We are in the home stretch, dear readers. We have gone quite a way into the future now; the first Snape daughter is getting married, and the last one is finally graduating from Hogwarts. We'll see some intervening letters in my companion piece called A Raven's Story: Peeves and Honour. Honour is like a little mini marauder taking life at school juuuust to the 'you could get expelled' point. She and Peeves are instant enemies from her first night at school to her last. Sadly, we will begin to see some old friends cross the veil in this chapter, and this will continue through the end of the story. This is life, readers, reality and in fan fiction.

JK Rowling was a wonderful lady to allow us to play, don't you think?

Chapter 14

The Birds Leave the Nest

7 June 2030

Dear Severus,

Well, at least you didn't hex him. I had a feeling when Andrew showed up this evening to speak with you, privately, it would be to ask for Varina's hand in marriage. You were in there quite a long time after he left. Why?

I cannot believe that it would be to sulk; As much as we hate to think it, our children are leaving home, getting on with their careers, finding their own soulmates, just as we did almost 30 years ago. It is the cycle of life; one that plays tricks on the minds of parents everywhere!

Being a know-it-all, I must ask you; what did Andrew say? How did you respond? You know I'll badger your for these details, so you may as well come clean now!

All my love,

Hermione

8 Jun 2030

Dearest Girl,

I do not sulk.

I was taking a moment to review Varina's choice, and what the future might hold for her now that she and Andrew have decided to marry. It had nothing to do with the fact that my little girl is no longer that, my little girl. She is a grown woman in her own right; young, but grown. She is much like a young witch I knew so very many years ago who agreed to be friends with a miserable git and, in turn, gave him a life he would have never known otherwise.

What did Andrew say? Well, Nosy Parker, at first he said nothing. He choked, he stuttered, and he grimaced a great deal. He looked as though he was going to vomit, so I put him out of his misery and asked him if he was here to ask for Varina's hand. The relief on his face was palpable.

I told him no at first. Any man that could not buck up and ask for himself was not worthy of my daughter.

Oh, you should have seen his face, my Pet; it was hilarious, and I had to quickly dig out a book and stick my nose in it to hide my smirk. I will treasure that look for years to come! I had to initiate a coughing fit in order to hide my laughter. Once he found his voice though, he asked me properly for her hand, and of course I gave him the 'I worked for the Dark Lord for twenty years; I know where to hide the bodies' speech.

I never did tell Andrew that I acted the same way when I asked your father for your hand. My reputation would be in tatters if that debacle were ever to get out.

You are always in my heart,

Severus

15 May 2031

Dearest Severus,

The guests have gone, and our Varina has as well. She and her Andrew have spirited away to places unknown to celebrate their marriage.

My heart is full tonight, love. You are not the most demonstrative of men, but to see you do the traditional bridal dance with the woman who is your image gave me chills. You held her as tenderly as you did the day she was born. You, who are careful to school your features into placidity at all times when in public, bore emotion on your face as proud as the most victorious warrior in a battle.

Severus, your emotion of the day carried over into our lovemaking this evening. You made me feel as young and as vibrant, as cherished and as loved as you did the very first time we were ever together in your bed. I love you.

I wonder though, dear heart, what was going through your mind as you danced with our daughter? Were you contemplating the ups and downs of married life she will no doubt encounter? Were you looking forward to the day she tells you are to be a grandfather for the first time?

I know that you hate when I pester you for your emotional reaction to things, but could you indulge me just this once?

Love,

Hermione

17 May 2031

You, Hermione Jean Snape, are as beautiful to me today as you were when you stepped foot in the Great Hall upon returning to finish your studies following the Final Battle. I cherish you and love you more today than I ever have, but since that is how I feel every morning I wake up next to your delectable body, it does not surprise me. What surprises me is that you seem to feel the same way about me.

What was going through my mind whilst I danced with my very beautiful daughter? A great deal. The dominant thought, however, was that I hope she and Andrew will forever love one another as ardently as I love you; that they will have such a strong and secure partnership that any obstacles in their path will be faced together, unlike how I caused us to deal with Straun's death.

What fools we were during that time; the pain we suffered was indescribable, and we reacted as we thought was right at the onset of that pain; however, we endured and made it through that time in our life. It is a testament to the love and commitment we share. It is that kind of love that I hope Andrew and Varina share; an enduring and devoted love, hopefully peppered with less tragedy and foolish mistakes.

All my love, as always

Severus

The Daily Prophet Birth Announcements

Mr and Mrs Andrew Tierney announce the birth of a son and a daughter on 16 May 2032. Severus Andrew and Sondra Jean were born at 7.36 and 7.39 respectively. Mrs Tierney is the daughter of Severus and Hermione Snape of Hogsmeade. Mr Tierney is the son of Robert and Karen Tierney of Edinburgh.

16 May 2032

Dear Severus,

We are grandparents! Can you believe it? And not just once, but twice! A grandson and granddaughter to spoil.

I sent Poe with a message to Honour at Hogwarts to let her know that she is now an aunty. She replied that she has sent Varina some lovely flowers. Despite her devil-may-care ways, there are times when Honour can do something practical. I can't wait to see the babies. Shall we go tomorrow night? Visiting hours at St. Mungo's begin at half six. I told Varina we'd wait until then to give her a chance to rest. Oh, but I can hardly contain myself!

I love you, Grandpa!

Hermione

17 May 2032

Dearest Wife,

I find myself speechless at the realisation that the woman we saw at St Mungo's is my little girl. Varina is a natural mother, much like her own, and nothing alerted me to her adulthood as much as seeing her this evening with her own children in her arms. I must confess I find myself as infatuated with my grandchildren as I was with my own children.

