Second chance a new choice

Choose to go back

"Harry, look at me," Severus Snape rasped. Cold smothered him, but... it didn't hurt. "You have... what you need." He pointed to the little vial in the boy's hand and met Harry's eyes. So green. Just like Lily's. But what was that in them? Not disgust, or hatred... Forgiveness? You... forgive me...?

Those eyes, so full of mercy, gave him the strength to let death take him.

I'm free now.

He sank into warmth and welcome. No fear lived in this place, no sadness or pain, only peace.

Now unbound by clumsy mortality, he floated, like a shred of parchment blown on gentle breezes. How could anyone fear this?

"Severus?"

His awareness sharpened. "Mother!"

A young woman greeted him. No wrinkles or worry lines creased her face now, and her eyes were bright as morning stars, but held a curious sadness. Raven hair fell to her shoulders, and a smile shone for him. "My son." She wrapped him in a hug. "My little Severus, I'm so sorry."

"It's all right," he said. So, this is what Eileen Snape truly is.

"Let me look at you." She held his face in gentle hands. "I never saw you grown."

Without need or desire for pretense, Severus smiled. Every trace of hatred, malice, or distrust vanished, but...

"So many regrets." His mother's eyes welled. "They're drowning you."

Every heartache, every remorse hit; they choked him, hammered the dam that kept them back and blurred his vision with tears.

"You did your best." His mother joined his grief. "All you could do."

Severus held her tight and wept.

"Regret pulls you from me, my dear son." Worry clouded her face as a tug loosened her grip.

No. I can't leave! Severus gripped his mother's arms with every ounce of strength, but his heart weighed like a cinder block around his ankle as it dragged him toward an ocean depth of grief.

"Listen!" She held his face again. "I won't lose you! You will not wander the earth for eternity like a mournful ghost."

Severus nodded as the weight pulled harder.

"Choose now—choose a second chance! Go back. Focus! Don't consider what you left. Go farther, to a time where you had opportunity to choose differently!" Her eyes swirled with concern. "If you don't, you're doomed to roam until your soul finds peace—a feat few accomplish."

His grip slipped, but he closed his eyes and concentrated.

Forgiveness.

"Hold that memory, Severus! Hold it until it defines you!"

That red hair—those emerald eyes. She defended him, but he pushed her away. All those times back then. I must make it right!

"Hold it fast!"

A vision formed: Hogwarts, his schoolmates, himself studying alone. The weight grew, fueled by regret's tears.

The phantoms in his mind solidified.

"Thank God," his mother said. "You are not alone, my son. Someone else wished a chance at happiness for you too. Their help grants you this opportunity." With a mighty pull, she tugged him into one last hard embrace. "Do well, my son," she whispered and laid a light kiss on his forehead.