The room went deathly silent.

Minerva froze, her entire body stiffening as if struck by a stunning spell.

Albus's breath caught in his throat.

Poppy let out a sharp gasp, her hands flying over her mouth.

Arthur shot up from his seat, his chair scraping loudly against the stone floor.

Filius's wand clattered to the ground, slipping from his stunned fingers.

Remus's jaw fell open, his breath hitching in his throat.

Sirius gripped the arm of his chair, knuckles turning white.

And Albus -

Albus forgot to breathe.

The silence stretched unbearably long.

Until -

Another moan.

Louder this time.

A ragged, pained inhale, like air being dragged into ruined lungs.

And then -

A voice.

Weak. Broken. Barely more than a whisper.

"?Min?va??"

Minerva let out a strangled sob and lunged forward, tearing herself from Albus's grasp as if her very soul had been yanked from her chest.

Poppy was already there, hands shaking as she reached for Severus's pulse.

Minerva grasped Severus's icy fingers, clutching them as if she could will warmth back into them.

Severus barely stirred - his lips parted, his breath shallow, his eyelids flickering, caught between this world and the next -

But he was alive.

Tears spilled from Minerva's eyes as she ran trembling fingers through his damp, tangled hair, whispering his name over and over again.

Albus stepped forward, something heavy and suffocating tightening in his chest. His hand found Severus's wrist.

A pulse.

Weak. Fragile. But there.

Albus exhaled a shuddering breath, his vision blurring.

His boy.

His Severus.

Still fighting. Still alive.

And for the first time in decades -

Albus Dumbledore let himself cry and laugh at the same time.

---------------

Severus's POV

Pain.

Severus felt searing, unbearable pain - as if every nerve in his body was being yanked in different directions, stretched beyond their limits, torn apart and stitched back together, only to be torn again.

His head threatened to burst, white-hot pressure pounding behind his eyes. His skin was on fire - no, stabbed - a thousand invisible blades piercing him over and over and over.

He wanted to scream, to beg for mercy -

But no sound came.

No. No, he knew what this was.

He was dead.

And this - this agony - was his punishment.

Severus Snape in hell.

Fitting.

He had always known, deep down, that he wouldn't be granted peace. That his sins - too many, too heavy - would drag him down. But this?

This was too real.

Wasn't death supposed to be... nothing? Stillness? Emptiness? Silence?

Then why did it feel like he was trapped under the Cruciatus Curse, like the Dark Lord was standing over him, forcing screams from his throat that never escaped?

And why -

Why was he alone?

Surely some Death Eaters should be suffering alongside him. He wasn't the only one who had served.

Or was this part of it?

Was this his final punishment?

To suffer alone - in agony - forever?

No. No, no, no - he was so tired. He didn't want this.

Suddenly -

The pain stopped.

Everything was silent. Weightless. Still.

A floating darkness surrounded him, a void so vast it swallowed his thoughts whole.

And for the first time in his life - he felt free.

Was this it? Was he finally? leaving?

No burdens. No war. No betrayal. No regrets.

Just? nothing.

He could let go. Let go.

Severus closed his eyes.

And then -

She screamed.

The sound tore through the void, slicing through his very essence like a dagger to the chest.

Minerva.

She was screaming, her voice raw, desperate - so loud it shook the darkness itself.

Why?

Why was Minerva McGonagall screaming?

Oh, no.

No, no, no -

Something was wrong.

Something was terribly, terribly wrong.

Severus fought against the pull of the abyss, his mind clawing at the blackness.

Was Potter dead? Had the Dark Lord won?

No. No, no, no.

Had Minerva been captured? Was she being tortured? Was she suffering because of him?

**No, no, no - **not her.

Not her.

Not the students.

Not the school he had bled to protect.

He had sworn - sworn - to keep them safe, and if they were still in danger, if the Dark Lord had them, if -

He couldn't go.

He wouldn't go.

He had to fight.

They needed him.

Minerva needed him.

He tried to speak, but his voice was lost to the void.

