Chapter 18
Severus hated blind apparition with a passion but had no other option available at the moment. When the dark lord summoned you, your dark mark led you directly to his presence. He then found himself in a room with no windows, flickering torches mounted on the walls providing the only illumination. It would appear as if this was some cellar that the dark lord had taken to hiding in.
The potions master fought a ferocious mental battle to keep a smirk from appearing on his face. Voldemort was unquestionably the most wanted criminal in magical Britain, with bounty hunters and mercenaries from around the world desperate for a share of the half million in gold that his head would fetch. Add to that, his once considerable force of fanatical death eaters were reduced to just Wormtail and you had a rather pragmatic and pathetic fall from grace. Still, appearances must be maintained. Sitting on a raised platform in the middle of the floor was the dark lord, regally perched on a chair fit for any king.
What an arsehole.
Severus hammered that thought mercilessly, it would surely get him killed. The potions master had been well aware the potions he'd had to swallow before answering Voldemort's summons would affect him in many different ways, he apparently had underestimated just how severe these effects would be.
Voldemort began speaking and again Severus had to be ruthless with his thoughts. 'How can you have a nasal whine with practically no nose?' just popped into his head.
"Ah Severus, my slippery friend. I can see from your forehead that you too had an unfortunate encounter with Mister Potter."
Severus moved forward in order to kneel before his master but found himself unable to do so. His body would no longer function from the neck down.
"Ah yes, I've been forced to introduce one or two safety measures since that Potter spawn placed all that gold on my head." Snape's wand flew from his robes, straight into Voldemort's waiting hand. "Search him Wormtail."
Severus was now sweating but when Peter left him to hand his findings over to his master, some of that tension left his body. The rat had only found his potions knife, any potions brewer worth their salt always carried one of these. With potions ingredients found literally growing on trees and lying on the ground, it was essential to always have the necessary tools available to harvest anything one found.
Voldemort had been staring at him all through the search. "You choose not to cover Potter's mark?"
Though unable to move, Severus still had the ability to speak. "Forgive me master, I meant no disrespect. I have discovered however that it bleeds less if I leave it uncovered. I shall of course cover the abomination if it offends you."
The dark lord was still trying to come to a decision about this particular servant. A very large plus in Snape's favour was that he is an exceptional potions master, a potions master who would be extremely motivated to find a cure for this affliction they both now carried. "Have you made any progress on healing these accursed wounds?"
"Master, I have been researching all summer. Since receiving my own curse scar, I have had neither the time nor resources to do any further investigating into the matter."
Voldemort accepted that answer. "You shall have the run of a potions lab already in this house, I want you to begin at once."
"I must beg your forgiveness once more master. I have not slept for four days and fear only the amount of pepper-up potion in my blood is keeping me going. In my present condition, I'm more likely to accidentally set fire to this house than discover a remedy that both of us require."
The dark lord was not known for showing mercy to his followers but he didn't have a lot of options, or followers left. "You shall have four hours rest Severus, not a moment longer."
The potions master found himself being released from the constraining spell and quickly fell to his knees in front of the dark lord. Unfortunately, the mixture of toxic chemicals currently pumping around his body left Severus unable to prevent exhibiting a very brief flash of the emotion he now felt. He was once more unable to move as Voldemort had picked up on this display of jubilation immediately, though it was already too late for the occupants of the room.
"Severus, why do I get the feeling you are attempting something foolish? Let's find out what, shall we? Legilimens!"
The dark lord was shocked beyond measure at the maelstrom he discovered inside his servant's mind. Where before there was a well-organised mind, now there were full-scale riots where conflicting thoughts fought for dominance. Overuse of pepper-up potion couldn't explain this effect, nor could he latch on to any thoughts that could possibly help him. It was as if a tornado had hit a library and you were left trying to find a specific book as they swirled passed your head at great speed.
A disturbance in the real world had Voldemort withdrawing from Snape's mind, perhaps this would provide a clue. The sight of his last faithful follower thrashing on the floor greeted the dark lord, Peter was also beginning to foam at the mouth.
He screamed at the wizard who was still held trapped by his spell. "What have you done Snape? Avada Ked… Ke… K…"
Severus still couldn't move but he could still speak. The antidote that was coursing through his body was unfortunately having the side effect of compelling him to behave rather like an eleven year old Draco Malfoy. He just couldn't stop himself from boasting about his achievements in outwitting the dark lord.
