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Chapter 26 On The Mend

First off I have to say that this chapter owes its very life to my beta Atypicalsnowman, she must be credited as a co-author for this chapter, she did so much wonderful work to get it off of the ground and keep our boys from becoming one dimensional….so a round of applause is well deserved! Also this chapter was posted before the real 25, so if you havent read a chapter title "Never Leave me" you've missed one, sorry!

Severus had been awake for an hour simply staring at the man in his arms. A small knot remained in the pit of his stomach, knowing that they were still on shaky ground. He was content to feel the man’s heartbeat and smell his scent in the early morning hours. The young man had not moved from his arms the entire night.

“Happy Christmas.” The declaration snapped Snape out of his thoughts. He had prepared himself for Harry’s departure from his embrace.

“Thank You. It’s still early if you wish to go back to sleep.” Snape hoped against hope that his partner would choose to stay.

“I’m not leaving if that’s what you mean.” His voice dropped off and an awkward silence hovered over the room. Severus brought and hand up and rubbed his forehead, finding the ill-at-ease temperament of the situation begin to wear on his cracking foundations. This man could get to him. The man he loved. The man he never wanted to lose. He felt more stress in these moments than in all of time he had spent in the Dark Lord’s inner circle.

“If you’re staying, then I really must shower.” Snape attempted levity.

“You are quite ripe, how long has it been?” Harry joked as he rolled onto his back and reached for his glasses on the nightstand.

“Since you…” He stopped, not wanting to bring up the time Harry had spent with Marius. “Longer than I am accustomed to.” Their strained conversation took a pause. The oxygen seemed to rush quickly from the room, leaving a sticky residue of uncertainty.

“How many people?” Harry’s question came out of the darker depths of his mind. He moved to his side to face his lover. He had to know.

“How many people what?” Severus too positioned himself on his side. His iron clad voice hid his self-doubt.

“How many have you…been with…” Harry paused. “…How many have you killed?” His words muffled in sadness.

“Do you want me to answer that truthfully? Do you really wish to know the answers? Harry, it’s Christmas.” Snape asked carefully.

“I'm know it's Christmas. That's why I'm here, I wanted to spend this day with you. It's our first Christmas together, Severus Do you think I want all those... do you think I want this on my mind?" He made a gesture with his arm enveloping the two of them. "I need an answer, I need you to give me something," his expression remained serious.

Snape filled his lungs with air. “I’ve…been with 30-40 people.” His answer was short.

“All men?” The man prodded.

“Yes.” Severus tried to stand, a weak attempt at ignoring the next question.

“We’re not done.” Harry grabbed his arm. “Please just give me an answer.”

“To which method are you inquiring?” The man was uneasy. “Was I willing or did I do it to keep my cover?”

“All of them…just how many people have you…”

“87.” He answered quickly. This is it. You’ll lose him.

“Thank you.” Harry once again curled into his lover. Snape breath a sigh of great release, thankfully wrapping his mate back into his arms.

“May I ask you a question, Harry?” Severus hated the feeling that the ground would, at any moment, fall out from under him.

“I suppose it’s only fair.”

“Did he tell you or…”

“He showed me…all of it…I…I hated you then.” Harry felt remorse for his last statement as soon as it fell from his lips. He had been disgusted by the other man's actions, yet he could never truly hate him. He could never not love him. “I watched you…I was in the same room with you…I was next to you as you killed…” His hands covered his face. “Sev, I experienced all of it.” The nausea he had grown accustomed to had returned.

To say that Severus had the breath knocked out of him was an understatement. For Marius to have shown Harry all of his undertakings was a cruelty worthy of the Dark Lord. Severus had been a different man then, but the taint of darkness had never left him. In truth, that's why he fought as he did. He may be the darkest of the Light but he fought ferociously because he knew that if his sins as a Death Eater and his successes as a spy were weighed against each other, he would be found wanting.

Eyes still on Harry he began to speak, “It kills me that you had to see all of that Harry. I can never take that away from you but I am a changed man. You’ve changed me."

He lowered his eyes to Harry, ashamed to be laying in the presence of a man so unadulterated, "The things that I’ve done…I’ve no right to expect your forgiveness. I cannot fathom what you must be feeling towards me right now but if you’ll allow it I’d like to try to atone for my past indiscretions. I couldn't stand to be the cause of the sorrow in your eyes….please have faith in me.” His voice caught in his throat, desperation emphasized in every syllable.

