Severus Snape A Soul Undiminished

Chapter 70 - The Reverence

Severus started to sway, his knees suddenly buckling. Grayson shot forward, catching him before he fell. Harry recovered from his shock at seeing who he thought was a dead
man in time to help grab Severus. Together, they led him back to the bedroom, and he didn't protest as they laid him down in the bed. Sirana rushed in to pull up his blankets and get him tucked back in.
"Severus! You need to stay in bed. At least a few more days," Sirana said, not wanting to mention Madam Pomfrey in front of Harry.
Severus nodded, and she could tell he knew he wasn't ready yet to stand.
"The Pensieve," Severus said breathlessly. "Did you take them to the Pensieve?" he asked Harry.
Harry looked at Sirana, then back at Severus, as if this confirmed something in his thoughts. "Yes, Professor, I saw it all. I just don't understand how you can be alive. I saw Voldemort kill you. I saw you die."
Sirana saw Severus struggle to keep his eyes open, and he looked pale, like he was going to be sick. She grabbed the basin,
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A Soul Undiminished—Severus Snape
setting it next to the bed, and placed a damp washcloth on his forehead.
"It's alright Severus. Go to sleep. We have plenty of time to talk when you feel better," Sirana said. He closed his eyes, a look of peace on his face, and he fell back asleep.
Grayson spoke up, "Looks like we have some things to go over. How about I pour us all a drink?"
Harry looked a little pale. Sirana sat next to him, and Grayson brought them all a drink.
Sirana spoke first. "Harry, I know you think Severus was on the wrong side of the war, but—"
Harry interrupted her. "Wait. What Professor Snape said about the Pensieve..." Harry took a deep breath and a drink before continuing,"When he was dying,he gave me his memories to take to the Pensieve. All this time, I had been wrong about him. He was protecting me. I look back at all of the times I should have known. He sacrificed his life for us. I treated him so unfairly," Harry's voice caught, as if he was holding back tears. "I saw him die, though. How is this possible?"
"There is something I want to share with you, Harry. I don't think Severus would mind," Sirana said. "Severus said you had the gift of Legilimency. Would you allow me?"
"Yes," he said, turning into to face her.
Sirana shared with him what Severus saw in the Pensieve from her mind—his mother, Lily, and how much she loved Harry; Sirana and her friendship with Lily and James; Sirana's
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Reverence
grandfather trying to protect them; Severus's love and anguish; Lily's Patronus and her gift for Sirana; and finally, Severus, almost dying and fighting his way back from the brink. Sirana then felt the direction of the flow of memories change, and Harry was showing her his mind—the Resurrection Stone in the Forbidden Forest; his parents, James and Lily; his friend and teacher, Remus Lupin; his godfather, Sirius Black, all of whom were whispering "We are part of you"... There was one person absent—Severus Snape, and now the reason was apparent. The weight of it all touched them both, and tears were running on their faces when they broke the link.
Harry looked at Sirana, and she knew that his burden of regret for Severus was lifted.
"Now, you want to try holding your godson again?" Andromeda said, smiling.
"Yes," Harry said, sitting to hold him this time.
Harry spoke softly to Teddy, "I knew your mother and father. They were some of the bravest people I've ever known—and they loved you so much. I will tell you about them when it is time. I know what it's like to be an orphan. I will always be there for you, Teddy, and so will they—in here," Harry said and touched the baby's heart. There wasn't a dry eye in the room, and Sirana could swear she felt the spirit of Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, and Albus all there with them.