No. Not yet.

He clenched his mind, his soul - forcing himself to push through the suffocating weight of the abyss -

Just one word.

One.

He had to let them know.

One. More. Time.

"...Min...va..."

------------

Back to the room

The air in the infirmary was thick with tension. The only sound was the ragged rise and fall of Severus's breath, shallow but steady. Poppy Pomfrey wiped her hands on her apron, steadying herself before lifting her wand.

With a practiced flick, she murmured, "Aegrotus Aperio."

A soft hum filled the air, the magic swirling over Severus's body like an invisible web, scanning for ailments hidden beneath the surface. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, like ink blooming in water, faint golden threads stretched from her wand, weaving themselves into glowing symbols above his chest. The letters hovered, shifting, revealing the results of the diagnostic spell.

Poppy leaned in, eyes narrowing as she deciphered the glowing script. The silence in the room was suffocating - until she spoke.

"He's unconscious again," she said, her voice brisk but tinged with something fragile. "This isn't a coma - he's simply fallen back into magical exhaustion. His body is trying to recover, but it's fragile."

Minerva's breath hitched. She tightened her grip on Severus's cold hand, willing warmth back into his fingers.

Poppy's wand moved again, drawing another thread of golden light. Her frown deepened.

"Nagini's venom is still present in his bloodstream," she continued, eyes flicking to Albus. "The potion reserves I administered have slowed its progression, but it hasn't been neutralized completely. We'll need an antidote - soon."

Albus gave a slow nod, his fingers pressing against the inside of his robes where Severus's wand lay hidden.

Poppy shook her head. "His magical reserves are nearly depleted. If he had continued much longer, his core could have collapsed entirely. That sort of damage? it's nearly impossible to recover from."

Minerva inhaled sharply, but Albus turned pale, his knuckles going white as he clenched his fists.

"His core is still active, but it's flickering - unstable. He won't be able to perform magic until it stabilizes, and if he tries?" She hesitated.

Albus's voice came out in a whisper. "If he tries?"

Poppy's gaze turned steely. "If he tries, it could kill him."

The weight of the words settled like a leaden fog.

Minerva swallowed, her voice hoarse. "What else?"

Poppy pursed her lips and flicked her wand again. The floating letters shifted, revealing more information. She sighed.

"Nagini's venom is still in his bloodstream. Slowed, but not gone."

Minerva closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling unevenly.

Poppy continued, "His lungs and heart are under strain. His breathing is too shallow, his circulation weak. He's dangerously dehydrated, and - " she grimaced, " - I don't like the nerve damage I'm seeing. The venom has left lasting effects. His hands may tremble, his reflexes may be slower than usual. We won't know the full extent until he wakes."

Arthur let out a slow exhale, running a hand through his thinning hair.

Filius pressed a hand to his face, muttering something under his breath.

Sirius looked away, jaw tight, arms crossed over his chest.

Remus let out a long, heavy breath, guilt flickering across his face.

Poppy lowered her wand, the golden magic dissipating into nothingness. She squared her shoulders and turned to face them all.

"Listen to me carefully."

Her voice, though calm, rang with authority, commanding their undivided attention.

"Severus is alive, but that does not mean he is well. He has improved, yes, but he is still fighting. And knowing him - " her lips pressed into a thin line " - he will try to get up the moment he opens his eyes. He will push himself. He will try to pretend he doesn't need help. And if we let him - if we so much as give him an inch - he will end up back in this bed, or worse."

Arthur nodded grimly.

Filius rubbed his temple, looking exhausted.

Sirius scoffed under his breath. "Sounds about right."

Poppy shot him a glare. "That means we stop him before he stops himself. That means we make sure he eats, that he rests, that he lets us help him, whether he likes it or not. He won't thank us for it. In fact, he will probably make all of our lives miserable."

Minerva let out a watery chuckle, though it sounded dangerously close to a sob.

Poppy softened slightly. "But we do it anyway."

A long pause.

Then, Poppy clapped her hands together. "Now - everyone out."

