Chapter 50

When Severus got to the dinner table, Poppy was back. But then he noticed she, Minerva and Hermione were in a three-headed clutch, giggling like children. He stopped behind them and placed his hands on Minerva's and Poppy's shoulders and said in a dry voice, "What are you silly women gossiping about?"

They ducked guiltily away. Poppy took her seat and started to eat. Severus took the seat next to Hermione. "I never thought you'd betray me so, Hermione." He turned away to grab some food, ignoring her and trying not to let her see the mirth in his eyes.

He heard her gasp, and she clutched at his hand. "Severus," she whispered, "I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. You know they love you as much as I do."

Stoically he said, "It doesn't feel so good to be twisting in the wind, does it? He turned to grin at her.

She socked him in the arm. "You scared me."

He feigned a pout and said, "I'm sowwy."

Hermione stared at him. "What have you been drinking?"

"I'm drunk on life, Hermione, life. I'm about to bond with the wife of my dreams, and we are having a baby. Life can't get better than that, can it?" He pressed against her a moment and then turned back to grab a roll and butter it.

"No, it can't," she agreed, hugging his arm. "I will be so happy when Saturday night gets here. It's going be hard to not jump your bones for the next two days."

"Jump my bones... Hermione, where do you get these expressions?" he asked.

She laughed. "Muggle Tele, of course."

Minerva leaned into Hermione's space. "Will you two lower your voices?"

Severus glanced at her. "The students can't hear us, and the rest of the teachers are too busy eating, old woman. Poppy's on one side, and you're on the other."

"Severus, you may be giddy on love, but I do demand respect," Minerva said, glaring at him.

"I love you, too, Mommy Min," he said.

Poppy and Hermione choked, sputtering food everywhere as they saw the soft look that Minerva gave Severus.

Minerva's eyes filled with tears, but she looked past him and said, "Poppy, you'd better take him up to the infirmary and check him over. I think that potion is messing up his head."

Severus said dryly, "Don't be daft, old woman. The wall is gone. I'm bonding with Hermione, she's having my baby, and...." he glared at the women, "I explained the facts of life to a girl. I'm allowed to be punchy and giddy."

The three women laughed at him until they were gasping for breath. The entire school stopped and stared.

Severus finally turned a withering glare on them all, and they all turned back to their meals, including the teachers.

*******

The next morning, Hermione went to teach, and Severus went up to the lab to put away everything and clean it up. He found Albus and Scorpius sitting on the floor near the Phoenix statue. They jumped up when he came into sight.

"To what do I owe this pleasure, boys?" he asked as he gave the password and the phoenix rolled out of the way. They followed him up the stairs and across Minerva's office.

"We just wanted to see how you really were," Albus said.

"Yeah," Scorpius agreed.

Severus waited until they were in the lab and then turned and shrugged off his robe and bared his arm. He turned it this way and that, flexing his fingers.

"Awesome," the boys said together.

"Thank you, Albus, Scorpius. Your expertise made all the difference ... Wonderboys," Severus said with a smirk.

They giggled like two schoolgirls. "But, the Wonderboys ..." Scorpius sputtered.

Severus rolled his eyes. "You're a wonder and a godsend to me." He turned to take the cauldron off the stand, grinning. He used his wand to clean it and carried it to the shelves to store it with all the others. "Are you going help or just stand there and gab?"

The boys grinned and jumped to help him. They replaced all the ingredients back in the storage room, and they made an inventory of the potion ingredients so that supplies could be re-ordered.

"Did you get your invitations to the bonding?" Severus asked as he washed his hands.

"Yes," Albus said. "We got them today. There's a Portkey. Do you know where it goes?"

"The Weasley's garden, I believe. It probably won't be a long ceremony, but I wanted you both there. You've become more than students...you're friends, I hope."

The boys glowed. "Yes, sir."

Severus raised an eyebrow. They seemed to be so tuned to each other that they often answered at the same time with the same words, like the Weasley twins. He filed that away to think on later. "I know you still have years at Hogwarts; but if I can help you in any way after you leave, I would be happy to do so. Now, get on to your next class." He watched them nod, and they scurried away. They had grown since he'd met them. Each was a good four inches taller and broader in the shoulders. He extinguished the candles with a wave of his wand. Then he locked and warded the lab door.

