It had been 7 years since those eyes had been opened, since those eyes had seen anything that went on in the world. Seven years since Harry Potter had spoken to Professor Snape. For seven years, Severus Snape had lay in this hospital bed, still, cold…lifeless…Harry couldn't keep his eyes off of Snape's neck. The exact spot that Nagini had bitten him. The reason Snape was here. After the battle had been won, Harry had gone back to the Shrieking Shack to get Snape's body to bury him but he had found that the potions professor was breathing. In shock., Harry called for help to get Snape to 's. Snape had been stable but had fallen into a coma. And that was how it had been for seven years. Harry stayed at Snape's bedside and talked to him. He visited often, hoping Snape would wake up.
"I cleared your name." Harry said. "Everyone knows that you were only acting on Dumbledore's orders. You were a Death Eater but you were helping us. A spy. Everyone knows." He sighed. "If you wake up, you could have a normal life. A free man. You have nothing for atone for anymore. You've done enough." Harry's own life was great. He had married Ginny and had their first child and their second was on the way. Harry was going to name their second child Rubeus Severus. After Hagrid and Severus. He looked back to the professor. "I'm naming my second son after you." He said. "It's an honor you deserve after everything you did. If you wake up, I'd be happy for you to meet him."
No reaction. Did he expect anything else? He laid his head on the bed, next to Snape's head. "I want to make amends with you." He said. "I want us to get along. You're the only one who could tell me about my parents now. If you wake up, we could get along and be friends…The world is a brighter place now and you can't even see it…" He looked at his professors face. "Please wake up." It was a desperate plea but he said it anyway. He knew the chances of Severus waking up were virtually nonexistent but the choice to humanely kill Severus was up to Harry and Harry always said no. "He'll wake up." He had said. "He will wake up."
"If you wake up." He said. "You could teach again. Or you could travel. Do you want to come home with me? I'm sure Ginny wouldn't mind. I'm sure you could stay with us. James, my son, would love to have someone around while Ginny and I are at work. We usually have Molly babysit but James would love someone else for once." He smiled a bit as he spoke about his son. He loved to talk about his own child. "We are excited to meet Rubeus. That's his first name. I named him after Hagrid. Ginny will have him any day now. I can't wait to meet him. I'm such a proud father." He chuckled but it fell silent when he looked at his lifeless professor again. "Will you wake up to see that? To see us having families…you can be a part of our family. Severus. We'll accept you. You won't have to be alone. Is that why you won't wake up? Are you scared?"
Silence. Harry sighed. "I know." He said. "It's time to let you go but…I don't want to. I don't want to admit that there is no hope…but you're waiting for me to let you go aren't you?" He stared at Severus. "I know…I'll get a doctor to let you go.." He took Severus's hand. "Just know that I'm only doing this to send you to paradise. That's the only reason." He kissed Sev's fingers and then his head as a goodbye. It was all he could think to do as tears were starting to fill his eyes. "You can…you can let go." He whispered. He bent his head and cried over his professor. In the midst of his cries he heard, "H..Ha.." Harry froze. It couldn't be…could it? "H..Ha..arry…" Harry cautiously looked up. Sev's lips moved. "Ha.." Harry gave a weak laugh. "Open your eyes. Please…open your eyes!" It was a struggle but there were soon onyx eyes staring back at teary green ones. Harry was crying with joy. Sev was awake. Severus was alive and he could make amends with his potions professor.
And never again would he have to say his most hated phrase "If you wake up" because now Severus was awake. Harry would make the most of every moment.