Chapter 21

When Severus woke the next morning, he could hear dishes rattling in the kitchen and smell fresh coffee brewing. Hermione still lay at his side, so he realized that Harry must be trying to make breakfast. From the smell of things, he was doing a good job. He slipped from the bed, laying Hermione’s head back against the pillow. She didn’t need to wake just yet.

Harry was dressed, and the couch was back to normal. There were eggs at the side of the stove, and Harry glanced at him when he said, “Where did you get those?”

“I made a discrete trip to Hogsmeade this morning. I left some money and slipped in and out of the grocers.”

Severus grinned. “So, Mr. Potter has some interesting talents: breaking and entering is one of them.”

“From Auror training—being able to bust through charms and spells is one of my new talents. I assure you I left far more than they were worth.”

Severus eyed the fresh eggs hungrily and then realized that fresh sausage also sizzled in the pan. After years of oatmeal and coarse breads, this breakfast looked like a feast.

Harry saw the kid in a candy shop look pass over the man’s face. It was astonishing what a smile did to his face. He looked like a kind, loving man now, and it transformed him.

“Where’s Hermione?” Harry asked.

“Sleeping. I’ll get her up in a few minutes. This is no doubt going to be a difficult day for us all. I was thinking you should stay for a few hours after I ingest the potion—just until you see if I’m going to live. I would hate for Hermione to be here alone if it doesn’t go the way we hope.”

“Could this be dangerous or make things worse than they are?” Harry asked anxiously.

“There is always that possibility. I really think I’ll be either healed or left the same. In the unlikely chance that things don’t go right, it would be best if you were here.”

Harry nodded and stepped forward to shake Snape’s hand in agreement. He was surprised as he was drawn into a tight hug. “I’m very proud of you, Harry.”

Tears burned at Harry’s eyes. Hearing this from Severus meant a lot and also reminded him of Sirius. Maybe these two men hadn’t been too different after all. The choices they’d made had affected all their lives, and it was starting to finally feel good and right. He never realized how much he had wanted this man to care about him and to give him praise.

Hermione had exited the curtains just as Severus pulled Harry into a hug. She stood there and smiled through the tears that burned her eyes. They turned and saw her, and Harry reached out for her. She came, taking Severus’s arm and pulling it close like she always did, and she linked arms with Harry. The three of them stood in a little circle hugging each other.

Finally they stepped apart, and Severus kind of growled through the emotion, “Let’s eat.”

Harry laughed and pulled out a chair for Hermione, which earned him a raised eyebrow from Snape. “Sorry, sir.”

“That’s alright, son,” Severus said. “I can learn to share once in a looongg while.”

Harry grinned, and they all sat and tackled breakfast with gusto.

Later as Harry cleaned up the dishes and Severus and Hermione dressed, they prepared to see the final results of the potion. Hermione was extremely nervous, and Severus was quiet and moody.

They finally headed downstairs, and Hermione explained to Harry what the potion was supposed to look like. They moved as one toward the cauldron, and all three peered down into it. There was a potion as pure as it could be. They could see the cauldron through it and yet could tell it was a light violet.

Hermione let out a shaky sigh, and Severus followed. Harry smiled and stood back, not wanting to interfere. Severus instructed Hermione to collect the fluid and place it in the one-ounce bottle. She used something like a turkey baster to suck it out of the pot. She filled the bottle, and it came exactly to the one-ounce line.

Together in silence they went back up to their rooms. The curtains were drawn back on the bed, and Severus lay against a pile of pillows. When he had settled in and taken several deep breaths, Hermione kissed him and held the potion out to him.

He took it with his good hand and said, “I love you, Hermione. You have been the joy of my life. I drink this to both our futures.” He gestured to her like he was giving a toast and then also toward Harry. Then he swallowed it.

He lay there, feeling the potion slide down his throat. When it hit his stomach, he began to feel warm. Then a burning fire seemed to sear him inside and out. He heard himself screaming, and he felt Harry and Hermione on both his sides holding him tightly in their embrace. He heard Hermione’s tearful and yet reassuring tone trying to calm and support him. He felt Harry running a cool cloth over his forehead. He also felt unbelievable pain in his extremities and his fingers—fingers that moved and twitched violently. Nerves that hadn’t felt anything in years were screaming with something akin to electrical energy. He felt his body jumping off the bed, and he knew they continued to hold him down as he screamed through the pain. Somehow he escaped behind that wall of his and seemed to be floating near the ceiling, watching them shouting encouragement at him. He saw the tears fall from both Harry’s and Hermione’s eyes.

He saw the gentle way they tried to handle him so as not to bruise him, but it was impossible. The strength his body was displaying was phenomenal, and he knew with mental pain that they would be bruised and sore when this was done. Suddenly a pain so fierce hit, and he saw no more.

Darkness—soft, sweet, black inky darkness—engulfed him.