Minerva, who was sitting at her desk, looked up at him. "I'm so glad you're back, Severus, for Hermione's sake. I rather like the acid-tongued Severus Snape. I always understood him. There was no color or change...just black and white. It was stabilizing."

Severus sat in the chair in front of her desk. He glanced up to see Albus smiling down at him, "Hello, son," the old man said.

"Albus," Severus said, trying to squash the heaviness he felt when he saw Albus' portrait and heard his voice.

"You wouldn't feel bad if you saw the world I live in now," the old man said, reading Severus' face. "It's really quite wonderful, Severus. It's such freedom. Portraits are only our windows to your world. We are free to pursue so many things and see so many wonders. Let go of that last vestige of guilt."

"I will try, sir." He gave Albus a look that dismissed him, and he saw the old man smile and leave his portrait.

"I feel sorry for you having to put up with the old man all the time," he said, annoyed that he still felt guilty no matter how kind Albus was to him.

"I don't," she said. "Albus and I have been friends longer than you have been alive. I will miss him a great deal."

"Well if it were possible, I'd let you take him with you," he said scathingly.

"You know you wouldn't. You value his advice as much as I do."

"Yes," Severus admitted, "and it's a nasty habit." He grinned. "Anyway since you will be living here, feel free to come in and see him anytime."

"You're looking years younger every month, Severus. Hermione's good for you."

"I agree with that," he said. "It's also having Voldemort gone."

"Well, that's a given. Did you sit to visit, or did you have a purpose?" she asked. "I have lots of work to do."

"I want to become your Deputy Headmaster, Minerva. You need the help, and I need the title. It will help my transition into the job at the end of the term. I'm a bit vain, and I do not want to bond with my wife only being a sub and a security man."

Minerva leaned forward to look at him. "I've been waiting for you to ask. It's hard to admit the job is too much for me. But I'm so far behind."

Severus smiled. "I'd be happy to help, Minerva; and frankly, I would value your insight on the job and the changing times."

"Well if you can handle a girl's first period, you can handle anything," she said with a devilish grin.

Severus glared and stood. "When you wish to talk about the job, I will be back."

Minerva laughed and waved him off. "Have fun shopping tomorrow. I'll see you at the bonding on Sunday."

"Shopping is a necessary evil. The Bonding can't get here too soon for me." He bowed his head slightly and left.

Minerva smiled warmly after him and glanced up to see Albus slip back into his chair. "I never thought I'd live to see the day that Severus Snape was truly free and happy. It's a wondrous thing, Albus."

He nodded and said, "It is, indeed."

*******

After Hermione's last class, they decided to Apparate directly to Diagon Alley and have lunch there. After a quick sandwich at the Leaky Cauldron, they went to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour for a scoop of chocolate truffle ice cream. Hermione then headed to Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions. Severus followed, having decided to buy new dress robes for the ceremony.

Madam Malkin showed Hermione many gowns. While Severus was across the store looking at samples of the men's line, she chose one and had the witch box it.

Severus chose a fine suit as well as robes, urged by Madam Malkin that some odd robes would be a good match. Severus eyed the robes with distain, but he took the woman at her word. Madam Malkin placed them in boxes. Severus shrunk and pocketed the boxes. He went to join Hermione. Hand in hand they walked down the street to Flourish & Blotts.

"Hermione, do you mind looking around while I run to Gringotts? I need to check my account and withdraw some money to pay Molly back.

"Of course not! I could spend an entire day in there." She raised her face. He gave her a kiss and then headed down the street. He turned to wave but she'd already disappeared inside.

It took some time to check his finances. To his relief, his vault was still intact. Albus had put a hold of 22 years on his account, so all his savings were still there. The old man had thought of everything.

The trip into the bowels of Gringotts was arduous. Severus hated the cart rides. He always felt unsettled. When the door of his vault opened, he was astounded at the piles of gold silver and jewels. "What is this?" he demanded. "I didn't have anywhere near this amount when I 'died.'"

"It was an inheritance," the goblin explained.

"From who? I had no living relatives." He tried to rein in his anger at what he knew was coming.