"According to the old manuscript I found this particular potion in, it's supposed to be a most painful way to die Tom. You are currently infected by an airborne toxin that violently attacks and destroys your nervous system, before reducing your internal organs to mush. It was invented by Dante to punish Florence for banishing him from the city, unfortunately he tested the antidote on himself first and it drove him quite mad for a number of years."
Voldemort was currently trying to kill Severus with a vicious glare from those malicious red eyes, it was the only reaction the dark lord still had available to him.
"When Dante eventually recovered his mind, Florence had rescinded its exile order and the city was now begging him to return. He decided saying no was now enough of a revenge. Just a pity you never got to work in Hogwarts Tom, old Albus really does have quite the collection of knowledge in the headmaster's private library."
Voldemort still had his wand pointed in Severus' direction but he was now totally incapable of performing any spells. His hand was also trembling terribly as the toxin began to aggressively complete its victorious march through his body. The immobilisation spell he'd cast on Severus finally broke, allowing the potions master to stand. Wet patches were now clearly visible on the knees of his trousers.
"When you made me kneel, it broke the containers I had strapped there and released the toxin into the air. I of course had taken a dose of antidote before I answered your summons."
Voldemort himself was now on his knees though his eyes were locked on Wormtail in horror. Peter had finally stopped thrashing about and lay still. This was no improvement though as blood seeped from his eyes, ears, nostrils and mouth. It looked a horrendous way to die.
"Yes the old parchment described the effects as worse than those of the cruciatus curse. You have cast that on enough people, myself included, to know what awaits you."
The antidote had Severus wanting to stand here and crow all day but his own vastly more rational personality was screaming at him to finish the dark lord off immediately. Voldemort wasn't exactly human anymore and Severus had worried the toxin might not actually kill him. Picking up his discarded potions knife, Severus expertly cut the dark lord's throat. The former death eater watched those hateful red eyes finally dim as Voldemort quickly bled to death.
Severus breathed a huge sigh of relief that his scheme had actually worked, Wormtail would follow his master into death in mere moments. The potions master knew he couldn't go anywhere for at least an hour, that's how long it would take his modified version of the Dante potion to decay beyond the point where it was no longer toxic. Since there was only one chair in the room, he sat on Voldemort's throne.
He'd known the antidote would demand a high price from him but, now that the deed was done, Severus considered it a price worth paying. The choice between a psycho dark lord, a prison full of dementors or half a million of Potter's gold plus a ministry pardon was not a hard one to make. The silver potions knife dropped out his hand and hit the stone floor with a musical clang as Severus conceded it was over. His new life though was just about to begin.
-oOoOo-
The hammer striking the anvil signified it was over. His new life though was just about to begin. Harry started his new life the way he wanted it to continue, by kissing his beautiful bride. This was greeted with much cheering and applause from their few guests while the wedding photographer just clicked away. There were some more formal poses for pictures before they all piled back into the limo. The trip back to Edinburgh was a lot noisier than the one down to Gretna, especially when Dan opened a bottle of champagne and started filling glasses.
Their arrival back at the Balmoral was greeted by more photographs, the bride and groom walking into the lobby stopped everyone in their tracks. Harry and Hermione were quite the sight.
-oOoOo-
The person who shot out the floo in the ministry atrium was also quite the sight, everyone was stopped in their tracks as the bloody body slid across the marble floor. No sooner had it come to a halt than it was identified as Peter Pettigrew. This was causing quite a bit of panic when another dead body shot out to join him. This cadaver was instantly recognised as You Know Who and the screaming began. Severus stepped out of the floo to a scene of utter pandemonium.
When he'd discovered the house the dark lord had been using as his hideout had an active floo connection, Severus couldn't resist a chance at the spectacular entrance. He was well aware the potion was still badly affecting him because he was really looking forward to this, Severus Snape never looked forward to anything. He'd opened the floo connection before banishing the bodies into the green flames one at a time. The result of this was that when he eventually stepped out of the ministry fireplace, not one person was looking in his direction. That there were over fifty people there, and that number was growing rapidly, yet he was being ignored actually made him smile.
He wasn't here to be ignored though, it was time to change that. He carefully held his hands up, with his palms forward to showing that they were empty, before shouting. "SURPRISE! I've come for my gold and my pardon."
Severus Snape now had every pair of eyes fixed on him, this was more like it.
-oOoOo-
Harry made sure that it was only the guests who were in their private function room, he didn't want any other eyes seeing this. "I have a surprise for you Mrs Potter. Now Dobby."
-oOoOo-
Minerva McGonagall was currently sitting behind the headmaster's desk in Dumbledore's office. The school governors were meeting next week and the odds were very favourable she could find herself sitting here permanently. Albus had been arrested for the second occasion this summer and Amelia appeared determined to keep him locked up this time.
