Severus hadn't been in a hospital before. He didn't really count his occasional stay in the hospital wing at Hogwarts, as the school never bothered looking him over for any wounds that lingered since early childhood. He would only be treated for minor wounds like a bruise here and a cut there courtesy of his childhood tormentors. Well, the man supposed that only St. Mungo’s would be able to treat him after having his throat basically ripped out by Nagini. He didn't expect to be revived after the deadly incident, but there he was, lying there without even a hint of Nagini’s poison in his body. He supposed that it was taken from his system before he was revived by the Master of Death.
Speaking of the Master of Death, Potter had stopped by several times to visit. He would come alone on these visits. He would always wear a somber expression, constantly quiet whenever he sat next to Severus’s bed.
Severus felt uncomfortable with the silence. Hell, he felt uncomfortable with Potter showing up in general. He didn't oppose it, however, because he knew he owed the boy big time. He may have shown Potter the truth, but he knew he had to atone for the years of hell he put the Gryffindor – all the students really – through.
Potter showed up late in the evening, and Severus was sure that the hours to visit were long since over. The boy, as usual, sat by Severus’s bed and held his hands together quietly.
Severus was quiet as well, not wanting to start a conversation that would only ruin his recently-healed throat.
The two sat in silence for a long time.
Finally, Potter sighed heavily. “Some people want to send you to Azkaban.”
Severus merely blinked in disinterest, having no intentions of running from the consequences of his actions.
“Even if it was Dumbledore’s plan, people still blame you for Hogwarts turning into the hellhole run by Death Eaters,” Potter continued before lowering his head. “I don't want you to leave, too.”
Severus allowed his brow to furrow. In a low rasp, he asked, “What do you mean?”
"You shouldn't be speaking,” the boy scolded quickly, “The Healers said you need to rest your throat for at least another month.”
Severus controlled the urge to roll his eyes and instead looked at Potter with a stern expression.
The boy in question frowned deeply before lowering his gaze. “I don't want you to go dying on me, too, not after I finally learned the truth.”
Severus sneered at just how emotional the child next to him was.
Potter lifted his head, a strange look in his green eyes. “You probably believe that I’m not thinking straight because I'm letting my heart guide me.”
Severus eyed the boy cautiously before nodding once.
The boy sighed heavily as he said, “You may be right, but I think I can let my heart guide me now.”
He decided to try and use Legilimency on the boy, only to find that he couldn't manage to summon even a bit of magic.
Upon seeing the startled look that Severus wore, Potter gave a grimace. “You can't use your magic for now. It's too dangerous after Nagini’s poison affected you.”
Snape gave a scowl before mouthing, ‘How am I supposed to communicate, then?’
Potter stared dumbly for a long moment before asking, “Do you want a quill and parchment?”
Severus nodded once.
Potter picked up his bag and rummaged around in it for a long moment before pulling out a piece of parchment that had seen better days, along with a quill that was almost broken in half and a full jar of ink. “Here,” he said, pulling up a small table for Severus to write on.
The man did so immediately, writing out a message that asked, ‘Why did you revive me?’
Potter frowned almost immediately. “Why wouldn't I?”
'Why me?’ Severus pressed.
At that, Potter lowered his head once more. He fiddled with his hands nervously for a long moment before raising his head. “I like you,” he said so softly, Severus almost didn't hear it.
Frowning, Severus wrote, ‘I’m an awful person.’
“But that was just a persona!” Potter objected.
‘Not all of it,’ Severus wrote, a hint of guilt stabbing his heart. ‘I genuinely hated my position at Hogwarts, and I took it out on the students despite the fact they did nothing wrong.’
"But–”
‘Do not defend that which is unjust,’ Severus demanded, ‘It’s unbecoming of you.’
“Why?” Potter asked as he raised his voice a bit. “Because I'm the Boy-Who-Lived? Because I'm supposed to be the golden boy of the world? Well, I'm not, so you can kiss that thought goodbye."
Severus frowned before writing down, ‘What does that mean?’
