The Blood Compact – Chapter 47 – After the battle

Severus, Amelia and Neville stared at the centre of the courtyard where the duel had occurred between Harry and Voldemort. After long moments, Severus snapped out his fascination. His dark gaze met Neville's.

"Mr Longbottom... thank you. For saving us from the snake."

Neville watched his former Potions teacher with a quizzical expression. He had never thought he would hear Professor Snape uttering such words to him – words of thanks. "Oh, that's okay, sir. Harry had told me to kill it first occasion. I can see that you were also trying to do something about it," he said while pointing the Gryffindor Sword towards the basilisk fang that Amelia was still holding like a wand.

"Indeed. Mr Longbottom, come here. I need to check something. Stay with Miss Davis," Severus ordered.

Neville, still impressed by the Potions Master – though less than in his first years at Hogwarts, especially after the words of thanks he had heard from the man – obeyed. Severus handed him over Amelia. "Be careful, I think she's got a twisted ankle."

"Lean on me, ma'am," Neville said while offering her his arm. She took it but her gaze shifted quickly towards the Potions Master.

"Severus ! Where are you going ?" She was worried all of a sudden.

"Don't worry, Amelia. I just want to take back from the Dark Lord something that belongs to me."

On these words, he left Neville and Amelia and walked towards Voldemort's body.

"What's gotten into him ?" Neville asked.

"His wand. He wants it back. He surrendered it to the Dark Lord to avoid me being killed," Amelia explained with a sigh.

"Can't blame him." Neville could not help thinking the gesture had been noble and brave indeed.

Severus walked towards the Dark Lord's body. He knew he was in need of medical care but he wanted his wand back first. His wound could wait. Half-way there, he was met by Harry Potter. The both of them looked at each other in a mute question.

"The Dark Lord has my wand, Potter. I just want it back," he explained.

"I may give you that one, should you need a wand, Professor," the younger wizard said while holding out the Elder Wand. "After all, as per Professor Dumbledore's original plan, you were supposed to end up with it, as its master."

Severus could not help thinking that even the best laid-out plans may fail. He snorted. "No thanks, Potter. I don't want to go to bed every night and think I may not see the next day because someone would have slit my throat in my sleep to have it. Allow me to prefer my good old Ebony wand." A pause. "The Dark Lord wanted to kill me for that very reason," he said softly. "He thought I was the master of the Elder Wand because I had..."

Harry perceived the Potions Master's embarrassment at the memory of what had happened on top of the Astronomy Tower the year before. "Professor Dumbledore had managed to live for many years with it. Since the moment he had defeated Gellert Grindelwald, in the 1940s."

"I can see that Hogwarts had managed to teach you a few things about History of Magic, Potter. I would have given points to Gryffindor had I still been a teacher here."

Potter sensed the humour under the irony. "You did so earlier, in the boathouse, sir."

"Why don't you keep it yourself ?" Severus asked to shift the conversation – and before his lips curled up in a tiny smile.

"This wand... meant trouble for many people in the past. I must confess I had a life-time worth of troubles. No, thanks. I just want a normal life now."

Severus nodded. Had the boy become wiser ? They kept on walking in silence, slowly because of their respective wounds, towards the Dark Lord's body.

"Professor, what do you think we should do with... Voldemort ?"

Usually, saying the Dark Lord's name always made Severus' Dark Mark itch in an uncomfortable manner, making him clutch his arm to appease it. But this time, nothing happened. The power of the Dark Mark had gone with the Dark Lord's demise. His gaze met the boy's. "Don't touch him. Let him like this. Tell everybody here to come and have a look at his corpse, though not too close but enough so that it can be seen that he's dead for good this time."

"To avoid some people claiming later they had resurrected him," Harry said. He remembered what had happened at the end of his fourth year... The death of Cedric Diggory... The confrontation with Voldemort... No, he did not want this any more.

"Exactly. If someone can take shots of his dead body for publishing purposes in the press, the better. Then, burn it. Fire purifies everything. I'm sure Professors McGonagall and Flitwick can cast a Fiendfyre."

