Amour

THE LAZARUS EFFECT

Dawn was breaking out and last night's smog was clearing away gradually as the first rays of the sun graced the countryside. Voldemort made his way to the Hogwarts castle, levitating Hermione's body in front of him as he went, so that everyone could see. "The Mudblood is dead!"he announced, accompanied with the most gleeful laugh anyone had ever seen. The Hogwarts crew weren't willing to believe it but he dumped her at the doorstep and the death-eaters made such a raucous acclamation that they reluctantly had to face the truth. He summoned the sorting hat and very ceremoniously threw it away, declaring,"There'll be no more sorting at Hogwarts. For there will be only one house- Slytherin! And only purebloods would get a chance to study here. In fact, all other scum would be obliterated from the face of the earth." Then he made an open offer for anyone to join his side and be accepted warmly or deny him and die. Neville approached him, limping slightly, picking up the hat and dusting it along the way. With the sighs from the people behind him, it was evident that their spirit had broken. "I certainly hoped for better..."Voldemort mocked. Neville spoke when he was close enough,"I'd like to say something." Voldemort stared at him, almost daring for him to speak and it took all the courage in Neville to make him utter the next words,"Do you think eradicating one individual would do you any good? You must be a fool to think you can win this war with one stroke of your wand! If that would've been the case, then it would have been long done, the night Dumbledore was assassinated. You can never extinguish the fire that Hermione has put in all our hearts! You exterminate one and another two will stand in her place. We'll never give up, never surrender. And she'll always be here. 'Cause the ones we love never truly leave us. But you won't ever understand; because you have never known what love is. And I pity you." With this, he whipped out the sword of Griffindor from inside the sorting hat and hacked at the giant snake that had poised it's head to attack, beheading it. Voldemort writhed in pain the same way the body of the snake, relieved of its head had thrashed around, finally stopping dead. And Hermione sprang to her feet, surprising everyone and threw curses at Voldemort. Seeing their lord's last defence go down, most of the death-eaters fled the scene. Others stayed behind to duel with whoever was left on the opposing side. Hermione took the battle inside the castle, facing off against Voldemort inside the great hall. Bellatrix was tackling Ginny, Luna and Cho but then Mrs.Weasley stepped in and finished her off. Voldemort got even more enraged and shot curses at them but since Hermione had (technically) sacrificed her life to protect all of them, she had produced a shield over them, just like her mother did, and the curses slid right off. All the death-eaters were either dead or captured and Hermione called out to Voldemort," Let's end this the way you wanted, Tom. You and me." Voldemort threw the killing curse at her and she the disarmimg charm; their spells collided and her's proved to be stronger than his. "How...?"he moaned, bewildered, as the green flames were getting directed back at him. Hermione didn't want him to even have the satisfaction of knowing the whole truth. So she only provided as an explanation, "You're not infallible, you're not Lord Voldemort. You're just a man. You are Tom Marvollo Riddle. And you were destined to die just like any other. You are insignificant and your name would disappear. All that you ever did would be forgotten like a distant memory." As Voldemort's curse rebounded and hit it's user itself, he fell, never to wake up again. Hermione stood there breathing hard, as the castle erupted in celebrations all around her. McGonagall burst out crying, finally letting out her anger and sorrow for her dear departed friend. Molly Weasley sobbed for her son's death but she hugged Minerva and held her like a pillar of strength. Lupin slid down onto the steps and wiped at his eyes bu a smile was pasted on his face. All the couples were kissing joyfully and crying happy tears into each-other's arms. Hermione turned on the spot to take in all this happiness. These are long held-back emotions. But my job isn't over. I have to follow the string attached to my happiness to find the other end. Just as people were closing in on her to congratulate her on her achievement, she took off. She pushed past everyone and made for the exit. She rushed down the corridor while people asked her from behind, what was wrong. But she had no time to waste. She came out onto the field and ran full-speed towards the Forbidden forest, her eyes streaming now. She ran and ran; it felt like her legs would break from the strain and her chest was going to explode but she had to go on. It wasn't just his life on the line but most definitely her's as well, for they were inseparably amalgamated. She wiped at her tears angrily as they disrupted her from focusing and she had got to focus. She manoeuvred her way through the huge trunks and over the network of roots and undergrowth, spread out like the devil's snare that threatened to trip her up. Finally she arrived at the clearing and gasped. Snape lay there stock-still; he had always been quiescent and phlegmatic but never had he looked so crippled and apoplectic, as he bled out into the grass. She let out a weak bleat and rushed to him, taking his head into her lap. The part of his neck where the snake had bitten so viciously, was a tattered mess and his lips were turning purple as well as the area affected. She tried hard to keep her hands from shaking as her body underwent turbulent quivering out of fear and from the vehemence of her sobs. She fished out the pouch bag from her pocket and rummaged through it frantically. But since she had put an enlargement charm in it, and what's with her palpitating nerves- what she was looking for proved hard to find. She was getting mad on being unable to retrieve it quickly and somewhere in the back of her mind it was playing that she might be too late. She whipped her wand and accioed the bottle of potion that she had stored away earlier. She pried his lips open a fraction and tipped the whole of it in to get the maximum beneficence out of it. She wiped away the excess that had drooled out of his mouth and saw that his lips gradually changed colour from purple