And there's a Danger in Loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart they can't touch.
There's a reason why people don't stay who they are
Baby sometimes love just ain't enough

Patty Smyth "Sometimes love just ain't enough"

Epilogue

9 am Severus Snape crashed through his door.

"Albus, Albus! Last night something happened to Voldemort, then all the Dark Marks went inactive. He's nowhere to be found. There's big confusion among the Death Eaters right now and there was a raid in the morning, I barely escaped the Aurors but many were captured…"

He stopped aruptly at the sight of Dumbledore's face.

"Albus, what has happened?"

For some time Albus Dumbledore studied the younger man. When he finally answered, his voice was old and tired.

"I guess you didn't know. Voldemort… Voldemort went to Godrics Hollow last night and killed the Potters."

"What! But I thought they were protected! The Fidelius charm… Nobody knew where to find them!"

"Nobody except for the secret keeper. It seems Sirius is a supporter of Voldemort. He gave them up and he has also killed Peter."

"Black," venom was spilling from Severus' voice. "I told you he was dangerous, I told you he could not be trusted…"

He stopped seeing the anguish on Albus' face.

"Oh, I'm sorry Albus, I didn't mean to… There was no way you could know… And I did not find out about Voldemort's plans to get the Potters. I would have told you otherwise, I swear!"

"I know, Severus. But you told me your fears about Sirius and I never considered them. For that I am sorry too. And do not worry, you are not under suspicion."

He looked at Severus with a determined look on his face.

"But we do not have time for regret right now. We have to decide our futher actions."

Severus nodded to show he was listening.

"There is something else going on, am I right?"

"Yes, and it's connected to your news. You see, Voldemort killed James and Lily, but when he cast the killing curse on Harry, something happened. The curse pounced back to him, almost not harming the child. Young Harry now has a wound on his forehead and Voldemort has ceased to exist. The wizarding world is celebrating."

Dumbledore's expression turned  sombre.

"At least that's what seems to have happened."

"Voldemort's gone? But Albus, if he were truly dead this," Severus folded back his sleeve and pointed at his Dark Mark, "would be gone, too. So he isn't actually…"

"Yes, you are right. But he has lost his body and his spirit is extremely weak. Still, there is nothing we can do, he is out of our reach at the moment. We just have to be prepared for the possibility that he will come back."

"Oh, he will. He is too far gone to give up so easily and he has enough mindless followers who shall search for a way to bring him back. Even in all their incompetence somebody will finally stumble upon the right spell or whatever is needed. Celebrating, you say? Those fools!"

Dumbledor held his ex-student's gaze.

"As unpleasant as it is to me, I must agree with you. And that brings us to another thing. I promised you will be cleared from all the charges and not sent to Axzkaban. There will be a trial but you will not be sentenced, I guarantee you. However, I ask you to come to Hogwarts, to teach, after you are cleared. Will you?"

"To teach? Why? What subject?"

"You would make a very fine Potions teacher. Mistress D'Armant has decided to retire and recomended you as her possibble sucessor. As to why..."

Albus hesistated, searhing for a way to explain his point better.

"Cornelius Fudge is gaining influence. Even if he is not the next Minister of Magic, he will get the place in the election after that. And no matter how competent ha can be in other things, he certainly is not suited to guide the country during wartime. So we can be faced with the situation where we have a dark wizard gaining power and Ministery not able to do anything about it. I am trying to gather a group of people able to deal with that kind of situation. Something like the Order of Phoenix, only in peacetime. Some people have already agreed. Unfortunately Remus Lupin has not, preferring to keep his previous job."

"It's understandable," Severus muttered, deep in thought.

"I can understand and sympathize with his situation, but I would like to have him in the staff, still."

"Well, maybe in time he will be. But thinking about the parents' reaction to a werewolf teaching..."

Severus cast a considering look at the older man.

"Although, I suppose you would find a way to deal with that."

With a shrug he dismissed the issue.

"Albus, do you really think I could handle teaching? It's not like I have many choises. This," long fingers brushed the tattoo on his arm, "cut's the possibilities rather short. And I don't have a family to crawl back to, either."

"I am sure, Severus. I know you well, and I trust Mistress D'Armant's judgement."

"I guess you can count me in, then."

"Thank you. And Severus, you do have a family to "crawl back to" or just walk, I promise."

Severus answered his words with a faint smile.

They sat together silently for some time, young man trying to make up his mind and Albus waiting for the question he knew was coming.

Finally Severus decided.

"Albus, do you know… I have no information about the Lady. She was not in the meeting with us and none of the others seem to know anything about her. I suppose you don't..."

Dumbledore sighed in his mind. It was hard...

"No Severus, I have no news. I am sorry. I will ask around in the Ministery and on the trials, maybe somebody knows something. Let's hope for the best."

Severus knew the chances of getting any news that way were not great, but it was the only way he had. So he waited and hoped.

But the news never came.

**************************************************

Life went on.

The Boy Who Lived was sent to live with his muggle relatives.

Severus Snape started working in Hogwarts. There were curriculums to prepare, students to teach (and give detentions to). And even the most painful memories fade in time.

So only sometimes he stood outside looking at the stars.

Only sometimes he whispered into the night:

"My Lady, where are you?"

There was no answer.

The End

Author's endnotes: Ok, I finally finished one of my fics. A great accomplishment for me.

It turned out a bit different than I planned. Sorry it's so jumpy (no real connection between the scenes, etc), but actually it's meant to be that way. I usually write oneshots and this is in a way a series of short fics connected by the characters and plotline (at least, it seems like that to myself). I hope you liked the story.

You probably noticed many things were not explained or left hanging (I know there were also plot holes). I am planning a sequel – the usual Harry and Snape find out and deal with the situation. I do not know when it will be coming – sometimes in the forseeable future, I think (but there is real life and university to deal with so it might take some time).