Our Only Hope

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Our Only Hope Chapter 9

Severus and Harry were late, three hours late to be exact. That fact was not lost on the group of people that had gathered in the Minister of Magic’s office, but no one said a word. In fact, since the initial greetings a few hours earlier, no one had moved from their location. There was an occasional sigh, but other than the sound of their breathing, there was no nose to be heard.

The wall clocked had just struck nine when Arthur turned towards Minerva and asked, “Could you have gotten the days mixed up? Perhaps it was for tomorrow night?”

Minerva refused to reply, instead she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the Minister daring him to challenge her judgment. Duly chastised, Arthur turned to his innocuous papers on his desk.

Ten minutes later, the door flew open, slamming against the wall, waking every from their stupor. Harry stood in front of Severus with the tome held tightly in his arms. The light from the adjoining room shone brightly behind them, giving Harry and Severus the appearance of two dark apparitions in the doorway.

“Gentlemen,” Severus used the term lightly as he nodded towards them, “and ladies, I’m ‘very’ glad that you all could make it this evening. Harry, put the book on the desk, if you please.”

Without a word Harry placed the tome on the desk and opened it to the desired page.

Harry grinned at the small group and stepped back until the wall was against his back. Hermione noticed that the grin that Harry gave them was more malicious than friendly. When she felt Draco squeeze her hand, she realized that he had noticed it too.

“Let us begin,” Severus was totally into his Professor role. He strolled around the room, his hands clasped behind his back. “A history lesson first…”

“Is that really necessary? We’ve been here for a long time; can’t we skip the history lesson and straight to the cure?” Arthur asked impatiently.

“We must learn from the past or be doomed to repeat it,” Severus lectured. “In the year of our Lord, that is Lord Pardamain,” there was a collective gasp. Pardamain was a name that was not spoke of, not even in a whisper.

Severus paid no attention to their reaction. “In 457 AD, Pardamain was a cruel and intolerant ruler. His outrageous acts were well documented: genocide of all the gypsy wizards in Great Britain among others. What is not known, but is documented in the book in front of you, is with every death he absorbed the power of the deceased. It wasn’t long before his body pulsated with enormous energy. His power surpassed anything the Wizarding world had known before and since. He easily surpassed even that of Voldemort.

"Soon, under his totalitarian regime, a small group of warriors decided that it was time to overthrow Lord Pardamain's government. History records what happened to him but what it doesn’t record is what happened to the Wizarding World afterwards.”

“What does this have to do with what happening now?” Kingsley asked, frustrated.

“Everything,” Harry replied from his corner of the room. “Continue Severus. I’m enthralled. What happened to the Wizarding World?” There was a mocking tone to Harry’s voice.

“I will be more than happy to tell you, Mr. Potter.” Severus dripped in sarcasm. “What is not recorded is with his death there was a blinding flash of light that spread across the land. The theorists assumed it was all that magical power being released at once. They were partially correct. His magic was released but what they didn’t realize that it either short-circuited or over-loaded--I’m not sure which one-- every witch and wizard's power, basically changing their magical core, their DNA. Physically, they remained the same. There was no visible change, nothing to warn them of the changes that were happening within them not until their children were born squibs.”

“Merlin,” Draco whispered.

“Yes, indeed Merlin, for it was he, some year later as a young sorcerer, who saved the Wizarding World from extinction.”

There was a dramatic pause in which Harry smiled, thinking just how much a drama queen his boyfriend was. That thought caught him off guard. He knew that they were having a relationship,, a very hot and stimulating relationship but that was the first time he thought of Severus as his ‘boyfriend’.

“How?” Arthur spoke softer than a whisper.

“Merlin found a magical core in every child that he scanned. It was just inactive. To activate the core every adult had to give up their most precious gift to their child.”


“Voldemort!” Hermione said flatly. “When he died he once again short circuited our children’s magic core. Isn’t that right Professor?”

“Bravo, Mrs. Malfoy. You finally got something right," Severus said, sneering. "Lord Pardamain's essence, though weakened over the centuries, is still floating about us. When Voldemort died, he sent his magic into the atmosphere where it mixed with what was left of Pardamain’s magic. The children have their magical cores but there is nothing left in it.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Arthur said, “but if we want to save the Wizarding World then we must forfeit our magic to our children.” It was not a question.

