Chapter Four

Author's Note: The characters and settings depicted here belong to J.K. Rowling, to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude. I receive no material or monetary compensation for my adaptation of her work, nor is any copyright infringement intended.

I said it once and will say it again: JKR tells one heck of a story, but in the matter of Severus Snape, Potions master extraordinaire, I have to reject JKR's reality and substitute my own.

Bold text denotes material quoted from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

~OoO~

Severus stepped into the Great Hall, determined to talk to Minerva, and was surprised to hear Professor Flitwick calling him.

"Severus!" The tiny wizard hurried over, hand outstretched and beaming in welcome. "You're safe! I'm so glad!"

"Filius." Severus bowed to his colleague and extended his hand to warmly clasp Flitwick's. "Minerva has told you of my situation?"

"She did, but it wasn't necessary. Dumbledore is such an amazing Legilimens, he hid the memory in the minds of all the staff here, all the house-elves, keyed to the school's wards. He didn't want to take any chances with your safety, Severus. And given what you'd been doing, I'd say he owed you that and more."

A great sigh of relief escaped from Severus's lips, and he stopped to think a prayer of gratitude that Dumbledore had been so careful and so thorough.

"There's more, Severus. We have heard from Kingsley Shacklebolt and Arthur Weasley. They each sent a Patronus, begging us to make sure of your safety if we had the chance. Everyone in the Order of the Phoenix was given the same memory. When Hogwarts' wards came down, we all knew that you have been on our side all along. We're all very glad you're safe."

"I am grateful that he did so, or I would surely be dead."

Severus looked around and saw others in the room looking back at him. Amazingly, he saw acceptance, even smiles of welcome on the faces around him, and his heart lifted. These people, whom he had served in silence for so long, were not looking on him with suspicion.

For the first time in his life, he felt as if he belonged. And what a wonderful feeling that was. He wanted to share something of his remarkable survival, and who better to appreciate it than the teacher who'd taught Miss Granger so many of the skills she'd used to save his life?

"I owe you a debt, Filius. Miss Hermione Granger saved my life, and she used a number of charms to do it."

He inclined his head respectfully to his colleague and got a wide smile in return.

"Sometime, you must tell me what she did. Right now, though, there is a battle to fight. You'll need to be extra careful, Severus. You-Know-Who is going to be out for your blood."

"I am always careful, my friend."

"You would have had to be, to have managed this long. Minerva asked me to make sure you're all right and don't need to see Madam Pomfrey?"

"I'm well enough to be going on with."

Severus looked around the Great Hall with some curiosity. A great many sixth- and seventh-year students were in the hall, including a few Slytherins. Blaise Zabini, Millicent Bulstrode, and Daphne Greenglass were talking with Terry Boot, Anthony Goldstein, and Ernie MacMillan. Pansy Parkinson was sitting at the Ravenclaw table with Luna Lovegood and Ginevra Weasley. That was certainly something he never would have expected, but he was proud of his Slytherins.

"Is there anyone injured who might benefit from my help, Filius?"

Severus had learned many things about healing as a consequence of his dangerous double life.

"No, I think everyone has been tended from the earlier battle. Poppy has set up an aid station in the Great Hall."

Severus rested his hand on Flitwick's shoulder. "Have we had many casualties?"

"Not in numbers, but the ones we lost are going to be sorely missed."

"Who, Filius?"

Flitwick sighed.

"Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks... Fred Weasley... Vincent Crabbe, from Slytherin House. And there are some serious injuries."

"Oh, no." Severus closed his eyes as grief flowed over him.

"Gregory Goyle has been sent to St. Mungo's. He was badly burned. He told Madam Pomfrey that Crabbe cast Fiendfyre, hoping to kill Harry Potter, but Potter and the Weasley boy and the Granger girl got him out. They saved him and Draco Malfoy."

"Where were they? What were they doing? Harry Potter and his friends rescued Malfoy and Goyle?"

Flitwick nodded proudly. "I'm not really sure where they were or what they were doing. They are lucky to be alive; Fiendfyre is desperately tricky to control."

