Chapter 8: Eleven Years of Heaven
Severus and Lily's friendship grew more and more strong as the weeks and the months went on. But even Severus wasn't being very thoughtful about the fact that he was being witnessed throughout his new life. Even when his memories returned, he didn't think that Lily and James would still be bothering to keep an eye on him.
But that was exactly what they were doing.
In Heaven, there was plenty for the Potters to do. It was Paradise after all. They lived in their home of Godric's Hollow in its heavenly version of itself, and even had wider spaces if they wished for it. They even had a swimming pool in their garden which they could turn into a spa if they were feeling romantic one day – simply by wishing for it.
They often had Sirius Black and Remus Lupin round for visits, along with Remus' wife, Nymphadora Tonks, among other friends. Sirius found his soulmate in Heaven, a former classmate named Marlene McKinnon, a beautiful blonde, with a cheekiness about her that only Sirius could relate to nowadays. Peter Pettigrew was not welcome, and hadn't even been seen after his death. No-one was certain if Hell existed, but as Heaven does exist and judging by Wormtail's life choices, he was surely there.
But one of Lily's pastimes, however painful at times, was overlooking the lives of the two men in her life that she still couldn't spend each day in Heaven with: her son, Harry and her best friend, Severus.
Not a day went by that she and James didn't miss and watch over Harry in their old universe. They had a lot to watch over in the last nine years. And some of those things had a lot to do with Severus, surprisingly.
They witnessed Harry's life each day, and the day he eventually woke up after the Battle of Hogwarts was no exception. Harry awakened after Lily was done seeing Severus off to his new life, but she wanted to fully understand how Harry viewed her friend now.
She soon had the answers.
When Harry woke up, he found that the bodies of their lost fighters and friends were being claimed and named. It was then that he realized. He felt strong remorse at once. How could he have forgotten?
He dashed rapidly to the Shrieking Shack, accompanied by Ron and Hermione, but he had demanded that they leave him to do this alone, so they waited outside the Whomping Willow.
Harry crawled into the Shack and found Severus' body lying there, covered in dried blood, his eyes wide open, as though he were still looking into the eyes of the woman he had loved all his life. That particularly haunted Harry and he wanted to close his eyes to make it seem like he was at peace at last. But he couldn't. There were two reasons for this. The first was that he felt that by shutting Severus' eyes, he would be cutting them and him off from Lily's eyes forever. And the second reason was that he couldn't possibly know or imagine that Severus was at peace…that he could ever be at peace.
Lily had wanted so much in that moment to inform her son that Severus was on the right track to finding peace again, but as he had dropped the Resurrection Stone in the Forbidden Forest and had absolutely no intention of going back for it, she had no access to the living world to do so.
Harry had carried the body of Severus using the Levitation Charm at first, but once he had him out of the Whomping Willow and into the open air, Harry carried his body in his arms, rather like Hagrid had done for him when he was presumed dead by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Ron and Hermione followed behind with mingled expressions of regret, pity and respect, as was the silence that occurred in the Great Hall when Harry entered carrying the limp, bloodied form of the bravest man any of them had ever known.
As painful as it looked, Lily couldn't help crying with joy at this scene. Through his actions for her memory and for Dumbledore's Greater Good, Severus Snape was remembered, loved and missed forever. She had seen what happened when Harry laid the body on the high table at the end of the hall. He raised his wand into the air, and was followed by teacher, student and aggrieved visitor alike. They all hailed the memory of Severus, and Lily wished he could have stayed long enough to see it all. To see Minerva McGonagall cry at the body, continuously apologising for not believing in him, Kingsley Shacklebolt promising to honour Severus with all the new-found power as Minister of Magic that he possessed, Rubeus Hagrid crying loudly shouting "Great man, Snape! Great man!" And to see the other teachers lead a memorial service alongside Harry the very next day.
There had been some conflict as to where to bury him. Harry suggested next to Lily's grave, but agreed that placing him near James would only emphasise the things Severus failed to achieve in life. The teachers suggested next to Dumbledore, but after seeing Severus' memories, agreed that Severus would not wish to be buried alongside a man he killed, and had used him all his life. And so the decision was made to bury him near the playground where he had first met Lily.
It was a beautiful service.
Severus' coffin was green picked out with red, not to symbolise his courage and his services to Gryffindor, but to symbolise the hair of the girl he loved. He was carried to the grave by Harry, Arthur and Ron Weasley and Horace Slughorn. As the funeral was held and prior to the final sealing of the coffin, Kingsley rose and announced that Severus had posthumously earned the Order of Merlin, First Class. He was buried with it.
