Epilogue - Christmas 2008

A/N: Thanks to those to stuck with me this far! A special thank you to my beta, not_london.

It was Christmas time at Hogwarts. A striking couple was dancing to the beautiful music in the Great Hall: The wizard, the black- haired, dour Potions master and the witch, the black-haired beauty, the Professor of History of Magic. They were a little older; lines were now etched on the woman’s face that hadn’t been there ten years ago. Life had not been so easy for the Snapes. After the birth of their daughter, Sabine, they had wanted to have more children, but Genevieve’s health had deteriorated since her difficult pregnancy, and they had been told it would be too difficult on Genevieve’s system to have any more children. Genevieve was weaker and tired easily, but the Potions master stayed by her side and loved her throughout it all. There had been much to overcome. There had been a lot of tears and hurt as a result of the decisions they had made and endured during the war. Even though Severus had learned to love again, and he did love Genevieve desperately, it did not eradicate his prickly nature. But they muddled through somehow and stayed together.

It took five long years to track down all of the Death Eaters and dispose of them. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy testified at many trials to denounce the Death Eaters and to help identify and track down unplottable hiding places they knew of for the Aurors. In exchange, they were pardoned from Azkaban, but the stigma of cowardice hung on Lucius because he did not fight in the war. Narcissa, on the other hand, was given a certain level of respectability for her part in the deception of the Sisterhood. And although she and Genevieve had worked so closely to defeat Voldemort, they never spoke again, except to say “hello” at Ministry functions.

The use of the Avada Kedavra had been a huge controversy that threatened the new Ministry of Magic, due to mixed public opinion in the Wizarding Community. The threat of a Civil War hung over the Wizarding world during those long years, but somehow, the Ministry remained intact and after the captures, trials, and executions were over, Genevieve’s health had deteriorated further and could only teach part-time with Professor Binns. She had relied on the help of Severus and the house-elves to take care of Sabine. There was no medical reason for her condition, so she relied on the potions her husband gave her and settled into the life she had, grateful to be alive and have her family with her.

Genevieve was tired and sat down. Severus said the next dance was for Sabine. Genevieve smiled as she watched her husband bow to their ten-year-old daughter, who was the image of her mother at that age, long gangly arms and legs, black hair and brilliant blue eyes.

Genevieve watched as father and daughter swayed to the music, Sabine’s Mary Jane’s upon her father’s. Tears fell down her cheeks as she listened to the beautiful music

How can I tell you that I love you, I love you…

Right words to say…”

Genevieve watched her daughter laugh at the bright fairy lights and then look up at her father adoringly. Genevieve hoped her daughter would find a man like her father, a man who would love her and adore her. She felt a pang in her heart, that she wished her father had loved her like Severus so obviously loved Sabine, but each time that hurt arose, she released it again and turned to the gratitude she felt for the love she had now. She continued to watch her two great loves: Severus and Sabine, and ached with all the wonderful things she wanted to tell them, but the words couldn’t form. She just smiled, and after the dance was over, she opened her arms to embrace her daughter in a tight hug.

“I love you,” she whispered to her child.

“I love you too, Maman.”

She bounded off to play with the other children, and Severus wrapped his arm around Genevieve and hugged her to him.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m crying—I’m happy, really!” she said while laughing.

“I know,” the Potions master replied as he looked into her soft blue eyes. “I know.”

The End