“Were any of them…were they…better than me?” Potter hid his face in the shoulder of his lover.

“Harry….” Sev took the man’s face in his hands. “You are my bonded, my soulmate. It’s your kiss that makes it impossibly hard to breath. It’s your touch that reaches my core…no one could ever dream to match you.” He rubbed his fiancés cheek with his thumb. He couldn't possibly fathom that Harry could doubt himself. Harry was the world to him.

“But they must have had more experience…I’ve only been with you.” Harry was unsure of himself.

“I treasure that you gave that part of yourself to me. I wish I could have done the same. Harry, I urge you to allow that part of what you saw to leave your mind. None of it matters. None of them hold a candle to what I feel for you.” He held him closer. “Do you want to talk about anything else…” Harry had yet to go into depth on the tortures that had befallen him at Marius’s hands.

“No.” He whispered. “We’ll deal. Let’s have Christmas today.” Harry jumped out of bed and ran to his closet. “Do you want to open your presents?”

Snape was surprised. “Do you want to give me presents?”

“Most of them.” Harry glanced at one of the boxes in his hands. “I got you something a few weeks ago and I want you to have it…in time. But I’d like you to open it. If it’s alright with you we’ll just put it away until…things are…better.”

Snape smiled softly. “Harry, we’ll do whatever it is that pleases you.”

The young man sat up and crossed his legs. “Well open it first then….” He held out the small box. His face was unsure.

Snape opened the box with apprehension. His methodic unfolding of the wrapping paper kept Harry gripped in suspense. His nimble fingers flipped open the black box and his face fell.

Severus didn’t know if what he found brought him great joy or crushing devastation. The silver ring shown brilliantly. Its etched finish was embedded down the center with square-cut emeralds. “Harry…”

“It’s for when we…eventually…I got it for you so I think it’s only right if you have it…” Harry tentatively placed his hand on Sev’s. “Will you wait…until I’m ready?”

“You give the date Harry and I’ll be there. Be it a few months or years…and this…” He twisted the ring around his fingers. “This is…thank you.” His voice was quiet.

“Mine matches.” Potter added sheepishly. “The stones are red though…they said you have to pick it up…bad luck or some such nonsense.” Severus could tell that his mate was in pain.

“Thank you again Harry. That means so much to me I…” He stopped when he noticed the tears running down his lover’s face. “What is it?” His heart sank. Had he regretted giving the gift?

Harry had wanted to give Severus this gift. He had been so glad to find something the misanthropic Potions Master would like and he remembered feeling so happy and content with anticipation. Then Marius happened and his whole world had changed in such a short time. Harry had had a very harsh blow dealt to him and now he knew that his love for the man in front of him was being tested.

“I don’t want to do this,” Harry begged. “I don’t want to feel this way. I just want everything to be alright.” He let himself curl into Snape’s lap. “I want you to wear that ring. I got it so you could wear it…so everyone could see.” His voice was small. “Everything got all buggered and I’m scared…and I’m not OK Sev…I’m not…Marius…and all I want is you.” Harry felt himself pulled into the arms that he longed for. He wanted to feel save in Severus' arms again. He didn't want this thing between them to be the end. He wanted the life that Marius took to be returned to him.

“If you have the desire to work through this, then that’s what we’ll do. I will always be yours love, through good and bad…even if that bad comes from me.” His chin rested on top of a mop of black hair.

“I just wish…you hadn’t done those things.”

“You’d be remiss if you thought I didn’t share your sentiment.” Snape whispered.

“I don’t know how to get over it. I think of Marius and all I want is for you to hold me, take it all away…but I can't get Mathias’s face out of my mind…and then I remember that it’s you…you’d never hurt me…not like you did them…” Harry was stopped.

“Is that what this is? Do you honestly think that I could in any way harm you?” His face grew serious.

“You were with him longer than we’ve…” Harry tried to explain.

“Harry he was a…convenience and yes it pained me to…I had no desire to kill him but he wasn’t anything to me, nor I to him. Marius failed to show you that…through no fault of his own I’m sure.” The man rolled his eyes. “We were both Deatheaters, both not loyal. We were friends and we enjoyed the benefit of that relationship. He was found out…Voldemort knew of our arrangement and ordered me to deal with the problem. What was I to do?” Severus sighed. “I…can't even…how could you think that of me?”

