The Last Kiss

I was mistaken...

~4~

Harry quickly picked up the violet and as expected, the next memory came quickly...

~~~*~~~

Sirius stared at the great oak doors for a moment before pushing them open. During the summer holidays, the Entrance Hall was usually empty, but today the silence was deafening. He had stopped by the Potter's home that morning. Lily was taking it hard. She was getting ready for the funeral, silently bursting into tears every couple of minutes.

Little Harry wasn't helping much, tearing into every cabinet he could reach, pulling everything out. Seeing how Lily couldn't handle keeping an eye on Harry, putting herself together, and deal with her friend's death, Sirius offered to take the child out to the park for a while. Lily had gladly accepted. Playing with Harry outside helped him forget how many friends he had lost in the past year. At least for a while.

Now, standing in the silent Entrance Hall, he had to face reality once again. He was in the only safe place left in this world. Would it remain safe? He feared what would happen if these hallowed halls no longer protected the future of the wizarding world. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

Renae walked into the Entrance Hall. Her black robes didn't do much for her complexion, but they certainly matched the sadness in her eyes. Without a word, they walked towards each other and embraced. As he held her tight against his chest, he kissed the top of her head, inhaling the violet scent as he closed his eyes. "I don't know what I would do without you, you're the reason I get through each day."

She looked up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks. "So are you," she smiled. They stayed there for a few minutes, quietly holding each other.

Slowly he released her. "We need to get going, the funeral is at four." She nodded, wiping away the few tears that were left. Taking her arm, he led her out of the castle.

~~~*~~~

Just outside of Cambridge, standing around Aleanor's casket, Renae felt the memory of her mother's funeral flooding back to her. She knew many of her classmates from Hogwarts had died over the past few years, but this was the first one whose funeral she could attend. She wasn't as close to Aleanor as Lily, but she was saddened just the same.

Aleanor's brother Gregory stood across from her, on the other side of the casket. Renae had heard his parents had decided to stay in America, but she thought they would have returned for this. Holding onto Sirius' arm, she looked to her left to see how Lily was doing.

James had Harry in one arm, while Lily held onto his other arm. Tears ran down her red face as she stared blankly at the casket. James whispered something to her, which made her quickly look up. Renae followed Lily's stare; up on the hill, away from everyone else, stood Snape.

Sirius' hold on her arm grew tighter. Leaning over, he whispered to her. "I can't believe he would dare show his face here." If looks could kill, Snape would have been worse off than if the Killing Curse had hit him.

"Why?" Without answering her, he let go of her arm and stepped away.

What is going on here? Renae thought to herself as Sirius walked behind her and whispered something to James.

She watched as James handed Harry back to Lily. Renae stepped closer to Lily. As she did Harry grabbed her robes and began tugging at them. "Lily, what's going on with Snape?"

Lily pulled Renae's robes out of Harry's hand. "I'll explain later."

Looking across from them, she saw James and Sirius talking to Gregory, whose face went redder than his hair. She saw his hands clench into tight fists at his sides as he looked up the hill at Snape. Oh no.

Quickly she made her way through the people and around to the other side. She could tell something bad was about to happen. As she reached the other side of the mourners, James, Sirius, and Gregory were walking up the hill towards Snape, who stood motionless, arms crossed as usual. Quickly she fell in line behind them.

"How dare you show your face here? Leave now!" Gregory hissed at Snape in a tone that made Renae want to disappear, even though it wasn't addressed to her.

"I have just as much right to be here as you," Snape responded, devoid of emotion.

"Bloody hell you do! My sister would be alive if it weren't for you!"

For a moment, Renae saw something flash in Snape's eyes and she felt a lump form in her throat. She never thought it possible, but now she knew she had been wrong all these years. Just as quickly as it appeared in his eyes, it vanished, followed by a renewed strength.

Snape glared at Gregory, a glare more penetrating than any knife could ever be. "Her death was not by my hands, Delaney."

