Diclaimer: I do not HP or any of the character, but I do own my original characters.

Life Renewed

Chapter 1 – The Invitation

The war had finally ended; Harry did it. He defeated the dark lord, Voldemort. The wizarding world was celebrating. Marriages were taking place and new lives were being brought into the world. People mourned their loses, but they all knew they had to move on; it was what those who gave their lives willing wanted.

Harry proposed to Ginny Weasley shortly after the war and they were now excitedly planning their wedding. Ronald Weasley and Hermoine Granger were doing just the same thing. The group had decided on a double wedding; they would be married together.

Severus Snape sat in his living room, looking at the invitation they had owled to him.

To: Severus Snape "Our Favorite Potions Teacher"

You are cordially invited to attend the wedding of Harry Potter to Ginerva Weasley and Ronald Weasley to Hermoine Granger. The wedding is to take place on the August 15, 2003, at Godric's Hollow in the garden. If you plan

on attending the wedding please send word by owl as soon as possible, along

with word of any guest you may be bringing so that we can compile the completed master guest list.

Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley/ Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger

Severus smiled at the invitation. After Lord Voldemort was defeated his name was cleared. The ministry rounded up all the remaining death eaters and only soon realized the dark mark had faded from those who were not true followers on the Dark Lord. He and Draco were among some of the few. Harry had known he was innocent before however because during the battle with Voldemort Harry's friends had attempted to put an end to him but Fawkes appeared and saved Severus. Harry knew very well what that meant.

Severus was proud of his former students, they had done a wonderful deed for he wizarding world and although he never told them, they actually were some of they best students he'd ever had. Severus picked up a piece of parchment and sprawled down his response before sending it out with his owl. She was nearly all black; except for her chest was cover with white, black-specked feathers.

It was July 16, about a month before the wedding was to occur, but even though the wedding was still far off Severus decided he'd go out later that day to get new dress robes for the wedding. Severus smirked, if his students knew he wanted to look his best for the wedding they would be outwardly shocked. Severus stood up and headed into his room, while pulling off his clothes and throwing them into the hamper, before heading across the room toward his bathroom. Severus grabbed a clean washcloth form a small basket on the counter. He caught a glimpse of himself, in the mirror, and stopped staring for a moment. He was pale and thin, but otherwise healthy, with mostly hidden muscles that showed when he was moving. Severus moved away from the mirror and over to the shower turning on the hot water and stepping in.

Severus closed his eyes as the water poured over his face and hair, memories flooding back to him as he relaxed. The memory of his first encounter with the marauders came to him. They were the best of friends and he was jealous of them, he wanted to be like them and have what they had. He pushed the memories away as a terrible wave of guilt hit him. They were all gone, all except Lupin, and Severus had made his penitence with the werewolf. They even shared quite a secret. Severus had taken an animagus form to help Lupin cope. His form was a black wolf, which saddened Remus at first; fore it reminded him of Sirius. Remus eventually came to terms with this fact and reveled in the enjoyment of having a new pack member.

Severus smiled at the memory of becoming an animagus and spending his first time with Remus at the full moon. He enjoyed the company and felt needed, although it was still odd curling up with the werewolf when the moon was waning and waking beside the man the next morning. Until then Severus never realized how lonely he really was. Severus pushed his thoughts aside and preceded to wash himself, then his hair, even though it never made much of a difference, it always appeared greasy. When he was done he quickly got out of the shower, got dressed and headed out to Diagon Alley.