Severus\'s Trip

Epilogue-Three Years Later
Hermione eyed Severus as he finished his coffee. A year after they began their relationship, she had moved into his home. The past couple of years had been wonderful. If she never believed in the term soul mate, she sure did now. Her life couldn’t be better.
Severus was the perfect lover. He was considerate of her feelings and respected her wishes when she said no to a suggestion, which to be honest wasn’t that often.

Severus himself was equally happy with the situation as well. Hermione had given him the most meaningful relationship he could have hoped for. He knew they’d be good for each other.

Last year Severus retired from teaching and started his own apothecary on Diagon Alley. Since he provided nearly every potion conceivable and was always researching and creating new potions, his business was a thriving success. He employed three university students part time to give him time to brew and work in his labs.

Hermione’s potions mastery came in handy as well. She was not only a partner in his life, she was his partner in the lab. She was at home in the lab with him, and many times they would pass three or four hours in silence while they brewed. Hermione couldn’t help but think of how Ron always thought something was wrong if she didn’t speak for more then five minutes. Her talk with him that day had opened her eyes. She had never intended to emasculate him the way he claimed, but when she spoke to Severus that evening she began to realize that she had. And she had done it a lot. Someone like Severus wouldn’t have taken it that way, but then again she shared a career with him, he was older and more confident, he understood people more. Ron was still insecure in many ways and needed an encouraging woman in his life. That wasn’t Hermione’s style and as a result he felt as he had.

That Christmas her card to him contained a lengthy note of apology for how she treated him, saying she never intended to make him feel that way, and she did value him. It wasn’t her intention to shut him out or make him feel like less of a man. His return card carried a sincere thank you and genuine wishes of his own, along with his own apologies. It would seem that while they couldn’t go back and change anything, they had salvaged some of what they had in their youth.

“Where are you off to today?” Severus’s voice brought her out of her memories.

“I’m going to stop at Ginny’s for tea.” He nodded and kissed her as he left. Hermione grabbed her cloak and stepped into the floo.


“Hermione!” Ginny greeted her longtime friend with a hug, which Hermione returned.

“How are you Gin?” They engaged in their ritual banter and girl talk as was custom.

“Ron’s moving back.” Ginny said about thirty minutes into the conversation.

“Is he?” Ron had left for the northern part of England about 5 or 6 months after they spoke that weekend. It was a vast countryside with plenty of room to fly, and he could focus his attention on his career.

“Yes, he just got married and would like to move closer to the family.” Ginny said.

“Who did he marry?” Hermione knew his relationship with Lavender didn’t last more then a few months. She also knew it was Lavender’s issues that caused the split. She was very controlling and Ron‘s random Quidditch schedule is hard for anyone to take. She had no idea if he still took the groupies up on their offers like he used to, but she was sure Lavender didn’t like them around, regardless of whether or not Ron gave in.

“A woman named Simone. He met her up there. She’s quite lovely. We’ve met her a few times.”

While Hermione was glad that life had moved on for both of them, she was equally as glad that Ron had learned to control himself, and from what Ginny had said, Ron was honest with his wife about his past fidelity issues and his incident with Hermione. No doubt Mrs. Ron Weasley will keep her eyes open.


After she let Ginny’s, she apparated to Diagon Alley and began the walk to the shop.

Ginny had obviously thought she would be upset about Ron returning, but she wasn’t. She had three years to deal with her feelings, and a very healthy relationship to help her get on with her life. Ron was no longer her concern. His life was his own, and as far as anyone was concerned, they had settled their issues long ago.

As her mind wondered, she collided into a hard body.

“Excuse me, I wasn’t…..” The words died in her throat.

“Hermione.” Ron Weasley had changed very little. He was still lean and his hair slightly moppish, but he had a calmness about his face, and a maturity about his manner. “I’m afraid I wasn’t looking where I was going.” He said with a half smile.

“I wasn’t either. I heard from Ginny that you’ve married. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. What about you? Any plans?” He asked.

“Well, me and Severus have talked about it, but there’s no need to rush.”

“Your still together?” He asked. His face was still just as calm with no trace of malice, just friendly interest.

“Yes, we are.” She smiled.

“I’m happy for you.” He smiled. “Well, I had better get back. It was good to see you again.” Hermione just smiled as he moved past her.

“Ron.” She called before he got more then a few steps away. He turned.

“Yes?” His face reminded Hermione of the boy she once had many adventures with at Hogwarts. When the three of them had been an invincible team.

“I’m really happy for you.” She meant it. They had both learned and moved on. The smile he gave her was one she had seen so many time, and one she was glad to see again.

“Thanks Hermione.” He turned and went on his way.

Hermione smiled as she continued to the shop. The past was the past and it was over. She could look forward to a very bright future indeed.


The end