Gregory slowly walked towards Snape. Renae recognized the look on his face; her third year, Gregory's sixth, he had that same look before he nearly pummeled Lucius Malfoy into a pulp for insulting his sister. This isn't good!

****

Sirius glanced at James as Gregory walked towards Snape. Words weren't necessary between them. James' look read . . . Stay out of this, let him handle it. With a nod, Sirius agreed. He realized, then, Gregory had pulled his wand out of his robes and was aiming it at Snape. Before Sirius could blink, someone dashed past them and in front of Snape.

"Renae, get out of the way, I don't want you to get hurt," Gregory growled not even looking at her; his gaze was fixed on Snape.

"No," Renae crossed her arms, which eerily echoed the figure she was protecting. She looked down towards Lily, who was again staring blankly at the black casket. Renae knew Lily was too grief stricken to talk some sense into Gregory, so she had to. "Aleanor wouldn't want you doing this, and neither do I!"

"I mean it Renae, MOVE!" Gregory stepped forward, aiming his wand right at her. Sirius leaped forward and grabbed him by the arm. Gregory pushed him back, his gaze now fixed on Renae. "I will move you out of my way if I have to," he nodded towards Snape, "that filthy Death Eater is going to pay!" Renae's eyes showed the shock of that statement. She knew Sirius had always suspected Snape, as did James, but Gregory stood there declaring it openly.

The woman stepped closer to Gregory. Sirius tried to pull her out of the way, but she quickly pulled out her wand and stopped him. "No, Sirius. If I move, it will be of my own accord." Renae and Gregory were now only a meter apart, their wands aimed at each other.

Sirius looked at James. "James, do something!"

"Like what?" The shock on his friends face was clear. Neither of them knew how to defuse this situation.

"Snape had nothing to do with Aleanor's death, that much I'm sure of. And nothing you do to him will bring her back, Gregory," Renae said, glaring at the man.

Gregory's voice sent chills down Sirius' spine as he responded, "That bastard is one of them. A vile, mindless, murdering Death Eater, just like the ones who killed your mother. What do you think she would say about you protecting one of them? Would she be proud of her little girl?" The way in which the last question slid off his tongue made Sirius' skin crawl; he had never heard Gregory speak like that before.

"Think Gregory...would Aleanor want you to become nothing more than a murderer yourself... like a Death Eater?" They stood staring at each, the tension between them unbearable. Finally, tears began pouring down his face as Gregory dropped his wand. James let out a sigh of relief.

Renae put her wand back in her robes as Sirius walked over to her, quickly pulling her into his arms. "What were you thinking?" he whispered as held her tight.

"I couldn't let him do something foolish, I owe that much to Aleanor." She buried her face into his chest as he held her tight.

"Sirius, where's Snape?" James asked.

Renae pulled her head up as Sirius looked up at James, asking, "What do you mean, where's Snape?" Gregory was now collapsed on the ground, a blubbering mess. James was standing beside him.

"I was trying to calm Gregory down and when I turned back, Snape was gone."

Sirius let go of Renae. "We have to find him, if what Gregory said is true, we have to take him in. You know he wouldn't accuse Snape openly unless he had grounds. I'm sure we could get a warrant this time."

Renae grabbed his arm. "Let him go, he only came to say goodbye, he didn't come to make trouble."

James gave her cold look. "Seemed pretty bent on starting some to me."

Sirius swallowed hard as his best friend and lover glared at each other.

"James, grow up! You have no proof he's a Death Eater and you know it. He only came to say goodbye, only you're too hooked on your old rivalry to admit otherwise," Renae looked angrily at James, and the man returned the look, "so now I'm telling you...leave him alone!"

****

Renae couldn't believe James would be so pig headed; he was usually the sensible one. At least if Sirius was thinking the same thing, he was keeping his mouth shut. The cold look dropped from James' face. "Do you really think I would have let him kill Snape? For Merlin's sake, Renae, I've saved his life before, give me a little credit!"

