Veinte Quinto

AN: Upon finishing this story brings about bittersweet feelings. I originally began this story with a dear friend, Jonathan, who passed away from Leukemia. Through out his ordeal, he made me promise that I would finish this story and I have now done this. Part of me did not want to because in a way I was able to hold on to what we had. I now know that no matter how soon or how long I took to finish this story, I will always be able to hold on to what we had.

Corazon

Veinte Quinto

Hermione watched in shock as Severus' mother drained him of his blood, but did nothing to stop her. Hermione couldn't explain her reason for not reacting; all she could do was watch in astonishment. The woman took long, deep swallows, causing his skin to pale even more. After several minutes, she slowly lifted her head, looked at her son, and in a low voice said, "I do love you, my son."

"What did you do?" whispered Hermione. The woman looked at Hermione, remaining silent. His mother's eyes rolled back and her eyelids fluttered. Her body began to convulse and Hermione realized the tainted blood was now in the woman's system. Hermione was reaching out to help her when the woman's body suddenly burst into flames. Hermione quickly scooted back, not believing what her eyes were witnessing. Instantaneously the flames went out. All that remained was a pile of ashes.

Swallowing hard, Hermione glanced around to see if the others had also seen this. Harry and Ron were running toward her, but it was Kingsley and Draco who were already standing next to her.

Without saying a word, Kingsley waved his wand, levitating Severus' body a few feet from the ground. He turned to Draco, nodded, and then Disapparated with Severus. Hermione was almost breathless as she realized Severus was gone. Panicking, she jumped to her feet and turned to Draco.

"Where did he take him?" she snapped.

"It doesn't matter. You can't help him now," said Draco, maintaining a solemn expression.

Hermione grabbed Draco by the front of his torn robes and screamed, "Then why did Shacklebolt take him?"

"Listen!" snapped Draco, pulling her hands off of him, but before continuing he took a deep breath, calming himself. "You're a smart witch, Granger. Surely with all the time you have kept your nose in a book, you've read about what just occurred." Hermione looked at him with a puzzled expression and then she diverted her eyes to the pile of ashes.

"Hermione, what happened?" asked Harry, stopping by her side, but Hermione didn't answer. Ron protectively pulled her into him. She continued to stare at the ashes until realization dawned on her as to what had just occurred.

"We need to go, Granger," hissed Draco, pulling on her arm.

"Don't touch her!" hissed Ron. Hermione didn't respond to either of them.

Ignoring Ron, Draco spoke again, "Now, Granger." She looked at him and then at Harry.

"I need to go," she said softly.

"Hermione, what is going on?" asked Ron, who still held her. Hermione turned to face him.

"Ron, you once said you would never doubt me again. I need to you honor those words now." Her voice was shaky but her eyes held a seriousness that Ron could not ignore. Reluctantly he nodded and released her.

Draco took hold of Hermione's arm and Disapparated with her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Letting go of Hermione's arm, Draco waved his wand, lighting the candles in the small room. There was a bed and desk, both familiar to her.

Looking around, she whispered, "I know where we are; I've been here before."

"Severus must return home for his transformation to be complete," said Draco, cautiously walking around, securing the windows and doors.

"Seven days," whispered Hermione, "And then he will return."

Draco nodded, adding, "If he chooses to return. If he does, he will be more powerful than we can imagine."

She slowly looked around the kitchen, remembering Severus' story. She looked at the floor and couldn't help picturing Severus as a child watching his mother and father fight.

There was a long silence between Hermione and Draco when she finally asked, "Do you serve Severus?" She was curious as to what part Draco played in the situation. He glared at her for a moment and then smirked. He walked toward the window and looked out into the darkness.

"No," he said. His tone sounded final, as if ending the conversation, so it surprised Hermione when he spoke again. "He made my mother happy."

"Did he love her?" The words slipped out before she could stop them. She wasn't sure if she even wanted to know the answer. Hermione couldn't bear the thought of Severus loving another woman. The physical relationships Severus had experienced with other women were much different because they were based on survival.