“You stayed with him that long and you didn’t love him?” His hands tinkered with the buttons on Snape’s robes.

“I’ve told you Harry…I loved no other…only you. What do you wish me to do with this ring?” He glanced back down at the ring.

Harry jumped up and rushed to his bag. He retuned with a black string. “May I?” He gestured to the ring. Severus handed it to the man. Harry slid the string through the ring and carefully tied it around his lover’s neck. “Will that do?” His eye’s locked with Snape’s.

“It’ll do.” The older man smiled fondly and reached for a square box in the top drawer of his nightstand. “I’m not sure if you’ll find this of interest…”

Harry ripped the paper off of the gift in a frenzy. “ ‘A Soul Bond And You’?” Potter grinned.

“Turn to page three hundred and seventeen.” Severus felt his throat tighten as his mate read what was on the page.

“You can have a mystic interpret an image of your combined souls…I wonder what ours would be? Probably some sort of great battle…” He joked sadly.

“Harry…” He stopped the man and rolled up his shirt sleeve. “I’d imagine something similar to this…” Harry stared at the fresh tattoo where Voldemort’s mark once was. It was a large circle split into two, once side the moon, one the sun. A lion inhabited the side of the sun, fondly gazing at a snake that slithered through the moon. Their tails entwined to create the dividing center line. The snake’s eyes were sharp, as if waiting for a threat to approach. The lion appeared hopeful and idealistic. Harry marveled at the magic that allowed the two animals to interact with one another, occasionally stealing loving glances or nuzzling their faces together.

“When did you…” Harry traced the marked skin, amazed.

“Not long ago. It was you the made his mark vanish. I thought it right that I paid tribute to you…to us. Do you like it?” His stoic voice teetered with uncertainty.

“Yes. You did that for me? My second gift is just a bottle of fire whiskey.” Harry rolled his eyes and laughed at himself.

“I’ll have use for it.” Sev chuckled. “Happy Christmas, Harry.”

“Happy Christmas, Sev.” Harry lowered his lips to the image that was their souls, placing a soft kiss on warm skin. “I have to go exchange gifts with everyone…I’ll meet you a little later?” He asked.

“I’d like that.” The man grinned.

Harry sat for an obscure moment before abruptly getting up and leaving the rooms. Severus sighed, knowing that this was all far from over.

“Where were you last night?” Sirius questioned as soon as Harry entered the room.

“Oh I…spent the night with Sev.” Blood flooded into a blush on his cheeks.

A round of “ooohhhs” issued from various positions in the room. Harry turned ever more scarlet as he noticed Atheena, Rachel and the twins had joined Sirius and Remus for breakfast. “It was our first Christmas…it was only right…nothing happened.” He defended unnecessarily.

“He’s your bonded Harry, there is no need to explain.” Lupin smiled kindly and motioned for Harry to sit. “Should we invite him for breakfast?”

“No.” He answered quickly. “I mean…I told him I’d meet him later and I think that he was going back to sleep anyway.” He fidgeted his hands together.

“How did it go?” Atheena squeezed his knee. She knew how he felt. She had felt the same when she learned of Severus’s crimes so many years ago.

“It was…It was good. I am stupid in love with your brother…I just can't…” Harry grew frustrated. “I can't deal with his past.”

“Tell me about.” Atheena laughed. “It takes time. As soon as you realize that under that past is an amazing man, you’ll be alright.’

“I hope so.” Harry took a large bite out of a sweet roll. “When are we exchanging gifts?” He looked eagerly at his godfather and then to the long slender box that was propped up against the far wall of their bedroom.

“I told you he’d know what it was!” Remus chastised. “Go on then…” He nodded his head at Harry.

Harry rushed to his chest instead, returning with a handful of gift wrapped boxes. “You guys first.” He handed one to each of the people sitting before him. He had ordered the twins a few rare books on prank spells and jinxes. For Rachel he had chosen a gift certificate to have her first set of robes made in Diagon Alley along with a large assortment of wizarding candy, and for Atheena Harry had found a mystic topaz pendent imbued with a general safety spell. Harry had found a dragon skin briefcase for Lupin, he thought it to be perfect considering the worn condition of the Professors current bag. He had a most difficult time buying for his godfather. The young man had finally decided upon a set of DADA books that had belonged to James. Dumbledore had given them to Harry in his sixth year. Harry had figured that Sirius would have learned out of those very same books, and would find great sentimental value in having them in his possession.