Harry had felt severe disappointment at this award. He too had received the Order of Merlin for bringing down Voldemort, as did Hermione, Ron and Neville Longbottom. But the thrill, joy and honour he had felt for this came at a price, and that price was being paid even more when he saw Kingsley present the medal to a man whom could no longer feel any benefit from it.
It was Harry who had deprived Severus of the Order of Merlin four years ago. He was going to be awarded it for the capture of the previously thought guilty Sirius Black, but Harry turned back time and saved Sirius from the Dementors and his captivity. As a result, Severus' actions were for naught and he earned nothing.
"It wouldn't matter in the long run, Harry." assured Hermione. "Once Sirius was cleared after he died, Severus' award would likely have been revoked anyway, if not, once he killed Dumbledore."
Harry nodded in understanding.
The next time that Lily had looked over Harry and the subject was on Severus was when he and McGonagall ensured that a Headmaster's portrait of him was positioned at Hogwarts. It was placed two portraits away from Dumbledore's and as far away from the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black as possible.
Harry spoke to it. The portrait Severus had nothing to say. It knew nothing of Severus' second chance, and therefore fully maintained the personality that the Severus of old possessed.
"I just wanted to say, Professor…that I'm sorry I lost you the Order of Merlin, I'm sorry I stole those potion ingredients in second year, I'm sorry I thought you were after the Philosopher's Stone, I'm sorry I knocked you out in the Shrieking Shack, and I'm sorry I believed you to be the traitor you never were."
The portrait Severus grunted and rested.
Harry left the room after McGonagall made it clear she wanted to apologise to Severus in the closest way she could. The portrait was much more lenient and talkative to her, Harry and Lily had noticed, but this was not particularly surprising. Lily was sure that even now, Severus' feelings towards Harry were no different…yet.
Then she saw Harry crying and his new bride, Ginny had walked in on him after coming out of the bathroom.
"Harry, darling. You need to let this go." she had said sweetly.
"I can't forgive myself any more than Minerva could, Ginny." he said through his tears. "I made everyone hate him. I made him the most hated man in the Wizarding World, when he should always have been the most beloved. And even though I'm not sorry he and my mum never got together cos otherwise I'd never have been born…I am sorry they had never worked things out. I think my mum made a horrible mistake in letting him go."
Lily cried hard and loudly at that revelation. Her son was cross with her for what she considered to be the biggest mistake of her life. If she had at least forgiven Severus, he would have known she still loved him, albeit platonically when she died…but she didn't. She didn't give a Wormtail's ass about him until after she learned the truth in death. And now she regretted having to tell him the truth that she could never have loved him the way she loves James. She hoped everyday that Severus would find true love and happiness at long last in his new life, but she felt certain that if and when he did, he would never wish to return to her as a friend. Why would he want to? She treated him so badly. He may have treated her just as badly, if not worse…but at least he was loyal to the end…unlike her.
James saw her crying and embraced her, shedding a tear when she explained what Harry had said.
"He's just upset." he assured her.
"He's been upset for three years." she replied mournfully.
James sighed. He knew that even though he loved them deeply, Harry could never forgive James for betraying his belief that he was a great man with no bullying flaw in him. His treatment of Severus proved him wrong all along, and he never would forget the day he learned the truth about his teenaged father.
Some time passed, and soon enough, seven years after Severus moved on, James and Lily were delighted to witness from afar the birth of their first grandchild, a grandson, whom James and Sirius were delighted to hear held their names.
"Congratulations, honey!" grinned Lily.
"And you too, Nana Lils!" replied James gleefully.
"Aww!" Lily's hands pressed to her chest. "I'd have loved to be Nana Lils." She felt a pang of sadness that she could never truly be Nana Lils, and James could never truly be a grandad. But they were not going to let this put them down on such a wonderful occasion.
But then, a year later, yet another wonderful event occurred. Harry and Ginny had a second son, and they were astounded when they heard the name choice.
"Albus Potter." said Ginny. "What should his second name be? Remus? Alastor? Or…Severus?"
"Albus Severus." murmured Harry. "Perfect. He has her eyes too…Severus would have wanted that connection."
"I agree." said Ginny.
Lily cried in joy. Severus' legacy and name would be a part of her family at long last. She and Severus now had a connection outside of unrequited love and a ruined friendship. And she loved Harry and her daughter in-law for it.
James was less keen as he had hoped Harry would make Remus his namesake, but then, Teddy already had that privilege. And he felt that as he took the role in Lily's life and family away from Severus, this was the best that the Potters could offer. He wondered if Severus would be grateful for this small miracle…
I rather doubt it, he thought to himself.