"No," Draco stated and then sighed, still staring off into the darkness. "He treated her well, but he did not love her. But," he paused, "she loved him. My mother learned the hard way that Severus will risk anything for himself and his survival." He paused again and then added, "Mother once said that she wished Severus was my father. I hated her for that, but over time I realized Severus was more of a father to me than Lucius ever was. It was her happiness that was important to me. My mother loved me and I vowed to do anything in my power to make her happy. I don't serve Severus, I serve my mother."

"I am sorry about your mother," she said quietly. He nodded, and then again there was more silence.

Breaking the silence again, she asked, "Does Kingsley serve Severus?"

"Yes," he said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Out of debt, and, before you ask, I do not know what that debt is based on," he snapped, but continued, "All I know is that Kingsley has always been around as long as I can remember." Hermione refrained from asking any more questions. An hour passed silently before the outside door to the kitchen opened and in walked Shacklebolt.

"It has been done," he said, wiping the dirt from his hands with a handkerchief. The legs of his pants and boots were covered in dirt. He noticed Hermione looking at him. "I had to bury him without magic. Now the rest is for Severus to decide. If he so chooses, he will become a Strigoii vampire. If not, then he is gone forever. Miss Granger, we must be prepared if he chooses to accept his transformation. He will be more powerful than all of us put together, but he will have new requirements for his survival."

"What do you mean?" she whispered. "Why would he refuse the transformation?"

"He will no longer survive from blood alone. He will require souls," said Kingsley. "Severus will need to steal souls from the living in order to survive. He will be limited to only being awake in darkness. We will have to wait for seven days to find out what his decision is. Miss Granger, you must be prepared; Severus vowed he would never become a Strigoii vampire." Her heart clenched in her throat at his words.

"Then why did you bury him?" she whispered, trying to hold back her tears.

"Because Severus has spent most of his life serving two masters. Now he can be free, and I am giving him the chance to make this decision. He can either be free, here on earth as a Strigoii vampire, or he can be free, resting in the afterlife for eternity. It is his decision, but neither one can occur unless he is buried in the ground of his native home. The other option would be purgatory, and I will not allow that."

For the past hour, Hermione had kept her mind off the obvious, but the realization of the night and what Severus was about to face suddenly hit her and Hermione collapsed on the floor, sobbing. Draco ignored her, continuing to look out the window, but Kingsley went to her. Kneeling on the floor, he comforted her. All Hermione could think about was her Severus and in her heart, she knew he was gone.

~*~*~*~*~*~

For the next seven days, Hermione waited in Severus' home. Shacklebolt tended to her, convincing her to eat and drink. Reluctantly she did so, but very little. Together he and Draco also guarded Severus' grave.

Hermione nearly went insane trying to keep her mind off the fact that Severus was gone. She would wait until the seventh day before giving him a proper funeral. She prayed and hoped beyond reason that he would return to her, but ultimately she knew the decision had been made. Several owls came to the house carrying letters from Harry and Ron, and others, but the only answer Hermione gave was that she needed time.

On the seventh day, Hermione sat in Severus' bedroom in the small wooden chair, watching the sunset. She was preparing the parchments that would officially announce Severus' death. Even though Kingsley had stood by her side, without Severus, Hermione was more alone than ever.

Draco remained by Severus' grave, protecting Severus in his most vulnerable state. The transformation would either be complete or Severus would be permanently laid to rest. Draco circled the outer perimeter of the yard. There was still a chance that a Death Eater or two would want to exact revenge for Severus' killing Voldemort, and neither Draco nor Kingsley was going to take the chance of having Severus' final decision jeopardized.

As soon as the sun set and the sky darkened on the seventh night, the wind began blowing, howling through the trees. Draco's robes whipped around his body as he made his way back to Severus' grave. Kingsley was standing over the grave, waiting.

The ground began to shake, knocking Draco off his feet. Kingsley stepped back and held onto a nearby tree, supporting himself, trying to maintain his balance. Hermione came stumbling out of the house toward the grave. It was dark enough that she had difficulty seeing her surroundings. The ground shook violently as she struggled to make her way over toward them. Her hair whipped around her face as she now crawled to her destination.