The sudden command took them by surprise.

Sirius blinked. "Out?"

"Yes, out," Poppy snapped. "All of you, except Minerva and Albus. The last thing Severus needs is to wake up to a bloody mob hovering over him."

Arthur sighed but nodded, casting one last look toward Severus before stepping away.

Filius lingered a moment, then reluctantly followed.

Remus paused at the door, hesitating, but in the end, he only nodded and walked out.

Sirius hesitated the longest, glancing back as if wanting to say something - then shook his head and strode after the others.

The door clicked shut, leaving only three.

For a moment, Poppy said nothing.

Then - she turned to Albus.

"I might have asked you to leave, too," she said, her voice lower, sharper. "But I'm giving you a second chance. Because I saw how much you cared for him these past months."

Albus held her gaze, but said nothing.

"But listen to me, and listen well, Mr. Albus Brian Percival Wulfric Dumbledore."

Minerva raised an eyebrow, half-expecting Poppy to pull out a Howler.

"I don't know what you did today that made him sicker. And I don't know what you did to bring him back. But if - if - you even think about pulling another 'grand plan' without telling either me or Minerva - "

She leaned in, voice dropping to a deadly whisper.

"I will personally hex your beard clean off your face and transfigure your bed into a permanent hospital cot right beside his. Understood?"

Albus blinked.

Minerva snorted.

Poppy straightened, looking immensely satisfied.

Then, she turned on her heel, eyeing both of them critically.

"Now - look at the two of you. Absolutely filthy. If Severus wakes and sees you like this, he will panic himself straight into another magical collapse."

Albus opened his mouth, but Poppy raised a hand.

"Not a word. Minerva, let me fix those burns. Headmaster - yes, you, sit down. You're bleeding. Let me take care of that head wound before you keel over like an overdramatic old bat."

Albus sighed but relented, sitting stiffly as Poppy flicked her wand.

Minerva, finally allowing herself to breathe, lowered herself onto the chair beside Severus's bed, brushing his hair from his face.

She would not leave.

She would not let him wake alone.

Poppy finished her healing charms, huffing in satisfaction. "Right. Now, both of you - eat something. Take a shower. If I have to order the house-elves to physically drag you, I will."

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn't."

Poppy smirked. "Try me."

Albus chuckled softly. For the first time in what felt like days, the unbearable weight on his chest eased just slightly.

Severus would wake.

And when he did - they would be there.

----------------

Severus floated in a hazy void, the edges of reality curling at the corners of his mind like parchment singed by fire.

The first thing he became aware of was sound - a soft, delicate trill of birdsong, bright and cheerful, far too gentle for a world filled with war and death.

The second was sensation - the golden warmth of sunlight spilling across his face, seeping into his bones, thawing the ever-present cold that had wrapped itself around him for what felt like eternity.

And the third - smell.

A sharp, sterile tang of cleaning potions. The heavy undertone of brewing drafts lingering in the air. Skele-Gro. Pain relief. Fever reducers. Peppermint tincture.

The distinct scent of Hogwarts' infirmary.

A place he had woken up in far too many times.

But - why was he here now?

His mind reached for the last thing he could remember, but all he found was a dark, endless void. A missing puzzle piece where memory should be.

But? he knew one thing.

He had to wake up.

Something had happened.

Something urgent.

His body ached, the deep-rooted kind of pain that made him feel ancient, as though he had slept for centuries and his limbs had forgotten how to exist. His nerves sparked and burned, a relentless hum of pain trailing from his neck, jaw, chest - all radiating with a familiar, nauseating throb.

His fingers twitched. He tried again - wake up - but his mind did not obey.

Instead, the fog lifted just a fraction, and something else flooded in.

A cascade of memories, disjointed and chaotic, fractured pieces of his past, rushing through his mind like a Pensieve gone awry.

Mum. Magic. Dad. Drunk.

"I'm a freak."

No. I'm different.

No. It's all my fault.

Dad hits Mum - because of me. Because they had a freak.

