AN. I do not own Harry Potter universe and JK Rowlings does
Chapter 37 Recovery and Remembrances
Justice warily approached Voldemort's body and kicked the wand out of his hand before kneeling down and found a hole in his head, half his face taken out in a bony bloody mess. Pointing his wand at the body he casted diagnostic spells confirming what he thought. "Voldemort is dead!" He shouted out hearing cheers from the witches and wizards left alive checking the victims.
Harry picked himself up dazed and felt something dripping wet dripping from his head. "Ginny rushed up and hugged him before moving him to sit down. "You have a head wound." Pointing her wand and used it to men the large cut. She would worry about the bald spot later.
Harry murmured out his thanks, glad that his wife took up a career as a medi-witch when their second child was born, retiring her Quidditch broom and uniform in the closet, never looking back.
Ginny made sure everything was fine with his diagnostics flaring green and pulled a wooden box around her, opening it up and rustled around. "Pepper Up Potion Harry. Drink it down and go to Justice. He's looking for you."
Harry pulled himself up groaning as his soreness was not fixed with the potion. watching Ginny move toward a body close to them, pulling a yellow tag from her robes and tied it on the hand of the body before moving forward. He groaned knowing the yellow tag identified the dead.
Justice was busy briefing everyone to help Ginny and grabbed Harry to pull him aside. "I want you to find the wizards body that was with Voldemort and pull him away from the rest. I do not want him processed so we can find out who it is. I'll talk to Thrywaite."
Harry nodded and after a moment he located the unidentified wizard laying a thick pool of blood next to Voldemort. He took the arms out and dragged the body to the forest and hid it before walking back his route using his wand to remove the trial of blood that was left behind.
Suddenly he felt arms wrapped around him and found Hermione hugging him. "I got to the edge of the forest just when the battle began. I saw it all." She breathed out.
Harry hugged her back and released her. "You saw more than me then. Come Hermione, we have to help the injured."
The held hands as they moved to the furthest body and began to work, conjuring yellow tags as needed. When they found barely alive Hermione would shout out using Sonorus and a witch or wizard from St. Mungo's would rush to them and take over.
All of the captured members of the Order of the Phoenix survived, emaciated witches taken immediately to St. Mungo's to be placed in the ward where the Longbottom's resided.
Soon the bodies and wounded were away with two Aurors sent to guard Voldemort's body at St. Mungo's and Justice gathered the walking wounded and the survivors around him. "I'll not take you to the Ministry for debriefing and I can take them here." Conjuring up parchments out and handing them out. "Just tap your wands after thinking about the events and it will put them down for you."
Justice watched everyone sit down to do as commanded, eyes moving on the group and stopped, observing Hermione sitting down next to Harry and Ginny. What could he say to her that would heal their relationship as a friend or perhaps something more in time? Her husband was dead, his involvement in that affair causing it and wondered if he could move forward because he knew the man was innocent, previous statements and conversations sealed that would never come to light.
Everyone handed the parchments to him and stood waiting for further direction.
"For those that wish gather at the Leaky Cauldron in an hour so we can remember and toast our fallen comrades as we lost half our fighting force tonight. For those that do not wish to attend, report to the Ministry at 11am so we can finish things and alter our patrol schedule. Senior Aurors will go to the Academy and test out the Graduating class so they can fill the vacancies."
He found some glaring at him, realizing he sounded like a beuarcrat, but he was one after all. "I'm sorry to sound like thist but it must be done as we have a responsibility to protect our citizens." Remorse in his voice and most noted it nodding.
He watched the group began to leave. "Mrs. Snape a word for a moment if you don't mind."
Harry and Ginny looked to her. "It's okay Harry. What he wants to talk about is inevitable." Hermione whispered.
Harry kissed her cheek. "Come to our house if you decide not to join the remembrance. I'm going but Ginny will be at our house."
Justice looked to Hermione, fire from the house still burning, light flickering on her face and he could not figure her stance and emotion, one of the first skills learned as a student in the Academy.