“That’s exactly what the Professor is saying. It’s a small sacrifice to ensure that our children receive their legacy,” Hermione's voice was weary but determined. Draco slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close to his side while he kissed the side of her cheek.

“We wizards, on a whole, have a superiority complex when it comes to our magic and power we wield, but after all is said and done, we love our children more. Giving up our magic will be a hardship, but we will give it gladly up for them,” Draco explained to the Slytherin.

“I must say I’m surprised at how well you’re accepting the news of the immediate demise of your magic,” Severus was disappointed that there weren’t any gnashing of teeth or screams of despair, but that would come, no doubt, once they were over the shock of the news.

He smiled to himself. He would have his magic, as long as he had Harry in his life, and all of them would do without. There was a deep, gratifying satisfaction with that thought. Somewhere deep within him, he felt at peace. A peace he hadn’t really felt since before he was tossed out like garbage onto the streets of London.

“Harry and I will leave you with our findings. I suggest you all read the tome that we brought. It explains in detail what the spell is to transfer your magic to the children and what to expect in the foreseeable future. Children with powers when their parents have none can make a very interesting society…as you will read,” Severus smirked.

Harry emerged from the shadows to stand next to Severus. “I will stay a fortnight to be sure everything is going smoothly. After that time, Severus and I will be leaving here.”

“Harry?” Severus gave a breathless whisper.

“Hush,” Harry whispered back. “We’ll talk about it when we get home.”

“Yes, sir,” Severus smiled and pleased to see a similar smile gracing the lips of Potter.

“Harry, you can’t leave. The Wizarding World needs you,” Minerva pleaded.

“That is just too bad because I don’t need the Wizarding World. All I need is Severus, and I plan on going where ever he takes me,” Harry said, as his hand searched his lover’s. He was surprised that Severus didn’t pull away, but instead squeezed it tightly in his firm grip.

“Before you take your leave, please explain why Lily was born magical power?” Remus spoke up from his corner of the room.

“I really hadn’t thought of it, but I am assuming it was because she was conceived in London where there was nothing blocking her magical core. Since I fathered a magical child when my core was empty of it’s magic I assume that if you leave the affected area you should also be able to have magical children. In the future, if any of you wish to have any more children I suggest you leave here and find a nice Muggle communities where there is little interference from Voldemort's or Pardamain's magic. And now, ladies and gentleman,” he nodded to the small gathering, “We are taking our leave.”

Harry and Snape disappeared with a pop.

Hermione gazed at where the two men were standing. “We…I was wrong. I manipulated, blackmailed, and threatened the two of them to do our bidding; now that it’s all over with I can’t truly say I would have changed a thing.”

“Hermione, how could you say that?” Draco asked shocked at her attitude.

“We wanted our children to have their magic and to save the Wizarding World. Those two did just that. There may have been a better way of going about it--we’ll never know-- but our children will have there magic…that’s all I ever wanted. The end justifies the means.”

Draco looked at her horrified.

She turned and smiled sweetly at her husband. “Draco, let’s go to London tonight and mate like bunnies.”

“Perhaps a boy this time?” Draco smiled as he held his wife closely.

“Perhaps, twins?” Hermione smiled before the room filled with a very familiar pop.

Arthur looked defeated as he gazed at the small group that was left in his office. “We must prepare ourselves. The news of the lost of our magic will not go over well with the general public. There will be those who will refuse to believe us, and even many of those will refuse to part with their magic. It’s imperative that every wizard will be willing to give their magic up to their child, grandchild, niece or nephew. I’m not a scientist but I do understand that there must be a large gene pool to survive.”

Minerva, wiping the tears from her cheek, was the next to speak. “I have a great-grand niece that is a few weeks old. I will be the first to offer my magic to the child. Hopefully many will follow my example, but I also think as many of the younger wizards that can have children should leave and bare at least one child from outside our community.”

“That makes sense,” Remus interjected. “We can form another magical community that is far away, where it will be safe to bear and raise children. Then, when the children are born,, they can come back home.”

“There is much to do but it’s getting late. We shall meet again tomorrow to formulate our plans. I do not have to tell you how imperative that we keep this under our hat.”

“Mums the word,” Kingsley replied.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Too bad no one noticed the small fly on the wall…