~ Epilogue – The Answer ~

"Kids, are you ready to go?"

"Yeah Mom!"

"Sure Mom."

Vexus finished adjusting her own robes and left her bedroom. She made her way down the hall making sure that everything was off and locked up. When she finally got to the front room the boy and girl were coming down the stairs.

"Morion, if you're not going to comb that hair at least pull it back, ok?" she turned to the girl "Excellent Mya, you sure do look nice in those robes."

The girl blushed and let her mother hug her, again.

"Mom, it's not like you're not going with us. Geez, you act like you're never going to see us again!"

Vexus laughed,  "You're right, but you won't be able to call me Mom. You'll have to address me as" she cleared her throat and assumed a proper air "Professor Vexus."

Mya giggled and Vexus went to fetch Morion.

Many hours later they were herded into the boats with the other first years and Vexus stood on the bank watching them glide away over the darkness of the lake. With a sigh she turned to the carriage and clambered inside.

She was deposited at the school doors and quickly made her way inside to the Great Hall.

"Hello, Vexus!" smiled Madam Hooch.

She smiled back "Who's good for Quidditch this year?"

"Well Slytherin was quite good last year, but it could be any of them!"

Vexus went along the staff table greeting all the teachers in turn. When she got to Peregrine she grabbed the other in a hug.

"It's so good to see you Peregrine! How's Remus?"

Wulf flushed red and grinned, "He's stuck in London on Ministry Business, but he'll be coming to visit at Christmas."

Vexus smiled and considered Peregrine. She and Remus had only been married for a year but the newness of it all still hung around them. It was so sweet and really they'd been a perfect pair. Vexus passed by the Headmaster's chair and leaned down to hug Dumbledore.

"Thank you again, I'm sure Severus pitched a fit about it."

Albus' eyes twinkled "You may be surprised to know that he didn't. He was the one who recommended you for the job."

Vexus looked surprised "Really, Albus? He did?"

Dumbledore looked over the top of his glasses at her "The events of the past eleven years have mellowed him quite a bit."

Vexus merely raised her eyebrows and mumbled another thank you. She continued down the line of teachers until she reached the one she was most nervous about. 'Suck it up. You're a grown-up. A successful writer and professor. He can't intimidate you if you don't let him.' she thought these things as Severus stood up.

"Professor Snape."

"Professor Vexus."

The formality of it was comical and Vexus could feel the rest of the staff watching them. So she quickly stepped around him to sit down in her seat. He followed suit and they sat in awkward silence for a moment before he turned to her.

"I'm still used to you sitting on my other side."

She smiled slightly "Yes, it's odd sitting here instead of there" She said pointing from her chair to his own.

The doors of the hall opened, stopping any further conversation, and they watched the crowd of first-years being led in. Vexus saw that Morion's hair was hanging down in his face again. She sighed and Severus looked at her.

"What is it?"

"Morion. His hair is forever in his face but he won't let me cut it. I try to get him to keep it pulled back at least, but he won't even do that."

Snape smirked "I don't like to pull mine back. Why would he?"

Vexus sneered at him and returned her attention to the students.

The sorting hat had just finished it's song and Professor McGonagall was calling the first-years forward to be sorted.

Snape scanned the group and it only took a moment to locate the children. 'My children.' he corrected himself. 'I wonder if they even remember me?'

He had visited occasionally but it had been at least a year since he'd seen them.

"Snape, Morion!" Called out professor McGonagall.

The boy approached the stood and glanced at his mother. Vexus smiled encouragingly and nodded.

He sat down and the hat was placed on his head. Vexus leaned over to whisper, "Severus, I wonder which house it'll be."

Severus was wondering the same thing "I'm sure it'll be Slytherin."

Sure enough the hat called out "SLYTHERIN!" Morion jumped up and ran to his house table.

"Snape, Mya!"

The hat took much less time with her before calling out again "SLYTHERIN!"

At the staff table Vexus grinned at them before turning to Severus, "Good Luck! They're both holy terrors."

Once all the new students had been sorted Professor Dumbledore stood to address the hall. "Welcome back to Hogwarts! I trust that you all had an excellent summer and are ready to start learning. I have two announcements to make before the feast begins. We have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. I am sure all of the returning students know him, Professor Snape."

