Chapter Thirty-Two:  Toward the Future…No Matter What Comes

When Evangeline and Severus entered Dumbledore's office at the appointed time, they found him sitting at his desk studying a piece of parchment.  There was an air of sadness to his manner, as if something had happened that he'd perhaps expected but nevertheless regretted deeply.  When they approached him, he raised his eyes to theirs and banished all hint of melancholy from his face.  Indeed his eyes sparkled with their more familiar mischievousness as he addressed them with a wide smile.  "There you are.  How good it is to see the two of you together again.  We're all truly happy to have you both back here with us, you know, and I'm so pleased that you've decided to allow me to perform a renewal of the binding magic for you."

Severus took Evangeline's hand in his own and smiled at the Headmaster.  "We're both pleased to be back here together as well, Albus.  Thank you for agreeing to perform the ceremony."

Dumbledore rose and came around his desk to stand next to them as he shook his head.  "There's no need to thank me, Severus.  There's nothing I want more than to see the two of you happy.  I'll do all that I can to make that happen, I promise you."

The couple exchanged pleased glances and returned their attention to the elder wizard who now focused his gaze more seriously on Evangeline.

"My dear, now that the two of you have found your way back to each other, I hope that someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me for my part in Severus' loss.  You were right to place the blame on my shoulders, for although I certainly never intended for such a horrible outcome for my actions, I can see in hindsight that I should have done much more to prevent that tragedy from befalling both of you.  I'm deeply sorry for all the pain I caused."

Snape shook his head and opened his mouth to deny his friend's guilt, but Dumbledore raised a hand to stop his speech.  "No, Severus.  I know you don't blame me, and I appreciate that, but much of the fault does lie with me.  I should have known better.  I should have taken more careful precautions.  I regret my lack of foresight and will regret the pain it caused to so many for the rest of my life." 

The Headmaster returned his gaze to Evangeline, who had continued to watch him quietly and unlike her husband, hadn't tried to raise a protest to Dumbledore's assumption of guilt.  "Do you think that you'll eventually be able to find a way to forgive me for my actions, Evangeline?"

Evangeline swallowed with difficulty and spared a sideways glance for her husband who was watching her somberly before returning her gaze to Dumbledore.  "I do intend to try, Albus.  My placing the blame entirely on your shoulders was very unfair.  I know that now that I understand more of what happened, and I've tried to put aside my anger and hatred.  Having my husband back in my arms again has restored some of the generosity and goodness to my soul and allowed me to try to be more forgiving in my feelings.  Since I'll be moving back here to Hogwarts to be with Severus again, we'll once more be living beneath the same roof, and it'll be easier on all of us if we aren't at odds.  Severus and I are going to be trying very hard to look forward…not back, so I really do wish for us to be on good terms again.  I know that you didn't mean any harm to anyone, and that you were simply trying to do the right thing and safeguard all of us."  Resolutely she extended her hand to the Headmaster, who clasped it gratefully in his own.

"Thank you, my dear.  I'm pleased that you're willing to give our relationship a second chance."

Evangeline smiled an uneasy smile as she withdrew her hand from his.  "Time is a great healer, Albus, but the past isn't always an easy thing to forget."

Severus found his thoughts flitting once more to a vivid image of Remus Lupin as the wizard stood bare-chested in the sitting room of Evangeline's cottage and told him with mockery in his tone that his child was dead.  With that unsettling image pulsing in his thoughts he found himself silently agreeing with his wife wholeheartedly.  The past inexorably shapes the future and we all have to live with the consequences of our actions, but the pain of the past tends to linger on whether we wish it to or not.

Fate seems to occasionally have its act together and so at that moment when the atmosphere was straining ever so slightly Minerva McGonagall knocked lightly on the office door and entered briskly when the Headmaster happily called out to her.  She immediately crossed the room with a warm smile on her face and embraced first Evangeline, and then to his surprise, Severus, as well.  "I'm so happy to see that the two of you have put all that unhappiness aside and have decided to act sensibly.  You do belong together you know."

