Chapter Twelve: The End of the School Year:

Taylor was relieved when nothing major happened in the last weeks of school. The end of year exams went very well and she found that she was going to miss most of the staff. There was one bit of unusual behavior on the part of a certain pureblood Black. When he had found out Umbridge had been the "guest" of the centaurs he had gone to see her and had a long talk with her. Taylor had heard him lightly scolding her, much like a friend does to another friend. No-one else liked Umbridge but Sirius and Taylor just shrugged it off as one of his quirks and he had many though he could be sweet at times. Mostly in dog form that is, no that was not completely true, he was very good to Harry and Harry looked so much happier having his Godfather in his life.

There were other developments too, Fudge had been forced from office two days after Voldemort had been publicly declared back and who could blame the Wizarding world? Luna's father was fully pardoned and Fudge had gone to Switzerland for "nerves" but everyone knew he was hiding there to avoid prosecution. Rufus Scrimgueor had been elected as the new minister and he had at once rehired Alastor Moody and had him start training in earnest new Aurors as they were badly needed now. He countered the Dementors leaving Azkaban with hiring goblins to run and guard the prison like other Wizarding prisons around the world and with the help from the Unspeakables the Dementors were not the threat Voldemort was hoping they would be. Taylor was thinking on all this in the staffroom when Severus came in and took a seat across from her.

"I am gonna miss all this." Taylor said looking up at Severus smirking. "Don't you dare say it, you do and you will end up with pink hair!"

"Oh do try it." Severus said, "this castle grows on you, I find it home and that is saying something as I grew up in a poor but loving home with a good mother and father."

"You father he was a muggle right?" Taylor asked.

"Yes, he was a stern strict man but he loved me dearly as did me mums." Severus said, "I am glad neither lived to see what I became."

"They would be so proud of you Severus, you are the best potions master in at least three hundred years maybe ever, you risk your life spying and you have a wonderful since of humor."

"I am a death eater."

"Ah no you are not, not really you may have the mark but you are no death eater." Taylor said.

"She is right as much as I hate to admit that." Came the voice of Sirius from the door. "You are always going to be an annoying evil greasy git but I know you are on our side."

"Alright who are you and what have you done with Black?" Severus said glaring at Sirius.

"It's me, Molly, Minerva and Poppy all took me to task about you." Sirius said, "they got through my thick skull you are on our side. However I refuse to stop pranking you."

"And I will see to it your pranks fail." Severus countered.

It was at this moment Taylor 's replacement for Defense Against the Dark Arts came into the room. Remus Lupin was going to teach again as the parents and students felt it was wise to have the only werewolf they knew on their side teaching their children. It would add a since of security back to the school and even Scrimgeour despite his own misgivings would allow it. He knew that strong defense was needed and he had even had sent along extra funds to protect the castle. That meant that every tunnel, hole or crack that could let in or out anyone had been warded in the case of two tunnels or sealed and secured. Remus got a cup of tea, took a seat and smiled at Severus who just glared at him.

"My life will be hell with out you here." Severus said to Taylor ," with Remus and Black here I will have no peace."

"Now Severus I will not bother you and if Sirius does all you have to do is write Molly. She will sort you out." Remus countered.

"So best friend you are." Sirius said sulking.

"Now Padfoot you know I love you but Lily did put me in charge after James to make sure you behaved." Remus said. "I would not wish to face her wraith in heaven for not trying."

"You sure you are going there?" Sirius smirked.

"Well not if I have to murder you first." Remus said calmly taking a biscuit from a tray.

"Stupid wolf." Sirius muttered under his breath.

"I heard that." Remus said aiming a hex at his friend that turned his hair green.

"Nice one." Severus said grinning.

He watched as the two friends squared off and a full out wand battle was on, there was nothing deadly or dangerous about the spells cast so Taylor did nothing at all to stop them. The battle stopped when McGonagall came into the room and glared at the men her mouth drawn into a thin line. Severus shrugged and took a biscuit for himself and sat back smirking at the two men. Remus had purple hair, bat ears and Sirius had green and orange hair, a donkey tail and rabbit ears. With a wave of her wand McGonagall canceled the spells.

"I see those two never grow up." McGonagall said, "I was surprised you did not get involved Severus."

"You know me I don't do innocent spells." Severus said. "They are as dark as my heart."

"So not dark at all." Taylor countered.

"Hnn" came the reply.

Two days after the wand battle came the leaving feast and Taylor strode into a hall that was decorated in Gryffindor colors as they had won the cup this year. Slytherin was second as they had only ten points less than Gryffindor. The students looked nervous and Taylor could not blame them. Voldemort was publicly back and who knew what he would try to do now? The food was very good and Taylor knew she would miss it here but she did plan on visiting now and again. She knew her work would be doubled back home as the war was not just in England but had cells all over the world of death eaters. She just hoped this time around this war was not as bloody or violent as the last one had been. Dumbledore got up to give the leaving feast speech and she listened as he went on about how everyone needed to stick together in these trying times.

"Those robes of his are trying." Taylor muttered to Severus regarding the very brightly colored robes Dumbledore was wearing. "Wonder if we could unite to get him some more somber ones?"

"It would not work, he would charm them so they sang or something." Severus muttered back.

"You two behave!" McGonagall said sternly.

"And the last bit of news, in light of the act of one Draco Malfoy that allowed a certain group of students help expose Voldemort twenty points are to be awarded to Slytherin." Dumbledore did not need to look behind him to know Severus had a look of shock on his face. "I do believe that means we have the wrong colors up as it is Slytherin who has won the inner house cup this year."

