A Tale of Two Wizards

Disclaimer: Not mine, but Jo's, sorry!

A big huge thank you to all of you who have read and reviewed this story! This is, sadly, the final chapter... unless you deviant, naughty, insatiable lot demand a sequel!

Decisions and Discussions

Severus paced up and down the dusty room in the Shrieking Shack. It was nine am, and he looked at the three people that he had brought with him. It was always good to have back up, but he’d have felt safer if Arthur and Remus had come instead, but they were both busy with work and Order business.

“Calm down, Severus,” Ginny said. “These floors aren’t that safe to begin with.”

Severus swung towards the child and grabbed her arms.

“Do you have any idea how she might look? I know Lucius Malfoy; he’s probably got her in chains. He’s probably beaten her black and blue. He has probably driven her to the point of meekness and submissiveness. Lucius is not a nice man, I was surprised she still looked healthy the last time I saw her.”

Ginny gulped and Harry went pale. Severus’ voice was soft and quiet, his teacher, lecture voice. Harry turned to look at Ron and Ron was trying to keep his stomach contents in.

“That’s sick!” Ron exclaimed.

“You’ll be surprised what women actually like, Weasley,” Severus hissed.

He took to pacing around the room again, his hands behind his back, his fingers circling around the other in sheer nervousness. Harry decided to sit down on the bed, and Ginny followed sitting on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and laid her head on his chest. He sighed and wrapped his arms around her waist. Ron looked on this with absolute rage.

“Get off his lap Ginny,” he ordered.

“No,” Ginny murmured. “Harry makes me feel safe. I don’t want to leave.”

“Get off his lap Ginny, or I’ll make you!”

“Oh Ron, we’re not going to start this again are we?” Harry asked with exasperation. “We love each other, Ron.”

Ron strode up and took her off his lap physically.

“Ouch! Ron, that hurt,” she screamed.

“Silence!” Severus hissed. He was teetering on the brink of impatience; three squabbling Gryffindorian adolescents weren’t improving his mood.

“Ron, when will you grow up?” Harry asked. “Ginny still loves you, you know, but she’s getting to the point in her life when she’ll want to break free a little from the Weasley family, and be with someone else. Whether that be me or another person more worthy of her, I don’t know, and I won’t be arrogant to presume that it’ll be me she’ll choose. You’ll have to let her go one-day. I’ve let Hermione go to Severus, and she’s like a sister to me, as you know.”

Ron looked at Harry.

“Ginny is still a kid,” he said.

Ginny rolled her eyes.

“Oh, shove off, Ron,” she said. She pushed past him and stood by Harry’s side. “My fight is with him.”

Severus watched this with interest. He watched Ginny wrap her fingers in Harry’s.

“Ron, we’re sort of engaged. I pledged my heart to Harry forever and no one is going to break that pledge. Harry and I are going to be married as soon as we can, and no, I am not going to break it off just because you can’t keep a girlfriend.”

“She would have been mine if Harry hadn’t had that crackpot idea of letting her go to that.”

He pointed his finger towards Severus, who arched his eyebrow.

“Would she?” He asked. “Remember, at the time I didn’t love her, even though I was attracted to her. It was only when I was separated from her that I fell in love with her. Hermione just happened to reciprocate. If she chose you today I’d gladly step aside and let her be happy with you. I’ve done it before. If you want to control Hermione you’re well on way to becoming a Death Eater.”

“Is that you want? To control her?” Ron asked shakily.

“No, I want Hermione to be happy. And you’d want the same if you truly loved her.”

Ron kicked his foot on the bedpost in frustration. He whacked it slightly too hard, and began hopping around, clutching at it, as it had obviously hurt him.

“And if you loved me,” Ginny began, “you’d want me to be happy with Harry.” She then turned towards Harry. “And what do you mean by someone ‘more worthy,’ hmm? You saved my life, remember.”

Harry blushed.

“Well, Ginny,” he said. “I have a temper and I could hurt you.”

“No more than my idiot brother over there.”

Harry looked at Ron who was still hopping around like a one legged rabbit.

