Author's Note:
This is AU set post Hogwarts. Snape is not dead and neither is Fred.
This is not a song fic however there are few songs that lend themselves to my story. "Hello, My Old Heart" by the Oh Hellos made me think about how Snape's life experiences would not allow him to take another risk on love unless it was for his child:
"Hello, my old heart,
It's been so long.
Since I've given you away.
Every day I add another stone
to the walls I've built around you
To keep you safe."
I am seeking a Beta Reader if anyone is interested.
Chapter One: Prologue
In the two years since the war also known as the Final Battle, Vold War II, and Battle of Good and Evil (names are attributed to the creative writers at the Daily Prophet), the wizarding world started its recovery. Funerals, memorials, and ceremonies had been held. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had been repaired and reopened. Death Eaters had been arrested, tried for their crimes and imprisoned. Few had been exonerated including heavily fined Malfoy family (Lucius, Narcissa and Draco).
The Magical Law Enforcement department had their Aurors rounding up the remaining Death Eaters. Rumours of a survivor, Bellatrix LeStrange, trying to raise a new army of darkness had proven fruitless. Now dawned the era of celebrations: engagements, weddings, and babies.
The end of the war had given the Golden Trio God-Like status in the wizarding world. There were marriage offers, job offers, and gifts showered upon them. Harry and Hermione retreated to the muggle world for a few months, staying with Hermione's parents. Harry didn't want to return to the grim and dark home of his Godfather. Ron was pleased to return to the Burrow to keep an eye on Ginny. He wanted to ensure that her relationship with Harry didn't move "too fast."
Hermione and Ron dated seriously for a few months but the relationship was too comfortable, "No Spark," as she told him at their amicable breakup. He was in Auror training (with Harry) and she was at University; the end of their relationship barely causing a ripple in their lives. Ron spent more energy and attention on Harry and Ginny's deepening relationship.
A few short months ago, Harry and Ron completed their training and started working as Aurors (official titles: Auror Level I) while Hermione had graduated the wizarding university. She been hired by the Department of Magical Cooperation and rented her first grown up apartment (ie no roommates).
~~~~O-O~~~~
Enjoying an unusually sunny afternoon, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger strolled down Diagon Alley. They were intent on finding the best wizarding or muggle marriage proposal to go with the pretty engagement ring Harry had just purchased.
"Ginny will say yes no matter how you propose - even in a hot air balloon!"
Harry grimaced, "Yeah, she will being trapped in a slow moving balloon without a broom. She'll have to say yes! What if we go out to fancy dinner and I drop the ring in her champagne?"
"That's simple and sweet. Or you could ask her at Sunday dinner at the Burrow?"
Their old potions professor stepped out of the apothecary, Slug & Jiggers, in front of of Harry and Hermione. Unable to resist, Harry grinned "Professor Snape, isn't this a great day?"
Hermione held her giggle at her punch drunk friend and smiled, "Hello, sir."
Their Potions professor inclined his head towards her; his long black hair falling in his face. "A bit early to be intoxicated, Potter."
"Where are your fangirls, Professor?" Harry asked.
As the details of Snape's spying and efforts in defeating Tom Riddle became public; he had also been plagued by fans. Boys, girls, men and women sent him mail, followed him in the streets and camped out in front of Hogwarts and Spinner's End.
The crazed fans were not off put by his demeanor, the polite requests for peace or the impolite requests for peace. Snape sold his parents' home and resided at Hogwarts full time. The Hogwarts wards had been extended further by Professor Filius Flitwick and Bill Weasley. With limited sightings, the fans lost interest and moved on to new targets like poor Neville Longbottom.
"Very amusing, Potter!" Snape started to move around them on the sidewalk when he suddenly shouted "Down!"
Curses flew from every direction, as Death Eaters swarmed around the three of them.
"We came for the savior and the mudblood. It's just icing on the cake to get a traitor." Cackled Bellatrix LeStrange.
Snape covered Hermione's side, firing hexes above her head as Harry moved to her opposite side. Hermione put a shield around them; struggling to hold it steady.
Screaming witches and wizards ran into stores or disapparated, dropping their purchases in the smoke filled street.
A stray curse brought a wall down over Hermione, Harry and Snape. Bursting through with Reducto, Snape held off three Death Eaters as Hermione pulled rubble off of Harry.
Bleeding from a cut over her eye, Hermione placed her shield over Harry again as he took down one man and flung another across the street.
Snape smirked as the three men he was fighting were now neatly hog tied and were slowly swinging from a lamppost.
"Enough playing" shouted Bellatrix as she circled around the outskirts of the fight. She moved in quick; shoving Death Eaters aside.
She fought both Harry and Snape using the wand in right right hand and wandless magic with her left. Colors swirled around the them as they moved in closer and closer to each other.
Hermione finished tying up the downed fighters while singling curses towards the outskirts of the battle. There were only few Death Eaters left and their injuries had slowed them down. The hexes coming at her were sluggish; she repelled them back to the castors.
Bellatrix turned abruptly and fired a silent curse at Hermione. Harry shouted "Avada Kedavra" as Snape smashed into Hermione in an attempt to shield her. Bellatrix died with a smile on her face, watching the obscure curse hit the Traitor and the Mudblood.
White faced and trembling, Snape looked at Potter with resignation. "I'll get her to Poppy, you call the Aurors."
The echoing pop of disapparation was the only sound left on Diagon Alley.