Goodbyes

Goodbyes

*

Voldemort glared at the unconscious man on the ground. "A traitor," he hissed. Then, pointing his wand at the man, he yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"

Harry watched in horror as the beam of green light burst out of the Dark Lord’s wand, flying towards Snape. Harry was the only one who could harm Voldemort, and yet he was too weak for that. This was too soon, far too soon.

He could just watch in horror as his allies were murdered, one by one.

Then, just as the curse was hitting Snape, somebody stepped calmly in front of it. The curse hit its victim with top strength, sending him fly backwards.

Harry watched in horror as Remus’s lifeless body dropped on the ground.

Then his horror was replaced with fury, fury and hatred stronger than he had ever felt. Remus had been the last thing precious to him, after Ron and Hermione’s murder a year before. And now Voldemort had destroyed the man.

He raised his wand. Before Voldemort could aim again at Snape, he said, clearly and loudly, "Avada Kedavra."

Without as much as a scream, the Dark Lord fell on the ground and didn’t move anymore.

Tears filling his eyes, uncertain of where he was going in the first point, Harry stumbled towards one of the unmoving forms on the ground. He knelt down, reaching a hand to touch Remus’s hand. It was already cooling as the life had left him.

~*~

"Headmaster," Poppy Pomfrey said breathlessly. "I believe there’s something you should know."

"What it is, Poppy?" Dumbledore asked kindly.

"I know who was Remus’s husband," the mediwitch said briefly. "I only need your confirmation for that."

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling. "Why do you even think that Remus had a husband?"

"Because he had a band on his wrist, as you’re well aware of," Pomfrey said dryly. "And I know as well as you do that it’s the sign of being bonded in the firmest marriage. The one that allows the two to be together even in the afterlife."

"So who do you think is his spouse?"

"I don’t know for sure, of course, before you admit it," the witch said, "but I just found a similar band on Severus Snape’s wrist."

~*~

"Remus Lupin was the last loss for the Light, in the last fight in the last war against the Dark Lord Voldemort," Arthur Weasley, the new Minister of Magic said quietly. "He was also an epitome of all those things we consider Light: Kind, friendly, intelligent, polite, understanding, unselfish, forgiving... The list goes on, too long for any of us to say."

Harry nodded in quiet agreement, as did every one of the guests in the funeral. The whole Order remaining was there, besides Snape, who Harry hadn’t seen since the fight.

"Remus did the major sacrifice on the time when it was demanded," Mr. Weasley continued. "He saved a life with his own, a life of a man who never showed any friendship towards him. Remus was a good man, in every mean of the word.

We’re now here to say goodbye to Remus. He meant very much to every one of us. He will be remembered for longer than any of us remain on this Earth, since while our names will be forgotten, the names of Remus and all the others who gave their lives for the Light will be taught to our children and grandchildren. And they have deserved it.

We’re here to say thank you to Remus, who always gave us hope."

"I believe," said Dumbledore’s calm voice, "that there’s someone who’d want to say something more."

They all turned around to look at the Headmaster. Next to him was, to everyone’s slight surprise, Snape.

Snape was sitting in a magical wheelchair, seemingly very weak. He was pale and looked sick, but his mask never dropped.

Everyone watched silently as he drove his chair on the edge of the grave. He sat there for a very long time, not moving a finger.

Everyone waited.

At last, Snape broke the silence.

"I loved Remus," he said, his voice quiet but clear enough to be heard by everyone in the stunned silence. "Most of you probably don’t believe me, but I loved him. He said he loved me also. Sometimes, I allowed myself the luxury of believing him."

Harry swallowed. He suddenly saw where this was leading.

"I don’t think I ever told him just how precious he was to me. I wanted to, but I just couldn’t force the words out of me.

He was the one who brought me to the Light, the one I tried to fight off that bond for. He was also the only one I’ve let myself to be bonded to since that."

Snape stroked slightly his left arm before continuing, "The Dark Mark is gone. The other bond still remains, and will remain forever. And because of that bond, I will once be able to tell him just how much I loved him.

For now, this has to do: I love you, Remus. I always will." Snape let two white roses fall on the grave.

Then, without another word, he turned the wheelchair around and left, ignoring all the gazes locked on him.

~*~

Severus swallowed. It had been hard not to cry aloud. Once reaching the privacy of his rooms, he’d cry himself dry of tears, but he wouldn’t break down in other people’s presence. He wouldn’t.

Dumbledore had insisted walking him to his rooms. As if he needed any assistance getting there. The wheelchair could drive on the stairs as well as in the corridors, and he was well capable of getting there by himself. But, the Headmaster couldn’t be turned down.

The way was walked in silence. Once they reached the door of his quarters, he turned towards the old wizard. "Well?" he snapped. "What it is?"

"I’ve put antisuicidal charms on you," Dumbledore said solemnly. "They’re twisted upon myself. I trust you not to do anything stupid."

Severus glared at the old man. For a moment he felt an irresistible urge to slice his wrists just to see if Headmaster would die or if he was just cheating. Then he sighed. "No need to worry," he said blankly. "I keep Remus’s sacrifice in too much respect to throw it away. And I am grateful to him."

Dumbledore nodded, and turned around to leave.

It wasn’t until the old wizard was out of the hearing area when Severus murmured, "I am grateful, yet I don’t understand."