It All Started With A Dream

"It rained the night you died you know? I don't suppose you do; after all, you can't know anything anymore. I think all the angels in heaven cried for you that night, I know I cried. You never got to know in the end who you really were. I was coming to tell you that day and instead you died in my arms before I got the chance to tell you. Hell, you didn't even know it was me, you were too far gone by then. I hope you can forgive me for the way I treated you, I didn't hate you. I never hated you despite outward appearances. I couldn't handle what you reminded me of. Of what I had lost. I wish I had known earlier, maybe then you wouldn't have died at the hands of an abusive uncle. I truly believed you to be his son; it never crossed my mind that you could be my child."

The man paused here, wiping away the tears he never realized were falling. He was unaccustomed to crying, after all this had only been the second time in a long, long time. Both times had been over this boy and the last time before that had been over the boy's mother. After a moment, the man started to speak again. He sounded lost and alone, very unlike the "cold hearted bastard" or "greasy git" reputation had him to be.

"You're buried under your true name so the wizarding world doesn't know your gone, if they knew then the dark side would win. They are already winning and if news of your death at the hands of mere Muggles were to escape, all hope would be lost. The only thing that's keeping everyone fighting is the absolute belief that once again their beloved boy savior will come and kill Voldemort. They all think you off somewhere training to defeat him. Only I, Remus Lupin, Albus Dumbledore, Sirius Black, Minerva McGonagall, The Weasley family and Hermione Granger know the truth. Sirius Black lies beside you, you were the only thing keeping him alive and when you left, he didn't see the point in carrying on. He was buried at your side by my request. The Grave on your other side will remain vacant until I myself join you; I stay only to defeat the Dark Lord in the name of yours and your mother's memory. So, that all those who have died may not have died for no reason. I may have failed you in life but I will not let your deaths be in vain. Yes your death too was the fault of Voldemort. He may not be the one who physically killed you but he was the root of it. If he hadn't killed your mother, and as you thought he was, your father you would never have had to live with those Muggles in the first place. To think I thought you had a charmed life, man was I wrong. Maybe if I took the time to read the signs I would have realized and I wouldn't have treated you so badly. I didn't know you where my son until just before school finished for the summer. I had a spell performed while you were still in the hospital wing after the tri-wizard tournament. It proved you my son but I was scared, I decided to wait until the new school year started to see if I would tell you. When you didn't turn up I was relieved to tell you the truth, but then Remus told Albus and myself about what he had discovered when he taught Defense Against the Dark Arts the last time. Oh yes, he has returned to teach this year by the way. Anyway, I'm getting off track, when Remus told us what he found out back then we were sent to look for you at the Dursley's house. I decided then to tell you, but by the time we got there it was too late. I hope you can hear me and can forgive me, but you can't can you? No you can't do anything anymore because you're dead."

Anger tinged the voice as well now, anger for the boy who had been taken from him before he got a chance to know the truth. Anger at himself for taking the wrong path and becoming a Death Eater in the beginning. But anger was not the only emotion present; there was pain and a deep, deep sorrow.

"If I could turn back time and change things I would in a flash. But I can't, so there is only one last thing to say. Rest in peace, youngest of the Evans and Snape lines. Rest in peace my only son"

A tall figure with pale skin, black eyes and hair dressed in black robes rose from the grave before which they had been kneeling, talking to it for the last hour. The gravestone read

Harry James Snape

1980-1995

Left the world too soon

Beloved son and loyal friend

Then the man bent down and placed a single white rose on the grave before turning to leave and with one last pain filled glance he was gone in a swirl of black robes and cloak.

Severus Snape woke suddenly from the strangest dream. Something was telling him that this dream was important, but he could not remember it.