A/N: Hi, HG/SS shippers. Well, after over five months of sharing this story, we've finally reached 'the end,' although, it isn't really the end when you think about it... :)

I'll reserve my final thoughts for the end of the Epilogue, but I hope, seeing as this is the very last chapter, that you—the readers—will offer me your parting thoughts. I'd sincerely appreciate hearing from all of you one last time. It would mean an awful lot to me.

Many thanks to my wonderful beta reader, Brittny, for riding this through to the end with me.

DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter is copyrighted to and belongs to JK Rowling. I own none of her associated characters. New characters belong to me.

Epilogue: Six Years Later

"So, are you nervous, Jeannie?" asked the sister with the long, shimmering black hair to the younger with beautifully large spirals as dark as her older sister's.

"No, not at all!" Jeannie chimed excitedly.

Surina and her sibling giggled together as they, along with Hailey, who was now in her seventh and final year, moseyed ahead of Severus and Hermione at King's Cross Station. Lily led at the front, her hand laced around a young, strapping man with glasses and wavy, chocolate locks.

Severus willingly ignored the additional testosterone to their group, focused solely on his youngest, now eleven going on age twelve and about to start her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione had her arm tightly woven around her husband's, equally anxious about this day, one they had both been dreading for longer than they cared to admit.

"Not too fast, girls!" Hermione chided as the three rushed on ahead through the Platform between Nine and Ten.

The countless Muggles scurrying to and fro did not notice the three sisters magically disappear through the brick wall, as there was too much commotion for anyone to pay them any mind. Lily and James passed through the wall, too, but Severus and Hermione lingered behind, stopping just before they reached it.

Hermione turned to Severus, her long curls pulled back into a loose bun, though a few strands toppled lose to frame her attractive face. Some delicate wrinkles around her eyes alluded to an older, forty-something woman of a certain quiet confidence aging with grace.

Severus, too, had altered slightly in appearance. Visible grey strands were peeking through all of his long, black hair. A few more lines that formed around his eyes and at the corners of his mouth additionally hinted at an 'older' husband and father. His wife, however, did not seem to care. She regarded him before the wall in the same loving, devoted manner that she had for nearly three decades. He was still exceedingly handsome to her, and if others did not think so, so be it. After all, he belonged to her.

Severus let out a prolonged sigh as he stared at the wall in front of them, reluctant to take another step forward into their future, which was about to change. Hermione prodded him and brushed her nose against his cheek.

"Ready?" she whispered as encouragingly as she could muster despite sharing his reservations.

When Severus turned his forlorn gaze to her, he was met with a warmhearted smile, but it was not enough to deter his gripping emotions. "No," he said heavily with a scowl that made Hermione's expression soften into one of sympathy, "not at all..."

"Neither am I." She paused before coaxing him ever so gently, leading him onward. "C'mon."

Taking him by the hand, she led them through the wall onto Platform 9¾ on the other side. The Snape children—now three young adults—were gathered around a much larger group of familiar, friendly faces that included the Potters, Malfoys, and even Ron Weasley and Lavender Brown, no longer a married couple but on somewhat cordial terms; though a friendship was on the mend between Ron and Hermione, it was slow and ongoing.

The atmosphere at the Hogwarts Express was as it long had been: friendly, jovial, and filled with mounting excitement for the start of a new term. Lily and James were standing off to the side, chatting quietly to one another with their hands still intertwined. Lily, now nineteen, had grown into as beautiful and fair a young woman as her parents predicted. Her long, chestnut waves, much like Hermione's, fell dreamily about her shoulders, preventing James from keeping his eyes off of her for a single moment. The two had wanted to see Jeannie off, as well as Lily Potter, now a third year, before leaving for work. James worked as a Quidditch announcer for the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, while Lily had begun her position as a Healer-in-training at St. Mungo's.

