A/N After receiving an inspiring message from Snily3838, asking me what happened to everyone else after the battle of Hogwarts, I decided to write a little epilogue. Enjoy!

Erwin's Wake

It was a perfect summer day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and a cool breeze was sweeping in from the sea, making being outside in the hot summer sun a bit more bearable.

A very large group of people were making their way to the forest in silence. Erwin had just been buried at the Muggle cemetery in Ottery St. Catchpole, only a short walk removed from the Kingfisher potion brewery.

It had never been this crowded before at their home. Not even during their Handfasting many moons ago. It had been Arnica's wish that family and friends were to come together one last time to celebrate, rather than mourn, the passing of her beloved husband. The Snapes, the Evanses, the Lockharts, the Weasleys and all their children. Members of the old Order of the Phoenix, including the remaining members of the Young Order and their partners, had all gathered in the house and in the garden by the river at the Snape residence.

'How are you holding up, Arnica?' Severus asked.

'I'm quite alright, Severus,' she said as she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder. Her hair had turned a beautiful shade of white, making her look wiser than ever before. 'I could ask you the same.'

Severus had shed quite a few tears since the day he learnt of Erwin's passing. It felt as if he had lost a father – a real father – to the inevitable end of life. It was bittersweet, knowing that old age had finally caught up with him. He had died peacefully in his sleep. The greatest of all endings. 'He taught me what it means to be a man,' he said with a heavy heart. 'To be loyal. To be kind. To protect the ones you love. It feels as if I have some very big shoes to fill, and I will miss him deeply.'

'It's not easy, being a man,' said Arnica she ran her fingers through his hair. Large streaks of silver had started to replace the black over the years. 'There's a certain duty that calls within all men once their leaders fall. It is a heavy burden to carry on your shoulders – and you, my dear son-in-law, are strong – and capable.'

Severus planted a kiss on top of her head. 'Thank you for the courage,' he said as he wiped away a tear. 'I better go mingle with the rest of the guests.'

He found Evan and Emma, whom, with some pressure from their old friends, had finally found it within themselves to get engaged. After the fall of the Dark Lord they had travelled down to New-Zealand to find Emma's parents, only to decide to end up staying there rather than taking her parents back home. Charlie was with them as well, baring the unmistakable battle scars of working with dragons in Romania all over his body, and was firing questions at them about the native dragon of New-Zealand, the Antipodean Opaleye.

'Hi dad,' said Rosemary. She was sitting by the hearth, her curly black hair hanging dangerously close to the fire, and showed him what appeared to be a brand-new book. 'Uncle Gilderoy just handed me his latest biography.'

'Wandering with Werewolves,' said Severus as he read the title out loud. 'I haven't even finished reading Voyages with Vampires yet.'

'Uncle Remus is mentioned in it too,' said Rosemary proudly. Severus smiled. Rosemary had adopted the habit of calling all of his old friends uncle or aunt. 'And you, of course, being the inventor of the wolfsbane potion along with mister Belby – as well as his late wife.'

'Oi! Can I see that?' said Edward as he snatched the book from Severus's hands. 'I knew my dad had been talking to Gilderoy, but I didn't know he was going to dedicate an entire book to his kind.'

'Your hair's turning green, Teddy,' said Rosemary. 'C'mon, we'll read it together.'

'Are you sure you're feeling alright, Rose?' asked Severus.

'I alright, dad,' she said with a nod. 'I'm mostly concerned about grandma. Have you seen Julia anywhere?'

Severus looked around the room but didn't catch a glimpse of his eldest daughter. 'I'll go look for her. If you need me, don't hesitate to come and find me, okay?'

'I will, I promise,' she said as she blew her father a kiss.

Near the kitchens, Severus found Gwendolyn and Petunia fussing over their son Dudley, whom they had adopted after the success of their grand opening of their art gallery up in Oxford. 'Have you seen the size of Alice?' Gwendolyn gossiped as she tried to straighten out Dudley's shirt. 'Expecting a second child so long after the – oh, hello Severus.'

'Let's just hope she won't accidentally give birth today,' Severus answered with a sly grin. 'How are you holding up, sis?'

'Surprisingly at peace,' Petunia answered. 'Either that or it hasn't really hit me yet that my father is truly gone. Have you seen my sister around?'

'She's probably with Julia,' said Severus. 'if I find her, I'll tell her that you're looking for her.'

