The door to the house was left open. Harry chuckled- with four Aurors inside, why would they close any doors? Especially when two of them were Sirius Black/ Severus Snape pair? At this point it was wiser to save the world from those two. The last trick they pulled out of their sleeves, was in-air battle with jinn and flying carpets. Apparently at one point Professor Snape was jumping from flying Jaguar to a flying carpet and back. He stepped in and walked in the living room. Sirius was sitting on a couch surrounded by Tonks, Harry's mom, Luna, James and Remus. They were discussing the night's events. Severus was sitting away from them, in an armchair and looking at fire.

It was as if Harry was in the first year Potions class. The man was married to Lily for 17 years and still was scary to talk to.

What could he really do? Harry thought about this.. Well, anything, really, but no, he would not, would he?

Mom is here, she won't let him go overboard.

Harry was not really all that scared of Severus Snape generally, but the night's events had the ability to unhinge the man.

You got this, you could handle him when he hated your guts, he is much nicer to you now.

But I wasn't asking him how he killed Dumbledore's image.

No, you were asking him how he killed Dumbledore.

He is going to hex me out of window. And I am talking to myself.

"Excuse me, everyone, I am here with official business."

"Nonsense sweetheart! Come, have a seat. You are not leaving without eating." Lily was all over her son.

"Ma, I have to talk to Professor Snape."

"You can certainly try, darling, but he has not uttered two sentences together all evening."

"Harry, come over here" Sirius whispered." The Jinnie turned into Dumbledore, before Severus, you know, flashed him up with Avada Kedavra."

"Oh.. That wasn't in the report.."

"Harry, is there any way, you can avoid bringing it up again?" Remus cast a look at Severus with worry.

"Remus, maybe he has to talk to someone about it."

"Believe me, we tried.." Tonks said "Even Sirius tried."

"You are saying this, as if I am heartless."

"Sir, may I ask you couple of questions about tonight?"

"No."

"But Sir... "

"Potter, I am really not in a mood for this."

"Sir, tonight's events have obviously affected you, I think it might actually help you."

"Alright, I am done for today." He got up to leave.

"Professor, it was not the Headmaster, the jinn take our worst fears and memories and shapeshift into them. You had to do it."

"Do you want me to go over how I killed the man? I just did it again, the memory is still fresh. I remember, you wanted to know this so much, you could not stop yourself."

"Sir, that was so long ago, I didn't know.."

"That's alright, It's one of those things, you don't easily forget, I can go over that one too. You see, when the man your trust the most, asks you to do the unforgivable.."

Everyone was silently watching the exchange and the next minute they saw Severus twitch, tremble, fall down and continue shaking on the floor. Lily jumped up and ran to Severus. She took him in her arms and started saying something in his ear. Harry was not sure he could hear her.

"Ma, what is happening to him?"

Sirius was the one to answer "He is having another seizure. It's from too much stress, we think."

"You think? This has happened before?"

"It has. The first time I saw it, we were chasing down a Death Eater, and he just went limp. Needless to say, I left that Death Eater to attend to this one. Here Lil, put this pillow under his head."

"And has he seen someone for this?" Remus asked. He was sitting on the floor next to Severus, watching him to extend-flex his limbs, without his will.

"Lily dragged him, they think it was because of Cruciatus for seventeen years combined with walking through the Veil, plus all the stress of spying and all. It will pass, don't worry don't stare at him when he is back."

Remus looked surprised and pleased at Sirius's show of actual concern.

"You look concerned, Paddy."

"Nah, it's just I don't want his cranky comments. Besides, through no fault of my own, he is my partner at the Auror Department. So, I had to ask Lily what was happening to him."

"I, for one, am concerned about him." Remus said defiantly.

"Me too." Tonks joined in.

"I have always been concerned about him, that much black clothing cannot be good for the soul-fairies." Luna, of course, had her theory on everything.

"I am concerned about him as well, even though he is, you know, Snape." James said. Lily smiled at him.

"Thank you."

"Alright, maybe I am concerned too." Sirius conceded, not realizing that the charade was played for him.

"I know, darling. You don't have to say it. But thank you, nonetheless."

"Ma, does this usually last this long?" Harry was still crouching next to Severus and Lily.

"It should be over soon. He will be disoriented a bit, but then that will go away as well. Don't worry too much, Harry, sweetheart, you didn't cause this." Harry had his own opinions about it. Cruciatus was Voldemort's work, but Snape spied on him for Harry's sake. And the additional stress and reminder of the day that Snape had to kill Dumbledore, that was also Harry's fault. So, even if Harry did not voice this, he was convinced that the man's seizure was all his fault.

"Harry, do you have to do this?Maybe Sirius can answer your questions?" Remus said looking at Severus, still shaking violently.

"Well, I should not have pressed too hard. But I really have to Remus, it's for the report I have to give to my Middle Eastern counterparts, so they can close the investigation. I think he has to talk about it either way, you know, to get it over with. It has affected him pretty strongly."