To Severus, it was a natural fit, for no one had the kindness, or the sweet temperament, that Lily possessed. A quick glance at his daughter's hand showed off the dazzling ring given to her recently by James that now bound itself to her fourth finger. When Severus caught sight of the glistening heart-shaped diamond, it gave him pause. It had become a nagging reminder of their engagement, of his eldest's commitment to a man he was only now coming to accept, and not without some difficulty...

Surina stood beside them and was talking animatedly to Hailey, Scorpius, and Albus. About to turn eighteen later that month, Surina was a professional Quidditch player for the Caerphilly Catapults, handpicked by the coach himself during her final year at Hogwarts. She had been chosen as Seeker, an impressive feat that made not only the Slytherin proud but her parents as well. Though she was not illustrating her team pride today, Surina had grown into a well-recognized, striking young woman with raven hair, dark eyes, and a strong, handsome face. More than a few young lads recognized her amongst the crowd and chanced approaching her, some even sheepishly asking for autographs as Severus and Hermione looked on with amusement. Severus appreciated that Surina had not expressed an interest in someone. At least, not yet.

Severus's eyes traveled next to Hailey, who had her arm wrapped around Scorpius, an unsettling sight that caused Severus to cringe without thinking. The two had begun dating in their sixth year, which delighted Draco, but Severus hardly approved. When he looked upon the blonde boy with the devilish grin that now courted his Hailey, all he could remember was the obnoxious prat who had given his daughter such grief only a few years ago. Hermione was more accepting of the idea but still worried that their daughter might be in over her head. Regardless, neither of the children seemed to care one way or the other what anyone else thought of them. They were an unlikely pair and in rivaling houses, but it did not deter them one bit.

Hailey, nearly seventeen, now resembled Hermione more than ever. Her wild, bushy curls had tamed, the button nose remained, and her features were now illustrating a more womanly glow. She was still perfectly cute as far as her parents were concerned, but there was another alteration taking place. She was not just that adorable girl from years ago but was rather fetching—pretty, even. The 'Potions extraordinaire,' as she had been affectionately termed by her family, and who had big plans to follow in her father's footsteps and become a Potions Mistress, leaned down to speak to Jeannie, who was standing in the middle of everyone and soaking everything in.

Severus locked eyes on his littlest, something he had unconsciously done all morning, and surveyed her hair fluttering this way and that as she conversed excitedly with everyone. She had none of the reservations Hailey had displayed about starting her first year. She was willing and ready for what lay ahead and more confident than any of her sisters had been. For Hermione, it was a great comfort, giving her solace that their 'little prodigy' would be just fine. More than fine. Severus, however, found that the sight made his chest ache, sucking the very oxygen from his lungs.

Did she really have to go? Had the day finally arrived despite all his attempts not to think on it or let the notion weigh him down in the months leading up to this moment?

As if sensing her parents watching her, Jeannie slowly turned around and faced them head on. Hermione reacted immediately and lunged forward to join everyone and, more importantly, to give her daughter the biggest hug humanly possible. Severus lagged behind, standing back a ways with his hands latched behind his back, entirely unaware of his other daughters observing his quiet demeanor. All he could do was listen and watch Jeannie as she spoke with giddy elation about the Sorting Ceremony.

"So what do you think, Mum?" she squeaked happily, her sable eyes enlarged. "What is your pick?"

"Oh, Jeannie, I already told you," Hermione stated playfully as she fussed over her littlest's robes, "I don't want to influence your decision. Remember, the Sorting Hat will take your choice into account."

"I still say Ravenclaw," Surina sniggered in a wicked fashion, causing Jeannie to glower at her sibling and stomp her foot on the ground.

"Surina, stop it!" Lily chided as she reached out to bat her Slytherin sister's shoulder. James, however, cackled right along with Surina, annoying Lily to no end. "That isn't nice! Jeannie's genuinely concerned. Enough already, both of you!"

"I'd personally like you to end up in Gryffindor, Jeannie, but that's probably wishful thinking." Hailey gave her dark sister a thoughtful smile before turning abruptly to Scorpius, a challenging frown forming on her lips. "If she's placed in Slytherin, Scorpius, you'd better look after her! I mean it!"

