Through the Looking Glass - Alternate Ending One

Nevermore by Pearle

Summary: The war is long over and life has settled into a comfortable routine. Harry and his team of specialists have been charged with tracking down and dismantling Dark objects. While not part of the team, Harry has had occasion to call on his best friend's husband to help them. What started out as routine turned out to be anything but. One question remained: how was he going to explain to Hermione her husband had been turned into a bird?

A response to SouthernWitch69's chapter challenge. Challenge rules follow chapter one.

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc., of the Harry Potter series are not mine; they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.

~~~ Nevermore ~~~

Chapter 6 – Through the Looking Glass

Alternate Ending One

Hermione's hands shook as she turned the page. "That's it, that's the last rune."

"Inner annual?"

"Not annual, animal. See how the line crosses at the middle, not the top. And the bar has no tail. It's inner animal, not inner annual. Let me see that, Remus." Hermione stared at the completed parchment.

A spell used for common transfer might not

bring your inner animal out as I can

"Inner animal. It has to be some kind of Animagus transformation spell. Bill, you're the curse-breaker. Any ideas?" Hermione look hopefully at the wizard.

Remus beamed proudly at his wife. "You were right, Tonks, it had to do with Severus's Animagus form."

Tonks blushed a brilliant shade of fuchsia. "So, how do we turn him back? Minerva?"

Between the two, Bill and Minerva were able to determine the layers of curses and spells the original curse created. The raven complained loudly, cawing almost continuously as he was poked and prodded with their wands.

"Please stop that racket. You're giving me a headache." Hermione sat back, rubbing her eyes, a headache threatening to overtake her. "Do you want to turn back into a human, or not?"

Crookshanks sat on the hearth, tail twitching, his eyes alert as he watched the humans waving sticks around the bird. There was something not quite right about the raven, he just couldn't figure out what it was that bothered him about the black bird.

Hermione glared at the completed parchment. "Inner animal. Only Malfoy would think to turn someone into an animal against their will."

"D'you think Severus'll be able to transform back into a raven now that he knows his Animagus form?" asked Tonks.

"I doubt it. It was the mirror that actually forced the transformation, not Severus." Hermione watched intently as Bill and Minerva worked through the counter-curse.

"All right, ready for the final layer?" Minerva raised her wand and looked at Bill. "On three. One...Two...Three!"

Witch and wizard recited the final incantation to break the curse, in tandem. A bright light shot from the ends of their wands, fusing together in a cloud of smoke and engulfing the squawking bird.

When the light and smoke cleared, there sat...the raven.

"Nothing," said Harry gloomily.

Hermione threw herself down on the couch, tears streaming down her face. "It didn't work, he's still a bird."

Tonks tried to comfort the distraught witch. "Well, look at it this way, he'll be good at teaching your child how to fly, and think of all the money you can save on owl treats if Severus delivers your letters."

For some reason, the young woman's comments made Hermione cry all the harder.

"I don't understand it. That should have worked." Bill waved his wand over the raven in a series of intricate movements, each designed to seek out and identify a curse or spell. "Here's the problem, this sequence should've been performed first. There's still one spell left. Minerva, you need to stand back. This part's rather tricky."

They watched in tense silence as Bill concentrated on breaking the final curse. The spell was chanted at almost a whisper, his wand movements precise as he broke through the final barrier. Again, a blinding flash of light, enveloped in smoke, shot from the tip of his wand and surrounded the raven. The young man staggered back with the force of the magic he'd cast.

When the light and smoke cleared, there, in the middle of the desk ... sat Severus Snape.

"Severus!" Hermione shrieked, running to her husband.

He barely had time to register where he was before his overjoyed wife tackled him.

"You're back. I didn't think you'd ever be human again." She was peppering his face with kisses, hugging him fiercely.

Severus hugged her back, still slightly disoriented from the transformation. "I am quite happy to be back. Do you think it possible I can move off this blasted desk and sit on the sofa for a minute?"

"Professor!" Tonks squeezed his arm as he moved off the desk.

Each happily patted or touched the dazed man as he moved to the sofa. All the while, Hermione refused to relinquish her hold on her husband. She settled next to him, still not believing he was human again.

"Thank you all, I can't believe you were able to turn him back." Hermione prodded her husband, still not believing he was real. "I was so afraid you would stay a raven."

"I'm sure he's overwhelmed with transforming." Remus said, smiling.

"I'm glad you're back, Snape." Harry nodded at the wizard.

"It's your fault I spent the last two days as a ruddy bird," he growled, glaring at Harry.

"How is it my fault? Didn't I tell you not to touch the mirror? That you should wait for the others? It's your own damn fault you transformed."

"Harry! Severus! That's enough. It doesn't matter whose fault it is. The important thing is you're human once more." Hermione glared at the two men.

"It wasn't my fault," Harry muttered. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the wizard's wand. "I think this belongs to you."

Severus nodded stiffly. "Thank you."

"Well, I guess you'll have to teach your child how to fly the traditional way now, riding a broomstick like everyone else instead of just flying next to them."

"My child? What do you mean my child?"

Tonks's smile faded. "Well, Hermione said she was..."

"Severus, were you able to understand what was being said when you were a bird?" Hermione asked, cutting off the young woman in mid-sentence.

"Yes, well most of it. Some words didn't seem to translate. What is Tonks talking about?" Severus peered intently at his wife.

The other people in the room seemed to lean forward, listening closely for Hermione's answer.

Hermione looked around the room. "Don't you all have something to do? Shouldn't you be going?"