A flash - red hair. Green eyes.

Lily.

Warmth. Laughter. The first light in his dark world.

His new home - Hogwarts. The Sorting Hat's whispered words:

"Ah? a sharp mind. Cunning. Ambition? Yes, you'll do well in - Slytherin!"

Then - whispers. Sneers.

"Half-blood."

"Disgrace."

"Filthy."

The Marauders. Their laughter - Black, Potter, Lupin, Pettigrew - filling the halls.

The Unbreakable Vow.

The Dark Mark burning into his arm like a brand.

Dumbledore's cold blue eyes, unreadable, filled with both pity and purpose.

"You must be the one to kill me, Severus."

Lily.

Again and again - Lily.

Her screams. Her pleas.

Her lifeless eyes staring back at him.

Potter's brat. A Horcrux.

The war. The battlefield. The fall of Hogwarts - Minerva's scream.

Minerva.

His heart slammed against his ribs.

Minerva.

She had screamed.

She was in danger.

Hogwarts was falling.

Suddenly, his body reacted before his mind could catch up. His pulse skyrocketed, hammering erratically, his chest rising and falling too quickly.

Something was wrong - he had to get up, he had to -

A wave of nausea crashed into him, choking him, suffocating him, pulling him back down into the void.

But then -

A hand pressed firmly against his chest.

The touch was warm.

Reassuring.

A slow, steady pulse of magic seeped into him through the touch, calming the erratic rhythm of his heart, easing the tension locking his body into place.

It felt like an anchor.

Like something - **someone - **keeping him here.

His breath steadied. His limbs relaxed. The nausea ebbed. The panic dimmed into quiet exhaustion.

For a moment, he almost slipped back into unconsciousness, lulled by the warmth, the presence, the strange safety of it.

Until the touch was gone.

------------------------

The infirmary was silent save for the rhythmic ticking of a distant clock and the occasional rustle of parchment.

Albus sat beside Severus's bed, one hand resting lightly atop a weathered tome, his piercing blue gaze flickering over the pages. His face, usually a mask of calm wisdom, was lined with exhaustion - dark circles beneath his eyes, shoulders sagging under the weight of months of grief.

Minerva stood by the window, her silhouette outlined by the golden hues of the morning sun.

She had been standing there for nearly an hour, arms folded tightly across her chest, her expression unreadable.

But Albus knew her far too well.

She was deep in thought.

And Minerva McGonagall, deep in thought, was a force of nature.

Her gaze never wavered from the view beyond the glass - beyond the castle grounds - where the world continued turning, blissfully unaware that its most brilliant, stubborn, insufferable, infuriating Slytherin had nearly left it forever.

Her fingers curled tightly around the fabric of her robe.

She had felt it.

That moment.

That terrifying moment where she thought she had lost him.

But Severus was breathing.

Severus was alive.

And for now - that was enough.

Suddenly, the room filled with the sound of ragged, labored breathing.

Albus's head snapped up just in time to see Severus's chest rising and falling too rapidly, his breaths coming in short, sharp gasps. His face was drawn, his brow furrowed in visible distress. His pupils flickered frantically beneath his closed lids.

Minerva's heart lurched. "Poppy!" she cried, her voice cracking as she rushed forward, gripping Severus's arm.

Albus wasted no time. His hand pressed firmly over Severus's sternum, and he let his magic pulse outward, radiating a calming force over the younger man's erratic breathing.

A fresh wave of exhaustion crashed into him as he channeled his strength into Severus, trying to anchor him, steady him, keep him from slipping deeper into distress.

Footsteps pounded against the stone floor as Poppy burst into the room, her wand already out. She scanned Severus's body with a series of quick, practiced motions, her lips pursed in concentration.

A few agonizing seconds passed. Then -

She nodded in approval. "He's trying to wake up," she confirmed, eyes flicking up to Albus. "But the venom and his damaged nerves are keeping him trapped. His body won't let him surface yet."

She turned to Albus, her expression gentle but firm. "That's enough, Albus."