"Blimey, calm down, Hailey," Scorpius cautioned, taking a step back with his hands slightly raised. "You know I will."

"She's right, Scorpius," said Draco, standing back with Astoria at his side, a contented smile lining his mouth. "Be good to her if she's placed in your house."

"I just said I would, Dad!"

Jeannie giggled and turned her lively curls in his direction. "You'd better, or my sister will use you as her guinea pig for all her Potions assignments."

Scorpius rolled his eyes and flushed red when everyone proceeded to cackle at his expense. He pulled his arm out of Hailey's and gave her a peculiar smile that rubbed Severus the wrong way. His upper lip twitched in response, but then Scorpius moseyed away from her to get on the train, taking a moment to say goodbye to his parents beforehand. Hailey did likewise, saying farewell to her sisters first before she reached Severus and Hermione.

"You'll write to us?" Hermione whispered, her voice breaking slightly when Hailey pulled away from their embrace.

"Mum, I always do."

"Yes, I know. I - I just..."

"I'll write, Mum, I promise."

Hailey gave her mother the most uplifting smile she could, hating to see her tearing up so. Hermione reached out to peck her daughter's cheeks before Hailey moved on to Severus, who embraced her solemnly and without a word, though she knew what was running through his mind and his heart.

"I'll tell you how Potions is going, Dad," Hailey offered, feeling the warmth of him enfold her, along with his unspoken heartache.

"Make sure that Professor Pemberton continues to challenge you, understood?" he snarled back, though not at all angrily. His voice was somber and drab. "You could concoct every potion last term with flying colors. How can he expect you to advance if he doesn't give you something harder to try? He should know your skill level by now, the buffoon."

"Dad!" Hailey laughed as Severus gripped her tight. "He's a good instructor and I'm learning a lot. He'll challenge me plenty, I can assure you!"

Severus growled again as a form of reply, a sound that so often made Hailey snicker. Then she felt one of his hands touch the back of her head and when he spoke, there was no edginess to his voice anymore, just an earnestness that made her cease giggling immediately.

"Write to us, won't you?"

Before Hailey could reply, the sound of the Hogwarts Express' horn brought the entire scene around them into a frenzy. Hailey wove her arms more securely around Severus's back in an attempt to bring him comfort. The way he framed the question worried her, and she wanted to be as reassuring as possible.

"I will, Dad," she replied gently despite the chaos. "You know I will."

"Jeannie—"

"I'll look after her, Dad. I promised you long ago, remember? She'll be fine. Don't worry."

Without time for much more discussion, Hailey reluctantly pulled away from him, giving Severus one final dose of heartiness from her eyes and a glimpse of her deepest regard before she hustled away onto the train to join Albus, Hugo, and, most likely, Scorpius.

Hermione, meanwhile, was holding Jeannie to her chest and speaking softly into her ear. Jeannie nodded a few times and then stepped back, startled by the fresh tears cascading down Hermione's face. She hugged her again to comfort her crying mother before her gaze turned to her father at last, who was standing at a distance, distinguishable amongst the crowd as always but with a miserable frown on his lips. His equally dark eyes were fixed on her.

The gravity of Severus's misery shook Jeannie to see. She had not seen her father so visibly upset since, perhaps, when she was very little. She vaguely remembered him lying in the Infirmary at Hogwarts shortly after the kidnapping and recalled that look of utter despair and weariness that seemed to weigh him down so terribly. It had pained her then, just as it pained her now.

She had already said her goodbyes to her sisters and mother; now it was Severus's turn. Jeannie made a mad dash to him and catapulted into his arms, embracing him as firmly as her small arms would allow.

"Pumpkin," he whispered into her ear as he crouched down to receive her loving embrace.

"It'll be all right, Dad," she whispered to him in her sweet manner, the same way she always addressed him. "I'll write to you and Mum as often as I can."

"Please do," she heard him respond, only in a shattered tone that pulled at her heartstrings.

