Goodbyes

Goodbyes

*

Epilogue

*

"Headmaster Snape?"

"Yes, Miss Potter?"

"Could you please help me with this essay? I didn't understand all what Professor Zabini told us during the lesson, he wasn't very clear with his words."

"I fear that it's a little defect of Professor Zabini we have to forgive, child. But if you truly want help, you'll of course get it. It's always a pleasure to teach a keen student."

...Now, it's year 2185. Albus Dumbledore had retired a couple of years after the Last Battle, leaving the position to his Potions Master, Severus Snape, since the Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall had firmly refused becoming a Headmistress. Blaise Zabini had taken over the Potions position, having passed his Potions Master tests in the young age of twenty-two, and nowadays, his great-grandson Matthew Zabini was teaching the subject.

Severus listened carefully as Melinda Potter explained her difficulties with the essay, then started to advise her. He hadn't lied, it was truly a pleasure to teach her. Out of all Potters he'd seen during his years in Hogwarts - and that was many - Melinda was by far the most brilliant and powerful witch, maybe even more powerful than her infamous ancestor Harry Potter. The man himself had passed away several years ago, like had all of his generation, and almost all of the next one - and many of Potter's genaration's grandchildren, too. Only the Headmaster was alive to tell the students tales about the years of War. In the highly respectable age of two hundred and twenty-five, he was told to be by far the oldest wizard alive, with seemingly no intentions at all to die very soon.

Despite his previous nasty fame, Headmaster Snape was rather liked. He was strict, true, but years had brought him much wisdom and patience, both of which his students did their best to question, never quite succeeing in their task. Often giving extra lessons in DADA and Potions to both the worst and best students, he was also well known amongst the students, just like was his office where this tutoring was given.

That was how every and each person in the school knew about the framed photograph on his desk. In the picture there was a man, rather young in the wizarding measures but his hair prematurely grey, amber smiles shining warmly to everyone in sight. There was a crystal vase in front of the picture, and every morning, the Headmaster placed a fresh, white rose to the vase.

Some said that the man was his lover, some that it was his son, or a long-lost brother. Some, however, knew about the old tale, and told the others that the man in the picture was his husband, the only one whom he'd ever truly loved. Even the most doubtful people couldn't deny this as they saw the golden band in the Headmaster's wrist, proving that he was married to someone, in the firmest way possible - for life, and beyond.

Even though the Headmaster was liked and respected, everyone also knew about his one little defect - he never smiled. Never had anyone alive seen a smile adorn those thin lips, never had the beetle-black eyes been twinkling with light and joy. It was rumoured that his long-gone husband had been the only one who could ever tempt a smile to his lips, the only one who could ever make the black eyes twinkle like the previous Headmaster's did even in his portraits.

For this man was the only one who had ever made Headmaster Snape truly happy.

He was happy when everything went well with the school, true. As well he was happy when he could make a student understand some difficult point, seeing the child's joy over the new discovery. But there was always a hint of sadness in him, the wistful expression on his face never faded. No matter how well everything was in the present, he couldn't forget what had been in the past - those rare, precious moments he had spent in peace with his beloved, those small moments of peace and silence in the middle of the War.

No, Headmaster Snape was never wholly happy, for he could never consider himself happy with his only love being taken from him so long time ago.

The magical wheelchair still rode around the school, crossing stairways with no difficulty at all, heading every now and then to dark corners were the Headmaster knew he would find young couples in suspicious doings. Nobody knew exactly why, but Headmaster Snape seemed to take great amusement from startling students apart with spells.

Their tutoring session went for some time just like it usually did. Snape calmly answered all her questions, gave her some advices about where to find more information, and also made questions himself to the teen. She replied quickly, proving much knowledge to one of her age. Truly, she was probably even more brilliant than Hermione Granger had been. She'd be just what Granger would have become, should she not have been killed in the War.

Suddenly, Melinda noticed as the Headmaster doubled over in his chair, clutching at his chest. Then, before she could do anything, the ancient wizard fell down from his chair, panting slightly and grimacing as if in pain.

"Headmaster!" she cried out in horror. "Headmaster, are you all right?"

Just then, the wrinkled face relaxed, all marks of pain disappearing. A warm smile curled his thin lips as he replied, "Yes, Melinda, I am all right... I see Remus, dear child, I'm going home at last."

And with these words, the smile still lingering on his lips, Severus Lupin-Snape closed his eyes for the last time, joining his beloved in eternal light.

*

When my life has come to its end,

When I have no time to spend,

A joyous moment it shall be,

For beyond end, you'll be with me.

I'd love to come there, be with you,

Tell you at last: "I love you."

And no longer shall I wait.

I will no more have to fight.

*

Stars light up above us so high,

They are casting their blessing light.

And, for a moment, all in sight

Is only light.

It's only light.

*

Safe travel it was,

My friend.

Safe travel has

Come to end.

Safe travel - sad too,

My friend.

Beyond the end

I'm now with you.

*

~The End~