The hall was quiet for a few minutes as the colors when from gold and red to silver and green. Severus did not know wither to thank the headmaster or blast him off the earth for this. The manipulative old coot had done this to win over the Slytherins and keep them from Voldemort! Surely the Gryffindors would be upset at this! There was a roar and the Gryffindors stood clapping and looking happy? How could they be happy about this? Then he remembered back to Harry's first year, ah yes Gryffindors and their need for honor and bravery! The Slytherins looked stunned but then they grinned and began to shout and laugh, Severus glared at the headmaster, thanks to him he was not going to get any sleep tonight.

"Oh joy now I am going to have a hyper house." Severus growled but Taylor could tell he was really pleased.

"You need a spatula to scrape them off the ceiling?" Taylor said really meaning it.

"Mary do you have that muggle tape called duck tape?" McGonagall asked nearly getting the name right.

"Sure why do you need it?" Taylor replied.

"I am going to need a lot of it next year for Severus." McGonagall said.

"You would not dare! Even if you did I can still annoy you." Severus said.

"Have fun with your snakes this year, next year you will pay for this." McGonagall countered.

"I love you Minerva, marry me?" Severus smirked.

"Don't you dare get cheeky with me Severus or I will treat the whole hall to seeing you dragged out by your ear!" McGonagall said.

"Looks like your house is not going to sleep either, you would think they had still won the way they are carrying on." Taylor said watching the Gryffindors as they really did still look happy.

"They did." Severus said, "they really did."

"I am gonna miss this." Taylor said again.

"I will not miss you." Severus said coldly.

"Yes you will, you just don't want to admit that." Taylor smirked.

One week later Taylor finished packing with her husband feeling torn, part of her was wanting to stay here as she had made so many friends. Yet the majority of her wanted to go home and see her friends and family there. She liked the withes and wizards here and knew that she could ever measure up to half of them. Those in the order were the best that she had ever seen and she could only dream of keeping up with them. She took a plane fight back to America (as intercontinental Apparation was not possible and no way did she want to fly a broom or hoverboard across the Atlantic ) and settled back into her house finding it strange but wonderful to be back.

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Two years passed and the war ended, Severus Snape had been found out by Voldemort to not really being on his side. He had escaped and blown up Riddle manor with just his wand weakening Voldemort in the process but not killing him. The truth of Voldemort's power was officially told as a Horcrux not the seven Taylor suspected but had no proof on. She had two children, a boy and girl and life settled into a comfortable routine. She was at work and on lunch with her husband when she got a visit from a certain potions master named Severus Snape, he smirked at her reaction and took a seat next to Mr. Taylor loving the shocked looks from both.

"So what did you do to Minerva that got you fleeing to America ?" Taylor asked.

"Funny, I was actually here for a potions conference as I am free to roam around the world now." Severus said, "Scrimgeour lifted my lifetime probation."

"Very nice of him." Mr. Taylor said.

"Yes and it is good to get away from that twinkling old fool too." Severus said referring to the headmaster.

"You know if I did not know you that well I would think you hated the headmaster."

"I do."

"Yea just like you hate me." Harry said standing behind Severus leaning against the doorjamb arms folded smirking.

"Brat if you wish to live you will stop following me around!" Severus snapped.

"Um you invited me over here to the conference remember?" Harry said, "it's your fault Severus if you kindled a fondness in me of potions."

"You brat!" Severus snapped, "where is your dogfather?"

"I don't know, he went off with Remus and Dora in dog form as you know how he riles up Dora in human form."

"I can imagine how that was not voluntary." Taylor grinned.

"No it was not." Harry said grinning.

"Why don't I take you to lunch? That is if you have not eaten already." Severus said.

"Sure we know this great Chinese place." Mr. Taylor said.

"Um I am buying Severus." Harry said.

"No you bought last time my turn!" Severus said.

"Actually our country we buy." Taylor said.

"Bloody American." Severus muttered.

"We love you too." Taylor smirked.

They walked out and went to lunch and caught up on the last two years. Taylor was grateful to still have a friend in Severus Snape and it was great to see him friends with Harry Potter who had just graduated. Harry was thinking of marrying Ginny Weasley but both had agreed to date others and to see how things went with her getting on the Hollyhead Harpies. Ron and Hermione continued to fight and make up they thought it would be best to get married and continue with that. Ron of course would make sure Hermione had all the books she could ever want and with Arthur's help she was able to start an apprenticeship in the ministry in the legal department.

Fred and George Weasley had their joke shop, Percy had left Hogwarts and was now teaching at Beauxbatons as the potions master as his French was perfect, his potions were excellent and he fit right in. Neville Longbottom was apprenticed to Pomona and Ron along with Harry were due to start Auror training any day. All in all life was looking up for everyone even Severus who had taken to dating Charity Burbage, the muggle studies teacher. Sirius had sold his house and was living in a small castle in the country and had a steady stream of girlfriends. As for Dumbledore? Well he was still as happy and good and well wonderful as before. Even if Severus Snape thought otherwise calling him a manipulative old coot and smiling as he said it ever so slightly.

The End.

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So that is the end of this little fiction. No Taylor did not stay for the last battle but she had to see Severus again of course. We needed to know what everyone was doing after Hogwarts and having everyone have a happy ending is one thing I am a sucker for. I love happy endings!