Jeannie dug her tiny fingers into his back, sensing his growing anguish over her departure and the heavy notion that there was nothing she could do to make him feel better. He had always made her feel so safe, secure and well thought after, and she longed to do the same.

When Severus said nothing else, only continued to cradle her tightly, Jeannie reared her head back to take in his expression. The black strands of hair, however, were masking his horribly sad eyes. She swallowed, more than a little rattled by the display of such unhappiness that swept across his form, unmistakable and unyielding.

"Don't be so lonely, Dad, all right?" she pleaded, sounding utterly crestfallen. "You and Mum have each other... And I won't be far away."

"Yes, I - I know... Thank you, sweetheart."

"Dad?"

"Yes, dear?"

"I'll write to you every day."

"Oh, Jeannie, you'll be far too busy for that—"

"No!" she exclaimed, plunging into his chest again so that he could feel every inch of her embrace. "Every day."

"Very well, if you say so," he hissed contentedly, though his voice was unsteady. "I'll hold you to it then."

"It's a deal!" she returned with a lighthearted giggle, though it was not nearly as upbeat as she normally sounded.

"Jeannie!" Lily blurted out, disrupting their moment, though she hated to do so. "The train! Hurry!"

Jeannie removed her grasp from around Severus's waist but was still hesitant to move. She stared up at her father with her big, beautiful eyes—a sight that made Severus's throat constrict. He reached down to stroke her chin with his thumb, heedless of his quivering hand. His emotions were getting the better of him and, although he despised himself for it, he allowed the obsidian eyes that were his trademark to dampen just a little.

"Behave yourself and have a good time," he rasped, but it was not enough for Jeannie. Not nearly enough. She tugged at a fist full of his buttons and offered him a compassionate smile that spread from ear to ear, just for him.

"I love you, Dad."

Severus's lower lip quivered and he quickly scooped her up into his arms again, his billowing cloak enveloping her tiny frame from view. Placing a tender kiss on the top of her head, he nuzzled his face close to hers so that no one else could see.

"I love you, pumpkin," he muttered, his voice cracking beneath the weight of his despair, "so very much."

"I know," she stated softly into his ear, "but I love you most."

The dark-haired child pecked the middle-aged wizard's cheek before breaking away at last. She waved a hasty goodbye to her sisters again and hugged Hermione a third and final time before she disappeared onto the train.

Not wasting any time, Hermione seized Severus's hand and pushed the pair of them closer to the edge of the platform, fighting the crowd in the hopes of catching a glimpse of their daughters as the train left. As Hermione stretched out her neck, looking for any sign of Hailey or Jeannie, a small, yet strong voice called to them from a few rows down.

"Mum! Dad!"

Jeannie had popped her head out of one of the windows and was waving to them as the Hogwarts Express started to inch forward. Hermione braced herself and waved back with an enthusiastic smile, though her eyes were wet with tears. She held tight to Severus as the train started to gain momentum.

Severus and Hermione spotted Hailey seated with Scorpius in the same row as Jeannie, the littlest one's arm waving to them in farewell. Hailey was doing the same, beaming as they were about to fly past. In that moment, Jeannie stretched out her hand, and Severus did likewise. For a split second, their fingers touched. And then the moment of contact was broken, gone as swiftly as it had come.

"I'll see you soon, Dad!" Severus vaguely heard his youngest shout above the noise. "Don't worry! Everything will fine!"

A lingering image of that captivating smile was etched in Severus's and Hermione's minds as the train vanished from sight, leaving only a trace of white smoke and the bellowing sound of its onward progression, which faded faster than either of them was prepared for.

The crowd of well-wishers shuffled around them and dispersed, including the Potters, Malfoys, and Ron Weasley, but Hermione and Severus remained cemented to where they stood, unable to move or remove their gaze from the departed train. As the swarm of people trailed off, Lily and Surina were finally able to take in their parents' reactions, and it was a painful sight.

