Chapter Thirty-Four

The Headmaster's Finest Hour

Severus and Jennifer waited anxiously by the door of Hermione's office…both having better things to do, but neither feeling much inclined to do them. Outside, a very short winter had bloomed full force into spring as water-loving plants greedily took over the countryside and forest, despite the fact it hadn't rained in several weeks…odd weather, many of the Muggles papers said, but not as odd to Jennifer as the fact that once the planet settled into its normal orbit again, the Muggles seemed to promptly forget all about it being irregular in the first place.

But the Wizard world had not forgotten…not by even a long shot…and Severus Snape found himself suffering the annoyance of now being dubbed the most powerful wizard on the planet, bumping poor Dumbledore (who didn't seem to mind it one wit) down to second place. And much to Severus' dismay, so many photos were being taken of him now that he no longer could avoid them, and even he had to admit to Jennifer that he could do with a new bit of wardrobe after a much closer than comfort close-up of him revealed an irregular hem on the shoulder of his robes left from a moment when he decided to try and patch it himself.

Now, however, there were more impertinent matters to think about, and a door that stubbornly seemed to want to stay shut. Finally it opened, and the two intently watched to see Andrew walk out with rather wide smile on his face. But he spoke not a word to either of them; he merely turned down the corridor and began humming, leaving the two of them frowning after him. A moment later, Hermione came out, with an enigmatic smile of her own on her face.

"Well?" Severus asked impatiently.

"Teacher," Hermione smiled. "He wants to be a teacher."

Jennifer's shouts of joy were so loud they rang through nearly every hall in that wing as she hugged her husband excitedly. Severus looked a tad stunned but obviously rather pleased despite maintaining his own composure. As Hermione slipped back inside, still smiling, Severus risked a quick kiss, unaware that Albus had been attracted by the shouting and was walking down the corridor behind them. When Albus cleared his throat, however, Severus quickly backed up sheepishly.

"Well? What's all the excitement about?" he asked curiously.

"Andrew wants to be a teacher!" Jennifer said, beaming with pride.

"Well, of course! Was there really any doubt of that?" Albus smiled enigmatically, and then began to walk on. "As if any child with the audacity to be conceived under the professor's table in the Great Hall could possibly become anything else," he added daringly, the mischievous change in his smile lost on the two stunned parents who gaped at him as he continued down the hall. Jennifer turned and hit Severus in the arm.

"That's it. No more 'cloaking' adventures," Jennifer swore.

"As if I had been the only one there," he said in her ear as they returned to their classrooms.

The next few months were glorious ones for everyone. Alicia, although still very stiff around her father, seemed to start acting like her own self again once Quidditch season started, and nearly all of her birthday presents in April was equipment. The more time passed, the more anxious Alex became about the end of her year and her future life beyond it, but still put in the extra work to try and bring her NEWTs at a level even her parents would accept. Aurelius got busy with his House agenda of bringing up the entire score average, and everyone in Slytherin were working together to work with him for a change. Halbert and Andrew were now fast friends again…they had both given up on Ginger, deciding once and for all that their friendship was more important…at least, until next year.

It was just before the very last day of school, as Andrew was studying for the very last of his finals and just before lunch that Albus Dumbledore happened to wander into the library, his searching eyes fixing on Andrew before breaking into a warm smile. Andrew watched with open curiosity as he came closer then gestured to him.

"I was wondering if you could do me a favor, Andrew," Albus smiled.

"Sure," Andrew said curiously.

"Do you recall that secret I told you about quite some years ago for the Pact?" Albus asked quietly. Andrew nodded. "Good! Now…this is a situation where timing is everything. A half an hour after lunch starts, I need you to go to your mother's office and tell her the secret."

"Tell her?" Andrew said in surprise and Albus nodded with a wink.

"Half an hour. And not a moment before."

"All right," Andrew said.

"Thank you," Albus said with an enigmatic smile before he turned to walk back to his office. Andrew couldn't help but stare after him. Even after all these years, he really didn't know what the old wizard was up to.

Albus Dumbledore met Severus at the door instead of waving them open, his warm smile so suspicious that Severus couldn't help but be a little suspicious.

