Epilogue
Chapter 11 of 11
firefly124Hermione Granger and Severus Snape have managed to find their respective places in the post-Voldemort wizarding world, but when they cross paths, things may take a bit of a turn.
ReviewedA/N: Many heartfelt thanks and much chocolate to my betas, Melusin_79 (who also Brit-picked) and Sahiya. Any remaining errors are all mine. Thanks also to Shalimar1981 for the early-on brainstorming.
Disclaimer: Not mine and not making any money.
Epilogue
October 31
Only very few people knew where the graves at Godric’s Hollow were. Harry had asked her to add Diversion Charms to them the first time he had visited. She thought he might have had some idea he would not survive his last confrontation with Voldemort, even then, because there was no other reason to suspect the rest of the wizarding world would suddenly want to visit his parents’ graves.
Now that his was among them, of course, the rest of the wizarding world would have liked very much to find them.
They were not quite as well protected as they would be under a Fidelius Charm, but no one who had not visited them before the charms were cast could find them. Hermione had argued that there might be other friends of theirs that Harry didn’t know who came to visit, and they should be allowed to continue doing so. When she had agreed to include a charm to specifically repel Peter Pettigrew, he had finally given in.
And it appeared she had been right on more than one count.
“What’s he doing here?” Ron asked incredulously. “He hated Harry and his parents!”
Hermione shushed him and whispered, “He hated Harry’s dad. I think he rather fancied Harry’s mum.”
“What?”
“Sh!”
The still, black form stood up from where he had been kneeling at the middle grave. A single white rose remained on the ground. The graves to the left and right, belonging to James and Harry, were unadorned.
She wondered if this was a yearly ritual for him, and if so, why she had never seen any sign of his presence. If, on the other hand, this was the first time in many years, why now?
When he turned and saw them, he appeared briefly startled before his face settled into its customary emotionless mask. His face appeared less skeletal than when she had seen him last, though still far more gaunt than he had been just prior. He offered curt but silent nods to them both and walked past them as he left.
“Mr. Snape,” she heard herself call out to his retreating back.
“Hermione!” Ron whispered desperately.
Snape turned to look back at them.
“Well, what is it, Miss Granger?” he asked when she did not continue right away.
“If you aren’t busy tomorrow, perhaps we could have dinner and discuss whether to repeat that experiment under more favourable conditions.” There, that sounded self-assured and potentially innocuous. Well, potentially innocuous to Ron’s ears in any case.
He raised an eyebrow, and she wondered if she could get hold of that now uncursed Time-Turner and take the words back.
“Perhaps,” he said, his voice and expression completely inscrutable.
She nodded and turned back to Ron feeling a bit relieved. The lack of scathing sarcasm was tantamount to enthusiastic acceptance, she rather thought.
“What was that all about?” he demanded.
“Exactly what I said, Ron,” she replied. “Come on, it’s going to be dark soon.”
She tugged him along with her to the three graves so they could make their twice-yearly visit with Harry and his parents. A sad smile came to her lips as she thought of what Harry would have to say about her asking Severus on a date, here of all places. She wondered if, wherever he was, he might understand better now.
As she set down the bouquets that they had brought, she was careful not to disturb the white rose.
Fin.
A/N: As I mentioned before the first chapter, this story was written for the SSHG_Exchange on LiveJournal for the Summer 2007 round. My prompt from Clare009 was the following: Set after the war, in a fit of lust, Hermione sleeps with Snape. Unfortunately, a deadly curse, a parting gift from a now dead Dark Lord, is activated by the act. How do they deal with the curse and their uncertain feelings towards each other? So in addition to the thanks I’ve posted to those who helped me produce this, I have to add huge thanks to Clare009 for coming up with such a great prompt that really let me sink my teeth into it.
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Latest 25 Reviews for As Soon As I Belong
80 Reviews | 5.55/10 Average
Nothing like a bit of experimenting. :)
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Indeed. *g* Thanks for reading and reviewing!
I didn't see the character death warning when I first started reading this, and by the time I did, Snape was already looking like he was going to die, so I started freaking out that he would be dead by the end. I'm glad that you let him live. This was good!
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it despite the worries.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it despite the worries.
Anonymous
And there I was hoping they would truly find each other before the end *sniffs*.
A really nice story, well told and written. I enjoyed it very much.