Hermione was gripping Severus around the waist with both arms, her nose pressed up against his cheek as she gazed at him with a pair of forlorn eyes. Severus was leaning into his wife for support, his eyes squeezed shut and his face contorted in agony. Tears were trickling down his hooked nose, but he was too indisposed to wipe them away. He stifled several soft cries and buried his face in Hermione's hair, entirely overcome with emotion.

Lily startled and looped her arm out of her fiancé's. "James, could you—"

"It's all right, Lily," he replied with remarkable understanding and a maturity unmatched by his younger days. "I'll wait for you on the other side."

He kissed her cheek and strode away through the brick wall, back to the Muggle world temporarily. Lily sighed and followed Surina over to their distraught parents, one of whom was in a state he rarely ever displayed, at least not publicly. It pained her to think, and she knew Surina must be considering likewise, that they would have to depart soon as well.

"It's all right," they heard their mother whispering into their father's ear. "We're going to be fine..."

Hermione tore her eyes away to glance at Lily and Surina, trying so hard to offer an encouraging smile, but her attempt was wavering as she clutched Severus and listened to his quick, hitched breaths. Such unnatural sounds did not match the cold, reserved exterior of the retired Potions Master that the general public knew, but the three women surrounding the man were privy to another side of the misunderstood figure now crying on his wife's shoulder. A gentler, more tender, and deeply attentive side. This side.

"Mum... Dad..." Surina clasped her hands to their arms, hating by her next words, "I have to get going... Practice starts in an hour..."

"Of course, sweetie," Hermione managed, wiping her eyes before her warm smile returned. She reluctantly tore away from Severus to hug her daughter while Severus and Lily looked on, she watching him, him unmindful of her prying eyes.

Surina tried to smile at her father but found her inner confidence deteriorating at the poor state of him. He could hardly make eye contact with her. His eyelashes were moistened, his cheeks were flushed, and his lower lip was still shaking from his loss of composure. His feeble attempt at a smirk felt more like a severe punch to her stomach.

"Awww, Dad," she offered with quiet empathy as she wrapped her arms around him, feeling his wet cheek against her own, "don't cry. It's going to be all right. No one's going anywhere. We're not leaving you."

Lily shook her head with an amiable smile as she laced an arm around her mother's, leaning her head against Hermione's to reassure her, too. "Maybe we can't rely on them to take care of themselves after all, Surina."

"Yeah, probably not," Surina snickered, gentler in her teasing than usual. She reared back to soak in her parent's reactions. "You two are a mess today, you know that?"

"Oh, bollocks!" said Hermione, stifling a laugh along with her daughters by smacking Surina's shoulder hard with her handbag. Her wet eyes told a different story, though, as she dabbed at them with a tissue.

Severus let out a low grunt but gazed on at his two children—now confident, strong, capable young women—with a doleful expression. He felt Surina's lips brush one of the lingering tears on his cheek and blinked at the unanticipated kiss.

"I'll come home this weekend."

Severus tried to clear his groggy throat and blushed slightly. "Nonsense, sweetheart. You have a game this—"

"Doesn't matter. I'll take a personal weekend. Neil can cover for me. Merlin knows I need to clean my bedroom anyway."

"Oh, you still live there, sis?" Lily teased before Severus or Hermione could protest. "Hadn't noticed."

"Only every two weeks or so..." Severus mumbled, trying to sound like his irritable self but failing miserably. Surina and Lily laughed, but Hermione simply took by the hand and compressed it with her warmth.

"I'm sorry, Dad," Surina replied after a moment, leaning her stark head against the equal blackness of his frock coat, "I'll show up more often, catch you unexpectedly and such."

Severus rolled his bloodshot eyes at Hermione. "So much for personal time for us."

Surina gasped and jabbed him in the chest, tittering again, along with Lily and Hermione. "Oh, please! The reason you won't let me get an apartment, Dad, is because you keep claiming that the rents in Caerphilly are too expensive and impractical. I've seen the prices. They're not that bad." Severus responded instinctively by bringing Surina into a firmer grip. Surina did the same, her livened, dark irises growing serene and rather contemplative. "I'm only kidding, Dad," she taunted delicately after a pause. "I'm not going anywhere yet, I promise."