“Harry this is beautiful!” Atheena giggled.

“That was not delicious!” Rachel spit a vomit flavored bean onto the floor.

“Are you telling me that there is something wrong with my old one?” Remus questioned.

“Harry…I don’t think you know what you’ve done.” Fred Grinned.

“These are absolutely wicked!” George slapped his friend on the back. “Sales are going to go through the roof!” He hurriedly flipped through the book in his hands.

“Harry…these are…” Sirius’s eyes watered. “Are you sure that you wish to give these to me?” He grasped the young man’s hand.

“Happy Christmas, Sirius.” Harry assured him.

“Thank you. Thank you Harry.” Black pulled his godson into a tight hug. “Now go get your gift!” Harry had raced over to the box and had it open sooner than Sirius could blink an eye. He returned to the group with a sleek black Nimbus 6000.

“How did you get this!? They aren’t even out yet!” He Squealed.

“We called in a few favors, so you like it?” Remus grinned.

“Wow this is…you two are amazing!” He hugged his godfather and Lupin. He chatted with his friends as he opened the rest of his gifts. The twins gave him a box of their latest products, which they promised was safe. Atheena and Rachel had gotten him a subscription to ‘Quiditch Weekly’. Everyone had returned to their conversation and light meal when Atheena motioned for Harry to join her in the hallway. It was there that she presented him with a photo album. Harry ran his hands over the old leather binding.

“These were all taken while Sev was a child.” She explained. “I thought that it might help you to see him growing up.” Harry gingerly flipped through the pages, they started with Severus as a baby, tiny and frail. He progressed quickly into a small adolescent that appeared meek and mild mannered. In one of the pictures he was perched on his mother’s lap, smiling broadly as they turned the pages of a potions manual.

“Thank you Atheena.” Harry closed the book, planning to look at it to a further extent when he was alone. “Would you like me to return this to you?”

“I think that you should keep it. Your friends were looking for you earlier, you should find them before they begin to worry.” Her soft smile offered encouragement.

“Will you tell that lot that I’ll see them at diner?” Harry asked.

“I’ll relay the message. Merry Christmas Harry.” She ruffled his hair before reentering the room.

Harry didn’t find Hermione and Ron in the common rooms so he curled himself into a ball on the large sofa and began to look more closely at the pictures. What he found was a kind young man in various stages of childhood. There were pictures of him on birthdays, with his first broom, his first day of Hogwarts. Harry noticed that Theolonus always appeared angry, as did Corvus. They were never the center of the pictures, just always off in the background. Towards the middle of the book Harry noticed the sudden absence on Hydra Snape. There was a light in Snape’s eyes that had vanished after the death of his mother. There were no more birthday pictures after his eleventh. The tone of the pictures changed from a boy in his prime to a young man shrouded in sadness. Then the pictures stopped. Harry gathered that this was when Atheena left for America.

“Is that a family album? Would you like to see one of mine?” An energetic voice asked from the stairs to the dormitories. Before Harry could object Colin Creevey had firmly planted himself at the older boy’s side.

“Colin. You decided to stay at the castle then?” Harry tried to be pleasant. The sight of the boy caused him great unease.

“Yeah. Mum and Dad didn’t want me to travel. It is boring though. I’ve taken pictures of everything in the castle. Do you want to switch books?” He asked excitedly.

Harry stalled. “How about if you just show me yours?”

The young boy was more than happy to oblige. He went on for nearly an hour explaining every photo in great length. Every time he went to the park or the zoo there was a picture. The album was meticulously organized. Harry allowed his mind to wander to try and escape from the endless drivel assaulting his ears.

“This is my Uncle Mathias.” It was a simple sentence. It brought Harry’s world crumbling down around him. “He was killed fighting against Voldemort.” Colin asserted proudly. Harry felt his heart begin to race as his eyes raked over the picture. Mathias smiled coyly at the camera, there was a young man seated his left who’s face was hidden, tucked into Mathias’s neck, as if whispering something, dark hair hung to the mystery man’s shoulders. It was obvious from the positions of their bodies that the two men were involved. Mathias’s hand rested on the other’s thigh, while the black-haired man held tightly to Colin’s uncle’s bicep. They were seated on a brown leather sofa, in a house that Harry did not recognize. “I don’t know who’s with him, but they look happy don’t they? Dad thinks they were in love.” Colin pointed at the picture again. “Harry are you ok?’ He inquired, noticing the growing pallor of his hero.

