The Journey

11. Memories

Snape woke up feeling tired, exhausted.  Not having slept soundly the night before for the first time in a long time, and he hated it.  Which of course put him in a sour mood.  He had not prepared for any classes, and so wouldn't be attending them today.  He was going to sit in his room, and replay the events of last night.  He wanted to analyze everything.  What clothes they were wearing, the facial expressions, the light in the room, and most importantly, Harry's reaction and outburst.  He wanted to watch it again and again and again.

He had contacted Minerva via floo, and said that he would be in her office just after breakfast, but he would also like to talk to the students in the 8th year common room.  She had agreed.  

Making his way towards her office he felt sorrow.  Not only at the fact that Harry had been through hell, but because he was facing the rest of it alone.  He would make a point to contact him later on in the day, just to make sure he was going to be all right, but remembered that Harry had asked him to deliver a message.  Speaking to Potter would have to wait.  Maybe he could even rejoin him if he were accepted.  Whispering the password - Kitten Whiskers - he slowly climbed the stairs to the office of the Headmistress.  

"Come in Severus", she replied to his knock.  She hadn't been able to eat much, as she was excited and apprehensive at the meeting with her potions teacher.  But she had resigned herself to the fact that at least the journey had begun, and couldn't wait to hear what had happened.

Snape greeted her, and after tea he started his story.  To make her understand things even better, he showed her the memory of what had transpired the day before, starting with them having breakfast.  She came back from the memory with mixed feelings, and was silent for a while.  Two things had stuck out to her, and she was reeling.

One.  Snape had apologized to Harry and he had forgiven him in a heartbeat.  

Two.  Harry's anger, and the magic vibrating off of him was a sight to behold.

Deciding to address the former reason, she said, "Severus, thank you.  For being there for Harry, and for putting your pride aside.  It was what he needed at that time, so I thank you".

Snape nodded his head and asked if there was anything else that she wished to talk about before he went to the students.  She nodded yes, and mentioned his anger.  The way the teapot exploded, and the portraits fell off the wall.  What a sight to see.  "I believe that Potter has gained extreme magical powers after killing Voldemort, but thank Merlin he knows how to control it.  Things could have been worse", said Snape.  

"Yes", she agreed, "Thank Merlin.  What did Albus do to him Severus?", she asked with a shaky voice.  "That, we will find out together Minerva", came the reply.  They both stood up and made their way towards the common room to speak with Potter's friends.

None of them had known that Snape was back, so seeing him enter their common room was not only a welcome sight, but it was one filled with anxiety and trepidation.  Gathering everyone together, and after receiving tea and biscuits, they all settled down to hear what he had to say.  Before he started speaking however, Draco noticed the Pensieve by his side.  Were they going to see what Harry had been through?  He was in two minds.  He wanted to know everything, but he also didn't want to.  None of what had happened to the golden boy was fair, or right or normal.  And he knew his old self would have loved to have seen it and reveled in it, but not anymore.  

"Good morning", he drawled.  "I have brought with me the memory of what Potter and I went through yesterday, if anyone here wishes to see it.  But.  I must warn you, it is not pretty.  You are all practically adults, and for you to understand his journey, you need to be a part of it.  But there are rules.  

One, you will speak of this to nobody.  Two.  You will not do anything rash.  Three.  You are not to skip any classes after seeing this, and Four, you will wait for Potter to talk about it first.  And I guarantee you that he will.  Is that understood?", he asked.  All the students nodded their heads in agreement, and waited for him to tell them that they could begin.  

Professor Mcgonagall looked at them and said thank you to all of them for being so patient, and if she could ask, who has had the courage to write back to Potter.  Only one hand raised up at that question.  Draco.  She raised her eyebrow at him, and in a kind and soft voice, said "Thank you Mr Malfoy".  She turned her attention to Snape and asked him to proceed.

Which he did, with vigor.  After telling his story, he pulled the memory from his mind, and placed it in the Pensieve.  He asked the male students to join him to enter the memory first, and after they had their turn, Mcgonagall would show the girls.  Everyone agreed.  Time passed by slowly for them after the guys had left.  Pansy and Hermoine were holding each other's hands, while Luna was rubbing their backs in a show of comfort.  Each with their own thoughts about what they were going to see and how they were going to deal with it.

When the guys returned with Snape, they could see by the looks on their faces, that it was indeed not pretty.  Well, abuse never is, is it?  Draco, who was pale by nature, was even more so now.  He looked shaken, and he was trembling.  But he also looked relieved?  And the weird part about them returning was that Ron and Draco were holding onto each other as if their lives depended on it.  Ron was a nervous wreck, and it was almost as if they were seeking calm in each other.  Trying to convince themselves that what they had just seen wasn't real.  

Hermoine was in two minds whether she wanted to see the memory.  Yes and No.  Yes, she wanted to understand it, if abuse ever could be understood.  No, because it was private.  So very private.  Dammit!  Pansy squeezed her hand and whispered, "You should see it, and together we can help him heal".  That sort of sealed the deal for the Gryffindor girl, smiled at her once rival, and rose slowly to enter the memory with their Headmistress.

On their return they knew why Draco was relieved.  Harry had said that he cared.  That he had always cared.  And to please take care of Draco.  Not something that any of them thought they would ever hear coming from the mouth of the savior.