"I shan't defend Crabbe. He enjoyed learning the Dark magic the Carrows were teaching the students, and he refused to believe that those Dark spells could get out of hand. I'm sorry for the waste of his young life, though. And grateful that Goyle and Malfoy were saved."

Severus' voice was warm with praise. "Mr. Potter and his friends are quite amazing."

"Come, Severus, I see Minerva gathering everyone. She probably has our assignments for defending the castle."

Together, the two wizards moved towards the center of the Hall.

A commotion outside caught everyone's attention, followed an instant later by the high, eerie voice of the Dark Lord, raised in taunting triumph, gloating that Potter was dead.

Seconds later, though, the outer doors crashed open, and a battle like no other Hogwarts had ever seen filled the open doorway. Death Eaters crashed through the doors, chased by parents and Order members. Teachers and school staff were fighting alongside house-elves and students. Hagrid's half-brother was visible through the windows, and centaurs from the Forbidden Forest accompanied him.

Severus saw Aberforth Dumbledore racing after Augusta Longbottom. Madam Longbottom was remonstrating with Aberforth as they sped by, and Aberforth's face bore a chastened expression. Neville's fear of his grandmother suddenly made perfect sense.

Severus recognized a few Aurors from the Ministry, but within a minute or two, he was too busy dodging hexes and casting protection spells to even try to identify the people who filled the Great Hall.

A whisper was rippling through the crowd as fast as lightning, a rumor that Harry Potter was still alive, that he'd vanished when Hagrid laid his body down on the ground.

With a fervent prayer that the rumor was true, Severus steeled himself for battle and moved to the side of the Great Hall, where he could find some protection behind the upended house tables. He joined several students and Order members, relieved to see that they were being cautious and covering for their bolder colleagues.

A tall, preternaturally thin figure swathed in black moved into the hall, and Severus heard shrieks and whispers as the people in the crowd got their first look at He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Severus saw Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick and Kingsley Shacklebolt engage him, and began edging his way in that direction.

Before he could move even a few feet through the crowd, he heard someone scream, "There's Potter! Potter's alive!" and he lifted his head to see Harry Potter moving into the Great Hall.

Lily's son was casting a hex here, a jinx there, but thus far the Dark Lord hadn't noticed him.

Potter saw Snape, though. At one point the young man twisted around to orient himself and saw Severus. "Thanks, Professor Snape," was all Potter said, but it was more than enough.

The hexes started flying in earnest, and Snape was soon busier than before. Potter was as fast as an electric eel, his young, sharp reflexes honed by years of Quidditch training. Snape was almost as fast as Potter, and what he lacked in speed he made up for in sheer power.

And Snape was taking no chances. If he cast a Stupefy, it was followed by an Incarcerous, just to be safe. He didn't want any of Potter's enemies coming back a second time when the hex wore off. He hoped he would not have to cast any Unforgivables today, but he was prepared to do so if he needed to.

A high, shrill, maniacal laugh made his blood run cold in his veins, and suddenly Bellatrix Lestrange appeared in his line of vision.

Bellatrix had three opponents, and Severus's heart nearly stopped when he saw that one of them was Hermione Granger. Ginevra Weasley and Luna Lovegood were also battling the insane female Death Eater, fiercely protecting Hermione and each other. The three young witches were overmatched, but they were working together, and Severus could see that they were tiring Bellatrix.

He was proud to see that Hermione was casting wordless spells with an ease that spoke of long practice, but he was also terrified for her and the other two girls. Bellatrix was evil incarnate and would stop at nothing to kill, maim or simply torture.

Ginny Weasley dodged a Killing Curse by a whisker, and Hermione caught Bellatrix with a Slicing Hex that slowed the evil witch down. She rounded on Hermione and cast a Stunning Spell that knocked Hermione back against the wall.

Out of the corner of his eye, Severus saw Bill Weasley taking a guard position on Potter's other side, and he changed direction, racing across the Great Hall to minister to Hermione.

Molly Weasley brushed past him and faced off with Bellatrix, shrugging off her cape and throwing hexes in quick succession. Severus hadn't realized that Molly knew so many truly nasty little spells.

