Chapter Text
Grimmauld Place was filled to the brim with people. Everyone was celebrating. Laughter and joy floated through the rooms like never before. Voldemort was no more.
Harry sat there awkwardly, staring at the sea of people, unable to join in. Everything had happened so fast. It had been a pretty normal day, as normal a day as it could have been just a few days after a dementor attack on Hogsmeade and their potions master being kidnapped. They had taken their normal classes, eaten lunch at the Great Hall and gone back for more classes. But then, the heads of houses had made them go back to their common rooms. Harry and his friends had huddled around the marauders map and watched as most of the staff members had left the grounds to an unknown location. He had tried contacting the order members but no one had answered. They had been served dinner at the common room with no news of what was going on.
Harry had tried to sneak out when he saw the professors and order members had started apparting in, some going to the infirmary, some gathering at the Headmaster’s office. He had been unsuccessful whoever, since the common room had been awfully crowded all through the night. In the morning, McGonagall had finally shown up to tell them what was going on.
The Aurors had killed Voldemort, for good this time. Nobody knew who had fired the fatal curse. The dark Lord had been trapped in the ruins of his mansion, along with most of the death eaters. Only a few of his followers had managed to flee.
Throughout the next day, as they took their classes, they had learned bits and pieces of the story. Children got letters from their parents. The daily prophet published an interview with the Minister of Magic and the Head of the Auror department. Everyone had their own version of the story. There had been a lot of people involved. Dumbledore had managed to convinced the Minister to spare a large number of Aurors and curse-breakers and a battle had taken place, where ministry officails and order members had fought with all their might. Sirius had played a big role as well, finding and destroying the horcruxes alongside Dumbledore and killing Voldemort’s snake at the end.
To Harry though, the best part of the story had been where Professor Snape’s magic had cut through the death eaters’ defenses. The half-elf had managed to do what the most talented witches and wizards put together been unable to, using nothing but his plant growing abilities.
A booming laugh caught Harry’s attention. He smiled as he saw his godfather’s face radiating with happiness and pride, the harsh lines left by years of imprisonment smoothing. Something had shifted in the man, there was more ease in his movements and an arrogance in his attitude that had long been absent. He was the man of the hour, retelling the tale of how he had cut the giant snake in half for whoever was willing to listen and receiving pats on the back. It all seemed to feed his beaten down ego.
Not far from the crowd gathered around his godfather sat Remus, he had his arms around Tonks and was smiling softly. He too seemed to have been affected by Sirius’ good mood. He looked more vibrant and at peace. Remus wasn’t the only one. There were many who had fought for years and lost loved ones to Voldemort and his cruel soldiers. Now that he was gone, they could begin to heal.
Harry wasn’t sure what he should be feeling. It hadn’t sunk in yet, perhaps. For five years, he had been thought of as Voldemort’s match and he had started to believe it himself. In all his years as a student at the Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, he had been at the center of everything. It had become a part of him, a terrifying, troubling part, but a part of him nonetheless. And now without any warning it was over.
He looked around some more, hoping the celebratory mood would rub off on him. His eyes fell over the red headed family, sitting together. There was Molly, Mr. Weasley, Percy, the twins, Bill and Charlie. Harry’s eyes widened. Charlie had not left Snape’s side this whole time and had not let anyone bother him. It was Harry’s chance to try again and visit the man.
Determined, Harry stood up and moved to the floo.
“Where are you going, Harry?” asked Ginny, making him stop in his tracks. Ron and Hermione turned to look at him as well.
“Er …” Harry stuttered, then saw Hagrid picking up the floo powder off of the mantel. “I promised to help Hagrid with something. I’ll be right back.” he lied and rushed over to the fireplace.
“Going to the school, Hagrid?” he asked, taking some floo powder himself.
“Yeah, got somethings to take care of.” answered the giant with a smile.
“Can I come with?”
“Of course, Harry. I’m flooing to Hog’s Head. I’ll wait for you there.” he said and disappeared into the flames.
Harry followed suit. He landed in the crowded bar and looked around in interest. Here too people seemed to be celebrating, mostly with booze.
“Come on, Harry.” called Hagrid. The man glance at the firewhiskey display longingly before guiding Harry outside.
They walked through Hogsmeade together. It was the first time Harry was seeing the village at night. It was absolutely breathtaking.
“So, why did you want to come back to Hogwarts? Didn’t you want to spend time with your friends?” asked Hagrid knowingly as they reached the edge of the forest.
Harry blushed. He hadn’t realized other people were picking up on his unwillingness to be around his friends all the time. “I wanted to go see Professor Snape.” he said.
“Did you?”
“Yeah, we weren’t allowed to visit him in the infirmary but now that he’s released, I thought I should go see him.”