"Thank you, Minerva.  Yes, we do belong together.  Don't we, Severus?"  Evangeline turned glowing eyes up to her husband.

With a contented look softening the lines of his thin face, Snape nodded briefly as he gazed back at his wife.  "Yes…yes we do."

So without further preamble, they got down to the happy business that had brought them all together.  Evangeline and Severus stood in the middle of Dumbledore's office with the Headmaster and Minerva McGonagall at their sides.  The fire burned warmly in the grate, and all the former Headmasters hung on the office walls peered out of their frames and down at the scene below them with great interest.  Many of them were remembering the entertainment this particular couple had afforded them while on their honeymoon, and were hoping that their reunion might lead to some more interesting and watchable events at a later time. It can be tedious to be a painting after all.  One must grab all the amusement one can whenever it comes within reach. Everyone both painted and living seemed very cheerful now that the younger couple had worked out their differences, the future looked to be much happier than the recent past had been.

Evangeline found herself unable to take her eyes off her husband for long.  Just being with him, standing next to him, feeling the slight brush of his robes against her sleeve as he shifted his stance, brought a happy contented feeling to her being that she never knew in the presence of anyone else.  It would be a struggle she knew to avoid becoming a clinging vine because suddenly she never wanted to be far from his presence.  She wanted to spend every moment of the future with him.  Deep down in her soul she recognized a lurking fear that whispered insidiously in her ear that she needed to hold on tight or he'd slip between her fingers once more, and she knew that she'd never survive his loss a second time.

Dumbledore smiled at the younger couple with affection.  "Well, are you ready to try to repair the binding magic?"

They both nodded.  "More than ready, Albus.  Will we need to go back and step into the binding circle again?"  Evangeline asked.

The elder wizard shook his head.  "No, my dear, the magic should still be within your rings, I simply need to reactivate it.  The Dark Lord used some sort of masking trick to break the bond without the death of either one of you.  I just need to remove the mask and let the true magic of the bond shine forth again.  We can do that here…or anywhere else of your choosing." 

His eyes took on his characteristic teasing twinkle.   "However, you would be more than welcome to have a second ceremony with all the trimmings if you wish.  We're always ready to find a reason for a happy celebration here at Hogwarts.  Perhaps the entire student body could be invited this time."

With a shiver at that horrifying thought, Snape frowned impatiently at his friend and spoke with derision in his tone.  "Here will be fine, Albus.  No foolish fripperies will be necessary.  Going through one "ceremony with all the trimmings" was quite enough.  We hardly need to become the object of a three-ring circus."  

Seeing the sudden glare that his wife directed his way, he back tracked a bit and hastened to add, "Not that it wasn't worth it to have been able to claim Evangeline as my wife, of course."

With a snort of amusement at his momentary discomfort, Evangeline smirked up at her husband.  "Nice save, Severus." 

He smiled a trifle uncomfortably, and they both redirected their attention to Dumbledore.

"All right, then.  Please, clasp your left hands together and hold them in front of me."  Dumbledore withdrew his wand from a handy pocket and waited until they did as instructed.  Then he touched their rings with the wand and intoned in a solemn voice, "Iugo Matrimonium Renovo!"                        

There was a flash of bright light, then a warm golden glow with silver flecks seemed to spread through each of them emanating from the rings on their clasped hands.  They shivered and gasped in unison as the intimate touch of the binding magic coursed through them once more.  Evangeline had forgotten how wonderful it felt to be so intimately bound to her husband.  The resumption of this emotional bond brought tears to her eyes.  Now finally, her world felt right again, after being so empty for such a long time, she finally felt content with his shining presence nestled warmly within her once more.

Neither of them could suppress a smile at the wonderful feeling of warm strong connection that coursed through them.  Without a word, they moved together and sealed the bond once more with a tender kiss.  When they parted both McGonagall and Dumbledore offered their sincere congratulations.

