Chapter 28

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Thanks go to ladyinthecloak who beta’d this for me.

Hermione, Ginny, and Harry quickly decided to go to Malfoy Manor. It was the only place Ron would have gone, for he had revenge on his mind. She should have thought about how he might take the news of the whole truth before she’d told them everything. All they could do now was get there as quickly as they could and pray they weren’t too late for whatever Ron was planning.

“See you there,” Hermione said, Disapparating away.

She materialized outside the gates of Malfoy Manor seconds later. “Or not,” she quipped, knowing her friends were hidden beneath Harry’s Invisibility Cloak. Only the telltale sound of their Apparition alerted her to the fact that she was not alone.

Hermione said nothing, unsure who might be watching, and approached the gate, hoping her presence was still allowed on the grounds without needing to request entrance. When the gate opened, she smiled. “Let’s do this,” she murmured, glad to have her friends with her and hoping their plan would work.

A high-pitched scream rent the air, and Hermione gave up all pretenses of simply walking quickly to the house. She ran for the front door, hexing it to pieces before she got there, and sprinted into the house, calling out, “Ron! Stop!”

She could hear Draco’s voice then and nearly stopped in shock. What was he doing at home? He’d said he’d not return there.

“Weasley, how dare you hex my mother!”

“She deserves it! Made that one up myself. Like it?”

“Give me my wand,” Draco said.

“No, you’ll just try to fight me.” Ron’s voice was calm and angry, which frightened Hermione.

She was used to an explosive Ron, but this one was something to be reckoned with. “Ron,” she said, stopping in the doorway to the study, “don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

“Too late for that, Hermione.” Ron looked back at Narcissa, whose face had several rows of wrinkles and looked much older than it should. “Where is your husband?”

“I told you! He’s not here!” The blonde-haired woman’s hands continuously touched her face. “What have you done?”

“We’re supposed to be mates, Weasley… Ron,” Draco said, trying to reason with him. “Whatever my father’s done, take it up with him, not my mother.”

“She’s part of this, too,” Ron said coldly. “And if—“

A loud crack interrupted him, and everyone turned to see Severus striding into the room from the opposite doorway. “What’s going on here?” he asked.

“Stay back, Snape,” Ron said threateningly. “If I see you go for your wand… that’s it.”

“Severus!” Hermione said, running to him and wrapping her arms around him. “Ron’s found out everything. He’s looking for Lucius.”

Severus nodded and pushed her aside gently. “He’ll be here in a moment, Weasley. He was with me at my home.”

Crack!

“What the bloody hell happened to my door?” Lucius said striding into the room from the doorway Hermione had just vacated. “There you are, you little bitch!” he said, his voice nearly a growl.

“Expelliarmus!” Ron said, quickly flicking his wand at Lucius, who for the first time realized others were in the room.

He gasped as he saw his wife’s face. “Narcissa!”

“He’s gone mad,” she said tearfully, trying to hide her face in Draco’s chest.

“Father, Ron is angry with—”

“I’ll talk for myself, thanks,” Ron said, pocketing Lucius’ wand. “You ruined my life, you filthy bastard! And you had your hands on her. I should kill you. I will kill you.”

“Ron!” Hermione yelled just as Harry materialized from beneath his cloak, grabbing Ron’s wand arm, saying, “I can’t let you do that, Ron. I won’t put my best mate in Azkaban for the likes of Lucius Malfoy.”

“Let go, Harry. He’s slime! He doesn’t deserve to live!”

“He deserves to be punished.”

“How? That fucking vow he made Hermione take won’t let us do anything that can land him in Azkaban.”

“There are other ways,” Harry said quietly, stepping back once Ron lowered his wand.”

“Weasley… my mother,” Draco said from behind them. “Please.”

“After all she did to you, along with your dad, why would you care?” Ron pointed out. “If they’d had their way, you’d still be what you were.”

Draco dropped his eyes for a moment before answering. “But she’s still my mother. Think if the situations were reversed.”

Ron nodded. “It’ll have to wear off. She’ll be fine.”

Lucius sneered at Ron. “You’ll regret hexing my wife.”

“Not as much as you’ll regret manipulating Hermione!” Ron said, again lifting his wand. His eyes met Hermione’s for a moment, and a light suddenly shone in them. “I’ve the perfect punishment.”

“Ron, please,” Hermione said, “don’t do this. Don’t become what he is. You’re better than that. Better than him.”

“She’s right, Ron,” Ginny said, throwing off Harry’s cloak, her wand aimed at Lucius Malfoy’s back. “He’s not going anywhere. Let’s just calm down and figure out what to do with him.”

Looking defeated, Ron sighed heavily and lowered his head and wand. “All right. Harry, do something with him. Tie him up.”

The moment Harry walked over to where Ginny stood, Ron lifted his wand again.

“Sod that,” he said. “Obliviate!”

Before the jet of light could hit Lucius, Severus shouted, “Protego!” protecting the man from the curse. His wand was then aimed at Ron, who’d spun around to also aim at him.

