(1093 words) 

Your POV 

It's been a week since I sent the letter to Minerva. Taking in a small breath I glance around the cozy house that was Snape's. This is the closest thing I had to a home, well that was besides Hogwarts. Being here for so long, I felt sad leaving. 

"You know we'll be able to come back here again." 

Looking up at Severus as he stands next to me I nod gently. 

"I know, but it's just one of the few places that have been home to me." 

Kissing my forehead he puts an arm around my body as he pulls me into him. 

"Home is wherever you are, love." 

Blushing slightly I kiss him gently as he smiles. Looking at me for a moment, the doorbell rings. Turning to look at it, he glances at me before he opens it, making me shrug. Opening the door he releases a small breath as it's only Hagrid. 

"Hagrid!" 

He looks from Severus to me as I walk over to give the half giant a hug. 

"Have you been taking care of the Professor, Professor?" he smiles. 

Nodding gently, I look at Snape. 

"As much as he'll let me anyway, are you taking us to Hogwarts?" 

He nods. "That I am, I have a carriage out front." 

Nodding gently, I grab a bag only for Hagrid to take it from me and carry them for me. Snape grabs his own and we make our way to the carriage outside. Getting outside I glance to Hagrid for a moment before hearing a small huff of air. Turning I see what pulls the carriages. Stopping in my tracks as my mouth hangs slightly open I feel a hand on my back. 

"What is it?" 

Pointing at the animal in front of the carriage I trip on my words. 

"What is t-that? Pulling the carriage?" 

Hagrid turns to look at us, sighing slightly. He shares a look with Snape for a moment. 

"What? What is it?" 

"It's a Thestral. They're only able to be seen by people that have witnessed death." 

Pulling my arm back into my body, I wrap them around myself slightly. The animal shakes its head as it stomps on the cobblestone road for a moment. Walking over to it, I raise my hand up to touch it. It pushes its black beak into the palm of my hand as I relax slightly. 

Leaving the Thestral alone, I get into the carriage and lean on Snape as he puts an arm around me. Putting my head onto his shoulder I feel him rub my arm with his thumb. The Thestral opens it's long leathery wings before flapping them slightly. Hagrid puts on his goggles and looks at us for a moment before smiling. 

"Hold on." 

Nodding gently as I wrap my arms around Snape, he only chuckles as he puts a hand in my hair for a moment. Smiling in his touch the carriage jerks slightly as the Thestral starts walking before we take off and fly towards Hogwarts. 

~ 

Getting to Hogwarts, we land in the field by Hagrid's hut and smile gently. Looking at Severus and giggling as his hair is a mess he glances at me before fixing the black locks. He shakes his head as he gets out of the carriage and offers me a hand. Taking it I get out of the carriage and smile gently. 

"Is Minerva still awake?" 

Hagrid turns to answer before he's interrupted. 

"Of course she's awake!" 

Turning to see Minerva standing not too far from us, I smile as I walk over to her for a hug. Being wrapped in her long felt sleeves I hum. 

"I've missed you." 

She smiles. "Hogwarts and I have missed the both of you." She glances at Snape for a moment before she gives him a hug, though he tries to resist it didn't take long for him to return it from his old friend. Letting him go she smiles gently. 

"I've taken the liberty to having both of your quarters be intertwined." 

Nodding gently as we look at her she smiles to herself. "After you're done helping Hagrid with your luggage, Madame Pomfrey wants to see you." 

Severus sighs slightly before giving a gentle nod. "I'll be sure to see her." 

He does as he's told and helps Hagrid take our things to the quarters. Minerva turns to me as he face falls slightly. 

"Tell me what's going on." 

Looking at her I furrow my brows slightly before she turns to me fully, taking my arm as she gets me to walk with her. 

"There's something bothering you, what is it?" 

Sighing gently as I knew she figured it out.  "I saw what pulls the carriages around, the Thestrals." 

She nods slightly as she looks at me. "Hagrid told me why I can see them, and after a bit of thought I'm pretty sure that it's from the night that Snape-" 

Biting my lip as I try my best to fight the tears she rubs my back as she stops our walking. 

"Died?" 

Nodding as she pulls me into a hug. "I've tried not to think about it, but tonight after seeing the Thestral made me remember it. Minerva, I watched him die in my arms in the boathouse." 

"Shhhh, I know. He's still here, he's still with you, you're the reason he's alive." 

Sobbing slightly into her chest as I nod gently. "I know, but the image, I can't get it out of my head. It haunts my dreams." 

She holds me close to her as I try my best to calm down. "(y/n), have you told him about this?" 

Shaking my head as I sniff I wipe my face. "No no, he's had enough to worry about, with his own recovery and coming back to the castle."

"What about your own feelings in coming back to the castle?" 

Pausing for a moment I shrug slightly as I look at her. "I don't know, I thought I was doing fine. I wasn't the one that technically died and spent so long in a coma in the infirmary before being sent home for rest for the last 6 months." 

"You may not have but you are also the one that watched him die, you watched him be in the coma, you hardly took care of yourself then, and I'm willing to say it's the same now" 

"Are you going to make me see Madam Promfrey too?" 

"You bet your butterbeer I am, now let's go."