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Huh? My eyes shoots open. And all I can see is white. Confused what happened, I blink few times faster. And soon, I see that I'm not in the Forbidden Forest anymore. Nor in Hogwarts. I'm... On a train station? But it's all empty and grey-ish white. Feeling a bit awkward, I bring hands closer to one another while looking around:"Um... Hello?". My voice echoes all over the place. What is this? Is this... Is this one of Voldermort's tricks? Then, I look down to my hands - only to see I'm wearing new clothes. Grey-ish white pants and long sleeved shirt. Not only that, my hands looks a bit... Different, yet so familiar. "What the..?" I take better look at my whole body and realize; I'm back being a child! What?!
I start turning my head around while yelling:"Ha..- Harry? Hagrid?! Where are you?!". No answer. Only the sound of my own - seven years old - voice echoes until it naturally fades away. "What the hell is going on?" I whisper to myself. "It's not proper for a young lady use that kind of language." a male voice calmly tells. Sharply, I turn around where the voice came:"Wha..-?". My heart makes a jump and eyes widens. It's Albus Dumbledore!!! He's also wearing white, only in a robes he would normally be in. Can't believe what I'm seeing:"Albus Dumbledore... What are you..-", "You've come a long way, (Y/N). I'm proud of you, you know that?" the old man hums with gentle smile. Still a bit hesitant what to believe here, so I struggle:"Ah... Um, I..-", "Let us walk." he suddenly interrupts. And with that, we slowly began to walk side by side.
Won't take long before I ask:"So, uh... Professor, where are we? What is this place, exactly?". "I was going to ask you this for myself. Where would you say we are?" Dumbledore looks slightly up, turning his head to look around. Without my notice, every few meters we walk, I turn one year older. "Well, it looks like we are in a train station. King's Cross, to be exact. Only, there are no people or any trains. And it's all white." I tell, wondering if he truly can't see what I'm seeing. "King's Cross, is that right?" he wonders little bit amused. I stop walking and give him more serious tone in my thirteen year old form:"What is all this? Did I die?". Right after that, I hear this fade voice echoing somewhere in the distance and my head quickly turns to look. Huh?
But there's no one there. It almost sounded like someone was calling my name. Dumbledore stops after couple more steps and turns to look at me while having his hands behind his back:"Around three years ago, I received your application when you applied for the job to cover up for Professor Sprout. Isn't that right?". I turn to look at him, little bit confused and continue to walk with him:"Yes?". "And around three years ago, you were standing at the King's Cross, waiting for your adventure in Hogwarts to begin? Or should I say, continue." he continue. "...Yes." I breath out. He again looks around:"Curious. Curious, indeed.". "..-/N)." the voice once again calls and I look over the shoulder. Nothing.
Dumbledore continues to speak, like he can't hear what I'm hearing:"I have a confession to make, (Y/N).". "What's that?" I ask and turn to look at him - now as in seventeen years old. "After seeing your application, I didn't look all the others that I received." he tells. Both of my eyebrows raise:"Why?". He lets out a soft chuckle without looking at me. We walk a little bit in silence. There are many questions and wonders circling around. But I'm not sure what's the main thing I want to bring out. Then, I shook my head and try to make some sense in all of this:"Voldemort has the Elder Wand. And we don't know what the last Horcrux is. All of this... It feels like I'm living in a bad dream.". "Do you regret it?" he ask all of sudden. "Huh?" I stop walking as my now current age and look at the man next to me confused. "Do you regret coming back in Wizarding World, (Y/N)?" he reframed the question. Shooking my head with a frown:"No. No, I've never regretted it.".
Slowly, Dumbledore nods few times:"Good... Good. It would be such a pity send you back to the beginning. After everything.". I stare at the old man now even more confused. "You could go back, you know? Back to Hogwarts Express. Back when Remus woke you up after you fell asleep, for example." he gives a small smile. "Wh..-? How you know all about that? What is this? Am I dreaming right now?" I wonder. Dumbledore chuckles amused:"Of course you are dreaming, (Y/N). You hit your head, after all.". Huh?! Right after that, I hear that voice again, only this time a lot stronger. "(Y/N)!" Again, I look around and see no one. This time, Dumbledore shift his eyes to the direction the voice came from, then back to me. "I believe there's someone waiting for you to wakeup." he hums with slight smirk. My head snaps at him:"Waiting?". He gives me a wink and began to walk away:"Take good care of him, will ya?". Before I can say anything, everything around me turned pure and bright white, that I had no choice, but close my eyes.
After the brightness fades away, my eyes flutters open - only to see how I'm pressed up against some black fabric that radiates warmth and soothing scent. What..? "Please, (Y/N)... Please, please, please. Don't do this..- I can't..-" familiar deep voice shakes the way I've never heard it shake before. Severus..? That's when I realize; I'm in Severus's embrace as he has curled me up tightly in his arms while he's on his knees on the ground. He's... Crying? The way he has wrapped his arms around me... I'm not even sure if he has ever hold me this tight before. I do a small movement with my right shoulder and let out a muffled grunt:"Mhm.". Severus's eyes widens and he leans a bit away to take a look:"(Y/N)?". And there it was. The love of my life. Tears in his eyes. In those beautiful, dark eyes. Sev. Seeing him like this gives me this mixed feeling of sadness and gladness.