“I love you, Ginevra Molly Weasley!” He exclaimed, as he picked her chin up and claimed her mouth.

They kissed a long, lingering, loving kiss. Severus walked up to them and folded his arms across his chest.

“Do you mind?” He asked.

“No,” Harry said smiling, as his green eyes sparkled with true happiness. “I don’t mind her at all.”

Severus rolled his eyes.

***************

Molly was busy bustling over Luna; her father felt that his daughter would get better care at the Burrow, than she would with him. Charlie stayed in her room, and held her hand, as he read to her the latest Quibbler report. Luna looked at Charlie.

“I remember you,” she breathed. “You brought me a toy dragon when I was three years old. It breathed real fire.”

Charlie smiled.

“Yes, I remember that, too,” he said. “Your mother was shocked, but you burst out in peals of laughter.”

Luna squeezed Charlie’s hand.

“You probably saved my life,” she sighed. She closed her eyes and Charlie left the room quietly. He never felt anything like this for any girl before. She was eccentric that was for damn sure. She had some odd ideas, and believed in some rather curious things, but she was strong, he could sense that. She was strong.

He walked down the stairs where his mother was cooking dinner.

“Mum,” he ventured.

“Yes dear,” Molly said.

“Do you like Luna?”

Molly stopped washing up and turned to face her son.

“Why do you ask that dear? She’s an eccentric, but it’s no wonder. She’s not evil though. Yes, I do like her.”

“Good,” Charlie said. “Because I’m beginning to as well.”

Molly smiled and hummed. The best benefit to having all these sons were the amount of daughters–in–law there were going to be. She could see her knitting for her large amount of grandchildren. She was only saddened that it seemed Hermione weren’t going to be one of them. She hoped the poor child was all right; she couldn’t bear the thought of Malfoy being the father to her child. She loved Hermione, as she loved Ginny, but she never told her that. Molly realised that she’d have to welcome Hermione properly, and help her, as she would if Hermione was still going out with Ron.

“Just take it slowly dear,” Molly said. “That’s the problem with war it rushes things that are best left unhurried. Not that I am complaining with your father dear, but I wished we could have had a bit more time to ourselves.”

Charlie wrapped his arms around his mum’s waist, and she turned around and hugged him back marking his back with soap marks.

“She’s only Ginny’s age mum I’m not likely to get her pregnant, yet.”

“You’re a Weasley, Charlie, all you have to do is look at a girl and she’s pregnant already.”

Charlie laughed.

“That’s true. Poor Luna.”

Molly laughed this time around. Charlie was probably the most Prewitt of her children. He seemed to be calmer and more laid back, with some semblance of brains behind his eyes. He was also the one that she received less notes from the school. The only thing that troubled her with him was his life long obsession with dragons.

“I just hope that if Luna decides to court you then you might have to ease her into the dragon thing.”

Charlie nodded, and then stole a slice of bread from the table, he began buttering it and he started eating it.

“Do you think I should go and keep an eye on Ron and Ginny?”

“Severus is with them and I trust Severus, oddly enough.”

“I wish I could be as optimistic, I mean he did kill Dumbledore.”

“And he’s in love with Hermione,” Molly pointed out.

“Why does everybody like Hermione? She sounds too serious for my liking a female Percy!”

Molly bristled at Percy’s name.

“She’s more loyal to us than Percy knows how to be, Charlie. You’ll see for yourself.”

Charlie folded up the slice of bread and bit into it.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “So loyal she’ll have sex with Slytherin men old enough to be her father!”

Molly didn’t hear.

************

Hermione and Lucius apparated outside the Shrieking Shack they appeared arm in arm. He gave the building a cursory glance. His eyes said it all… what a dump! Hermione agreed.

She opened the door and walked up the creaking stairs. He followed holding his cloaks in as tight as possible; he didn’t want them sullied by the house that was simply drowning in filth. Hermione was more regal, she swept up the stairs, and then they came to a door at the top of the stairs. She turned to look at him, and he nodded.

“All I’m saying is, Harry, she’s got to grow up first!” Ron exclaimed. “Even mum and dad didn’t do a heart pledge and they’re married.”