There was a hushed mumbling in response that none of them caught, but it resembled some sort of terrible, drawn out echo of a father's plea for his children to stay as long as they wanted. Surina stared at Severus long and hard before she gave him another affectionate peck on the cheek and backed away to say goodbye to Hermione.

Lily quietly stepped forward to take her sister's place, observing her father thoughtfully as she so often did, but Severus was still not making much eye contact with any of them, focusing instead on the ground beneath his feet. He could smell Lily's distinctive perfume and suspected that she was very close to him.

"Dad?" Lily pressed, placing a dainty hand on his long array of buttons.

Her chestnut eyes, so much like Hermione's, swept into his line of vision to get his attention. Severus straightened and tried to focus, loathing the vulnerability he could not seem to shake off. He bound his lips together more securely, but his chin was buckling, especially once he soaked in the fair depths of Lily's eyes, swimming with a heartfelt compassion and profound fondness. For him.

"You are an emotional wreck today, aren't you?" she kidded half-heartedly, her voice hushed and sensitive.

Before Severus could manage a reply, she withdrew a handkerchief from her coat pocket and dabbed lightly at the tears that were escaping her father's eyes again. Severus growled in aggravation, more at himself then at Lily's sweet gesture, his breathing quick and unforgiving, showcasing his emotional turmoil far more readily than he ever would have liked. He concentrated on Lily's kindhearted gaze as she wiped at the tears beneath his eyelashes. The act was soothing, her smile a warm dose of comfort; he suspected that she probably did not realize just how much it was appreciated.

"If you're this bad with everyone being away for a time, Dad, then I can't imagine how you'll be at my wedding." Lily stifled a soft giggle but the miserable look Severus returned ended her attempt at trying to humor him further. "Which won't be for a long time yet," she reminded cautiously, taking possession of one of his dampened cheeks.

Hermione, still speaking to Surina, felt a tug on her hand. As she turned to look at him, she caught sight of Lily whispering something in his ear before kissing his cheek and pulling back with some reluctance. Severus simply nodded compliantly and finally cracked a small smile.

"I'll be home this weekend, too," said Lily.

"Sweetie," Hermione tried to coax her daughter and leaned into Severus, lacing an arm around his back, "you girls really don't have to—"

"Someone has to keep an eye on you two, and I think it could be fun. We haven't had a weekend with the four of us in a while."

Surina gave a playful smirk and locked eyes with Severus, "By the end of the weekend, you and Mum will want us to leave."

The two young ladies laughed together, but their parents did not. Hermione shook her head and Severus stood stiff, staring intently at both of them without a word. Then his response came, poignant and almost haunting, and it carried the professor's heart with it.

"That's impossible..."

After a final round of goodbyes, Lily and Surina made their way to the exit, still quite hesitant to leave their parents standing alone, locked arm-in-arm in the middle of Platform 9¾, but Severus and Hermione had insisted on lingering for a few more minutes. The girls gave individual waves of farewell before their pretty silhouettes vanished through the wall, leaving Severus and Hermione to themselves.

"Well," Hermione murmured to her husband with a deep sigh, the weight of their isolation sinking in around them, "it's done..."

"Yes."

Hermione nuzzled her head beneath Severus's chin and clung to his robes. She felt the cloak fall around her shoulders like a blanket of security and willingly closed her eyes. For a time, there was only the sound of the gentle breeze, Severus's faint heartbeat against her ear, and the mellow noise of each other's even breaths.

Finally, Hermione opened her eyes and peered up into her husband's sober visage. He, too, returned her regard, the intense black meeting warm, rich caramel, tranquil and somewhat resolved. Then he looked away.

"So..." she whispered.

"So..."

Hermione offered him her gentle smile. "You did very well today." When he grunted back, she continued, "I seem to remember a long time ago you telling me that you were sure our children would come to resent you..."

Severus sniffed the last of his emotions away but stared on at the empty train tracks. "You remember everything, don't you?"

