One Only Understands The Things That One Tames

~ Disclaimer: I own nothing but what springs from my imagination. Severus Snape, Hogwarts, and the rest of the Potterverse are the property and the children of JK Rowling. I have also used some of the words of Antoine de Sainte-Exupery in various places and in the title of this fiction ~

One Only Understands the Things That One Tames
Chapter 12 ~ Epilogue

The days went by. Severus, Remus, and Ariah went back to their mundane teaching lives, and Poe became a fixture at Hogwarts. He was more than welcome after his actions that day – flying back to Ariah with an arrow in his chest. Escaping Poppy’s ministrations to gather the ravens in order to assist Severus, Remus, and Ariah. There were rumors, of course, rumors about the mysterious death of Lucius Malfoy and the incarceration of Draco Malfoy. Ariah and Severus settled into their relationship, she having connected her hearth to the floo network immediately upon return to the castle (“You are not going to wander around the corridors on your way to my quarters picking up stray portkey coins…” she told Severus) and he having accepted that her intrusion into his life was particularly enjoyable. They never determined how exactly the coin got back into the castle, although Remus suspected it was dropped by owl or another familiar most likely belonging to Draco Malfoy (hence the scurrying that Severus had seen in the corridor prior to seeing the coin). Finally, Halloween was upon Hogwarts and a feeling of merriment was in the air. It annoyed Severus.

“I understand that the students are excited about the Halloween Ball, but must they discuss it constantly, even in potions class?” he complained at the staff table the morning of the ball.

“Well, it’s a big thing. First real social event of the year, not counting the arrival feast,” said Ariah.

Severus scowled, “Well, it’s infuriating. I certainly do not care what Liana Abbott is wearing as a costume or who Winifred Constantine is going with.”

“What is Liana Abbott going as?” asked Remus.

“Nefertiti…why the bloody hell did I answer that?” glared Severus, attempting to ignore the giggle from Ariah.

“What will you be wearing, Severus?” asked Albus, a gleam in his eye.

“I do not intend to attend,” he said darkly.

“Ariah?” began Albus.

“Oh no,” she replied, “I am not forcing him to attend. He’s cranky enough without forcing him to have a little fun and let his hair down, so to speak. I, however, will be there.”

“As will I,” stated Remus, giving Severus a sidelong glance.

“You dance, right Remus?” she asked.

“Why yes, Ariah, I do. Shall I make room on my dance card?”

“Absolutely.”

Severus scowled into his breakfast, “Bloody hell. Fine. I will attend. Someone will have to keep an eye on the students whilst others are gallivanting about the dance floor. Now, if you don’t mind, I have lessons to prepare for.” He got up and headed for exi exit.

“Oh, Severus?” called out Remus, “who IS Miss Constantine going to the dance with?”

“Mr. Kurano of Ravenclaw…bloody hell.” He swept out of the room, his robes billowing about him.

“How DOES he do that with his robes?” remarked Remus with a mischievous grin. Ariah shrugged and grinned in return.

Albus smiled at the playfulness of the younger members of his staff. He had noticed that in spite of his storminess, Severus was more a part of the staff and more a part of the activities of Hogwarts than he had been before. He was also pleased by the friendship that seemed to be strengthening between the potions master and the DADA professor. And he was ecstatic at dee deep and tender love that he knew existed between Severus and Ariah. While they didn’t show it during their professional life, it was obvious from the glances the two shared and in the way they looked at each other when they thought no one else was noticing. Albus often noticed the lone rose that appeared at Ariah’s place at breakfast and the way in which she held on to it, often caressing it, never leaving it behind when she left the Great Hall to begin her day. Yes, Albus Dumbledore was pleased. His children had come home from their adventures and they were safe behind the walls of Hogwarts.


* * * *

That night brought out the best in the students. They entered the Great Hall dressed in their costumes, many with dates for the evening. Ariah and Remus sat on the sidelines and watched them. Ariah was dressed as a Jane Austen character (“doesn’t matter which one,” she told Remus, “they all dressed the same.”) Remus was dressed as a rather nice looking pirate.

“So, is Severus going to show?” asked Remus.

“He said he’d be here as soon as he finishes brewing and bottling your Wolfsbane potion,” replied Ariah, “I volunteered to help, but he said I was too ‘caught up in the upcoming festivities to be of much assistance.’”

“You sounded just like him,” remarked Remus with a grin.

“He’s so predictable,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“You really love him, don’t you?”

“With everything that I am,” she stated, looking directly into Remus’ eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said, looking at the ground.