"Fiendfyre..." Harry whispered. He remembered the fire in the Room of Requirement and Hermione's explanation. "Goyle, he cast it in the Room of Requirement. Malfoy can confirm you that. Must have learned it from the Carrows."

"You mean... one of my former students used the Cursed Fire ?" Severus sounded incredulous. Despite his own fascination for the Dark Arts, there were things he would have never taught to his students. To any students. Fiendfyre was one of these. He was horrified even if he did not show it.

Harry nodded. "He set the Room ablaze while we were inside searching the Diadem of Ravenclaw, on the indication of..." He glanced at Amelia in the distance. "... Rowena Ravenclaw's ghost... well, your lady. I had found it when we were rounded up by Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle there. We managed to escape with Ron and Hermione, thanks to broomsticks Ron had found in the Room. But Crabbe could not master the fire. He, Malfoy and Goyle were soon trapped like us inside the Room. We had been able to save our hides, as well as Malfoy's and Goyle's but..."

"What about Crabbe ?" Severus knew the answer.

"He died in the blaze. He could not escape on time." A pause. "I'm sorry, Professor. I know he was one of your students."

Severus nodded. Once again, he had to reckon that Harry was like his mother indeed. He had compassion – even for his enemies. The same compassion than the one he had expressed to him earlier in the boathouse.

"We'll do as you told me, about disposing of his corpse," Harry said after long seconds of silence, while showing Voldemort's body with his wand. "True I wanted to make sure he's dead, sir," he said.

"Can't blame you, Potter."

Severus raised his mother's wand. "Accio my wand !" he cast. He did not wish to touch the Dark Lord's body directly. He felt disgusted. He even felt disturbed by the notion that his wand had spent some time in Voldemort's garments.

Something moved from under Voldemort's dark robes. A black stick managed to find its way out and darted from the clothes towards the two wizards. Severus caught it in his open hand in a gesture as sure as Harry's when the young man had caught the Elder Wand after Disarming Voldemort a few moments earlier.

For probably the very first time, Harry could see utter relief on the Potions Master's face. "I think I'm going to do the same thing," he said.

Severus watched him. "What do you mean ?"

"My own wand's been damaged during an attack last winter." Harry opened the pouch that Hagrid had given him and got out the remnants of his Holly wand from there. He put the damaged wand on the ground. "Now's the time to see what it's got." He cast Reparo on it with the Elder Wand. His Holly wand bits – wood and phoenix core – connected and sealed together perfectly. He cast a few innocuous spells around and the wand worked perfectly in his hand again, channelling his magic the way he wanted exactly, the way it had always had. He was happy and relieved – it was like he was reunited again with an old friend.

Once done with their respective wands, the two wizards left the Dark Lord's body where it was and turned back towards the Great Hall.

"I could never thank you enough for what you did for me, Professor. I... I'm sorry," Harry said while they were walking together, enjoying those moments of solitude.

"Sorry about what, Potter ?"

"For everything I've told you before. That you were..." Harry blushed out of shame. "... a coward. Now I can see that's not true. On the contrary. Please..." He glanced around. This was now or never as they were both alone. "Please accept my apologies, Professor."

Severus stopped walking, out of surprise. This came as a shocker to him. Potter apologizing – and to him ? He just nodded and they both resumed walking. He gathered that this was a peace offering. They might never become friends, yet now there was a time for peace. He could not forget also the compassionate look in Harry's eyes, in the boathouse. Yes, deep down, the boy was much more like his mother, like Lily. Apologizing was something that James Potter would have never done. Now he could no longer say that the boy 'was his father all over again'.

But was Severus ready to accept Harry's apologies ? The Potions Master could not believe what he had just heard. He needed time to assimilate all this. He said nothing. They resumed walking in silence. Harry was well aware that the Potions Master was one to hold a grudge for a long time, so things may remain difficult between them. But as long as they could respect each other and not be at each other's throats, that was the most important for Harry.

They were closer to Neville and Amelia. The young witch left Neville's arm and began limping towards Severus.