The earth over Severus' grave began to part as a soil-covered hand broke through the dirt. The hand reached up, as if searching for something. Hermione's eyes widened at the sight of the hand, and she knew it was Severus.

"Severus," she whispered, and she crawled forward on her knees, grabbing it. The hand grabbed onto hers and began pulling her down into the grave.

"Severus!" she cried, trying to break away. His other hand broke through the soil and grabbed at Hermione, grasping her hair in his clenched fist, and pulling her toward him. She was sinking further into the dirt, screaming. Kingsley and Draco tried to make their way over to her but the ground was splitting further apart, preventing them. Hermione was pulled into the grave, the loose earth muffling her screams.

Suddenly, the wind stopped blowing and the ground ceased shaking, so Kingsley and Draco rushed to where Hermione had gone in. Before their very eyes, Severus exploded from the ground. Dirt fell from his hair, his shoulders, and the rest of his body as he slowly rose. His clothing was dirty and torn. In his arms, he clutched Hermione, holding her close to his chest. Once Severus was out of his grave, the ground sealed itself, and he collapsed onto his knees, dropping Hermione. She gasped for air, choking and spitting the dirt from her mouth.

"Severus," whispered Hermione, looking up at him from the ground.

Severus remained on his knees while looking at his surroundings. While the others struggled to see in the darkness, Severus' eyes were naturally suited to the darkness already. He first looked at Kingsley and then Draco. After carefully scanning the area, he looked down at Hermione. She was trying to sit up but was too overwhelmed.

"Severus," she whispered again, not believing he was really here. He tried to reach for her, to hold her or at least touch her, but he couldn't.

"I must go," he said with a strained voice.

"No," pleaded Hermione as she reached out for him, but he pulled back, out of reach. Severus struggled to his feet as Hermione got to hers. It was evident he was weak and needed to feed. "Please, stay," she begged, reaching for him, but he stepped back again, slowly shaking his head no. Just as she reached out to grab him, he Disapparated.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus Apparated to Azkaban. He allowed his instincts to take over as he gracefully made his way through the tunnels and down into the cell, which contained the one person he was seeking.

Bellatrix looked up, startled to see Severus standing there. Her hair was unkempt, and dirty. Her clothing was torn and stained with dried blood. It had only been seven days, but those seven days had taken a toll on Bellatrix. The dark circles under her eyes, her shallow skin, and the infected lacerations and cuts upon her face and arms gave evidence that the goblins were much more serious about the prisoners than the Dementors ever were.

"Severus! You...you were dead. I saw you die," she said, both shocked and scared. Having no wand left her defenseless and vulnerable.

"You wouldn't be that lucky, Bellatrix," he said smoothly. The bars bowed outward, allowing him to pass through them and into her cell.

"What do you mean?" she asked, quickly getting to her feet. She was smart enough to know Severus was not here for a social call.

"Bellatrix, you should have known that I would return..." He slowly moved toward her. "And that I would seek you out." She stepped back, finding herself trapped against the wall.

"What the hell do you want?" she cried. He stared at her for a moment, as his black eyes bored into her and he smirked. His robes flowed elegantly as he crossed his arms, making her feel all the more uncomfortable. She looked from side to side, as if pleading for help, but there was no one. "What do you want?" she cried again. Staring into his eyes, she found herself unable to move. Her heart was beating rapidly against her chest as if trying to escape. She found it difficult to breathe.

"I want your soul," he said. His black eyes stared into hers and for a moment she saw them flash red. For the first time in Bellatrix' life, she was truly afraid. He leaned further into her and whispered, "You should be afraid."

Bellatrix opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out as Severus covered her body with his, claiming his newly required energy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hermione," said Severus. He stood at his full height before her with his voice strong, signifying his strength had returned. His clothing was repaired and his skin free from the dirt. She turned to him. It was evident she had been crying. "Come to me, Hermione." Whether it was a request or a demand, she wasted no time going to him. He pulled her into him as she closed her eyes and welcomed the comfort he brought. "I had to feed," he explained. "My will for survival is stronger now, and, if I had not left when I did, I would have fed upon you." There was a moment of silence before he continued. He knew what needed to be done. "It is going to be different now, Hermione."

