Vampyre

Disclaimer : All characters here are the sole property of JK Rowling. This is a work of fan fiction and no money is being made. This is not intended to infringe upon any copyrights held by JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, or Warner Bros.




Chapter One
The Tomb of Eternal Rest


Mist floated on the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Although it was early morning, the dark clouds above belied the mood of celebration that was inside the castle. Voldemort had at last been killed by Harry Potter, and Hogwarts was re-opening its' doors shortly. The thick mist suited Hermione Granger's mood. She didn't feel like celebrating, and she was chewing on her lip as she paced her room.

Professor McGonagall, now Headmistress of the school since Dumbledore had been killed, was upset as well. The end of the war had provided little relief for the Scottish witch. Not only had she inherited the headache of the school, but she was also facing the funeral of another staff member.

It had taken time, but shortly before the demise of Voldemort, Severus Snape had been cleared of the murder of Albus Dumbledore. Minerva McGonagall had been pleased as it meant she would have an experienced potions master once again. Remus Lupin had volunteered to teach potions just two days ago but Minerva had asked that he take up the Defense Against the Dark Arts post again instead.

It was Remus Lupin that found the body as he returned to Hogwarts to take up his old post. Despite all the animosity that had occurred between the marauders and Severus in the past, the werewolf paled when he realized that the body lying so still on the floor of the Forbidden Forest was that of one Severus Snape.

Remus had wasted no time in levitating the body to the hospital wing. Poppy summoned Minerva immediately, and the shock of it was enough to make the staunch Headmistress faint.

"Tell me that I am wrong, Pomona," Minerva groaned, wincing at the smell of the bottle of revival potion that Poppy was waving under her nose.

"I'm afraid not, dear," Poppy replied. "I've not had a chance to examine him closely, but Severus is most definitely dead."

"It's true then," Ron Weasley said from the opening in the curtains that surrounded the bed that the potions master lay motionless on. Ron had been visiting Harry, whom was still recovering from the curses thrown at him during the final battle.

"Hush, Ron," Hermione said, pushing the boy aside. She knelt next to the Headmistress. "Headmistress, is there anything I can do?"

Minerva slowly sat up, waving Poppy and her bottle away. She felt undignified, sitting there on the floor where she had fallen.

"Mister Weasley, it does not become you to be nosy and get into other people's affairs," Minerva said sternly.

"But, I heard all the commotion and Hermione and I thought.."

"It does not matter what you thought. I suggest you go and see to Mister Potter."

Hermione silently helped Minerva to her feet, giving Ron a frown.

Minerva brushed off her robes and Ron retreated before she could shoo him away. Hermione, on the other hand, was determined to stay and find out what had happened.

"Is he really dead, Professor?" she asked, slightly afraid to glance at the body lying on the bed next to them.

"I am afraid so, Miss Granger. It pains me to have to say it. Severus was loyal despite what some people might say about him."

"But what about Professor Dumbledore?"

"Albus knew that Severus would kill him. I've known about it long before it ever happened. It was part of the prophecy surrounding young Harry."

Hermione had tried to be neutral where Severus Snape was concerned but she had still been angry over the murder of the kind Headmaster. It was in her nature to ask questions and since Severus had removed himself to be with Voldemort until the war's end, she hadn't been able to question him. It had felt strange indeed to attend meetings of the Order without him being present.

The dark wizard had always had her respect, and over the last year had caused mixed feelings to surface that totally confused her. Admittedly Hermione had looked forward to the end of the war where she had decided she would corner the Professor and make him talk to her. With her birthday this past year, she was legally grown even without the aid of the time turner. Technically, she was also considered a graduate of Hogwarts as was all the sixth years whom had not been able to attend their seventh due to the school being shut down.

It was by choice that she had returned, anxious to consume the final years textbooks. Headmistress McGonagall had promised her that she could complete her studies, but she had also told Hermione that she wanted to have a serious talk with her as well. The talk had yet to take place as Hermione had only arrived the day before with the wounded Harry and Ron.

