Before I Forget (Epilogue)

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Years later, in the early 90s, Dumbledore has called Professor Snape to his office in order to discuss a peculiar matter. The Headmaster explains that a number of wards in the depths of the castle have begun to fade in strength. "I do not recall any such wards being in place, what is it that you are really asking of me?" Snape's suspicion of the Headmaster's motives is clear as day, but is only addressed in a dismissive manner, "Ah, Severus, I assure you that you are the right man for this task. Don't fret over details, I have full confidence that you will know what needs to be done when you get there."

Snape scoffs and scowls, acknowledging that his attempts to pry further information out will be met with further failure, and turns on his heel to leave the office. Following Dumbledore's instructions, Snape finds himself in an oddly familiar section of the castle, though he's positive he's never been here before. He tries to casually dismiss the notion; a castle this large is bound to have places that are easily confused with one another, but he remains unsettled.

He lights his wand in the dark depths and continues to follow the directions, and before long reaches the end of a corridor. Here, he notices an alcove, beyond which is an open stone door. The area doesn't seem to have had any visitors in quite some time, yet the door hanging open bothers him. His guard raised, he inspects the door, but finds nothing of note. Once sure it has not been tampered with, he looks into the room beyond, where a small set of steps elevate the floor just before another, larger stone door. This too is open, and like the previous one, has been for some time.

Down here, in the depths of Hogwarts, even the solitary Snape feels a growing sense of unease. Even if the "wards" Dumbledore mentioned were a false premise, the atmosphere seems to tug at Snape's senses in a way that causes the man to tense. However, with no further details to inspect about this room, he determines that his destination must be beyond the second door.

As he advances, the contents of the next room become clear. Two unlit braziers astride a pedestal, upon which stands a small cushion and transparent orb. Disturbed, but drawn to this centerpiece, Snape steadily strides towards it, and notices an engraving next to the cushion. "Here stands glory."

Ensuring the lack of any threats to his safety, the potions teacher gazes into the orb and a scene forms within. He sees a pair of older students in their house robes, engulfed in a black fog flowing from the braziers, holding each other, each red in the face with tears strewn down their cheeks. His immediate disgust conflicts with a warm feeling that develops within his chest, and his permanent scowl softens. The two figures in the orb then turn towards the pedestal, hand-in-hand, and flick their wands, soundlessly mouthing an unknown incantation. In an instant, the two vanish along with the fog, the braziers dim and the opaque orb clears up into transparency. Before the scene fades, Snape notices a small envelope that seemed to have fallen out of the male student's robes.

As if expecting to find the thing still in the room, Snape inspects the floor around his feet, and manages to locate what seems to be the exact same envelope as in the orb. Lifting it off the floor, Snape turns it over to find some identifying marks, before his eyes fall upon the apparent addressee "Professor Severus Snape." Nearly dropping it, any color in Snape's face drains to a pallor. He begins to wonder who these students were, and what connection they had to him. Was this the purpose of Dumbledore's obvious misdirection?

With a slight pause, Snape opens the envelope, finding a neatly folded letter within. Unfolding it, he reads through the fine handwriting, "Over these past seven years, I've grown quite a bit, and began noticing some odd coincidences." Snape's eyes scan the page for things of import. "I believe the way things have turned out are in part thanks to you, and though you might not admit it, I think it was intentional." Did he do something to them? "It's difficult to say given the argument in your class the other night, but you have become important to us, even if Merula won't acknowledge it. After some thought, your threats didn't come from anger and spite, but maybe care?" That name - he's seen it before, but where? And what is this argument, and what student would dare to accuse him of caring?

"With that out of the way, we don't have any date set, and I'm not even supposed to be planning like this, but I'd like to extend an invitation-" A wedding invitation? "Sincerely, Anon." Snape is aghast, partially at this unknown student's unwarranted familiarity, and the mere fact that a student such as this is unknown to him in the first place. Who is this Anon? Dumbledore is known for mischief unfit for someone of his age and station, but this situation comes off as outright cruelty, if it is in fact a prank.

