in light of everything going on with COVID, I am being pulled to work more. i am highly stressed and severely understaffed. i work in the mortgage industry and there are literally thousands of homeowners who are screaming at me to help them and I only have a team of 8 people. needless to say I'm hiring. lol

please be patient with updates as I now have 3 jobs and still in school with 2 kids under 3.

other news, my son took his first steps yesterday and it was the best thing ever lately.


The pair of Aurors turned detectives were immediately surrounded by reporters and familiar faces when they apparated to the front gates of Hogwarts.

"Oh, my dears, you're finally here! Now we can all get moving along," Molly reached out to embrace them both and push them towards the large group of Weasleys and Order Members.

"Mrs. Weasley, what are you doing here?" Harry asked as he continued to get pushed along through the gates.

"What are you doing here, Ronald?" Hermione asked suspiciously to their friend, who was standing next to his sister.

"Figured I'd take some time away from my high priority case to pay respects to my former Potions Master," Ron thundered, hoping a reporter would hear him.

Molly grabbed Ron by the arm and pushed him to stand on Hermione's other side, "Let's not forget he saved your life!"

With narrowed eyes and crossed arms, Hermione replied, "You didn't even want to go to Snape's funeral, and he saved your life dozens of times. Most of which were from cauldron explosions."

"I still went, didn't I?" he laughed, "Besides, we get the day off work."

Hermione's jaw clenched shut tightly, trying to refrain from telling him off for blatant abuse of the Ministry's bereavement policy.

"Oh, Harry. I'm so relieved you're here," Ginny's voice cut through the crowd, causing Hermione's head to swivel.

"Good to see you too," he said awkwardly and kept his hands in his pockets.

Molly moved around to them, "Isn't it so sad? It takes a funeral to bring us all together again."

Harry's eyes bulged as Ginny wrapped her arms around him. Looping her arms through his to wrap around his middle. Resting her head on his shoulder, "Absolutely, Mum. I've been so busy with training that I've not had the time to be with Harry lately."

"Well, I'm sure that will all change when you have children," she smiled warmly and pat him on the arm.

Hermione cut in, "Yes, far in the future when they've established themselves."

Molly's face lit up, "Of course, dear! We all support your careers. Speaking of, let's get over there with the Minister. I'm certain he's waiting to hear from his top Aurors!"

Lopping her arm in Harry's and Hermione's, she half dragged them up the hill in determination to paint the perfect image of a family.

"Oh no, he doesn't look happy." Ron groaned as they got closer to the top, Kingsley's face in firm disapproval as they approached, "He still mad at you two from this morning? You know, with the whole 'misplaced evidence.'"

"Ron!" Hermione hissed, "You cannot discuss work in public. Let alone here!" she pointed to the reporters.

"Oh, right. I got you. Given it's your fault, there is a funeral and all." He nodded and put a hand on the small of her back as they walked.

"Ron!" Ginny leaned across Harry and scolded him, "Shut your gob!"

"He still mad at you for the locker room incident?" Harry shot back, ignoring the multiple shushed from the women around him, "or is it the missing reports?"

"Or maybe he's upset because his two Aurors cause a riot in Azkaban," the deep voice of their boss stopped them in their tracks.

Molly ignored his disappointment and reached out for him, "Kingsley, dear. How are you?"

"Busy as ever, Molly. How about you and yours? Doing well, I hope?" his tone changing to greet the motherly figure.

"It's creepy how well he can turn it on and off." Ron muttered to his friends, "What the bloody hell were you two in Azkaban for?"

"We can't discuss details of the case!" Hermione snapped again, ripping her arm away from his.

Ginny tusked, "See Harry, the job is stressful. We should both time some time off to focus on-"

"Stressful? The job isn't stressful, your brother is!" Hermione said in a harsh whisper.

"Perhaps Miss Granger would be so kind as to join me briefly before the services?" Kingsley called out over the arguing, "We must discuss our future campaign strategy."

Her red cheeks once hot with anger, now turning pale as her eyes widened, "Of course, Sir. Seeing as we missed our meeting this afternoon."

Molly ushered the rest of them to their seats as Hermione followed their boss with her head slightly down and in defeat. Harry wanted to go with them, but the tight hold that the two women had on him was uncomfortable. She made sure to sit them in the front with the rest of the order surrounding them. Molly sat center aisle with Harry and Ginny on her left, and an open seat for Hermione on her right between her and Ron.

When she returned, Ginny was practically trying to sit in Harry's lap, while he struggled to console a sobbing Molly. Ron gave her a goofy lopsided smile and pat the chair next to him. Once she sat down, he put an arm around her and obnoxiously breathed into her right ear.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to honor the memory of our friend and colleague Horace…" Kingsley stood at a podium atop the hill, next to Slughorn's open casket floating above the freshly dug grave and headstone.

Harry leaned back and gave a side glance to Hermione, who looked just as uncomfortable as he, 'Sorry.' He mouthed.