Minerva now found herself questioning every decision Albus had made, looking for any hidden agenda behind it. An elf popping into the office had her turning round, Minerva was on her feet in an instant as she recognised who this elf represented.
"Miss Kitty, my master and mistress would like to invite you to share dinner with them?"
Minerva didn't need time to consider her answer, rather just a moment to floocall Filius and inform him she would be out the castle for dinner. On removing her head from the fireplace, Minerva was shocked to discover Dobby had transfigured her teaching robes into a dark blue dress, complete with tartan sash. Before she even got a chance to ask what was going on, Dobby had whisked her away from Hogwarts.
-oOoOo-
Minerva McGonagall was not what you would consider an emotional lady. Seeing the young witch she had been worried about standing there in her wedding dress had her tired old eyes filling up. A kilted Harry Potter then came forward and hugged her.
"Professor, you will always have a place at the Potter's table. My wife and I would like you to join our celebrations."
"Mr Potter, I would be delighted to. You look wonderful in your kilt while you Miss Granger are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen."
Hermione hugged her favourite professor. "Thank you but I must point out I'm Mrs Potter now. We got married earlier today and my wonderful husband knew I would have wanted you here. Excuse me a moment professor while I kiss him in thanks."
Minerva was soon swept along with the euphoria that was prevalent in the room. When Dan placed a glass of bubbly in her hand though, she felt she didn't deserve it. "Dan, I can't say sorry enough for what happened…"
Dan held up his hand in the universal sign for stop. "We never blamed you Minerva, Emma and I only allowed Hermione back inside Hogwarts because we knew Harry was going to be with her every second she was there."
This had Minerva spinning around to confront the groom. "You were at the awards ceremony?"
Harry's grin was all the confirmation she needed. "I loved your idea of where to display my Order of Merlin, though I think Madam Pomfrey could have made a good argument for having it hung in the infirmary. Thanks for everything professor."
The hotel staff reappeared to see if they were ready for their meal, all then sat at their designated position at the table. The meal was exquisite and the company made it even better.
After the meal was finished, there was a gentle tinkle of cutlery hitting a wine glass to call for silence. It was a sign of how much Neville had grown in confidence that when he stood, no one present was too surprised by his actions.
"I understand it's tradition at this point for the best man to make a speech. Since it was only last evening that we found out these two were getting married, you'll perhaps understand why this will be a very short speech."
This generated the laughter Neville was hoping for.
"It's a little known fact but I was responsible for these two meeting, or perhaps the credit should go to Trevor? I shared a boat with them as we all got our first sight of Hogwarts and have watched them grow closer over the years. I can honestly say that I think they were fated to be together since that first eventful Halloween."
Neville was smiling at the blushing bride as he related the next part. "Within the space of a few months, Hermione went from a girl who thought getting expelled was worse than being killed to setting a teacher's robes on fire. Harry here jumped on a mountain troll's back and stuck his wand up its nose. The reason for these ridiculous reactions was that the other was in danger, they really would do anything for each other."
The best man now turned his attention to the groom. "I've only ever seen Harry terrified once, the night Hermione was injured inside the ministry. I don't think it's a coincidence that all our lives have changed from that night, none more than the couple we are all here to honor today. Please join me in standing and offering this toast, Hermione and Harry - the bride and groom!"
Everyone joined Neville in the toast before Hermione nudged her husband's elbow and Harry stood.
"My wife has just suggested I say a few words. I may have only been married for a few hours but already I know my wife's suggestions should be followed to the letter."
This saw the other two married men present almost choke with laughter.
"Neville was right to mention that night in the ministry, I know my life changed forever at one specific moment. Seeing my Hermione injured like that dramatically brought home just how much she means to me. It's no coincidence that she's now my wife only months after that event."
He lent down and gave his wife a peck on the lips before continuing. "I must disagree with my best man though, the two lives most affected since that night are Dan and Emma. Everything they knew has been blown apart, figuratively and literally, yet they supported Hermione and I when we needed it most. I have one surprise left and think now's as good a time as any."
Harry reached into his sporran and pulled out a large envelope that obviously couldn't fit in there. "Hermione and I are leaving tomorrow on a two week Mediterranean cruise. Mum, dad, we'd like you to come with us?"
Harry handed over the envelope to Dan, It had their tickets and passports in it. Hermione was now kissing her husband in thanks, closely followed by her mother doing the same. A cruise on the Med might be nice but to Emma Granger, Harry calling her mum was way better.