"I know," she whispered.

"No, I don't think you know," he said, pulling back from her. "Hermione, you and I became..." he carefully chose his words, "involved due to circumstances that no longer exist. The bond we held is no more. You no longer are my life mate. You no longer serve me. You are free to go." A knot formed in her stomach at hearing his words. She refused to comprehend what he was telling her.

"No," she said, but her voice failed her, only allowing a faint whisper to escape her lips. Her eyes began to water, but she took a quick breath, trying to retain her composure.

"What I did to you was unspeakable Ð it is unforgivable," he hissed.

"I gave consent to everything you did to me," she snapped, her voice cracking. "Everything you did to me, I allowed to happen."

"No, Hermione. Every time I fed from you, you were under my control. For the past several months, you did not act only upon your own accord. I controlled your actions, your decisions, and your thoughts. You were my puppet and I was your master." He stepped further back from her. "As I said, you are free to go."

"No!" she snapped, "I do not want to go. I am staying." Her voice was stronger, fighting to keep her emotions at bay. She had waited seven days for his return and now he was letting her go. She reached out for him, trying to pull him near, but again he stepped back. Before she could respond there was a 'crack' and he Disapparated.

I don't think so," she snapped. Reaching into her robes, she drew her wand and said an incantation that tracked his Disapparation trail. It took only a few minutes for her to find him, so she guessed that he wanted to be found.

"Severus," she snapped, storming into the dungeons at Hogwarts. She should have known he would return here. "We were in the middle of a very important conversation and you left!" she hissed, walking toward him at a fast pace.

"Hermione, I explained to you..." he began.

"No, you did not explain anything to me. All you did was make a decision. Well, I have news for you, Severus Snape, any decisions concerning me will be made by me. Do you understand?" She stood before him with her arms crossed and eyes narrowed. He knew Hermione was very strong-headed and determined. These were only a few of the many qualities that he admired in her, but when he had returned from feeding and found her crying, he knew his relationship with her would only destroy her. It was because of him that she had her innocence stripped away. He had brought her pain, death, and heartache, and this was something he could not bear because he loved her too much to hurt her anymore.

"Hermione, I didn't think..." he began, but she didn't give him the chance. Uncrossing her arms, she began poking him in the chest.

"I have made too many sacrifices for you - all in the name of love, and don't you even try telling me that I am too young to know what love is, because the connection I had with you was love, true love, and now that the connection is broken, I still have that same feeling for you." She stopped poking him and looked up at him to find his expression full of astonishment. "Severus Snape, I love you," she said sternly.

While cocking one eyebrow, Severus just looked at her. He opened his mouth to respond, but thought better of it since she had already interrupted him twice, so instead he placed his hands on either side of her neck and lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her with all the passion and love he had for her.

Hermione pulled Severus toward her with desperation and need. He was her life and she was not about to let him go. Breaking off the kiss, she rested her cheek against his chest.

"I know what we had was due to a bond that made me your life mate, but Severus, I do love you. When you died, my heart never felt so much pain. How could my heart ache so much if what I feel for you is not love? Even now I know the bond has been broken, but my love for you is real." Resting his chin on her head, he smiled.

"Hermione, I do love you, but there is so much that we need to discuss. Now that I am a Strigoii vampire, my life - our lives - will never be the same."

"I know," she whispered.

"My only reason for accepting the transformation was because of you, Hermione. Having shared such a short portion of my life with you gave me such a desire to share more. For once, I was not alone. I have to have you."

"Severus," she said, pulling back to look at him. She looked up at him and smiled. "I love you." As quick as she said it, Severus entered her mind with more force than she had ever experienced from him. He searched her mind, finding not only her thoughts of him, but also her feelings. Together they relieved her feelings for him, from the first time she felt an attraction to him to the first time they consummated their relationship to the heartache she felt when he died, and her love for him when he returned. Even though Severus had been in her mind only a few times, neither had shared such intense emotions. It was clear he was much more powerful than before.