As he replaced his wand in his pocket, Dumbledore asked Snape, "Have you made any plans for the immediate future, Severus?"

Snape glanced at Evangeline then returned his attention to the Headmaster.  "No, Albus.  We have no immediate plans.  The first thing we need to do is to make our quarters livable once more and move Evangeline back here to the castle.  I'll feel a lot better once that's accomplished.  Since I no longer have a position here at the moment, I rather thought I might take one of your suggestions and pursue some of my private research ideas that always get shunted to the back burner by other responsibilities.  I'm trying to look at the enforced time off as an opportunity to do things that I've never been able to find time for in the past."

Evangeline smiled at her husband, hearing in his voice his attempt to convince himself that being unemployed for the first time since he was a student, wouldn't be as tedious a thing as he was afraid it would be.  "I'd like to get you to spend a little time with me in Cornwall, too, Severus.  I've been perfectly safe there and see no reason why that should change.  It's a lovely spot, and I'd like to share it with you."

"As you did with Remus Lupin?"  Flashed through his mind, but he had the intelligence not to voice that thought aloud.  Much better not to go there at all.

"We'll see, Evangeline.  If it truly appears to be safe, then I'm sure I'd enjoy spending time there again.  As long as you're with me it couldn't help but favorably compare to the time I spent there in the past."

She smiled.  "We really should go and visit with Mrs. Trevalleyn.  She'll be wondering what happened with us."

He nodded thoughtfully.  "I suppose so."  To Dumbledore and McGonagall's questioning look, he added, "She's the woman who helped me and took me in after I escaped from Voldemort's prison.  Evangeline knew her too as it turned out.  The last time I saw her she knew I was going to seek out my wife.  As Evangeline says, I'm sure she's been wondering how it all worked out."

Dumbledore nodded.  "Yes, you should go and visit her by all means, but I may have another suggestion as to how you could spend most of your time, Severus."

Snape eyed Dumbledore curiously.  "Oh, really?  And what would that be, Albus?"

"It seems that I'm in need of a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to finish out the year.  Remus Lupin just handed in his resignation, effective immediately.  Would you be willing to take the position until the Potions position becomes vacant again in the fall?"

Snape's eyes gleamed.  "You know the entire student body will believe that I somehow cursed Lupin and stole his position from him. It wouldn't surprise me to have several of them digging up the grounds searching for his sadly abused body.  They're forever convinced that Defense Against the Dark Arts is my preferred position within this school, and that I feel terribly thwarted by not being able to attain it.  It does their little hearts good, I think, to feel that I'm not getting what I truly want."

Dumbledore shrugged and his eyes twinkled mischievously.  "Well you do apply for the job every time it becomes available."

Snape shrugged.  "After all these years, I continue to do that just so you can have the dubious pleasure of turning me down, Albus.  It's become a rather quaint little ritual by now.  My life can be so dull at times, surely you don't begrudge me a little fun?"

They smiled at one another in understanding.  "Will you take the position, Severus?"

The dark wizard nodded and cocked a brow at the Headmaster.  "I'd be happy to.  I'll look forward to finally showing you how that position should truly be handled.  Actually the thought of having nothing planned for the foreseeable future was rather daunting.  I function better when my life has some order to it…some purpose."

Evangeline had been listening to this exchange with only half of her attention.  All she could think about suddenly was Remus and how much his association with her had cost him.  "Albus?  When did Remus turn in his resignation?" she asked with a touch of sadness in her tone.

Dumbledore turned to her with a kind smile.  "Just before you and Severus joined us, Evangeline."

Hesitantly she turned to her husband.  "Severus, would you mind terribly if I went and spoke to him?  I haven't seen him since we came back from my parent's house, and I'd hate to have him leave without being able to say good-bye."