“Snape! So, the truth comes out then? You and he planned this shite? You’re on his side?”

“Se-Severus?” Hermione asked, feeling as if waking from a dream. “What are you doing?”

Ginny’s and Harry’s wands were both aimed at Severus now. “Snape?” Harry asked. “Lower your wand. Nobody wants to do anything brash.”

“I do,” Ron said angrily. “This git stole Hermione from me!”

“I didn’t steal anyone,” Severus said quietly, his black eyes glinting.

Hermione added her wand to those lifted, but hers wavered slightly before aiming at Ron. “Put down your wand, Ron.”

“He’s got you brainwashed, Hermione!” Ron said incredulously.

“No, he’s just stopping you from doing something you’ll regret. Like Harry said, let’s talk this over.”

“I’m not going to—”

Before Ron could finish his sentence, Severus cast a silent Disarming Charm and easily caught his foe’s wand. “Never did focus very well,” he said to Ron. Then, he gazed at Hermione. “You trusted me. Even after everything.”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “I do. I love you.”

Severus nodded thoughtfully and turned back to Lucius Malfoy. “What to do with you, my slippery friend? Ah, I know…” He reached into his pocket and took out a vial. “Do you have any idea what’s in here?”

“I’m sure you’ll tell me,” Lucius said dryly.

“Once I drink this…” he opened the stopper and downed the contents, smacking his lips, “your little ointment for protection will have been for nothing.”

“Bollocks,” Lucius replied confidently. “That was something only my family knows about.”

“Am I or am I not a Potions master, my friend?”

Lucius’ eyes widened slightly. “Severus… think of our plans.”

Stepping closer, Severus said, “The things you and Cissy have been saying about my wife… doing to her… I’ve had enough. I want to hear you apologize right now."

Ron shrieked, “Apologize? Is that all?” and tried to pull away from Harry’s grip.

“I’ll not apologize to her… or you,” Lucius said proudly.

“Then at least apologize to your son, Lucius. What you did to him and intended to do again is abominable.”

“He understands me. He knows that I wouldn’t hurt him.”

“Wouldn’t hurt me?” Draco said, finding his voice. “You don’t think what you’ve done is wrong, Father? Not just to me, but to all of us… even to Mother.”

Lucius tilted his chin defiantly. “Do your best, Severus.”

“I shall.”

“Severus, what are you going to do?” Hermione asked nervously, her wand pointing towards the ground as she took in her lover’s countenance. “I don’t want to lose you! You’ll go to Azkaban!”

“Snape!” Harry said warningly.

“I’m only going to finish what Weasley started,” he said before flicking and swishing his wand. A stream of bluish-purple light erupted from his wand’s tip and shot out towards Lucius, hitting him in the chest and knocking him backwards.

“What have you done?” Hermione said, running forward to look at the unconscious Lucius.

“Weasley needn’t dirty his wand. I’ll take responsibility for Obliviating Lucius.” Severus looked over to Harry. “Well? Will you be arresting me?”

“No!” Hermione said, horrified. “Harry, please.” She quickly stood in front of Severus as if protecting him from Harry.

Ron started laughing. “You had me fooled for a minute there, Snape.” He cleared his throat and said, “I didn’t see anything. No idea what happened to Malfoy.”

“I didn’t see anything either,” Ginny chimed in, going to stand next to her brother. “Did you, Hermione?”

“I…” She swallowed thickly. “Malfoy hexed himself.” She pointed to the wand that Severus had used. “Look, his own wand cast the spell.”

Everyone turned to look at Harry then. Instead of saying anything, Harry strode over to the Malfoys. “Draco?”

Draco nodded. “It’s punishment enough. I’ll make sure Mother says nothing.”

“Brilliant,” Harry replied. “I didn’t see Snape do anything either.”

Narcissa began sobbing and crawled over to her husband. “I’ll fix this somehow. I will,” she murmured, trying to lift his upper body to hold him.

Lucius began groaning and rubbed his head. “What’s going on here? Where am I?”

At this, Narcissa sobbed harder, and Draco strode forward. “You tried to cast a spell on someone, and it backfired. You fell and hit your head. All right?”

Lucius shook his head. “I’m confused. I don’t… Who are these people?” He nodded towards Ginny, Ron, and Harry.

“Friends,” Draco said.

“I… Draco? You seem much older. What… Something isn’t right.”

“Oh, dear,” Severus said in a voice of false concern. “I wonder if you’ve not lost some of your memory.”

“Severus, you look older… yet healthier,” Lucius said softly. His eyes then found Narcissa’s. “What the…? Mrs. Black?”

“It’s Mother,” Draco said. “Not Grandmother. She’s been accidentally hexed.” Here he glared at Ron. “But she’ll be back to normal soon. I hope.”

“It’s too much,” Lucius said, trying to rise.

“We’ll take it from here,” Draco said as if dismissing everyone. “We’ll talk about this later,” he told them in an air of authority, much like his old self finally.