I sometimes wonder whether or not you are some kind of angel. Who are you? You came into my life and created all these people whom I adore. Without you, I would have no one, and with you my life is full. Thank you for giving me my family.

Let the madness begin; twins, how on earth do you deal with two at a time? We shall have to rely on Molly for pointers.

Grandpa? I despise that term. Not that I am not proud of being a grandparent, but really, Hermione... Grandpa? At least I am an appropriate age to be referred to as Grandpa; you are rather young to be known as Granny. Does your fading youth and declining mobility bother you, my dear?

Your Aged-Yet-Distinguished Husband, who only improves as he matures,

Severus

17 May 2032

Dear Aged-Yet-Distinguished Husband who only improves as he matures,

Don't forget your cushioning charm on the sofa tonight as you sleep.

Love,

Granny

15 July 2032

Dear Severus,

The last Snape has left Hogwarts…at least for now. Where did that irrepressible hellion we let loose on the castle go? I am pleased as punch that she will attend my alma mater, Glasgow Institute, for a Master's in Charms. I believe there are tentative talks for her to return as Charms Professor now that Flitwick has set a date for his retirement; I wonder what poor old Peeves will make of that?

I am surprised that she has not settled on one gentleman friend like Varina had in her final year. Honour has had boys dripping after her since her fifth year when she blossomed into the swan she is. Perhaps I should not be surprised, as she was a surprise to us from the day she was born*. She set her own path from the time she toddled into your arms with her first steps. As soon as she clung to you in excitement of her mobility, and you gave her a kiss, off she went with no looking back!

I could not love our children any more than I do. That you gifted me with such joy is beyond my ability to thank you.

Love

Hermione

7 November 2032

My Dearest Hermione,

I can see that you are in so much pain right now, and I do not know how to respond to you; I do not know how to help you. Your father, a very good man who accepted me into your life based solely on your word as your suitor, and then as your husband, has died. My past experience at dealing with the death of a parent has left me struggling to help you.

How do I fix this for you? I cannot, and that pains me more than John's death. I do not mean to be cruel or heartless when I say that, but having never grieved nor given a damn about my own lamentable father's death, I do not know how I am supposed to feel when one loses a parent. I do know it is painful. After losing Struan, I know what it is to have your heart rent in two, and as you well know, that same heart will heal. It will never be as strong as it once was, but it will heal. I can promise you though that I will be here for you in any capacity that you need me, be it as a human hanky (as you are wont to use me at times), or just to listen to your memories of the man who was your father.

The children seem to be coping with their grandad's death in their own way. It is good to see our older two helping Honour with her grief. Death is so much a part of life, and while you and I have seen far too much of it in our lifetimes, we should never allow ourselves, or our children, to become blasé about it.

My Darling Hermione, I am here for you; my love is yours as always.

Severus

8 November 2032

My Darling Severus,

Your words were perfect and what I needed over the last day or two. To know that you cared enough about my father to want to help me stop hurting, fills me with peace. I do love you.

I am sorry I will need to be away for a week or so; my mother will need me to help her clear away Dad's things, and learn to adjust to a house no longer filled with the comforting sounds of another human living there.

Poe, in his way, has been comforting me, too. He sits on my shoulder and rubs his head against my neck. What would we have done without this little creature in our lives? How many letters, joyous and sad, has he ferried back and forth for us? He is a dear thing, isn't he?

All my love,

Hermione

3 June 2034

Dearest Hermione,

I find that I cannot put into words how devastated I am by Minerva's death. That something as simple as a natural death, as hers was, could affect me in such a way staggers my mind when you consider how callously I viewed death in the past.

Minerva was a formidable woman, as you well know, but for me she was so much more. She was the maternal figure I was lacking due to my mother's inability to cope with the life she was given. Despite our attitude toward one another in public, I adored her greatly, and I rather think she felt kindly towards me. I do not believe I will be able to view a Quidditch match with quite the same enthusiasm without our little wagers and spats over them. I would wish to put on this parchment everything that Min meant to me, but I am finding my emotions beginning to overwhelm me, and I am loath to give them words.

It hurts, Hermione, I can tell you that—losing Minerva hurts me, my love.

4 June 2034

Dearest Severus,

I am filled with sorrow for you; Minerva meant so much to both of us, but was much more than just a professor and colleague for you. Even at your darkest moments, when you know she felt you betrayed her, she was always present. I know you felt she was the mother your own mother never was.

The children will miss "Granny Min", especially Silas who was her godson.

I am here for you, love, as you were here for me when my father died. Please know that you are loved. Always.

Your Hermione

*A little worrywart secret here. I eloped when in 1988 while stationed in Germany with the Air Force. No one in my family knew I was getting married until a few days afterward when my parents received a letter with a return address that was slightly different than usual. My twin sister was still living at home, and she told me that my father's reaction was: "Doris, those girls have been a surprise to us since the day they were born!" (My parents did not know they were having twins until two weeks before we were born) My mother's reaction was: "Is she pregnant, and is he German (and being the great-granddaughter of German immigrants, this would not have been a problem)?" The answer to that was no and no. I married a fellow serviceman who is of Scottish decent.

I have begun posting to a new website called The Maple Bookshelf (www dot themaplebookshelf dot com). You'll see some familiar names there. It is new, but wonderfully refreshing to see. It's really clicking with me. For any of you looking for a home for your M rated stories, this may be the place for you! They have mods, but promise they are not grammar nazis. They just want to make sure your stories look the best they can be when you post them! Give them a look-see!