Snape looked at her solemnly.  As much as he wanted to keep her away from Remus Lupin for the rest of her life, he realized that they'd shared something important.  If Evangeline was ever going to be able to move back into her life with him, she needed to put a closed stamp on her relationship with Lupin.  So he nodded and forced a smile.  "Go ahead, Evangeline.  Tell him I said good-bye and thank you for saving my life."

Gratefully she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly then she turned and ran out of the room hoping to catch Lupin before he left Hogwarts.

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

"So the bastard wins again, huh?  Just like that!  He forces you out into the cold and you just pick up and go.  It's not fair, Remus!  Not fair at all," exclaimed Sirius Black as he paced around his friend's small bedroom and watched him pack his belongings into a bag in preparation for leaving.

Lupin sighed as he slipped a folded robe into his bag and turned to look at his friend.  "Severus didn't force me to go anywhere, Sirius.  Leaving was my idea.  Do you really think that I could stand to stay here and watch Severus and Evangeline pick up the pieces of their lives and go back to being husband and wife?  Do you think I could sit by at dinner and watch the two of them together…perhaps come upon them snogging…or worse…in the hallway?  Every time I had to watch him touch her I'd…hell it would drive me insane.  I'd rather transform into a wolf and back everyday for the rest of my life than have to watch the two of them together anymore.  It wouldn't hurt half as much!"

Black released his pent up energy in one big sigh and turned back to his departing friend.  "I know…I'm sorry.  I understand why you're leaving.  I just hate that you have to, that's all.  Where are you going to go anyway?  Would you like a traveling companion?  I'm pretty free right now, and I'm used to traveling light."

"I'm not sure just where I'm going to go or what I'm going to do.  I do know that I've got a lot of thinking to do, and that it'll be easier to do it alone.  Besides, you promised Harry that you'd stay until Christmas break is over, and I really can't hang around that long.  Even one more day would be too long to wait.  I need to leave now."

Black nodded reluctantly.  "I know.  I just hate it…that's all."

Lupin smiled and crossed the room to embrace his friend.  "I'll be okay, Sirius.  Don't worry…I'm a survivor just like you.  This won't stop me.  Who knows?  It could end up being good for me.  You never know what life has in store after all."

Black pulled back and clapped his friend encouragingly on the shoulder, managing a lopsided smile.  "No.  You never do.  I'm sure you're right.  You'll do fine.  Take care of yourself and keep in touch, okay?"

Lupin nodded and returned to his packing.  "I will…as soon as I have anything to say I promise that you'll be the first one I say it to."

Black nodded and headed for the door.  "It just galls me to see Snape win; I can't help it."  He turned back with an abashed grin.

Lupin paused and gave him a sincere look.  "I'm just happy that Evangeline wins.  Her happiness is all I care about here.  If her happiness also happens to make Severus happy, well then so be it.  I can live with that."

Black shook his head.  "I still say that she's a fool to pick him over you.  You're clearly the better man, Remus.  You take care now."

With a final nod, Black turned and left Lupin to his packing.  The werewolf stood and stared after his friend for a brief instant, feeling yet another moment of loss.  Then he shook off the feeling and returned to his packing, muttering quietly to himself… "Oh, yeah…I'm a prince.  Prince of fools."

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

With a sense of finality, Remus Lupin closed his bag and carried it out of the bedroom to join the other one on the floor of his classroom.  He was accustomed to traveling light, and he'd never been big on material possessions, had never really had the means to become so, so this was all that he had to show for his time here at Hogwarts…two worn travel bags and an empty classroom.  A bit sad if you thought about it for too long, which he was determined not to.  As he bent to pick up the other bag in the hopes of escaping quickly, unseen by others he hoped to avoid, his door flew open abruptly, and slightly startled at this sudden intrusion, he looked up to see Evangeline standing in the doorway with a sad expression on her face.  He sighed internally…too late.  Perhaps it was for the best, he had to admit that there was a deep lingering part of him that had longed to see her…to touch her…one last time.

"Were you really going to leave without saying good-bye, Remus?" she asked quietly.