Albus hesitated. He could still feel Severus's erratic heartbeat beneath his palm, the sheer effort it was taking for him to breathe, to exist. His boy was still fighting.

But Poppy knew best.

With a slow, reluctant nod, he withdrew his hand.

Minerva reached forward, her fingers trembling as she brushed the back of her hand along Severus's cheek - a rare, open gesture of tenderness. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she leaned close, desperation lining every syllable.

"Severus, dear," she called softly. "Open your eyes. Please. Just - just open your eyes."

For a moment, nothing happened.

And then -

BANG!

-----------------------

The atmosphere inside 12 Grimmauld Place was unusually subdued.

Since Arthur, Remus, and Sirius had returned from Hogwarts, the air had been thick with tension - as if the house itself could feel the unspoken weight of regret.

At first, everyone had listened in silence as the three men recounted what had happened to Severus - the moment he had sacrificed himself to protect Hogwarts, the way his magic had nearly drained him to death, how for a few terrifying minutes, he had been gone.

Even Fred and George - who could joke about nearly anything - had been strangely quiet.

But Harry - Harry had not spoken at all.

He sat there, staring down at his hands, his face unreadable.

These last few months, he had not been the same.

He spent hours in silence, staring out of windows or lying in the grass, watching the sky. Not even Ron or Hermione could reach him.

Not even Sirius.

And Sirius Black - the man Harry had once worshiped - was the reason why.

Sirius had survived.

By sheer, dumb luck - or perhaps something more.

It had happened in the Ministry - that night, when Bellatrix had cast the Killing Curse.

There had been a Death Eater nearby - one Harry had never seen before, one who had stumbled straight into Sirius as Bellatrix fired the curse.

And in that tiny, split second, both Sirius and Harry had been thrown backward - just far enough to avoid death.

At the time, Harry hadn't thought much about it.

But later - much later - he had asked Dumbledore.

And Dumbledore had confirmed it.

Severus had been there.

Severus had been in the Ministry - watching, hidden in the shadows, waiting. He hadn't been assigned to the battle - Voldemort had not sent him there.

But he had gone anyway.

To protect Harry.

To protect Lily's son.

And there had been another moment, too.

The night Hedwig had died.

When Harry had been flying through the storm, fleeing for his life - there had been another Death Eater. One who could have killed him.

But hadn't.

One who had simply paused, stared at him for a moment, and then vanished.

Dumbledore had suggested that it was him again.

Severus.

And Harry couldn't stop thinking about it.

Sirius had refused to believe it - brushed it off as luck, coincidence - sneered that "Snivellus wouldn't lift a finger unless it benefited him."

But now - after the memories, after seeing the truth himself -

Harry could not look at Sirius the same way again.

He had idolized him.

And yet -

What was Sirius Black, if not another bully?

Like Dudley.

Like Draco.

No - not like Draco.

Because even Draco had tried to protect him.

Even Draco Malfoy, who had been raised by Death Eaters, had refused to name him when the Snatchers had brought him to Malfoy Manor.

Even Draco had tried.

Sirius had not.

Sirius had laughed as James tormented Snape.

Sirius had led the charge.

Sirius had almost killed him.

And Harry had once thought him a hero.

Now, he wasn't so sure.

And it wasn't just Sirius.

It was himself, too.

He was nothing more than a monster.

A piece of Voldemort.

A boy who had walked through life blindly, never once questioning the truth.

How many people had died for him?

How many people had sacrificed everything - for him?

People like Severus Snape.

And what had Harry given in return?

Nothing.

Nothing but hatred, resentment, and cruelty.

A spoiled, arrogant boy, spitting on the name of the man who had saved his life again and again and again.

Harry's hands shook.

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying desperately to shove the thoughts away - to silence them, to cast them out like a spell.

"Accio peace of mind," he thought bitterly.

It didn't work.

Ron shuffled beside him, his face tight, pale. He wasn't meeting anyone's gaze.

The weight of his own guilt was crushing him, too.