He turned his attention to Hermione.

He ran his hands down her limbs, checking for broken bones, and finding none, he gathered her into his arms and whispered, "Ennervate," smiling in relief when she opened her eyes and turned her head towards him.

"Severus?"

"Shhh, yes. I'm here. How do you feel?"

"A little dizzy, but it's going away."

"Bellatrix Lestrange got you with a Stunning Charm. You don't seem to have suffered any other injuries."

She nodded her head. "I remember that. Ginny and Luna... Are they all right?"

"Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley are unharmed. Molly Weasley is now dueling with Bellatrix."

"I'm glad they're all right. Merlin protect Mrs. Weasley," Hermione murmured as she sat up straight, struggling to see what was going on.

"Can you stand? Let me help you."

He got to his feet, casting a quick glance around to make sure no one was paying attention to them, and then when he was certain it was safe, he lifted Hermione to her feet and wrapped his arms around her protectively. He thought he felt her lips brush across his cheek as he helped her up, and his arms tightened around her when she wrapped her own arms around his waist and held on tight.

Mad Bella was capering around Molly, taunting her in a sing-song voice as she cast curse after curse. As Severus and Hermione looked on, they heard Molly scream, "You...will...never...touch...our...children...again!"

Bellatrix threw back her head, laughing insanely just as Molly's Killing Curse hit Bellatrix square in the chest. Severus heard Hermione's quick intake of breath at the sight of Bellatrix falling backward, the light going out of her eyes, and wished Hermione would not have had to see that.

The Great Hall vibrated with tension as Tom Riddle screamed in rage over the death of his most faithful servant.

Harry Potter picked that moment to step into Riddle's sight. Severus looked around, imprinting the scene on his memory. Hundreds of people stood around the edges of the Great Hall, watching as Harry Potter and He-Who-Had-Once-Been-Tom Riddle faced off in the center of the room.

To Severus, it felt as if time had stopped, and he knew he would never forget the events of this day, no matter how long he lived.

Molly Weasley was in the arms of her family, being patted and hugged and comforted. Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom watched from behind Harry, Neville standing protectively in front of the dreamy blonde girl. Neville wore the mantle of a grown man's duty, and wore it well. As Severus watched, Neville turned to Luna and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, squeezing her tight, and she turned to him and began to cry into his shirt.

Ron Weasley had moved from the table near his family to the makeshift infirmary, where he sat on the floor near Lavender Brown's cot. He was stroking her hair and murmuring softly to her. Severus didn't know how badly she was injured, but Poppy Pomfrey was there, and Severus realized this was the aid station of which Filius had spoken.

He spotted others...Shacklebolt and Slughorn, Flitwick and McGonagall and Sprout. Sybill Trelawney sat on the floor with tears pouring down her face, but the tears were silent.

Severus looked down again to the witch he held in his arms. She barely seemed to be breathing, so keen was her focus on Harry.

He could feel the tension in her slender frame, knew that Harry had all her attention right now, and yet... it was Severus to whom she clung, and when Harry stopped in the middle of the circle and squared his shoulders, it was Severus whose shoulder she burrowed into.

One thought kept echoing through his mind: "When did I learn to love Hermione Granger?"

He'd long since accepted the fact that he cared for her and thought her exceptional. Since the Yule Ball, if he counted becoming aware of her grace and beauty as the beginning of his feelings for her. Not the grace and beauty themselves; Severus was not much of one to judge by outward appearances.

But that night, she had shown a shy delight in being female and a gentle amusement at the power of her own femininity. From that night on, she had been more confident and yet not at all arrogant, and that was when Severus had really noticed her as something other than an irritating Know-It-All.

Her fifth year at Hogwarts had brought the Ministry's disastrous appointment of Dolores Umbridge, but it had spurred Hermione to entreat Harry to teach a handful of students various Defense tactics. Severus had found out about Dumbledore's Army one night when he'd come across Hermione asleep in the library, and read an entry in her diary that described Harry teaching her how to cast a Patronus. He'd spelled her diary to copy her words to a similar book in his office every time she wrote in it, so he knew what Dumbledore's Army was up to. His knowledge of their activities led to his dropping a bottle of Veritaserum, so it would not be available for Umbridge's use in questioning the students.

