A stark yet heroic tale of dark deeds done to save the wizarding world. Harry was Gryffindor to the core and beyond brave. Snape was sublimely Slytherin and his fearlessness in the end made me want to weep. Actually, the whole story made me want to cry buckets.
Harry's soul traveling between two different realities due to the Dementor's Kiss was a novel concept.
There were so many unforgettable scenes and memorable lines.
This really left me feeling gutted:
And Harry hated that Snape's voice caught, that his hand wasn't steady. Hated his weakness. Snape was not allowed to be weak, not even if he were still healing from the curses, his pupils dilated from pain or potions. Because Snape was the solid foundation everyone piled their bullshit onto -- from Narcissa's Unbreakable Vow to the last, monumental request Dumbledore made of him. Snape wasn't allowed to break under pressure, he was meant to bend -- changing his morality like a chameleon to stay one step ahead of the enemy.
This wasn't that same Snape, he recalled. The man before him had never committed either of those life-altering acts, but he was the same sort of man: ruthless but loyal, nasty and quick-tempered but a master of silky discretion under Legilimency, brave for all the choices he not only had to make but for following through on them and suffering their consequences.
Choices which had led up to this moment.
::breathless:: I love how you so eloquently summarize the terrible burdens and unfathomable suffering of the two Snapes. The deeds they committed, the many different directives they carried out – all of that done in pursuit of the larger goal of defeating Voldemort, all of it taking another piece of the souls of the two Snapes.
Our Snape’s fate was so bleak and unfair. I can only forlornly hope that this Snape’s fate will be better. Please?
A few moments later, Snape withdrew from his mind, white and shaking. "You utter imbecile! Are you trying to get yourself killed? Do you even understand what will happen if you can't return to your body? Your soul could be lost forever!"
"Don't you think I know that?" Harry whispered. "I can't let Voldemort have this world."
"It isn't your responsibility. When will you understand that? I don't even need your help, now that I know where the Horcruxes are located."
"Of course you do," Harry said. Snape stomped off. "You do," Harry repeated to the empty room.
Gah! Another superb exchange between Harry and Snape. Harry was so damn determined to help and Snape was right to say that it wasn’t his fight. And Snape trying to bear the onus by himself...heartwrenching. :(
"The Dark Lord will fall. Nagini should be weakened by the poisoned bloodstream of the last Muggle she ate. He will call upon me to heal her, and soon he shall know the betrayal of a potions master as well." Snape's smile was gruesome.
"I don't expect you to understand," Snape said.
Snape had lost his bloody mind and Harry was going to bring him to his senses –
The last thing Harry remembered was Snape raising his wand in a complicated gesture.
"I don't expect you to understand," Snape said. His mouth formed the words 'forgive me,' his eyes dark and fathomless.
::desolate:: There you go again, making me cry. So sad!
By day, Harry tried his best not to obsess about the man who had only once called him Harry. A man whose bravery would go unrecognized, whose sacrifice left his very fate a mystery.
::speechless:: No words. I…just not words.
A cry from beside him drew Harry from his musing. Lifting up his beautiful, days old son, Harry said, "I wanted you to meet someone. Severus Snape, this is Albus Severus Potter."
The ending was touchingly apt. A good coda. Life continues on for Harry but he will always remember Severus Snape…both of them.
Thanks for this beautifully written story of sacrifice and courage.