Our Only Hope

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Our Only Hope Chapter 10

Severus’s home was quiet when he and Harry got back after the meeting at the Ministry. He checked in on Lily, and gave giving her a kiss on the forehead and tuckingtucked the blanket securely around her small frame. When he entered into the living room, all the lights were dimmed and there was a small fireslight blaze in the going in the fireplace. It was a balmy night and there was certainly no need for a fire to be burning. Severus looked down, and saw Harry sitting on his marooned comforter that Harry had confiscated from his bedroom. He wanted to be angry but Harry only smiled and offered Severus a cognac.

“Making yourself at home I see,” snarled Severus.

Severus felt bad when he saw the look of doubt flash across Harry’s face.

“I’m sorry Severus. I’ll put everything back where I found it,” Harry said, starting to stand. He but found himself being pushed back against the down comforter with a rather large Slytherin lying on top of him.

“You will stay exactly where you are for the remainder of the evening,” Severus said as he nuzzled Harry’s neck.

“You do remember that you have a precocious five year old in the next room?” Harry asked as he gently pushed his lover off of him.

Severus sighed as rolled onto his back. “If we weren’t going to copulate in front of the fire what exactly were you thinking of doing?” Severus felt quite put upon.

Harry picked up his drink and took a small sip before answering. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not a bit tired, and I thought we could lie in each others arms and watch the fire burn. I thought we could talk about our future together.”

“Is there a future for us?” Severus asked shyly.

“I certainly hope so. I meant what I said at the Ministry about being by your side wherever.” Harry pulled Severus’s pliant body next to his. “I just wonder how Lily will take having an Uncle Harry hanging around.”

“She has grown up in the theater; she’ll have no problem with the idea of me being involved with a man. Being involved with you may be a slight problem. She has a very good memory, and you were one of the men who kidnapped us.”

“I’ll win her over with my charm,” Harry said as he nibbled on Severus’s earlobe. “Do you think she’d like a crup?” Harry worked kissing his lover’s neck.

Severus shivered with anticipation. “None of that, Mr. Potter, and no crup. If you wish to win her over, once we get back to London, you may get her a pet, a small one.”

Severus moaned as Harry worked his way down to Severus's shoulder. “If you don’t stop this instant I fear that our evening of conversing with one another will be forgotten.”

“Talking is way overrated,” Harry said as he stood. “Your room?” he asked as he offered his hand to Severus.

“I think that is an excellent idea.” Severus said as Harry helped him up from the floor.

It took forever for the two lovers to get to Severus’s bedroom. The two men had to stop every few feet to kiss and explore each other. They had sex many times since they bonded, but this, this time was different. This felt like making love. It was the first time Severus felt like he belonged since his abrupt re-introduction to the magical world. His beloved Jasmine would always be with him, and he would cherish her until the day he died, but he didn’t have to be lonely any more. He had his daughter and he had Harry. What else did he need?

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Lily was awake at the break of dawn. Even thought she somehow knew that her father had tucked her in and had given her a kiss on her forehead, it wasn’t enough. She wanted to kiss her father good-night as well. He should have woken her. Now she would demand two kisses; one for the night before and a good-morning kiss. She made a mad dash from her room, straight through the living area, and into her father’s bedroom doing a flying leap onto the bed.

“Lily!” Severus grunted when she landed on top of him.

“Good-morning, mon père.” she said, throwing she threw her tiny arms around her father’s neck and hugged him. “I came for my kisses.”

Lily was startled when the bed began to move. Her eyes narrowed as she watched it slither beneath the sheets.

Pouncing on the moving object she screamed at Severus, “Run Da, I’ll protect you!” Her little fists rained down on the lump under the sheets.

“Lily, will you please stop beating up my boyfriend?” Severus grabbed his daughter by the waist and lifted her off of Harry. That didn’t stop her attack as she flailed her arms and kicked her legs at the bulge on the bed.

“You don’t have a boyfriend,” she said as she stopped struggling and looked at her father suspiciously. “Do you?”

“Yes, my darling, I have a boyfriend, and if you settle down I would like you to meet him,” Severus sat her down between the two of them.

“Harry, it’s safe to come out now,” he said, snickering.

Harry slowly popped his head out from under the covers. “You sure?” He asked as he gave Lily a shy grin. “Your daughter has a hell of a punch.”

“Da, he swore, punish him,” Lily demanded.

“I promise you my dear that I will severely punish him,” Severus said with a leer.

Harry had to bite his lip to prevent himself from laughing.

“Now Lily, go and get dressed. We’ll meet you for breakfast,” Severus quietly ordered. Lily gave her father a peck and took off running back to her room.

“Does she ever slow down?” Harry asked as he slipped his slacks over his narrow hips.

“No. She is always in perpetual motion. The only times she stops is when she is resting, and I usually have to force her to do that,” Severus replied as he buttoned his shirt.

“Severus…Harry are you here?”

“Oh for Merlin sakes!” Severus infuriately mumbled. “Can’t a man dress in peace around here?”

Harry smiled both at Severus and hearing a familiar voice.

“Remus,” Harry yelled through the door, “We’ll be right out. Make yourself comfortable.”

Severus gave Harry his evil eye, “Once we are co-inhabitants you may then make the decisions until then they will be made by me,” he growled.

“Lupin,” Severus yelled, “there's tea in the kitchen. Help yourself.”

Severus gave Harry a quick nod as to say ‘there’.