"What else did the prophecy say?" Hermione asked.

"I do not wish to discuss it," Minerva gazed down upon the pale face of Severus Snape. In death he was paler than before, his hair and clothing inky black. Poppy was waving her wand and muttering, attempting to find out what had killed him.

"It's difficult to think of anything destroying Professor Snape," Hermione said, feeling an odd wrench of her heart as she looked at the still body. "He was always so strong." She tried to clear the knot that threatened to choke her up out of her throat.

Minerva looked at Severus for a long moment. Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears until one escaped. She removed a red silk handkerchief from her pocket, and wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Minerva apologized to the others. "It's just that I remember what a troubled young boy that he once was. I had hoped that he would one day be happy once all this war business was over." She blew her nose, and sniffed. "You see, when I came to Hogwarts right after Albus had been given the position of Headmaster, Severus had been with Voldemort for some time. I was here the evening that he returned and Albus took him in." More tears began to flow. "I'm sorry..."

Hermione tried to blink back tears of her own as the emotions she held towards the wizard broke loose and it felt like things would never be the same again. In her years at Hogwarts, she had never seen the Headmistress show this type of emotion in front of anyone.

"Don't worry about it, Minerva," Poppy was wiping tears away with her own handkerchief, "We all understand, don't we?"

The others nodded, and Remus, who had remained silent, uncrossed his arms and bent over the body.

"There was no trace of what killed him?"

"No trace of a killing curse," Poppy said. "And as far as I know, no indication of a poison in gestation."

"Obviously, it had to be something, Pomona," Remus replied. "And I think we need to find out what it is."

"I know this is not within my ethics, but if you would like, you are welcome to help me examine him more thoroughly."

"I believe I will take you up on your offer." Remus turned to Hermione and Minerva, who were still wiping away tears and sniffing. "Minerva, whilst it is not my place to tell you what to do, I think it might be a good idea for yourself and Hermione to remove yourselves."

"You are perfectly correct, Remus, and I agree with you," Minerva replied. "Hermione and I will return to our respective tasks. I would like a full report once Poppy and yourself finish examining the body." She sighed heavily. "I will also have a tomb erected for him near the lake."

~*~*~

So this is how it all ends, Hermione was thinking to herself as she paced in her room the next morning. The funeral was to take place in an hour, and she wasn't ready for it. It plagued her to realize that she hadn't been able to stop sobbing since she'd returned to her room yesterday evening. She had slapped Ron for making smart remarks about Snape's character and made him mutter under his breath.

Hermione felt a bit ashamed of herself for slapping Ron, because it was true that Snape did have problems. He'd been plainly nasty, snarking, and cold for the years she had known him. Rarely had he let a day go by that he hadn't taken points from Gryffindor or made some stabbing remark at Hermione.

"I'm sorry, Professor," she said aloud. "I know that we really didn't get along, but I never wanted to see this happen."

The clock on the wall chimed the hour softly, and the hands stood at 'you're going to be late'. Hermione went into the loo and splashed cold water on her face. She didn't want Ron teasing her about her face being red from crying.

She'd dried her face before Ron tapped on the door.

"Hermione? Are you ready?"

Hermione opened the door, tucking a clean handkerchief into the pocket of her black robes.

"In mourning, are we?"

Hermione glared.

"Keep your mouth shut, Ronald," she snapped. "Or I'll have to slap you again. At least show Professor Snape a little bit of respect."

"The git doesn't deserve any respect. He was a murderer."

"He was not! He was cleared of that by the Ministry."

"Come off it, 'Mione. You know as well as I that he was guilty. Even Harry agrees."

"I don't care what you or Harry think." Hermione was rapidly taking the stairs down at a fast pace, and Ron was forced to keep up with her. "I don't agree with either of you. Just remember that Professor Snape had his reasons."

"I say we're better off without the greasy git. At least now we can get on with it, and there won't be any more Voldemort and his followers."