Ginny, beside Harry, bit her lip, watching him closely.

She had always known.

Always known that something inside him had changed.

She had seen it in the way he avoided mirrors.

The way he flinched at his own name.

The way he never let himself be happy - not truly.

Not anymore.

They had all known the truth about Snape - had heard Dumbledore's words, had seen the evidence.

But knowing it and feeling it were two different things.

For months, Harry had never told anyone what he had seen in Snape's memories.

He had kept them locked away, deep inside.

Because the moment he spoke of them, they would become real.

And he wasn't ready for that.

"I - "

Harry's voice broke.

He stopped.

His throat felt dry, raw.

A silence settled over the room.

Harry's stomach twisted painfully.

And then -

"I have to see him," Harry said suddenly.

Ron's head snapped up. "What?"

"I have to go to Hogwarts," Harry repeated, more firmly this time. "I have to - just - check on him."

For months, not only Harry, but nearly everyone had tried to see Snape - and for months, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey had denied them.

It had been made painfully clear: no visitors.

And Harry knew why.

Dumbledore had told him - just him - that there was no point in seeing Snape like this.

That Harry had suffered enough - that seeing Snape would only make it worse.

But Harry had enough.

He was done being told no.

Done being protected from the truth.

Done hiding.

A beat of silence.

For the first time in months, there was fire in Harry's voice. Determination. Purpose.

And then -

Sirius, who had been uncharacteristically silent, suddenly grinned.

And it was not a comforting grin.

"Oh, excellent," he said, leaning forward, grin widening like a Cheshire cat.

"Because I have a plan."

--------------------------------

Hogwarts

Breaking into Hogwarts wasn't difficult.

Not when you had Fred and George Weasley leading the way.

Not when Sirius Black was the one setting the plan.

The real challenge?

Getting into the hospital wing without being hexed into next week.

"This is a terrible idea," Arthur whispered. "We should just ask Dumbledore."

"Oh, sure," Fred said cheerfully. "And while we're at it, why don't we bring a large banner that says, 'WE HAVE NO RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY'?'"

"Or better yet," George added, "let's walk in holding sparklers and singing 'God Save the Queen.' That'll really win him over."

"Besides," Fred went on, smirking, "we did ask before. They always say no."

"That's because you always try to sneak in," Molly muttered, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"Exactly," George said, nodding solemnly. "So this time, we're skipping straight to sneaking in."

"Logical progression," Fred agreed.

"Shhh!" Hermione hissed, glancing around nervously. "We're already here!"

They were just outside the hospital wing, pressed against the walls like a highly dysfunctional spy team.

"Right, listen up," Sirius whispered. "We've got a three-step plan. Step one: get inside. Step two: don't get caught. Step three: profit."

"Profit?" Ginny whispered.

"Metaphorical profit," Sirius whispered back.

"This is ridiculous," Remus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We're sneaking into Hogwarts like first-years stealing food from the kitchens."

"Ah, Moony, you wound me," Sirius whispered dramatically. "I'll have you know I was never caught in my school years."

"Because I was always the one getting you out of detention," Remus muttered.

"You see?" Sirius grinned. "Flawless system."

"Can we focus?" Hermione gritted out. "We need to move before someone finds us."

The corridor was eerily quiet.

Harry's heart thudded in his chest as they slipped through the doors.

The main ward was empty.

No sign of Madam Pomfrey.

Which meant -

"Maybe he's awake," Ginny whispered, hopeful.

They all froze.

Faint murmuring drifted from the far end of the ward - through a half-hidden door.

"The sanctuary," Remus whispered.

"That's where they're keeping him," Sirius murmured.

"If we're going to get a peek," George whispered, "we need to get closer."

Harry didn't need telling twice.

He moved toward the door, pressing his ear firmly against the wood.

Ron and Hermione followed, sandwiching him in on either side.

Sirius leaned over them, practically on top of them.

Fred and George - grinning like absolute menaces - looked at each other.

"Three?"

"Two?"

"One."

And with one little push -

BANG!