"Well, you two didn't seem to want to interfere," she looked at Sirius who stood silent.

"You realize Gregory could have killed you."

"Yes, James, but I also knew he'd listen to reason...something neither of you tried to give him!"

Sirius put his arm around her shoulder. "Why don't you two cool off before this ugly scene gets any uglier?" Both Renae and James' faces softened a bit. "Now, shake hands." He watched as they looked at each, neither one moving. "Shake hands!"

Quickly they shook each other's hand. "Good. Now let's get Gregory out of here before Skeeter shows up; damn woman just started at the Daily Prophet!"

James quickly bent down and lifted the still crying Gregory. "You're not serious!"

"Yes I am," Sirius chuckled, "and yes... I am."

Renae rolled her eyes. "Only you could still find that funny."

~~~*~~~

Renae walked into the Great Hall for breakfast, her Daily Prophet in her hand as always. Sitting down she looked around and realized she hadn't seen Snape since the funeral the day before. Quickly she drained her cup of coffee and made her way to the dungeons.

Half way down the stairs, she felt the temperature drop about 30 degrees. She pulled her robes tighter around her; she still couldn't handle the cold. As she neared the bottom, Dumbledore appeared at the bottom of the staircase.

"Professor?"

"Ah, Renae. How are you my dear?"

"Fine, I guess. Why aren't you in London?"

Dumbledore adjusted his spectacles before answering. "There were more important matters I needed to attend to here. But my business here is finished, so I must be on my way."

Without another word between them, he swept past her and up the stairs.

Okay...Renae decided not to think about the short and strange conversation, and continued down the cold corridor.

Reaching the door to the Potions classroom, Renae took a deep breath. Snape was not going to be happy to see her. Here goes...Opening the door, she found the room was empty, except for a large spider dangling from Snape's desk. Renae almost laughed when she realized it was the same spider she remembered from her years sitting in there as a student.

Realizing Snape's office door was open, she quietly moved towards it. In his office, she could hear the sound of things being shuffled about, the tinkle of glass upon glass, liquid being poured, and the distinct sound of a small glass bottle being placed on the desk. Reaching the doorway, she stepped in.

Snape was at his desk, in front of him sat a small glass bottle of a dark violet fluid. To his side, was a large bottle of a clear substance, and an empty glass. He sat, mumbling to himself, his head in his hands. The sight of him made her feel uneasy. For years she had laughed at the Marauder's pranks pulled on him, and joined in the taunting of the scrawny, 'slimy git' as Sirius called him. Now she felt awful inside, a strange nagging at her heart. Though she hated admitting it, it was guilt.

Snape lifted up his head. "What are you doing here, Wallis?" Though his words still had a bite in them, they didn't sting like usual.

Casually she walked over to him. "I came to see if you're alright."

"How noble of you, really," the sneer on his face didn't hide the look in his eyes, "now leave."

"Not until I'm sure you're alright." She crossed her arms; if she was anything, it was stubborn.

"I really don't feel like arguing with you now, Wallis, so do us both a favor and leave."

"No."

Snape threw his arms out, grabbing the sides of his desk in each hand. "I'm fine, so take your pity wagon and annoy someone else!" He looked on the verge of a break down. Unfortunately for him, Renae wasn't one to give in easily, at least to anyone but Sirius.

"You're lying, I can see it in your eyes. You're a wreck," she pointed to the shabby condition of his robes. Though normally shabby, they now had the look of having been dragged around by wild dogs. She lifted her hand to her temple, Merlin this isn't going good. Lowering her hand, she stared into his dark eyes.

"Look, I didn't come to argue with you, or poke fun at you, I came to talk to you. I was worried, alright?"

"You were worried?" his eyes nearly doubled in size with his old enemies words, but his tone quickly changed to one of suspicion, "Why?"

"Yes. I was worried you would do something foolish." She looked again at the bottle on his desk. Small shimmering flecks of silver floated in the dark violet fluid. Silver flecks?