“She’s grown up enough for the both of us, Ron,” Harry snapped.

“The brat pack!” Lucius muttered.

“Look when the two of you finally have it out let me know,” Ginny said. “I’ve made my choice, Ron!”

Hermione decided to come in at that point. Lucius decided to stay behind just a little bit.

“I’m glad some things never change,” she said in clipped tones.

“Hermione!” Ginny squealed, and ran up to her friend, and wrapped her arms tightly around Hermione’s neck. Harry hugged her too, and Ron just nodded his head in her direction. She turned to look at Severus. Her heart was in her throat, as she thought about what she needed to say.

“Hello,” she said to him. He strode up to her and picked up her chin. She moved away from him. “I can’t!”

Severus growled, but bit back a sarcastic retort. He looked at her. She seemed different. A little worn. Lucius had, had her his way.

“What’s that?” Harry asked spotting the scroll in her hand.

“This is the family tree that Lord Voldemort did for me,” Hermione said. Ginny put her hand to her mouth, Ron was turning purple with rage, and Harry remained impassive and silent.

“Why?” Severus asked.

“Because he found out that I had a great aunt that was a witch, and he found it odd that two people from the same family in the same century went to Hogwarts, so he drew up a family tree.”

“Who was she?” Ginny asked.

“Moaning Myrtle believe it or not!” She exclaimed. Ron burst out laughing. “I’m glad someone finds this funny,” she said looking pointedly at Ron.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes, and then she unrolled the parchment. She laid it flat on the bed and everyone peered at it.

“YOU’RE RELATED TO MERLIN!” Ron yelled.

“And Dumbledore,” Hermione said, pointing at Albus’ name.

“Wow!” Harry breathed.

Ginny whistled.

“That’s news part one finished with,” she sighed. She rolled it up, and then sat down. “News part two concerns Severus.”

Severus looked up and gazed straight into her milk chocolate eyes.

“Yes, Mia, what is it?” he asked.

“I’m pregnant, Severus, Lord Voldemort said I could marry the baby’s true father. Now I’ve made this potion all it needs is to be separated into two vials, and you, and Lucius needs to add in some DNA. The colour the potion turns to would reveal whom the true father is.”

“What sort of potion is that?” Ron asked.

“Patriarchus,” Hermione said. “It’s Medi-Witch stuff.”

Lucius stepped into the room at that minute.

“Well, we better get this over with then, Sevvie old chap,” he said confidently. His ice-like eyes glittering with pride and confidence. “I can’t wait to see you fail this one.”

“No more than I, Lucius!” Severus growled.

Lucius smirked. He handed Hermione an empty vial. She measured out half into one and left half into the other one. The beauty about this potion was that it was 100% accurate. No one could deny it’s first result. She gave one to Lucius, and one to Severus.

Severus plucked a few hairs from his head and Lucius did the same.

The suspense was terrible. The chemical reaction would start in a few minutes. Hermione was gripping hold onto the covers; her stomach was roiling with nerves. Even Ron found he was holding his breath. Eventually, both vials fizzed, and bubbled a bit. Lucius and Severus kept eye contact though, both cool enough not to show their nerves.

The fizzing stopped and both looked down to see the colours. Severus smiled, and he was jumping inside. He looked up to see Lucius expression, and he was seething with rage. They both turned around, and Severus was about to pick Hermione up, and hug her, but Lucius stopped Severus with a full body bind.

“She’s mine Severus,” he snarled. “I’ll look after your child the way you looked after mine! I’ll be the perfect father to the baby.”

Hermione got up and quickly performed the counter curse on Severus.

“I said that I’ll marry the father, Lucius,” she said. “It is clear by the blue colouring in Severus vial that he is the father and that the red in yours indicates that you are not!”

Lucius swung his head towards her.

“But, I can be a father to the child even if I am not the father,” he said in a broken voice. He strode up to her and went down on bended knee and kissed her stomach. “Please, Hermione, I love you.”

“You are not the father and I honour my promises,” she said.

“Do you prefer Severus to me?” Lucius asked.