It was on this day, not long after Severus and Lily had gone to Diagon Alley for the first time, that Lily and James keenly witnessed the birth of their third grandchild and first granddaughter, whom was, to Lily and James' delight, named after her grandmother as well as Harry and Ginny's close friend, Luna Lovegood, though James liked to think the name Luna also had a slight connection to Remus and his lunar condition.
They were so happy for Harry. He had everything now, albeit parents. But he was now a parent himself, a husband and a successful Auror and celebrity, and a rare modest one at that. He even funded memorial parties for those lost in the Battle of Hogwarts and treasured his godson, Teddy to the extent that the boy may as well have been his son who lived with him, but to Teddy, nobody could replace his grandmother. They doted on each other as they were all the other had. Harry also tried to reconcile Andromeda Tonks with her sister, Narcissa, and although they bonded in the regret that their insane sister had died in battle, they could only be civil now. There was too much bad blood between them. Maybe they will reconcile properly when their time on Earth came to an end.
After seeing Harry and Ginny fall asleep, cradling Lily Luna in their arms, James and Lily decided to check in on Severus some more.
He and Lily of that universe were immensely happy with their new communication method of owl post, and Gabriel proved to be a most affectionate and friendly delivery owl. He nipped both their ears with a fondness that could have passed off the idea that he saw them both as his owners, and that to Lily and James gave Severus a bond with this Lily that could foreshadow so much more further on.
Their talks were shared by Petunia as she wanted to be as involved as possible. The Lily in Heaven loved this improvement and wished that her version of her elder sister had been as better a person as this version. She couldn't even give Harry a pleasant farewell because her bitterness and self-delusional instinct to believe that magic was worthless had hardened her too much for that.
As the three of them chatted via owl or in person, their excitement of their futures grew, but Petunia grew more and more saddened but kept faith in Lily's promise to find a way for her to be involved in magic in or out of Hogwarts.
Lily and James watched as in that September, Petunia went off to her secondary school that she and her mother had eventually chosen. It was a few miles out of Cokeworth and had a very pleasant reputation. But Petunia could not contain her grief in having to go to a Muggle school and learn Math and Science.
Both the Lilys pitied her, and so did Severus. But there was nothing they could do. Sadly, Petunia's despair made her friendship with her friend, Lacie deteriorate. Worse still, Petunia started to show a severe lack of interest in her work. She even threw away her homework sheets.
Rose and Trevor berated her severely, but she didn't seem to care. Severus and Lily just didn't know what they could do to help her. Lily cried constantly with her, begging her to give the life she was content with before the revelation of magic a chance, but Petunia simply said no. No bitter tone, no scream of denial, no nothing. Just a dull and simple no.
And so it went on for months. Beyond Lily and Severus' tenth birthdays. Petunia's conditions at school grew worse and worse. The most ironic thing of all was that her lack of interest in school and in making friends and simply sitting around doing next to nothing resulted in her being known as the 'freaky girl' of the school.
The Evanses were growing more and more inconsolable in Petunia's self-destruction. If she continued this much longer, she would be a recluse and a failed student, with practically no future.
It wasn't until the following April that Severus and Lily found a possibility. Rose and Petunia were in the garden. Rose had decided as a bonding experience and a gateway to trying to get some sense into her daughter, to teach Petunia how to garden. She prided herself on her geraniums and roses. And to her delight, Petunia had inherited her love and talent for gardening. They made the garden immaculate in a matter of weeks, with Eileen even helping make the plants grow slightly faster.
It was watching Eileen practicing magic on Petunia's rhododendrons that gave Severus the idea. He pulled Lily to the side and out of earshot.
"I think I know how you can make Petunia's dream come true! At least to a certain extent and she would still have to live as a Muggle, but if this works, she could be a Muggly witch, a happy and content Squib of sorts!"
"What?!" gasped Lily. "How?! And uh, what's a Squib?"
"I'll explain that later, but here's my idea." said Severus. "Petunia may not be able to master magic with wandwork and complex spells. But what if we could find a way for her to master at least the most basic classes. She could surely brew first to second year rated Potions, with supervision at all times! And she could learn all of History of Magic. Mum says it's the most boring class taught at Hogwarts, but to Petunia, it might be fun! And we could teach her about Care of Magical Creatures once we leave Hogwarts if we show her round such creatures!"
"OH!" squealed Lily, bobbing up and down on the spot. "We could teach her how to pet a unicorn!"
"Exactly!" replied Severus grinning. "And I think, provided we do all the spells involved, she would be a great student of Herbology! She may not be able to do things like Charms, Transfiguration and Defence against the Dark Arts, but those classes wouldn't be too much trouble for a Muggle, as long as we help teach her all about it before letting her try it all out! If we can get Dumbledore to help us, we and maybe matured wizards or witches could be Petunia's teachers! Imagine if she could be a Herbologist! She clearly loves gardening! Why not?"
