The Last Time

What Comes Next

Traveling to Hogwarts felt like it should have been easy, though it had been a while since Severus had apparated. He did it for the first time since the war that day, causing a smile to tug on his lips. It felt good to use magic again, he thought to himself. He landed right outside of the main gates to Hogwarts, his things packed neatly into two trunks that floated following behind him with his want tucked into the pocket within his plain black robes. He watched the gates open for him, just like the years past. This time felt differently, as if it was signaling a new start for Severus.

He had spent most of his life wandering the halls of Hogwarts, yet with the new rebuilt architecture he felt like was here there for the first time in his life all over again. As Severus walked through the magnificent halls he smelt something he had never imagined in his life he would be smelling, as a young woman with dark hair bounded the stairs, heading to an office. He smelt coffee and vanilla. He went to follow after her, the girl he had dreamed about since that night was there in front of him, just feet away but he could not get himself to move. Like she heard his thoughts, the young witch turned around facing him as she paused on the moving staircase.

Severus locked eyes with her, it was Evelyn McGonagall, the woman who saved his life was the daughter of the person who he respected more than life.

"Professor Snape!" Evelyn called out as she ran down the stairs towards Severus, who was frozen in his spot. "It is so good to see you! I'm so glad you healed alright!" She threw her arms around him, shocking Severus to his core as she embraced him a tight hug. Like her touch awoke him, he put his arms around her as well, the smell of coffee and vanilla filling his senses.

"Thank you for everything that night Ms. McGonagall. Thank you." He whispered, allowing no one else to hear him but her. His words travelling to her ears alone.

"You would have done the same for me." She said brushing it off like it was no big deal, but to Severus what she did meant everything. Just like her mother, her eyes had that same tone of loss and grief. Severus' eyebrows furrowed seeing such a beautiful woman be so sad. 

"Severus, good to see you got to meet the new Matron of Hogwarts." Minerva called from behind them, instantly making Severus drop her touch. "It was only fitting after the lives she saved that night..." Minerva dropped the end of her sentence, her voice seeming to float away as she recalled that night.

The night of the battle of Hogwarts was the worst night of Minerva McGonagall's life, she remembered every detail of it vividly, like it was only yesterday...

(flashback)

"Now, should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid Mr. Potter, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression." Severus Snape boomed as he stood in the center of the grand hall.

Minerva McGonagall felt her face fall, she had been clinging to hope for months. She looked down at her daughter by her side, clutching on to her side pulling her closely to her.

"Furthermore," Severus continued, "Any person found to have knowledge of these events who fails to come forward will be treated ... as equally... guilty. Now then," He made his way down to where the students stood, his mere demeanor enough to scare any of the children, "If anyone has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening... I invite them to step forward... Now."

Harry Potter stepping out of the crowd even managed to shock Minerva, she finally felt a sense of hope... though that would not last long.

(end of flashback)

That was all Minerva could manage to even think about before Evelyn grabbed her arm, smiling at her while pulling her out of her thoughts.

"I apologize Severus." She rubbed her daughters' back while stepping aside, leaving in the opposite direction with her daughter trailing behind her.