With such a small wedding party, the table was soon clear and it was time for the first dance. Hermione melted into Harry's arms as the string quartet struck up a waltz.
Harry effortlessly and expertly whisked her around the floor, much to his wife's amazement. "I thought you said you were finished with the surprises for the night? Where did you learn to dance?"
"Hermione love, I hope to spend the rest of my life surprising you. You remember I told you I got to play Quidditch with my dad and Sirius? Well my mum wanted some time with her son to teach me all the things she never got the chance to. I learned to dance in my mother's arms in the hope that one day I would be having this dance with my very own Mrs Potter."
Hermione was listening to her husband and her heart was overflowing, she promised herself to make certain Harry knew she loved him every day for the rest of their lives.
-oOoOo-
Amelia was listening in mounting horror as Snape spilled his guts. The interview was not being conducted under the truth serum. The potions master had warned that administering that potion to him would probably end his life, a senior healer from St Mungo's had quickly confirmed that opinion. Snape also pointed out that, since he was due to receive a blanket pardon, he had no intention of leaving anything out.
Amelia now wholeheartedly believed that. He was implicating death eaters, politicians and Wizengamot members as he was supplying the information, rather than them having to ask the right questions to get a truthful answer under veritaserum. This information was going to allow her department to clean out the ministry and more. It galled her though that this creature was going to walk out of the ministry a free man, he certainly couldn't and wouldn't be classed as a hero.
She would be forever grateful that he killed the dark lord and for the information he eagerly disgorged but she would never like the man. He was by his own admission a cold-hearted bastard and she would add cruel, vindictive and downright evil to that assessment. There would be a careful watch kept on him for the rest of his life. The ministry pardon was for crimes committed up to and including the killing of the dark lord. If Severus Snape as much as left the toilet seat up, Amelia would find something to charge him with.
The list of people implicated in Snape's testimony had grown almost as long as the list of charges against them. A few of the names pleased Amelia no end, there would be quite a bit of work in rounding them up. By good fortune, one of the main ones was already in a ministry holding cell.
One thing she could not dispute though, Snape's testimony here today would change their world.
-oOoOo-
Minerva was sitting chatting with Ginny while the dancing continued. "I fear we will be experiencing another howler from your mother when she discovers that she missed out on Harry and Hermione's wedding. I feel your brother has made some poor choices lately."
"Oh I think that's putting it mildly professor. We all got a taste of Harry's fame this summer and all of us, apart from Ron, hated it. He was well aware what the consequences could be when placing Lavender before his friends, today he paid the price. Nothing my mother will scream at him could make him feel worse than missing his two best friends' wedding. He'll be devastated but has no one to blame but himself."
Minerva was more impressed with the youngest Weasley every time she spoke to the girl. She appeared to be a mixture of Bill and the twins, with very little of Percy or Ron. Minerva thought that was a pretty good combination. "And how do you feel about your friends getting married?"
Ginny thought carefully before answering as truthfully as she could. "Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of being dressed like a princess and dancing with Harry Potter on his wedding day. Today I got my wish. Hermione is the nearest thing I've got to a big sister and I couldn't be happier for them."
Minerva's respect for the little redhead just went up another notch as Luna joined them before Neville asked Ginny to dance. Harry was currently dancing with his mother in law while Dan had his daughter in his arms. The Lupins looked as if they were the newlyweds as the danced close.
"Professor, Harry has just promised to send us photographs of today. Don't you think that would make a wonderful front page on the first issue of Hogwarts Teen Weekly?"
"Miss Lovegood, I think that's a brilliant idea. Do you think we could keep their wedding a secret until then?"
"Well everyone who knows about it is in this room right now. The Potters and Grangers are leaving the country tomorrow so they won't be telling anyone. Ginny certainly won't want to be the one to tell Ron what he missed. Professor Lupin will think it's a great prank and Neville knows how to keep his mouth shut."
"Miss Lovegood, I think you just talked yourself into the job of editor."
"Thank you professor, Harry's also going to send them to my father so we want to publish our magazine on the same day, that gives us until Thursday."
Minerva thought that was an excellent suggestion. The Hogwarts group could work on the magazine but only the group here tonight would know what the front page was going to be. Anyone else who needed to know would be sworn to secrecy. This would launch the magazine with an almighty bang.
-oOoOo-
Albus was wondering why he'd been brought to the interview room when the door burst open with an almighty bang. Severus strutted into the room and sat across from his former boss.
"I did it old man, the dark lord is no more."
It took a moment for that momentous news to sink in. "Well done Severus, how did you manage it?"
