Snarry-a-Thon21: FIC: Kindness Soothes the Troubled Soul Title: Kindness Soothes the Troubled Soul Author:drwritermom Other pairings/threesome: Harry Potter/Severus Snape, Luna Lovegood/Rolf Scamander Rating: Teen Word count: 1600 Content/Warning(s): mental anguish, implied mpreg Prompt: No. 65: A Snarry fic on kindness with a happy ending. I feel both of them would appreciate kindness more than anything else in the world. Summary: Severus Snape left St. Mungo's physically healed, but with extensive emotional anguish. Many come together to anonymously soothe his soul, showing him the kindness he sorely lacked. A/N: Kindness is a gift that comforts both the giver and the recipient. True, unconditional kindness is the purest love one can give. I hope all who read this have experienced such acts of kindness, and feel compelled to pay it forward. Oh, and all of these lovely characters belong to JKR and her business associates.
When Severus Tobias Snape was well enough for discharge from St. Mungo's, he was a changed man. He was tired. He was emotionally and magically depleted. He had given all he had to protect the Wizarding world from falling victim to the malevolent maelstrom that was Voldemort and his Death Eaters. He treated students harshly, in hopes that they would be strong enough to fight when the time came. He helped hone Harry into the Man Who Defeated Voldemort, by their constant conflicts that he had instigated as a teacher, and his memories given, as he lay in a filthy shack, moments from death. He was done with it all. As he lay in his bed, the night prior to his discharge, he was determined that he would leave Hogwarts, and Spinner’s End, behind and settle into the home Albus had provided.
He owled Minerva McGonagall the morning of discharge. She arrived soon after receiving his owl. He bade her farewell, requesting she not reveal his whereabouts for at least a year. With a heavy heart, she agreed. With her assurance, he felt ready to start his life as a wizard beholden to no one.
Snape did not know that Harry Potter, upon reaching his eighteenth birthday, had been informed of an inheritance from Albus Dumbledore. Albus had informed the Gringotts goblin safeguarding his estate to inform Harry of this bequest upon reaching Muggle maturity. Harry moved into the cottage adjoining the privacy-seeking wizard prior to Snape’s discharge. McGonagall and Flitwick erected the spells that would make Harry’s cottage and property unnoticeable by Snape, until such time that he desired contact with Harry.
Harry, however, could see Snape’s comings and goings. Judicious use of his Invisibility Cloak allowed Harry to observe that Severus was spending a lot of time at the Potter graveside, sometimes in quiet, somber contemplation, other times silently weeping as harsh Autumn or Winter winds whipped his cheeks. Harry knew, intuitively, that Snape was yearning for peace, and yet was wracked with guilt. He knew there had to be a way to assist him in his journey of peace through redemption. And was certain the assistance had to be anonymous.
Harry consulted his friends, over the course of a few months. What he planned had to be done gradually, in order to not frighten the man. If done correctly, by the time the first anniversary of The Battle for Hogwarts arrived, Snape would be healed enough to seek out the others who would commemorate the day.
It all started with a marble bench, made of soil from the spot where Severus felt Lily’s presence most acutely. Minerva McGonagall transformed the soil into a sturdy, yet comfortable bench, situated alongside the gravesite. It had an etched message on the right arm, stating: “May all who are weary, find peace here.” Flitwick enhanced it by a subtle cushioning charm.
On All Hallows’ Eve, Severus Snape arrived to find, upon “his bench” a woolen lap blanket, hot mulled cider, pumpkin pasties, and a note saying, “Wheezy loves her Snapey.” The tears he shed that night were those of gratitude.
Time marched on, as time is wont to do.
Upon arriving to the cemetery to lay flowers for Christmas, Harry observed Snape sitting on his bench. He appeared red-eyed from weeping. Harry approached the grave, laid down the flowers, taking a moment for quiet contemplation, and then arose, nodding to Snape as he left.
The next addition was a hive of all-weather Shimmering Tranquilibees, gifted and maintained by Luna Lovegood. These invisible insects were remarkable for gathering a person’s troubles and replacing them with the sweet honey of tranquility. Snape continued to visit and reflect while seated on his bench, which Flitwick, at Harry’s request, had made impervious to rain, snow, extreme heat, and biting winds.
A short while after, Harry caught wind of a rogue trio of minor Death Eaters who were searching for “Voldemort’s Judas.” Harry called a meeting of Dumbledore’s Army, and, using the combined talents of Professor Babbling, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, and Luna Lovegood, runic protection was placed around Snape’s cottage and the cemetery and gravesite, just prior to Good Friday.
