The Final Duel

A/N: Here we are then at the end of our tale - thanks to ARo and Cybrokat for their help with grammar, spellings and generally poor grasp of the English language. And thanks to you for reading :)

21. The Final Duel

One Year Later

Severus stood at the front of the class, his eyes meeting all of his students individually. He assessed each of them in turn, particularly a couple of Slytherins who had been troublemakers over the years. That this was his last class at Hogwarts wasn't lost on him. There was nothing more he could teach them anyway, and it was time to move on. Two more days and school would be closed again for the summer, and this time, they were leaving for good. Hermione, against all odds, had decided to not work for a few years, except perhaps to assist Severus with his Potion Making business. They had premises ready in Hogsmeade, with a cottage attached. A large garden at the back was already bearing fruit, and the work inside the cottage would be ready when the time came. Severus was content. He just needed to get through this class.

'I had promised you a demonstration of duelling by two of the most competent fighters I know. They brought down Tom Riddle, or as you may have heard of him, Voldemort.' He paused at the gasps and whispers around the room and the narrowed gaze of the two Slytherins. He mentally shook his head. Some families would never learn.

Severus raised his voice. 'Enough,' he said. 'Clear the room. Put away your wands.' He stared at the Slytherins, who complied with scowls on their faces. 'Move.' He waved his students to the sides of the room and cast a shielding charm around them for protection. He looked around at the expectant faces and his mouth twitched.

'Very well. I would like you to welcome our guest, Professor Granger- Snape.'

Severus flicked his wand to reveal Hermione, who had been sitting behind his desk, disillusioned and waiting patiently. She stood, and there was another sharp intake of breath as she joined Severus in the centre of the room. She had her hair tied back severely behind her head, but what had caused the reaction was her attire. Hermione wore a skin tight black catsuit in latex, made especially to help her to move freely while allowing her skin to breath. It clung to her toned body in a way that Severus found especially pleasing, but he was used to seeing her dressed in this way and was well practised in managing his libido. Hermione turned and waved at a couple of the Gryffindors from her Potions class, and Severus coughed and stared at her incredulously. She grinned, but said 'Sorry, Professor Snape.'

'Let's get started,' he murmured. Hermione nodded and walked to the end of the room, turned and took her fighting stance, bent slightly at knee with her wand in her right hand. Severus walked back to his desk and unfastened the buttons of his jacket, and turned as something caught his eye. A Slytherin had his hand in the air.

'Yes, Brent?' Severus stared at the boy who met his gaze coolly.

'Sir, I thought there were two fighters?' he asked.

'There are.' Severus continued to remove his coat, flicked his wand to tie back his hair and then turned to face the class. He was dressed in a similar fashion to Hermione, and although his trousers were not quite as figure hugging, they left little to the imagination. There were a few 'oooh's' from the girls, and Hermione smirked.

'You have some admirers, Professor Snape,' she teased. 'Perhaps you should take your clothes off more often?'

Severus' mouth twitched. He knew she was taunting him in readiness for their duel, and he responded in kind. 'I will if you will, Professor Granger-Snape.'

There was a ripple of laughter around the class room, and it was clear that the class were enjoying the banter. Severus saw Hermione's finger twitch and he readied himself. Without warning, a hex flew in his direction, and they were off. Hermione was lithe and supple, and she rolled and ran around the room after Severus, casting spells, curses and hexes for all she was worth. Severus followed her lead, bouncing her spells off his shields and disillusioning himself to get behind her. She was too quick for him, and she cast a hex over her shoulder as she crouched and rolled away, and then stood in the middle of the room. She gathered her magic and waited. Severus crept slowly up to her as she glanced around trying to spot the tell tale shimmer of his spell, and as he raised his wand, she let got with a loud 'Expelliarmus!'

Severus lost control of his magic, and shimmered back into visibility as the force of the spell threw him back across the room. He landed with a thud against the wall as his wand arced and landed in Hermione's free hand. Sweat was rolling down her face, and she grinned around the room, triumphant. The students went wild, cheering and clapping at the sight of Professor Snape bested by a girl. It took them all a moment to realise that the Professor still wasn't moving, but Hermione saw immediately that something was wrong and she ran to his side, lifting his head tenderly.

'Severus? Oh, God, are you alright?' she whispered. She lifted her wand. 'Enervate,' she said quietly. Severus' eyes flickered open, and Hermione gasped in relief. 'I thought I'd killed you,' she said.

'Don't be daft, witch.' He winced and pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the concern on Hermione's face. Smoothing down his hair gingerly, he turned to face the class and wordlessly removed the shield around them.

'You may go. But before you do, let this be a lesson to all of you. Never, ever underestimate a Gryffindor.'

The class cheered again as laughter rippled around the room, and as the last student left and closed the door, Hermione raised her eyebrow as Severus turned to her.

'Well done. You were brilliant,' he smiled and opened his arms to her. They held each other for a moment, until Hermione sniffed and pulled away.

'We should shower before heading to St. Mungo's,' she said.

'And we're agreed. This was your last duel?' Severus grabbed Hermione by the hand firmly and made her face him.

'Yes, Severus. Although you're making a fuss. Healer Gilroy has already said it's safe until the second trimester,' she said soothingly.

'Well, Healer Gilroy thinks the sun shines out of your arse. You could get her to agree to anything.' Severus smirked at the look of agreement in Hermione's eyes and knew he had no chance.

He wouldn't have it any other way.

***

Four Years Later

Severus closed the shop, secured the wards and extinguished the lanterns. Saturday evening was his favourite time of the week, because the shop was closed on Sundays and he had the day free to spend with his growing family. He gathered his cloak and threw it over his arm, picked up the small Honeydukes bag he had slipped out for earlier in the day, and walked through the back of the shop and through the adjoining door into the Snape family home.

'Daddy!'

He was accosted by a curly haired ball of energy that grabbed him by the knees and would have almost floored him if he hadn't been expecting it.

'Hermione,' he called out in mock fear. 'I'm being attacked by a monster!'

'I'm not a monster. I'm your little princess.' His daughter looked up at him with large, black eyes and a pouting lower lip, and he couldn't help but laugh.

'Don't panic, Hermione. It was only Sadie,' he called again. He bent and wrapped his free arm around Sadie's waist and hoisted her beneath his armpit, carrying her like a giggling rolled up carpet into the front room. Hermione was lying prone on the sofa, her feet raised and her hands resting softly on her rounded stomach. He paused at the sheen of sweat on her upper lip, and placed Sadie on the floor swiftly. 'Here, darling. Put this in the kitchen, it's a treat for after supper.' He handed the bag of chocolate to Sadie, and she ran off with a happy squeal. He went to Hermione's side and took her hand.

'Tell me,' he murmured.

'Five minutes apart,' she said. 'Molly's coming over as soon as you Floo her. Help me up, I need to walk around.'

Once Hermione was on her feet, she began to walk around the sofa, pausing every now and then.

'I'll get your bag, shall I?' Severus was growing concerned and was loathe putting off the trip to St Mungo's for too long.

Hermione nodded as she bit her lip. 'Severus?' she called to him as he walked from the room. He put his head back inside the door. 'Thank you for looking after me,' she said with a watery smile.

Severus walked over and kissed his wife on the lips gently. 'I always will,' he said softly.