Reunion

~ Disclaimer: I own nothing but what springs from my imagination. Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Hogwarts, and the rest of the Potterverse are the property and the children of JK Rowling. ~


Reunion
Chapter 3: Of Quidditch and Moonlight

That night brought an early dinner (the fact that both Severus and Ariah were missing from the staff table did not go unnoticed by Hermione Granger) and the excitement of the Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor. The majority of the students were beyond excited that Harry Potter was present, and spent most of dinner staring at the Boy Who Lived and me ame a Quidditch Superstar. They knew he was monumental in the death and downfall of Lord Voldemort, but didn’t know that he had become an Auror as well, bypassing the 3 year training program, requiring only one year thanks to the training he had received while at Hogwarts and in the field during the war. The Ravenclaws were impressed with the presence of Hermione Granger, whose brilliance had sured ned nearly all the past and present students at Hogwarts, with the possible exception of the Potions Master, but the students didn’t think about him as ever having been one of them. The Gryffindors were in awe of the Golden Trio, seated at the table of honor. Their exploits were legendary. The other returning students didn’t begrudge the Golden Trio their moment to shine, since the three had always remained themselves, not allowing any accolades to go to their heads.

Remus Lupin sat at the staff table and looked at the former students. He was so proud of the people they had become. All of them. He was proud of the newfound confidence that Neville Longbottom had found (Neville credited Remus with helping bring that out following his third year DADA class in which he successfully defeated a boggart). He was proud of the way Oliver Wood had overcome a serious Quidditch injury to become one of the top coaches and trainers in the field. He was proud of Hermione, who went straight on to University to study mediwizardry and potions. Most of all, he was proud of Ron Weasley. Ron had stepped out of the shadow of Harry Potter to become his own man and work for the Ministry of Magic, as well as train to be an Auror. Auror training did not come naturally to Ron, not as it had to Harry, but he worked hard and would graduate the training program next year. Glancing over at Albus, Remus could see the pride shining in his eyes as well. It wasn’t just the Golden Trio he was proud of either. With a smile, Albus stood up and clapped his hands for attention.

“Good evening. I hope that you enjoyed your dinner. As you may have guessed, this is a special weekend here at Hogwarts, a weekend where some of our best and brightest have returned to the fold. With us this weekend are representatives from all four houses. From Ravenclaw: Cho Chang, Terry Boot, and Luna Lovegood, from Hufflepuff: Ernie MacMillan and Susan Bones, from Gryffindor, a rather large contingent: Lavender Brown, Hermione Granger, Oliver Wood, Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Seamus Finnegan, and Parvati Patil. And from Slytherin…now where are they? I know they arrived a fewentsents ago…ah yes, there they are: Millicent Bulstrode and Marcus Flint. Welcome back and enjoy the weekend. As you all know, following dinner, there will be a Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, under the bright lights of the new stadium. I hope you all attend. Now, on to dessert!”

The arrival of the Slytherins was unexpected, but not unwelcome. During the war, Millicent and Marcus had proven to be able to turn their back on the Dark history of their house and assist in the efforts. Millicent had been a vital member of the medical triage team, and Marcus was a courier for the Order of the Phoenix. Severus had been extremely proud of them. They nervously approached the guest table and were greeted with warm hellos and hugs, something that still surprised the Slytherins.

“Where’s Snape?” asked Marcus.

“Not a clue,” replied Oliver, “I think I heard he was having dinner in his quarters.”

Hermione snorted at this comment, “Yeah, dinner. Right,” she mumbled.

“What do you mean, ‘Mione?” Parvati asked.

“Professor Morrigan’s not at dinner either. I doubt that’s a coincidence,” she said.

“No no no,” argued Terry, “Professor’s Morrigan’s hot. Professor Snape is scary.”

“I’m telling you, they’re involved,” she said.

Harry and Ron looked at each other smiling. It didn’t take Hermione nearly as long to figure out that something was going on between Snape and Morrigan as they had thought it would. Harry wondered how strong their relationship was. Remus wasn’t too specific when he mentioned it to them earlier.

“What?” asked Hermione, catching the look between Ron aarryarry.

“Nothing,” said Ron, “Just that we should probably head down to the Quidditch Pitch.”

“And dress warmly,” reminded Minerva McGonagall as she passed their table on her way out of the Great Hall, “it’s very chilly tonight.”

The group disbanded, finding their ways to the t qut quarters set up for them. They had insisted that they be housed dormitory style. Especially since while students, they never got the opportunity to bunk with their upperclassmen like Ol and and Marcus, nor did they ever get the chance to bunk with students from other houses. They all grabbed their warm cloaks and house scarves and gloves, much to their collective surprise, they had all brought their house colors, including the Slytherins, and they headed en masse to the Quidditch Pitch, where they were to sit in the staff section.

* * * *

Ron looked around the stadium; it was different than when he was a student. He had noticed that earlier, but it was even more apparent now that it was lit up. It was brighter, newer, and the lights were simply amazing. Remus told them that the lights actually could cut through the fog in rainy playing conditions. They had considered putting a magical dome over the whole thing, but then decided that would take away from the “grit” of the game, so they settled for domes over the stands that would automatically form when the weather was inclement. However, the domes only kept out wind, rain, and snow, not the cold (or errant players), so the spectators shivered a bit in the chilly November air.

“This place looks amazing,” remarked Oliver, “I wish it had been like this when I played here.”

“We’re going to pull together a game tomorrow night, before we leave. We thought right after it got dark so we could play under the lights. It’s so different in a lighted stadium,” said Harry, “old students vs. new students. I take it you’re in.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” answered Oliver with a grin, “I can still play, just not professionally.”