At the end of the year, when Granger tricked Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest, it was all Snape could do to keep from standing up and cheering for her. He couldn't do so, of course, but later, after the uproar at the Ministry, Miss Granger's sabotage of Dolores Umbridge had given him a good excuse to personally brew all the potions she had needed to recover from her wounds.

"After all, they are for the young woman who rid us of Dolores Umbridge...I am deeply in Miss Granger's debt for that." Said with his usual smirk, his quip had made McGonagall and Dumbledore laugh and caused Madam Pomfrey to smother her own laughter in a handkerchief.

He'd been appalled at her injuries. Poppy had shown Severus her notes on Hermione's treatment and also the diagram she had drawn of the wound resulting from Dolohov's curse. Miss Granger would carry a permanent reminder of her bravery in the Ministry of Magic, the night of Riddle's return.

Severus's dislike of Antonin Dolohov had turned to disgusted hatred at the thought of what Dolohov had done to Hermione.

Looking back now, he realized that, even then, he had begun to feel something more for her than just the ordinary concern of a teacher for his student.

Time now seemed to be moving in slow motion as Potter and Riddle circled around one another. Potter was giving Riddle every chance to recognize the wrongs he'd done, reluctant to kill him in cold blood, but Riddle was bent on revenge and his own quest for power.

Snape had studied the legend of the Elder Wand. He knew that Draco Malfoy had disarmed Albus Dumbledore on the Astronomy Tower, the night of Dumbledore's death. Snape had also been told of the fracas at Malfoy Manor, and knew that Potter had disarmed Draco Malfoy and taken his wand that night.

If the Elder Wand worked the way Snape suspected it did, and Riddle's comments before he had loosed Nagini seemed to confirm this, then Potter was truly the master of the Elder Wand.

Miss Granger was watching the situation before them with bated breath, but Snape could see her struggling to make sense of the significance of the Elder Wand.

"Severus?" Her whisper was for his ear alone. "Severus, Draco disarmed Dumbledore the night...the night Dumbledore died."

"Yes."

"If Dumbledore had the Elder Wand, and Draco disarmed him, doesn't that make Draco the master of the Elder Wand?"

"If what we know of wands of power is correct, yes, it does."

"So if Harry disarmed Draco at Malfoy Manor, shouldn't that make Harry the master of the Elder Wand?"

"I believe so. I don't think it has ever really been tested scientifically; the Elder Wand has been missing for many years."

"But Riddle has the Elder Wand now?"

"He physically possesses it, but that does not make him the master of the wand."

"So Harry should be safe."

"I hope so. I fervently hope so."

Severus turned his attention back to the youth and the monster confronting each other in the center of the Great Hall. Harry was urging Riddle to allow himself to feel some remorse for what he had done, something he didn't think Riddle could do.

"So typically Gryffindor, to allow Riddle a chance to repent," Snape said lightly, and he felt Hermione relax just a little.

"If the Dark Lord truly felt remorse for all he's done, perhaps it would allow his soul to heal?"

"The remorse for all he's done would be an inconceivable burden, Hermione. The pain would probably prove fatal all by itself, no matter what Harry might do to him."

She nodded. "I don't think he could endure the pain," she whispered. "I think he is going to wind up dead, either way."

"He was once a brilliant wizard. Talented and magically strong, and very, very smart."

She was tense again. "What of the Death Eaters? Will Riddle's death have any effect on them?"

"The Dark Mark is Riddle's own spell. With his death, those marks may go away. There are some Death Eaters with whom he has shared his power in the past. I do not know who they are, but some of them will be weaker than they are now without that support."

She looked up at him anxiously. "Not you, though?"

"Not me. I always had sufficient power of my own."

"Now, how did I know that?" Her lips curved up in a tiny smile.

Exhilarated at her gentle teasing, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, watching the heat flare in her eyes.

Mine, he thought in triumph, this witch is mine.

Then, on the heels of his first thought, a second one, much more humble.

