Tumtumtumdumdadum drum rolls Yes, it's here. The last chapter to this story. A thank you to those who started reading this story and kept with it. Also a thank you for those who bothered to review, you made me so happy! And a special thank you to Kathryn, the driving force behind me actually finishing this crap. Feel the love J Anyway, it's because of her you are actually reading this, you can thank her by reading and reviewing her stories : "Eyes of Grey, Soul of Steel" and "Last Chance". And keep an eye out for our planned crossover. You can find the stories under elvesmagic010.

For those who wondered, here are the translations for the Al-bhed based summonings.

Speak to me, speak to me, entity hidden in the crystal's purity.

Take my flesh, make it strong, to face my enemies as I go along.

Entity, entity, now in peace, make me invincible like Achilles.

Dark Messenger in this ring, this small item yet powerfull thing.

Take my flesh, make it strong, to face my enemies as I go along.

Entity, entity, now in peace, make me invincible like Achilles.

Lierin was lying on Severus's chest and enjoyed the feeling of his hand  caressing her head. She leant up and looked into his black onyx eyes and noticed the soft burning flames in them. She smiled at him and placed her lips against his. Tenderly he returned the kiss and rolled her down beneath him.

"Are we dead?" asked Lierin.

Severus glanced down at her and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"I don't know and I can't say I care. This suits me just fine."

Lierin looked around and noticed she and Severus were in the same place where she had talked to her former friends. There was nothing here but bright white light.

 "But there's no one here! We failed. I failed!"

"Maybe they are still waiting for us to straighten things out," said Severus softly. Lierin looked up and saw the regret and pain in his eyes.

"But we have... haven't we?"

"I don't know. All I know is that I treated you horribly, I acted like the heathen dog from Hades you once took me for."

Lierin smiled.

"Well, even hellish dogs can be nice sometimes. Sometimes is enough for me. Question is, is sometimes enough for you?"

"Do yo think you could...care for me if I treated you better than I have before?"

Severus didn't dare to say love, he thought that was too much to ask. Lierin felt a warmth spreading throughout her entire being.

"I allready do, Severus, more then you can imagine," Lierin whispered against his lips.

He didn't dare to say it outloud, but in his kiss he told her how much he loved her, how much he needed her and that was enough.

"I love you too," Lierin said with a smile as she gently touched his cheek. And forst the first time in years, Severus smiled too.

Birds sang, the sun was shining and soft voices whispered enthousiastically. Severus looked up and saw several students watching them curiously.

Lierin pushed him away and sat up to see what was going on. She blushed and shyly she hid her face against Severus's shoulder. Surprised he looked around and noticed that everything was back to normal. They had succeeded! In a fit of cheerfulness he grabbed Lierin up by her waist and lifted her up, holding her tightly.

"Come future Mrs. Snape. Let's go home!"

"Why Professor Snape, was that a proposal?" she cooed.

Severus put her down abruptly.

"Did it sound like a proposal?" he said and walked away, annoyed that she couldn't just approve.

Lierin grinned and follewed him to the castle.

"Let's just go home."

Remus watched them go from a short distance, a small smile playing around his lips. Snape wasn't exactly the man he had wanted for his sister, but at least she was happy now. Remus noticed that the limp was back and smiled when Severus lifted her up and carried her all the way to the castle.

Epilogue

The last schoolday had arrived at last. Tonight they would hear who had won the Housecup. Gryffindor was second to Slytherin due to their amazing achievements at the Quiditch field. Lierin stared at the large hourglass with a glum look in her eyes. Severus joined her.

"Looks like Slytherin will be winning this year." Snape said smugly.

Lierin's head snapped up.

"Well, that's a surprise with a head of house who favours his students."

"Ah, said the teacher who loves to hex all students save hers."

"Are you accusing me of being biased?" Lierin asked shocked.

"I'm not accusing, I'm stating. Entirely different thing." Snape answered haughtily.

"I'll make you a deal, you award Gryffindor points when the occasion calls for it, and I will do the same for Slytherin. That way we can stop accusing each other of being biased."

"Why not make this a lot more interesting?" said Snape with an evil glint in his eyes. Lierin bit her lips in pleasure.

"I don't know, what did you have in mind?" she asked seductively. Snape grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her close to him.

"If Gryffindor wins, you'll be my slave for a whole night. If Slytherin wins, I'll be yours," he said with a husk voice.

At that moment Hermione Granger appeared in the hallway with an entire stack of books in her arms.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor for carrying more books than allowed!" said Lierin in the same husky manner. Hermione looked up, completely in shock.

Draco appeared, flanked by his two cronies and Pansy Parkinson laughed loudly at some joke Draco had just told.

"Ninety points from Slytherin for disturbing the piece in the hallways!" Snape barked , drawing even closer to Lierin.

Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy and Hermione watched their two teachers in curiosity.

"A hundred points to Slytherin because Malfoy...because Crabbe...ehr..." Lierin stepped away from Severus who smiled viciously.

"A hundred points to Gryffindor awarded to Miss. Granger for getting topgrades on her exam." Snape stepped towards Lierin.

"A hundred points to Slytherin awarded to Malfoy because he finally got his alphabet right?" Lierin asked weakly, Snape shook his head. Suddenly Lierin ran away as fast as she could with her infernal left leg and Snape sat off in pursuit. Here and there they awarded points to their competitive house.  The students looked at each other and then looked in the direction in which their teachers had vanished. They just shrug their shoulders and continued their day.

Needless to say, Gryffindor won that evening. But Lierin didn't mind one bit.