I look up to him with fade smile and reach a hand to touch his face. With gentle move, I caress the side of his left cheek. A tear drops the back of my fingers and I wipe it away. "Hi. Why are you crying?" my voice sounds like a whisper. This man is truly shaking as he's staring down on me with stunned look on his face. Severus lets out a shuddered breath as he quickly pulls me back into embrace and bury his whole face the crook of my neck. "E-ey..! You are suffocating me..!! Sev!" I whine and try to push him away. But he won't budge, and keeps hugging me so tight and I have no choice, but stop resisting. Can't lie, even this slightly hurts, it still feels good. It feels... Right. "I thought I lost you." part of his lips caress the side of my ear as he whispers. "I'm here. Like I promised." I reassure and try to again lean away from the hug to see him better. But as soon as those words came out of my mouth and I move, I feel this pain the back of my head. "Ouch, Sev..." I now gently push him away and he leans back a bit, giving me a breather.
While sitting in his arms, I take a look around us. We are alone in the Forbidden Forest. There are no other Death Eaters in here, nor Harry or Hagrid. Just the two of us. "Where is everybody?" I wonder. Then, my gaze drops to this odd, dark bundle that is laying few meters away from us. But quickly realize it's an actual person, and not just anyone - it's Bartemius. Stone cold dead. Eyes wide, I stare between the body and Severus:"W-what happened?". The look on Severus goes more serious and he began to tell me everything. Apparently, back when he had Apparated to Bartemius and the twins ordered to distract them, both of the Malfoys came. After the trio had turned their backs, Narcissa insisted her husband to take Severus to safety, which Severus declined since he was determined to come safe me and Harry.
Narcissa didn't like the answer and Lucius had to use more force to take Severus with him. Somewhere along the way, as he tired to fight out of Lucius's grasp, he broke Lucius's nose. Whether it was by accident or not... After he got away from Lucius, he tried to find me with no success. But when he felt the burning on his Dark Mark, he knew where we might be and rushed here. As soon as he appeared, it was too late. When Voldemort casted the Killing Curse at me, Harry jumped in and pushed me away. Right when the curse hit him, the back of my head hit to a stump. "No wonder..." I rub the place it hurts and peek behind me to see the stump. Severus saw all of this from his hide and wasn't sure if the curse truly hit me or Harry.
After that, it got all quiet. Narcissa went up to take a look if the two us were really dead and ended up confirming that Harry and I are indeed passed away. It broke Severus's heart. And there was nothing he could do about it. Soon after that, Voldemort forced Hagrid to carry Harry in his arms and they all left the forest towards the castle to celebrate their victory - leaving me behind. Immediately when the coast was clear, Severus rushed to me, calling my name in panic. Before he could get in touch with me, he heard how there was someone standing behind him few meters away. It was Bartemius. He was planning on ending Severus's life right in there 'which he should have done long time ago', but... Failed. Evidently so.
Hearing all of this... He must've been so scared. Talk about how he cried as he thought I died. Sev. All of these big emotions are now spinning around and brings tears on my own eyes, but I try to keep them down and this trembling smile creeps on my lips:"I'm glad you're okay.". Severus sees the tears and holds onto my hand, bringing it against his chest where the heart is. It's beating so fast. "(Y/N)." his voice is soft as he brings himself closer. I blink and a tear rolls down the cheek. Our foreheads softly collides and Severus mutters:"Don't you ever scare me like that. Otherwise, you leave me no choice, but to punish you, badger.". A shuddered chuckle escapes from my lips and another tear rolls down:"Is that a promise?". With that, we both close our eyes and lean in for a kiss. As soon as our lips connect, these soft electric waves goes thru up to our brains, and down to our feet. After the kiss, we wrap arms around each other and embrace. "I love you." I breath out. "I love you." he holds me tighter and again bury his face the crook of my neck, inhaling the scent. It got so quiet after that. Only the sound of some birds in the distance can be heard.
We stayed like that for few minutes until leaning away. "What now?" I break the silence and wipe off the tears. Despite the bitter sweet moment, the reality still is that the war is fully going on in the castle. Not only that, Voldemort has killed Harry and is now heading there to claim his victory. "The snake." Severus suddenly blurt out. "Huh?" I frown confused. He then got up and dusts himself. I still sit on the ground:"I mean, yeah, he is quite a snake, but..-", "Not him. Nagini. It's the last Horcrux." he offers a hand for me to grab it. For a moment I stare at him:"Oh.". Then it hit me and my eyes goes wider:"OH!". Severus sighs and pulls me up back on my feet:"Honestly, love. You would think you got some sense back in your brain after getting hit by the stump.". "Nah, you still love me either way." I joke and dust myself as well. That earn the smile from him. Which again reminds me how much I adore it.
"Oh! I need to tell you something; I saw Albus after I hit my head." I tell. Both of his eyebrows raise. "But I guess that can wait. We need to get back to the castle. Come on!" I waved my hand and start walking with fast steps. "'We'?" he asks while staring at me baffled from where he stands. My legs stops themselves and I turn to him:"Well, yeah? Bartemius doesn't seem to be in the picture anymore, so he ain't helping. Not that he ever was on our side..-", "(Y/N), you are not going." Severus stated. I frown:"What?! Of course I am.". "I just got you back in my life. It'd be foolish of you to think I would be willing to risk loosing you again." his eyes got dark. For a moment, I stare at him baffled before speaking:"Sev, haven't you learn nothing? We are in this together. And that means you and I are going back to that castle, and slay the snake. No matter if it'll be the last thing we do.". Severus stares at me with those dark eyes for a moment. Almost like calculating something - or he is just upset I outsmarted him. Finally, he sighs:"Fine.". Big smile appears on my face and I turn where I was heading:"That's the spirit! Now, I think we should go this wa..- Hey!!", Severus had turn into the black smoke, scooped me in his arms and start heading towards the school with high speed. Let's get that snake!