If she finds me worthy. I wish I were a better man.

He looked down at her anxiously, wishing he could see into her mind at this very moment, but he was determined not to pry. He would wait.

His attention was drawn back to the confrontation between Riddle and Potter.

"You dare..." said Voldemort again.

"Yes, I dare," said Harry, "because Dumbledore's last plan hasn't backfired on me at all. It's backfired on you, Riddle."

Hermione burrowed closer to Severus, and her arms tightened around his waist. Severus had to remind himself to breathe.

Fate or providence had placed him and Hermione equal with the two duelists and perhaps fifteen feet away from them. They could see Riddle's hand trembling as he held the Elder Wand, could see Harry's white-knuckled grip on the wand he had taken from Draco at Malfoy Manor.

"That wand still isn't working properly for you because you murdered the wrong person. Severus Snape was never the true master of the Elder Wand. He never defeated Dumbledore."

"But then, Potter, Dumbledore as good as gave me the wand!" Voldemort's voice (Severus refused to think of him as the Dark Lord any longer) shook with malicious pleasure. "I stole the wand from its last master's tomb! I removed it against its last master's wishes! Its power is mine!"

"You still don't get it, Riddle, do you? Possessing the wand isn't enough! Holding it, using it, doesn't make it really yours. Didn't you listen to Ollivander? The wand chooses the wizard... The Elder Wand recognized a new master before Dumbledore died, someone who never even laid a hand on it. The new master removed the wand from Dumbledore against his will, never realizing exactly what he had done, or that the world's most dangerous wand had given him its allegiance... "

Hermione and Severus could both see the tension building between Riddle and Potter. Riddle's breathing was rapid and shallow, his reptilian red eyes focused on Potter.

"The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy."

A kind of sigh ran through the crowd as Harry Potter said Malfoy's name.

Blank shock showed in Voldemort's face for a moment, but then it was gone.

"But what does it matter?" he said softly. "Even if you are right, Potter, it makes no difference to you and me. You no longer have the phoenix wand: We duel on skill alone... and after I have killed you, I can attend to Draco Malfoy..."

"He really doesn't get it, does he?" Hermione whispered into Severus's ear.

She rested her head on his chest, and he could feel her shivering from tension. His hands moved over her back in big circles, comforting her as he answered her question. "Hush. It will be over soon. You're right, Riddle doesn't understand. But Potter does. Potter knows."

"What's going to happen?"

"I don't know, but Potter is the master of the Elder Wand. And a wand cannot be used to kill its own master."

Hermione moaned and buried her head against his chest, but as Harry began to speak again, she raised her head. She had to look, even though she could not bear to see.

"But you're too late," said Harry. "You've missed your chance. I got there first. I overpowered Draco weeks ago. I took this wand from him."

"So it all comes down to this, doesn't it?" whispered Harry. "Does the wand in your hand know its last master was Disarmed? Because if it does... I am the true master of the Elder Wand."

Everything happened so fast after that. Riddle and Potter pointed their wands at each other, and each spell was cast as a shout, a wild yell that held all the hopes of each man as they cast their spells.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

For a moment the Hall was entirely silent, but then there was a bang like the blast of a cannon, and golden flames erupted between them, marking the point where their spells collided. An instant later, everyone saw the Elder Wand fly high, dark against the sunrise showing through the windows, spinning through the air toward the master it would not kill, who had come to take full possession of it at last.

And Harry, with the unerring skill of the Seeker, caught the wand in his free hand as Voldemort fell backward, arms splayed, the slit pupils of the scarlet eyes rolling upward. Tom Riddle hit the floor with a mundane finality, his body feeble and shrunken, the white hands empty, the snakelike face vacant and unknowing. Voldemort was dead, killed by his own rebounding curse, and Harry stood with two wands in his hand, staring down at his enemy's shell.

One shivering second of silence, the shock of the moment suspended: and then the tumult broke around Harry as the screams and the cheers and the roars of the watchers rent the air.