The door BURST open.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione tumbled straight to the floor - a tangle of limbs, gasps, and utter humiliation.

Sirius, who had been leaning over them, nearly crashed on top of them, only to be yanked backwards mid-air by Remus grabbing his collar.

Molly and Arthur, who had desperately tried to pretend they weren't involved in this at all, suddenly found themselves **awkwardly standing in the doorway - **each holding a bouquet of flowers.

Fred and George leaned casually against the frame, grinning.

And Minerva McGonagall - who had just been speaking softly to Severus's unconscious form - was now staring at them all as if she had just walked into a crime scene. She pressed her lips into a thin, deadly line, her glare promising immediate death.

Poppy had one hand clamped onto her hip, her wand twitching dangerously in the other, looking one second away from hexing every single one of them.

Albus, on the other hand -

His blue eyes twinkled so brightly that he looked like Christmas had come early.

The silence was unbearable.

And then, with the most twinkling, mischievous, utterly infuriating voice possible, Albus said -

"Ah. Can I? help you my fellows?"

Harry, still half-crushed beneath Ron, let out a long, suffering sigh.

"Brilliant," Ron muttered, cheek pressed against the floor. "Absolutely brilliant."

Fred and George gave each other a victorious high-five.

Sirius, still dangling in Remus's grip, grinned.

"Well, we made it in," he said cheerfully. "Now onto step two."

Minerva's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Sirius faltered.

"?Which, uh, I now realize should have been 'don't get caught.'"

Madam Pomfrey's voice boomed through the hospital wing like a Howler gone rogue.

"HOW DARE YOU BREAK INTO MY HOSPITAL WING WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?!"

Fred took a small step behind George.

George took an equally small step behind Fred.

Ron winced. "We're in for it now."

Harry ignored them.

With a sharp intake of breath, he pushed himself up, brushing off his robes. His chest was tight, his throat dry, but he stood firm, looking straight at Dumbledore.

"I had to see him," he said, his voice clear but shaking slightly. "I know you said no. I know I wasn't supposed to come here. But it wasn't anyone else's fault. I just had to."

Minerva's stern gaze softened.

They all knew how much Harry was suffering.

Dumbledore watched him carefully, his piercing blue eyes calm, unreadable. Then, he took a slow step forward, his expression shifting into that familiar, grandfatherly warmth - the kind that always made it seem like he had known the truth long before you did.

"Dear boy," he said gently. "Even so, I had expected better judgment from the adults in this room?"

His eyes flicked coldly to Sirius, who at least had the decency to look mildly guilty.

Sirius shrugged half-heartedly, attempting to grin his way out of it.

"Well," he said, "technically, I never got caught sneaking into the hospital wing when I was a student."

Dumbledore's expression did not change.

Sirius cleared his throat. "Right. Not the time. Noted."

Dumbledore sighed. "Regardless," he continued, turning back to Harry, "I would never have denied you the chance to see Professor Snape."

Harry stared. "Then why - ?"

"Because," Dumbledore said solemnly, "I knew you would not be prepared for ...."

Minerva felt it first.

That prickling sensation - the unmistakable feeling of being watched.

A second ago, she had been focused on Dumbledore, listening as he gently reprimanded Harry. But now - her instincts flared.

Her body reacted before her mind even caught up.

She whipped around sharply, her movements swift and precise - too fast, too alert for it to be anything other than deep, instinctual unease.

Dumbledore, who had seen her react like this only a handful of times, stopped mid-sentence.

The air shifted.

Something was wrong.

He turned, following Minerva's frozen gaze - and then he too stopped breathing.

Across the room -

Madam Pomfrey, who had been seconds away from hexing the intruders into next week, noticed the shift immediately.

She **turned, hesitated - **then her entire body stiffened.

She took a slow, measured step forward, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached the edge of the bed.

The others - still blocked from view by the three of them - hadn't seen.

They only saw the way Minerva had gone deathly still.

The way Dumbledore's expression had changed.