He straightened up and sighed, gazing at her wistfully.  "I had hoped to, yes.  I didn't want to get tangled up in a long good-bye.  Too painful."

"I'm so sorry, Remus.  I really messed things up completely for you, didn't I?  I feel like I've taken your whole life away from you.  It's all so unfair…that you feel you have to give up a job that I know you love, because of me."

"It's all right, Angel.  Things will work out in the end, they always do.  I've been wanting to do a bit more traveling again, and now I'll get the chance.  Did Albus offer Severus the position?  Did he take it?"

She nodded.  "Yes, to both questions.  Was that your idea?"

A brief smile crossed his face.  "Yes.  Now I know that I'm leaving everything in good hands.  Tell Severus that I've left a complete accounting of what's been covered so far this year in my desk along with all the upcoming lesson plans that I'd completed.  He can use the information however he wants.  I imagine he'll have his own ideas on how to teach this class, anyway.  He's wanted the opportunity for years, after all." 

She nodded once more.  "You're probably right.  Thank you.  I'll be sure to tell him." 

Remus nodded in return and they just stood there for a moment staring awkwardly at one another, not knowing quite how to say what they wanted to say to each other.  Finally Evangeline cleared her throat and ventured another thought.

"I found the painting that I gave you for Christmas still at my cottage.  Don't you want it, Remus?"

A sad smile flitted over his lips echoing the sadness in his eyes.  "I do want it, Angel.  It means a lot to me, but I was hoping that you'd keep it for me for the time being.  I need to be traveling light for a while.  I really won't have a place for it, and I'd like to put all those memories into storage for now and try to move on.  I hope you can understand."

Her throat had tightened and she nodded a bit jerkily.  "Yes," she whispered softly.  "I understand.  I'm so sorry that I hurt you so much, Remus.  I was afraid that that would be the result of our changing our relationship from friendship to something more intimate.  You deserved so much better than you got from me."

"That's not true, Angel.  Please, don't be sorry.  I'm not.  I went eagerly into our relationship with my eyes wide open.  I knew that you didn't love me, and that I was taking a chance, but I think I'd have ended up feeling even worse if I'd never tried.  It just didn't work out, that's all.  The time we spent together was absolutely wonderful.  I'll treasure it forever.  The memories that I'll always have were worth taking the risk.  Neither of us could've ever anticipated that Severus would turn up alive."

She shook her head, a wry smile on her lips.  "No.  I suppose not.  How often does something like that occur, anyway?"

"Well, I want you to know, that I'm not sorry that he's alive.  His return gave you the only thing that would ever truly make you happy.  That's always been my main goal, you know, but I could never succeed at it like he can.  I hope the two of you can pick up the pieces and get your lives back on track again.  I want you to be happy, Angel…and I know that for you that means being with Severus."

"Yes, it does.  I think we can put things back together again.  It can't ever be quite the same, but the love that we have for each other is still there, as strong as ever, and with that we can accomplish a lot.  We've made a good start already. Thank you from both of us for saving his life, Remus."  She smiled wistfully at him.

"You're welcome. I couldn't do anything else.  I knew that that's what you'd want me to do."  His eyes burned slightly as he stared intently at her.

Nervously she cleared her throat and looked down momentarily at her feet. "Uh…do you know where you'll be going when you leave here?"

Lupin shrugged uncertainly.  "Not really.  As I said, I'm going to do some traveling for a bit.  I just need to put some distance between me and "this pile of magical rocks" as you so colorfully described this place.  Time and distance are what I need to heal, but please don't worry about me.  I'll be all right.  You'll see me again.  I promise."

"I'll miss you, Remus," she whispered softly.  Tears glittered in her eyes as she looked at him.

A huge lump suddenly settled in his throat as he stared back at her.  Leaving her behind him forever was even harder than he'd thought it would be.  "I'll miss you, too, Angel…always."

