The Beauty and the Beast Effect

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING; I MERELY ENTERTAIN MYSELF IN J.K. ROWLING'S WORLD.

A/N I'm so sad, yet happy. Today is the very last post for BBE it's been a long road but a good one. I've had so much fun and I hope you have too! Obviously this will be fairly short. It's just a glimpse into the lives that Hermione and Sev lead after BBE. I hope you like it!!
Sorry that's it's taken me awhile. I actually finished it on Sunday the 31st of May, but I was busy with things and then we went to Las Vegas. I never actually had the time to post but it's here now, right?
Today's chapter is dedicated to all my great reviewers. Whether they're like debjunk and notwritten who have been constant reviewers from the start, or like JellyTot-x who's been faithful since she started part way through, or like many of you others who have reviewed sporadically throughout, I still appreciate every review I've ever gotten. In many ways you guys are the reason Hermione and Sev came as far as they did! :-) Thanks for giving them and me a "bright future." And also a huge shout out to SheriLovinglecter who was kind enough to go back and leave a review for almost every chapter despite having read them previously just so that I could get to 300. Thank you to her and everyone else a million times over!!!!

Epilogue

Bright Future

Hermione woke up to the tiny warm hands of her two year old son, Severus Crookshanks Snape, prodding her gently, and tugging at the covers. She slowly blinked open her eyes to see his dark black hair and soft brown eyes.

"Mommy," he called in his high pitched voice, "Mommy come see!"

"'Morning Sevie," Hermione said blearily.

"Junior!" Severus said from the kitchen, "Didn't I tell you to let your mother rest?"

He grinned sheepishly up at his mother, "Oops,"

"Come on now," Sev said entering the doorway, "Help me with lunch why don't you?"

"Go on Rus," Hermione said brushing the back of his head tenderly, "Help your father."

"But come see!" he cried gleefully, "Teddy is here!"

She looked quickly up at Severus sensing through their much strengthened connection that their son was indeed correct. She could also tell he felt guilty for not waking her, but she sensed he did it because he loved her. Ever since Alli was born, she had been missing out on sleep, and needed the rest. Even as she discovered all this, she could feel strength pour into her, courtesy of Severus. She smiled at him gratefully as she rose from the bed.

"I guess I should go greet our guests," Hermione said and grasped Rus's hand in hers.

"I'll finish making lunch," Severus offered, "And Alli was asleep in the front room last I saw.

"Thanks, love," she said and kissed his cheek as she slipped past him in the hall.

"No problem," he replied and ruffled Rus's hair.

Hermione walked into the front room grinning as Rus sprinted over to Teddy Lupin who was now four years old. The boys proceeded to wrestle together on the floor. Hermione cast one anxious glance to the car-seat/carrier in the corner where Alli lay sleeping. Seeing that the baby girl was in no danger from the careening boys she turned her attention to Remus Lupin who sat respectfully on the couch.

"How was America?" she asked conversationally.

Remus smiled as he answered, "It was great. Teddy really loved it. There were so many people to change his features to look like. He was fascinated."

Hermione laughed, "I'm sure he was. I can't imagine what a handful Rus would be if he were a Metamorphmagus."

"Trust me, you don't want to," he said with a chuckle.

They continued to talk of generally unimportant matters until Alli began to stir. When she started to fuss and cry, Hermione rolled her eyes at Remus and started over to her daughter. Teddy beat her though.

"It's a baby!" he exclaimed in surprise when he caught sight of Alli's chubby face.

"What else would it be?" Severus asked having finished making lunch in the kitchen.

"I don't know... it's a baby," he repeated. He tentatively stuck his finger in the carrier. Alli wrapped her tiny fingers around his and cooed softly. He giggled a little and eyed the little fingers with curiosity.

"She must like you," Severus said, coming to stand behind Hermione and look at the two children with amusement.

"She doesn't like me," Rus boasted but Alli smiled her toothless grin when he stood next to Teddy.

"Be careful, Ted," Remus said, still seated on the couch.

"I won't hurt her," Teddy promised and turned around to look at Severus and Hermione, "What's her name?"

Severus looked lovingly upon his wife and then upon his daughter and Teddy. He could feel that Hermione was already harboring the same thoughts as he. The young metamorphmagus and the gurgling baby girl he could call his own might very well have a bright future before them.

Those exact thoughts swirled through Hermione's head as she answered, "Her name is Edelweiss, Edelweiss Alli Snape."

The End

A/N It's the end folks!!!! 146 computer pages, about 65,000 words, 36 chapters and an epilogue later we've reached the end!!! So now on to the announcement which I'm sure you've all guessed by now... drum roll please... I'M WRITING A SEQUEL!!!!! I'm very excited although you may not be!! :-) I hope you are though. Actually I think there will be more than a sequel. I'll probably end up writing a story for each of their four children: Severus Crookshanks Snape (Rus), Edelweiss Alli Snape (Alli), Anthony Albus Snape (I haven't decided between Anthon and Tony), and finally Amelia Minerva Snape (Amy). The first one will probably be called Of Magic and Mermaids, but the title is subject to change. Keep your eyes peeled for that!!
Thanks again for everything!!!! You guys are absolutely amazing!!!!! Hugs to everyone!!!! :-)