Severus could see the shock, disbelief and dawning wonder in Hermione's eyes. Then she stood on tiptoes, pressed a frantic kiss on his lips, and tugged him forward. A moment later, he found himself swept into a many-armed embrace as Hermione and Ron hugged him along with Potter. Amazingly, Potter and Weasley were patting him on the back as they both hugged Hermione in return. Then Ginny Weasley was pulled into the hug, and Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, then all the Weasleys, and Hagrid, and Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick and Pomona Sprout.

No one could hear a single word; they could only scream and cry and hug each other, sharing their joy because the Boy-Who-Lived had lived again, had triumphed, and the Dark Lord was dead.

Severus let himself bask in the joy of the moment, tears of relief streaming down his face. Hermione was hugging Potter, but with only one arm. Her other arm was wrapped around Severus's waist.

After a moment, she looked at Harry and smiled, then moved away from him and wrapped both her arms around Severus's neck. Looking directly into his eyes, she shouted, "I'm so happy for you!" then stood on tiptoe and kissed him again, kissed him with complete abandon, in full view of everyone in the Hall. After an instant of shock, he tightened his arms around her and kissed her back.

When they finally drew apart from one another, both of them flushed in embarrassment and pleasure, Potter and Weasley looked at them in surprise, but it was Potter who spoke first.

"Hermione's the closest thing I have to a sister, and if she loves you...and it sure looks like she does...then you have my blessing."

"But don't hurt her. Or you'll answer to both of us." That was Ron, waving his wand around and gaping at it in surprise as it produced showers of silver and gold hearts, and metallic red and green stars. "Never seen it do that before."

The crowd continued to mass around Harry, but after a few more moments, Hermione leaned close to him and whispered something in his ear, and he nodded his head and hugged her one last time. She stepped back from Harry and captured Severus's hand in hers, leading him back through the crowd.

It seemed entirely natural to walk away from the center of the hall with his arm around Hermione's shoulders, and then to sit on the steps leading to the dais, to pull her down onto his lap, to hold her close and lean his head against hers, and feel the wonder of holding this witch in his arms, knowing he loved her, and feeling her love for him in return.

"It's finally over, isn't?" Hermione looked up at him, her melted-chocolate colored eyes sparkling with joy.

"The nightmare is ended. But one could look on this day as a beginning, as well."

Did she understand what he was too diffident to say, that he wanted her in his life from this day forward?

"I hope this is the beginning of our life together." Her fingers caressed his cheek, then traced over his lips.

"Do you wish it to be?"

That Dumbledore had testified of his innocence in the minds of the Order, and in Shacklebolt and Weasley's, boded well for the idea that he had a future outside of Azkaban prison. For now, Severus allowed himself to hope.

"Yes, more than anything."

They sat on the steps in silence, watching the crowd shifting around them. They watched as Harry Potter spoke to everyone in the hall, and then saw Luna Lovegood create the diversion that allowed Harry to slip on his cloak and leave the Great Hall. Without knowing how it happened, Severus found himself lifting Hermione off his lap and helping her to her feet as Potter came over to them, Ron Weasley in tow.

"It's me," Harry muttered. "Will you come with me?" And somehow Severus knew he, too, was welcome to go with them.

Harry turned and together, he, Ron, Hermione and Severus left the Great Hall.

Somewhere in the distance they could hear Peeves zooming through the corridors singing a victory song of his own composition:

We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter's the one,

And Voldy's gone moldy, so now let's have fun!"

"Really gives a feeling for the scope and tragedy of the thing, doesn't it?" said Ron, pushing open a door to let the others through.

As he walked with his companions through the deserted corridors, Severus looked around at the damaged stone, the piles of rubble, the bloodstains, and his heart grew heavy. The school had sustained far more damage than he'd expected. It would take months to repair it all.

Hermione, walking at his side, her hand clasped in his, smiled up at him. "I guess we'd all better learn some cleaning and restructuring charms."

He nodded, his heart warmed by her implicit expectation that she would be there to help with the repairs.

As they walked, Harry Potter began to speak.

... He owed an explanation to Ron and Hermione, who had stuck with him for so long, and who deserved the truth. Painstakingly he recounted what he had seen in the Pensieve and what had happened in the forest, and they had not even begun to express all their shock and amazement when at last they arrived at the place to which they had all been walking, though none of them had mentioned their destination.