"Darling, I agree with you, he has to speak his feelings, but he won't. Maybe you can try getting him talk one-on-one. Without us. It might work." Harry was amazed how well his mom was taking the whole incident. She was holding in her arms a shaking, trembling man whom she loved and who, for her memory went through so much hell that even now, over two decades from the war, was still being haunted by it every day.

At last Severus stopped shaking. Now he just was lying down, head in Lily's lap, paralyzed. He slowly opened his eyes, looked around in confused daze.

"C'mon Dora, Luna, dear, C'mon, get over here. There is no need to stare. Prongs, I said, get over here. "

"Why are you not asking Moony to stop staring?"

"Do you think he will listen? Those three are beyond my control, so I am taking at least you away." Sirius gestured towards Lily, Remus and Harry. None of the three had even faint plans of leaving Severus to himself. Severus finally got back from his daze. He scanned his surroundings. He looked up at Lily, who was still holding him, then at Remus, then at Lily again.

"Lil.. What happened? Where ? Oh bloody hell.. I had one of those again.. " He seemed embarrassed by the seizure and by his helplessness against it.

"It's gone now, Sev, you are fine. We got worried a bit, it usually does not last this long. How do you feel?"

"Don't worry, Lily. I am fine. I mean as fine as I can be under circumstances, but fine. I am sorry, I scared you, again. Remus, I am not one of your Dark Creatures you need to study as DADA teacher. Stop staring at me."

"I am the only Dark Creature in this room, so don't worry, Severus. We are just worried about you, that's all." Remus said on behalf of everyone as matter-of-factly as he could " C'mon, let me help you stand up." Remus said extending his hand towards Severus.

Severus took it, and to Harry''s surprise, as he was getting up, he said relatively quietly,

"I didn't mean it like that, Remus, honestly! You know that."

"No worries, Sev, I know you didn't. No need to apologize. Are you alright standing up? Here, lean on my arm for support." Which Severus did.

"Thanks."

"Sev, how about you go out to have some fresh air, Harry will come with you, just in case?" Lily was still on the plan to make Severus talk.

"Can't Remus come instead?"

It was no secret to Harry, that despite all the snarky comments and eye-rolls that Severus cast towards the man, Severus considered Remus his best friend. He was friendly with both Sirius and James, but with them it was more a competition and they did not have the saint-like quality of Remus to handle Snape's idiosyncrasies. There was a certain air of blind trust that the Slytherin had in Remus, that was really quite remarkable on its own, given their history.

"No."

"How about Black?"

"How about you go out with Harry and answer his questions while you are enjoying the night air?"

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, you know you do."

"Using your mother's influence, I see, you were busy, while I was out, Mr Potter."

"Severus, I swear, if you continue being a git.." Lily said with hardly suppressed laughter.

" Lead the way, Mr. Potter. Let's get this over with."

The fresh air was indeed a pleasant addition to the evening. Harry offered his arm for Snape to lean on. The man just looked at him as if Harry just turned into a Thestral, and did not take the offer.

"Professor, I have only few questions and I don't want to cause you any more stress."

"Ask your questions, Harry. "

"What curse did you use?"

"Avada Kedavra."

"Was he changed into Albus Dumbledore's image already?"

"Yes."

"Was he causing any harm to anyone?"

"He was trying to annihilate my daughter, my partner, his son and myself. And we had every reason to suspect that he was going to sacrifice the kidnapped man to resurrect an ancient monster through two sacrificial stones."

"I think that's all for now. The story corroborates with our information. I will try to not bother you have had quite an evening without me pounding you with questions." Harry has learned over the years of watching his mom handle his one-time Professor, that the only way to calm the man down was thorough patience and kindness. Demands, threats-none of them ever worked. And how can you really scare the man that sported the Mark on his arm and was in the Order of Phoenix simultaneously? It worked. Snape's posture relaxed, he slowed down his walk, put his hands in his coat's pockets.

"That's alright, Harry, you are doing your job."

"Sir, you might be surprised, but even Sirius and Dad were concerned about you."

"I am sure you are mistaken."

"No,Sir, they actually told so."

"I see. Is there anything else, or can I go back and maybe lay in my bed for a change, not to mention my chess game with Remus. I actually was almost winning this time, before all hell broke loose."

"Doesn't he try to let you win? He always does it to me. You know Remus, he actually feels bad if he keeps on wining."

"I warned him not to, but he tried anyway. This was before Minerva was born. I levitated the chess board and crushed it into a wall. Remus understood the point. "

Snape was actually being a nice conversationalist. It was now or never.

"Sir, there is one more thing.. Sir, if I could take back the words I shouted at you that day at the Astronomy Tower, I would."

"Harry, if that was possible, I think I have much more to take back than you do. Don't think about it too much."

"Sir, you know Mom has forgiven you a long time ago. Forgive yourself."

"I can say the same to you."

"Thank you, Professor. I have wanted to say this ever since I saw your memories. Dumbledore asked too much from you. It was not very fair or kind to ask you to do all the stuff you did. I love the man, but he could be quite manipulative. I don't think he realized that you couldn't refuse him anything."

