Epilogue

"When I look in the mirror, I know I'm looking at someone who isn't sure she deserves to be loved at all." - Nicholas Sparks (Dear John)

"You have to love something before you can hate it." — Nicholas Sparks (The Last Song)

"That's the sort of thing I'll never know, or comprehend—what humans are capable of." – The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The sun cast warmth upon her pale skin as she stood before the pristine white marble tomb. A warm, pleasant breeze ruffled her raven ringlets, blowing strands into her thin, pale face, though she quickly brushed them behind her ear. The grass seemed to ripple in the breeze, which brought the sweet scent of flowers wafting to her nose.

It was a perfect June day…but it seemed to lack all the warmth and happiness it should have seeped her with.

To anyone else, it would have been a beautiful day.

It would have been for Civia, too…had she not been standing before Albus' grave.

She had just been released from the Infirmary. Poppy, Harry, and Ginny had helped her to the funeral the day before, though the nurse had immediately escorted her back to the hospital wing as soon as it was over.

The Potions Mistress had not been cursed, or any such thing one might have expected. It was shock, according to Poppy's diagnosis. Not electrical shock, but rather simply emotional shock—the shock of Severus' betrayal and Albus' death. Even days after the battle, Civia could not accept the fact that her Severus had betrayed them, because she had known him, really known him.

She knew and recognized every trait in his personality, every smirk to his face, every rare smile or laugh he gave. He would act so cold and harsh and strong, but it was to protect himself. He acted so strong, so brave to hide his vulnerable heart. He was so intelligent, so witty and sharp, shown veiled in sarcasm and sharp remarks.

But he was a murderer.

But it didn't make sense in Civia's mind. It was Draco, this year, who had been so intent on murder…the murder of Albus…so intent he nearly killed Katie and herself earlier. She had known he wouldn't have been able to do it. While determined, Draco was not a killer—sure, he wasn't a saint but he wasn't a true Death Eater.

And Severus…her Severus…No. He murdered Albus…he wasn't hers anymore.

He was Voldemort's now.

Then it hit her that, he never really had been hers. Snape had given her the delusion of love, while tricking her all the same. Her love had not changed the fact that he had killed the man that—she thought—had been a father to both of them.

Civia was as alone as she had been a year ago…but without even Albus now.

Her fingertips brushed against the cool stone of the tomb. "I'm so sorry, Albus," she whispered.

"Goodbye."

With one last mournful glance, she turned away from the grave of Albus Dumbledore and headed back towards the castle.

At the threshold of the castle, she paused, her hand coming to rest on the wall near her.

Severus may be lost to be forever, but she still had Harry, and one last golden day with Harry to enjoy before the summer began, and this ended.

It was an end of an era, for both Civia and the Wizarding World. Albus was dead and gone, leaving the Wizarding World to defend itself. And for Civia…it was the end of her miniscule year of, what she thought was, love.

She did not have Severus anymore…and her heart ached at the thought, but Civia knew she could survive it. Voldemort was rising quickly, but the real war was only just beginning now. The Potions Mistress, as she turned back to look at the beautiful grave of her friend and the sparkling lake, spoke softly to herself.

"Severus is a traitor, and Voldemort is rising. The real war is only just beginning…but we can win it," Civia paused, with a tortured expression, "no matter my broken heart…"

…Even though said heart still belonged to Severus.

End of "The Tale of Civia Potter"

And Part One of the Civia Series

So, this is the end FOR NOW. I'll post Part Two in a few days or a week at most, I hope. Part Two will be titled:

"The Tale of Civia Snape"

(grin) Tell me what you think about THAT hint.

ALSO- Part Two will be considerably longer, as it includes the Deathly Hallows and a long epilogue. I finished it in September, mind you. So you've gotta meet the review quota for me to update

BTW- For my fellow NaNoWriMo nerds, I SUCCEEDED! I wrote 50,000 words in November in time for the deadline. It'll be my next HP fanfic-also SSOC, though its about a new character-a spy for the Order, working alongside Severus. If you can't tell, I just love Snape.

NOW, thanks to my real life friends and betas:

ZoeyAradiaMystique (my BFF and main Beta, who mostly checked for grammar and begged me to write quicker ;), Evangilena Night, and MarvelousMonstrosity. You three rock!

Finally, thank you all, my readers! Love you all!