"I used Dante's potion."
It was a good job Albus was sitting because his legs would never have supported him after hearing that. "The antidote, you took it? Obviously you took it or you wouldn't be sitting here talking to me. What the hell were you thinking?"
"I was thinking I could get myself out from the situation I'd been manipulated into. I want my life back and Potter's gold will certainly help with that."
"What about Harry?"
"What about him? He's leaving our world and I don't see them lining up to proclaim me as their new savior, Bones looked desperate to get away and take a shower. If Potter leaves me alone, I can live with that."
"Well Severus, I'm delighted to see you're finally seeing some sense. Perhaps the antidote wasn't as bad as Dante's manuscript indicated?"
"I spent over a decade working on it to ensure I would survive. You had your ace in the hole old man, that was mine. When Potter stopped playing your game, it totally destroyed all your plans. I never counted on anyone but myself."
Albus had the grace to look embarrassed. "At least our plan worked, now I can get out of here…"
"Our plan? When did it become 'our plan?' I'm sorry Severus, I can't help you in any way. I distinctly remember those words old man, you threw me at Voldemort and didn't care whether I lived or died. Just another one of your little schemes, just another pawn to be sacrificed in your game."
"Severus, I always had confidence in you…"
"Save it Albus. Your little scheme had one massive flaw running right through it. When the ministry offered me that pardon, I told them everything."
This was an even bigger shock to Dumbledore than discovering Voldemort was dead. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Everything?"
"Yes old man, every single thing you've done in the fifteen years that I've worked for you. I just came here to say goodbye because you're totally fucked!"
"Why?"
"I told you why, I want my life back. Voldemort's gone but I needed rid of you too, otherwise I would never be free. We won't meet again Albus, it's been fun."
Severus walked out of the room as four aurors practically had to carry Dumbledore back to his cell.
-oOoOo-
Harry picked his bride up and carried her across the threshold of their room. This was not the room Hermione had left earlier that morning though, Dobby and Winky had made one or two modifications.
There was now a giant four-poster bed that was draped in white silk, there were at least five hundred candles floating in the air. Soft music was playing while every surface appeared to be covered in scented rose petals.
Hermione had both her arms around her husband's neck as he cradled her in his arms. "Harry, this is beautiful. You're spoiling me."
"Mrs Potter, you deserve the best. Unfortunately, you had to settle for me so I promise to spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you."
"Mr Potter, I got the only thing I ever wanted. It even came gift-wrapped in tartan. Now help me get out of this dress before I rip it off, I want to open my present."
Who could argue against reasoning like that. Harry hurriedly complied with his wife's suggestion.
-oOoOo-
Severus was proudly marching through the ministry atrium toward the public floos when a woman made a beeline straight toward him. The witch appeared as if she'd been waiting for some time.
"Severus, the news has been going crazy all day saying you killed you know who, is it true?"
He was not in the mood to talk to anyone, spending time with Albus would often do that to him. "Yes it's true."
"Severus, if you're going away, could you please take me with you?"
Severus carefully scrutinised the young witch, she really was quite pretty. "Why?"
She removed her hat to reveal the matching scar. "There really is nothing for me here either."
"Matilda, you know I'm an utter bastard?"
"Severus, you are my only hope. No one else will have anything to do with me. You are the only other person who can understand what this mark means, please?"
He thought for a moment before nodding. Matilda jammed her hat back on and followed him as he walked away, she missed the smile on his face.
Severus threw some floo powder into the fireplace and called out Gringotts before disappearing, Matilda followed.
-oOoOo-
Cornelius could see the writing was on the wall, his only objective now was to try and stop it appearing all over the pages of the Daily Prophet. He was a politician though and was sure he could still squeeze a drop of good publicity out of this for himself.
He was positive Amelia wouldn't want to see the good name of the ministry dragged trough the mud, by offering to resign at Halloween Cornelius felt certain she would settle for that outcome.
The muggle Prime Minister would be contacted and Cornelius would take great delight in passing along the good news. The last remaining terrorist who participated in the Crawley attack was now dead, as was the leader who ordered it carried out.
In his retrial speech, he would be able to claim forging closer relations with the muggle government as one of his major achievements. That he also presided over the final demise of the dark lord should pace the final stamp of approval on his years of leadership.
Yes, there might even be a book or two out of this if he played his cards right. Cornelius Fudge might soon be gone from the ministry but it would be a long time before he was forgotten.
Retiring to pursue other things certainly sounds so much better than being sacked and facing charges of incompetence and corruption.
