When All is Lost, One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Epilogue: Greasy Bat

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

September, 2004

A brief gust of wind blew against the groups of old and new students as they headed toward Hogwarts. The wilderness remained the same in the past five years. The forest still teemed with dangerous creatures, with yellow eyes gazing at the humans and sounds disturbing the peace ever so often.

Hundreds of square lights popped in the distance, as if their owner, Hogwarts itself, were a giant stone lighthouse attempting to extinguish the dark evening.

The castle loomed in the air. As they grew closer, the new students strained their necks trying to figure out just where the towers ended as they stretched into the night sky.

They wanted to stop, but they didn't dare. If they'd had, the students behind them would've pushed them. Hagrid told the new students to stop as the older students passed them, following the routine they'd grown used to.

Then Hagrid herded the new students through the gates. They began ascending a flight of stairs, some doing so easily while others breathing hard and even sweating from the exertion. In the distance, they could see the door that led to the great hall. Beyond it, a faint sound of murmurings reached their ears. Then whispers.

The whispers turned into a giant howl, making the first years jump.

A small wizard, whom they assumed was a professor, approached them.

"Let's get you ready for the sorting," the professor spoke. He had his hat in his hand and waved it to get their attention. "Form a line and follow me."

After a murmur of curious and fearful voices, the children did as they were told.

The professor approached the doors and they opened as if the sound of the small pit pats were their key.

The higher classes were already at their tables and all heads turned to the first years.

All the first years stopped. The ones that couldn't see peaked around shoulders and above heads to see what was going on and why the line had stopped. For most, it wasn't their fellow students that intimidated them, but the Great Table where some of the most renowned people in the wizarding world sat. Some of the faces were friendly; others showed no emotions, but there were no harsh expressions among any of them.

The small professor leading them walked forward and placed the old hat in his hands on a chair in front of the High Table. The students moved to the front.

The hall grew silent when the hat began to sing, marking that the sorting had begun. It was unbelievable that six years ago, this castle was destroyed by a battle against a dark wizard.

When the last student was sorted, an old woman with green robes rose from the middle seat. One decorated with phoenix wings on each side; a legacy from her predecessor. She cleared her throat and everyone turned to her.

"Good evening." McGonagall's voice crossed the Great Hall without effort, reaching every pair of ears and claiming their full attention. "Welcome to Hogwarts. To the old students and the new ones. As you can see this year we have some staff changes." Her smile reached her eyes as she joined her hands and turned to her side.

"Hey, that one with curls. Isn't she…?" A young student whispered softly. An older student put a finger on his lips to hush him.

"Don't interrupt now."

McGonagall continued. "I would like you to introduce our new Herbotology professor, Miss Dutchess and our new teacher in Transfiguration, Miss Bastel..."

Clapping interrupted the headmistress, inviting another student to try to gather information. "I heard those two were troublemakers. My cousin went to school with them. They hold detention records."

"How'd they get to be professors?" another whispered.

"I heard Professor Snape recommended them."

"What? Why would he do that? More importantly, how did they get him to do that?"

"They ended up developing some new medicines," another said. "We'll be able to learn a lot from them."

"All you care about is learning, you big nerd," yet another student said, but with affection.

The clapping ended and the whispering faded.

"Also, as you can see our dear Madam Pomfrey has retired. But I am grateful to announce that her apprentice will be succeeding her. Now, I want you also to greet our new mediwitch, Hermione Snape."

The students were not surprised that apprentice Hermione Granger had become Mediwitch Hermione Snape. Everyone knew their story.

Professor Snape appeared unaffected, while Hermione smiled, bowing gracefully with her flushing cheeks. She took her seat and she turned her attentions to the potion's professor, exchanging some words.

"Now that the introductions have been made, please, enjoy the feast." Minerva extended her arms and, in an instant, food covered the table and the golden plates.

When the headmistress sat down, it was a sign it was okay to begin eating. Chatter reigned in the Great Hall as the students helped themselves to the food.

The children stuffed their stomachs until somnolence set upon them. It was then that Minerva rose again and dismissed them. Each group followed their prefects to their proper houses.

After the students left the great hall, it was time for the professors to leave. When Hermione and Severus went into the entrance hall the potions master took her hand. They walked along the corridors, heading towards where it all started for them.

She had been his student. Then time passed and she became his ally and his friend and support. With more time and after extreme danger, she turned into his lover, and finally, his wife.

When they got into their living quarters, Hermione smiled. "That went better than I expected. You seemed to have gained some very nice Slytherins."

"Hm." He pulled her closer.

"Just hm? You don't have a sardonic response?" She smirked. "You know, if you aren't careful, people are going to think you've gotten soft."

He laughed and kissed her instead of replying. Her hands entangled in his hair and she returned the action.

And the Dungeon's door closed, concealing a Slytherin's happy ending. A happy ending he never thought he'd have.

Not bad for a greasy bat.

End.

AN: And here we are, in the end of this story. Part of me feels sad for it but for the other it cheers me to try a new thing about these two. Right now I'm witting shorts of this verse, other new story, and an original novel, so I hope we can see each other soon!

Many thank yous for the support you have given to this story. IT had made me immensely happy, it had helped me to continue on, to see that something I had made it could help and made others smile. Thank you for staying here to each reader who had enjoyed, laughed and cried, to any person who had left a review.

Special thanks to miss Dutchess, since without her this story won't exist in English and neither in Spanish. So lots of kisses to my sweety lovely beta.

Again, many thank yous for accompanying me from the beginning until the end with this and I hope you have a wonderful day 3.