"Naturally," she teased, bringing him closer. "I think, judging by the events of today, you're mistaken yet again, love."

Severus leaned closer, allowing his head to touch hers, and sighed with finality. "I suppose I have misjudged others' sincerity at times, none more so than my own family's..."

It was a heartfelt confession in the manner only Hermione could understand. She reached up to graze the outline of Severus's cheek, giving him a beautiful grin.

"It's you and me now. What do you think?"

Severus did not give her an answer but did not really need to. Instead, he slanted his neck to bring her mouth to his. Hermione reacted readily and pushed back, deepening the kiss as her tongue slipped inside his mouth. This was his answer. Her hand reached up to caress his face when their mouths parted, and she reclined back to soak in his profile.

"Hermione?"

"Yes, love?"

"What kind of a life did we have before our children? What sort of existence did I..."

Severus's voice trailed off, leaving his words to reverberate in Hermione's ears. An inviting smile stretched across her face, her fingers gently stroking his pale skin as his eyelashes fluttered, basking in her wonderful touch like always.

"I don't know, dear," she responded after a time, giving his question thoughtful consideration before suddenly tempting him with a flirtatious look, "but we had a lot more sex, for starters."

Without missing a beat, Severus's eyes glimmered for the first time that morning, hungry and enticing and in good humor. "Mmm, yes, indeed... How could I forget?"

Hermione welcomed the playfulness and went with it wholeheartedly. She grazed the tip of her nose against his, her lips deliciously close to his own.

"If you're serious about that question, Severus Snape, I will hex you here and now." The ripple of a deep chuckle at the back of his throat was all Hermione needed to hear. "Shall we then?" she encouraged, unable to stop smiling.

Severus raised a curious eyebrow. "What about—"

"I took the rest of the day off."

At this, Severus let out a ravenous snarl, leaning his forehead against hers as she beamed up at him, blushing at the dark, irresistible stare she received. She giggled a little as he brought her so easily into his arms, his warmth and intoxicating scent engulfing her senses. She kissed him passionately, relishing as she long did with what she felt so blessed to have.

It had always been Severus, and it always would be.

When she received his burning kiss that almost overpowered her completely, she knew that she was his always and forever in return. Nothing had changed.

"We're going to be fine, love," Hermione whispered, running her fingers through his long tresses. He returned her remark with a sigh and an agreeable nod.

"Yes, I - I know..."

"Come... Let's go home, you and I."

Looping her arm around his, Hermione and Severus moved towards the exit of Platform 9¾, the wizard in black wrapping his long cloak around the clever witch with soft curls, their bodies moving in unison as one. They disappeared through the brick wall and Disapparated to a quaint cottage in the woods that beckoned them home to its cozy atmosphere, its contents containing everything the unconventional couple had built together a long time ago out of love.

Yes, they both concluded, unaware of the same thought flashing through their spouse's mind as they made their way to the front door, we'll be just fine...

The End or The Beginning, depending on how you look at it. :)

I wanted to take this last opportunity to say THANK YOU—the readers—for all your support and interest in this little story of mine. Your reviews/feedback are what kept me writing and encouraged me not to give up, more than you probably will ever know.. Also, I really appreciate everyone who has added this story to their Favorites, put it on their Story Alerts, and/or added me to their Authors list. It still surprises me every time I get one of those notices in my Inbox, and it makes me extremely happy to know that others found enough enjoyment in what I've written to bookmark it. That's, ultimately, what makes writing worthwhile.

I have started work on the prequel. I can tell you this: it will be epically long, probably much longer than its predecessor. I have lots of ground to cover, but I'm very excited to share it with you, so I hope you'll come back for more. :) I can't say when it will be up yet, so watch my Profile page for updates or consider adding me to your Author Alerts to be notified. I may even have a few one-shots about the family for you either in the interim or foreseeable future, too, so stay tuned...

If you've enjoyed this story enough, please consider recommending it to someone else. That's really the only way this little story will survive the test of time...and I think that is the best possible reward I could take away from this experience.

Until next time!