Chapter 45

The next morning Hermione and Severus made it down to breakfast right at 10 a.m. They would have loved to have stayed in bed for half the day, but they felt their guests would not have taken their absence too well.

Most of their friends were already assembled at the long Gryffindor table, awaiting them. There was a virtual feast. Sausages, pancakes, eggs, toast, bacon, and biscuits were piled on huge platters along the table.

As Hermione slipped in next to Harry and Ginny, out of old habit, she found her head turning to look for Ron. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought about the loss of her friend. She blinked them away and felt Severus give her hand a sympathetic squeeze as he slid in beside her. She leaned against him, and he put an arm around her.

"How did everyone sleep?" she asked to get her mind off the past.

"We all miss him," Harry whispered to her and then nodded to Severus. "I slept like a baby. It felt really good to have the castle around me again. I felt like I was home."

"Mr. Potter," Minerva called from down the table, "you might consider the DADA position next year. We will have a vacancy. If you truly want to come home, it's here for you."

"Seriously, Professor McGonagall?" he asked, his eyes lighting up. He looked over at Ginny, and she nodded. Then he looked at Severus. Hadn't he wanted to take that position for years?

"I'm where I want to be," he told Harry, reassuring the young man he would not mind him taking the post.

"Consider the position filled," Harry told McGonagall. He grabbed Ginny and hugged her. Molly and Arthur, who had also spent the night, watched with a happy sadness. They enjoyed having the kids living with them.

Severus groaned and said loudly, "...and I thought I was done with the miserable little whelp always being under foot."

Those who didn't know Severus very well froze until he started to laugh, and then they all joined in.

Harry grinned. "It will give us time to really get to know one another, Severus. You know, sir, you have a very contagious laugh; it becomes you."

Severus took a deep breath; he was touched by Harry's words. He wondered how Harry would take the memory. He hoped it would help Harry to hear his mother's words and see her hold him and fawn over him.

"Thank you," Severus said quietly.

Everyone started to ask questions, so Severus rearranged the table into a square so they were facing each other. He and Hermione stood in the middle and told their story. It took nearly two hours. Xenophilius asked questions here and there to clarify points for his article. The rest of the people were quiet as they listened, enraptured by the tale.

Everyone agreed that Severus and Hermione should write it all down in a book. The public was going to eat up any story by the famous spy Severus Snape and war hero Hermione Granger.

Hermione tugged on Severus' sleeve and whispered something into his ear. He thought a moment and then nodded.

Smiling, Severus said, "I hope that's the last time I have to go through that. Xenophilius, if you wish, Hermione and I would like you to write the book. We can meet a few times to add details and clarify things. Neither one of us wants to think too much about the past."

Luna gasped; this was a huge opportunity for her father. Neville drew her close as Xenophilius got to his feet. "Sir, Madam, you honor me. I would be happy to undertake the duty of telling your story."

"We all had rough times during the war, and you always supported Harry when it was rather dangerous to do so. For that, we are grateful," said Severus.

"Hear! Hear!" the rest of the group said. This broke the group up, and the people milled around, talking to their many friends and acquaintances. Hermione was pleased that it did not seem to matter to Severus that none of these people had been Slytherin.

Luna and Neville came forward and stood waiting for their chance to speak to Severus and Hermione. Neville stepped forward and held out his hand to Severus.

"Sir, I want to thank you for what you have done for my parents. I am so very grateful. I never dreamed that I would be able to talk to them and have them answer me back. It's a miracle."

Severus shook the young man's hand and said, "It was my pleasure. No child should grow up without parents, and many of us have suffered that loss. I'm glad that you have a chance to get to know them now."

Luna said, "Hermione, Severus, we would be happy if you would come to our wedding. It's in a couple of weeks."

Severus bowed slightly. "It would be an honor. Just send Hermione the specifics, and we will be there."

Hermione said, "I wouldn't miss it." She gave the woman a hug.

Neville smiled. "Sir, I am opening an herbal store in Diagon Alley. I'd be happy to supply you with anything you might need for your potions in the future. I will be growing 92% of the herbs myself."

"You always had a gift for Herbology, Neville. I'm sure your store will be a huge success," Severus complimented the young man. "I will definitely come to do my business there."

