Chapter 72

A/N: It is getting harder and harder to get these chapters right the closer we get to the end. I want to do it justice after all the crap our favorite couple has been through, and I want to tie up all the ends and make it nice and neat as possible, but with enough to leave you all with a surprise at the end. I hope you enjoy this. WriterMerrin, my beta, worked her tail off on this chapter. Much love and hugs for her! :) Thanks to all who have continued to review. I LOVE each and every one!

***

Severus and Hermione stood a few yards from the main gates of Hogwarts. It was in complete shambles. "It doesn't even look like it anymore," Hermione whispered.

"I know," Severus replied. He turned to her, covering her shoulders with his capable hands, and asked, "Are you well? I feel today you are not at your best."

Hermione smiled slightly. "It just has all caught up with me, Severus. I feel so old, don't you?"

He chuckled. "I do. However, you should feel bright as a Galleon. You are eighteen you realize."

Hermione gave a snort. "Not ruddy likely! I'm actually thirty-eight, you pompous arse...I'm actually going to be thirty-nine this year. Circe's tits! I can't believe how old I feel inside."

"You just need some good, old-fashioned caring, sweet girl," he whispered.

Hermione swatted him lightly on the chest as he pulled her closer to his side.

"You only call me that when making love is on your mind," she scolded him as they up to the main gates.

"It's been constantly on my mind since you came up that hill and we Disapparated from this nightmare," he said as he pointed towards the spot Hermione had found him. "How long has it been, now? I think I'm getting a headache or some tension in my legs."

"Now what on earth do your legs have to do with sex?" she asked him.

"Ah," he said as he closed his eyes and tilted back his head. Hermione gave him another swot. "I suppose you need to be a man to understand how unbelievably weak in the legs we feel after a really good shag," he whispered in her ear just before he gave it a tiny bite.

Hermione squeaked, feeling a tingle directly to her clit as he discreetly slipped a hand inside her robes and gave one of her nipples a good pinch. "Well, you'll have to wait," she said in her bossiest voice. "Right now we have to go speak with Minerva."

Severus stopped and closed his eyes as he leaned against the stone wall of the entrance.

"What are you doing?" she hissed.

"I am remembering a night back in 1981 when this witch came out of a club and threatened me and Lucius, wearing barely nothing. I can still see the outline of her firm, pert breasts. She had these hard nipples against this thin fabric and a disgraceful excuse for a skirt that could make a man weep with need," he recalled.

"Severus," she whispered. "I am afraid that girl will never come back. Even though I was in my twenties at the time, I hadn't had a child..."

Severus snatched her by the waist and pulled her flush against him and kissed her, forcing her mouth open and eagerly plundering her mouth. He let her go just enough for him to speak against her lips. "I was hard as granite within seconds. When I had you in my arms, kissing you, and you told me you still were a virgin, I wanted to take it right then and there because it was mine. You had promised it to me. I look at you and see that woman. You are so very desirable, and I will always see you that way. You're mine...my very own."

They kissed again, and Hermione responded passionately.

"Ahem!"

Hermione and Severus turned and saw Minerva and Filius, who were staring at them with smug faces while they looked like errant teenagers...well, Hermione was, in a way, but she wasn't about to dwell on that thought.

Minerva smiled and reached out her arms to welcome them. She and Hermione embraced while Filius and Severus shook hands.

Minerva hugged Severus and ignored his discomfort over her display of affection over him. She took out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. "We are so happy you both are back. We were afraid you would just leave and never know that you were praised as heroes!" she said in relief.

They all went inside and up to Minerva's office. "Now, Severus, I am only a temporary headmistress. If you want your post back, you are most welcome to it," she offered.

Severus and Hermione sat on one of the couches together, and Hermione slipped her hand into his.

Severus looked into his wife's eyes and then turned to address Minerva.

"As gracious as your offer is, I must decline. Hermione and I have our own dreams for our future: a future that has been deferred for far too long. However, we did speak with Kingsley about the school needing me for a couple of years...just until the school can get back on its feet again. That would be the only offer that would appeal to me. If I accept, I would have to live outside of the castle. Hermione and I have our own plans for our living arrangements."

Minerva gave them both a cup of tea that she had prepared while he spoke.

"Of course, Severus. That would be fine. Of course, I would have to have a new Head of Slytherin house. However, I'm sure that Horace might be convinced to return. If you like, I shall give him the underclassmen and you can teach the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. level students."

Hermione squeezed his hand, and Severus looked down into his wife's soft, brown eyes. Hermione smiled at him and he said, "I think my wife finds that agreement acceptable, if I am not mistaken, of course."

"Yes, Severus, I think it would be wonderful," Hermione agreed.

