He was floating, floating in a cone of light. He was being lifted up. His hand came up in front of his face and he could see the scar starting to fade. And for a moment or two everything felt right, like this was where he was meant to be.

And then he was falling, falling down faster and faster, away from the light into darkness. Where once there was warmth, there was cold.

He was freezing, and then burning. His scars and fractures were reopening, like something was cutting into him. He felt like he was being pulled in different directions. His fractures and scars were deepening, becoming wider and longer than they had been before. His soul was being stretched to its limits, in danger of being ripped apart. Someone, somewhere, was screaming and screaming and screaming.

And then he was in the hall of light again. He could tell because the darkness was gone. He was lying on a floor of light.

"I'm sorry, Severus." It was James' voice. "I didn't think they'd send you there. I thought you accepting my pass through the door would be enough to… You need to take my hand."

It was an effort to turn his head. Severus could now see James kneeling over him, his arm outstretched.

He couldn't take James' hand even if he wanted to. If he'd still had a body, he would have thought someone had crushed every bone he'd had. He couldn't move. Someone had done something to his soul. Turning his head had been hard enough, how could he possibly raise up his arm? Besides, it was so much easier to just lie here on the floor. He could do that forever. In fact, he quite liked the idea. He closed his eyes, ready to give in.

"Severus, please," said James. "I can't hold them off for long. They'll come for you. They'll take you back there. Nothing can keep them from taking a soul that's rightfully theirs. Give me your hand."

Severus ignored him. This floor was the most comfortable surface he'd ever laid on. But then his eyes snapped open. He could hear screaming, like what he'd heard before. And though he couldn't raise his head to look, his soul was trembling. The darkness, whatever it was, was coming for him.

"Severus, give me your hand." James pleaded.

He opened his mouth to explain he couldn't move, but the words came out raspy and incoherent. Something had happened to his voice, and he realized the person he had heard screaming earlier had been himself. The screams echoing now in his ears as the darkness approached him were onces he had made.

He wanted out of here. Now. But as he tried to raise his hand, he could only lift it a few inches off the floor.

"Severus, please. I can't do it for you."

"Can't…move." He managed to rasp out, attempting again to raise his hand.

"You have to try." Fear was etched in James' face as he looked over Severus body. The screams were growing closer and louder.

His soul was shaking involuntarily. Severus wanted to get up. He wanted to run. But he couldn't. He thought of Lily, of his mother, what their reactions would be when James came to them and explained how he, Severus, had struggled in vain to get away.

Severus clawed at the floor, trying to force himself closer to James. The screams were right behind him and already the light of the hall was starting to darkening. James said something to him, but the words were muted and Severus couldn't hear.

He grasped James' ankle, pulling himself in closer. He pushed himself on James's knee, reaching with his free hand. A scream sounded in Severus' ear and he thought the darkness had taken him and he was being surrounded by his own screams once again. But then light exploded from where his fingers met James'. And while the darkness recoiled against it, Severus could feel himself being strengthened. The light filled his vision until he couldn't see. But he could still feel James' hand gripping his and Severus knew he'd made it. He'd finally passed the test.

The white receeded and he saw red.

"You made it! You're okay! You're all right!"

Severus almost toppled over under the force of Lily's enthusiastic hug. He was at too much of a loss to even put his arms around her.

"I knew you'd make it. I knew it!" She kissed him on the cheek as she let him go.

"But-I-" He brought his hand up absentmindedly to his cheek. "You said-"

"I lied. I'm sorry, Severus. I had to or the choice would have been too easy." He couldn't think of anything to say to her. He was too shocked for words. But she didn't give him too much time to recover. "Come, on. I want to show you the house." She nearly pulled him off his feet as she grabbed his arm. Severus could hear James laughing heartily behind him.

She pulled him into the kitchen. It took Severus a minute to realize he was in the house she and James shared as Lily picked up certain trinkets and started telling him stories. She was passing along memories he had never had the opportunity to share after he and her had parted ways. Sadly, he hardly heard a word she said, still shocked over the fact that he had not only passed the test but that he was also aloud to see her.

Lily didn't have an opportunity to drag Severus to any other rooms. Before long, Sirius arrived at the house, followed by Remus and Tonks.

"We're having a bit of a party," Lily explained. "To celebrate life… and death. You're welcome to stay, but I promised your mother I wouldn't keep you too long."

"What do I do now?" he asked her. "I mean, now that I'm here, in this life, what do I do?"

"Whatever you want," she said. "And I know that sounds like too simple an answer, but it's true. Although, there is something I need to pass on." She down a trinket she had been showing him. "When it's time, and you'll know when, Lucius Malfoy is going to need a guardian. Are you interested in taking that job?"

Lucius had always been a close friend, and Severus answered without hesitating. "Yes. I would."

"Then, here." Lily held out her hand and Severus took it. As he did so, something passed over him, like a breeze.

"Am I supposed to feel any different?"

She shook her head. "All I did was grant you access to the Hall of Light and its doors. You'll understand more when it's time."

Severus didn't stay at the party for long. It was weird being among people whom he had never considered friends before. Yet, they all offered him congratulations and were warm toward him, like he'd been friends with them all for years. He left the Potter with the state of mind that he would be back some time. But right now, everything was so new and different and he needed time to adjust to it.

He had no idea what he wanted to do with his death. But as he closed his eyes and imagined the face of his mother, he knew where he would start. And, he thought, it wasn't a bad beginning.

END

To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. - Albus Dumbledore