When Good Wizards Go Bad ~ (Small Edit, not Update

Chapter 16 ~ The Conclusion


Harry and Hermione appeared on the steps of the Ministry. Snape was there, Voldemort’s corpse on the ground before him.

”Damn it. Where are they?” he breathed.

Behind him, the doors to the Ministry opened and curious employees walked out.

”Hey. What’s going on out here?” an Auror asked.

Snape turned to him, the wizard blanching as he saw his Department Head scowling at him.

“I am about to announce a change in regime. You and the other Aurors stand guard,” Snape ordered.

”Yes sir,” the Auror said, running back inside to pass the order along.

Suddenly Order members began appearing. Snape breathed a sigh of relief. Good, they were here.

Kingsley Shacklebolt looked at the body of Voldemort in disbelief, then at Harry.

”Harry, you did it! You’ve destroyed the Dark Lord,” he said reverently.

Snape scowled.

”WE killed him, Kingsley. Both Mr. Potter and myself with a dual Killing curse. We are equally responsible for his death,” the dark wizard said. “Coupled with my brilliant planning, I would say I am the greater hero of the two, and expect my reward to reflect that.”

Kingsley shook his head.

”You’re something else, Snape. Whatever you want,” the wizard said as Aurors exited the building and took up defensive positions around their Department Head.

People began to gather, drawn at first by the great number of wizards and witches in prison uniforms, then crying out in shock as they saw Voldemort’s body lying before Snape. People were pouring out of the Ministry building now, the Aurors directing them down the stairs and into the murmuring crowd below. Whispers of “that’s Harry Potter. I thought he was dead,” could be heard throughout.

Photographers appeared, snapping pictures of the body and Snape, Harry, Hermione and Kingsley.

Snape put the tip of his wand to his throat and amplified his voice.

”Good people. The Dark Lord is no more. He has met his end at the hands of myself and Harry Potter,” Snape said to the people, “We will return to the practices and traditions of our world before this despot usurped our society. Amnesty will be offered to all those who have served the old regime, with the exception of those whose crimes are so grave as to warrant Azkaban . . .”

As if on cue, the Ministry doors flew open and an enraged Bellatrix LeStrange exited, screaming at the sight of the dead Dark Lord.

”Snape! You traitorous bastard! I’LL KILL YOU!” she screamed drawing her wand and running forward.

Hermione stuck out her foot and tripped her, sending the witch tumbling head over heels down the long flight of stone stairs where she landed unconscious. Hermione then pulled out her wand and bound her.

”Fuck me with a strap-on will you, you sick bitch,” the witch muttered as she tightened the ropes as much as possible.

She then looked at Snape, who nodded and continued as two Aurors dragged Bellatrix away.

”We will have a new Minister of Magic put into place until such time as we can have fair elections. Kingsley Shacklebolt,” Snape announced, gesturing towards Kingsley, who nodded soberly.

Cheers went up from the crowd.

”I myself will be retiring from my position of Head of Magical Law Enforcement as soon as a replacement can be found. I’ve always hated politics,” Snape said, then looked at Hermione.

”I must add that Voldemort’s demise would not have been possible without the ingenious input and action of Miss Hermione Granger,” he added. “She was most important to the successful conclusion of my plans.”

More cheers arose from the crowd as Hermione looked at them soberly.

“As for the rest of the story, I am sure Mr. Shacklebolt, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger can fill you in. I’ve had a long day,” the wizard said, then turned to the Aurors. “As of now you are all under the authority of Kingsley Shacklebolt.”

The Aurors nodded, a bit relieved. Life was going to be much easier now.

Snape looked at Hermione.

”Goodbye, Miss Granger. Enjoy your life,” he said, then disapparated.

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Hermione didn’t see much of Snape after that. Ron and the rest of the Weasleys returned from Canada, and Hermione fled wizarding England for a while to stay with her parents, who found her a different person. She wasn’t talkative or outgoing anymore. All she did was stay in her room and read and worked a little job at a local market as a cashier.

It was as if she had lost all her ambition.

Finally, after about six months, Hermione was drawn back to the world she loved. The world of magic. The wizarding world was restored, the Leaky Cauldron once again open as well as the borders. When it was discovered Hermione had returned, a number of dignitaries and official had ceremonies for her, to honor her for her part in bringing down the Dark Lord.

Hermione hated attending them. Everywhere she turned, she saw men who had been former clients, now they were smiling and handing her awards, portraying themselves as upstanding citizens. It was enough to make her sick when they introduced their wives and daughters, inviting her to dine with them.

And Ron, he couldn’t understand why Hermione avoided him.

”Hermione, was there someone else? Is that why you won’t even talk to me?” he asked her one day when he cornered her in a bookshop.

Hermione couldn’t tell him there were a lot of someone elses. Far too many. Finally she told him she was sterile and couldn’t have children. He didn’t take that well.

”Why did you do that! It was stupid, Hermione! You know I wanted kids. Lots of them,” Rod yelled at her.

”You can still have kids, Ron. Just not with me,” she said to him calmly.

Ron stared at her.

”My gods, Hermione. What’s happened to you? You’re nothing like you were in school. Nothing at all. You hardly talk to anyone anymore. Think you’re too good for the rest of us because you’re a hero?”

