Obviously, I apologise very much for taking so long to update - in fact, I
have my doubts as to whether some people that read and reviewed faithfully
will even find this chapter. But the story needs an end, and here it is.
I've been battling the last four months of high school in the story's
downtime - not just sitting on my butt. But exams are over, and all this
new Prisoner of Azkaban movie stuff was released (anyone else think June
can't come soon enough?) and I found my inspiration. So thankyou everyone
who has read this story. It's jumpy, it's got inconsistencies, but it's my
baby. Oh, and in my downtime, I actually wrote the first chapter of another
HP fanfic (it's could be a romance - but no love triangles involving
Hermione). Keep your eyes peeled, because it just might go somewhere.
Almost forgot - there's a little something different about this chapter.
Think of it as 'choose your own adventure'. I couldn't decide what Snape
and Draco were doing, so I wrote 2 options. The option with the most
preference in reviews will be the final version - I'll be editing in one
week. Happy reading!
Two days after our talk with Ron, Gryffindor played Quidditch against Ravenclaw. My private life was so hectic; I don't remember any other game that term. This one was memorable, mainly for the obscenities Ron yelled at Cho with me any time it appeared she was going after the Snitch. Ron had just finished shouting something very rude when I saw Harry smiling through my Omnioculars. Apparently the sound carried - I only hoped she had heard it too. Suddenly Harry's face set in grim determination, and he streaked across the pitch, hand outstretched, narrowly missing a Bludger. Cho, down the other end of the pitch, turned too late. Harry's hand was already clenched around the tiny silver ball, and he was grinning with triumphant joy. Not many people saw him maturely poke his tongue out at Cho before he sped to the ground to hug his team-mates.
Ron and I waited outside the change room for Harry, watching the team file past, congratulating them, until only Harry was left inside. God, he takes longer than me to shower! I was about to send Ron in to find him when he walked out. I grabbed his hand, kissed his cheek, and the three f us started to leave, when we spotted Snape and Malfoy walking out of the Slytherin change rooms (which wouldn't have been that strange.if Slytherin had played that day), and engaged in a heated conversation. Exchanging a look, we ducked behind a stand and strained our ears. The pair glanced around in a covert manner just before they passed us. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"What has this got to do with your father, Draco? Snape was asking. Malfoy grinned.
"Nothing. Yet".
"I'm not the least bit intimidated by him"
"I don't believe you. Everyone has a reason to be afraid of Lucius Malfoy. Anyway, he doesn't have to be involved. All I want you to do is knock up another cauldron of what we had the other night"
"But.that was an accident"
"The Potions master made an intoxicating potion accidentally?"
"Yes!"
"Well, that accident could cost you your job"
Snape looked around furtively and sighed.
"Okay, I'll do it, but you're not to breathe a word of this to anyone" he said in a warning tone.
"Yes, okay. But I think people may know something's up...it was a bit strange for me strip off my robes in the Slytherin common room as soon as I return from your office. Usually I wait until I've snuck into the girl's dorms" he finished with a wicked grin and flounced off, leaving Snape looking a combination of puzzled and disgusted. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"What has this got to do with your father, Draco?" Snape was asking. Malfoy grinned.
"Well, I know Death Eaters get up to some nasty things, but this one takes the cake!"
Snape glared at him.
"You're willing to do this over some little fight we had?"
"Little fight! You called me a spoiled brat!"
"He could have me killed if he finds out abour us!" Snape raised his voice, but hushed when he realize he as in public, and glanced around. Draco sneered.
"There is no us, anymore!"
Snape frowned.
"Anyway, it was fun while it lasted, but if you want me to keep my lips zipped, I have a special potion I want you to mix up for me". Malfoy handed him a slip of parchment. Snape read over it and looked at him with a horrified expression.
"You're asking me to break the law!"
"What's another one to you? How about one last go for old times sake, hey?"
At which point we all looked away in disgust. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well, I'd like to say we all lived happily ever after - but that would be a lie. Draco followed his father down the slippery slope to drug addiction, because associated with the Death Eaters and was subsequently carted off to Azkaban after Harry's defeat of Voldemort (another story in itself). Ron and Fleur lasted sux months until she got off with his brother Bill. He's yet to have a steady girlfriend since (three years later), but I keep an eye out for suitable girls (as if I'd let him have a girlfriend without my approval!). Sometimes I feel responsible for the fact that he's alone..then I remember, he's not alone. Harry, Ron and I are as close as ever. Frankly, I doubt even Harry and I breaking up could break the bond between us - something reinforced many times by all the trials we've been through together. Harry and I are still together, after breaking up for half of 7th Year. I don't know what will happen in the future. We might get married. Right now we're trying to establish ourselves in life outside of Hogwarts. We both thought we'd have to fightto get into the Ministry after all the trouble we were involved in at school, but after Harry crushed Voldemort in 7th Year (which, yeah, I had a little part in) we were shoo-ins. Harry's an Auror and I work in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, which makes us both happy, if tired. We've set up a home down the road from the Burrow, knowing we could never live without the Weasleys. Molly and Arthur are like a second set of parents - my own have a bit of trouble knowing that I can nnever go back to the Muggle world - there's no September holidays from the Ministry. But they both love Harry and get on ell with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley (when Mr. Weasley isn't asking about our toaster).
Kids of our own? I already feel like I've raised two of them n Harry and Ron - not that I'm not pleased with the way they turned out. Ron finally grew up a bit, or enough - he's now Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts (which, coincidentally, was the position Fleur was going to get. Hopefully he can break the curse). Ginny hates having her brother as her teacher because no-one believes the reason she does well is because she is a good student (although undoubtedly carrying on the Weasley legend).
