CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A.N. Final chapter! Do not forget to check out the AWESOME credits at the end!

A great cry rent the air. Hermione was screaming, Lilith clutching her in her arms and rocking her back and forth. Severus lay lifeless in Hermione's lap.

A great cry rent the air. It was not just Hermione screaming. This cry rang out while Hermione gasped in her shuddering breaths.

A great melodious cry. It echoed across the land, drawing nearer and nearer. With a burst of fiery wings, it exploded through one of the boarded up windows, swooping down to land next to Severus.

"F-fawkes!" Hermione exclaimed, hardly daring to believe her eyes. "P-p-please, you have to save him! He's done s-s-so much for us all, if anyone deserves your tears it's him!"

The great bird let out another cry, softer this time. He bent his beautiful head, laying it on Severus' chest. Hermione let out another sob as she watched a large, pearly tear form in the corner of Fawkes' eye. It seemed to take forever to fall, to reach Severus.

His great button-clad chest hitched, and he took a gasping breath. It seemed as though his entire body swelled with the effort of it, and Hermione thought she'd never felt anything so wonderful in her whole life. Before her eyes, his cheeks took on a warm pallor she'd never seen on him before. Perhaps most beautifully, she could just make out the flutter of a pulse in his neck. Severus' dark eyes sought out hers, and he lifted a hand to brush her tears away.

Hermione sobbed again at how delightfully warm his touch was. Her skin tingled where he'd touched it, and she nuzzled her cheek deeper into his palm.

"My beautiful, miserable Hermione," he chuckled. The rumble of it nearly set her off again, it was so- so alive, and so unlike the bitter man she'd always known. Instead she laughed through her tears, rather un-prettily but she really couldn't give a fig just then.

"Severus," was all she could say. She bent down and took the kiss she'd been wanting for the better part of a week. He was firm and soft all at once, his mouth warm and so deliciously human.

Lilith had stepped away, and when Hermione and Severus broke apart, they could see that she was speaking quietly to Fawkes, stroking his feathers as he perched on her arm.

"Fawkes," Severus called to the bird. "My thanks."

The great phoenix dipped its head in an unmistakable nod, before launching itself into the air and departing the way it came.

Severus climbed to his feet, again offering Hermione a hand up. When they were both standing, they turned to Lilith.

"What will you do now?" Hermione asked.

Lilith smiled. "I believe I have learned a thing or two about attempting to handle everything on my own. It is time that I reconnect with those responsible for my excommunication. I plan to petition the angels to intervene - perhaps there is some way to undo what has been done to him, as we saw tonight with Severus."

Hermione looked up at the tall man standing at her side, and slipped an arm around his waist.

"I'm glad, you shouldn't have to tie yourself down to that," she said, jerking her chin toward the unmoving man on the other side of the room.

"Before you go," Severus added, "you should know there is someone up at the castle who would appreciate a visit from you, next time you are in town."

"Oh?" Hermione and Lilith inquired at the same time. Severus smiled.

"Minerva."

Lilith promised that she would stop by for a proper visit, once she'd dealt with Samael. She then bid them farewell and departed with Samael in tow.

Severus looked down at Hermione, still nestled under his arm. The smile he gave her was genuine and conveyed a sense of great fondness. Hermione could hardly believe that he was really here, really human again.

Her stomach rumbled. Severus' grin widened.

"Hungry, are we?" he asked.

"Famished, I don't think I've had anything proper to eat since yesterday," she said sheepishly.

"That's nothing," he countered loftily. "I believe I have you beat at seven years, two months, sixteen days…"

"Oh look who's being clever!" she laughed as she punched him lightly on the arm. His responding chuckle rumbled deeply in his chest, and he caught her up in his arms before she could repeat the gesture. Their amusement quieted as they looked upon one another. Hermione's face was now slightly higher than Severus', and she rested her hands on his shoulders. Curling her fingers into his hair, she met him halfway in a kiss that was just the right blend of joy, euphoria and longing.

When Severus and Hermione returned to the castle, it was in a much different mood than when they had left it. With her small hand tucked in his larger one, their future promised to be a bright one. Together.

Fin.

A.N. Well there you have it! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. This story very much got away from me, but it served to be a wonderful outlet and opportunity to research some really interesting (to me) stuff. I apologize to anyone who was hoping it might get a lil raunchy - it just didn't happen this time. Hopefully you enjoyed it nonetheless!

Sources:

Galdrastafur & Ægishjálmur:

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Lilith and the Lazakhar & Lanekva Amulets:

. .nl/c/p/exh/kabb/kab_pheb_

legend-of-lilith-origins-2076660

en/lot/103575/11526253

Lilith as a feminist figure:

/sisterhood/330448/lilith-remains-a-powerful-inspiration-for-jewish-feminists/

/encyclopedia/article/lilith

/media/coming-of-lilith-by-judith-plaskow