But Harry had eyes only for the man who stood in the largest portrait directly behind the headmaster's chair. Tears were sliding down from behind the half-moon spectacles into the long silver beard, and the pride and gratitude emanating from him filled Harry with the same balm as phoenix song.

Albus Dumbledore looked from Harry to Ron, to Hermione, and last, to Severus, and tears continued to stream from his eyes. When he spoke, he spoke first to Severus.

"I was watching over you, Severus. When I saw the snake attack you, I...selfishly, I must admit...I looked forward to welcoming you to a better place. And you never appeared. And then I saw Miss Granger." Dumbledore beamed down upon them. "I shall miss you, Severus, but it looks like you will be very busy here for a while."

Severus looked from his old friend to his new-found love and smiled. "I hope I will be busy here for a long while, Headmaster."

"No one deserves it more, Severus. I wish you all the happiness that life can give you. One thing is certain, my boy...Miss Granger will keep you on your toes."

"I'm looking forward to that, Headmaster."

"You have my blessing, both of you. Miss Granger, take care of him, please?"

"I intend to, sir." Hermione snuggled closer into the circle of Severus's arm, and Severus closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

Harry spoke again.

"The thing that was hidden in the Snitch," he began, "I dropped it in the forest. I'm don't know exactly where, but I'm not going to go looking for it again. Do you agree?"

"I think Harry's right," said Hermione quietly.

She turned to look up at Severus and tightened her fingers around his.

"This wand nearly cost the life of one the bravest men I know." Harry looked back at Severus, standing so quietly next to Hermione, hugging her tight. "Sir, I don't ever want another power-mad monster like Riddle to have any incentive to try to kill another good man."

Severus could hear the genuine respect in Harry's voice, and he took a step towards the Boy-Who-Lived-Again, his hand outstretched.

"I thank you, Mr. Potter. For everything."

Simple words, but as Harry stretched out his own hand and clasped Severus's, their long-standing antipathy towards one another seemed to melt away.

Harry turned back to Dumbledore.

"That wand's more trouble than it's worth," said Harry. "And quite honestly," he turned away from the painted portraits, thinking now only of the four-poster bed lying waiting for him in Gryffindor Tower, and wondering whether Kreacher might bring him a sandwich there, "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."

"Come on, mate, let's go put the wand back where it belongs. And then, I could do with a sandwich, what do you say?" Ron smiled over at Harry just as his stomach rumbled loudly.

They all laughed. Then Harry crossed the short distance between them and wrapped his arms around Hermione.

"Be happy, 'Mione. Now that it hits me over the head, I can see that you and Professor Snape have a lot in common."

"We do, Harry. And, Gods willing, we'll have as good a relationship as your mum and dad, Ron."

Dumbledore spoke once again from the painting above the Headmaster's desk.

"My dear young people, you have my blessings and my gratitude."

With smiles and a few tears, the quartet of living people bade farewell to the portraits and went out into the hall.

"C'mon, Harry. 'Mione, see you soon, all right?"

Ron slapped Harry on the back and guided him away down the hall.

Hermione turned to look up at Severus. He drew her into his arms and closed his eyes as her warmth and the scent of her hair threatened to overwhelm his senses.

"Miss Granger?"

"Yes, my dear Professor Snape?" Her sweet voice coated the formal address in honey.

"I don't know what lies ahead for me, but I have had a little taste of heaven, today, and it's made me greedy for more. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

"Yes, please." Her voice was barely a whisper, but she was leaning close to him, standing on tiptoe to brush her skin against his, and her hands were clenched around the lapels of his frock coat.

"I love you, Hermione."

"As I love you, Severus."

He drew her closer, bending to kiss her once again. And as they stood in the corridor, the sky outside turned from the sweet tints of rose and gold and cream that signaled the sunrise to the brilliant blue of a new day and a new era at Hogwarts.

~OoO~

Supplemental Author's Note:

Oh, only the Epilogue remains. You didn't think we could get away without it, did you?