It Happened One Hallow's Eve

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 36 ~ Epilogue

After a rather sloppy, soapy shower, Severus and Hermione prepared to face a new, Voldemortless world, starting with lunch in the Great Hall. Severus transfigured Hermione’s house robe into a proper set of school robes. After a rather hot parting kiss, he sent her through the floo directly to Gryffindor tower’s common room.

As luck would have it, Ron was there, playing wizarding chess with Dean Thomas. The moment Hermione entered through the floo, he was up and at her side.

“Hermione, where were you? I was worried,” the red-haired wizard said.

Hermione, still mad at him, frowned.

“You needn’t have concerned yourself, Ron. I was fine,” she said coldly, walking past him.

Ron blinked after her before running up behind the witch and catching her by her arm.

“Let go of me, Ronald!” Hermione demanded, trying to pull her arm away.

“Hermione…wait. Just wait. I want to apologize for being such a bloody idiot the past few months,” Ron said sincerely, “I don’t want to lose you as a friend. I was jealous, but for all the wrong reasons. I am an insensitive, stupid git and always have been. I just want you to know it’s all right you have a boyfriend and a love life. I have one…and so does Harry. You have a right to one too.”

Hermione arched an eyebrow.

“Harry?” she repeated.

Ron reddened and nodded.

“Yes. He and Ginny…go out,” the wizard said, his voice just a tiny bit strangled.

Hermione stared at Ron. Harry and Ginny were shagging and he wasn’t ranting about it? Wow.

“Well,” the witch said slowly, “I appreciate you giving me your permission to have a boyfriend, Ron.”

Ron beamed at her, missing the sarcasm by miles.

“So, are we still friends?” he asked her.

Hermione gave him a smile. Ron was such an idiot, but he was her idiot. And she did love him despite his stupidity.

“Yes, as long as you respect my privacy,” she responded, hugging him.

Ron let out a sigh of relief as Hermione released him. His blue eyes fell on the pendant and narrowed slightly.

“He’s a Slytherin,” Ron said, staring at the little snake. The emerald eyes seemed to glitter a challenge at him.

Hermione touched the pendant, lifting it and looking at it fondly before letting it drop.

“Yes he is,” she agreed.

Ron was burning up with curiosity and wanted to ask the witch who he was, but he had just made up with her and privacy was an issue. He would just have to suck it in and keep an eye out. Maybe he’d be able to identify who it was in the Great Hall.

Ron nodded.

“Okay. As long as he treats you nice,” he said evenly.

“Oh he does. Very nice,” Hermione said, a faraway look in her eyes.

Ron wanted to snort derisively. Obviously she was thinking about shagging. But that was a topic that wouldn’t be broached again.

Instead he said, “Are you going to lunch?”

”Yes, in a minute,” Hermione replied.

“I’ll wait for you,” Ron said.

“All right,” Hermione said, “I’ll be down in a moment.”

Ron sat down on one of the sofas to wait as Hermione headed up the stairs. Well, she looked happy enough. It seemed having a boyfriend agreed with her.

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Hermione graduated Hogwarts with the highest marks seen in over fifty years, the exception being her Potions grade. Severus still held the highest marks. Hermione might have called foul except the Potions Master had nothing to do with the final exam. The witch was called to the podium several times to receive various awards, Severus looking on proudly.

Hermione believed Albus was done with her, but he called her up one more time.

“Miss Granger, it is my pleasure to inform you that not one, but two four-year apprenticeships have been extended to you. The first, an apprenticeship in Charms and Spellmaking by Professor Filius Flitwick, and the second, an apprenticeship in Potions by Professor Severus Snape,” the Headmaster said to the surprised witch. “Both would be served here at Hogwarts…however you can only accept one offer.”

Ron nudged Harry.

“She’d have to stay with her Master. Hermione would never take the Potions apprenticeship. Imagine, being locked in Snape’s private rooms night after night,” the wizard said to Harry. “She’ll never do it. Flitwick is nice and safe. He’d be the better choice.”

“Well, Hermione likes Charms and Potions,” Harry said diplomatically.

He knew Hermione was as good as packed and moved into Snape’s rooms already. But Ron still didn’t know the two were an item. The couple had done quite well concealing their relationship from the rest of Hogwarts.

Minerva looked a bit pale as she listened to Severus’ offer of apprenticeship to Hermione.

“The sneaky wizard,” the Transfiguration Professor thought, “It’s bad enough he’s been creeping around with her most of the year, now he’s going to move her into his rooms?”

