Never Piss Off a House-Elf
disclaimer: no, of course I don't own Harry Potter. Are you done with silly questions? Can we get on with the story?
This chapter is dedicated to. .DracoxHermioneztruelove4eva!
This is it. The epilogue. What a long, strange trip this one has been. There were days that I wrote and wrote and then chucked it all out, knowing you lot deserved better. BTW, the names I use typically come from Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies; in those books, for the first time, I fell in love with a character from a book – and mourned his passing. Do me a favor and check those books out, because I think they are books everyone should at least try to read once.
And so, on this, I give you your epilogue. Thank you so much for your time and your dedication; I can only hope I've repaid in the same way. We've come full-circle, ergo. . . I'm heading back to my roots. This is a song chapter, based on a song from my favorite Goth band, Nightwish.
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Chapter 69: Epilogue. . . Sleeping Sun
Sleeping Sun, Nightwish
The sun is sleeping quietly
Once upon a century
Wistful oceans calm and red
Ardent caresses laid to rest
So it was that the great love of Severus Snape and Hermione Granger became the topic of many a love column, once it became clear that it was no publicity stunt. After a few short, bitter commentaries, even Rita Skeeter stopped her vituperative attacks on Hermione's character. After a short wait, Hermione deigned to give the woman an interview, so long as it was vetted by herself and her husband.
The resulting column set straight many rumours Rita herself had started, and while boosting Hermione's popularity, all but ruined the reporter's credibility . . . such as it were. Not long after the interview, Skeeter left for sabbatical and had yet to return. Neither Hermione nor Severus were particularly concerned, so long as she kept her quills out of their business.
The first set of twins was five years old before Hermione announced she was again with child. And again, she was having twins. Openly, she told people she hoped for a daughter. Inwardly, she was hoping for more sons, though she berated herself constantly for not wanting to share Severus's attentions with any other female, even her own daughter.
Sorin and Andrev were delighted to be getting more siblings, having exhausted many pranks on each other. Severus was, as he had been before, quite protective, though now he understood that Hermione could take care of herself. And the fact that they were not going to be able to keep up with Harry and Ginny or Gabrielle and Ron. Hermione was more than set with four children.
For my dreams I hold my life
For wishes I behold my night
The truth at the end of time
Losing faith makes a crime
Six years after that, Hermione and Severus were sending the first of their brood to Hogwart's. Sorin was cocky, but his mother knew better; he didn't want to leave the family home, though they had a surprise for him. Andrev was much more subdued, though he obediently followed his brother onto the train.
Hermione was unsurprised that her sons followed their father into house Slytherin. Severus was raised to Deputy Headmaster, and he kept his position as both Head of Slytherin and Potions Master. Both Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall stepped down in time, and Hermione joined her husband in the running of the school, as well as Head of Gryffindor House and Transfigurations instructor.
It wasn't long before the school was overrun with the children of the Order, the inheritors of a post-Voldemort world. Potters, Weasleys, and Snapes ran their houses; Longbottoms blew up more cauldrons than ever before. Satchel and Miki had their own family, born in service to the house Snape.
I wish for this night-time
To Last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
For years, Hermione and Severus ran the school with firm, gentle hands. Sorin and Andrev graduated with certificates in, of all things, Herbology and Charms, respectively. Severus contented himself with the fact that Sorin had a minor certificate in Potions and would be able to grow his own ingredients. Hermione was glad that her oldest sons had not just done as their father had wanted; every once in a while, she still like to see Severus squirm and lose an argument.
Their younger sons, Maarken and Tallain , however, had other ideas. Both managed double certificates in Potions and Defense, specializing in curse-breaking. Hermione couldn't have been prouder, nor could Severus.
Sorrow has a human heart
From my god it will depart
I'd sail before a thousand moons
Never finding where to go
They had been married perhaps twenty years when the unspeakable happened. Andrev had been working on a charm to insulate Sorin's gardens during the long cold months, without interfering with the local weather. A warming charm wen wrong and melted the cold groundwater surrounding a grove of fully grown mandrakes.
Sorin found his twin dead and went into hermitage. Hermione and Severus grieved but found they had little time to deal with their own grief as word came that Albus and Minerva were leaving, for good. Age had ravaged the pair, and they were leaving before they did harm to anyone.
In his late sixties, Severus finally relinquished his post as head of Slytherin and took upon the full mantle of Headmaster of Hogwart's, with Hermione as his deputy. It was another ten years before they convinced Sorin to come back and teach herbology. He married and produced an heir, named for his beloved twin.
Maarken and Tallain joined the ranks of the Unspeakables. They undertook the most dangerous of assignments, though each had married and produced daughters that were the spitting images of their gram and grandsir.
As Hermione and Severus watched their line grow and flourish, others took note as well. Their romance found its way into the History of Magic textbook. An entire chapter in the newest version of Hogwart's: A History was devoted to the pairing that many claimed must have been written in the stars from before the founding of the school.
Schoolgirls dreamt of finding love in their professors' eyes. Boys and young instructors read reams of badly written but inspired love poetry and notes. A great epic became the story, though both Severus and Hermione were quick to extinguish anything of the sort under their watch.
And so the school ran and time marched on, until the unspeakable…
Two hundred twenty-two days of light
Will be desired by a night
A moment for the poet's play
Until there's nothing left to say
Hermione and Severus enjoyed many great years of love and working together. They'd been married for going on ninety-three years when the wasting sickness started to rob him of his vitality. They had grandchildren and great-grandchildren… great-great grandchildren, even.
Leaving Hogwart's in Sorin's capable hands, Hermione and Severus packed their belongings and retreated to his first home, Spinner's End, where they'd first fallen in love. As his life waned, their love waxed anew, with Hermione watching over him and administering potions that made his life better, if not longer. Satchel and Miki were there to help, but after a time, Hermione sent them away.
"Severus, I know it is selfish… but I want your last time for myself," Hermione cried softly one night. She'd separated herself from her best friends when they'd returned to Spinner's End. She gave Satchel and Miki orders to carry messages when the time came.
"I know, Hermione, and it is not selfish… you are unable of such a Slytherin trait," Severus tried to laugh, but it came out as a cough, bringing up blood. He held her close, though he was weaker than before. "And I don't think I'd want anyone here beside me but you, my truest heart."
I wish for this night-time
To Last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
A few mornings later, Satchel and Miki brought Severus and Hermione's remaining sons back to Spinner's End to see their parents, laid out with a glamour to preserve them as they'd been found. At peace, with her body pressed into his protective embrace.
Even in wasted death, Severus Snape was a vision of the dark protector, Hermione one of steadfast loyalty and bravery. Sorin, Maarken and Tallain each pressed a kiss to their mother's cool brow, to their father's stern cheek. Upon their departure, Satchel and Miki spirited the bodies to a crypt for eternity together, near their second son's body.
Miki cried as she arranged her Himeko's clothing for the last time; Satchel had already preserved Severus's clothing. They each bowed to the forever sleeping couple before winking out of the chamber, leaving an epitaph carved into the door that would lie closed till their children joined them.
"Here lie Severus and Hermione Snape.
Tied by law.
Bound by love.
An eternity of nights and love await them beyond the great river."
I wish for this night-time
To Last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you