Epilogue

JKR owns it all. I'm just having fun.

Epilogue

Kings Cross Station, Platform 9¾

Severus refrained from grumbling aloud as he and the children passed through the barrier and arrived at Platform 9¾. He had always been irritable when it came time for Ben and Abigail to leave for Hogwarts, and this day was no different. Hermione's absence only compounded his bad-temper.

After weeks of pleading, Ron Weasley had finally had his opportunity to demonstrate his new driving skills to his Muggle-born friend. Hermione had hesitated until Ron's wife, Mandy, had assured her that Ron had passed his driver's test with flying colours and had proven to be a very responsible driver. With that assurance, Hermione had finally relented. She had accompanied the Weasleys and their children, Rose and Hugo, to the station, promising to meet her own family there. Severus had remained unconvinced of the wizard's driving abilities; he dearly hoped his wife had survived the experience unscathed.

"Do you see them?" Ben asked as they angled their way through the crowd.

Severus looked around; a veritable sea of red hair at the opposite end of the platform alerted him to the Weasleys and Potters.

"There they are. Grab your sister's trunk, Ben. If your mum managed to live through the car ride with your Uncle Ron, she'll be wondering where we are."

Abigail smirked at her brother, then tucked her hand in the crook of her father's arm before beaming up at him with her mother's eyes.

Severus could not help but to smile at her. Abigail was an amazing creature ... amazingly beautiful, amazingly intelligent, and amazingly cunning. She had wrapped him around her little finger from the moment she was born, and she knew it. It was little wonder that she had been sorted into Slytherin. Yet her warm personality and kind spirit endeared her to everyone she met. Now in her fifth year, Abigail was excited about returning to Hogwarts as a prefect, especially now that her older brother would be gone.

Ben had completed his seventh year the previous June and was preparing to leave for his apprenticeship at Durmstrang. Severus had been proud beyond measure when his son had proven to be a natural with Potions. To his mother's chagrin, Ben had also proven to be a natural at Quidditch; Ravenclaw had never had a more successful Seeker. Severus suppressed a smile as Ben scowled at Abigail ... some days, looking at his son was like looking in a mirror.

And yet Ben was everything Severus had not been at his age. He was happy, open and friendly in a way that Severus could have never imagined being, and for that, Severus was eminently thankful.

He was thankful for many things these days. His mother was doing quite well. She remained in Mousehole, content in her little cottage with the bright blue door. Her baking business had continued to flourish until finally the town baker, Mr Smythe, had offered to bring her into the business...and his life...as an equal partner. Eileen had refused the offer of marriage but had eagerly agreed to the business partnership. Severus had worried that she might be lonely, but she had assured him...much to his mortification...that her love life was just fine, thank you very much, and certainly was none of his business. Severus had readily agreed.

It had taken several years for Hermione's parents to come to terms with the fact that their daughter's decision to modify their memories had been made with their best interest at heart. It had been Abigail's birth that had provided the excuse for them to reintroduce themselves into their daughter's life. Even so, it had taken time and effort on all sides in order to rebuild the relationship, but the familial bond had eventually been restored, much to Hermione's relief. The Grangers were now an integral part of the Snape family.

Severus' reverie was broken when Abigail stopped walking. "Daddy," she breathed, and then she looked at him, her lower lip trembling piteously and her brown eyes filling with tears.

"What is it?" Abigail rarely cried, and Severus was immediately concerned.

"There," she said with small jerk of her head, her dark brown curls bouncing with the movement.

Severus followed her gaze and immediately understood. "Ah, I see. You knew it was bound to happen, Abigail."

"I know," she whispered. "I just didn't think I'd have to witness it."

Severus bit back the words that first leapt to his mind and instead wrapped his daughter in a warm embrace. She allowed him to hold her for a few moments before she pulled away.

"I'm going to get on the train here, all right?"

"No. Your mum is waiting .... Don't give me that look, young lady," Severus said. When a lone tear slid down her pale cheek, he sighed and relented. "All right, I shall inform your mother. However, you will write to her immediately upon your arrival in your common room. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Daddy," Abigail said dutifully.

Ben and Severus helped her with her trunk and then watched as she boarded the train. She leaned out the window as the train began to pull away.

"Bye, Daddy! Bye, Ben! Write to me, okay?"

Ben laughed and nodded as he waved.

Once the train was well on its way, Ben turned to his father. "I'm going to go say hello to Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron, all right?"

Severus nodded, his eyes fixed upon the departing train.

Ben laughed and said, "Don't worry, Dad. She'll be back in your hair before you know it." Then he walked away in search of his uncles. Severus suspected he wanted to talk Quidditch.

He continued to watch the train until he felt a familiar hand slip into his, and he looked down into his wife's smiling eyes.

"I was wondering where you all were. I assume you got her on the train?"

Severus nodded, knowing Hermione would not be happy with him for allowing their daughter to leave without telling her goodbye.

He was surprised, then, when Hermione murmured, "I take it she saw Teddy with Victoire?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

Hermione sighed. "James told us. I'm sure she was devastated. She's had a crush on Teddy since she was four years old."

"Yes," Severus said tightly. "And the boy has encouraged it."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "He has not. He has been cordial and nice. Just because Abigail chooses to interpret his friendliness as something more does not mean that he is encouraging her."

Severus grunted in reply but otherwise said nothing.

"However," Hermione added thoughtfully, "I don't believe Teddy and Victoire will last. There's just no spark there. Don't tell Abigail I said this, but I don't think she should give up hope just yet."

Severus stiffened as he thought of that blue-haired Casanova manhandling his little girl.

Hermione laughed, rising to her toes as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I didn't say it was going to happen tomorrow, Severus. It may never happen. It's just a feeling I have. Your daughter is quite stubborn. She may get what she wants in the end."

Severus pushed the images flitting through his mind from his head and returned his wife's embrace. "Like you did?"

Hermione nodded and smiled against his neck. "Yes, just like I did."

He kissed her then, in the middle of the platform, and said, "Let's go home. Ben can find his own way back."

As they walked through the station, their arms linked, Severus considered the events in his life that had led to where he now found himself. It had been a long, hard journey, and yet, looking back, he knew he would not change a thing.

He glanced at Hermione. She had entered his life like whirlwind, pushing and prodding and poking until he had finally caved in to her demands. Thinking about his family and the years of happiness he had been given, he was filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

He had wished to leave a legacy, and instead he had lived it.

A/N: And we've reached the end. I hope you enjoyed the story!

Prompt: Hermione was already secretly married to Severus, and pregnant with his child, when he seemingly died. These secrets are revealed, and they garner strong reactions. Not too long after that, Severus is found alive. He's ill and has been unable to make himself known. The couple is reunited, and Hurt/Comfort ensues. At the end, Severus is whole and healthy. Please make this all lead up to a happily-ever-after for Severus and Hermione. (EWE is fine; but an epilogue to this fic with an explanation for Mrs Snape being with her friend Ron at the station is better.)

There is a four-part spin-off featuring Teddy and Abigail, titled Look Me in the Eyes. It is also archived at TPP.