Albus could see the look of disapproval on Minerva’s face, but his eyes twinkled anyway. Though Severus didn’t seem to evidence any personality changes since starting his relationship with the young witch, the Headmaster could see he was a happier man in subtle ways. Of course, no one else could. He took points, assigned detentions and terrorized students with as much dark joy as ever.

After consulting with Harry and Albus, it was decided that Voldemort’s demise would be attributed to the Whomping Willow. The Potions Master didn’t want the limelight to follow him all his days. He wanted a quiet life. Let the tree take the honors. And it did…Argus Filch attending it lovingly, fertilizing it, turning the earth and pruning off the dead branches.

After learning Crookshanks had almost been fried by Voldemort, Hermione began to pay more attention to the half-kneazle, giving him the attention and affection he needed. Of course, Crookshanks didn’t make it easy at first, and Hermione spent a lot of time trying to coax him out from under the bed, or calling him back as he trotted across the grounds, his tail held high in her direction. Eventually he allowed her to lavish her love on him, an “it’s about time” expression on his squashed face.

As expected, and much to Ron’s chagrin, Hermione accepted the Potions Master’s offer of apprenticeship, and after spending two weeks at home with her parents, she returned to Hogwarts and moved into her own room off the Professor’s study. Technically.

Hermione explained to Severus that she thought it would be a good idea if she stayed in her own rooms and why. The wizard listened to her patiently, and when she had her say, proceeded to pick her up bodily and carry her kicking and struggling to his bedroom, slamming the door behind them. It took him a mere two hours to “convince” Hermione that she would be better off staying in his bedroom for the duration of her apprenticeship.

Then he asked her to marry him. She agreed, but they didn’t marry immediately but waited two years and had a small ceremony on the school grounds, attended by staff, Hermione’s parents and a few close friends.

Ron was resigned.

“I can’t believe it was Snape all the time,” Ron said, frowning as he watched the couple kiss and be received as Mr. and Mrs. Snape. Hermione looked very happy and the Potions Master looked less sour than usual.

“They make a good couple,” Harry said as he watched them walk back down the aisle, Severus holding Hermione’s arm possessively. When they reached the end of the aisle, the wizard apparated with her, shocking the guests.

Albus grinned. Severus was not about to hang about mixing when there was honeymooning to do. The Headmaster himself served the wedding cake.

“He has some nerve. Couldn’t he keep off of her for an hour or two?” Minerva complained as she sliced through her cake with a fork.

“Now Minerva, they’re newlyweds,” Albus chided her gently.

“There’s nothing new about what they’re going to do,” she sniffed.

“When you’re in love, Minerva…every time is new,” the wizard replied, his eyes softening as he looked at her. Minerva blushed.

“Never you mind, Albus,” she said, though her eyes were bright as she looked at the man she’d loved for over thirty years…since she was a student herself. Hermione and Severus’ story was not that much different from her own. Minerva needed to remind herself of that from time to time. Though she and Albus never married to keep her safe from his enemies, they loved each other dearly.

“Oh, but I do mind,” Albus replied softly, taking the fork out of her hand and sliding a beautiful golden ring on her finger. Minerva looked down at it, blinking back tears as the guests looked on…other eyes filling as well. Albus raised her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.

“Minerva McGonagall, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked her, his blue eyes sober.

Minerva looked up at him and promptly dropped her cake. She looked at the mess, then up at the Headmaster.

“Why? Why now, Albus? We’ve done fine all these years,” she said to him. Albus covered her hand with his own.

“Voldemort is dead, Minerva, so there is no further danger from him or his lot…and I don’t like the idea that another wizard could come along and sweep you off your feet. I want you to have my name and share my bed as well as what life I have left. You have always acted the loving, sharp-tongued wife towards me…I want to make it official, Minerva. I always have. I love you. Marry me,” he said.

Minerva stared at the Headmaster for a moment, then said, “Of course I’ll marry you, you old coot.”

Albus smiled broadly and embraced the witch as everyone cheered and cried and cheered a bit more.

You were never too old for love.

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Hermione received her Master’s in Potions and was quickly snapped up by the Ministry, where she served as Potions Mistress. At the age of thirty, she bore Severus a son, Augustus John Snape. While she was in labor, Poppy found that the birth magic used to make delivery easier would not work on the witch, so Hermione had to have the child naturally, which made Severus wild with worry. Yet she did fine.

Still, when Poppy tried to use magic to check the squalling baby, her wand wouldn’t work.

“Now that’s odd,” she said, shaking her wand and trying several times.

Hermione and Severus were forced to take the baby to a muggle hospital to be examined. He was fine. Albus came to see them shortly after Augustus was born. The way the wizard looked, it was clear he had some news for them. Poppy had informed him of the difficulties she had with the delivery and the baby, and the old wizard immediately looked for any similar occurrences during childbirth. What he found out was amazing.