"Come, Severus, sit down, relax," Albus insisted, pulling his candy dish out of a drawer. "Care for a sherbet?"

"Thank you, no," Severus said.

"I believe there's licorice in there as well… in fact it takes up most of the bottom," Albus chuckled, and Severus sighed, taking a piece but merely holding it. "I hear that your papers, both the one on the Flux Effect and the new one on Time Paradoxes, A Theory… of course," he said with a wink, knowing that one was more than a theory, "met with quite a bit of acclaim."

"Yes, however, I question how much of that was actually do to the merits of the material," Severus said evenly. "I suspect it has more to do with this rather annoying public spotlight I've been in the last few months."

"Well, that's also possible," Albus agreed with a smile. "And it's wise to remember that public support does tend to come an go, although I seriously doubt, Severus, that anyone is going to be forgetting about this one for a great many years."

"To be perfectly honest, I wasn't really concerned about it."

"I know you weren't, Severus. But I must say, there have been times recently I have been worried about your reputation…of course, all of that is over now," he said contentedly. Severus squinted at him.

"Why would you be?" Severus asked.

"Yes, I suppose I am getting ahead of myself. Severus, do you recall a few months ago when this business with Ciardoth was over with and you apologized to me for avoiding me?" Albus said. Severus nodded. "Yes, well, I think now it's time that I apologize for all the times I have avoided you over the last few years…and not only that, but everything I intentionally avoided sticking my nose into because yours was already there. You…came to rely on me too much over the years, Severus, and I know much of that is due to our history together when you were growing up, but it was something I knew I wouldn't be able to continue for very long. You see, Severus," he said, folding his fingers together, "this happens to be my last year at Hogwarts."

"What?" Severus said in alarm. "You can't be serious!"

"Quite serious, Severus," Albus said evenly.

"Just like that? Without any warning at all? Two days before we go home and you are just now deciding to quit?"

"Retire, Severus, hardly quit," Albus protested. "It's time the school moved on with someone new, and it's not as if it can't get along without me."

"Of course it can't!"

"Of course it can, Severus," Albus said firmly. "The school survived ten entire months without me a few years, back…well, perhaps not as well as I would have liked, but it did. And from what I understand it survived very well while I was laid up in a hospital bed…"

"That was hardly for very long…"

"That depends on how you look at it, Severus. Long as in time, perhaps not, but it was also a very crucial time for the school and many crucial decisions had to be made, and they were done without me," Albus said. "You know, I love this school, Severus, I always have and always will. And because of that, I must do what is best for the school whether it includes me in it or not. From what you've told me, you have been in such positions yourself from time to time." Severus nodded slowly. "Well, there you are," Albus said, glancing at the clock. "And although I know I have been keeping it a secret from all of you, you may be interested to know that the board has known about this for quite some time, and has been looking into the possibility of a rep…."

"Quite some time? How long is quite some time?"

"Well over a year, actually," Albus admitted.

"And you are just now getting around to telling me?" Severus stood, obviously hurt.

"Severus, you have been quite busy lately. And…as you have admitted before…you had been avoiding me…"

"You could have told me months before that!"

"I suppose I could have," Albus agreed. "But I didn't think it was in your best interests to know. In fact, it's worked out a great deal better that you didn't know."

"How can you possibly believe that?" Severus said.

But at that moment they were abruptly interrupted.

For just a few short minutes before, Andrew Snape had knocked on Jennifer's door to find her wistfully looking up at the painting of Severus instead of marking finals as she was supposed to be.

"What is it Andrew? I'm really rather busy," Jennifer said when he peeked in.

"I have something to tell you is all," Andrew said. "And I'm afraid it can't wait. You see, Professor Dumbledore… well, I've been keeping this secret for him, and he gave me permission to tell you," Andrew explained. "Not that I've ever quite understood why it was a secret, really, but it seemed like he wanted you know about it, all the same.

"All right Andrew," Jennifer chuckled, putting her quill down in resignation. "What is it?"

"Just his age," Andrew shrugged. "He's seven hundred and eighty-six."