He moved closer to her. "You know I had no choice in what happened to your husband." Whispering out in remorse and grabbed her hand, pleased that she did not pull away, continuing. "Just as I had no choice in what happened to you. If I had not acted someone else would have noticed and it would have been far worse for you Hermione. I hope you understand."
Hermione looked into his eyes and saw the remorse there but she had to check it, knowing Severus was alive but could not reveal it.
"I know you mean well Justice." Pulling her hand out of his and crossed her arms. "But you knew he was innocent. You knew he worked with the Order and being with Voldemort was involuntary. I know you acted because of the public and I understand that and he did as well. But what life have you given me? Pulled in for interrogation with the rags of our press declaring me a supporter of Voldemort? I lost my teaching position at Hogwarts! Everyone now associates me to Voldemort even if you declare that I am innocent. I saw the Mark over Hogsmeade and I could not even go to help because everyone would think that I am Voldemort's witch and there for other purposes. Do you know how hard that was?" Tears threatening to spill from her brown eyes.
Hermione steeled herself to speak her next words knowing it would hurt him but it had to be said. "I know that you care for me Justice. Did you do all of this to ensure Severus was out of the way?"
Justice stepped back surprised at the anger in her words when she spoke them and stuttered. "No Hermione, I never use my office…"
"For personal gain." Hermione finished for him. "I know that though I wonder of it. Still what kind of life have you given me D.A. Justice, me a hero now shunned by the Wizarding world and no job prospects because of your actions? Can you promise me that when I walk down Diagon Alley I will be greeted in friendship as I once was and promise that my job at the Ministry given back to me as I was my assignment to Hogwarts was temporary? No prospects for a wizard except for you as all would shun me based on my history."
Justice remained silent as there was nothing more he could say to her.
"I know I proved the points Dwight. Maybe time will heal the rift between us. I need to think about things."
He watched her leave, melting into the dark of the forest and heard the clap of Apparation marking her departure.
He sighed. Gods he fucked it all up while trying to do the right thing.
A thunderous clap sounded out and he turned, wand pointing out and found Aunt Erin standing next to the burning house that was now reduced to embers.
He rushed to the older witch throwing down his wand and sobbed, feeling Aunt Erin wrap her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
"Now you know why we do not get ourselves involved Dwight. Nothing ever comes good from it and it is a hard lesson to learn as all it causes is pain for all parties involved." Aunt Erin whispered in his ear, holding tight to her nephew.
After a while Erin released him. "You have the body in the woods to recover and then you need to go to the Leaky Cauldron as you promised the survivors. After that step down from your position and join us back in Ireland so we can work on your true reason of being in our Order. Remaining here will cause you more pain and there is nothing you can do to fix her position."
Justice watched his aunt disappear and moved to the body in the woods hidden by Harry and picked it up. He would not run away but remain to help the witch that he harmed inadvertently.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Severus arrived back and reset the wards and paced around the small room for an hour deep in thought. His Mark disappeared while he kept Harry Potter at his house. So he was finally free. He observed the death of Voldemort and did not believe it. Yes there were deaths, but he could have easily taken all out. He thought of his Bond to Hermione and felt nothing. No sense of her whatsoever. So what happened tonight that he felt drawn to her?
He sat down on the bed feeling anger. Why was he saved?
"Fire whiskey! What I prefer!" He shouted out expecting none to arrive and found Sassy holding out abottle of Ogdin's special in her claw hand.
"Sassy." He exclaimed in surprise taking the bottle, pulling the cork and drank from it feeling a tight hold on his leg and looked down finding the small House Elf sobbing softly.
His anger evaporated and placed a pale hand on the top of her head. "Sassy why are you crying?"
Elfin eyes looked up to his, tears streamlining from them. "Youse be's alive Master. Mistress saved me Is'e now's why as youse here. Sassy cries because I's serves youse again. Youse not the bad mans in the paper."