"I think he realized it all too well. For what it's worth I did not agree with his plan to send a child to his death, either."

"It was the only way, Sir."

"Did not make it any easier to feel the realization that I failed one thing I lived for: to keep you alive." This was not said in a heroic or self-sacrificing way other heroes of the war would often talk about it. It was said in a tone of a man who failed to do the most important task in his life. Failed miserably and now was very ashamed of it. Harry felt sorry for the man. He was so young when he came to Headmaster, and in a way, so idealistic, even though to say idealistic about a Death Eater is strange, to say the least. Snape agreed to do Dumbledore's tasks for Lily, to keep her son alive. He didn't even bother to look at the big picture, for him , the war against Voldemort was as personal as it could be. So in the eyes of the twenty-something Severus, fresh from Godric's Hollow and crying in Dumbledore's office, Harry's death was the ultimate defeat.

"Sir, I think Headmaster demanded the most from people for whom he cared the most and in whom he put the most trust."

"Harry, you were the Gryffindor Hero, who had to be sacrificed for greater good, I was just a spy, a hopeless, damaged Slytherin, the man took pity on me, nothing more. But you are right, I never learned to refuse the old meddler."

"I disagree, Sir. I think he loved you more than you think."

"Harry, there is only one person in this entire world who loves me unconditionally and who believes in me at times when I do not believe in myself. And I can assure you, Harry, it is not Albus Dumbledore."

Harry didn't know what to answer to that. True, Dumbledore loved Snape like his own son in the end, and according to Remus, was meddling with Severus's and Lily's love life in Heaven, like a concerned, but very nosey parent, but he didn't pay attention to shy Slytherin while he was in school, being groomed to be a Death Eater. He was not a shiny, righteous Gryffindor and he was not saved from bullying, from his family problems, from werewolves in Shrieking Shack, from Voldemort. Only when he repented because of Lily, when he broke away from all the shackles life put him in, only then Dumbledore saw what was in front of him all along.
Perhaps they do sort too soon, Harry thought, and perhaps no House is better than the other. Peter Pettigrew who betrayed his friends out of fear was a Gryffindor, Regulus Black, who sacrificed his life for a man who could never return his love was a Slytherin. Draco Malfoy who carried Snape's body to Malfoy manor the last day of War and who never once refused Harry's request to visit his grave was a Slytherin. Hermione Granger, the smartest girl he knew was a Gryffindor and Luna Lovegood, who went through entire war without a blink of an eye, was a Ravenclaw. And the man walking next to him, the man who gave his life without second thought to the memory of a girl he loved, the man who waited patiently in Heaven and on Earth for her to make the first step, the man who took upon impossible challenges and risked his life and his soul for his friends,was a Slytherin.

No, Harry was sure, Snape both needed and deserved Lily Evans. She was that one person, he lived to prove right. To prove that he deserved her trust.

"Sir, did it bother you that much that I looked like my Dad? You know, I can't help it."

"I behaved undignified around you Harry, I had hard time separating you from ..some of the memories I had of your father. He and I, we are on much better terms now and I can see what others saw in him, but believe me he has changed a great deal since we were in school. I have apologized to your mother many times for the way I treated her orphan. When I first saw you... It's hard to describe.. It's as if all the bad memories, all my mistakes came together in one awakening moment. All I saw was her eyes.. but then.. all your other features were James's. It was as if it was my daily reminder of what could have been mine if I was not the biggest idiot that ever walked this earth. In addition, everytime I looked at you, I remembered just what I did and how I played the most cruel joke I could have played on myself. Fate can be excruciatingly cruel sometimes.. Just too. But so cruel. That prophecy... If only I stopped and thought what was I about to do. I was so angry at the time and so drunk with power, I was so lost without her... You should have had childhood, where your parents took you to Diagon Alley instead of Hagrid, Harry. I didn't mean to, I really didn't."

It hit Harry suddenly, that Severus Snape was apologizing to him on this empty street that was lighted by occasional streetlight.

"Sir..Professor, you don't have to go on. I know what you mean too say. Thank you."

"Just like Lily.. She never lets me finish my apologies to her either.."

"Sir, may I ask you something?"

"Go right ahead, it's not like I haven't been interrogated by you all evening."

"It's just it had been bothering me. Why didn't you ask her out?"

"Whom?"

"Mom. You know she would agree instantly."

"Would she? I was in Slytherin, I was not popular, I was not handsome, I was neck-deep in Dark Arts, my father was a poor drunk, I had no prospects. Why would a girl like Lily go out with a guy like me?"

"Professor, excuse me for saying this, but when you locked yourself in Azkaban, you weren't exactly popular, and your looks were the same. You were convicted for treason and you left all your assets, rich as you are, to Mom, so you, yourself, didn't have a sickle to your name. And Mom almost lost her mind from missing you. So yes, I think all you had to do was ask her out."

"Life is so simple when one is a Gryffindor."

" Life is so complicated when one is a Slytherin. C'mon, Professor, let"s go back. Ma must be worried about you already."