“Very well.” Severus strode towards the door without looking at anyone else.

“Wait!” Hermione said, running after him. “You’re just going to leave?”

“I think it best for now.”

“But, Severus… I meant what I said. I love you. I trust you. I want to be with you.”

“How can I know that for certain?” he asked quietly, nodding behind her at her friends. “What if you decide that Weasley’s right? That you belong with him? Where would that leave me… again?”

“I’ve made my decision.”

“I’ll be in touch,” he said and popped away.

Hermione looked down at her to-do list and frowned. She’d done everything on the list but make amends with Severus. She’d even planned Ginny’s Hen party. It had been four days, and she’d not heard a word from him. He’d said that he’d be in touch, but he’d not answered any of her owls, nor had he been home when she’d gone round to see him.

She crumpled the paper and tossed it into the nearby bin. “Maybe he’ll show up tonight,” she said aloud hopefully. She’d sent him an invitation to Ginny’s party, hoping he’d at least show up where they could talk. Hermione had even stooped to trying the Dream Stone again, but both times she’d been able to find him in her dreams, he’d done the same as before: Occluded her or woke himself up.

“Ready?” Ginny asked from the doorway. “Oh, you look beautiful.”

“So do you!”

“Where are you taking me? Come on! Give me a hint.”

“Nope,” Hermione said mysteriously. “It’s a surprise, but you’ll have your wish. It will be unlike any other Hen party you’ve ever been to.”

“Well, that’s good, considering I’ve not been to any.”

Hermione laughed. “Thank you for being so supportive. If it weren’t for you and Harry, I don’t know how I could have got through the last few days.”

“Has Ron come back yet?” Ginny asked.

“Not that I know of.” Hermione smiled lightly. “I think he’ll be okay though. So much time’s passed for us. I hope he can see that it would never work for us.”

“Well, if he’s off trying to sort out his feelings, maybe he might feel something for Jeri after all. Or maybe he’ll just wait for the right person to come along.”

“I’m betting on the latter,” Hermione said. “And pity for her. I think she really cares for him.”

“Yeah,” Ginny agreed, “but enough about them. Tonight is my night.”

“Let’s go then.” Hermione flicked her wand, blindfolding her friend.

“Hey, that’s not necessary.”

“Yes, it is!” She grabbed Ginny’s hand and Side-Along Apparated her to their destination. “Just trust me to guide you.”

Trekking up the walkway to Malfoy Manor, Hermione grinned as Draco opened the door and held a finger to his lips before beckoning them forward. Hermione led Ginny up the steps and into the home, their shoes clicking on the gleaming floor.

“Where are we? It smells… familiar.”

“You’ll see.”

Draco opened another doorway, which led to his family’s ballroom, where everyone who’d been invited waited to surprise Ginny. On Hermione’s cue, Draco lifted his hand to start the countdown with his fingers.

At one, Hermione flicked her wand to remove Ginny’s blindfold, and several things happened at once: music blared to life, dozens of people shouted a welcome, and Ginny squealed with excitement.

“The Weird Sisters? Oh wow!” She hugged Hermione and then Draco before scurrying forward to bounce around with others who’d already started dancing.

“Thank you, Draco. I appreciate this.”

“The Weasleys were good to me. It’s the least I could do."

“I guess I’m just surprised you’d want us here after what happened to your father and mother.”

“Ron was right about that. Mother’s learned her lesson, and Father, well, he’s not learned anything, but with my help, I think he can be a better man.”

“Where are they?”

“Just there.” He nodded. “In the corner. With Snape.”

Hermione’s head spun fast to look in that direction. “He came,” she said in surprise.

“Yeah. Said to tell you he’d be waiting for you.”

She began walking towards him, forgetting to greet her other friends, only seeing him. When she stood before him, she said, “You’re here.”

“I am.”

“Does this mean… Have you thought about things?”

“Naturally.”

“And?”

He pulled her close. “Do you mind?” he asked in a cocky voice, arching his eyebrow. “I’m trying to kiss my wife.”

She laughed and gladly surrendered her lips to him. “I love you so much,” she whispered when they broke apart.

“Let’s go out on the terrace where it’s more quiet… and private.”

Hermione nodded, not caring if they came back inside at all, forgetting that she’d wanted to see a scantily clad Harry jump out of Ginny’s cake. All she needed was in her arms, her head nestled against his chest. She paid no mind to the Malfoys who stood beside them, one glaring while the other gazed about curiously.

As Severus guided her to the concealed doorway, he gazed back out at the partygoers, glad that all was ending well. His dark eyes then met a pair the shade of icy blue. His lips tilted up in a knowing smirk, and he received the same in reply.

Yes, all is well, isn’t it?

AN: And that’s all, folks! I could have dragged this on a bit, but this was my ultimate goal, and it just happened to work right here. I hope you don’t mind. Thank you so much for reading my story!

I’ve got another one brewing. Hope to see you there! Requests? Dedications? LOL

SW69