Hermione faltered. Did she? She didn’t know anymore.

“He can give you so much more,” Severus replied meekly. Hermione looked from one to the other. “I can’t give you half of what he can. He could give you anything you desire. The child, and you, would never be without.”

“That’s it, Severus,” Lucius murmured. “You know what and whom is best for the woman you love.”

Hermione Jane Malfoy. Hermione Jane Snape. Mrs Hermione Malfoy. Mrs Hermione Snape. Oh gods, those names running through her head like a mantra.

“Go with Lucius, Hermione,” Severus said. “If it is him that you truly love, I’ll let you go with all my heart. All I want for you is to be happy.”

Hermione bowed her head and Lucius had now risen from the floor. He put aside some of her hair.

“Severus,” she breathed. She looked deeply into his dark eyes, they no longer held that arrogance they once had, no longer was he the fiercesome Potions Master, no longer was he the man that had killed Dumbledore, but he was someone different.

He was a haunted man. He was a man prepared to give up his last chance of happiness for what? For a man like Malfoy? A man who wouldn’t let her go! A man who wouldn’t let her go to another man simply because it might make her happy to do so? She looked at Lucius. All she was to him was a possession, a plaything. A toy. A sex toy and nothing more! Lucius wanted to own her, not just simply marry her.

“Come on, darling, lets go home,” Lucius said offering her his arm. “You’ve said what you had to say.”

She looked up at Malfoy, the arrogance, the sneer; the man was not much different to the one she met when she was twelve. He just simply noticed she got older. She stepped back and reached her hand out behind her; Severus noticed it and he took it in his own.

“I am home now,” she said when Severus drew her into his arms.

Lucius was livid.

“Unless you’ve forgotten, darling,,” he snarled. “You can’t take that ring off unless you’re either dead or I am!”

“Then it shall be Severus’ ring,” she replied, tilting her chin up with pride.

“Oh no, sweetheart, it doesn’t work like that,” he said silkily. Lucius drew his cane out and unsheathed his wand. “Fortunately I know a permanent way to get rid of this nuisance once and for all!” His eyes took on a fire, the cold blue fire of hatred. “AVADA -!”

The wand was knocked out of his hand. Remus had stepped into the Shrieking Shack followed by Kingsley Shacklebolt.

“Lucius Malfoy we are placing you under arrest for the attempted murder of Severus Snape, for forcing a girl to succumb to your will, and for being too damn rich!” Remus said.

“It’s not a crime to be rich, Werewolf!” Lucius snarled.

“It is the way you got to be rich!” Remus exclaimed. Kingsley came up to Hermione. He picked up her hand and tapped the ring once, and then it slid off.

“Thank you, Kingsley,” she said. Kingsley patted Severus on the arm.

“Aren’t you going to arrest me?” Severus asked.

“No why? Remus and I talked the whole thing over with Dumbledore’s Portrait. He was quite adamant that you should remain on the outside. The Order, the fight, and Hermione needs you!”

Severus squeezed Hermione tightly around the chest burying his face in the crook of her neck.

“I love you,” she said.

“Come on lets go home!” Harry exclaimed.

************

Molly was relieved and overjoyed that they all came back successful, and even more overjoyed to find out that Severus was indeed the father, and that he did it the right way!

“So, have you got a name for the baby?” Molly asked.

“Merlin Albus Snape,” Hermione said. Molly nodded with approval.

Severus was disappointed, he was hoping for a Severus junior. Oh well, perhaps Merlin would look like him.

Charlie came downstairs supporting Luna who was still weak from the cold. Luna immediately rushed up to Hermione and hugged her and immediately Ginny, Hermione, and Luna all began discussing wedding plans.

Severus just sat there as Molly handed him a sandwich and laid back his head in contentment. Finally, all what he had been hoping for, all his dreams that he had dreamt since he was a child were coming true.

He had friends, and more importantly, a beautiful, intelligent wife, already pregnant with his son. Life could not be better for Severus Christopher Snape!


A/N So, there you have it darlings, the answers. And as you can all see, you rooted for the winner!