The way Pomfrey had gone eerily quiet.

And then -

She spoke.

A whisper. So soft, so fragile.

"Oh, Severus."

Severus's eyes were open.

Not wide. Not alert.

But open.

Glassy. Tired. Unfocused.

But still - awake.

No one moved. No one spoke.

From the other side Harry's blood turned to ice.

Something in Poppy's voice - that gentle, heartbreaking whisper - made the worst possible thought crash into his mind.

He panicked.

"No!" Harry surged forward, his chest tightening, his heartbeat roaring in his ears.

"No, he can't die! No - no - he's not - he can't - "

He didn't even realize he had moved -

Didn't realize his hands had clenched into fists -

Didn't realize he had every intention of shoving past them all, just to see for himself -

But then -

A firm grip clamped onto his shoulders.

"Harry, wait," Remus said quietly.

Harry struggled against the hold, thrashing slightly. "No, let me go, I have to see - "

"Harry."

Remus tightened his grip, his voice low, steady, but filled with something grave.

Harry suddenly exploded, tears coming off his eyes.

"Get off me!" he snarled, twisting violently in Remus's grip. "You don't get to act like you care! You stood there and did NOTHING while they used him like a bloody tool - over and over again! So don't you dare play the 'nice one' now!"

His words cut through the room like a blade.

Remus stiffened. His grip slackened slightly - his face pale, hollow.

Silence.

No one had an answer for that.

Because Harry was right.

And then -

A sound.

Low. Hoarse.

A voice.

"Po? er? shu? up."

Everyone froze.

It was raspy - exhausted - dry as parchment.

And unmistakably sarcastic.

Severus Snape had spoken.

The entire room snapped their heads toward the bed.

Harry stopped struggling instantly, his breath caught in his throat.

Minerva gripped the edge of the mattress, her fingers trembling.

Poppy, for the first time in years, seemed to lose all professional composure - her mouth parting slightly in sheer disbelief.

But it was Albus who reacted first.

With a sharp flick of his wand, every single person - except **Minerva, Poppy, and, of course, Severus - **was suddenly flung backward.

Like a windstorm had blasted through the room.

They barely had time to stumble before -

SLAM.

The doors snapped shut.

And then -

A deep blue shimmer rippled over the entrance before vanishing.

A Silencing Charm.

No one was getting in. No one was hearing a word.

It was over in seconds.

A stunned silence followed.

The message was clear as crystal.

Albus Dumbledore had no sense of humor when it came to Severus Snape.

And if he had to shut the doors on the world itself, he would.

------------------

The first sound came from Molly Weasley.

A sharp, breathless sob.

And then, in one swift motion, she grabbed Harry and Hermione into a crushing hug.

"Oh, thank Merlin," she whispered, tears spilling freely. "Thank the heavens - he's awake, he's alive - oh, thank God."

Harry snapped back into reality.

Severus Snape was alive.

He let himself breathe.

Then, he glanced around the ward - taking in the others.

Remus sat motionless on the edge of a hospital bed, his eyes locked on the closed doors.

Lost. Haunted.

Harry's gut twisted painfully.

What he had said?

It hadn't been wrong.

But some truths didn't need to be spoken.

Not when the wounds they left could never be undone.

A quiet movement caught his eye.

Sirius.

He was still standing beside Remus, his hand resting lightly on his old friend's shoulder.

But his gaze was on Harry.

And for once -

There was no smirk.

No arrogant sneer.

Just an odd, calculating look.

Then -

Sirius's expression softened.

He offered a small, tired smile and said, "Yeah. Thank Merlin our dear Potions Master is awake."

His tone was? strange.

Not mocking.

Not begrudging.

Something else.

Something Harry couldn't quite place.

And for the first time, Harry didn't want to fight him on it.

So he simply turned -

And found himself immediately crushed into Hermione's arms.

She clung to him like she would never let go, whispering, "He's awake, Harry, he's really awake."

And for the first time in months -

Harry let himself believe it.

Severus Snape had survived.

And the world would never be the same.