Without a word for Harry, Severus began walking faster too, to meet her. He wanted to hold her and never be parted from her. Never. They both met under the two boy's gazes – amused for Harry, surprised for Neville. Harry had seen in the Potions Master's memories that he had loved his mother, that this unrequited love had been the fuel behind his sacrifice and determination to bring Voldemort down from the moment her life had been in danger. But now the man seem to have found happiness with another woman, a woman of flesh and blood, not a memory.

Neville, limping too, went to meet Harry, leaning on the Sword of Gryffindor that Amelia had given him back, as it were a walking stick. "Hey, Harry !"

The two boys met and hugged each other warmly. "We did it, Harry ! We did it !"

"Thank you so much, Neville, you've been great, really ! You destroyed the last Horcrux. Well done, really ! Well done !"

Harry's words of praise sent Neville back to their training time in the Room of Requirement, back in their fifth year. The same words, the same tone, the same pride coming from someone he had looked up to and considered now as more as a hero – as a best friend. "I thought about what you had told me one day, back in our fifth year. That we would make my parents proud of me. I think they are now," the young man said with emotion in his voice.

Harry thought about his parents, which he had seen in the Forbidden Forest earlier. They had been proud indeed. "Yes, I'm sure they are." Harry replied while patting Neville's shoulder. Gone were the days when Neville could barely cast a Disarming spell... He had turned into a determined, responsible wizard. Harry glanced at Severus and Amelia, holding to each other in a tight embrace. "I think this was a pretty nice team work, don't you think ?" Whether he meant it for Dumbledore's Army or for the couple formed by the young Ravenclaw witch and the Potions Master, one could not have told.

"Yeah. By the way, talking about team work, where are Ron and Hermione ?"

"I know they had tried to chase that damn snake. Now everything's over, I think they must be hiding somewhere, snogging."

"About time," Neville commented, which elicited a small laugh from Harry.

Thinking about snogging brought back Ginny's image into Harry's mind. Now he was dying to see her again.

"I'm going to see Luna, Harry. About time too that I should tell her I'm crazy about her !"

Harry was surprised by his friend's rather enthusiastic declaration but he smiled at him encouragingly. "Yes, you do that, Neville. Once again... I'm very proud of you, of everything you've done for all of us here. Holding the fort at Hogwarts."

Neville smiled. "One day I'll tell you how me and Seamus, we blew up the bridge, on McGonagall's orders. Quite a great moment !"

Harry smiled back, his face reflecting surprise and amusement at the notion of the austere Transfiguration teacher asking such a thing. "I'd like to hear that indeed."

Neville nodded, patted Harry's shoulder in return and limped away, a new spring in his steps, the Sword of Gryffindor still in hand, towards the Great Hall, where Luna was, most likely. That was the place where he had seen her for the last time. He would also tell the others that Harry had killed Voldemort.

Harry glanced a last time at the couple formed by the Potions Master and the young woman. He smiled and turned away his gaze when he saw them sharing a passionate kiss. He was surprised and watched them for long seconds, a smile forming on his lips. He remembered when he had kissed Ginny at the Burrow, how it felt when George had interrupted them with a morning greeting. He would certainly not incur Professor Snape's wrath for interfering in such a moment. He remained discreet. After all, there was nobody else in the courtyard, except himself, but he did not count really, did he ?

He was about to climb the stairs leading to the Great Hall when a crowd of people, led by Minerva McGonagall, went out at the same time. Neville had spread the word that Harry had made it alive and that You-Know-Who was dead, his corpse lying in the courtyard.

But on seeing Severus kissing his young witch thoroughly, as if they were alone in the whole world, everyone stopped in their tracks. That was quite a sight indeed, the austere Potions professor engaged in such an intimate activity with a woman. Something that nobody had ever witnessed – or thought they would one day.

A deathly quiet fell over the courtyard. Then suddenly, someone clapped their hands. Luna Lovegood was watching the couple with a breezy smile on her lips, obviously delighted by the sight of joy, love and happiness thus displayed.

Soon, another person, then another, and another, clapped, until almost everyone present clapped their hands. As if seeing that unexpected couple was the very proof that life had won over death, that love had been more powerful than evil.