Jennifer stared at him a moment. Then all the sudden the color drained out of her face, followed by her eyes widening and a hand on her forehead.

"Goodness gracious! Do you know what that means?" Jennifer said, getting up.

"Not really," Andrew said, watching her strange reaction curiously. Immediately she excused herself and ran out of the room, dashing up the front stairs. Cooperatively they didn't change as she took them by twos up to the fifteenth floor and burst into the office where Severus was standing looking particularly out of sorts.

Severus turned with surprise when he saw her enter and she became scouring the room with a strangely excited look on her face.

"Jennifer, what are you doing?" Severus said.

"It's here! Severus, it's been here the whole time! I can't believe it! I can't believe we didn't see it before!" Jennifer said excitedly, while Albus merely smiled at her. It was then that her eyes fell upon the smoky glass candy dish and approached the desk. Nervously she looked up at Albus and he nodded. So she gingerly picked up the dish, dumping its contents out before sitting in the chair, cradling it in her hands.

"Jennifer? Dare I ask?" Severus said, gazing at her puzzledly.

"Severus, do you realize how many times this candy dish has saved my life?" Jennifer laughed incredulously. "How many times it's saved you? How many times we've looked at it without a single clue he still had it? Glen Witolf… it was him, wasn't it?"

"Yes, yes it was," Albus said quietly.

"I had long suspected it was him," Jennifer admitted, but shook her head. "But I never expected to be holding this."

"Jennifer, I don't know what's going on here, but I admit I am completely in the dark about what you are talking about," Severus said.

"I know," Jennifer said, giggling. "I suspect then I get to unravel a mystery for you for a change… a mystery I swear I have been trying to figure out for simply years without knowing it!"

"Fine. Then enlighten me," he said testily, surprised when she placed it in his hands.

"My dear husband," she said with an amused smile. "I want you to now realize exactly what you are holding in your hands, for you are holding none other than the Philosopher's Stone itself." Severus nearly dropped it.

"Impossible," Severus said, but even as he said it darted an unsure look towards Albus who merely smiled wider.

"No, no, no, think about it, Severus!" Jennifer insisted. "Don't you remember when the whole diamond incident came about and Dumbledore changed it to a ring? He and Minerva had been doing extensive experiments on how to change stones into different shapes for simply ages, and why? To try to hide the stone! And they succeeded! Dumbledore never destroyed the Stone; he merely put it in a form that Voldemort wouldn't guess in a million years! I think he might have told Nicholas it was destroyed," Jennifer said, and Albus somberly nodded, "but I do think for the most part he stopped taking the Elixir himself after that so everyone wouldn't get too suspicious, but he has given it to others in an emergency."

"That I knew," Severus said, and then turned to Dumbledore, gingerly putting the dish back down. "He told me he had a limited storage of it, as a matter of fact, and I had just assumed he was just using that."

"You knew he had used it on me?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes, although he asked me to keep it quiet so no one would suspect that he had a stash. I see now he was protecting more than that," Severus scowled.

"He was probably also a bit afraid I would figure it out," Jennifer grinned.

"Perhaps a bit," Dumbledore smiled softly. "Of course, you must realize, Jennifer, that although the Elixir does slow physical aging down dramatically, it doesn't stop it completely. Oh, you may age a day for every few months or so, but you will still age eventually, which is why Nicholas, who was already getting on when we discovered it, became as wizened as he did."

"Glen Witolf," Severus nodded. "Yes, that would make sense, now that I think about it."

"Yes, well, I rather like the way I am now, so I have decided once I'm finished here, that I will take up Merlin's offer to go retire with him in the Otherworld… perhaps even peek in every now and again to see how things are going with the next Headmaster to take over this place…whom, of course, will also inherit the Stone and the recipe since a Headmaster, after all, has enough to worry about without the business of aging. Goals are so very long term with a school like this, it really does take a good hundred years or so to really make the job feel like it's yours. Every Headmaster is a hard act to follow, you know," Albus said with amusement. "But I think…I think I feel quite good about leaving now, and I am certain that the new Headmaster, and his wife, for that matter, will make some use out of this candy dish," he said with a mischievous twinkle while Jennifer had a hard time keeping her jaw from dropping. "Although personally, I'm really not a licorice fan myself," he said, filling the dish completely up with them and sticking the sherbets in his pockets.