These revelations made by Snape would see Amelia's department buried under mountains of work, he was sure she would let him sneak out the back door so there could quickly be a new minister appointed.
-oOoOo-
The news that Voldemort was finally dead, combined with some startling implications against prominent members of their society, meant all eyes were glued to the Daily Prophet that Sunday. The wedding party's return was hardly noticed and certainly not commented upon. These topics continued to dominate peoples' attention for the rest of the week, even owls delivering packages to Neville, Ginny and Luna a few days later didn't rate a comment when compared to some of the charges Dumbledore was reportedly facing. His apparent excuse that it was all for the greater good was going down about as well as mash potato peppered with broken glass. Indigestible.
Ron felt all these revelations were at least diverting attention away from the transgressions of him and Lavender. There was also a sense of excitement as today saw the first publication of Hogwarts new magazine. Lavender sat down beside him and Ron was sure she appeared so distraught because his girlfriend hadn't gotten the chance to work on the new Teen Weekly.
"Ron, I'm late. I'm never late and I have a really bad feeling about this."
McGonagall was standing to talk as Ron attempted to offer comfort to his girlfriend. "It's ok honey, you were only a couple of minutes late and you haven't missed anything yet. In fact, you were later down to breakfast yesterday."
"Good morning everyone. We've all read the startling revelations that have happened in our world since Saturday, we included a few articles on how we think this might affect the Hogwarts community in our first issue of Teen Weekly."
"No Ron, you don't understand. I think I'm expecting."
"We're all expecting to get our hands on the new magazine the moment McGonagall shuts up, you'll just have to be patient."
"Unknown to all but a few, there was another big event taking place on Saturday. This one was a bit more pleasurable than the widely reported demise of a dark lord. I, along with a few staff and students, felt truly privileged to be included."
"Ronald Weasley, I think I'm pregnant with your baby!"
"We decided to lead with that story and you'll understand all the secrecy in a moment. I give to you the first ever issue of Hogwarts Teen Weekly."
The magazines appeared on the house tables by the same method as their meals and all the squeals of delight masked the sound of Ron Weasley's head smacking off the Gryffindor table as he fainted. Lavender was shaking Ron and slapping his face before Dean's comment cut her off.
"I can't say I don't understand his reaction."
Seamus was nodding in agreement. "Your two best friends in the world get married and you don't even get told about it, far less bag an invite. Bound to have some affect. Does Ginny look hot in that dress or what?"
Lavender's attention switched to the colour magazine that had appeared next to her. There, on the front page, was Harry kissing Hermione as their wedding guests cheered in the background. The fact that it was obviously a muggle picture detracted not one iota from its impact.
Flipping over the page revealed lots more pictures and a glance up showed Neville, Luna and Ginny being bombarded with questions as they sat at the Ravenclaw table. Even from here though, Lavender could clearly see they weren't handing out many answers. If only she'd chosen the same route, she and Ron would have been included in those fabulous pictures and not sitting here with their lives about to crash and burn.
Lavender though was still enough of a fashion hound to mentally correct Seamus. Ginny wasn't hot, she and Luna were smoking while Hermione simply set the page on fire. Their had been gallons of drool deposited by witches up and down the country over the picture of the trio fighting dementors, Harry and Neville in kilts might start a whole new trend for printing onto waterproof paper.
Ron was eventually starting to stir, only to feel light-headed once more the instant his eyes focused on the magazine in front of him. The implications of this left him shattered. Ron was now holding Lavender's hand and trying to console himself that at least things couldn't get any worse when a voice boomed out over the entire great hall.
"Ronald Billius Weasley!"
His mother was marching toward him with a copy of the Quibbler in her hand, rage etched over every square inch of her face. Molly Weasley had apparently decided to deliver this Howler personally.
Epilogue
The Potters walking through the magical portal onto platform nine and three quarters was the family's first contact with the general wizarding public for eighteen years. Yes they always kept in touch with the Longbottoms, Weasleys and Lupins, that though was the limit of their involvement with wizarding Britain. Harry and Hermione had occasionally met with Minister Bones, but never inside the ministry of magic and always in conjunction with their roles in the government. In fact the Potter family now spent at least eight months of the year overseas.
The reason for today's expedition was simple, Daniel Potter was eleven and had received his Hogwarts letter. Daniel was the eldest of their three children, being conceived the night his parents discovered they'd passed their degrees. His sister Jane and brother Mathew had followed at roughly two year intervals. The entire family was here to see Daniel off on the express. That of course included his two best friends, Billy and Toni.
