webmistresses (webmistresses) wrote in severus_sighs, @ 2010-02-11 23:52:00 |
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Entry tags: | event: anti-valentine's day 2010, ficlet, member: alisanne, pairing: severus/harry, rating: pg |
A Fond Farewell by Alisanne
Title: A Fond Farewell
Author: alisanne
Pairing: Severus Snape/Harry Potter
Rating: PG
Word Count: +/-600
Warnings: Angst.
Summary: Severus says goodbye.
A/N: Written for the severus_sighs Anti-Valentine's Day challenge. Thank you to sevfan for beta-reading and, as always, nothing you recognize is mine.
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Prompt 4: Severus took a deep breath and closed his eyes, his heart breaking.
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Severus took a deep breath and closed his eyes, his heart breaking. Immediately, he felt Harry’s hand slip into his and he sighed, deriving strength from his husband’s touch. I can do this. I must do this.
Squeezing Harry’s hand once, Severus released it and stepped forward, facing the gathered crowd. Casting a wandless Sonorus, he began to speak. “Thank you all for coming today.
“Mother would have been pleased to see you all here, although she would also probably have scolded you for turning out in this weather.” He glanced up at the grey sky as he spoke, tone ironic.
Several people smiled and nodded at his words.
“As most of you know, she was in ill health for a long time, but she did live to see me, her only son, survive the war and receive the Order of Merlin. I believe she was proud of me, and I know I am proud of her.”
Glancing towards Harry, Severus’ lips compressed into a thin line. “I suspect she never expected to live long enough to see me happily married, so the fact that she did was a miracle to both of us.”
Harry, uncaring of the spectators, smiled and blew a kiss to Severus, making him raise an eyebrow and shake his head. “So, thank you all again for coming. That her funeral is today, Valentine’s Day, is fitting, since she loved her family and wizarding society deeply and with great devotion.”
Stepping away from the podium, Severus cancelled the Sonorus and reclaimed Harry’s hand. “Home?” Harry whispered.
Severus shook his head. “No, I need to greet everyone.”
Nodding, Harry retreated, but kept his hand on Severus’ back, and while he allowed space for people to approach Severus and give their condolences, he was never far away, his presence a solid anchor Severus could feel sustaining him.
And Severus would need it. Representatives of the Prince family were the first to approach, and, with Harry there, Severus didn’t even blink as people who hadn’t said more than ten words to him in his life suddenly wanted to reminisce about Eileen Prince. He simply smiled insincerely and nodded, concentrating on the warmth of Harry’s hand. He had long ago given up on the Princes after all.
Next came some of the Snapes. Severus had little time for them either, although he did listen politely as an old woman said she’d always known Severus would be ‘a good’un.’ As she’d been the same one to urge his father to beat the ‘oddness’ out of him, Severus wasn’t inclined to dignify her with a smile. He breathed a sigh of relief when she moved on.
Next came friends, very few of whom had actually known Eileen. He tended to keep his personal life and his career separate, after all, not the least because it made people vulnerable, although now that Voldemort was gone, he supposed that was no longer the case. Old habits died hard, however. Until Harry, he’d never entertained the idea that anyone who knew the whole of him could love him.
“All right?” Harry asked.
“I’m fine.” Squaring his shoulders, Severus greeted the rest of the people who had come to see his mother off, and as mist swirled around them he felt as warm as if he were home in bed. Harry’s influence, he realised. More evidence of his caring.
Yes, Severus thought, leaning against Harry as the faces of the mourners and their murmured condolences blended into one. My heart may be breaking, but I have the cure right here.
~