Severus decided that perhaps now would be a good time to sit back down.

"It's going to be rough for you these next three years, Severus, with three of your children in school. I'm afraid until they are out, your time will be very limited, but I just really don't think I could have waited," Albus said gently, Severus still looking quite stunned, but Jennifer was nodding. "However, you will have Hermione to help you…she's known about this for some time too…in fact, she was helping me advise the board and find out what sort of things they might be looking for in your file, recent papers, contributions, and the like."

"So that's why you made me deal with the board so much this year, and all that business with the research papers?" Severus stared at him.

"Guilty," Albus smiled. "Very guilty. Caprica Dusthorn will be helping you too…she's been at my side all year absorbing as much information I could give her about little details I may have missed putting in my journal, and she'll teach you some of the finer points of the paintings in here as well," he added, winking at Caprica, who winked back. "And of course, there's the business of finding a new Defense teacher…"

"Wait, I cannot teach?" Severus said, his stunned expression turning to one of alarm. "I don't want to stop teaching."

"Goodness, Severus, you really don't think I teach?" Albus chuckled at him. "If you agree to take this position, Severus, you'll be doing more teaching than ever…and more important, greater teaching than you have before. The entire direction of what will be taught in the whole school will also be in your grasp… well, with a little wheeling and dealing of the board, which I spent the year teaching you how to do. Please don't let the idea of not having regular class dissuade you from this. I need you, Severus, and more important, the school needs you," Albus said gently, Severus falling into stunned silence again. "I expect you'll have the sense to keep the Transfiguration teachers open to one year applicants only, because I have this rather strange suspicion that in two or three years from now, there's going to be a new teacher that I think would be an absolute smash in the subject. And, of course, you are going to have to find a very solid person to sit at your left, Severus; for as invaluable as Hermione will be to you keeping you from having to deal with trivial paperwork and keeping nosy and whiny parents from interrupting your work night and day, you are also going to need a good security officer. And if I were you, I'd look for someone you would never have to doubt their loyalty, who's not afraid to argue a point, who you trust with your life, and more importantly, who you would trust with this school in your absence."

"Then there's hardly any question who that should be, is there?" Severus said expressionlessly gazing at his wife.

"I didn't think there would be," Albus smiled. "Oh, and one more thing, Severus, or should I say, Headmaster Snape," he added mischievously. "About those robes of yours…"

Green and silver decorated the halls once more during the End of the Year Feast as everyone gathered to sit down. There was a strange excitement in the air…some of it caused by the idea of the summer ahead…some of it about the thought of graduating…some of it because Alex had taken the liberty to pass out wedding invitations early, despite her mother frowning at her. And some of the excitement might have been because of spreading rumors that the faculty of Hogwarts had been having an unusual amount of closed-door meetings for that time of year. Albus didn't move to take his normal seat. Instead he stood in front of them on the dais, while behind him the rest of the teachers filed in, all in their best robes.

"Where's your father at?" Heph whispered to Aurelius, who shrugged in response as Dumbledore called them to order.

"Well!" Albus said, allowing himself a moment to just take a breath. "Did I, or did I not say this was going to be an exciting and memorable year?" he chuckled, several of the students chuckling as well. "I have a few announcements to make…some good, some sad, and some very important. But first thing is first, as they say. As you know, most Prefect positions as well as Head Boy and Head Girl are done by Owl Post over the summer. But due to very special circumstances that I cannot very well ignore, and because of my desire to see that two students are not passed over for positions that they are without question due, I am announcing two of those this evening. The rest, I'm sorry, will just have to wait the traditional way, but in a moment you shall understand why I am doing it now. For the position of Gryffindor Prefect…soon to be Sixth Year, Andrew Snape." A huge applause went up from the Gryffindor table, and an enthusiastic applause by most of the girls in his year in all the houses. "For the Position of Head Boy, and from what I understand from both faculty and students alike, very well deserved… Aurelius Snape!" A standing ovation went up at the Slytherin table, as several others from each of the other tables, not in the least being his siblings and cousins. At the head table, Jennifer was clapping almost enthusiastically enough for two, her face beaming with pride.

