Chapter 32:

A week later, the Class of 1998 walked out of Hogwarts for their last time as students. They piled onto the Hogwarts Express and at Platform 9 ¾ promised each other they would keep in touch always. Neville would be entering England's top Herbology School the next September. He wanted to enter the world of medicinal herbology to see if he could cure the Unforgivable Curses. Especially so his parents could know their grandchildren when they come. His grandmother was incredibly proud that he was talented at something and that he had found himself a nice young girl. Even if said girl was slightly on the odd size. Hermione would be attending a wizarding school specializing in education and charms, since Flitwick hinted he would like to retire soon. Ron and Harry, not surprisingly, went into the Auror Academy. The final battle had captured many of the Deatheaters and Fudge's Army, but there were still many running about. Including Fudge.

Draco, whom was now on a grudging truce with the Dream Team, still received letters from his mother, but Narcissa never said where. She, however, did find the company more enjoyable than England's where ever she and her husband were. Draco himself went straight to work as a clerk in the Ministry. He figured that if he were to eventually be Minister of Magic, he was going to have to start at the bottom. Severus was extremely proud of his godson, needless to say.

The Dursleys, once the word that a psychopathetic monster wasn't after their nephew anymore reached them, moved out of 10 Grimmauld Place. Immediately, Harry and friends moved in. The house was large enough to hold the six people that planned on living there. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were going to live there during the year while they did their respective studying. Ginny and Luna were going to move in as soon as they finished Hogwarts. Molly wasn't too happy with the idea, but agreed that they were now adults—they could do what they wanted, make their own decisions. The others believed it was an incredibly good plan and would give the young lovers ideas of what it would be to live with the other. Especially for Ron and Hermione, who were already engaged, but were still not getting married for a few years. Not until they were in careers.

Sirius was bursting with joy at the idea of his godson living next door to him. And for his upcoming nuptials, even if they were over a year away. Yes, the man no one ever thought would settle down had proposed. He had done it a few days after the final battle. He was in the hospital for a day while the Jennings wanted Bianca home with them to celebrate. When she finally returned to help clean Sirius' house from the destruction of occupation, he had pulled her into his bedroom. He dug through his closet to find where he had hidden the ring and pulled it out. Turning, he dropped to his knee as Bianca grabbed the door to steady herself. "Bianca, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked.

"Of course," she said, allowing the diamond ring to be slid onto her finger. They kissed to seal the deal and then Sirius picked her up to spin her around in joy. Everyone congratulated them and soon, Sirius found himself back at the Jennings' as Bianca's fiancé. Giacinta wouldn't let him go, not until Patrick pulled his wife off the man. All of Bianca's nieces and nephews began calling him "Uncle Sirius" immediately and he was taken right into the family. He was quite happy at this and had fun with the children all day. Allison Jennings joked that it was good Sirius was joining the family.

"He's the only one who can out-run and out-play our children," she said, carrying her three-years-old son. Bianca only smiled like an idiot in response.

Sirius was also glad to find out that Remus and Harmony were finally moving into 14 Grimmauld Place to use during the breaks from teaching. The Lupins, as much as they loved their friends, made sure Sirius never had a key of his own to use. And they had made the occupants of 10 Grimmauld Place swear on their lives that they wouldn't give their key to their neighbor.

Remus sat at their bedroom's bay window and chuckled at the memory. Last week, after they had moved in, he and Harmony celebrated their one-year anniversary. Sirius baby-sit his goddaughters when Remus took his wife on a romantic lunch date. He would've taken her to dinner, but that night was a full moon. Not that he didn't enjoy sleeping next to his wolf form, he just wished he was human for his anniversary.

The wizarding world was at peace and so was he. He remembered the end of the first war. There seemed more heartache then than now. Then, he lost two of his best friends while their son was sent to live with the world's worst muggles. A close friend was supposedly dead and his other best friend was in Azkaban for the killing. His girlfriend was sent away to handle remaining Deatheaters and her best friend was sent to Italy. The ending then was celebrated by many, but seemed so much darker to Remus.

This ending was much better, he concluded. Harry was a grown wizard, ready to face the world with his friends and girlfriend by his side. Sirius just proposed and lived next door to the Lupins. Yes, Lupins. Harmony returned and they were married with two beautiful little girls. Kiki was engaged and a mother herself, even if her lover is Severus Snape. And this time, he wasn't unemployed. No, he was looking forward to his third, second consecutive, year as Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, shared with his wonderful wife.

Who just came out of the shower as he contemplated that thought. He smiled as she finished towel-drying her hair and pulled down the covers. Remus stood up and moved to take his place in their bed. She rolled over, found a comfortable spot on his chest and sighed. "Remus?" she asked. He hummed in response since he was half asleep. "What do you think about more children?"

Well, that shot Remus off his one way track to Elysium. More children? Did she mean it as an innocent question of was she hinting at something? He thought carefully. Lily and Jamie were only a few months old and they hadn't made love after the birth. First, it was because they were told to wait 8 weeks due to the delivery and then the Final Battle…and they hadn't slept together during the pregnancy because Remus was being cautious. All in all, they hadn't slept together in a year. So she couldn't be pregnant again…she was way too loyal to him.

