I read the ballad first and although it’s quite witty and the morning dew sprinkling the tree sounds beautiful, I feel annoyed by it. I was glad your story didn’t make me feel that Snape was unwilling. It was actually fun to guess where they would meet next. Very inventive.
Maybe it’s just me and my serious mood tonight, but I couldn’t help thinking that this was Harry subconsciously attempting to understand Snape and trying to deal with his death. He ponders the meaning of Snape’s last words, misinterprets, learns something every time they ”meet” and ends up solving the mystery after admitting feeling guilty and apologizing. Only then does he realize the truth about Snape’s Patronus.
I really liked this interpretation and don’t remember seeing it before:"That was sheer vanity, wasn't it, when you asked me to look at you? I mean, I already had your memories. You just wanted to rub in how much I'd got it wrong, and now you were dying for it." Snape’s reaction was intriguing as well: "Dying men make desperate, foolish requests, Potter. Even when we know the results--and recipients--will come back to haunt us."
One more quotation just because I love it:
"Oh, yes, do forgive me Potter, for having died and inconvenienced you. However shall I live with the shame. Oh, that's right; I shan't."
Harry considered it a win that Snape wasn't trying to hex him at the moment. "I learned more from you in death than I learned while you were alive. I think that's sad. Everyone I know thinks that."
"My heart bleeds." The statement was dry enough to have evaporated a small lake. "Oh, no wait, it doesn't do that either, does it."