"And now for my next announcement, I must tell you that those last two announcements are the last two official ones I shall make for this school. As of today, I am retiring from the position." A roar of surprise and plenty of gasps went up among the students, and even a number of protests, although no one among the staff looked fazed by the announcement. Finally, Albus put up a hand. "This is a much different school than the one I had when I first took over as Headmaster. In many ways, I would like to believe I am leaving a much better school. But times do change, and I feel it necessary to make way for those changes. And I will tell you honestly that twenty years ago I would have never dreamed to be announcing the person I shall announce for you today. Oh, don't mistake me, I had faith in him…but it actually took more faith than any one man could handle to get him this far," he said, looking over his glasses at the teachers to the left of him. They all grinned back at him. "But now, I can say with all honesty that I can think of none better, none more capable, and none more trustworthy to follow me, and no one else, I think, would make me feel as deeply honored to be announcing…might I introduce to you, your new Headmaster… Severus Snape!"

As the doors opened and Severus walked in wearing his black brocade, the students quickly recovered from shock and burst into a standing ovation of support. Hugs were passed around among his children and their friends, while Jennifer, obviously elated, couldn't control a few tears getting away as she slid over to the seat next to the Headmaster's chair and Dumbledore humbly took her old chair.

"I won't bore you with a long speech. I'm sure that can wait for those of you continuing on next year," Severus said, getting several receptive grins and even a 'thumbs up' from Zack. "I know that for many of you this is an end to a long journey…a completion of goals, as it were. It is for me as well. But all ends beget new beginnings…that is the way of our universe, and something that should be respected instead of cursed, as we all, as humans, tend to do sometimes. So, I hope you the best in your new endeavors, as I hope…for your sake…that I am successful in mine," he added in a low voice, earning chuckles throughout. "Have a good summer," he concluded, and another warm applause as he sat down in the big chair, staring at his plate as if half afraid of touching it.

"So Hermione," Danny said with a mischievous grin. "Ever imagine Snape getting a standing ovation for anything when you were in school?"

"Oh, hell no," Hermione said, many of the staff laughing outright at that.

"This is really all Jennifer's fault, you know," Severus said, gazing at his wife who smiled at him.

"Oh, yes," Albus said. "I seriously doubt you'll find a single person on staff that would disagree."

"Well I won't," Hermione said.

"Not me," Danny grinned.

"Ex-students," Severus sighed.

"I would get used to it if I were you, Professor," Dumbledore warned him with a smile. "Soon enough they probably all will be. And some may even stop remembering you pre-Jennifer."

"We should denote that," Hermione decided. "What do you think, P.J. and A.J?"

"Works for me," Danny teased. Severus sighed, while Jennifer hid a giggle.

"Don't worry, Severus. In a few hundred years, no one will remember it," Albus said.

"It sounds like I have a long road ahead of me," Severus decided.

"Yes, and don't forget about that Weasley invasion next year, Severus," Hermione said.

"Albus?" Severus said pleadingly.

"Sorry, Severus, no take-backs," Albus said, humming happily as he turned his attention to dinner.

Everybody who was anybody in the magic world, but most especially from Britain and the U.S., seemed to show up at the wedding of Severus Snape's oldest daughter…whether they were invited or not.

Fortunately, Minister Craw had been suspecting something like that would happen and had prearranged crowd control with the help of his new summer assistant, Aurelius Snape, who was currently watching the punch bowl to make sure no one tried to tamper with it.

And although Alex was getting a good fair share of the crowd, it was Severus Snape who was the very reluctant center of attention, despite the fact there were quite a number of people he wanted to see as well, including Arthur and Molly Weasley, who had helped raise the four, as well as Carol and Remus Lupin and their little girl. Harry was there of course, but he was too busy pulling Cedric away from where he was playing with Mary Malfoy to actually pay attention.

But Severus did manage to get away from the crowd long enough to slip over to where Sirius and Anna were standing, both stopping to bark at Zoë and Zack who were playing tag with Lindsay, who was most likely to have her dress ripped before the day was over. When Severus came over, Sirius shook his head with a smile before shaking his hand.