"Take my hand, Hermione," he said, offering it to her and she did so. "From here on out, you are mine. You will never belong to another. I will kill for you. I will live for you. I will die for you. The day you leave this earth is the day we die together." He brought his mouth down to hers, kissing her.

Carrying her to his bed, he gently laid her down. Her messy, brown, curly hair spread across the pillow and her dirt-stained clothes were wrinkled and torn, but she was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. He knelt next to the bed and held her hand while looking into her eyes. All he knew was how to sexually exploit a woman for his need to feed, but he realized that for the first time in his life he was about to make love and it scared him.

Hermione sat up and with a gentle, warm smile, she reassured him. It was in that smile that Severus knew he could do no wrong. He realized his love for her was more than just physical, it was spiritual, something he had never believed in - until now. They spent the night, among many other nights, making love.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" asked Dumbledore, who was sitting next to Hermione on a bench near the lake at Hogwarts. They both gazed off into the distance, watching the sunrise. Hermione nodded in agreement while smiling. "I do believe it is the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen," said Albus.

Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "You say that every morning, Headmaster."

"Yes, because it is testimony that I have been granted another day to live." They watched the sun slowly rise above the mountains as the colors changed along the way.

"I can't believe today is the day," she said. "Severus has waited for this day for so long and he can't even be here to enjoy it." Her voice became shaky and her eyes began to water. Taking Hermione's hand in his, Albus turned to her.

"I know, dear, but he is being acknowledged for his participation in bringing down Lord Voldemort. I am sure if it had not been Severus who stunned Griselda Marchbanks during the battle at the Ministry, she would have been a bit more forgiving. It took a lot of convincing on my part to make her understand that Severus never intended to remove her from her position. He only placed a sleeping spell on her so the Death Eaters would believe she, along with the others, was dead. She is still bitter about having to remain under house arrest while the world went on without her, but I did convince her that Severus had earned the First Order of Merlin. It's a pity it has taken a year to do so."

"I appreciate your being an advocate for him, and so does he. It is obvious that the Ministry holds a strong prejudice against vampires. I just wish the ceremony were being held at night, so Severus could attend."

"I know, dear," said Albus, patting her arm, "but Griselda scheduled it during the day for the very purpose of making sure he misses it. I'm afraid that our next battle will be convincing the Ministry that Vampires are our allies, and that will occur in time. But you, Hermione, will do that." Patting him on the hand, she smiled in agreement.

"Hermione, you do understand why I tried to keep you and Severus apart?"

"Because I am so young," she answered. Many people had made it obvious that her and Severus' age difference was a concern, especially since she had been barely above the legal age of consent when they had become involved.

"That is part of it. Most life mates are turned into Moroii vampires and then, after death, become Strigoii vampires. I was very concerned that this would happen to you, without your consent. I didn't want to see your life's decisions being made for you."

"Like Severus' decision was made for him?" she asked.

"Correct," he said. He knew not take the implication of her words personally.

"But Severus didn't turn me into a Moroii vampire. He was always careful never to drink enough blood for that process to occur."

"I realized that too late, my dear, and I am sorry for having jumped to such conclusions. I was just trying to protect you."

"I understand, Albus. Even now Severus won't turn me into a vampire. He said that decision would come later, much later." She smiled and so did Albus. As the sun cleared the mountains and shone brightly against the land, Albus got to his feet.

"Are you ready to go and receive the First Order of Merlin on Severus' behalf?"

"I am," she said brightly. He escorted her the castle where the ceremony was to take place.

It was a grand ceremony. Kingsley escorted Hermione to the podium to accept Severus' award. There were a few who snubbed her for not only supporting a vampire but for being a vampire's lover. Of course the Order, including Harry and Ron, were present, showing their full support for both Severus and Hermione.

That night when Severus woke up in their home under the lake, Hermione greeted him.