So that's about all I can say. Snape didn't get put away for his crimes - he's still at Hogwarts, probably plotting a vendetta against Ron for being the nest person to steal his much-coveted job. Cho faded into obscurity as many mean-spirited teenage girls do, never again to appear in Witch Weekly. Sirius, unfortunately, is still in hiding, reluctant to show his face after being on the run for years. Dumbledore is fighting to clear his name now that Voldemort's been brought down. And Harry and I have found love, after mild flirtation and much confusion at the start of 5th Year. And Ron? Well, I love him too. But then, so does Harry.
Two days after our talk with Ron, Gryffindor played Quidditch against Ravenclaw. My private life was so hectic; I don't remember any other game that term. This one was memorable, mainly for the obscenities Ron yelled at Cho with me any time it appeared she was going after the Snitch. Ron had just finished shouting something very rude when I saw Harry smiling through my Omnioculars. Apparently the sound carried - I only hoped she had heard it too. Suddenly Harry's face set in grim determination, and he streaked across the pitch, hand outstretched, narrowly missing a Bludger. Cho, down the other end of the pitch, turned too late. Harry's hand was already clenched around the tiny silver ball, and he was grinning with triumphant joy. Not many people saw him maturely poke his tongue out at Cho before he sped to the ground to hug his team-mates.
Ron and I waited outside the change room for Harry, watching the team file past, congratulating them, until only Harry was left inside. God, he takes longer than me to shower! I was about to send Ron in to find him when he walked out. I grabbed his hand, kissed his cheek, and the three f us started to leave, when we spotted Snape and Malfoy walking out of the Slytherin change rooms (which wouldn't have been that strange.if Slytherin had played that day), and engaged in a heated conversation. Exchanging a look, we ducked behind a stand and strained our ears. The pair glanced around in a covert manner just before they passed us. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"What has this got to do with your father, Draco? Snape was asking. Malfoy grinned.
"Nothing. Yet".
"I'm not the least bit intimidated by him"
"I don't believe you. Everyone has a reason to be afraid of Lucius Malfoy. Anyway, he doesn't have to be involved. All I want you to do is knock up another cauldron of what we had the other night"
"But.that was an accident"
"The Potions master made an intoxicating potion accidentally?"
"Yes!"
"Well, that accident could cost you your job"
Snape looked around furtively and sighed.
"Okay, I'll do it, but you're not to breathe a word of this to anyone" he said in a warning tone.
"Yes, okay. But I think people may know something's up...it was a bit strange for me strip off my robes in the Slytherin common room as soon as I return from your office. Usually I wait until I've snuck into the girl's dorms" he finished with a wicked grin and flounced off, leaving Snape looking a combination of puzzled and disgusted. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"What has this got to do with your father, Draco?" Snape was asking. Malfoy grinned.
"Well, I know Death Eaters get up to some nasty things, but this one takes the cake!"
Snape glared at him.
"You're willing to do this over some little fight we had?"
"Little fight! You called me a spoiled brat!"
"He could have me killed if he finds out abour us!" Snape raised his voice, but hushed when he realize he as in public, and glanced around. Draco sneered.
"There is no us, anymore!"
Snape frowned.
"Anyway, it was fun while it lasted, but if you want me to keep my lips zipped, I have a special potion I want you to mix up for me". Malfoy handed him a slip of parchment. Snape read over it and looked at him with a horrified expression.
"You're asking me to break the law!"
"What's another one to you? How about one last go for old times sake, hey?"
At which point we all looked away in disgust. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well, I'd like to say we all lived happily ever after - but that would be a lie. Draco followed his father down the slippery slope to drug addiction, because associated with the Death Eaters and was subsequently carted off to Azkaban after Harry's defeat of Voldemort (another story in itself). Ron and Fleur lasted sux months until she got off with his brother Bill. He's yet to have a steady girlfriend since (three years later), but I keep an eye out for suitable girls (as if I'd let him have a girlfriend without my approval!). Sometimes I feel responsible for the fact that he's alone..then I remember, he's not alone. Harry, Ron and I are as close as ever. Frankly, I doubt even Harry and I breaking up could break the bond between us - something reinforced many times by all the trials we've been through together. Harry and I are still together, after breaking up for half of 7th Year. I don't know what will happen in the future. We might get married. Right now we're trying to establish ourselves in life outside of Hogwarts. We both thought we'd have to fightto get into the Ministry after all the trouble we were involved in at school, but after Harry crushed Voldemort in 7th Year (which, yeah, I had a little part in) we were shoo-ins. Harry's an Auror and I work in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, which makes us both happy, if tired. We've set up a home down the road from the Burrow, knowing we could never live without the Weasleys. Molly and Arthur are like a second set of parents - my own have a bit of trouble knowing that I can nnever go back to the Muggle world - there's no September holidays from the Ministry. But they both love Harry and get on ell with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley (when Mr. Weasley isn't asking about our toaster).
Kids of our own? I already feel like I've raised two of them n Harry and Ron - not that I'm not pleased with the way they turned out. Ron finally grew up a bit, or enough - he's now Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts (which, coincidentally, was the position Fleur was going to get. Hopefully he can break the curse). Ginny hates having her brother as her teacher because no-one believes the reason she does well is because she is a good student (although undoubtedly carrying on the Weasley legend).
So that's about all I can say. Snape didn't get put away for his crimes - he's still at Hogwarts, probably plotting a vendetta against Ron for being the nest person to steal his much-coveted job. Cho faded into obscurity as many mean-spirited teenage girls do, never again to appear in Witch Weekly. Sirius, unfortunately, is still in hiding, reluctant to show his face after being on the run for years. Dumbledore is fighting to clear his name now that Voldemort's been brought down. And Harry and I have found love, after mild flirtation and much confusion at the start of 5th Year. And Ron? Well, I love him too. But then, so does Harry.