Severus chuckled, touched at her word always holding a connection to the House Elf that failed. She always reminded him of how was. One placed in a world that did not accept him
"Sassy I once was that bad man in the paper but I'm glad you appreciate me. Tell me where I am."
Sassy's large eyes widened. "Youse be in the house that Mistress took me to when we's left school."
Severus looked around realizing this was a house that she never told him about. Maybe this was her plan of escape just as he had one.
He patted her head. "Go about your duties Sassy. I will call if I need anything."
He watched her snap her clawed hand and disappeared.
HGSSHGSHGSS
Hermione sat on the settee at 12 Grimuald Place telling Ginny of the conversation with Justice and the bond she held with the Dark Lord by marriage.
Ginny sipped her wine. "It sounds like Justice regrets everything Hermione. Sure he could have done more but your husband forced his hand. He could have turned himself in privately and been protected."
Hermione sipped her wine and sighed. Severus being alive was a secret she could not reveal, even to her best friends. Closing her eyes, she searched for the connection to him and felt nothing, frustrated that she could not feel anything. She opened her eyes and looked to Ginny. "I have no future here Ginny. Everyone thinks that I am in league with the Dark Lord and Severus was forced into it."
Ginny placed her wine glass down. "I know that you loved Severus Hermione but he's dead and you have to think for yourself now. Despite being incapacitated early on in the mission you were there. What better way to prove your innocence then going to the Leaky Cauldron. No press will be there but word will get out."
Hermione finished her glass of wine and placed it on the low table in front of her and thought about it. No Bond despite she knew he was alive and did not know what it meant as she was considered a widow in the Wizarding world.
She put her glass down. "My reputation is shot so what the hell? Thanks for the advice Ginny."
Hermione took her leave and walked to the public Apparation point, looking around for a moment to make sure she was alone and turned her heel thinking of destination and arrived in Diagon Alley.
Moving towards the Leaky Cauldron, she ignored the pointed fingers and whispering as she walked slowly down the street. Before she knew it she was in front of the Leaky Cauldron, pausing for a moment before turning the door handle and walked in and smiled at the shouted greeting from Aurors and Order members alike.
Harry rushed to her and led her to the long table where everyone gathered and pulled out a chair and pushed it in before he sat in the empty seat next to her.
"Everyone is here now. Let us remember our fallen." Harry murmured out and took Hermione's hand and squeezed it.
Justice found himself continuing to look at Hermione. He knew that she had not been seen in public since her release from Hogwarts. He thought of her exit, holding her head held out high and even attended her last dinner there surprising everyone. He stood up and looked to everyone.
"I said before that this was a celebration before but seeing everyone here I want it to be a remembrance of those fallen and their sacrifice." The room quieted as he read the names and sat down. "Let us remember."
Everyone smiled and relaxed when Harry stood up and spoke of the grizzled Auror Stoddard, speaking of his guidance when he mentored him and gave him guidance when he was Head of Magical Law Enforcement and the fact he had no family except for them to help him in his travel to the Veil.
Everyone stood up and shouted. "To Auror Stoddard!" Downing their drink.
Hermione sat listening and continued to drink as the fallen was remembered. All that knew of her husband's involvement did not speak of it.
Everyone watched Hermione stand up. "I wish to remember one but it is a State Secret. Not an Auror but one of the Phoenix." She murmured, drink allowing her tongue to loosen.
Justice realized who he wanted to talk about and pulled out his wand and casted a spell that only those gathered would hear her words.
Justice nodded to her. "All here has taken an Oath of Secrecy Hermione. Speak your word so we can remember."
Looking out to the group she spoke strongly. "Severus Snape, my husband and a hero in the Final Battle and this one as well."
Gasp of shock rang out and she heard most gathered mutter in disagreement.
Hermione looked to Justice. "It would be believable if you told them Justice. I demand it as he will always be remembered as a villain when he was not." Sitting down.
Everyone looked to Justice and waited.
Justice stood up and cursed as the witch put him in the spotlight. He thought for a moment realizing this was revenge and confirmation at the same time.