"Thank you, sir, you will always have a special discount," Neville said to him. He then took Luna's hand, and they wandered away.

Finally, everyone started to leave, and Hermione stood with Harry while Severus was talking to Minerva.

"It's going be so good having you close," she told Harry. "You go home and get strong. By the end of next summer, I'm sure you will be ready to take on anything."

"I hope so. In the meantime, I can take some correspondence courses to get my teaching certificate. Headmistress McGonagall seems to have a lot of faith in me." He ran his hand over his shaggy hair. "I need a haircut," he said absentmindedly. "I don't think it's been this long since 5th year."

"You certainly do, Mr. Potter," came Severus' deep voice, so close that it made Harry and Hermione jump.

She slapped him playfully. "I know you're enjoying scaring everyone, but stop!"

Severus eyes twinkled. He leaned in and whispered to her, "It turns you on, doesn't it?"

She laughed. "Yes, so stop it," she hissed under her breath.

Harry's eyes sparkled. "Good to know the old man hasn't lost his touch."

"Old, you whelp! Detention, Mr. Potter," he stated dryly. "Be in my classroom in an hour."

Harry laughed. "I will be there, sir."

"Severus, Harry, Severus," he reminded him. He squeezed the young man's shoulders.

"Will I see you there, too, Miss Weasley?" he asked Ginny, who was standing close by watching the exchange.

"Yes, sir. I'd like to be there for Harry," she agreed.

"Then you shall be," Severus told Ginny with a smile.

Harry took Ginny's hand, and they left to talk to the few lingering former students."

Severus turned to Hermione and said, "I think we can go back to our rooms. I think we've said our goodbyes, and I want to center myself before Harry comes."

She took his hand, and they walked out of the big hall.

"Center yourself?" she asked, amused, as they went out the door.

Severus whispered, "I'm in serious need of shagging, my soon-to-be wife. I was thinking of our time in the lair. We had some good times before I got to be too mentally young to enjoy you."

Hermione grinned. "Yes, we did." She grabbed his hand, and they dashed along the hall and down the stairs to the dungeon.

Inside their room, their clothes made their way to the floor quickly. They made love with a fervor because of the shortness of time. By the time Harry and Ginny arrived, they were both showered and dressed and waiting with rather rosy glows on their faces.

Harry turned red when he saw their obvious afterglow. He said quite wistfully, "I wish I had the strength and agility for extracurricular activities."

Ginny turned red. "Harry!" she exclaimed, thumping him on the shoulder.

Hermione laughed. "You'll get there. Give it some time. You've been lying around a very along time."

Severus was a bit stunned at the openness of their conversation, but he had to remind himself that Hermione had grown up with two boys for companions. It made sense they had ended up talking about everything. He was not sure how he would deal with Hermione having a best friend, who was a man, so close on a daily basis. However, he also realized that Harry and Ginny would marry soon, and he and Hermione would as well. He knew their friendship was bound to change as they each focused on their marriages. He had a bit of jealousy still in his heart, and he knew he would have to work very hard to expel that before it did any damage to his relationship with Hermione. Jealousy had destroyed his relationship with Lily. Now, in a way, he could make that up to her by becoming a mentor and friend to Harry. He found the idea comforting, and he also realized that looking into Harry's 'Lily-like eyes' now was also comforting.

He cleared his throat, and they all turned to look at him. "Harry, when I was Raven, Hermione and I found some beads in my mother's bedroom. There were a number of memories implanted in them by a magical spell. I want you to see the last one. It has your mother in it."

"What?" Harry said, turning pale. "If it's with you, sir, I'd rather not."

Severus shook his head and smiled. "No it's not with me. I had no clue about this memory until I saw it a few days ago. It actually aided in restoring my memory. When I was able to give up the pain I felt at your mother's death, it restored me to myself with all of Raven's memories as well. Your mother gave me back my life to start over again with Hermione."

"What's it about then?" he asked, suddenly curious.

"Your mother came to talk to my mother about me. It does reveal some little-known facts about my life outside the wizarding world. I ask you to keep a particular one in confidence. You will know which one. The reason I want you to see this is that your mother is holding you, Harry. I thought you might like to see it. You have so few memories of yourself with her."

Harry's eyes had gotten as big as saucers, and he nodded, too emotional to speak. Severus brought out the beads and showed Harry which one to touch. He urged Ginny to go with him.