"Remus?" Harmony asked, now sitting up. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine…you just caught me off guard," Remus replied, sitting up to join her. "As for more children, I would love to have more with you."

"Good," Harmony laughed, causing Remus to inwardly panic. She read his eyes and laughed even harder. "Don't worry. I'm not pregnant again. It's too soon after the twins. And we haven't had sex in a year!"

"I know," Remus said, as Harmony lay back down. He reached over for his wand, muttered some spells and lay down next to her. He began kissing her passionately and she let him. After all, they did have to squeeze a year into the few hours before the twins woke up.

Severus took another sip of his coffee as he smoothed out the Daily Prophet to read Bianca's column. A soft breeze blew through, emitting a sweet jingle from the wind chime near by. He smiled as he remembered coming back to the manor one day to see Kiki standing on a ladder to put it up. "There," she said, hopping off the ladder and giving him a hug. "This is the first step to make Snape Manor much more liveable."

Severus leaned back and allowed himself to look out over the garden, which Kiki had no clue was going to be the setting for a surprise birthday party. His lip curled up in the thought of watching her blindfolded again. He snorted as he remembered Harmony's reaction to that. "Well, we finally found a fetish for you. Kiki blindfolded," she said. After the party, Grace was going to take Sam as Severus took Kiki into London to see The Phantom of the Opera.

He himself sat on the back patio, on the old wicker outdoor set the house elves had found banished to the farthest regions of the attic. They seemed very enthusiastic about their new mistress' plan to "freshen up" the Manor. The pride they experience when Kiki saw the set was something Severus had never seen before. They eagerly combed the garden and removed any dangerous dark plants. He was pleased, and told them so, when they moved those that were important to potions into a separate part of the garden.

Severus wore khaki pants and a green polo shirt, all muggle clothing. He wasn't afraid of short sleeves anymore. As he thought this, he glanced down at his left arm. After they watched Pot—Harry—faint into the arms of Ginny, Severus felt as if his left arm was on fire, worst then any summons. He, too, ended up passing out but awoke before the Boy-Who-Lived-Yet-Another-Day. Kiki sat in a chair next to him, quietly playing with a smiling Sam. She looked up when her fiancé awoke and placed Sam onto his chest. The little girl gurgled more and soon drifted off to sleep. He lifted his left arm to hold the girl and was greeted by a wonderful sight. Pink skin shone out against the pale white skin around it, meaning the skin had just grown in. The dark mark no longer graced his arm, granting him the last step of his redemption.

One of the most important steps of that redemption was currently kicking in her bassinette next to her father. Severus chuckled as he looked over his little girl, whom he had dressed in the lovely green summer dress Draco had sent his godfather as a thank-you. A small green headband held back the few dark curls the little girl had. She smiled up at her father before trying to kick off her shoes. "I don't know why, but she hates wearing shoes," he heard Kiki say behind him. The woman, dressed in a red tank top and jean capris, slid onto Severus' lap and kissed him firmly on the mouth. "Good morning," she said.

"Good morning," he replied. "I don't know about the shoe thing. I remember my aunt telling me my mother used to complain about me doing the same thing. And now look, I wear shoes."

"And black robes that leave everything to the imagination," she said, kissing his neck. "So, what are we going to do today?"

"Not whatever you're trying to goad me into. But, I did have the house elves pack us a picnic lunch. What do you say?"

"Sounds perfect."

The sun was setting over one the hills of Scotland. The occupants of a small, cozy cottage had a perfect view as they lay out on two lawn chairs with glasses of wine nearby. The female occupant sighed as she closed her eyes, feeling her male companion reach for her hand. She sighed as she felt it getting darker and darker. "Soon, my dear, we can finally tell the world we're married," her companion whispered.

"When, Albus?"

"How does our anniversary sound? We'll have to give Riley notice so he can get his bullhorn and stand atop of the Ministry the next day," Albus responded.

Minerva opened her eyes and looked over at her husband. "Why on earth would he do that?"

"Because he is really proud to be our son," Albus said, smiling.

"Oh. Well, that makes sense." A pause. "Albus?"

"Yes, Minerva?"

"We have a happy ending this time, don't we?"

"We, who?"

"Us. Severus. Remus. Harmony. Kiki. Harry. Everyone. This war has a happier ending then the last."

"Indeed it does. And indeed, we all do have a happy ending."

A/N:Sniffles: And thus ends Elaborate Lives II: Year Seven. But never fear! I shall post Elaborate Lives III: Into the Fire up soon. Just so everyone's clear, it'll pick up six years later—2004. But I want to thank all of you who supported this, my lovely reviewers!

SarahtheBardess: I wouldn't hurt the babies. They're the "aww" factor of my story. And I know that my story got everyone off lightly, but I needed everyone for ELIII!

Sarahamanda: Thanks!

Brielle Lupin: Okay. Thanks!

cerzee: Thank you. We all know Ginny is going to figure into the ending somehow, or else why would JK write her as the one with Riddle's diary?

MyStOrIeS: Thanks, and yes, sometimes it's better when we already know the characters.

yeah whatever: I hope you are enjoying the summer. And still avoiding the jocks.

springchic5759: Thank you. I hope you have fun at summer camp!

Alright, I'll see you six years from now in Elaborate Lives III…Mac