Gathering his strength and catching his breath, Snape stuffs the letter into his robe, and turns to leave. However, a moment of mysterious sentimentality overcomes him, and he stashes the orb in another pocket before briskly exiting the area, carefully sealing the doors behind him.

Later in the evening, Snape arrives back at his quarters; he knows he's seen those names before. He makes quick work of searching through the numerous nooks and crannies of his abode. Eventually, he finds, hidden in a dusty, dark corner, a set of flasks filled to the brim with silvery strands, alongside a single plaque, engraved with the words "Merula Snyde & Anon."

A long forgotten feeling washes over him, and though he doesn't understand it's source, he knows precisely what to do with these silvery strands. Unfortunately for his pride, the Hogwarts Pensieve currently stood in the Headmaster's office. Of course, this series of events is exactly what the old wizard wanted. He'd certainly gloat over manipulating the professor along this path, but curiosity overwhelmed the prideful teacher in this moment, and he set off.

As night took hold over the castle, Snape finally arrived at the Headmaster's office, seven flasks and a plaque in tow, in addition to the letter and orb. Confident that his arrival is expected, Snape does not bother to knock and simply walks into the office, greeted by the smug grin of Albus Dumbledore, seated at his desk, quill in hand. "It is good to see you again so soon Severus, what have you to report?" The grin, now a wry smile, confirms Snape's suspicions.

"I expect little I say will be of any surprise to you. If this little stunt is intended to make a fool of me-" Snape snapped back at his superior, knowing full well he could not come up with a suitable retort. "On the contrary, I'm the fool here, and I believe you hold something that will help me." Dumbledore gestures to the parchments on his desk, "You see, these invitations of enrollment simply must be addressed to someone, and I'm afraid, at my age, that my memory has failed to provide any name."

Snape caught on quickly, having grown accustomed to the Headmaster always knowing more than he let on, and produced the plaque. As he handed it over, Dumbledore nodded his head in thanks, and gestured to a basin across the room, "It's all prepared, should you choose to use it." Snape grew uncomfortable at the idea of using the Pensieve with an audience, but Dumbledore continued, "I'm always surprised at how alike our minds are, Severus. You and I came to the same conclusion and took the same actions that night." Another riddle from the old man. "However, where we differ is how we handled those memories. Where you chose to hide them, I partook of various bits and pieces. Your aversion to tragedy leads you to see it where it is not."

There was only so much talking-down that Snape could take, and when he finally decided to stop biting his tongue, Dumbledore added, "Ah, there we are, finished. I'll take my leave now, as I suspect you'll want some time with your thoughts."  Snape grumbled and swallowed his words as the Headmaster rose and made for the door. "Those letters are a bit early, but I wanted to write them out personally while it was fresh in my mind. Before I forget - when the time comes, I'd like it if you delivered them yourself."

==

Hidden away, in a distant place from the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Snyde residence - lifeless until only a few years ago - had seen some renovations after a young couple moved in, fresh off a honeymoon. Now, during one early morning, laughter echoed through the revivified halls, as a husband and wife witnessed the first signs of their children's magical abilities. The proud parents beamed on, tussling their daughter's red-orange tuft of hair in pride. "It looks like we have another contender for greatest witch," as the man winked to his partner. "And finally someone worthy of being called the greatest wizard!" She retorted as she kissed her son on the forehead.

The couple had lived in secrecy, forced upon them by the final curse they broke at their former school. They were forgotten by the world, but as a rare few wizards and witches have witnessed, there are some forces powerful enough to protect against the worst of curses. Their shared experiences - struggles and successes, pains and pleasures - had created such a strong bond that they alone were made exempt from the toll that the curse required. Forgotten by the world, but not each other, the couple believed this bond saved them from a tragic fate. But perhaps, the shared sacrifice was the intent all along. With all memories of the Cursed Vaults confined to the memories of this lone couple, there was no telling.

As they rejoiced over the potential of their beautiful children, the growing family was interrupted by the sound of a grand doorbell. A visitor, out here? Puzzled, the proud parents approached the door, unsure of what to expect. When they opened the entrance to their lively abode, their smiles grew and tears swelled in their eyes.

There, a familiar figure stood, holding two letters in his hand.