Suddenly he simply couldn't stand there talking to her for one more second.  With a quick step forward he seized her in his arms and crushed her slender form against him, his lips devouring hers in one final soul searing kiss.  With a sob, she threw her arms around him and returned his kiss and his embrace fervently.  Time stood still for one brief moment then just as suddenly he released her from his arms for the last time and grabbed up his bags.  With a final quick good-bye flung over his shoulder, he flew out the door and down the hall towards the stairs as fast as he could decently go.

From the depths of the shadows further up the empty hall, Severus Snape watched Lupin's hurried departure with mixed emotions.  A large part of him felt a bit guilty to be taking so much away from the man, yet he knew he couldn't stand the thought of sharing his wife with anyone, and there were still things that he knew he'd always have trouble forgiving the werewolf for.  It was better for all concerned that he should leave…as soon as possible.  In the long run, it was the best answer available for a horribly difficult situation.  Wherever Lupin was going he wished him luck, but he freely admitted to himself that if he never had to lay eyes on the Gryffindor again, he'd be perfectly content.

Once Lupin had fled out of sight down the stairs, Snape left the dark shadows and walked quietly down to the open classroom.  He peered inside to see Evangeline clutching the window frame and staring unseeingly out into the cold gray of late afternoon while copious tears flowed down her stricken face.

With a deep sigh, he walked up behind her and slipped his warm arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.  She leaned gratefully back against him drawing comfort from his presence as her body melted into his.  As the two of them watched from the window, Lupin burst out of the castle and without a backward glance, he headed for the gates as fast as he could go in the hampering snow.  Together they stood there silently and simply watched until his small figure had vanished from sight.

"He'll be all right, you know," Snape ventured softly.

Evangeline nodded and whispered, "I hope so."

"We'll be all right, too."

With a hopeful smile she turned in his embrace and looked up into his loving dark eyes as a flower turns to the warmth of the sun.  "Of that I have no doubt.  Now that we're truly together again, I know that things will be all right for us.  I love you, Severus. As long as we're together, I know I can face anything that comes our way."

He smiled down at her.   "I love you, too, Evangeline…forever, no matter what comes."

Slowly they turned around with their arms entwined around each other and left the empty classroom behind heading for their own quarters in the dungeons, and the start of their new life together.

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

Author's Notes:  There's only one more chapter to go now, an epilogue that will explain…what happened to Remus. :)

Rickfan37:  Thank you, RF.  Your kind words have helped to alleviate some of my concerns over this chapter.  I thought it was appropriate to bring them back to Slytherin's Study for their more private reunion.  I'm glad that you agree. :)

Whale of the World:  I think it's a happy ending.  As happy as I can make it anyway.  Remus is up next chapter.

Arachne's Child:  Thank you.  Last chapter was about reunion and also communication.  They really had a lot to talk about.  In fact they still have a lot to settle between them, but this gave them a good start at truly reconnecting on all levels.

Prophet Dreams:  Thanks.  I'll look forward to hearing your opinions.  :)

Zagzagael:  Thanks for all your help, dear. :)

Snapefan51:  Thank you.  Severus is going to have to work very hard to banish the images that are so vivid in his mind of Remus making love to his wife.  The thought that he could end up playing stepdad to a little "wolf" was a very painful thought for him.  It was important for them to lay that concern to rest right away.

Gracelynn:  I'm so glad you weren't disappointed by the love scenes.  I worry about that a lot.  Since I don't feel that I'm very good at them.  Severus is definitely a worst-case-scenario kind of guy and ending up having to raise Lupin's child would've been very hard for him.  They'd never have been free of each other.  I did consider the possibility, but I decided that we'd all had enough pain. :)

Werecat99:  Thank you.  Severus has just gotten his wife back.  Having a fit over the fact that she'd had sex with Remus, which he's well aware of, would have been very counter productive for him.  Especially while Evangeline was telling him how deeply she loved him and only him.  That's not the time to start a fight, I think.;)