“Yeah I uh….” Harry hurriedly searched for words. “It’s just hard. Knowing all of the people that Voldemort has killed…” Harry rubbed his face. He wanted desperately to be anywhere else. “Colin, is their any way that you would duplicate this for me? I’d like to put it with the others I have of people who have fought Voldemort.” Harry lied.

Colin pulled the picture out of the album and handed it to Harry. “The book is charmed to reproduce any photo that’s taken out of it so you can just have this one.”

“Thanks.” Potter stood quickly. “Well Colin this was great. I have to go get ready for the feast so I’ll see you there?” He did not wait for a response, he ran quickly from Gryffindor tower. He knew where he was going. He had a purpose.

Harry started his way down to the dungeons, his feet knowing their steps automatically. His mind was reeling.

Severus had said that he hadn't loved anyone until Harry. He had said he had an arrangement with Mathias Creevy but the picture was an image burned into his mind. He knew Severus would never lie to him so that meant what exactly? That he had lied with his actions to Mathias? Had he taken Mathias to bed, been affectionate with him only to kill him when it became necessary? What did that say about Severus?

Inwardly, he seethed. He was blind with rage and betrayal, for what else could this be seen as? Why else would Severus have such a drive, even after all these years, to sacrifice himself for the Order? He knew the man had worked himself to the bone, spying for years, putting his life on the line. He had always thought his bond mate to be a hero but now he finally understood why Severus was so full of self loathing, why he wore so many masks, why he seemed at times to feel so unworthy of Harry.

His feet stopped at that thought. Halfway down to the dungeons, he took a deep breath, willing himself to calm.

Snape had fought for the Order and eventually he had died for them. He died for people like Mathias Creevy and for himself. Harry couldn't forget that. That couldn't just be brushed aside.

Tears fell from Harry's eyes. Why did this have to be so hard? He cursed Marius anew. He had done more than damage Harry's body. He had torn apart his perfect image of his lover.

But Severus had never been perfect, had he? It was at that moment that Harry realized that his love for Snape had been shallow. He knew his lover had a tarnished past but he was willing to overlook what he had not known.

But he knew now. And he realized that what he knew must be only the tip of the iceberg. This is what had driven the man he loved to live and die as he did.

Harry knew what this was now.

It was the first real challenge and hardship of his love. When people married they vowed to be with each other during good times and bad, Harry thought. These are the times that are mentioned in those promises spoken as oaths between spouses. Harry felt as though he could not keep that oath if this was what he would be faced with.

He cursed himself, then. Severus deserved someone stronger than him. Someone not so very childish, someone who would love him, regardless of who he had been,

As he started walking slowly again to the dungeons, he thought of Remus and Sirius.

Sirius had tried to kill Severus. Had tried to do murder when he was only sixteen years old. He hadn't been evil. There was no Dark Mark marring his skin and he hadn't faced death if he disobeyed the most powerful Dark Lord since Grindenwald. But he still tried to kill Severus Snape. And he tried to use his best friend to do it.

And yet Remus had forgiven him. Long ago, if their behavior was to be believed. Remus had forgiven his lover for trying to use him as weapon to murder an innocent man.

Tears streamed down Harry's face anew. He should be able to forgive Severus. He should be able to see the whole story of his mate's life. He should be able to find comfort and love in his arms, not look at him in horror.

Harry didn't even notice when he past through the doorway into their sitting rooms. His face was tear streaked and he was breathing like he had the devil after him.

“Harry I didn’t think I would see you until later,” Snape looked up from his desk when his bonded burst into their rooms.

He was on his feet immediately, seeing Harry was crying and hyperventilating. He thought Harry might be having some sort of flashback to the torture at the hands of Severus' brother. Maybe something at the meetings with his friends had triggered it.

"Harry, are you alright? Come sit down, love, what's the matter?"

As Snape went to put his arms around Harry and guide him to the couch, Harry cringed.

Severus immediately withdrew from Harry. If he was in the middle of a flashback he didn't want to make his young mate uncomfortable. He backed away until he could look Harry in the face.

"Harry, tell me what's happened."

