A Marauding Surprise Revival by fancypantsdylan Title: A Marauding Surprise Revival Author:fancypantsdylan Other character(s): Lily, James Potter, Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore Rating: PG-13 Word count:1,509 Warning(s): * EWE, pre-slash* Summary: To Severus surprise it’s the marauders who do the reviving Beta:carolinelamb Disclaimer: All characters owned by JK Rowling, I just play with them. No profit made on use of characters. A/N: I was hoping this would be longer than it is, and then I kind of ran out of time, RL intruded and so we are left with this.
“What in Merlin’s name, do you mean I can’t stay here?” Severus asks, gazing once again at Black, Lupin, Potter Snr, Lily and Albus, three out of five people he had hoped never to see again.
“Now, Severus…,” Albus starts before being pushed aside by Lily, who opens her arms to hug Severus to her.
“Lils!” James protests. Black and Lupin chuckle in the background.
“So good to see you, Sev,” Lily smiles, pulling slightly back. “But what Sirius said is true, you can’t stay here and before you think it’s because you belong somewhere else,” Lily pauses and gives Severus a knowing look, “you can’t go there either”.
“Well then, in all that is good and holy, where the hell will I go?” Severus demands, getting just a little annoyed at the cryptic looks exchanged between everyone.
“Why, you have to go back, my boy,” Albus answers. “Now come and sit down and we’ll try to explain.”
Albus moves over to a bench that has mysteriously appeared out of nowhere. Lily takes the seat next to him.
Severus despite being totally bewildered, still beats Potter to the place next to Lily and smiles sweetly at him.
James then takes the seat next to Albus pretending that this was his intention all along.
As the others gather on Potter’s side, Severus sneers, “Well get on with it then.”
Albus smiles, quite used to Severus’ nature and begins.
“We need you to go back and save Harry, one more time.” Albus turns to the rest of the group, who nod, some of them reluctantly so, but there are still four nods. Everyone seems to be in agreement.
“What!” Severus explodes. “I thought I had atoned enough?”
Lily lays a calming hand on Severus’ arm, “You did wonderfully Sev, but we’ve had glimpses of Harry’s future and he’s not happy. He’s-”.
“Well, what a shame. The golden boy isn’t happy,” Severus interrupts her sarcastically. “Why ever should that matter to me?”
Lily hits Severus on the arm, “If you would let us finish, I will tell you.”
“Fine, you may continue.” Severus commands in an imperious manner.
Lily rolls her eyes.
A scuffle starts at the other end of the bench, Sirius yells, “I don’t agree with this-”. Which is efficiently cut off by Remus slapping his hand over Sirius’ mouth.
“Please continue, Lily,” Remus says, “I’ll try and calm this one down.” Remus drags Sirius up by his shirt collar and they disappear.
“Anyone else have anything to say before I continue?” Lily asks, pointedly staring at James.
James shakes his head and Albus pats him on the arm.
“Well, good. Now, where was Albus? I know, the glimpses we’ve seen of Harry’s life. It would seem that Harry isn’t very happy in the future. There is something, no, let me rephrase that, someone missing from his life. A someone, he himself wouldn’t have realised, was important until it was too late.”
“You are trying to tell me, that Potter…,” Lily coughs, glaring at Severus, “Good god woman, alright, Harry-,” Severus rolls his eyes this time. “-misses me?” He falls silent though when he notices Albus and Potter nodding in agreement.
“You really are mad, all of you,” Severus says.
“Sev, we’ve all seen it. Harry marries the Weasley girl, and they are happy, or as happy as Harry will allow himself to be. Then the children come and he seems content. I think the children fill a gap someone else should be filling. Years go by, Harry and Ginny live their lives, separately. The children go off to Hogwarts and that’s when the trouble starts. Harry runs into an old adversary, one who is as discontented as Harry.” Lily stops there.
Severus can’t believe that none of what Lily is telling him has actually happened yet, and still they are all treating it like its set in stone.
“You might as well tell him the rest, Lily.” Sirius says as he and Remus reappear.
