Kristin laid Severus down. "This is all my fault! And now you're hurt!" she cried, burying her face into his matted fur. She pulled back for a moment, cocked her head and asked, "Is this the same outfit I last saw you in?"
Severus tried to laugh, but was unable to. The knife wound and the earlier arrow puncture were finally taking his toll. "I'm glad you came back," he said, breathing heavily. "At least I can see you this last time." He knew he was dying—why skirt the issue?
"Don't you dare talk like that!" Kristin chastised him. "Don't—you'll be fine. Please, please." She was now crying, that was the last thing Severus saw before the world went black.
"No!" Kristin cried as she felt Severus' body go limp. "You can't die! I love you!" She fell into sobs on his chest, the same spot she had rested on only a night before. She didn't care about how wet she was getting, or her father's pleas to come back into the castle. She wasn't moving from this spot until she died herself.
But then she felt the body give a tug and she leaned up. Through the blurriness of her tears and the rain, she saw Severus rise in the air and start to spin. Bright sparks surrounded him and she could had to look away due to the intensity of the lights. When the light died down and she could look again, the Beast was gone.
In his place was a tall man, with shoulder length black hair that had a bit of a greasy look to it. He was pale and had a hooked nose, but Kristin was diverted from his appearance when the man moved.
He pushed himself up and into a kneeling position. He gazed in wonder at his hand before turning to Kristin. Now, she could see his black eyes. "Kristin!" he said, in a familiar voice. "Kristin, it's me!"
"Severus?" she asked, coming forward. "What happened? A minute ago you were dead and furry, and now you're alive and human!" she babbled. Severus placed a finger on her lips.
"Remember when you asked me why I was a Beast? Well, I partially told the truth. It was a transformation—but as a curse. I was a spoiled brat as a child and a sorceress decided to teach me a lesson. I had to fall in love with someone and have that someone fall in love with me to become human again...and it had to be done before the last petal of my rose fell or else the spell would be complete. I had almost given hope until you came."
With that, he helped her up and Kristin vaguely realized the rain had suddenly stopped. The palace was also changing from dark and creepy to a beautiful castle. Severus pushed some of Kristin's wet hairs from her face. "And now you've broken the spell. Thanks." And then he kissed her.
She was quite breathless when he was done and couldn't say anything. She just latched on harder and ran her own fingers through his hair. "Hey," she teased, "why is your hair dry and mine soaking wet? No fair!" Severus laughed, picked her up and spun her around.
A whole group of humans came barging out of the castle. One was a rather plump woman with red hair, clutching the hand of a young boy also with red hair. "Mrs. Weasley, Billy, look at us!" Severus cried, picking up the young boy and hugging the woman.
A blonde woman with blue eyes came rushing forward. "Kristin, you did it! I'm so happy for you," she cried. Kristin realized it was Harmony and the two embraced. A man with brown hair that held some slight graying approached and Harmony latched on to him. "We're human again, Remus. Oh, now that means the werewolf factor's back, though, isn't?" she asked.
"Who cares? At least I'll return to being human in the morning now," Remus said, still hugging Harmony. "James, look at us," he said.
James, however, was too busy kissing Lily. Kristin could see James had unruly black hair and glasses while Lily was a curly, red haired woman. "Well, why they suffocate each other, don't forget me!" a plump woman sang.
"Madame Femme Gras?" Kristin cried, hugging her roommate. "Uh, can't breathe!" she had to squeak out a bit later. The woman let go and Severus wrapped his arm around her. That's when Kristin remembered her father. "Wait here," she told Severus. She rushed inside, and grabbed her father's hand.
She brought Arthur out onto the balcony. "Papa, this is Severus. Severus, this is my father," she introduced. Severus and Arthur bowed to each other.
"Sir, I would like to apologize for locking you in the tower and ask for your daughter's hand in marriage," Severus asked. Kristin squealed and turned to her father.
Arthur looked torn. "Well, you have my forgiveness, but I'm not sure about my little girl. You've already taken her from me once and now you want to again?"
Severus walked up to Arthur. "I have no intention of separating the two of you again. Therefore, you are invited to move into the castle with us." Mrs. Weasley reached out and steadied the man.
"Move in? Here?" Arthur said. "Then, I say—when's the wedding?" Everyone cheered as Severus and Kristin embraced again.
The palace was decorated all in white and everyone wore their best outfits. "Quick! Put the punch bowl over there! Lily, place that banner lower!" Remus yelled. Lily shot him a glare, but still lowered the banner per her orders.
"Remus, dear, CALM DOWN!" Harmony said, coming in with Kristin's bouquet. "I know you want everything to be perfect, but don't work yourself sick!"
At this Severus came into the main room. "Remus, your girlfriend is right. I don't need my best man falling down on the job," he said, as Mrs. Weasley fixed his tie. "Lily, you and Harmony going to check on my bride?"
"She's been ready!" Madame Femme Gras said, coming down the stairs. "We've been waiting for you—so get inside!"
Five minutes later, Severus was inside, standing in front of Albus Dumbledore, the same man who had married his parents. There weren't that many people attending the ceremony—most people still believed Severus dead and Kristin wasn't going to invite her suddenly overly friendly neighbors. But he was happy who was there—Remus by his side, James standing near by, Mrs. Weasley crying tears of joy, Billy hopping all over the place with joy, and Lily, Harmony and Madame Femme Gras waiting for Kristin to come down the aisle.
The door opened and Severus' heart stopped for a minute. Kristin was on the arm of her beaming father, magnificently dressed. Her white dress had a simple top, short puffy sleeves made of tafetta. Her skirt seemed to be all lace and her veil was lace attached to a circle of ringlets, green ribbons woven in and out. Arthur passed her off and the ceremony began.
Later that night, the two sat out on the balcony where Severus had first tried to profess his love. "Who would've thought this was going to happen? This will make one heck of a story for our kids, don't you think?" Kristin asked her husband. Severus responded by just placing one long, tender kiss on her lips. "Hmm," she replied. "Severus? Severus?"
A/N: Once again thanks to Ashleigh Snape! I hope you're enjoying this! Alas, as you can tell, there is only one more chapter to go...the epilogue. But, I'll hold that off for a couple of days...in the interim, after reading this, (warning: Shameless plug alert!), you could read some more! If you like HP, I have Elaborate Lives and Memories of Those Who Mattered...and if you want more BatB, I have Beauty and the Beast: A Modern Fairy-Tale! And now me, plugging my friends, check out Lexygrl's The Game of Life or Something Like It for a good laugh...includes my characters!...Wow, long, isn't it?...Mac