The din was now astounding. Severus and Amelia realized that they were no longer on their own. Their lips parted. They glanced towards the Great Hall, to discover that many people were gathered at the entrance, watching them and clapping in their hands. Their faces even blushed a bit, reflecting their embarrassment to have been caught in such a situation.

"Looks like we have earned ourselves some attention," Severus commented.

"But it doesn't matter, does it ?"

He shook his head slightly. "No. No, it doesn't really." Even if he had a hard time admitting it.

She smiled at him. "I love you, Severus."

He watched her with an intense expression of sweetness on his face. "I love you too, Amelia."

The crowd could see they were talking to each other. "What do you reckon they're saying to each other ?" Ron asked Harry.

Hermione and Ginny looked at each other, ever amazed by Ron's silly question. They both rolled their eyes at the same time, which made their respective boyfriends laugh.

"I don't know, Ron," Harry replied. "But for sure, they were not talking about Potions or Defence Against the Dark Arts."

Severus and Amelia turned themselves towards the crowd. The Potions Master felt definitively embarrassed. He had shown other people something he had wanted to keep for himself only. His love for Amelia. He could also kiss goodbye his frightening countenance – he had shown he was a human being like any other, with his flaws, his frailties, his feelings. He had spent so many years hiding them all to everyone !

Amelia limped. Severus could not let her walk like that. He took her in his arms, bridal style, to carry her inside the Great Hall. Despite his own wound, he felt he was strong enough to carry her to the same bench where she had led him before, so that her ankle may be taken care of.

Severus, with Amelia in his arms, stopped about two yards away from Minerva McGonagall. The old witch was still looking at him with the same stern, even angry, look on her face. Everybody around became silent. Was another wizarding war about to break out ?

"Minerva."

"Severus."

They stared at each other for long seconds. Then Minerva spoke loud. "Severus Snape, you're under arrest for the murder of Albus Dumbledore and other nefarious crimes as a Death-Eater. Release this young lady immediately and follow the Aurors for further incarceration in Azkaban."

Amelia felt panic rising in her heart. "No..." she whispered. She would not let anyone take her man away from her. She had not let Wormtail attack him back in the boathouse, not to have him being carted off to Azkaban and face the Dementors. Severus let her stand up on her feet. Everyone thought he was about to push her aside and duel with the Transfiguration professor.

But instead of that, he just held the young witch tighter against him. "Hang on to me, Amelia. We're in for a ride, you and me," he whispered into her ear. She said nothing, her only response was clinging his back tighter. He had their both wands in hand. A few people moved away. He was still a dangerous man. "You seem to forget, Minerva, that I do not wish to follow anyone here and even less go to Azkaban," he said loud enough for everyone to hear.

He got a tight hold on Amelia and in a split-second, a black column of smoke rose in the sky from where they both stood. He had flown away Death-Eater style, so quickly that nobody could react.

Harry got closer to McGonagall. "Professor, there's something I'd like you to watch." In front of her puzzled look, he went on. "In the pensieve, in the Headmaster's office. It explains many things about Professor Snape. Please, Professor. Trust me." He did not want to tell her what it was all about as he was not sure if she would agree then to watch Severus' memories in the pensieve. She would see everything by herself. He could relate to her anger and pain over Dumbledore's death. But this time, she was wrong. The Potions Master may have committed many crimes but he had lived a life of servitude to two very powerful masters. For love's sake. For his mother's memory.

Minerva nodded and they entered the Great Hall, soon followed by everybody around. Harry glanced a last time at the courtyard, at the spot where Severus and Amelia had stood a few moments before. The dark smoke had gone. He smiled slightly, hoping that wherever these two had gone, they would be happy.


Here we are, the end of the battle ! Evil is dead, welcome joy and love and... whatever.

Except for a very much angry Minerva that would have loved to do Severus in. Let's face it, this woman can kick some ass ! Even Death-Eater ass.

So now, what's going to happen, according to you ? Because this is not the end. The battle is over but not the story.

Please review. Oh, by the way, if any of you wishes to make some fanart or photomanip about this story, please leave a link in a review or PM me, so that I can admire your work. Feel free !