"Well done!" squeaked Flitwick. "Let me officially welcome you back to Hogwarts, Severus."

Soon they all had some of Minerva's best Muggle scotch and were toasting to each other and the future.

***

After Severus and Hermione returned to Spinner's End, they went to bed. They both were exhausted from the release of so much tension. Nevertheless, Severus still insisted that he needed to make love to Hermione, and again, upon entering her, gasped at how amazing she felt after all these years.

As they lay in post-coital bliss, Severus ran a finger along the side of her face and said, "Being inside you is my home, the only home I have ever felt accepted and wanted...always."

"Severus," Hermione breathed as her eyes filled with tears.

"Hush," he said soothingly as he gently wiped the tears that were escaping and falling down her cheeks. "I know how much this house has meant to us. Yet, there are so many unpleasant memories around every corner that never cease to come upon me. This house was the place where we discovered each other, had warm and glorious times for a short while, but this is the place my father assaulted you, my mother and me, the place she murdered him and killed herself.

"Then I think of our working in the garden and how I knew I was falling for you...that place is priceless. Then the night I first came to your bed; it was just like it was yesterday," he whispered.

"Then the beautiful Christmas where we planned on having children and more happy Christmases," she added.

"Hermione, we can have a new place," Severus suggested. "We can take some of the things that hold pleasant memories and bring them with us. We can get a small cottage right in Hogsmeade and be closer to the people I know you want to see and be around. This place is going to be condemned, just like the other houses in this area. There is no future for us here, but we can take the best with us, leave the rest, and start anew."

"Can we take my old bed?" she asked.

"No, Wormtail slept in it. But we can bring this one," he said as he raised an eyebrow suggestively.

Hermione laughed. "Okay, we shall take the things we want...but Severus...it's going to take quite a while to find a place that will accommodate our needs. You will need a basement with proper ventilation for your lab."

"Tut, tut," he said reprovingly. "Our lab, sweet girl. I expect at the end of two years for you to work on planning how we are going to open our own Apothecary in Hogsmeade whilst I attend to beating some sense into the dunderheads. Thank God, only two years!" he added dramatically.

Hermione smiled. "What shall we do first?" she said.

"More sleep," Severus said as his head hit the pillow. "Then eat, make love, sleep, and then in the morning we go to Hogsmeade and start looking for a new house."

"We're finally doing it, Severus," Hermione said happily. "We're actually living like a real married couple."

Severus traced the shape of her naked shoulder with his finger. "Are you happy?"

Hermione kissed him soundly on his lips. "Incredibly happy, Severus. I love you."

"I love you, Hermione."

***

Severus and Hermione chose a little cottage that needed some repair work. It was small, just what they wanted, with a decent sized sitting room, three bedrooms, and a generous backyard for gardening.

Severus had been concerned as Hermione took over the negotiations of purchasing the house.

"Hermione," he whispered. "Are you sure you want a house that needs fixing? After all, we could just have one built between your inheritance and my nest egg."

Severus smirked at her. "How foolish of me to forget how determined and resourceful you are. You are an amazing woman, Mrs. Snape," he said as he embraced her from behind.

***

It took time and a lot of emotion out of both Severus and Hermione to leave Spinner's End. Hermione stood sobbing as they made their final goodbye to the house that had stood witness to their childhood...sufferings and joys alike...and couldn't help the nagging in the back of her head.

"Severus," she said. "What if this is what keeps us together? Will we fall apart if we leave here? This place has so many good memories that far outweigh the bad."

Severus took hold of her by the shoulders and said, "But for me, Hermione, the bad is around every corner. This was our past. We have to look to the future. Besides, didn't we take the items that meant the most to us? We can make a new garden in our backyard and work on it together in it this summer. I'll even shag you in it, if good memories are what you wish."

Hermione giggled as she embraced him. "I think I'm ready, Severus. Let's make a new life for ourselves."

They Apparated to their new house and began the process of cleaning, repairing, and plotting out a new garden. They kept the old furniture from Spinner's End until the house was finished, and then they promised each other they would fill it with the soft, cozy couches and sofa chairs to their hearts' content.

They were so engrossed into their work, they had completely forgotten the outside world. Hogsmeade was their universe and their small cottage the center of it.

***

One summer day, as Severus was repairing the roof and Hermione was working on plotting out the garden, a visitor stopped by.

Hermione felt the sensory charm go off inside her and knew there was another presence on their property. She rose up and stripped off her gloves, tucking them inside her gardening smock and saw Harry Potter standing at their front door.

"Harry?" Hermione asked.

Harry turned swiftly around and said, "Hi, Hermione."

"What brings you by?" she said cordially.