Harry looked at Severus and produced the picture of Mathias Creevy from his robes.

Severus looked down at the picture and drew a breath. Not a flashback after all...

"This shouldn't bother me as much as it does," Harry whispered. His breath was hitched from crying, "this picture of you with a dead man shouldn't make me question my love for you. It shouldn't make me question the whole of your life and my life with you. But it does."

Severus started at the picture and felt his world spin. This is what he was most afraid of.

Anger he could handle. Anger could be cooled down, be made to reason with. But the terror and grief he saw in Harry's eyes shook him to the core. All his actions for the Order, every moment he has spent spying had been done to atone for his days as a Death Eater. He now knew that all of that had been done for Harry. So that Harry would never look at him the way he was looking at him now.

Severus lowered his eyes, "Harry, you have every reason to be ashamed of me. But please, I am not that man anymore. I haven't been since before you were born. Every thing I've done since then..."

Harry cut him off, "I know. And you shouldn't have to justify your actions as a spy to me."

He made his way over to the overstuffed couch in front of the mantle and sat down. He buried his tear-streaked face in his hands and tried to get a grip on himself. What was he doing? This man was his bonded, his soul mate. He should be not only willing, but able to accept all of him.

Severus sat on the couch but not too close to Harry, "Harry, you have every right to question me. What I did was horrible and I'm not proud of myself or my actions towards Mathias or anyone else I..." he stopped at this.

"Anyone else you had to sleep with and kill," Harry continued for him.

Severus couldn't even nod. The look in Harry's eyes as he looked up at him knocked him senseless.

"Severus... I don't know if I can do this. I think about all of this and you and I try so hard, so fucking hard, to think of you as a spy and that you had to do this..."

"Harry..."

"And I try to think of you fighting for the Order, going into Voldemort's strongholds where you could have been found out and killed at any time," Harry sobbed again, not hearing anything Snape might have been trying to say.

"But I keep coming back to this," he gestured to the picture of the dead man smiling. "This man died and he did nothing wrong.”

“Harry…” The man tried again

“No, I’m sorry but you don’t get to explain. You murdered you’re lover in cold blood. I thought that I could do this, I thought that I could forgive you but I cant. You’re disgusting…” Potter whispered, knowing he was taking it to far. Maybe this would make it easier. If he could just hate Snape, maybe the pain would be bearable. “The things you’ve done are atrocious, how could I ever be with someone like you? You are just like Marius, at least now I know where he got it from! I could never let you touch me! I look at you and all I see is him!” Potter continued on his tirade, knowing full well that the majority of his words were over exaggerated by anger. “Colin Creevy has this picture that he shows people of his uncle who died in love and fighting against Voldemort. But he wasn't in love and he died in vain. He died so another could live to spy another day."

Severus had stopped trying to talk at this point. A single tear rolled down his cheek. He knew what was coming. In hindsight, he realized he had been waiting for this particular shoe to drop for some time. If he was honest with himself, he had never thought he had deserved a man such as Harry. The fates must have made a mistake giving him a spirit so pure and full of life.

"I'm sorry, Severus. I'm so very sorry." Harry steeled himself and grabbed Snape by the sides of his face, "you have atoned for your sins. You don't deserve to have me hating you and..." he sobbed and his voice broke.

"I don't think I can do this."

Severus felt the walls closing in on him and everything grew dark. Only minutes ago he had been distracted from his book, fingering the ring around his neck hopefully, thanking the gods that Harry hadn't left him when he discovered what he had been.

"I know we need to live in the same place and we can't take another..." Harry stopped. "But I can't be with you right now. I don't think I'll ever be able to be with you. I look at you and all I see is him." His tone snapped.

Snape didn't know if he was referring to Matthias or Marius. Perhaps both.

"I do love you. I could never stop loving you. You don't deserve this. But I just can't stay with you."

Snape’s head spun. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. “Harry please don’t do this…please.” He was begging, this was his last chance.

“Leave you? I already have. It’s over.” A slight coldness had returned to his voice, Why don’t you keep this?” He shoved the picture into the potion master’s hands. “You should have something to remember him by.” The words stung. “Happy Christmas Professor Snape.” Potter breathed, and with that Harry shook on unsteady feet to the door with Severus watching him walk away.

Severus’s head fell into his hands, the photo crumpled between his fingers.

His worse fear had come true. Harry had left him.

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