Epilogue – Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore'

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 8 – Epilogue – Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore"

Eleven years later:

"All right, everyone, quiet down." Headmistress McGonagall called for calm as another year at Hogwarts began. "Professor Snape, will you please bring in the first-years for Sorting?"

The Deputy Headmaster glanced at his wife before nodding to the Headmistress. His oldest daughter was among the first-years waiting nervously in the Entrance Hall. Katherine had witnessed the Sorting many times over the years, but she had been a nervous wreck, arguing with her brothers and sister earlier in the day, now that it was her turn to face the Sorting Hat. Severus had to laugh, he didn't know who was more nervous, his wife or his daughter.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor Snape. He caught his daughter's eye, nodding slightly in an attempt at reassuring her as he launched into the traditional speech given to the first-years. "'The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be Sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony..."

Severus had been saying the same speech for the last ten years. He could recite it in his sleep and not miss a beat. He looked over the faces gazing nervously up at him and almost groaned as he spied his daughter's two best friends standing on either side of her.

Devin Weasley had the traditional red hair and freckles of the Weasley clan, mixed with his mother's startling blue eyes. While not quite the troublemaker his twin uncles were, Devin still seemed to have led his daughter into breaking more than a few rules as they were growing up. Standing on the other side of Katherine was James Sirius Potter. His unruly black hair and bright green eyes a gift from his father and grandparents before him.

Severus had to laugh; even Ginevra's genes were not enough to overcome Potter where their son was concerned. Their daughter and younger son had the bright red hair and freckles so characteristic of the Weasleys, but James was a Potter through and through. And just as much trouble, as far as Severus was concerned. Both Bill and Harry had taken up residence at the castle shortly after their children were born: Bill teaching Ancient Runes when Professor Ganesvoort retired, and Harry taking over the Defence Against the Dark Arts classes.

"...I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. Move along now, the Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Severus escorted them through the main doors of the Entrance Hall, his robes billowing out behind him in trademark fashion. They stopped before the High Table, the patched and worn Sorting Hat sitting silently on its four-legged stool.

The group fidgeted as they waited for the Hat to finish its welcoming song. "...Wherever you should go, the right thing you must do, and with that thought in mind, I want to Sort out you!" The Sorting Hat fell silent once more.

Severus pulled a scroll from the depths of his pocket. "When I call your name, you will put on the Hat and sit on the stool to be Sorted."

"Laura Adams." A tall thin witch walked hesitantly forward and placed the Hat on her head as she sat on the stool.

It took the Hat only a moment to decide.

"RAVENCLAW!" The Ravenclaw table broke into applause as the young witch ran to join them.

"Edward Aldridge."

And the Sorting continued.

"James Potter."

James squeezed Katherine's hand before walking to the stool. He settled the Hat firmly on his head and waited. His father rarely talked about his own Sorting, but he had heard what to expect from his many uncles.

"Well, well, it seems we've come full circle. Loyalty, a decent mind, but above all courage. Yes, as both your father and mother were..."

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Hat, and the Gryffindor table stamped their feet and cheered.

Harry beamed as he watched his son sit at his old table.

Hermione caught her daughter's eye and smiled encouragingly. James Potter in Gryffindor, well that was no surprise, nor would she be too surprised if Devin was Sorted into Gryffindor, too, as had been every Weasley that ever attended Hogwarts before him. She was fairly sure Katherine would be Sorted into Gryffindor along with Devin and James. The young witch was very much like her, a fact that she needled her husband about unmercifully.

Their son, on the other hand, would most likely be Sorted into Slytherin, a fact Severus brought up every time she teased him about Katherine. And the twins? Who knew where they would be Sorted. She and Severus had debated their talents many times over the years, neither one sure where their youngest son and daughter might eventually end up. Her best guess was Ravenclaw, joking they would become ravens like their father. For some reason, Severus didn't see the humour in her comment. Only time would tell. Her daughter's name drew her attention.

"Katherine Snape"

Katherine put the Sorting Hat on her head and sat down. "Ah, two such powerful forces run through you, but one outshines the other."

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Hat, and again the Gryffindor table went wild, stamping their feet and cheering.

Katherine jumped down from the stool and smiled broadly at her father before taking her place with her new housemates. A quick glance at the High Table showed her mother and Uncle Harry smiling at her.

Severus nodded to his daughter in what he hoped was an encouraging way. Gryffindor. A Snape in Gryffindor; well, he always knew she was just like his wife. That Katherine should be Sorted into Gryffindor was almost a given, the same as he was sure Nicholas would be in Slytherin.

"Devin Weasley."

The Hat did little to hide the wizard's bright red hair as the young man waited for it to proclaim his fate. "Another Weasley, but not quite like those before you, a new generation, then. Well, no matter."

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Hat, and the Gryffindor table applauded loudly as the final first-year of the night joined them.

