Chapter Fifteen: Resolution
The three Marauders bound Pettigrew up and began the task of moving him back to the castle. Sirius, on an impulse, allowed him to speak.
"Please, it isn't my fault! It was that greasy git, Snape, who put me up to this. It was his plan from the beginning – he put me under the Imperius curse and made me do his bidding. He's just trying to become the next Dark Lord! My friends, you believe me don't you? Don't tell me that you believe that Slytherin!"
"SHUT UP," roared Sirius. "You will not speak about Severus in that manner. I know damn well you were working on your own accord, you little rat. How could you betray our friendship like this? You always had to run to the biggest bully on the playground, didn't you? You weakling – all you cared about was someone watching your ass!"
"So, you mean, you all believe Severus over me," asked Peter, who was truly astonished. He thought his ploy might work.
"Yes," came the unanimous reply.
"Thank you," came the answer from over their left shoulders. They turned around to see Severus was struggling up the hill, Hermione in his arms. She was clearly in need of medical attention. Severus made it up to where the Gryffindors were standing.
"Remus, I'm going to need some help getting her back to the school? Do you think you can manage a tandem Apparation? We'll get the authorities and bring them to deal with the rat."
Sirius looked at Severus and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to deal with this on a more… personal level? He nearly got Hermione, and you, killed!"
Severus looked down at the pathetic excuse for a wizard and smiled grimly. "I think that Azkaban will be punishment enough. Imagine Pettigrew, very day you'll get to relive your worst memories again and again. They'll help you create your own personal hell, and you'll never be able to escape from it. Unless you're lucky of course, they may just let the Dementors have you."
With that announcement, Pettigrew paled visibly. Severus was no longer paying any attention to him – he was focusing all of his energy and ability to get Hermione back, with the help of Remus, to Hogwarts safely. He knew she had been exposed for too long a period of time to the Cruciatus Curse; he could only hope that permanent damage had not been done.
He nodded at Remus and together the Disapparated to get help.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Everyone was shocked at the quick response time from the Ministry of Magic. Pettigrew was sentenced within the week (there was a trial, but with the testimony of James, Remus, Severus, and Sirius the verdict was a forgone conclusion). He would be spending the rest of his life behind bars in Azkaban, but not for lack of trying. In order to save himself, he gave testimony that Severus' parents had been murdered under the orders of Lord Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy had performed the actual deed. Severus gave no indication that he had heard what Pettigrew had said, but Remus knew better and placed a supporting hand on Severus' shoulder. Pettigrew was sentenced anyways.
They had wanted to perform the Dementor's Kiss as a deterrent to those who would follow any other Dark Lord, but Severus, giving a much more polished version of the speech he had given Pettigrew in the field, convinced them otherwise. Lucius Malfoy received the same fate – he was hardly recognizable now; the medi-witches had been able to repair some of the damage that Severus' curse had caused, but his face still rivaled that of Mad-Eye Moody's. Severus secretly thought that karma had paid Malfoy a nasty visit.
In addition to sentencing Pettigrew, the Ministry was also quick to reward the four men with the Order of Merlin, First Class for their bravery in dispatching the Dark Lord Voldemort. They became instant celebrities overnight, Severus more so than the rest when the entire story got leaked to the wizarding public. He asked the wizarding post office to start burning his mail – only those truly close to him ever got through to him anymore.
He sat, night after night, keeping vigil over Hermione as she lay in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. She was steadily improving, and no lasting damage had been done, so it was only a matter of time before she would reawaken, and Severus was determined not to miss it, nor did he.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Hermione's eyes fluttered open to a most welcome sight. Severus was standing over her, readjusting her blankets when she reached up to grasp his arm. He looked down, smiling at her with tears in his eyes.
"Hey sleepyhead," he said to her as he kissed her gently. "You finally thought you'd rejoin the real world, huh?"
"Since when are you so nice, Severus? It's really not becoming of you," she teased back. It was at moment that Dumbledore decided to stick his head in.
"Glad to see you are finally awake, Miss Granger. I would like to have a word with you, privately, if you and Severus don't mind." Severus just bowed his head and made his way to a part of the room where he could hear what was happening, but appear as though he had left.
"Miss Granger, your mission, as you well know, is complete. There is only one chance for me to send you back to the time from whence you came. I want you to think about what you want, and let me know as soon as possible," Dumbledore stated.
"Headmaster, sir, my decision has already been made. I'm staying here, in this time, with all of my friends."
"Hermione, this decision isn't something you should take lightly. There are many things to consider – like your friends back home as well as your parents."
"With all due respect sir, my decision was made the moment I gave my heat away to Severus. I simply could not imagine life without him, and as you said long ago, I have no idea what I'll be going back to. I have no idea if I'm even the same person. Here I know that those I love and love me in return surround me. This is my final decision, Headmaster. My heart and head tell me I belong here."
Dumbledore smiled, "I had already figured as much, Hermione. I just wanted you to be absolutely certain this is what you wanted. As you know, I have some plans to make. Severus, my boy, you can come out of hiding now."
Severus, showing no visible signs of regret at being caught, stepped out of the shadows where he had concealed himself. He walked over to Hermione and looked upon her gravely.
"Are you sure you won't regret staying here with me?"
"Severus, how can you even ask that question? Of course, I won't! I love you more than anything else in this world, and I want to be with you as long as there's still a breath in my body!"
Severus kneeled down by her bedside. "In that case, Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"
Hermione found herself, for one of the first times in her life, unable to speak. Instead, she kissed him soundly as he took her hands in his. There would be more moments that were suitable in their shared life for words.