"Good evening, my love," she said with such pride while displaying his medal in her hand. Severus reached out for her and she came to him. Lying next to him, they both closed their eyes and Severus entered her mind. He was able to experience the ceremony through her thoughts. This is why she watched every sunrise and every sunset - so as not to deny him the experiences the limitations of being a vampire brought.

Hermione slept for a few hours while Severus remained in her mind, experiencing her daily events. This was a ritual for them and usually the only activity to interrupt it was an impromptu session of lovemaking.

When Hermione woke, she found Severus sitting in front of the fireplace, holding his medal. She silently watched him, intrigued with how he just stared at it.

"I always thought these were just a trivial piece of metal..." he said and then turned to her. "Now it has a whole new meaning."

"You deserve that three times over, Severus." He smiled at her, gently, something that was rare - a sign of affection he only shared with her. She crawled into his lap and leaned her body against his while resting the side of her face on his chest, and together they held each other. After several moments, she broke the silence.

"What is on the agenda for today?" she asked.

"Tonight we will perform the final analysis on our potion. Mad-eye Moody has agreed to test it, and will be here in a few hours. He knows several cunning methods to outmaneuver Veritaserum, so if he is not able to resist our questioning, then it will be ready for you to present to the Ministry." Hermione sat up with a big smile on her face.

"Mad-eye Moody agreed? I can't believe it!" she said, hugging him. "How did you get him to agree?"

"I just explained to him that we were creating a potion stronger than Veritaserum and that if the Ministry were to accept it, he could find out who the remaining Death Eaters are and take them into custody. This is something he couldn't refuse, so naturally he volunteered when I mentioned we needed one final test subject."

"And it will be one step closer to the Ministry accepting you as an equal," she said proudly.

"Don't get your hopes up, Hermione. We still have a long way to go before that ever occurs," he reminded her.

"But it is one step closer," she added. She was always the optimist, never taking 'no' for an answer, so Severus knew it was not worth the argument.

Severus and Hermione continued to utilize Severus' increased powers by producing potions that not only benefited the light side, but mankind. His level of magic was so highly concentrated that their potions were unique and powerful, but it was a double-edged sword. The Ministry respected Severus, yet feared him at the same time, but this did not stop him and Hermione from working on future projects. Hermione's ultimate goal was for the Wizarding World to respect Severus Snape as he deserved while she spent the rest of her life loving him. Until then, they remained in their home, under the lake at Hogwarts where they were protected by the security measures Albus had provided.

Epilogue

Hermione was one hundred sixty-eight years old as she lay in her bed. Her white, wavy hair was pulled to one side, neatly braided. Her eyes remained closed as her breathing slowed. Severus sat on the bed next to her, holding her hand.

He entered her mind and together they relived some of their past events.

"Hermione, you can't add flux when it has been crushed! It must be diced!" hissed Severus. Hermione looked at him for a moment while holding a fist full of crushed flux over the boiling cauldron. A smirk appeared on her face as her fist flew open, dropping the ingredient into the cauldron. Severus grabbed Hermione and pulled her into his protective arms as the cauldron exploded, causing rays of light to shoot straight up into the vaulted ceiling of their lab.

Severus had made several acquaintances amongst the vampires who joined in their fight to make an alliance with the Ministry. It was actually Hermione's fight at first, but Severus soon realized the need for the alliance. He could feel his Hermione embrace him in his thoughts.

"You will not be alone, my love," he whispered. Severus had not aged a day since becoming a Strigoii vampire, so he placed an aging charm on himself to match her appearance. He and Hermione had decided long ago that one lifetime was all they needed on earth, and that they would spend eternity in the afterlife together.

Severus sat with her for the next several hours, until she took her final breath. He gently caressed the back of his hand against her cheek and then brought her hand to his mouth, kissing it.

"I will be with you shortly, my wife." Severus put her hand down and moved off the bed. He went to his dresser drawer and opened it, retrieving a wooden stake. Grasping the stake, he returned to lie next to his wife. Taking her hand in his, he closed his eyes. Even though vampires were now treated as equals in the wizarding world, Severus had no intentions of living without his Hermione. With his other hand he brought the stake above his chest and, lowering it quickly, he joined his wife.

~THE END