”No, it’s not that Ronald. It’s just all different. Everything has changed for me,” she said softly.

Ron stared at her. He still had feelings for Hermione, though her not being able to have children changed everything.

”Hey. We can still be close, Hermione, even if we don’t get married,” he suggested.

Hermione looked at him.

”Oh you mean shag buddies until the right witch comes along,” she said to him, her eyes narrowed.

”Yeah. That’s right,” he said.

Hermione scowled at him.

”Ron, you’re clueless as ever. Just leave me alone, all right. Go live your own life,” she said, pushing past him and exiting the shop.

Ron didn’t follow her. A couple of years ago he wouldn’t have let her walk away. But this Hermione wasn’t that Hermione. She was different. Another person all together. That was the end of their personal association.

The witch found herself constantly deluged by requests to make appearances at ribbon cuttings, political gatherings and so-forth, most of them given by wizards she had known carnally. Ever time she turned around she was met with her memories. It was horrible.

She had no one to confide in. She made Harry take an oath never to reveal what she had done. Snape, true to his word, obliviated the details of Hermione’s capture from Reginald’s mind, though he remembered giving her to the wizard as a gift from the Dark Lord.

Eventually, Hermione began to hate her notoriety, the impositions of the public, the constant meetings with men she knew were less than stellar, some vicious and twisted behind closed doors. She couldn’t stand her life anymore. It was just too complicated. She received a generous monthly stipend from the Ministry for her part in destroying Voldemort, as did Harry, who once again picked up with Ginny Weasley, who found him quite a gifted sexual partner.

Hell, he’d had a lot of practice over the past two years. He conveniently kept that to himself however. He did share the details of Snape’s true role in the death of Dumbledore, thus clearing the wizard before there ever was an inquiry.

The stipend was enough for Hermione to live modestly without working, and she didn’t work. She did nothing but go to ceremonies and give interviews. No matter how much she tried to say no, there were always those hounding her, tracking her down. Even paparazzi following her about trying to dig up something interesting on her.

There was no normal life for Hermione Granger. She feared there never would be again. If this kept up, she’d have to return to the Muggle world. As much a nightmare her life had become, she still loved wizarding England. It was her home.

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Severus Snape was walking to his study when there was a knock on the mansion door. The true owners of the mansion were deceased, and the wizard was allowed to keep it. Freed from his duties at the Ministry, the Snape spent all his time brewing original potions and patenting them, making a nice little living. Plus he got his monthly stipend and quite a substantial one, larger than Harry's and Hermione's combined.

He had acquired another witch too. Her name was Camille. She was Odessa’s polar opposite except in build. She was blonde, buxom and possessed the IQ of a flubberworm. She was much easier to deal with than Odessa. Less conniving and more accommodating. The only thing Snape couldn’t stand about her was her tendency to call him “Snapey” no matter how much he told her not to do it. The only reason he didn’t take her to task about it was because he sincerely believed she couldn’t retain instructions from one day to the next.

But she had great pussy, and could give a hell of a head job. So, it was a trade-off.

Snape walked to the door and opened it, to find Hermione standing there, sober-faced.

He looked down at her.

”I was wondering if you found a witch yet?” she said to the wizard, who cocked his head at her.

“Are you applying for the position?” Snape purred at her.

”If it’s open. I mean, you’re just one wizard after all and I think peace is going to be the closest I can get to happiness,” she said softly, her cool eyes resting on him.

There was no shame or embarrassment in her gaze. Again, Hermione Granger was doing what she felt she had to do to survive. At least here, she wouldn’t be bothered. Snape would never allow it. Most likely he would let her assist him in his work as well, and he had a fabulous library. Sleeping with him wouldn’t be a problem either. She was already familiar with what the wizard liked.

“Life didn’t turn out as normal as you hoped, did it, Miss Granger?” he said.

”No. The public is driving me crazy. I get no peace. And that’s all I want,” she said.

“Well, you know the conditions I set on witches who stay here,” he said to her.

”Yes. I know. I’ve stayed here before,” she replied.

”But not of your own free will. If you stay, it will be just as if you were under my power again,” he said silkily, “Same arrangements.”

”Better under you than the entire wizarding world,” she answered him softly.

The wizard studied her for a moment.

”Come in,” he said, stepping aside.

Hermione entered the familiar mansion. Snape walked to the bottom of the stairs.

”Camille!” he bellowed.

After a moment, a blonde in a white catsuit and stilettos appeared at the top of the landing.

”Yes Snapey?” she said in a little girlish voice.

Hermione smirked. Snapey? Oh Merlin.

”Pack your bags. You’re leaving,” he said.

Camille blinked down at him for a moment, then said, “Okay Snapey,” and minced away.

He turned to Hermione who looked as if she wanted to say something he wasn’t going to like.

”None of your cheek, witch. She was convenient,” he snapped at Hermione, who said nothing. This had the effect of pissing him off worse than if she had said anything.

Hermione Granger was the only witch in the world who could instantly get under his skin without saying a word. And that’s just what made their arrangement perfect.

It was quite monogamous and lasted many, many years.

In fact, it lasted a lifetime.

THE END

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A/N: Short and relatively sweet ending. Remember this was written just as a short PWP/adventure. Thank you all so much for reading.