After the End

"Hello, Harry," said Dumbledore.

Harry was in so much shock that he didn't even hear Dumbledore address him. In the recent events, he had completely forgotten that Snape had been a headmaster, and therefore would get a portrait.

"Harry? Are you still with us?" said Dumbledore with concern.

"Yes, Albus, the boy is still with us. He is just wondering why a greasy haired git like me got a portrait," said Snape.

"I don't think you're a greasy haired git, Professor."

"Neither do I, Harry," said Dumbledore looking at Snape.

"Everybody knows what you did, Snape. I told Riddle before he died. Everybody respects what you did," said Harry.

"Thank you, Potter, but I don't need the respect of anybody, much less teenagers."

"You know what I think, Snape? I think that you really do care, and you put up this arrogant shield to make it seem like you're a dreadful man. It's your fault that I hated you. You hated me because I'm James Potter's son. It's not my fault that you were enemies. If you loved Lily, you should have showed some liking towards me."

"See Severus, Harry would have wanted to know before last night," said Dumbledore

"Well, it doesn't matter now, nothing matters much now," said Snape angrily.

"So what? At least prove that the man that I saw in those memories was really you!" said Harry.

"How much of the conversation between me and Riddle did you hear?"

"Um, you wanted to go and find me for him, he wouldn't let you, he asked you about why the Elder Wand wouldn't work properly for him, and then he...then he killed you."

"Do you know why I want to go and find you?"

"Yes, to show me those memories."

"No, to tell you those memories. I would have done anything to have been able to tell you in person. I thought that as soon as that snake came towards me that I had failed Albus, failed Lily, and failed you. I had no idea you were so close by. When you came out of that tunnel, I was happier than I have been in my life. I knew that I couldn't tell you then, so I had to show you. The last thing I wanted to see before I died was Lily's eyes, and you, Harry."

Harry looked from Snape to Dumbledore, and back to Snape with confusion all over his face. Why, after all this time was Snape finally calling him by his first name, and actually showing come liking toward him?

"Sir, did you change when you died?"

Dumbledore chuckled. Snape looked grim.

"Everybody changes, Harry, at some point in their life. It just took Severus a little bit longer to show everybody."

Harry looked back at Snape.

"Does this mean I have to call you Severus?"

"No, Harry. I much prefer my surname."

"Okay."

"Now, I'm assuming you want a word with Dumbledore?"

"Yes sir."

"Well then, I'll go visit Spinner's End. Goodbye, Harry." And at that, Snape disappeared from his portrait and Harry and Dumbledore were left alone.

"Well, the good thing about me being dead is that if you are to get mad and destroy this office, as you did two years ago, you cannot harm me," said Dumbledore with a chuckle.

"I'm not planning on getting mad. I'm over that, I think."

"That's good. Now, what is it that you wish to discuss with me?" said Dumbledore as his eyes gave Harry the x-ray sensation that he was all too used to.

"A lot of things, actually. I don't even know where to start."

"Perhaps at the beginning."

"Right. Well, first I was wondering why you didn't even tell me that...that...why didn't you ever tell me everything?"