

He remembered the chess set he whittled in the dark in his lucid moments in prison, and turned from the set."I loved you Luc, Merlin how I loved you."