Just before the game was about to begin, the former students took in the sight of Severus arriving to the game with Ariah. Ariah looked as stunning as ever in a deep forest green cloak with a Slytherin scarf around her neck. Her raven hair was windswept and her cheekre fre flushed from the chill. It appeared that she and Severus had been holding hands, but unclasped them as he stopped to greet Millicent and Marcus and she made her way to their seats next to Remus.

“Hiya Remus,” she said with a grin, “sorry we’re late.”

“What’s the excuse this time?” countered Remus with a grin.

“We were down in the dungeons attempting to breed Slytherins,” answered Ariah.

Ron had overhead the conversation, looked at Ariah, took in her Slytherin scarf, looked at Severus, looked back at Ariah, and looked as if he was going to be sick.

“Harry,” he whispered to his friend.

“What?” Harry whispered back, wondering why they were whispering.

“You don’t think that Snape and Morrigan…uh…you know…”

“Have sex?” replied Harry with a devilish grin.

Ron nodded, “Yeah, you don’t think they do, do you?”

“Probably.”

“I might have to lose my dinner.”

“Well do it in Hermione’s direction, OK? And nothing for nothing, Ron, I think Professor Snape has earned the right to a little happiness.”

The game started and like almost all Gryffindor/Slytherin matches, it was a nail biter. It was all tied up until the Slytherin seeker darted away from the hovering Gryffindor seeker and swooped across the stands to catch the snitch less than a foot away from Harry’s nose, giving Slytherin the win.

“Damn it all,” laughed Remus.

“I do believe you owe owe me clean cauldrons, Lupin,” said Severus.

“Yeah, Snape, the catch being, of course, that it has to be a day where no students get detention, including Tansy Bartholomew. I figure I have time to recoup my loss with the next match between our houses.”

“He’s got you there, Sev,” said Ariah, her vivid blue eyes twinkling, “you can’t go an entire weekday without a detention.”

“I shall try,” he scowled.

The stands slowly emptied out, students going back to their houses, staff going back to their quarters. Harry and Ron hung around in the locker room talking to the Quidditch players, Hermione waited for them by the field house. It was a beautiful night, chilly, clear, and starlit. One by the one, the magical lights of the stadium extinguished, leaving only the perimeter lights and the pathlights back to the castle still lit. Hermione leaned against the wall of the field house and breathed in the magical air of Hogwarts. She missed the school. She one day hoped to come back to Hogwarts in some capacity, perhaps if Poppy Pomfrey retired. She heard voices and instantly recognized them as belonging to Professors Snape and Morrigan. They were walking up the path toward the castle. Hermione looked for Ron and Harry, and decided not to wait for them anymore. She followed along the path, hugging the shadows and watched as Severus said something to Ariah that caused her to smack him in the shoulder, earning a quick laugh and a hug from the man she remembered mostly as appearing emotionless. This weekend had been eye opening for the young University student and there was still one full day left. She saw Severus and Ariah take the fork in the path that led to the lake and followed them. The sat down on a large boulder at the side of the lake, he wrapped his arms around her and she leaned against him. Hermione couldn’t help but notice how well they fit together. Both tall, both raven haired, his eyes the color of the night, hers the color of the day. They even seemed well matched in personality, where he was surly; she was cheerful, yet they were both headstrong, stubborn, and often rash in their decisions. She was quicker to smile and laugh than he was; yet she was capable of elicg a g a smile from him in almost any situation. Hermione heard them talking quietly, and against her better judgment, moved in closer to eavesdrop.

“You never told me about the recommendation,” said Ariah, “you gave it to her, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did,” he said, kissing the top of her head. GoodGood, she’s a smart girl. She deserves it.”

“I agree. She has always been one of the brightest students I have ever had the pleasure of teaching.”

“I think she has a bit of a crush on you,” said Ariah, quietly.

“I sincerely doubt that,” replied Severus. Ariah shrugged.

Ariah closed her hands and held them up to the almost full moon, opening them slightly then closing them again. She brought her hands down and slowly opened them, releasing a small orb of silvery light. She flicked the orb with her finger, scattering the light. Hermione watched transfixed as the light reformed a path back to the moon.

“I can’t believe I have these powers back,” she said, smiling.

“I figured you would have had to remain strictly mortal after the battle with Lucius.”

“Guess my family had other plans,” she said, “I did enjoy the look on your face the night I first found out I had my powers back.”

“Well, it was a bit disquieting and came at an inopportune moment,” said Severus, “who expects to be transported away in the middle of what we were doing?”

“I was just thinking back to the night in the clearing, when we made love under the moon. I certainly didn’t expect to transport us there…”

“In the middle of a rainstorm,” countered Severus.

“I will be apologizing for that forever. I’m sorry you got your silk boxers wet.”

Severus held her closer and nuzzled her neck, “You will never hear me complain about that night.”

“Much,” said Ariah, smiling again.

“You would be a goddess to me whether you had the powers or not. You saved my life several times over and saved me…from my worst enemy…myself.”

“Severus?” said Ariah, turning around to look into his eyes.

“Yes?”

“I love you so much.”

“And I love you,” he replied, holding her close and kissing her under the nearly full moon.

Hermione felt the tears fon hon her cheeks as she watched what she knew in her heart to be what love was supposed to be like. She felt her crush evaporate in the wake of the pure love that radiated from the couple kissing by the lake. She quietly headed back to the main path, leaving Severus and Ariah their privacy.