"What, may I ask, would give you that idea?" As Snape spoke these words, Renae realized what was contained in the bottle in front of him. She had confiscated a bottle of the same potion from a seventh year student just before Christmas and had to take it to the Potions teacher to find out what it was. After learning it's use, she'd told herself never to forget those flecks.

Practically sprinting to his desk, she quickly grabbed the bottle. "Well, this for starters," Snape tried to snatch the bottle from her hand, "don't think I don't know what this is!" she added, shaking the bottle. "Why the hell would you want to kill yourself?" she asked.

Slowly he stood up, gripping the arms of his chair so tightly, his knuckles turned white. "This is none of your concern, Wallis." He held out a hand. "Now give me back my potion."

"No," she answered coolly, stepping back, gripping the bottle even tighter. Snape reached in his robes for his wand.

"Oh, no you don't!" Quickly she reached into her robes for her wand, but he had his aimed at her before she could withdraw her hand. Damn it! I forgot he was better at this. She wasn't going to back down, he may not be her favorite person in the world, but she wasn't about to hand his death sentence over to him.

"Give me the bottle!" he shouted, sweat beginning to bead down his face.

"No."

"I will kill you," he growled, his wand over her heart.

"Bullshit!"

She apparently called his bluff, for he just stood there, shaking. Renae lowered her wand; she was tired of playing games. "Damn it Snape! I came here to make sure you were alright. Why I'm so damn concerned about you, only Merlin knows, but I am!" Snape's face softened a tiny bit.

She stepped closer to his desk. "Would you pull the enormous stick out of your ass for one minute and tell me what the hell is going on!" she shouted. Snape lowered his wand, but said nothing. Getting frustrated, Renae slammed the small bottle down on the table, and turned to leave.

"How Aleanor ever broke through your amazingly thick shell, I'll never know," she reached the door and turned to look at him, "and to think, I thought I may have been wrong about you," she pointed to the bottle, "Well, go on, drink up!" She turned and stepped out the door.

The classroom didn't seem as cold as before, probably because of the sweat running down her forehead. What the hell were you thinking?

"Wallis!" She stopped in the corridor and heard Snape's footsteps running up behind her. "You thought you might have been wrong about me?" Turning around, she was surprised to see a look completely foreign to the Snape she knew, one that didn't spell complete disgust.

"Yes, I did," she answered.

He stepped closer, his usual demeaning manner nowhere to be found. "How?"

"I use to think you only strung Aleanor around to keep tabs on the Marauders, since she was Lily's friend," she took a deep breath before continuing, "but I was wrong." Snape's eyebrow rose. "Yes, Snape, I can admit when I'm wrong."

"What changed your mind?" He stood motionless; his arms limp at his sides, awaiting her answer like a child waits for permission. For a moment she didn't know how to respond, Snape never reacted this way before. It was unnerving.

"The look in your eyes when Gregory blamed you for Aleanor's death." She could tell he didn't understand. "At that moment, I knew that nothing Gregory could do would ever hurt you more than being blamed for her death. It was then that I realized you truly loved her."

Tears welled up in Snape's eyes. Renae didn't know what to do, she had never seen Snape cry or even look sad before. As she stood there, in shock, he leaned against the wall and slid down, his head in his hands.

She quickly knelt down beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Snape?"

"I did love her, more than any of you would ever understand," he managed to get out through his sobs. He was falling to pieces.

"You know Aleanor wouldn't want you to kill yourself."

He nodded. "I know," he wiped away some tears, "but I can't help but wonder if Gregory was right."

"About what?"

Snape ran a hand through his hair, as he did, Renae caught a glimpse of a strange mark on his left arm. "Maybe she would still be alive if I hadn't joined Voldemort," he mumbled to himself. Renae's heart nearly leaped through her chest as she stood up and slowly backed away.