"Still your hateful words for her words are true and none of you can ever speak of what I reveal despite you for your duties. I need a specific vow to be released when needed."
Everyone agreed and listened to Justice, and then Harry stood and spoke of the hated man, His final words while he held up his glass. "I named my second born after him and I have always told everyone that Severus Snape was the bravest man I ever knew. My views still hold true. Let us remember Severus Snape, life taken unfairly by the Ministry though we knew he was innocent. Citizens wanted his life and we gave it to them."
Auror Binns stood up and held out his glass. "To Severus Snape, his death needed to move us forward to a new path!"
All drank their toast and watched Binns move to Hermione and took her hand up and kissed it, lips lingering. "Thank you for revealing your husband's true allegiance. You know I doubted it and spoke illy of it in your interrogation."
Hermione pulled her hand away discretely, disturbed at the wizard's touch. "I remember you from my interrogation Auror. May I know your name because I remember your actions when I was interrogated, you thinking me guilty?"
"I am amiss Mrs. Snape. My name is Thomas Binns."
Hermione watched the wizard move away feeling unsettled and watched him sit back down, ignoring her and spoke to an Auror next to him.
Soon the affair was over with Justice handing out phial of Hangover potion to his Aurors, reminding them to report in the morning.
Justice found Hermione the last to leave lingering behind, sensing that she was staying for him.
"You'll announce his innocence Dwight?"
Dwight took her hand. "I will Hermione and if the Ministry decides to dismiss me then I will move back to Ireland. I plan to tell the Wizangamot everything tomorrow in closed session. I want to do right by you. Your husband will get his justice in his death."
He continued. "I'll not deny that I love you Hermione Snape. Maybe in time you will realize I had no choice in this."
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Severus waited for his wife to come back to her home and release him and after hours of waiting he undressed and slipped into the bed in his "prison." wondering of her as their Bond was obviously broken.
Sassy appeared in his room holding out a platter with his lunch with a copy of the Daily Prophet placing it on the bedstand next to the table.
"Master, youse not be a bads man once again."
"Wait Sassy, where is your Mistress?"
"She's not bes here Master. Ise keep the command to takes care of youse."
He watched the elf leave, realizing he had no control of her at the moment and picked up the paper next to his food and flicked it open surprised at the headlines that shouted out. "Severus Snape is Innocent!"
He observed a moving picture on the front page wit Justice holding her hand, watching it move and repeat itself with Justice declaring him innocent and her as well, the article below detailing the raid of the Ministry against Voldemort.
She was moving on despite the fact that he revealed himself to her and saved her. He knew her turmoil as he could not be revealed alive.
Feeling miserable he sat in the hard chair in his room and sobbed. This was worse than his relationship with Lily.
The Lady in White appeared to him and looked to the dour man. "I told you that it would not be easy for you Severus Snape."
Severus looked up. "I'm truly dead now, despite the fact I am alive. I hate you."
"Yes Severus Snape you do hate me but you will persevere and get what you want in the end if you are up to it." The White Lady murmured, moving to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"One who has suffered so much and you know what you need to do."
Severus stood up understanding her words, feeling the wards release.
"I could have left here anytime you know Lady. I wait for her." Severus growled out.
"You know what you need to do for her?" She murmured back lightly.
He sighed. "I found my love and I am meant to share her is that it Lady?"
The Lady in White looked to him. "I thought that you were not worthy at one time Severus Snape. My mind has changed and you need to walk away." Fading from sight.
Severus stood up and looked around the small room that he was in. I love you Hermione he thought for a moment and turned his heel and disappeared.
Hours later Hermione arrived at her hidden house and rushed in. "Sassy take me to my husband!"
Sassy appeared looking to her sadly. "Mistress Master has left."
"Oh Sassy you are connected find him!"
Sassy looked sadly to her. "Ise be connected to him no longer Mistress. I'se bound onlys to youse. Mistress"
Hermioneleft the elf and rushed up to the room that Arthur told her he would be at and found it empty, falling on her knees and cried out when she found the room empty.