Harry grabbed Ginny's hand, and they both reached out with the tip of their fingers to touch the bead at the same time.

Harry and Ginny found themselves standing in a little, overgrown garden. They saw the woman at the door and could see her resemblance to Severus Snape. Harry's eyes widened with emotion as he watched his mother come into the scene. He drank in his mother's face and saw her distress. He heard her worry over Severus. He saw how much she had loved him and how forgiving she was. He knew in his heart that she would never really hold him responsible for her death. Harry moved close as his mom kissed him, and he stared into his own baby face. He heard her horror as she realized Severus had been forced to kill his father. Tears rolled down his face when he heard that his mother had sent Severus away. This memory did not include why, and he made a mental note to ask Severus. He was surprised when his mother told Snape's mother that she had hoped he would be Harry's godfather. He thought of Sirius and how different he and Snape had been all those many years ago.

Finally, the memory faded, and he seemed to falter. Severus, who had been watching his face closely, moved to his side and helped Ginny move him to the couch.

Hermione asked, "Harry, are you okay?"

He nodded. "I never saw her hold me before. I mean, I have a photo of the three of us, but there are only seconds there. It was amazing to see her kissing me and soothing me. He looked up into Severus' face. "Thank you, sir."

Severus nodded. "You're welcome, Harry. I knew it was something you should have in your memory as well."

"Severus," Harry said, "Your mother obviously loved you. Why did she send you away? She must have grown to hate your father. I would have thought she'd be happy he was dead."

"She explained in another memory that she thought if I never went back to the house, my Muggle life would not hurt me anymore. She was wrong. It might have changed many things in my life if I'd had her support. I think she may have realized that after Lily's visit, but she thought it was too late," Severus explained.

"Severus, maybe there was a greater power orchestrating us all. There had to be to do what I did...and you also," Harry observed.

"You believe in a higher power?" Severus asked in surprise.

"I heard a lot about God in the Dursleys' house. They were hypocrites, but it did not change the fact that they shared the right stuff with me. Prayer worked well for me. It also gave me someone to talk to, and there have been small answered prayers over my lifetime."

"Raven believed, so I guess I do, too," Severus admitted. "Raven went to church. It was a mission church that fed the homeless. But he heard a number of sermons there."

"When I was locked in that curse, I had a ton of time to think," Harry said, "so I thought about all the things I'd learned in church. Sir, your lessons in mind control came back to me in a way I never expected them to. I was able to go look through my past. It helped me survive. My mother, like Christ, gave her life for me. I could understand that sacrifice. I was also reliving good things and I had Ginny's voice. I took that as a blessing from God, too. I was still at a point when I thought I might go mad if I stayed that way much longer. Then you came, and I knew he'd answered my prayers. I almost convinced myself the first time was an absurd dream. Who could fathom a dead man coming to sing me to life?" He laughed. "Then you came back..."

"...and the rest is history," Severus finished for him.

"Yes." Harry got to his feet. "Thank you, Severus. I will keep that secret for you, and it was self-defense," he said, trying to comfort the man.

"I know. I'd just rather not give any fuel to someone like Rita Skeeter who could twist it and make my life miserable again," Severus explained.

Severus stepped away from Hermione and held out his hand. "Go to the Burrow and rest. We will be there in a few days for a visit. We can talk. I can help you with the DADA class if you need any help. But you are a very capable man, Harry."

Harry took hold of Severus' hand, and instead of shaking it, he pulled Severus into a hug.

Severus was so surprised he stiffened up, and then he relaxed and held the younger man against him. Harry was a bit shorter, and he placed his hand on the back of Harry's head.

"Lily would be proud of you, Harry," he said, giving the young man a squeeze before pushing him gently back and looking him in the eyes. "You are the best of her and your father. They were good people."

Harry nodded, astonished that Severus would admit that to him. He turned and gave Hermione a hug. He could not speak, but he could see that Severus did not need him to. He took Ginny's hand, and they left the room.

Severus turned to Hermione and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her hair.

"It just keeps getting better," he said.

I want to thank Lisa, my Beta. I really appreciate all your hard work.

Becky, thank you for the Quibbler page and article. It is wonderful!

I hope my readers enjoy the manip I made.