"You received Albus Dumbledore's entire fortune, other than that which was gifted to The Golden Three, Hogwarts, and Minerva McGonagall. It was his desire that you want for nothing for having followed through with his wishes," the goblin stated.

"You knew what he asked of me?" he asked, stupefied.

"Yes, he left documents should they be needed. He was not sure Mr. Potter would step up, knowing his relationship with you. Thankfully, the boy did understand. I have been under a vow of silence. Since Mr. Potter had your memories, it was not necessary to divulge them. I will die with the secret."

Deflated, Severus felt his eyes burn with tears. "That old bastard." But he was touched beyond measure. He wished Hermione was with him; he needed her strength right now. He sorted through the original piles of his things and pulled out a small, black velvet box. He filled a bag with gold coins, and then he instructed the goblin to lock the vault. He was deep in thought on the way back to the surface of the bank.

Once on the surface, he breathed a sigh of relief. His mind was already working on ways to use some of the fortune to help others. He would also buy Hermione a house...someplace they could call home in the summer or on holidays. They couldn't impose on Poppy all the time. He did wonder if there might be another house on the same beach.

He entered Flourish & Blotts and began to walk down the aisles, looking for Hermione. He found her in the potions section with her nose buried in a book. He watched her. Her face was screwed up in deep concentration, and she reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear.

"Hermione," he called.

She looked up at him, and her face lit with a smile. "I was trying to read this but I kept missing you." She shoved the book onto the shelf and came to him, slipping into his arms. "What's wrong?" She could feel him trembling.

"Are you done? Can we go?" he asked.

"Yes, I have what I need," she said as Severus tucked her into his side.

They walked out of the shop and wandered down the street to a small garden that was deserted. Hermione asked again, "What's wrong?"

Severus took a deep breath and said, "I went to check on the status of my vault. It was still in my name. Albus made them lock it down for a period of 22 years in the event I came back to claim it. He knew I would."

He hesitated, and then said, "Hermione, he left me a fortune in gold, silver, and jewels."

"What!" She paled. "Oh Severus, don't feel strange or bad about it. You know he loved you. I'm so happy for you."

"You mean for us. There is a great deal we can do with this money, and I will expect you to help me distribute a good deal of it."

Hermione was so pleased that he wanted to give a lot of it away. "I would be happy to."

"Now, I hope you got the robes of your dreams. If you didn't, I want you to go back to Madam Malkin's and get them," he said firmly.

Hermione smiled. "I got what I wanted, Severus. I think you will like it."

He smirked. "I will enjoy taking it off you more than I will like it on you, Hermione."

Hermione laughed. "You know, I think I will like that more, too. I can't wait to be your bonded wife."

They decided to go to the Owlery, and they picked out a large grey owl to deliver their messages. On their way past Eeylops Owl Emporium, Severus pointed out a white snowy owl in the window. Hermione commented, "That looks just like Hedwig."

"Let's buy it for Harry," Severus said.

"Really! You'd do that for him?"

"Of course, Hermione. He's your friend, and he freed me from that monster."

"Only because you kept us all alive until it was time," she told him, reaching up to kiss him on the cheek.

"He still did the deed. He's not a killer, and it was forced on him. He had enough Gryffindor courage to stand up to a man more than three times his age and probably more powerful, and he still defeated him. Voldemort never realized it was his fault that Harry had the blood magic to defeat him. No matter what Voldemort did, Harry was destined to win. I didn't understand that till the end." He laughed ruefully. "It might have made my job easier."

"Severus." Hermione pulled him close.

"I wouldn't have changed my life in any way. We all did what we had to do for freedom."

Hermione said, "We can have the owl delivered. You can write a note."

Severus paid for the owl and had it sent by Apparation delivery.

"Let's go home." She wrapped her arm around his waist, and Severus Apparated them to the gates of Hogwarts.

They found a note waiting from Poppy and Molly telling them they'd had a small problem, but things had been worked out. A new set of Portkeys was set for them to Apparate to the wedding site.

They lay together in their bed that night and held each other, talking quietly about what the changes might be. Then they decided it didn't matter. They trusted the women to make the ceremony beautiful. They fell asleep holding each other tightly.

Lisa, once again, thank you so much for the beta work you have done on this story. You are very much appreciated.