Author's Response:
They may yet. But I think they'll both want to take things a bit more slowly if it's not to be a one-night stand any longer.
Thank you so much for your lovely reviews throughout! I'm very glad you enjoyed it!
Anonymous
Awww, so cute, Crookshanks missing Severus! ;o)
Nice chapter.
Author's Response:
Well, here he'd thought his mistress had finally found a worthy mate, and then she up and left and didn't bring him back! I'm glad you like his reaction to this. Thanks!
Anonymous
How very much Hermione to ask the second after she came... *really wide grin*. I loved the way you described this encounter, it's very cute in a way.
Author's Response:
Thanks! I'm so glad you felt that was IC for Hermione and that you liked the description. It was a struggle to find the right balance in how to describe it, and it's good to hear that it worked for you.
Anonymous
Aaah, that's much better! *wide grin*
Your story really is catching. I have several urgent things to do, but still keep reading on... *chrm*
Author's Response:
Glad you think things are looking up! (And I hope you've not missed any key deadlines while reading! But I'm very flattered that you "couldn't put it down.")
Anonymous
Aaah, stubborn man, stubborn man... *grins* Aren't they always? He should be doing something soon, though, or it will certainly be too late.
Author's Response:
They generally are! Yes, he does need to do something soon.
Anonymous
Oh dear, Paranoia as part of the curse! Poor Severus. But the solution to it is a nice idea, I give you that! :o)
Author's Response:
I figured Voldemort would want to isolate the victim as much as possible. Glad you like the solution!
Anonymous
*snort* Now THAT's a good title for a grimoire... good chapter! Having Krum attending really adds to the tension, doesn't it?
Author's Response:
Heh, I'm glad you like the grimoire title and how Krum is "helping" things here.
Anonymous
Nice to have Viktor brought in for once! :o)
Author's Response:
Thanks! I'm glad people seem to have liked seeing Viktor in this.
Anonymous
Wow, that's really a nasty curse, and makes quite a plot! Am I rightly assuming that the time-turner might come in handy? ;-)
Author's Response:
A Time-Turner probably would have come in handy if they hadn't gone and smashed them all during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, alas.
Anonymous
Well done, good continuation. And quite some supsense - who the heck did these dark wards?
Author's Response:
Thanks! I'm glad the suspense is working for you!
Anonymous
Now this is finally a setting I really think plausible. Hermione being fed up with the opposite sex... Snape teaching again is a surprise, though.
Author's Response:
Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it and found it a plausible setting.
LOL! You're funny. You have a great sense of humour and I think you attribute it to Snape and Granger pretty realistically. Their banter is truly entertaining. I can't wait to read the other chapters!!
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed this chapter and hope you continue to enjoy the rest!
Thank you! That prompt is wonderful and your execution, excellent. Such an enjoyable story.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it and flattered by your review.
this was such a good story.though i felt very let down on the epilogue.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the story, though I'm sorry you feel the epilogue was a let-down. I guess that's going around this summer.
What an interesting ending. Too bad they didn't hook up, but I guess it wasn't in the cards.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
They still might. They just refused to give me a definite answer one way or the other. Thanks for reviewing!
I enjoyed your story and I am glad that there seems to be another chance for Severus and Hermione.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
A great promt by Clare009 - and a brilliant way to work it out by you! Thanks for this great fic.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
And thank you for the lovely review!
Hooray for updates! I liked this chapter, and I am crossing my fingers for a happy ending.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Thanks! The next and last bit should be up in a couple of days.
Nothing like a pre-emptive 'I have no use for you because you can't possibly have any use for me' to hide feelings.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
That's for sure! Thanks for reviewing!
Grrr! That Severus is so stubbornly frustrating! But, if he weren't, I don't suppose that he would be the Snape that I know and love. Wonderful chapter.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Thanks! Yes, he is quite the stubborn one, isn't he?
Damn it, Snape! Can't you just get over yourself and shag the girl for real already?He really is infuriating, Firefly, which means that not only have you stayed true to his character but you've got me totally roped into this story. And I love you for it :o)If ever I have the oppurtunity, I won't hesitate to send you lots of delicious baked goods as a thank you for an awesome fic.Truly, Madly, Deeply,Sue.
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Response from firefly124 (Author of As Soon As I Belong)
Thanks! I'm glad you're roped in and feel he's IC. Baked goods are always welcome. ;-)