Harry looked nervous. "Hermione," he said in a rush. "I am so very sorry for everything. I was so cruel, and I blamed you and hated you for saying that Sirius attacked you, I am so sorry I insisted putting you in that tower, and I am so very sorry about your baby..."

His voice gave out, and Hermione could see the tears running down his face. He wiped them away with the cuff of his sleeve, just as he had when he was a little boy.

"Hermione, I will never forgive myself, I just wanted you to know that." He turned to leave, and Hermione halted him.

"Harry," she said, "come here."

Slowly, he came towards her, and she said, "I am so happy you came by, and I promise I will tell you as much as I can about your parents. You have to promise me, Harry Potter, that you will forgive yourself. I have. In fact, we stayed away because we weren't sure how the Weasleys would have received us. I know about your engagement to Ginny. I don't want to mess that up for you."

Harry breathed in relief. "No, Hermione. We all miss you. It isn't your fault Fred or Lavender died. In fact Luna and Ron have grown quite close. They're taking it slow, but they are spending time together."

Hermione shook her head as she led him into the house. "I always hoped Luna and Neville would end up together," she said wistfully.

"No," said Harry. "Actually, he and Hannah Abbott have been seeing a lot of each other. Her torture and resilient nature under the Cruciatus Curse has given him a respect for her that is starting to turn into something more."

She poured them some pumpkin juice and excused herself. She walked outside and levitated an empty glass up to Severus.

He stopped working and smiled at her. "Thanks!" he shouted.

"I've lemonade and pumpkin juice," she shouted. "Which do you want?"

"Pumpkin!" he hollered in reply.

Without hesitation she flicked her wand and his glass was full of pumpkin juice. "Severus?" she called to him while he drank it down hurriedly. "Severus, Harry is here."

"I know," he shouted. "I saw the blighter as he came up the road."

"Severus Snape!" she yelled at him angrily. "He has come hat in hand, so to speak, to apologize and extend the Weasleys' best wishes for us! Now, get your arse down here and be civil for pity's sake!"

He glided down and stood in front of her.

"Showboat," she snarled, giving him a withering look.

"You're just jealous that I won't teach you to fly," he said smugly.

"Get in, you!" she snapped bossily, and he did with no complaint. Hermione shook her head. She knew her husband. He was going to be nice as pie without making her want to vomit, knowing full well she would have to extend some extra sexual favors in their bed tonight. Yet, somehow, she didn't mind.

***

August was a very emotional month for Severus and Hermione. Severus, Andromeda, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Remus had performed the delicate task of exhuming Serena from the tiny grave in Andromeda's garden, placing her remains in a coffin and into a new grave next to the Snapes' new garden, complete with a headstone that read,

Serena Snape

Born and died on October the eleventh, 1997

Before the exhumation, there had been a great deal of discussion as to who would be present. Hermione cried a lot, and although the men tried to do it alone and have the women remain with Hermione, she was adamant.

"Andromeda and I performed the funeral rites over her," she gasped between sobs. "I need her there to hold her."

She looked at Andromeda wildly and relented. "You will hold her, won't you? You will hold her the whole time?"

Andromeda placed her hand against Hermione's cheek. "I have always watched over Serena, and I will now. I shall do everything I know you would," she reassured her.

"No," Hermione said as she rose. "I need to hold her. I need for her to know I am there, that she's loved."

She broke down into wracking sobs, and Severus held her close to him.

He whispered into her ear so no one could hear the secret sacred things that are shared between a husband and wife. "I shall hold her, Hermione. Then we'll both have had a chance to hold her, and she'll know both her parents loved her, all right?"

***

Tonks stayed with Hermione shut inside the house with Ginny, Pavarti, Padma, Luna, and Hannah as the work had gone on outside. Earlier, she had discreetly asked Molly to watch Teddy during the transfer of the remains. Tonks didn't want to upset Hermione further.

The women held Hermione and listened as she talked about Serena and how much she loved her. Then the conversation turned to the future, and Hermione talked to them about how she and Severus wanted more babies. The women joined in and talked about all their hopes and dreams. They all wanted babies of their own, and when the time had come for Hermione to see the new grave, she was feeling hopeful.

She took one look into the desolate eyes of her husband and went to comfort him. They looked upon the grave and held one another and wept.

Andromeda and Hermione had repeated the funeral rites, and it was a soothing balm to the last bit of raw hurt Hermione still carried after all this time.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Hermione remained kneeling as Andromeda finished the last words and sank into the embrace of her husband. When it had ended, Hermione felt a soothing calm come over her. She had finally allowed herself to let her daughter rest in peace.

***

A/N: Two more chapters left! PLEASE REVIEW!