“That’s nice of you, Harry. He’s going through a tough time. I’m going to give him a visit myself. We’ll pick up someone at my hut and go there together.” said Hagrid.
Harry nodded and followed the giant to the small hut. Fang barked at them as they got inside, but he wasn’t the only one. Harry blinked at the sight. “There’s another dog here.” he exclaimed.
“Yeah, that’s who I wanted to pick up.” said Hagrid and took the dog’s leash. “Ready to go see Severus?” he asked and the dog barked happily, wagging its tail.
“Why are we taking him to Snape?”
“It’s a girl, Harry. And she’s Professor Snape’s dog.” explained Hagrid as they exited the hut together and headed for the castle.
“Snape has a dog?! Since when?”
“He found her a few days ago. We put an ad in the prophet but no one came through and since there wasn’t any missing familiars reported, he decided to keep her.”
“How do you know it’s not a muggle dog?”
“She’s not skittish around magic like muggle pets tend to.”
Harry reach a hand and caressed the dog’s pitch black coat. “She’s way smaller than Fang.” he observed.
“She’s a Flat-Coated Retriever. They’re real smart and friendly. Sooths Severus, really.”
“Except for the friendly part.” murmured Harry.
The dog grew excited as they reached the dungeons. Harry stood behind Hagrid’s bulky form as the man knocked.
The door opened with a creaky sound and the dog ran in. Harry could hear the potion Master talking softly to her, but couldn’t make out what he was saying.
“Come in Hagrid.” said Snape.
Hagrid stepped inside and Harry followed. He almost gasped as his eyes fell on the man. He looked fragile and exhausted, nothing like his ordinary intimidating self.
Snape glanced at him with a raised eyebrow but didn’t say anything and instead turned to Hagrid. “She looks better.” he commented, giving the dog a once over.
“Her leg’s almost healed. Just keep mixing those potions with her food for a couple of more weeks and she’ll be as good as rain.”
“Thank you for your help, Hagrid.”
“No problem, Professor.” said Hagrid, beaming. “I’m sure going to miss her. You’ll bring her over, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course.” said Snape absentmindedly as he filled a bowl with food and put it in front of the dog.
“I won’t bother you longer then. I’m going for a night cap at Hog’s Head.” said Hagrid and moved to the door. “You coming, Harry? You can floo back from there.”
“I’ll come later. Sirius has given me his password, I’ll floo through his office.” he said.
“Alright, then.” with that Hagrid left, closing the door behind him.
“Any particular reason you’re here, Potter?” asked Snape, after a few minutes of silence. His tone more tiered than hustle.
“I wanted to see you, Professor. See how you’re doing.” answered Harry, moving closer and lowering himself in a chair.
Snape sighed and sat next to him. “I’m not going to be your Professor for much longer. I’ll be leaving soon.” said the man.
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere faraway. Close to a forest.”
“Why?”
“To get away.”
“Are you going alone?”
Snape shook his head.
“Charlie’s coming with you? What are you going to do there?”
“Yes, he’s coming with me. We’ve got an old cottage. We’ll spend most of our time repairing it, I’ll imagine. That, and taking care of Eileen.” he said pointing to the dog, who had emptied her bowl and was dozing off by the fireplace.
Harry felt oddly sad at the news of the potion Mater’s departure. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.” he hesitated. He hadn’t planned on bringing it up but he knew he wouldn’t get another chance. “Our patronus, they’re compatible. What do you think that means? They say all sort of things about patronus and how it represents your soul.”
Snape studied him with his dark eyes, there was something in them Harry didn’t understand. “You shouldn’t put much stock in such things. Don’t live your life trying to fulfill something so vague.”
“So you don’t think there’s a connection between us? You think it doesn’t mean anything?”
“Your father had the same patronus as yours, Potter and we hated each other.”
“I don’t hate you.” whispered Harry, looking down at his lap.
Snape sighed again. “I didn’t say I dislike you.” he admitted. “I’d imagine we’d get along a lot better once I’m not your teacher.”
Harry smiled and looked up. “So, I’d be seeing you again?”
“Of course you will. You’re attached to the Weasley family. I’d imagine we’ll see each other at all kinds of tedious family functions.”
Harry’s smile widened. “We could help each other out, you know, with getting out of things and we’ll have someone to nag to while we’re at the burrow.”
“Sounds awfully childish but I can’t say I’m oppose it.” conceded Snape. He turned to look blankly into space, his eyes lifeless and hunted.
“Are you alright?”
“I will be.” murmured Snape.
They sat there together for some time, none of them feeling the need to talk. Charlie came in at some point and talked Snape into going to bed. Harry nodded to him and stood to leave, wondering what the future held for him now that he was free.