“I’m – I'm not exactly a Light wizard,” Potter admitted hesitantly.
Severus couldn't have looked more startled even if he tried.
Potter noticed, and he replied by hanging his head once again. “I'm more of a Grey wizard.”
Severus hesitated before writing, ‘Because you revived me?’
“I may have used Dark magic a few times,” Potter admitted.
The man furrowed his brow. ‘A mistake or two-’
“It wasn't a mistake,” Potter said, causing Severus to pause. “I’m not my mother, who can do no wrong in your eyes.”
Severus barely held in a grimace before hesitantly writing, ‘I know.’
“I’m not my father, either,” Potter continued, “I'm Harry Potter, and I am a Grey wizard.”
Severus dipped his quill in the ink before writing, ‘I’m sorry.’
Potter frowned. “I wasn't looking for your pity–"
Severus gave the boy a sharp glare before writing, ‘I do not pity people.’
“You pity yourself,” Potter said.
‘I loathe myself,’ Severus corrected.
Potter stared at the writing for a moment before gripping his hands together tighter. “You’ve lived a life filled with loathing. This could be a second chance, one where you can make amends with the past.”
Severus turned his gaze toward the parchment before his eyes, trying to figure out which manner he should reply. Finally, he wrote, ‘To make amends would be to rot in Azkaban for everything I've done. There's no other way for me to atone for it all, save maybe the Dementor's Kiss.’
“You're not going to Azkaban!” Potter yelled as he shot up. “You're not dying, either! You're Severus Snape, and you’re going to live whether you like it or not! I'll keep bringing you back until you learn where you belong!”
Severus immediately sat up straighter. ‘Who are you to tell me my place?’
The young man with Avada Kedavra eyes leaned down and replied in a low tone, “I am the Master of Death.”
Severus flinched a bit, knowing that the Dark Lord had wanted to master Death above all else. His mind told him that Potter was no threat, but his heart still trembled just slightly upon seeing the slight madness in the young man’s eyes.
“You'll live whether you want to or not,” Potter said as he straightened up. “I refuse to allow you to leave me, too.”
Severus gripped his quill tightly before quickly writing, ‘Who else left?’
“They just don't understand what I've had to do,” Potter said as he scowled, sitting back down. “You understand what it means to walk the line between Light and Dark. You know what has to be done when the time comes, and you don't hesitate.”
Severus snorted, only to immediately wince at the pain filling his neck. After rubbing it gently, he wrote, ‘I’m not mad. Even I hesitate when the choice is difficult for me.’
Potter thought the words over before looking at the former Potions professor that tormented him for so many years. “I think what's remaining of the Order is planning on getting me arrested for reviving you.”
Severus looked up at Potter in shock.
“You know how the Light gets when they don't understand something,” the young man said callously, earning a slight wince from Severus. “I’m not going to Azkaban until you're healed. I'll bring this whole world to its knees before I leave your side.”
A sharp realization came to Severus’s mind, and he wrote before thinking things over. ‘You wouldn't sacrifice this world over one person, especially not me, without a good reason. You're too emotional to sacrifice everyone you care for over someone else. That means you hold me higher than those others. You said earlier that you like me, but it's more intense than that, isn't it?’
Potter stared down at the words for a moment before musing aloud, “I suppose it is.”
Horrified, Severus quickly wrote, ‘Why?’
“You've done everything for me, even when you were at the height of self-loathing. Who else has done that for me?” Harry questioned.
Hastily, Severus wrote, ‘I’m not interested in you, Potter. You're just a child–’
“I am an adult according to wizarding law,” Harry said as he stood up once more, “I'm going to court you as soon as you're healed, so prepare for that. You won't be able to run away from me anymore.”
Severus swallowed thickly, watching as Harry turned heel and silently left the room behind.
Dumbledore was wrong.
Harry wasn't the Savior of the Wizarding World – he was the next Dark Lord. He had mastered Death, and now he would be unstoppable when pursuing what he wanted.
And so, Severus trembled with fear alone in his hospital room.