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Chapter 44

Severus had to think quickly. The most important thing was that Tom and Hermione were fine. He needed to get rid of them. He knew the wards were breached a little too late. He looked at them and found a handsome face. He looked like a Crouch which would mean that he had some Prince blood in him. The manor would have let the intruders through. It was his fault, he let his concentration slip.

They were badly injured. He obliviated them one by one. He did irreparable damage. The manor had private charms installed which prevented tracking. Severus liked to be pre-emptive.

He gathered them and fashioned a portkey. Albus taught him right. He left each person in different muggle areas. It was back to the ministry. He slipped back into his office and waited for one of the aurors to drop by his office.

"Mr. Snape, here you are. Some of the aurors and unspeakables are having some drinks at the Leaky, care to join us."

Severus nodded, "why not? It is a happy day after all."

The other chuckled, "yes it is. We can finally breathe easier." He referred to Grindelwald's arrest and soon to follow trial.

Severus followed the man and stayed until the last man was drunk and needed to go home by Floo. He was content enough that an alibi was established, in case of any investigations.

He apparated to the manor and went up the stairs. Tom has his mother's hand in his.

"How is she?" He asked his son.

"She woke up and asked for you. I told her what happened. Mum is very scared." He replied.

Severus could tell that it was not only Hermione who was frightened. Tom looked uncertain. Perhaps a little scared.

"Did you know any of those wizards?" He asked.

Tom shook his head, "no, dad, are you going to Azkaban?"

Severus frowned, "do you think I should?"

It was not even three seconds before Tom replied, "no. They tried to kill mum. You were protecting us. How did you know?"

"The wards they dropped. I believe one of them was a Crouch, with enough Prince blood for the house to be confused. It alerted me once the hexes began. I apparated and neutralized them. I will not go to Azkaban." Severus looked at him and grabbed his hand.

"We need to get away from the manor for a bit. We'll go to Scotland. It will be a little holiday." He said.

"Promise me you will not go to Azkaban." Tom said.

"I swear. I have sorted things." He said and rested next to Hermione. Tom remained on the other side.

Severus closed his eyes. The manor would not do anymore. Hermione would refuse to stay here any longer. He agreed and tried to sleep.

He woke up to Hermione crying. He shushed her. She kissed him gently, "it happened didn't it?"

"Yes." Severus said and explained what happened.

"I obliviated them. I would be surprised if they ever did magic again." He said slowly.

Hermione frowned but remained quiet. Severus caressed her cheek, "I will never have anyone hurt you or Tom. This was provoked. I will not have you feel sorry for them."

Hermione looked away and to Tom who was fast asleep.

"Did he hurt anyone?" She asked.

"No, it did not come to that." He replied quickly.

"He shielded you and tried to heal your wounds." Severus continued. "He's afraid of what happens next."

Hermione caressed the boy's hand and nodded. "We cannot stay here."

"No, I've planned a small trip to Scotland. One of our properties. Tom will go back to Hogwarts and then we'll come back here."

"Are you sure that he's asleep?" She asked.

Severus nodded, "I placed him under an enchantment."

Hermione remained quiet and face away from him. Severus began to feel some fear. "Do you hate me?"

She turned to face him, "never." Hermione looked at him sadly, "I don't ever want you to become like he was."

Severus kissed her forehead, "I do not feel any different than yesterday. I have done my fair share of damage to the world."

Hermione hugged him and cried, "I love you. No matter what happens I always love you."

"Nothing will happen. It is all taken care of." He caressed her back. He did not feel remorse. He would have killed them if it meant that Hermione and Tom would be unharmed. Severus did not dwell much more on the situation and fell into a tired sleep.

He woke up next to Hermione and without Tom. "He's gone to visit Minerva. I asked him about the wizards from yesterday. He did not know anyone."

Severus stood up and asked her to lie on her back. "I want to check your wounds." She undressed. There were no scars, it was as if her body was not hexed at all.

Hermione smiled and kissed his lips, "I feel fine Sev. We have to get out of here for a bit."

"Dress and pack clothes for the three of us. We are going to Inverness." He said and then dressed. "I have to go to the ministry and sort a leave of absence."

"I have not asked you. How is Dumbledore?" Hermione asked him as he washed his face.

"Not well. He is in the castle and refused to see me after the duel. He refuses to do more than what he already did. Grindelwald is to be tried this week and then sent to Nurmengard Castle." Severus kissed her cheek and then popped away.

He did not encounter much resistance from the ministry. He was no longer part of the task force as there was no more need. It would be back to his job as obliviator. Severus nodded and asked for the Easter week. "Well-deserved Snape, well deserved!"

He apparated back to the manor and found Hermione with her beaded bag. "Tom should be back any moment now." She said.

Tom was back ten minutes later, "Where are we going?"

"Inverness." Severus replied and offered his hand. Hermione and Tom took it. They were in front of a small cottage. "My mother told me that she once came here." He said and opened the door to the cottage.

"Who was your mother?" Tom asked as he entered the house.

"Eileen Prince." Severus replied, "Octavius was my grandfather."

"Did you have any children in this future? Will they exist?" Tom asked while looking at him.

"I fathered a son who was raised by another man. He wasn't truly mine. I do not know whether he will be born now." The man replied.

Tom's eyes rounded. "Did you love him?"

"I cared for him but I never felt him as mine. You and your mother are mine." He said as he tidied the room.

Tom appeared to like the answer. They unpacked and then met in the dining room. Severus began dinner.

"What did you do with them?" Tom asked when they ate their supper.

"I obliviated them and left them in different areas of muggle England." He said openly, "We will only speak of this once."

Tom understood, "Did you know those wizards?"

"I did not."

"We have to be careful." Hermione said, "at least for a few months."

Severus agreed, "I have decided to resign from the ministry. Grindelwald is imprisoned and he will remain so." It crossed his head to dispose of the wizard himself. It was fleeting, for he knew that the man's followers would immortalize and idealize him. Let Grindelwald rot in a cell until the end of his natural life.

"I think is best if we go back to our muggle life." Severus said gently. Hermione of course smiled sunnily at him.

Severus looked at Tom and finally asked, "what will you do?"

Tom frowned, "I will go back to Hogwarts and sit for my NEWTS. My plans to travel Europe remain as before."

"I do not think that is wise." He said openly.

Hermione touched Tom's hand, "sweetheart, maybe, you should stay with us a bit. Plan ahead. You have a bright future. You have to choose which career you like best. You could be a mediwizard or maybe a career in potions like your father."

Tom smiled briefly. Severus knew that he was not going to consider any of those two options. "Mum, I have made my mind."

Severus remained quiet. He would track him, it mattered not what Hermione said. They finished supper in silence. Severus took Hermione to their room. Severus undressed and waited for Hermione to get into bed.

"I love you." She said and hugged him tight.

They spent a quiet week in Inverness while the rest of magical Europe celebrated Grindelwald's fall. His followers retreated and virtually disappeared. There were scattered news about the wizards and witches found with no memory of who they were. Hermione had to admit she felt better once Tom was back at Hogwarts. Severus and her decided to move out of the manor slowly, not before Tom finished his last year at Hogwarts.