"I don't think I'm going to get used to it, Severus…Headmaster Snape…it just sounds so…so…wrong. Can I call you Headmaster Snivellus?" Sirius asked, getting socked in the arm by his wife.

"Severus will do, thank you," Severus said crisply, glancing around at the crowd. Sirius simply nodded.

"By the way, that night at Azkaban…I still plan to kill you for it…but thanks, nonetheless," Sirius said in a low voice. "Don't do it again."

"Well, from what I hear, I won't need to," Severus said, glancing at Anna, who smiled. "Welcome back to the real world, Sirius."

"You expect me to believe you would be a Headmaster in the real world?" Sirius said.

"Would you have dreamed of it?" Severus asked adroitly. Sirius thought about it.

"Good point," Sirius said.

"Severus!" Jennifer called out, and Severus excused himself to go over where Alex and Jennifer were standing away from the crowd. "Severus, your daughter has something to ask you about," Jennifer said with a strange grin.

"Oh?"

"Yes, it's about…well, after we get back, you know, from our honeymoon, Muggle camping," Alex said carefully. "You know how we've been talking about me working so he can go to school, and all of that?"

"Yes," Severus said suspiciously.

"Well. Ah. Well, I don't suppose you've ever seen what the prices are a month on a flat in London these days are?" Alex said. Severus turned to look at his wife.

"Oh, I'm leaving this one up to you," Jennifer said, washing her hands of it.

"Fine, you can use your grandfather's old suite until you both get on your feet," Severus sighed.

"Thanks! I knew you'd cave…I mean, thanks, appreciate it," Alex said, hurrying back in side. Severus looked back at Jennifer, who smiled.

"Sounds like we don't have to worry about the children breaking up quite yet after all," she grinned.

"Let's just hope they don't all stay," Severus said as they walked back towards the seats. Corey and Rose called out to them then, Jennifer immediately going over to take Natalie in her arms to babble spell words at her. Ashley walked up behind them, chuckling at Jennifer before hugging Rose and Corey.

"Really like being a grandmother?" Corey asked.

"She's an angel, a perfect angel," Jennifer told them, cooing at her.

"Well, that's good, because we're having another," Corey said with a lopsided grin.

"That was fast," Severus said, after Jennifer was done squealing and giving Rose a one-armed hug.

"Yeah, we're thinking about going your route and having one a year," Corey grinned. "But we're thinking about going for five."

"Sounds like we're going to be having a Willowby invasion in about twelve years, Severus," Jennifer laughed.

"And one Bailey," Ashley put in. All four of them suddenly stopped in their tracks and stared at her. "I'm pregnant too."

Rose gave her mother such a stare that Corey decided to grab the baby from Jennifer and take a few healthy steps back.

"How, exactly, are you pregnant?" Rose asked starkly.

"Well, considering you have one of your own and one on the way, I believe you know how…"

"Whose baby is it?"

"Mine, Rose."

"I mean who is the Father?"

"Oh, that's not really important, dear," Ashley said so flippantly that they gaped at her. "He was just a…contributing factor, as he calls it, and I plan on raising the baby alone. In fact, I've also put an investment down an a shop of my own in Hogsmeade."

"A contributing factor? Raise the baby alone?" Rose repeated. But Severus suddenly began to get extremely suspicious.

"Yes, Rose. I wanted a baby, and he agreed to help me… well, provided I named you as one of the godparents, Severus," Ashley said shyly.

"Oh, no," Severus said, groaning audibly. Jennifer looked at him questionably. "He's doing it again."

Jennifer, Severus, Aurelius, Andrew, and Alicia walked along the hills of Salisbury, conservatively dressed just in case as they were spotted as they walked up to Stonehenge just before noon during the Summer Solstice.

"Well, here we are," Jennifer said as the children looked around curiously.