and settled for a pale pink but his eyes remained closed and his body immobile and inert. "Please Severus....don't do this...don't die on me. Don't you dare do this to me! Please God...", she took his hand in hers and was shocked at how cold it was. His nails had gone blue and she rubbed at his palm vigorously to get some kind of animation in them. "Please..one more miracle, don't be dead.."she weeped. She rocked him slightly in her arms, holding him close to her chest and let out a bemoaning wail that reached the skies. Some of the others arrived then, following her cries and stood there watching helplessly as she lamented over her lost love. Just when she was beginning to question what all of this was worth, they heard a musical screech somewhere above. Hermione saw a scarlet blob, through her blurry vision, flap it's wings and glide down to the clearing to where they were. "Fawkes?"Hermione rubbed at her eyes to see properly. The phoenix perched close to her and looked at her face, then at the rigid man in her arms. She smiled sadly at the feathered creature and blinked back more tears. It was evident from her face how dejected she was and that she had resigned with the feeling that nothing could be done. Fawkes moved in closer as an act of consolation and pearly tears seeped out of its eyes. It went through the torn material of Snape's coat and healed the puncture wounds, leaving nothing but a scar behind. Hermione watched it with a big smile splitting her face and warmth spreading across her chest as she was sure in the same way it was spreading across his. Of course! Phoenix tears heal everything. There was the bare minimum of a shudder in him and he stirred. Hermione was considerably relieved as she put her ear on his chest and detected the slightest of a heartbeat. She petted the bird's head and it purred contentedly to her touch. Her friends approached them- the boys hauled him up on their shoulders, while the girls helped Hermione up and supported her as they walked back to the castle. "Please be careful with him..."she croaked from behind, unable to stop herself from being concerned, as they skipped over twigs and hedges. The whole castle was waiting for them as they returned. By that time the whole of the truth had travelled and passed among everyone and they all rushed to join in. They did not use magic but all the students joined their hands together to raise their teacher's body in the air; the physical labour, an act of showing gratitude and also amendment for all these years of his service. Slow and steady, careful not to make a mistake- they were sure had he been conscious, he would have scolded them or passed a sarcastic comment as usual if they messed it up- together they made a smooth journey down to the hospital wing...................................................
"You should consider yourself lucky." Madam Pomfrey was saying as she attached the various drips and needles to Snape's body. With the still unconscious man lying on the hospital bed, Hermione could hardly think that she was 'lucky'. "You gave him the potion before it was too late,"she informed, while giving him more medications. "But why isn't he waking up?"Hermione asked, biting her nails. Pomfrey took a good look at him and the monitors before saying,"The phoenix tears healed the external wounds pretty well but the poison is still working inside his body...it'll take some time before it is completely out of his system." She came towards her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder,"He has gone through much. Give him some time to recover." Hermione nodded."Is it okay if I stay here? Just until he wakes up..." Pomfrey was scribbling something on her board when she replied,"Sure dear." Then muttered to herself,"I should get some more of that potion made...let me check if someone could fetch me the severed head of the python..." Hermione took a seat right next to his bed and took his hand in hers. It had gained a little warmth and his nails had turned to normal but his face retained it's unhealthy pallor and his eyes remained sealed. It was so unlike him to lie inactive in bed and he looked so weak and in need of help. Hermione felt like getting all worked up and do something to make him better but she knew that nothing more could be done at the moment, she would just have to be patient and let him recover. "Please be allright. I need you. I can't do this alone..."she sniffled, hoping that he could hear her. She thought that it wasn't fair that she had so many mourners for her but he had noone except her; noone to grieve him, noone else to wish him well. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to to see it was McGonagall. She radiated confidence and support. The Order members and her friends stood behind her, providing support as well. "We are here for him too." Lupin assured her, prompting her to nod in acknowledgement. She felt that it was the least they could do after knowing about what he did. "Please God let him live. We've had enough. Please, you have to do this for us."she begged, turning back to her lover. But the machines beeped in the same monotonous manner and his ragged breath came out in the same unchanged rhythm............
Snape was levitating; he was walking over something but it didn't feel like solid ground. His surroundings were opaquely blurry, like he had a foggy vision but there was light and everything seemed illuminated. The place was vaguely familiar but he couldn't remember where it was or how he came here; it was like living in a dream, you couldn't point out when you started it.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
He pricked up his ears as he heard a faint melodious recitation. He ambled on and suspected it was Godric's Hollow. Yes, that definitely is the turn I took to get into that pub that night. There is the church and there's the cemetery. He kept it on his right hand side and walked on further till he reached a gate. It looked like the gate of the Grangers's residence but here it was different; it wasn't as old and rusty as it originally was and bore the inscription, 'Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate'. "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." Snape jumped as someone appeared beside him, only to see that it was Dumbledore. "That is the literal meaning. But I believe it won't be quite true in your case, Severus. There's always hope."his eyes crinkled as he smiled.