Snape stood up looked around the hall; he quickly sat back down.

"Ah yes, Professor Snape." Dumbledore continued "Now, since we were suddenly lacking a Potions Professor, we have hired a new one: Professor Vexus"

She stood up and grinned. From the Slytherin table she could hear Morion whistle.

After she sat back down Dumbledore called out "Let our feast begin!" A clap of his hands and the tables where laden with food.

Vexus had finished eating and was looking up and down the tables. She stopped her eyes flicked over a head full of bright red hair at the Gryffindor table. She nudged Snape with her elbow, "Severus, is that ANOTHER Weasley?"

He looked to the student in question "Yes, Percy Weasley's child."

Vexus snickered "Good Lord, another one."

She picked up her goblet and took a sip; Severus chose that moment to speak again.

"I hear you've changed the course books." it was said in that deadly silk tone of his. Vexus sat the goblet down and looked at him.

"Yes I did. I felt that some more, shall we say, up to date, texts were in order for the first-years. And the seventh-years. Why do you ask?"

"I just think that it's funny, you write a book on potions and suddenly you know enough to change around a school curriculum."

She narrowed her eyes at him "Severus Snape, it wasn't one book, it was eight and yes, I am changing the curriculum, it's my class now." she went for the soft spot "I'm sure that you aren't keeping Remus Lupin's curriculum, or are you?"

He spat angrily and stood up "Good Night Professor."

Vexus sat and steamed for a moment. 'I knew he was going to act like an ass!' she thought angrily.

'I don't know why I agreed to this.' She was fuming mad and decided to go to her chambers. The students were being led out and she waved to the twins as she stood and left the hall.

Her chambers were down in the dungeons proper now and she pulled the robes tighter around her body. 'It's so cold down here!' she rounded a corner and came to the door of her chambers. She pushed it open and went in.

It was pitch-black inside so she pulled out her wand, before she could speak the spell she heard another voice say it and the torches around the room flamed into life.

"Severus!" She gaped at him "What are you doing here!"

He was sitting in an armchair by the fire. Her rooms were decorated better this time around and she had a set of matching chairs brought from her home.

"I need to talk to you." he indicated that she should sit down in the chair opposite his. "I know that this is all wrong. It's not right by either of us or by the children." he drew a deep breath; Vexus sat quietly and let him talk.

"I was so angry with you when you didn't tell me about them. You had been spending less and less time with me and I was sure that you'd changed you mind about, er, us. Then I saw you and Remus talking and I knew that you were with him.

"I didn't know what to do. I hadn't ever been in that type of, ah, relationship before and I panicked"

Vexus crossed her hands in her lap and studied his face. "Severus, you don't need to do this. I know why you acted the way you did."

"No, you don't" he cut her off "I have been thinking about this a lot since I saw you last. I realize now the mistake I made."

This time Vexus put up her hands to stop him "I was at fault as much as you were. I was wrong from the start. I should've told you. I knew that I was doing the wrong thing when I backed off from you. I've always thought that you should know how sorry I am for that." She leaned her head back against the chair, "I want to hate you, but I just can't do it. And seeing Morion every day." she shook her head and laughed sharply "He's the spitting image of you Severus. Except for that nose, but he hasn't had his broken. Yet."

Snape curled his lips up in a smile "I'll have to keep an eye on him this year."

Vexus smirked "No, you need to keep your eye on Mya. She's a slick one, sweet as sugar, but don't you dare get on her bad side. You'll never get back around."

Snape considered Vexus for a moment. She stood up, went to the wardrobe and began pulling out her robes for the following day. Snape stood up and went to stand behind her.

Vexus shivered at his breath on her neck.

He spoke softly "Vexus, I do love you. I didn't understand it for a very long time. We've wasted so many years and I'm willing to change things if you are."

She hung her head down and mumbled something that he couldn't make out. "What?"

She turned around to face him "I said, I'd be willing."

They both seemed to be holding their breath, trying to decide what to do.

Finally Severus took the initiative and leaned down. He kissed her and felt her return it.

Vexus slid her arms around his waist and felt him pull her closer.

The kiss intensified to the point where when they separated they were both flushed.

"Did that hurt?" she asked jokingly.

"No," he said wrapping his arms around her again "I have a feeling it's not going to hurt anymore. For either of us."