Severus and the Green Witch

The Witch Next Door

Williamstown, Massachusetts sat at the corner of Mt. Greylock; the Northeastern hub for magical activity. The town itself was known for its universities, but to him, it was familiar in its similarities to Diagon Alley while being across an entire ocean.

Severus Snape. A free man. Finally. Six long months after the war ended. His duty done. The second half of his life able to be started. If only he knew what that meant.

He unpacked his clothes, black upon black. Perhaps he should add more color. The need for formal wear that he wore as a professor wasn't necessary in his line of work now as a free lance Potions Master. The only one in the town as far as he could tell. He was already receiving custom orders.

The sound of silence comforted him after the last six months...

June 1998

"You can't put him in Azkaban! They'll kill him!" Harry yelled as the guards came to the infirmary to take him to the prison

He didn't need defending. He had murdered. He deserved his punishment.

"That's a fitting punishment!" piped up a guard

"You don't understand! Dumbledore made him! It was all part of the plan!" Harry exclaimed, appearing for the moment exactly like the child he was and not the adult he had to pretend to be

"We will research this Harry. I promise. But there will be an uproar if we don't place him in custody" Kingsley tried to assuage the boy, tossing a sympathetic glance at Severus

"He has already escaped an Azkaban sentence once. If we do it again, we lose authority" Kingsley's second in command stated

"Don't fight them Potter. Leave me be" he spoke out, exhausted and ashamed, body aching and still bleeding

The snake venom hadn't done him in, body unconscious. Curious students found his mostly dead body the morning after the battle and brought him to the Great Hall where the joint efforts of Minerva, Poppy, and Slughorn revived him...If only to prepare him for a just death at the hands of a dementor.

"It's not right sir! You saved my life and now it's my turn to save yours!" Harry declared stubbornly, looking for all the world like Lily

Despite the boys pleas, he spent a month in prison. Alone. Amongst the screams and filth of the other jailed Death Eaters. The walls reeked of mold and death. A place befitting all the sins he committed. Not even the Dementors bothered with him, already viewing his soul as worse than dead.

Empty. Hopeless. Worthless.

The light had invaded his eyes as he lay on the floor. Minerva stood tall and proud, holding out her hand

"Come with me at once Severus" she demanded.

He had no reason not to comply. She filled him in on his case. After corroborating the stories with Dumbledore's portrait, the word of the Golden Trio, and public outcry, he was released. Given accolades. Lauded as a war hero. Praised for his long suffering love and devotion.

Forced to speak at events and ministry charities like a show pony as a term of release. Countless interviews. Pictures taken of him with Harry, the object of his life's regret. But also, the reason he was free. The two had forged an odd peace. An understanding between two people who had lived lives for everyone else, and now had to learn a new way.

With his life savings, the money from selling his home, and the cash prize from the Order of Merlin, he set off for America. Word had spread there of course, but hopefully it would be easier to hide.