Minerva smiled. "No, we're fine."

"Oh, for God's sake, she's pregnant, Snape. You have a little Snape on the way." Harry glared at Severus.

"Harry!"

"What? You went crazy yesterday shouting: 'You can't be a bird. I'm pregnant.' We all know you're pregnant, so does he, even if he doesn't remember you shouting it at him."

Severus's mood darkened. "Potter..."

"Right, get mad at me again. She told you countless times over the last two days she was pregnant."

"I was a bird, how was I supposed to remember what she said?"

"You can't remember that your wife is pregnant, but you remember I turned you into a bird?" Harry had had just about enough of the Potions master.

Severus smirked. "You admit it?"

"I didn't turn you into a bird. But I have to say, I liked you better that way. Tonks, Bill, Thomas: first thing tomorrow, we need to dismantle that mirror. I don't want anyone else transforming into an animal accidentally, again." Harry cast a glare in Severus's direction. "Time for me to leave you two 'love birds' alone."

"It is rather late. I think it would be a good idea if we all left." Minerva smiled at Severus. "I'm glad you're back to normal, and congratulations to the two of you."

Severus nodded at his friend and colleague, a sad look passing between them, both of them thinking of Albus and how thrilled he would have been at the happy news.

"All he ever hoped for was for you to be happy. You will come and tell his portrait about the baby, won't you?" Minerva asked.

"I'm sure he'll blind me with all the twinkling he'll do." His voice softened as he thought of his friend. "I'll stop by your office tomorrow; right now, I need a hot bath and a proper night's sleep."

Bill cleared his throat, grinning at Severus and Hermione. "You know, I didn't say anything before because you were so upset, but Fleur just found out she's expecting, too. Just think of it, our children'll start Hogwarts together. Any possibility you can make it a Weasley, Snape, and Potter trio, Harry?"

"Any chance I can have another go at that mirror before you dismantle it, Potter?" Severus dragged a hand wearily across his eyes.

"Severus!" Hermione glared at her husband.

"I believe I'll go home and see what I can do, Bill." Harry smiled evilly at the dark man.

In the end, Severus thanked everyone for their efforts, still maintaining it was Harry's fault, before disappearing into his bedchambers. Hermione once again expressed her thanks as she let everyone out.

"Hermione?"

"What's wrong? Are you all right?" Hermione entered the bathroom, bringing with her a gust of cool air into the steamy room.

Severus was stretched out in the tub, his hair damp at the edges as he leaned back against the rim. "Why don't you join me?"

It didn't take any more convincing on his part; in just a minute, he was helping her into the tub to settle between his legs. He pulled Hermione back to rest against his chest, hugging her to him.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to be back in human form," he whispered in her ear.

"I think I can tell. Something pretty solid seems to be poking me in the bum." Hermione wiggled back against his erection, eliciting a groan from her husband.

Gently, he stroked her stomach. "A baby. I can't believe it. How did this happen?"

"I think the usual way."

"I know that, but we always cast contraception charms. How could you have gotten pregnant?" His hands had moved to her breasts, rolling and tweaking her sensitive nipples.

Hermione moaned; her body seemed to have a heightened sensitivity these days. "I think we might have been a little careless on our anniversary. I know we've never really discussed children. Do you mind?"

"Do I mind? It will be our child, how could I mind? I don't want a Quidditch team, but one or two might not be too bad."

"Might not be too bad? I'm already pregnant, Severus. One is already a foregone conclusion." Hermione was finding it hard to concentrate. One talented hand was fondling her breast, playing with her now sensitised nipple. The other hand had found its way between her legs and was stroking her clit.

"Turn around. How about we practice working on number two, then?" His black eyes gleamed in the candle-lit room.

Hermione shifted around, straddling his lap before impaling herself on his cock. "God, I've missed you."

Severus pulled her forward, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss. Hermione was almost weightless in the water as she moved against him. His hands under her bum helped to raise and lower the witch as she rode his erection.

"Hermione." Her name was ground out between clenched teeth as he tried to hold on. A slight tightening of her muscles, the first signal of Hermione's approaching climax, was all the encouragement he needed to let loose. Holding her to him, he thrust up into her heat with abandon, his strokes hard as he reached for his own release. He came just moments after she did, reflexively thrusting into her as he rode out the aftershocks of his climax.

"Care to take this someplace drier?" Hermione leaned forward and captured his lips in a gentle kiss. "I'm so glad you're you again."

It was quick work to dry off and move into their bedroom, sliding nude between the cool sheets. Severus sighed; he hadn't realised how tired he was.

Hermione snuggled into his side. "Tired?"

"Mhm. Just glad to be back to myself again."

"Harry's been wrong all these years."

"Pardon me?" What the devil was she talking about now?

"I didn't marry the bat of the dungeon, I married a raven, not a bat," she said with a giggle.

"Hermione."

"Sorry."

"You can't be that sorry. You're still giggling. Besides, you did marry me for better or worse," he reminded her.

"Yes, but not when you're a raven."

"I believe that falls under the worse category," he said with a smirk.

"And the baby?"

Severus's voice roughened with emotion. "The better category." Softly, he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "Definitely the better category."

TBC

Please continue on to Alternate Ending Two.

Half-Blood Prince

"Nothing," said Harry gloomily.

A/N: A grateful thank you to my beta, Nakhash, for her corrections, suggestions, and never-ending supply of commas, she is truly the best of the best. Another set of eyes is always helpful, the mistakes, however, are still mine.

Let me know what you think. I love hearing from you! As always, thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are most welcome.

Pearle