"There will always be followers, Ron. It doesn't matter if Voldemort is dead or not. Where evil is concerned, it always waits to be resurrected when its' master is gone."

Ron snorted in disbelief.

"Codswallop," he was saying as they joined the group of teachers and Order members who had gathered in the hall.

Shortly, Minerva joined them and they trailed after her to the Chapel where Severus lay in state.

"Git," Ron muttered.

"Hush."

The Chapel was only half full. Snape had no friends for the most part, so the congregation was made up of staff and Order members, and Hermione and Ron.

Minerva took the podium and cleared her throat, looking out over the crowd.

"Today we are laying to rest one of our own," she began.

Ron started to open his mouth and Hermione elbowed him.

"Ow, layoff," he whispered.

Minerva paused and glared at him before continuing:

"In view of the events of the last year I am aware of how some of you feel towards Severus Snape. I am asking you now to lay those feelings aside and to honor the wizard that has done so much for our world. There are not many things about him that are widely known, but I would have you know that Albus thought very highly of him. I have known Severus since he was a young man, and he has had his troubles, just like the rest of us have. He spent much of his time working for the Order of the Phoenix, alongside Albus, trying to defeat Voldemort. Therefore, I am seeing him laid to rest as a hero, not a villain."

Whispers erupted in the room. Minerva held up her hands for silence.

"Please remember your selves," she said. "Those select members of the order that I spoke with will bear the coffin to the tomb that has been prepared for him. Those of you that would like to are welcome to say a last good-bye."

Hermione felt tears begin to prick at her eyelids again, and she pulled her handkerchief from her pocket before getting up. Most of the Order members save for Tonks, Remus, and the pallbearers, left. Staff members crowded around the coffin, talking in low voices. Only Poppy and Minerva were shedding tears. Sybil had stationed herself at the head of the coffin, dressed in sheer black trimmed in gold.

She looks like a skinny spider, Hermione thought.

"I knew that he was doomed," Sybil announced. "I have said for years that -

"Do leave off, Sybil," Minerva snapped. "I am in no mood for your prattle."

Hermione gazed down into the Professor's face. Her heart gave an odd twist, and she couldn't help crying. The strong wizard lay in his bed of white satin, clothed in his black teaching robes, his slender hands crossed over his midsection.

A sob escaped her as she thought about how many times she'd watched those hands delicately handling the most fragile of potions ingredients, never crumbling so much as a lacewing.

"Hermione," Minerva turned from chastising Sybil to pat the young witch on the shoulder and hug her. "Don't take it so hard," she whispered. "I know you were fonder of Severus than most, but perhaps it's for the best."

"He was so young," Hermione choked out.

Remus closed the lid of the coffin with a click before he and other Order members lifted it, filing out of the Chapel. Minerva firmly grasped Hermione's arm and followed. Ron snorted and headed back to the hospital wing to see to Harry.

Misty rain was falling and the morning was dark as the small group walked over the wet grass to the singular tomb that stood on a mound near the Forbidden Forest. The pallbearers placed the coffin on the dais of marble that was in the center of the room. Torches on the wall burned brightly, carved ravens guarding the sconces.

"Poor bloke," Tonks said. "Shamed he ended like this."

Remus dusted his hands off on his handkerchief and looked back at the shiny black coffin.

"I wonder." He said.

"Wotcher mean?"

"Come, love, and I'll explain," Remus took her by the arm, leaving only Minerva, Hermione and Poppy.

"Goodbye, Professor," Hermione said, wiping her eyes again.

Poppy and Minerva said nothing, only exchanged looks of pity behind Hermione's back.

"Let's return to my office, Hermione," Minerva said. "I must seal the tomb, and the rain is getting worse."

Hermione followed Minerva and Poppy, trying not to look back at the Professor that would spend eternity alone.

The door to the tomb locked itself with a loud click as they walked out into the gloomy day, the two older witches comforting the younger one.