Four hours.
Severus Snape had been free for several hours now… and yet he couldn't stop himself from checking his arm every few minutes.
How long had it been since he could look at his arm and not see that God-awful tattoo?
"Thank you for coming my old friend." Dumbledore greeted as he sank down into his oversized chair. The Potion Master had received a request from the Headmaster to speak in private, and although he wanted nothing more than to just leave he couldn't help but feel inclined to accept one last time.
The Headmaster gave a weary sigh, before standing and moving towards where he kept his hidden supply of alcohol. "I would offer a lemon drop but… perhaps the situation calls for something a bit… stronger?"
Pouring two glasses he offered one to his former student, who promptly tipped it back and downed it in one gulp, earning a chuckle from the older man before pouring another.
"I am sorry Severus, for years… years I have been ignoring your warnings, turning a blind eye… but now…" The man seemed to age another decade at least as he slumped down into the chair once more. "I have just finished speaking with Cedric Diggory and Victor Krum… and you were right. You have always been right. Harry has been using dark Magic, taking lives needlessly, having others declare him 'Lord'… he has fallen without my ever noticing."
The bearded man paused, before muttering out another statement, "Or perhaps I did notice, but just refused to see."
Snape ignored the man's eyes, not wanting to feel any pity or remorse any longer. It was true, he had warned the Headmaster close to a dozen times over the years, and all he had received in response was scolding and warnings.
But perhaps it had been for the best.
"I need your help Severus, now more than ever." The Slytherin Head of House blinked, his mind returning to the situation at hand. "I need you to take up your position once more. To go to Harry and…"
"No"
The Supreme Mugwump blinked back, startled at the response. "Severus my boy what…"
"I said 'no' Albus. I am done with this game. I am done playing spy and pretending to be someone I am not. I am done with the wars and conflicts, done with all of it." In the stunned silence his mind went back to the previous years. Despite being right he couldn't help but feel wrong . He had judged the boy as being evil without any evidence and sought to torment him at any chance he could find.
'Lily…' he fought the tears that burned at his eyes, 'what would you have thought at my behavior? Would you have been disappointed at how I treated your son, even with his actions? Should I not do everything I can to…'
"Severus, I understand that Tom is gone but there is an even greater threat looming. If we do not act soon all could be lost."
Snape finally met the man's eyes, before cracking a smile… and laughing . " Lost!? Albus you have already lost . What do you think is going to happen now? The boy killed Voldemort in front of the entire Magical World. He managed to get Lucius Malfoy elected Minister last year and since then the man has only pushed anti -bigotry laws. Harry Potter could walk into the Wizengamot and kill half of them and would probably be elected King the following day if he wanted!"
"We have not lost… so long as there is one foolish enough to stand up to the darkness."
Snape nodded at the man's words, "You are probably right Albus… but that person is not me, not anymore. You were right, I was blind in my hatred for the boy. I saw him only as his father until I watched him do what we could not in over two decades. It was not my interference that avenged Lily's death. It was not your cunning or the Aurors… it was a child Albus. A child who destroyed the most powerful Dark Lord of the past century, if not more. I have fulfilled my oath to you, I will not turn against Lily's son, not again."
He rose, before turning to leave.
"You will go to him then? Choose to serve another Dark Lord?"
"I will protect a boy whom I have always hated. I will try and lead him as best I can towards a brighter future… but I will not betray him. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin stand alongside him Albus, along with dozens of others. Do you think they are blind? Do you believe that none of them are aware? He is remaking the world, and it is a future I want to see… and be a part of."
...
More than a few of the Slytherin girls had 'hinted' at joining Harry for a celebratory night, that is until the death glare sent to them by a certain amber-eyed girl had them rethinking their choices. Even Luna and Hermione had been turned away by Hedwig, who claimed that after such a night he just needed to sleep.
It was sort of a lie. Technically he could go days without rest and function, but she had seen something in his eyes before he had gone to his room. As she joined him in the bed, and gently placed her arms around him.
In that moment she could feel them, wet spots growing on her dress as his body shuttered.
For the very first time, Harry Potter was crying.
Her hug strengthened, pulling him closer as her fingertips wove into his hair.
"Shhhh it's okay… just let go…" She didn't need to ask, knowing instinctively what was causing his breakdown. Despite the strong appearance he had always put forth he still had the same insecurities that many orphans did growing up.
He longed for parents, for a family, and he always had. When he had found out about their murder he had been… upset and swore a terrible vengeance upon those who had taken them away. Hours ago, he had finally achieved it.
Voldemort was dead, his parents were avenged…
A weight had been lifted from him.
"They would be so proud of you Harry…" she muttered into his hair, "They loved you, they would want you to be happy."
He would not find sleep until the sun rose, and he exhausted himself emotionally.
....
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