Lily sighs. “They start an affair. You don’t need to know the details, let’s just say, they get caught and everything that Harry loves and which makes him happy, dissolves and he’s left with nothing, not even his inappropriate lover. It’s then, that Harry starts to relive everything and I mean everything. Every minute and second of the war and every moment of his life and he comes to the conclusion that he should have saved you and … tried.”
“That’s it? ‘He should have saved me and tried’? What the hell does that even mean?” Severus stands up and starts pacing. “This is the most ridiculous thing, I’ve ever heard. And I’ve heard some ridiculous things, let me tell you.” Severus stares at Albus at this point and scowls.
“Snape, there’s obviously more to it than that, Lily is just trying not to complicate it too much.” James speaks up, supporting his wife.
“Harry keeps your memories and watches them all the time. Creating the image of a misunderstood and much maligned hero. He saves all your books and fantasises about The Half Blood Prince. He realises too late, that he has had feelings for you since at least his sixth year and maybe before, he’s just been too afraid to voice them.” James sits back down and takes Lily’s hand in his.
“Well, I hate to disappoint everyone, but I do not have those sorts of feelings for Harry,” Severus shudders at the name, not quite believing that these people are trying to send him back because of glimpses they’ve seen of their son’s life.
“Now, Severus, that’s not quite true.” Albus finally speaks up.
Severus pins Albus with a steely gaze, daring him to say more.
“Sev?” Lily asks tentatively, eyeing her friend in a new light. “Is that true?”
“Fine,” Severus finally grunts out.
“Harry has become a very fine young man and anyone would be lucky to hold his affection.” Severus looks at each of the group and dares them to say anything derogatory with a look.
Lily smiles places a kiss on James’ cheek, “See, I told you he wouldn’t disappoint us.”
James snorts in reply, but a look between the couple shows he accepts and supports Lily’s decision.
Severus turns away and steps back as Albus stands, his intention quite clear as he engulfs Severus in a hug. “Well done, my boy, well done.”
“Get off.” Severus shrugs out of the hug. “I’m way too old for hugs and especially from you.”
Albus smiles brightly, pats Severus on the back and sits back down.
“Nothing to say?” Severus directs his question at the two remaining men.
“As long as you treat Harry with kindness and respect, you have our blessing,” Remus tells him. Sirius rolls his eyes and Remus shoves him in the side.
“Well, if that is all, perhaps you would be so kind as to send me back,” Severus says.
“Just one thing you should know before you go back,” Albus replies, “you won’t be going back to the same time. Time has moved on, a week or so. They never did find your body, but Harry still insisted on a headstone. You will appear at your grave.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Severus asks no one in particular.
“It was lovely to see you Sev,” Lily tells him, giving him a quick hug and brushing his cheek with a kiss. “Be happy.”
James shakes his hand and Remus lays a hand on Severus back. Severus is pleased to note that Black stays away, he’s not sure he could take any friendly gesture from him.
“Be happy,” Albus reiterates Lily’s sentiment, then lays a hand on Severus’ arm and everything goes cloudy.
~*~*~
Severus comes to himself slowly, aware that he is being stared at. He instinctively tries to draw his wand but then realises that he doesn’t have it with him. He opens one eye, only to come face to face with his quarry.
“You’re alive!” Harry says, looking happy and astonished at the same time.
“Yes, I am.” Severus replies, because, really, what else can he say?
“I knew you weren’t dead,” Harry continues, “even though everyone said you were.”
“Yes, you’re very clever. Now help me up, I feel at a disadvantage with you looming over me,” Severus instructs him, taking the hand offered and levering himself up.
Harry wraps his arms around Severus’ shoulders, brushes his cheek with a barely-there-kiss and smiles some more.
“Yes, well, we can discuss this in a more comfortable setting, I’m sure,” Severus eyes Harry and then smiles.
“I think that would be a very good idea. I’m staying with Andromeda Tonks and my godson Teddy Lupin. I’m sure she won’t mind one more guest,” Harry says, linking one arm through Severus’ and Apparating them away.
Severus’ last thought is of the group he’s just left and how thankful it is they’ve given him a second chance, though he’d never admit it if asked.