Severus and Hermione had purchased a three bedroom house in Shropshire Gardens, and taken the house elf Eli with them. It took a bit of convincing on both Severus’ and Eli’s part before Hermione would agree, but the house elf looked so sad she didn’t want him, Hermione relented. Immediately a golden tendril of light flew from the elf and wrapped around both her and Severus, squeezed them slightly then snapped back into Eli. He was bound to serve them and theirs for life.

Hermione invited Albus in, and escorted him to the living room, where he took a seat. Severus walked in holding Augustus who was wriggling quite animatedly.

“Headmaster,” he said by way of greeting.

“Hello Severus,” the wizard said, his eyes twinkling as the Potions Master gently held his son, the love in his dark eyes clearly visible. Severus sat down.

“A handsome child,” Albus said, looking at the baby’s dark hair and eyes. Luckily, Augustus had Hermione’s nose. “And a special one.”

“Special?” Hermione and Severus said together. True, there was something about their child that was different. But neither had a chance to investigate this fully yet.

Albus nodded.

“He will not be able to use magic,” Albus said.

Severus looked down at his son, his heart sinking. He loved his child, but…a squib? His dark eyes shifted to Hermione’s. She also looked disappointed.

“But he is not a squib,” Albus continued, beaming at the baby boy. “There is a record of only one other wizard who had his gift. Christian Hornsworthy. He lived about two hundred years ago and was a great warrior for the side of light.”

”Gift?” Hermione said, staring at Albus.

The baby gurgled.

“Yes gift,” Albus reassured her. “Your son Augustus has the gift of Null Magic. In other words, no spell will work on him. He cannot be affected by magical means. And as he grows, this power will increase and he will be able to stop magic just by his proximity. It is a powerful gift. So he is, in effect…a wizard.”

”Null magic,” Severus breathed, looking down at his son in wonder.

Hermione crossed the room and sat next to Severus, staring at her son and taking in the implications.

”That makes him more powerful than any of us,” she breathed, “Not even an Unforgivable will affect him.”

“That’s right. Nothing magical can harm him and eventually anyone near him. This makes him extremely powerful,” Albus agreed, smiling at the child. “It also makes him a special case as far as his education goes. He will be accepted into Hogwarts, although he will have to have a special lesson plan developed. But we have a few years for that. In the meantime, I suggest both of you familiarize yourselves with the history of Christian Hornsworthy. It will be helpful.”

The wizard rose and held out his arms.

“May I?” he asked.

Severus rose and carefully passed the baby to Albus, eyeing the wizard as he held his son. He needn’t have worried. Albus had been holding little babies for years.

The old wizard smiled down at the child.

“Augustus Snape,” he said to the baby, who gurgled up at him, his black eyes focused on the snow-white beard. “We are going to expect great things from you, my boy, great things indeed.”

Hermione took Severus’ arm and smiled up at him. Null magic. What a wondrous gift. Albus passed Augustus back to his father.

“Good thing you have a muggle background, Hermione,” the old wizard said, “A regular witch might find herself overwhelmed having to care for a child without magic. You are the perfect mother.”

Severus smiled at his wife.

“I always knew she would be,” he said proudly.

Albus smiled, then said, “I’m afraid I must go. Hogwarts calls.”

”Thank you Albus,” Hermione said, walking forward, standing on her tiptoes and kissing the wizard on his cheek. He blushed.

“You’re very welcome. I always knew the two of you would produce extraordinary children,” the wizard said, his eyes resting on Augustus, “I just never dreamed how extraordinary.”

Severus passed Augustus to his mother and showed the Headmaster out.

Hermione sat down on the sofa and stared down at her son.

"Null magic," she breathed, "I never knew there was such a thing, Augustus."

Life was certainly going to become much more interesting.

THE END

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A/N: And that is the end of “It Happened One Hallow’s Eve.” Yes, yes…I know…this ending begs for a sequel just to find out what happens with Augustus. But I’ve already written a story about the couple’s offspring, so I doubt it will ever be written. Anyone who might like to pick it up is welcome to, however. :) Whew. I’m going to take a break for a couple of days. I still feel out of sorts. There won’t be a new HG/SS story for a bit. I have to write the original short story “It’s All a Matter of Choice” first. To those who asked if I were going to wait until Valentine’s Day to write the new story, the answer is a resounding NO. But most likely it will be a short tale. Lol. I always say that. Anyway I hope you enjoyed. Ciao ya’ll ****