Epilogue

Epilogue:

When I look back on it all, the only thing I can really do is laugh. To think that I could come in the way of lovers who are simply destined to be together is absurd. Do not be mistaken; Juliet—Severus and Hermione’s child, that is—has come to call me ‘Uncle Remus,’ as though I am Snape’s brother or something. I have not been forgotten. But at this point it is reward enough for me to look back on the time that I did have with Hermione before I turned her over to her husband.

My happiest memory of the wedded couple was the first time that I really gave up on Hermione. It was the summer after Juliet’s first year at Hogwarts. Hermione, Severus and I waited silently in the kitchen for her arrival. She was taking a special Portkey from the school itself because Snape Manor was too far from the train—out in the countryside—to fetch her in time.

At that point in his career, Severus worked from home as an experimenter for ‘Potions Weekly’ while Hermione had made a nice living working three seasons a year as a Charms Consultant for large wizarding companies. Papers for finishing up her season were spread all over the table. Severus’s elbow rested on one of the stacks, and his hand was nestled in his newest hair style: closely cropped, grey and black locks. He made it known that he intended to keep it that way. It was mostly grey even though he was fifty-one, young for a wizard. He also had started to grow a salt and pepper goatee, which he thought made him look distinguished.

His back suddenly went rigid as he became alert to a presence walking up the drive. He strode quickly to the door and flung it open. A broad smile crossed his face as he ran to sweep his giggling daughter into a hug. He held her off of the ground and swung her around three times before placing her back on her feet and giving her a firm kiss on her forehead. I shook my head; the bat of the dungeon really had softened.

I stood in the doorway, and my stomach gave a half-hearted lurch as Hermione ran into the sunlight. I sighed and waited for her to be done. Juliet then stomped up the stairs. She threw off her knee socks on the porch and laboriously loosened her navy blue tie with her index finger. She slung her arms about me and looked up to give me a great, gap-toothed grin.

“Hello, Uncle Remus!”

I patted her back fervently. “How many more freckles did you get this year, Julie?”

“Five,” she responded as she stepped away. “I’ve also decided that I’ll be a Healer when I graduate.”

Hermione loosened her long hair from its braid lovingly. The curly, ebony locks fell down to the bottom of her ribcage. Juliet sat in an armchair in the sitting room, leaving a trail of clothing behind her. I sat in the other single armchair and watched Hermione bend to pick up the trail of clothes and books Juliet had somehow conjured.

“We’re having everyone over tonight to celebrate your homecoming!” said Hermione as she fell into the loveseat. Severus dropped Juliet’s trunk, and her owl, Vox, hooted indignantly.

“Who’s coming?” Juliet asked as she grabbed one of her books from her mother.

“Well, let me see,” Hemione began, ticking names off on her fingers. “There’s Ron and Luna and their son, Magnus, and there’s Tonks, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Fred and his wife, Angelina. George and Amalie and their daughter, Emilia, Harry and Ginny and their children, Lyra, Marin, Sabina and Caden. That makes just over twenty people including us.”

“What about Neville?”

“Oh, yes, Neville and Lavender are coming with their twins, Elijah and Simone.” Hermione said. “Are you alright, Severus?”

He had just collapsed onto the couch, panting heavily. The owl was still hooting. We all laughed as he gave a slow, steady nod. Hermione smiled and bit her lip, running her hand though his grey-streaked hair.

The sitting room was crowded, and the doorbell was ringing almost in time to the quick swing music playing on the gramophone. Once all the guests had arrived and Neville’s twin three-year-olds were running in circles through the crowd, I poured myself a firewhiskey. I contemplated its steaming insides and wondered why my love for Hermione had burned so brightly for eleven years. But when I glanced up, I saw that Severus had a giggling Hermione enveloped in a hug. They were swaying to their favorite jazz song. And it was at that moment that I realized that every day I wished I were Severus. I wished that I were the man who had overcome every obstacle to hold that brilliant brunette in his arms.

I watched her arch her back in laughter. He placed a finger on her nose and was shaking his head as he spoke to her through a smile. She laughed even harder and placed her mouth over his. There was a collective sigh from all the females at the gathering. I sighed as well, and with that sigh, my fierce love left me and kindled Hermione’s fire for Severus.

Juliet wiggled her way between her parents, and the three rocked to the music. A single tear drizzled out from under my glasses. My battle against fate had come to an end. Star-crossed lovers didn’t just walk away from each other. Their love might have been death-marked at the beginning, but they were living proof that with enough love, even death could be overcome.

Author’s Note: Yes, it’s over. I’d like to thank my readers for their undying perseverance. This all started out as just a challenge for myself that I thought I could never accomplish, but as I have reached the end of the road, I have realized so much about the meaning of not only love and companionship, but the true meaning of a happy ending. I am so proud to have made it to the finish of what was originally planned to be a four-shot story. Ha, ha, so much for that! I hoped you all enjoyed reading the tale of Severus and Hermione’s Death-Marked Love as much as I enjoyed writing it. –Alexis/ _Levicorpus_

Also, I have a new story on the way. So please check that out when you all get a chance!