The sound of Lupin’s gentle voice coming from the living area sent Severus back to a time he hadn’t thought of for decades. A memory he chose not to remember. It was only a week…a most perfect week as he recalls. It started with a brush of hands in the library, glances at each other during class, studying together in the evening and a kiss, Severus’s first kiss, in the Astronomy tower. Then Sirius sent Severus a note asking to meet him in the Shrieking Shack and destroyed everything that might have been between him and the werewolf. Severus shook his head bring him back down memory lane.

Severus had lost the bitter feelings he had towards the werewolf decades earlier. The wolf had suffered under the Ministry as much, if not more, than he had. He had forged for himself, as Raymond Allen, a wonderful life full of great friends, fulfilling work, a perfect wife, an amazing daughter and now… Harry. Lupin still had what was given to him by his friends and the paltry stipends given to him by the Ministry for being a war hero.

The Ministry may not have taken away Remus’s magic or erased his memory, but they did take away his right to the pursuit of happiness and a decent living by the restrictions that the they had imposed on werewolves.

As Severus continued getting dressed, an old phrase kept repeating over and over again: ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Severus would find it hard to admit, but there was, if not affection, at least a fondness for the werewolf.

When Severus and Harry emerged from the bedroom they found Remus and Lily in the kitchen, Lily staring at Remus. Remus was quietly talking to her, apologizing for helping take her away from her home. Lily listened quietly, then nodded her head and held out her hand. Remus shook it. Lily smiled and giggled when she saw her father and Harry enter the room.

“Severus,” he acknowledged, “Harry, I have word…”

Severus raised his hand to stop Remus from continuing. “Whatever it is it will wait until after breakfast. Come, join us.” He graciously led the small gathering to the breakfast table where the house elf out did himself with delectable fare.

With a nod, Remus joined them. It was an enjoyable breakfast. Remus and Severus regaled tales of their childhood that entertained both Harry and Lily. Neither the Marauders nor the Death Eaters were mentioned. Afterwards, Severus rushed his daughter to play in her room. The trio settled in the living room with cups of tea. Remus began telling Severus and Harry what happened after they left the night before.

“By midnight, the news of our meeting was spreading like a wildfire,” Remus said, taking a sip of his sweetened tea. “It seems that we had a fly on the wall in our meeting that none of us were aware of.”

“Don’t tell me…Rita Skeeter,” Harry said, shaking his head in amazement. He should have known.

“Correct. She didn't wait until the morning to post it in The Prophet. She firecalled her closest friends with the news as soon as she left the meeting. Those friends called their friends, and our greatest fear happened.” Remus paused, taking another sip of his tea before continuing. “The Wizarding World that we tried so hard to protect here in England will be no more very soon.”

“What are you talking about?” questioned Harry.

“The vast majority of wizards are packing their belongings and moving to the mainland. The others, who are staying behind, are refusing to give up their magic. Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade were burnt to the ground from the rioting and looting. If you step outside, you will be able to smell the smoke and see the ashes all around you. This is the first time in centuries that Hogwarts is empty. The parents are pulling the students from the school as quickly as they can. Minerva is besides herself.”

“I had expected…I had no idea…” Severus didn’t know what to say. Revenge was a dish best served cold, but he found little joy in what he heard. It was enough that they would loose their magic; he didn't expect the Wizarding world to fall apart.

“The government has collapsed. For his own safety, Arthur had to flee. He barely had time to collect his and Molly’s belongings before his house was set on fire. I think he and most of his family has gone to Canada. The Malfoys took their children and went to the south of France. Kingsley has family in the states; he's staying there until things calm down. Minerva,” Remus snickered, “ever the warrior, plans on staying and fighting until her last breath for Hogwarts and the Wizarding World. She has changed her mind and is keeping her magic.”

“Good idea. She’ll need it if she wants to start up Hogwarts again. And you, Remus? What are your plans?” Harry asked. Remus could see the tears that threatened to fall in Harry’s green eyes.

“Me? Guess I’ll go to Bucharest. There’s a werewolf community that will accept me. I’m trying to keep in touch with as many of us as I can--addresses, e-mails, phone numbers--anything that I can use at a later date. I have no doubt when clear heads prevail that everyone will come back and make our society better and stronger than it ever has been,” Remus said sadly.

“Lupin,” Severus said hesitantly, “If you would like to join us in London Harry and I would love to have you. I could make your wolfsbane each month.” Severus wasn’t sure why he made the offer but it did seem to make Harry quite happy, and that in turned made him happy.

“Yes Remus, you must join Severus and me in London. We could gather a few of our friends and start a small Wizarding community there. It would be wonderful,” Harry excitedly said.

“Harry, it would be wonderful and I would really like to take a good quality wolfsbane each month, but I would be interfering in your life and I think I and the Wizarding World has used you enough. It’s time we learn to stand on our own without relying on others.”

“Severus tell him we won’t take no for an answer,” Harry demanded.

“Remus, I have a very nice estate outside of London that I never use. It’s rather a large parcel of property; a place where you can start your small Wizarding community. I’m certain that with a little magic that it could be very comfortable. Harry and I won’t even come and visit,” Severus explained.

“Unless you ask us,” Harry smiled.

“All right you win,” Lupin said, restraining an urge to hug Severus and Harry.

“Severus, it’s going to be all right, isn’t it?” Harry whispered into Severus’s ear.

“I think it just might be,” Severus said, pulling Harry close to him and kissing his messy black hair. “I think everything is going to be all right.”



Dear Readers, thank you all for your reviews and being so patient with me. There will be an epilouge to this story and then I'll be onto my other ones I never finished. Onto a different subject. For those who did not like Caregivers I would like you to read the next chapter that will be out in a day or two. You will see a shift in the story. Please try it and let me know what you think. Once again thank you all, LadyJayVee