That these friends were the twins of Dobby and Winky never raised an eyebrow in the Potter household, all three youngsters had been raised together as the extended family travelled the globe. Like today though, the twins wore glamours Hermione had designed whenever they interacted with the outside world.
The family were treated to a lot more than raised eyebrows as the Potters, flanked by the Grangers made their way along platform nine and three quarters. The legend of the boy who lived had only grown since Harry left and, with none of their friends ever breathing a word of what they were actually up to, speculation over the Potters' lives had almost become an industry in itself.
Harry and Hermione could see their children beginning to physically wilt as the staring, pointing and whispering gradually intensified. Nine year old Jane had inherited her fathers green eyes and her mother's brown bushy hair, she was also the most sensitive of the three Potter children. Whatever part of the world they happened to be in, Jane would always find small animals that had been hurt and bring them home to be helped. She was a complete natural with all kinds of creatures and seemed to have a special empathy for reading emotions. The young girl didn't like what she was sensing here. Though normally anything but shy, Jane was almost hiding behind her mother.
"Mum, I don't want to go to Hogwarts."
"Honey, you have another two years before you have to make that decision."
"I don't care mum, I won't change my mind. I don't like being stared at."
Matt had a tight grip of his father's hand, he obviously shared his sister's sentiments. "Dad, why are all the people staring at us?"
Harry wasn't sure how you explain that to a seven year old. "They've always stared at me son. That's why your Uncle Neville and Aunt Luna took care of Daniel's shopping for him, we would be mobbed walking down Diagon Alley."
"But dad, don't they know staring, pointing and whispering is rude?"
Harry couldn't fault his son's logic. "They know son, they just don't care."
Daniel may have looked the spitting image of his father at the same age but there all similarities ended.
This was no child who had been denied affection and friends, Daniel had been raised in the heart of a loving family who really enjoyed travelling around the world. While his mum and dad would work at constructing and then establishing the hospital, his gran would be concentrating on the school that would always be built next to the hospital. All three Potter children had been taught by their parents and grandparents, standing in this railway station and preparing to leave for school felt totally alien to them.
The aforementioned Daniel Potter was beginning to think he'd made a very big mistake. He was used to crowds and everyone knowing who his parents were but this was somehow different. Here he wasn't the son of two doctors who were building the local hospital, these people were ogling his parents as if they were superstar celebrities. Daniel was actually more like his father at this point than he realised. He was bewildered and scared, just like an eleven year old Harry Potter had been while standing here all those years ago.
Harry spotted Daniel's distress so handed Matt over into his grandfather's care before kneeling down on one knee to talk to his eldest son. "What's the problem Daniel?"
Daniel looked toward his two best friends, then to his family. "Dad, how did you stand all the attention? Never knowing if someone was really your friend? How could you be away from everyone you loved for all that time?"
Harry looked up at his smiling wife before answering. "It was easy for me son, everyone I loved was at Hogwarts. That was worth all the staring and pointing in the world to me."
"I don't know if I can do this dad? I've listened to all the wonderful stories about Quidditch and Gryffindor but it's suddenly just hit me, I won't see you guys until Christmas. I don't know if I want to go dad?"
"Is that all that's troubling you?"
"I've felt like a bug under a microscope ever since we walked through the barrier. I'm not even on the train yet and everyone's staring and pointing, what will it be like in Hogwarts?"
"Well you know your Uncle Remus and Aunt Tonks will be in the castle, Teddy's also head boy this year. The four Weasley girls will also be there, you know them."
Harry saw his son wince and realised his last comment was not a positive incentive. It apparently wasn't just Quidditch scoring records Ginny was breaking, her birth had well and truly shattered the 'no female Weasleys' curse. Ron and Lavender were now the proud parents of four daughters. Their grandparents adored the girls with the Burrow becoming a party venue every time they visited. All the girls were now attending Hogwarts and each was almost a clone of their mother at the same age. Ron had left Hogwarts early, with no NEWT's and a baby on the way. Harry had pulled him out a deep hole by sending Ron ten percent of WWW as he had always intended. The twins though decided Ron should work to make his ten percent worth more and gave him a job.
With his four girls being born in rapid succession, Ron was now a work-o-holic and managed the Hogsmead branch of the company. Privately, Harry felt that he too would do anything to get out of a house that had five Lavenders in it.
When the Potters had last seen the girls, the two youngest had gotten into a fight over who was going to be Daniel's girlfriend. The oldest already had her eyes set on Harry's godson. Neither Teddy nor Daniel were even consulted in these matters and both boys went out of their way to avoid the girls.