"Why not indeed?" cried Lily excitedly.
That evening, Severus asked Eileen about the idea. She wasn't certain if it would work, but this newfound hope was certainly more likely and promising than the last piece he had offered to Petunia some time ago. So, the next day, Severus and Lily met with Petunia, Rose and Trevor in the kitchen, and Lily told them the plan, at Severus' request. After all, it was Lily who had made the promise to Petunia.
Petunia's sullen expression grew more and more bright and hopeful with each passing second of the monologue.
"Y-you think I could do all that stuff?" she asked timidly.
"Not whilst still at school." said Severus in a firm tone, as though he were an elder brother. "You still need to continue and endeavour in your Muggle studies, but if we can somehow get Dumbledore on side, perhaps you can have a private tutor to help you learn these basics in magic."
Petunia nodded frantically.
"I will do anything for this!" she shouted.
"I can't promise anything, Tuney." said Lily quietly.
"But I'm touched that you would even want to try after all I've ever done and said to you and Severus." replied Petunia in earnest.
Lily hugged her happily. Rose and Trevor looked on smiling, and Severus remained hopeful.
As time went on, Lily and James watched on from Heaven and things were improving more and more. Petunia was back to her old, dedicated self. She began to pay attention in school again, she exceeded her prior expectations and although her friendship with Lacie had come to an end, she made two new friends named Millie Quince and Carly Willett. They were both redheads with friendly, welcoming attitudes. They were amongst the few people who didn't make a mockery out of Petunia this past school year.
Eileen was by now fully experienced as a witch once more, and her parents had made an astounding offer that had decided that Severus had nothing to worry about upon taking the Prince name after all: they had invited not just Eileen and Severus, but also the four members of the Evans family round to the Prince Manor for Christmas dinner. The family accepted at once, all excited and keen to visit a fully-fledged wizarding home.
Lily and James agreed that the Christmas dinner visitation was indeed a night to remember. The turkey looked succulent, the meal went down very well. Septimus simply had to accept that Muggles were not at all that different to witches and wizards, and he found Trevor a most engaging man, and they discussed each other's different objects in life. Septimus was keen to learn the mechanics of a camper van's motor, and Trevor had lots to ask about broomsticks and how they operated.
Eileen and Rose, now best of friends, chatted with Desdemona quite cheerfully and Desdemona introduced the children to the house elves in the kitchen. Neither Rose nor Lily were particularly keen on the idea of medieval slavery on the smaller creatures, but the elves, Eveby and Yeep, were more than keen to disprove their cause for concern; they adored working for the Princes and threw themselves happily at Eileen, no longer able to contain their joy to see her again. Eileen hugged them too, which was a very unusual occurrence between witches and house elves, which made them cry in joy.
Then, just before they were due to head home, Septimus and Desdemona handed each child a present.
"Oh!" gasped Lily.
"Y-you really s-shouldn't have done." whispered Petunia shyly.
"Any friend of Severus' is a friend of ours." said Septimus, waving them off.
"Now don't be silly. Open up!" said Desdemona cheerfully.
They did so. Severus received a book on Potions through many ages and levels of education. He was delighted. Lily got a trainee broomstick suited for ages ten to thirteen, which excited her and under Eileen's suggestion, they bought Petunia a book on the many plants of Herbology that she could attempt to grow in the future. Petunia couldn't wait to start reading.
Lily and James watched happily beyond this Christmas. Lily flew in evenings, never above the trees by the park in case she was to be seen. She even let Petunia have a go. Severus showed little interest, and he and Lily waited impatiently for the day to come for Severus to receive his letter and for Lily's birthday so that they could go back to Diagon Alley to collect their school supplies for that coming September.
Lily and James thought that things for Severus were going so very well, but they had a lot of obstacles to fear yet. Once they went to Hogwarts in eight months' time, Severus and this alternate Lily would encounter an alternate version of the Marauders…and once they left Hogwarts…
"Do you think Severus can use his memories to stop Voldemort before the prophecy can unfold?" asked Lily.
"I don't know, love." said James. "But I believe in Severus Snape, just as you did and do. If anyone can stop Voldemort in this universe, it's him."
Lily smiled, grateful that she wasn't alone in her faith for her best friend, whom she will always be waiting for and willing to welcome into her heavenly abode.
A bit shorter and another Heaven interval, and a bit of rushed time, but I hope you will appreciate it. Hogwarts days are coming! Chapter 9 coming soon! Does anyone want me to give previews? If so, tell me so on the reviews. Thanks for reading!