'Thanks, little brother,' said Petunia as she pulled him into an embrace. 'You've grown into quite a handsome man over the years. I think I'm finally starting to understand what my sister saw in you all those years ago.'

'And here I am, thinking you were gay,' said Severus after he was released from her embrace. His remark caused Petunia to giggle. 'Oh, stop it, Severus,' she said while playfully slapping against his arm. 'Come on, Dudley. I want you to come and shake hands with mister Potter and mister Belby, okay?'

Severus watched Petunia's little family disappear into the crowd and turned to the kitchen, which appeared to be blocked by Sirius and Peter. 'I don't think it's a good idea to enter right now, mate,' said Sirius.

Sirius had been his and Lily's business partner ever since their creation of the Greasy Git Motor Oil. Peter had come later, desperately in need of a job after the Dark Lord's fall. Peter had proven himself to be worthy though, being surprisingly good at the marketing side of the business. A side neither him not Lily would ever have been any good at.

'Why not?' said Severus as he tried to peak over Sirius's shoulder. 'I just want to grab the lunch Harry and Ginny have prepared and – oh.'

'Don't say we didn't warn you,' said Peter apologetically.

Severus had caught a glimpse of Harry snogging it up with Ginny against the kitchen counter, the lunch laying forgotten, and swiftly looked away.

'How long has this been going on?' he mumbled under his breath, wondering what on earth he was supposed to think now that his son was snogging it up with the youngest Weasley.

'Now that's something between him and his godfather,' said Sirius as he pointed as his own chest.

'Don't you think he's a little too young for –'

'—Oh hush.' It was Peter who cut him off. 'They both just graduated from Hogwarts. You can't expect him to stay little forever, can you?'

'Hey, has anyone seen Harry and –'

'—Not right now, Ron,' said Severus as he gently pushed Ron in a different direction. 'Tell Neville, Victoire and Hermione he'll be with you shortly.'

'Alright then,' said Ron while shrugging it off. 'Oh hey, Fred. I got some ideas for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Want to hear them?'

'Just make sure it doesn't turn into anything more than this, alright,' said Severus as he waved it off. 'Have any of you seen my wife?'

'She just went upstairs,' said Peter. 'Julia wasn't looking too well.'

Severus made his way upstairs and caught sight of Lily busying herself in the bathroom, wetting up a towel under the sink's tap. 'Just follow me,' she ordered.

He followed Lily to Julia's old bedroom. Julia had been travelling around the world ever since she had graduated from Hogwarts, occasionally spending a few weeks at home before settling on a new destination. She had spent most of her time in Asia, learning about the eastern philosophy on potions in India, and even took some classes at the Mahoutokoro wizarding school in Japan.

Her thin frame was hunched over a cauldron, which she was stirring a little too vigorously. Her long black hair fell like a curtain over her face, and Severus was painfully reminded of himself when he would brew potions whenever he was in distress. 'Julia,' he said as he sat down on the floor beside her. 'Please, look at me.'

'Here,' said Lily as she handed Severus the towel, and joined them on the floor.

Julia looked up and shoved her hair aside, revealing a tear-streaked face. 'I don't feel so good, dad,' she said, her voice trembling.

'You haven't been well for quite some time now,' said Severus while gently wiping her face with the towel. 'Is it grandpa, or is it something else?'

Julia pointed at her cauldron. 'I'm making moonshine firewhisky. The kind grandpa really liked.'

Both Severus and Lily snickered at the sight of the moonshine. By the time Julia had turned sixteen she had reached her peak at being a rebellious teenager, and had managed to brew all sorts of illegal liquor while distributing it around Hogwarts. Headmaster McGonagall had not been pleased. 'Then I suppose we'll have to hand some out to our guests later, said Severus. 'Why do I have the feeling that there's more going on beneath the surface?'

'Sorry, I already told mum when you weren't here,' said Julia. She inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled through her nose, trying to calm herself down.

Severus's eyes shifted from Julia to Lily's. Lily, whose fine laugh lines around her eyes crinkled upwards as her eyes met his. She had grown to love the lines around her eyes, as it marked the passing of time to her surrounded by love. 'It'll be alright, Sev,' she whispered softly.

'Dad,' said Julia, her voice trembling. Severus looked into her dark eyes, staring back into his own. 'I'm pregnant.'