Daniel then got to the very heart of the matter. "Dad, would you be really angry with me if I said I didn't want to go? I think I'd rather continue attending school the way we have been."
The hopeful expressions mirrored on three faces earned a smile from Harry. "When have I ever been really angry at you?"
"Well, there was that one time in Uganda where Billy, Toni and I vanished the clothes of our entire class."
Harry leaned over to whisper in his son's ear. "Dobby and I thought that was bloody hilarious. It was your mum, gran and Winky who were mad."
This seemed to make Daniel's mind up. "Dad, mum, I don't want to go to Hogwarts. I want to go back to Brazil with you guys and learn the way I have been."
Hermione had also been keeping an eye on the crowd steadily building around them and was beginning to feel like her family were some exotic exhibit in a zoo. Who needs Pandas when you can stare at the Potters?
"I agree with Daniel. I think we made a serious mistake in thinking he could go to Hogwarts and just be a normal student. We can send an owl to Remus once we get out of here."
Emma had a large grin on her face as she nudged her husband. "Told you."
This had both Potter parents looking toward her, their expressions clearly indicating they expected an explanation.
The grandmother gave a wistful grin as she answered. "We've seen you do wonderful things all over the world. Being parted from one of your children for four months was always going to be a step too far for you. Look me in the eye and tell me your not delighted with the decision Daniel's just reached?"
Harry began laughing and ruffled his eldest son's hair. Billy and Toni were jumping for joy that their best friend wouldn't be on the other side of the world until Christmas. It was left to little Matt to have the last word.
"If Daniel and Jane aren't going, then me neither." This was said with all the conviction a seven year old could muster.
Mathew then found himself hoisted onto his grandfather's shoulders as the family fought against the flow of people entering and headed for the exit. That the Potters were obviously leaving was proving an extremely unpopular decision with the gathered crowd and Harry found himself having to glower at a few people to get them to move out their path.
They had almost reached the barrier when a face Harry hoped he would never see again passed trough it, accompanied by two teenage girls and a woman he also recognised.
"Potter."
"Snape, long time no see. I can't say I've missed you."
Severus was pushing his daughters behind him, their mother reacting quickly and gathering both girls into her arms. He then caught sight of Hermione and knew there was something he had to do.
"Mrs Potter, I owe you an unreserved apology for my behaviour toward you. I was in a very bad place at the time but I have really no excuses." Severus glanced towards his girls who were struggling to get back to their father, clearly sensing something was wrong here. "Over everything I've ever done, that one incident gives me the most frequent and horrific nightmares. I keep seeing my daughters faces…" He actually couldn't finish what he was trying to say but everyone got the gist of it.
Harry's temper may have mellowed over the years but he knew there was no way he could be rational with Snape. This would be Hermione's call. Harry had taught his wife everything he knew and she could easily deal with the pardoned death eater.
Hermione instantly noticed that neither Snape nor his wife still carried Harry's mark, she understood this indicated that they really had changed. She also noticed the two girls desperate to get back to their father's side.
She nodded her head in acceptance. "Those were different times and there have been many changes since. I see no need to open old wounds."
Dan however disagreed. He had handed Matt over to his grandmother and then launched himself at the bastard who had arranged the attack on his daughter. By the time Harry managed to pull Dan off, Snape was on the ground and his face was a bloody mess.
Matilda held on tight to both her daughters, they were screaming at this man who was attacking their father. She knew her husband deserved this and more. Severus may have been handed a pardon but over the years he'd never pardoned himself, there wasn't a week went by but that nightmare woke him. Perhaps this would give the man she loved the closure he so badly needed.
Harry had both his arms wrapped around his father in law but Dan was still glaring down at the prostrate figure of Snape, the man was bleeding from his nose and mouth. "The only reason I don't kill you right this minute is that Hermione was never really in any danger that night. Harry was with her the entire time. Even at sixteen, he was more of a man than you'll ever be."
Hermione took her father's now damaged hands in hers, the glow as she healed Dan's hands was noticeable to the hundreds of people who were now watching the free entertainment. "Let's all go home dad, there's nothing here for us anymore."
The large crowd was forced to part as Daniel Potter pushed his trolley toward the portal back to Kings Cross, leading his family away from their very brief foray back into the magical world. Harry was the last to leave and turned around to see Snape now being attended to by his wife and two crying daughters.
"Severus, I thought it was poetic justice that Dumbledore spent his last years locked up and thanks for Peter. You saved me a job there."
With the entire platform watching, Harry calmly passed through the portal. Thus ending the Potters link with magical Britain.
The End
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