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow.
He heard it again. Snape opened his mouth as he had so many things to say to him and so many unanswered questions but he was stopped short as the gate creaked open and the other side became gradually visible. There was a river where a sturdy looking ferry was anchored on the bank. "That is the river Acheron. And that is Charon." Dumbledore informed, as a man garbed as a corsair revealed himself, holding onto an oar. "How is it that you know everything?" Snape was getting annoyed by his pansophical attitude. "Um..I asked him."Dumbledore replied simply, looking as if he was enjoying himself.
I am the sun on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush. It was continuing on. Snape couldn't decide what to make of this situation when Dumbledore further explained,"Remember, once you step into that boat and cross this river, all recollections of your past life would be gone." Am I dead? Is this the gateway to hell, then? "I don't think that will be necessary,"Charon spoke up then, pointing a finger at him, "Cause this one ain't dead....   yet." Snape whipped his head at Dumbledore who winked and smirked. Then what am I even doing here? "So,... I can go back?" Snape asked uncertainly. "That is up to you."said Dumbledore. Snape had no idea he had a choice but as he became dubious, his sense of purpose started returning and he felt like he was forgetting something of titular importance to him. "What do you want?" Snape asked him, at a dilemma and wishing Dumbledore would come up with the right answer as he always did. "I want you to hope again. I want you to not lose faith in the one you love. By returning, you would ensure an individual's lifelong struggle was worth it and you would keep her from not losing faith in goodness as well. If that is what you want too, then we say goodbye for the present."Dumbledore stated. Snape's insides felt warm again with the mention of her. He knew that although leaving this peaceful place would be hard but the prospect of simply seeing her made the decision easy for him. The mind in itself makes a hell of heaven and a heaven of hell. And going through life, however hard it may be, as long as he had her beside him hand-in-hand,it would be a stroll through paradise. As he took his first dubious steps back, he heard the faint voice again and he knew he had to reach it. Of course I have to go back. How could I even doubt it? He started running back the way he came, as if in slow motion or maybe his over-eager legs wouldn't carry him fast enough. He heard the voice guiding him.
Of quite birds in circling flight
I am the soft starshine at night.
He quickened his trot. He was absolutely sure now.
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die.

There can't be any other option. She's waiting for me......................
Snape opened his leaden eyes slowly and it took him sometime before he got accustomed to his bearings. He knew he wasn't residing in that surreal world anymore as the first thing he felt was the pain that shot up his shoulder and neck and made his head too heavy to lift. He stirred a little and it disturbed Hermione, who had dozed off holding his hand and resting her head on his stomach. She woke with a start and held onto him tighter. "Oh thank God...!" she said, relieved. But he could hardly speak, but only stare enchanted, unable to believe it was her standing in front of him, unscathed and well. "H-wha-do...Are you okay?"he managed, still not sure whether it was real. Hermione looked confused,"Am I okay? How are you? How are you feeling?" He didn't reply but held her with both hands and felt up her arms as if looking at an extraterrestrial being. "If this is a dream....I would kill the man who tries to wake me."he remarked, his eyes watering. She understood then. She tucked her hair behind her ear and said,"No. This is real...I'm alive." He looked deep into her eyes and then his lips curved into a wide smile as relief washed over his features. Hermione also wiped at her eyes and smiled, glad that she had him back. But did she really? They stared at each other, unable to decide what to say next. There was a lot of catching up to do but both were unsure about how to begin. All those months of exile had inevitably produced an awkwardness; it was as if they were back to square one. But both wished that wasn't the case and even if it was, it wasn't permanent. They didn't want to lose what they had together; they could not forgive if the war had a backlash upon their relationship. But there would obviously be some effect. Each remained ignorant as to how the war may have affected the other; what might have changed. Hermione hovered over him, shifting from foot to foot. "So..."she began, aware that how ridiculous she might sound, "Did you get hitched?" Snape looked up at her shocked by the absurdity. But he gave a guffaw of a laugh and replied, "No...no." She laughed herself but then saw how serious Snape turned suddenly. So she asked the question that she dreaded. "Do...you love someone?" He looked at her long, and then to her dismay, he looked away, as if ashamed. "Yes."he admitted. Her worst fears were realised. Of course he is in love with someone. How could I be so stupid? How could I think he would wait around for me, like some pathetic loser? He may have been concerned for me but he has his own life to lead. I am not worth the wait. With tears pricking at her eyes, she asked out of curiosity, "Who?" Snape stole a glance at her and said with his signature smirk, "You." Hermione whipped her head at him and caught him grinning notoriously. She let out a breath of relief as her heart soared and without wasting any more time, she smashed her lips to his.

[I'm sorry if you all find this chapter a tad too long, but it's all I needed to say. Hope you don't mind. Keep voting and commenting! 😙😙]