Severus rolled the parchment back up and took his seat at the High Table between Professor McGonagall and his wife. Katherine was seated between Weasley and Potter, laughing at something one of them had said. He could only hope that she would view the two as brothers, not become romantically entangled with either of them. Then again, having famous parents was difficult at best, but having friends with the same problem probably allowed his daughter to grow up as normally as she did.

Hermione squeezed his hand. "Are you okay?"

"With Katherine being sorted in Gryffindor? Was there ever a question, with Weasley and Potter dogging her every step all these years? No, I think I would have been surprised had she been sorted anywhere else."

The plates magically filled with food as the Headmistress called for the feast to begin.

"Not even a twinge of regret?" she asked playfully.

Severus smiled. "I shall be asking you that next year when Nicholas is sorted into Slytherin, my dear wife, so enjoy yourself now. Next year, it will be my turn to gloat."

"I'm sure." Hermione poured pumpkin juice for the two of them. "I still don't have a clue where the twins will end up."

"I think the odds are four to one for Ravenclaw; Flitwick is offering ten to one for one to end up in Gryffindor and one in Slytherin, twelve to one if you specify who ends up in which house. Hufflepuff is considered the real long shot at twenty to one." Severus helped himself to the roast beef.

"Severus!"

"What?" He looked at his wife's surprised expression. "You had to know the staff was betting on where our children would be Sorted?"

"No, I didn't."

Severus shrugged. "Well, Katherine and Nicholas are even money, no contest there, it's the twins everyone is wondering about."

Hermione sighed. She should have known. Flitwick had run a pool on the day and time Hermione would give birth. And the number of children they would have. "Maybe we should send them to Beauxbatons?"

"Are you kidding? Our retirement is riding on the twins' placement. A few years and I think I can get the Hat to place them in the two houses."

"Not Hufflepuff?" Hermione couldn't believe she was having this conversation with her husband.

"Hufflepuffs? Never." Severus refilled his glass, before gesturing to hers. "More?"

"Please." Hermione nodded. Maybe she should get in on the action? After all, they were her children. She would have to start talking to the Hat when she was in Minerva's office, perhaps it would give her a hint as to what the outcome would be. "Well, only time will tell. I still say Ravenclaw."

Severus shook his head. "I doubt it.

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One year later:

"Nicholas Snape."

Severus watched his son stride confidently forward and place the Sorting Hat on his head. He sat less than a minute when the Hat called out:

"SLYTHERIN!" The table exploded with cheers.

Nicholas smiled at his father and waved to his mother and Uncle Harry as he walked to join his new housemates.

Severus took his seat as the Headmistress started the Welcoming Feast. His smile was broad as he leaned toward his wife. "Sssssssslytherin."

"Very funny, but we both knew Nicky would be Sorted there. So now, both Gryffindor and Slytherin have a Snape. There's still the twins." Hermione smiled. "I still say Ravenclaw."

Severus just smiled.

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Five years later:

"Alexander Snape."

Severus watched as his youngest son placed the Sorting Hat on his head. The silence was deafening as the High Table seemed to be straining to hear the results.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Severus closed his eyes - his son was a raven. Quickly, he looked at his son, hoping the young man hadn't noticed his momentary loss of control. He nodded encouragingly as Alexander smiled at him before going off to join his new housemates.

There was still Melinda, but the twins were so alike, the odds of her not being sorted in Ravenclaw, now that the Hat had placed her brother there, were quite slim.

"Melinda Snape."

The Hat nestled down onto the young witch's curls, obscuring half her face. Severus watched his daughter's lips curl up into a smile.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Well, after Alexander, that wasn't much of a surprise.

Severus called the remaining names before joining Hermione and the other staff at the High Table. A few of the instructors looked overjoyed, several more looked less than happy. Watching the twins grow up, Flitwick had changed the odds through the years. Ravenclaw was almost even money at the end of the last school year.

"I don't want to hear one word. Do you understand? Not one word," Severus said as he settled into his seat. He regarded his wife's smirk; sure he would hear plenty about it later, alone in their chambers. For now, he just wanted a few minutes of peace. Ravenclaw. They were both ravens.

Severus heard it before he registered the sound.

"Caaaaw."

He turned abruptly to see his wife's smiling face.

Caw, indeed

~~Finis~~

A/N: So we reach the end, Severus, Hermione and their brood seem happy, regardless of where each was sorted. Ending two seemed to be the favorite, hands down.

The title of this chapter is, of course, from the poem The Raven by the great Edgar Allan Poe, as the title of the story is also in reference to the line in the poem. If you look closely, you will find Severus saying, Never More (I do know it should be nevermore, but consider it artistic license on my part, if you will) in this chapter.

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.

I thank each and everyone of you, dear readers, for staying with me until the end, and hope you enjoyed the story.

Pearle – February 13th, 2006