She gave him a small, sad smile and sighed. Ron thought she was sniffling, pulling her forcefully into his shoulder and chest.

"I get it, Mione, women always crying at funerals," he muttered to her supportively.

Kingsley was also fidgeting awkwardly, having to read a eulogy written by the deceased himself. Clearing his throat, "Now, I will read the last words written by Horace: 'To my friends and family, I know that you will find it in your hearts to heal and move one. The sadness of my passing will come to an end, knowing that I… left a copy of… my memoir with the Minister to publish with his announcement of my death in this evening's paper."

Looking back to the Headmistress, "Do I really have to go through with this?"

"For Merlin's sake, just feed into the man's ego one last time." She hissed, pointing at the scroll in front of him as if he were a student refusing to do his homework.

He sighed and rubbed the top of his left brow, "To those who had the privilege of attending one of my classes, seminars or private meetings,"

A collective groan throughout the audience was heard amongst the crowd of sobbing patrons. Harry looked over when he saw two older wizards off to the side, snickering to each other and one rolling their eyes, "Privilege? More like forced participation."

Kingsley carried on, "and to get why we are all here today, my last will and testament."

The taller of the old men sat up straighter, his words carrying a thick German accent, "About bloody time." The pale, thin woman with black hair tied up in a bun on his left nudged him with a shush.

"Regarding my vast collections of books, trophies, memorabilia, research notes…" Kingsley picked up the scroll to read the smaller handwriting, watching it unroll before him to an even longer list.

Harry ignored the two sobbing women clinging to him and ruining his robes. He looked over to Hermione, hoping to get her attention, but she looked like she was having an intense game of keep away from Ron. His attention turned back to the two wizards with white and greying hair who seemed most out of place.

He watched the exchange as the shorter man cleared his throat loudly, which got Kingsley's attention. Harry watched as the small wizard row his finger in a circle and point to his watch. Harry couldn't believe that Kingsley actually balled up the scroll and went to the bottom immediately.

"…and in conclusion, everything I own up to and including any estates or businesses shall be awarded to Severus of House Prince and-"

The crowd went silent, waiting for him to complete the sentence most relatives were waiting decades to hear.

"AND WHAT?!" someone from the back called out. Which caused raised murmurs and whispers amongst them.

The taller wizard spat on the ground, angrily, "I put my heart and soul into that shop and that boy, and this is what I get?"

"Dear, you know what Severus meant to him." the woman had to be his wife.

"Then he should have trained the boy himself, not leave him on my doorstep. Look at that smug bastard lying there with a smile… and taking credit for my greatest achievement!" the taller wizard was obviously upset, "He took my boy…"

Harry cleared his throat and whispered for Hermione. When she finally looked at him, he nodded his head over to the two he'd been watching during the service. She tilted her head in confusion as to what he wanted but kept watch of them regardless.

The short man snorted, "I already told you he wasn't leaving you, shite. You're the fool for thinking his suicide note would change that. Did you forget the last time you two had it out?"

Hermione's brows shot up, details of his death were not included in the papers. No one knew this was a suicide, they were only informed he was found my house-elves in the early morning and passed in his sleep.

"I'd rather not have another altercation at a funeral," the woman warned her husband.

"Altercation? Is that what you call a right hook?" the shorter man snickered.

"How would you like it if someone started a brawl at your son's funeral, Garrick?" she snapped.

Harry's head spun to Hermione, locking eyes and both mouthing, 'Is that Ollivander?' Neither had seen the man in years since rescuing him from the cellar turned basement at Malfoy Manor. 'Are they talking about Snape?' Harry mouthed, but she shrugged.

Kingsley put his hands up, "That's all it says. It ends there. Given the circumstances of our dearest…"

Minerva gave him a sharp look before he continued. Warning him to choose his words wisely.

"…friend…" he said awkwardly, "and the manner and sudden timing of his passing."

"I bet they would have been 'Eat shite and die, Johan,'" the man named Garrick chuckled to his friend.

Kingsley quickly finished up his speech and stepped down from the podium, "with that note, this is still a magically binding document and will be honored by the Ministry. Please come in a single file line to pay your respects before the final burial. Thank you."

"Give it to me straight, Garrick. Do I lose the shop?" the man named Johan asked his friend.

Garrick rolled his eyes, "Just because your name isn't alone on the title doesn't mean you lost it. The only thing you've lost is your mind. You really believe the boy and I haven't taken care of you?"

Harry's mind was racing with thoughts and millions of questions as to what these men were discussing. He couldn't help but feel it had something to do with Snape.

"Come on you lot, we've got to get good seats at the Head Table. I had the Headmistress put us right up front." Molly stood and pulled them with her.

"But we have to- " Hermione tried to follow Harry towards the two older wizards who were walking away from the services.

"Oh great, I'm starving!" Ron smiled and pulled Hermione by the hand towards the castle.