Easter Sunday, 1999 found Harry and Severus arriving at the Godric’s Hollow entrance simultaneously, each lost in thought, until they literally walked into each other. Both were too shook up to speak. Harry reached for both bouquets that were liberated by their collision, handed Snape the pure white Easter lilies, leaving Harry with his lily of the valley bouquet.
They continued their silence as they approached the bench. “You first,” Harry uttered as he gestured towards the grave marker. Snape placed his flowers and laid his right hand on the tombstone. He turned and strode to his bench, quickly becoming lost in thought.
Harry inhaled the enchanting fragrance of his bouquet before setting it down for his parents. He shed a tear. Lily of the valley reminded him of his mum; Petunia planted bulbs every year, in silent tribute to the sister she drove away. These were the only flowers Harry did not have to tend.
Love is complicated like that. Hate and envy can hide an equally heartfelt love. Snape knows this. So does Harry.
Harry had turned and started his departure, to give Snape some peace, when he was stopped by Snape’s hand around his wrist. “Sit with me” he mumbled, barely audible.
Snape could not meet Harry’s emerald gaze. “Why have you done all this for me? I don’t deserve any of it,” he whispered.
“You had a pure blood mother who could not protect you and a Muggle father who tried to beat the magic out of you. You knew nothing but suffering, poverty and hunger, yet were placed in a Hogwarts house known for its hatred of anything Muggle and contempt for the poor. Sirius and my father vilified you before you were even sorted. Their contempt was beyond anything Slytherin house meted out. When you could take no more, my father humiliated you, and my mother could not forgive you for something said in utter humiliation. You really had no choice. What had the Light Side ever done for you?”
Severus tried to interrupt, but Harry had plenty more to say. “You’re going to bring up the prophecy, and I won’t let you go there. You had no idea what Voldemort would do with the prophecy. He chose my parents, you tried to protect them, they were betrayed by a close friend. You’ve spent your life protecting me, showing me life isn’t fair, and teaching me to be tough enough to fight anyone to destroy evil. Without you, I’d be dead. As would the students of Hogwarts under the tender mercies of the Carrows.”
Snape had tears streaming down his cheeks. “But I never showed you kindness. I never showed kindness...”
Harry sat next to Severus, placing his hands over Snape’s. “Kindness would have led to your death. It was what the Muggles call a no-win situation. Both sides had to hate you for your spying to bring about Voldemort’s demise. All of wizarding Britain owes you for its very survival. These small comforts we have provided are just a fraction of the kindness and friendship on offer, Professor-“
“Please, Harry, call me Severus. I owe you that, and so much more. How can I repay you?”
Harry gently squeezed Snape’s hands. “Soulmates do not have life debts, Severus, you know that. And your Hogwarts friends, and your family, want very much to welcome you back-“
“Family - I have no surviving family-“
“That’s where you’re mistaken, nephew” a woman’s voice answered, for Harry had told her where Severus could be found this day.
Severus stood, trembling slightly as he grasped Harry’s hands and turned, in tandem with Harry, to face his Aunt Calliope, the younger sister of Eileen Prince. “I have been patiently awaiting your recovery, before coming to claim you as kin, as the rightful heir of the House of Prince. I contacted Harry after learning he is your soulmate.”
“Harry, why are you not fleeing on your Firebolt?”
“Severus, a bubbling cauldron appeared over my heart when you passed on your memories. I felt a soul-deep connection. I still do, and it grows stronger daily.”
“Severus, my nephew, I long to welcome you and Harry to the Prince family, in your ancestral home, surrounded by your Hogwarts family and friends. The wizards and witches who saw to your comfort through acts of kindness await you!”
One month later, at the first year anniversary of the Battle for Hogwarts, a subdued crowd gathered to remember all who died in battle, as well as those lost to the violence of Voldemort’s reigns of terror. The sheer number of lives lost was mourned, with sparks from wands lighting the night sky, from former opponents united in the conviction that war was not the solution for philosophical differences.
And when the observance was over, two soulmates walked hand in hand to the Hogsmeade apparition point, to make one last stop. They landed at Snape’s bench, where Winky had left an extra large lap blanket, two mugs of hot chocolate, and a card wishing for a baby from “her Snapeys.” Harry placed a large bouquet of lily of the valley before hunkering down on the bench, held in the warmth of Severus’s arms under the lap blanket, while sipping hot chocolate. Lily’s spirit smiled down upon them, flooding Severus with the knowledge that she was happy for them, and, with a pulse of magic later that night, allowing Severus to father a child with her son, Harry. Winky got her wish!