Chapter 1: Gestalt

The afterlife was as peaceful an existence as Severus could have hoped for. Every morning, he and Lily would go downstairs and join Snarky for breakfast, afterwhich Severus would take Nana for a walk while Lily made calls to her sister, her girlfriends, and the children (particularly Neville and Marlene). After the walk, Severus would go to the city by train for work; he had managed to snatch a particularly good post at the University as one of the professors of the magical arts. After work, he would catch lunch with the boys; Peter tended to know the best restaurants in the city, and neither Regulus nor Remus objected to whatever he chose. Returning from lunch, Severus would finish his work day, come home, and spend the rest of the day with Lily, either helping her and Snarky make dinner (if they felt like eating) or watching something on the mortelevision.

This morning, however, was different.

Severus awoke to the sound of someone knocking on the door. He sat up, looking over at the still-sleeping Lily, and gave her a small kiss on the cheek before getting out of bed. He put a nightgown on before descending the steps and opening the front door, only to find none other than Albus Dumbledore standing before him.

"... Albus?" Severus was confused.

"You seem surprised," Albus said with a mercurial smile.

"Slightly," Severus said. "I assume you must be using your annual pass for a good reason?"

"Indeed," Albus replied. "May I come in?"

Severus nodded and stepped aside, and the two men went into the lounge and sat down. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I've been sent by the Powers That Be-"

"No."

"... pardon?"

"I'm not- I've already re-lived my life, and I'm not doing it again, thank you very much!"

"Ah, that's not why I'm here," Albus said. "I'm here to extend an invitation to a special gathering of sorts."

"What sort of gathering?"

"Well… how do I explain…? Are you aware of the concept of parallel worlds?"

Severus nodded. "Alternate timelines?"

"Well, no," Albus said. "An alternate timeline is one that branches off from an original timeline. A parallel world is one that resembles others and exists alongside others, but has its own distinct timeline. Hence: parallel."

"I see," Severus said. "And…?"

"This gathering is a gathering of other Severus Snapes," Albus said.

Severus blinked. "... there are more of me?"

"There are," Albus said, "due in no small part to you."

"I don't… you're going to explain the workings of the universe again, aren't you?"

Albus smiled with amusement. "Right you are, Severus! When you chose to reverse time and return to that morning, you sent ripples throughout reality itself. And those ripples formed parallel realities which, while resembling your own in some aspects, differ greatly in others.

"In any event, the Powers That Be thought you might be interested in seeing the changes yourself."

"Am I some sort of guest of honor, then?" Severus said dryly.

"Not really, no. Although the other Snapes have been told of you."

"Wait," Severus said, "does this mean there are other Lilys?"

"And other Albuses," Albus said. "However, this afterlife only has one of each. Or, I guess in your case, 1+."

"'Greater than my sum'," Severus echoed from his past. "So, there are other afterlives, then?"

Albus nodded. "The gathering will be held in a neutral zone; I believe one of your counterparts owns and runs it."

"How do I get there?" Severus asked.

"Ah, so you're going then?" Albus said with excitement.

"Possibly. I want to speak with Lily about it."

"Of course. In that case, just call a thestral and tell it to take you to the Prince Club." Albus stood and straightened out his robe. "Well, I best be off. I promised I would visit James and Sirius in Valhalla."

"Hmm," Severus said sourly as he walked him to the door.

"Oh, do let it go," Albus chided. "It's been ages. Anyway, have a good meeting."

"Have a good… Valhalla," Severus said as he opened the door and bid farewell to the old wizard.

"Sev?" Severus turned to the staircase as Lily descended. "Was someone here?"

"Albus," Severus replied. "He wanted to invite me to some sort of gathering. Apparently, more than one of me exists."

"Really? We haven't seen any of them."

"Separate afterlives," Severus said.

"Are you going?"

"Should I?"

"Why not?"

Severus thought about it for a moment. "I want to ask you before I make a decision."

"Well," Lily said, stepping forward so that she was right in front of Severus, "I think that, if there's more than one of you, then you can see what you've missed out on."

"What if I see something I don't like?"

"Then I'll be here for you." Lily stood on her tiptoes as she gave him a kiss.

Severus pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. "Then, I'll go."

"I'll call the University," Lily said. "Have fun."

Severus kissed Lily goodbye before stepping out the front door and onto the street. He called out, "I need a thestral!" Before he had a chance to process what happened, a powerful black horse with feathered wings appeared, landing right in front of him. He looked over the beast tentatively before choosing to mount it. "The Prince Club!"