“For what?”

“Nearly getting you killed that day. I should have kept a closer eye on Malfoy. I should have known he had a wand. I should have known that he would come out of the stun faster…”

Ariah took his hand and forced him to look at her, “Hindsight is always 20-20, as the Muggles say. You did fine. How were you supposed to know he had his wand hidden by a charm? No one could have known that.”

“Still…”

“No still. You were there. You didn’t have to be and you were. You helped so much. Don’t ever blame yourself for what might have happened. Things happen the way they do for a reason. Perhaps I was meant to be cursed. Perhaps that was what was needed to break through Severus’ defenses. Perhaps that’s what was needed to bring my family back to me. You are my friend Remus, and I treasure you. I don’t blame you for anything.”

Remus nodded and changed the subject slightly, “Do you really think that Malfoy intended to try to raise Voldemort?”

“We’ll never know, I guess,” Aranswanswered. “Now dance with me,” she said, pulling him up by the hand she still held.

The joined the throng on the dance floor, smoothly winding their way through the students and other dancing faculty. Remus was a good dancer, nicely matched to Ariah, but he wasn’t Severus. She looked over his shoulder for some sign of the man she loved but was disappointed.

“You’re looking for Severus, aren’t you?” Remus asked, the smile appearing in his voice.

“Yes,” admitted Ariah, ate ate not being with him, no offense intended.”

“None taken.”

A Ravenclaw 7th year shyly asked to cut in and dance witmus.mus. Ariah smiled and gave way, making her way toward the doors to the Great Hall. She reluctantly headed out to the gardens to do a sweep of the grounds and ensure that no students were getting into any trouble. She walked to the rose garden, surprised to see that there were still roses in bloom, even in the chill of the Scottish autumn. She sat on a bench, taking in the crisp air. She closed her eyes and was overwhelmed by the sweet and slightly spicy scent of a rose that was quite nearby. She felt it tickle her cheek and opened her eyes. She saw a red rose brushing her face and turned around to see who was holding it. Severus stood behind her, not dressed in a costume, but not encased in his billowing robes either. Ariah smiled broadly and took the rose. Severus came around and sat next to her on the bench, taking her hand discreetly.

“I can’t promise you that it will be easy,” he said.

“Nothing worth it ever is.”

“And I can’t change who I am.”

“I wouldn’t want you to.”

“I can be quite…”

“Surly? Cranky? Insufferable? I know.”

“I was simply going to say ‘difficult’.”

“Well, yeah, that too,” she said.

“I’m not always a nice man.”

“Why are you telling me this? I know all your personality traits. I don’t want you to change. I like you the way you are.”

“I just wanted to remind you that being with me won’t be all romance and flowers…”

Ariah smiled, “Severus, it HAS been romance and flowers, but in your own way. You’re a private man and you keep your passion private. I know that. It seriously doesn’t bother me. If no one else knows how the roses appear at my place at breakfast, I know. And that’s all that counts, right?”

“You have tamed me, you know. You’ve changed me in unimaginable ways.”

“And you’ve tamed me. You’ve taught me so much,” said Ariah, smiling at him.

“You understand me like no one else ever has.”

“onlyonly understands the things that one tames,” quoted Ariah

Severus brushed his fingers across her cheek.

“You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed,” he quoted back to her.

“It’s a responsibility I accept gladly.”

“As do I.”

Ariah looked around the empty garden before brushing his lips with a soft kiss, “I love you, Severus Snape.”

Severus scowled and looked at the ground. He mumbled, “I love you as well.”

“Don’t worry, Sev, your secret’s safe with me,” Ariah smiled.

“Now, shall we head inside? I’m sure there are house points to be taken. Slytherin is a little behind Gryffindor…”

“I find that hard to believe with the number of points and detentions Gryffindor has suffered over the past week. Are you sure we should be seen entering the Great Hall together? I do have a reputation to uphold, you know,” she said playfully.

“Do hush, Professor Morrigan,” he said, leading her into the Great Hall, “your playfulness is most tiresome.”

“Hey, those flowers look too content, Professor Snape, perhaps you should engage in some foolish wand waving and blast their pretty heads off.”

“Don’t think the thought hasn’t occurred to me,” he said, glaring at the flowers.

“Insufferable bastard.”

“Incomprehensible woman.”

“Cranky old git.”

“Always have to have the last word, don’t you?”

“Absolutely.”

They crossed the Great Hall bickering. Albus once again smiled. Yes, they were home.