"And here we are!" Merlin said, as he and Albus appeared coming up the other side. "I hope you don't mind, Severus, but I was tying up some loopholes in the portal system…tinkering out some of the kinks, you know, so you won't have any more problems and all of that. Oh, and this is for you," he said, bringing out a long leather wrapped parcel. Severus carefully unrolled it to find the carved wand that Toby had been working on for so long. "I thought you might like a new one, since technically your other one shouldn't exist," he winked. "But being a Headmaster now, you were about due for a new wand anyway. I think you'll find it quite suited to your talents…and don't worry, it won't come alive or anything. I think."

"Thank you," Severus said curtly but held the wand reverently nonetheless. "Now, there's something I want to ask you. About Ashley…"

"Now, Severus, that's really not any of your business is it?" Merlin interrupted. "If you must know, I like a proper link to this world every now and again to make sure I can keep an eye on things here, memories, you know. And Ashley was not only willing, she was…well…I won't say around the children," he said in a lowered voice. Jennifer looked surprised, while Andrew looked openly disappointed. "Anyhow, do be a good sport about it and keep an eye on him. He's bound to have one extraordinary power or another."

"Lovely," Severus said.

"And you, keep up the good work," Merlin smiled, patting Severus arm. "And you, my dear, let me know if you're ever free," he said to Jennifer with a wink. Jennifer merely smiled and shook her head at him. He turned then to Albus and smiled. Albus had been saying a few quick words to the three children there, spending a little longer with Alicia before coming over to Jennifer and Severus.

"Well! I suppose everything really is in your hands now, Severus, Jennifer. I may stop by now and again for tea, if you'll have me," Albus said.

"I really don't know what we would have done without your support, Albus, I really don't," Jennifer said, hugging him.

"There, there, it's all right, Jennifer. Don't forget what your husband said…an end of one thing is just a beginning for something else. I will come visit."

"I wouldn't be here at all, were it not for you," Severus said solemnly.

"Nor would I be here had it not been for you, believe it or not," Albus smiled at him.

"We need to be going soon, Albus," Merlin said somberly. "It's almost noon."

"But we cannot leave yet! I was waiting to say goodbye to Minerva!" Albus protested.

"Are you that willing to say goodbye to me?" Minerva said, coming out behind a monolith with a suitcase in hand. Merlin smiled enigmatically at her.

"Why, no, but I wouldn't have gone without…whatever are you doing with that suitcase?" Albus said, eyes wide.

"It was a part of a package deal I bought from Toby's, Albus. 'One genuine holiday with Albus Dumbledore to Unknown Ports," Minerva said with a smile. "No school to stand in the way now, is there?"

"But what about your shop?"

"I sold it to Ashley Bailey, actually," Minerva said. Severus squinted at Merlin suspiciously, but he merely smiled at them. "We're much too old for goodbyes, Albus, please don't make me hear it."

"Oh! Well, since you put it that way…" Albus said.

"And don't forget the glasses," Merlin pointed out.

"Oh, oh yes," Albus said, taking them off. "Here, Severus, for you. They are not only good reading glasses, but they see through all kinds of invisibility. Use them well."

"So that's how he did it," Andrew and Jennifer murmured at the same time. Jennifer suddenly blushed bright red, but Albus merely winked.

"Just remember when to look the other way, Severus. And farewell, dear friends," Albus smiled, offering Minerva an arm as they went through the portal that had appeared when the sun reached its highest point.

"Take care, dear Snapes, and behave. One never knows when I'll return," Merlin added mischievously before stepping in the portal.

"So now what?" Andrew said after the portal collapsed.

"Now, we live happily ever after," Severus said in Jennifer's ear, the other three shrugging for they hadn't quite heard what he said. But Jennifer had, and with a glowing overjoyed smile she followed him towards their future…one present at a time.

End of Series Three.

Readers Note: Between novel 14 and 15 are some short stories on this site that are done in a slightly different and abbreviated style than I normally do, and they are known as the Headmaster Snape mystery series...not neccessarily my best style of work, really, but it does have some important character components to them, not the least of which the introduction of Lucky, whom I hope you'll enjoy as much as I do. The order goes: Headmaster Snape and the Silenced Siren, Avatar, and Scale of a Dragon for those interested. In either case, thanks for coming with me this far, and I hope you enjoyed it. JCWriter