Epilogue

Cast your eyes on the ocean

Cast your soul to the sea

When that dark night seems endless

Please remember me.

Rowena was lying on the top of the Astronomy Tower, humming to herself when Severus found her. She had only brought one candle out, casting weird shadows over the floor. Leaning heavy on the side of the wall, he made his way wearily across the classroom.

"Still stiff?" she asked, craning her neck around.

He sneered. "I wouldn't be if you had stayed in the castle proper."

"It's quiet up here. I needed to think." She watched as he gingerly sat down beside her. Seeing his somber mood, she quipped, "And I like to be out of the doom and gloom of the dungeons."

He snorted softly to himself, but made no comment. After a time where both stared out, Rowena at the mirage of stars above and Severus at the darkening forest, she gently placed one hand on his arm, inviting him to break the silence.

"Why?"

She looked at him for a moment, then slowly sat up cross-legged in front of him. "It had to be done, Severus."

He looked momentarily startled at the use of his full name, enough that she could plow ahead without break. "I won't have the Snapes be thought of as easy marks, of greatness lost to time. We have worked too hard for them to pick us off like cattle left to graze in the high pastures." She turned her face away. "I don't want to see you knocked off, either, big brother," she said quietly.

He turned to follow her gaze. "I thought I was supposed to be the one to protect you," he said quietly, voice tired.

She smiled a bit. "Oh, but you do."

He snorted and stood, albeit slowly. "From what? Rabid puffskeins?" He paused, back turned with his hand on the railing back down the stairs. "Out of morbid curiosity," he asked, "how did you kill him?"

She smiled slightly, head tilted to one side. "I would have thought that Longbottom would have burned any curiosity out of you by now." She lay back down, staring upwards once again. "I put the Lung Dissolver potion mixed with arsenic into a lip-gloss. Gave him a thank you kiss for a dance. Wiped it off on a towel in the powder room with six alibis watching. Came out with them when Dailev had the nerve to make a scene."

He nodded. Opening the door to the stairs, he paused again for a second.

"Dithering is not a Slytherin trait, brother," she teased as she blew out the candle and joined him. "Definitely a Gryffindor habit."

Severus whirled around on the top step and nearly collapsed down the stairwell. Rowena caught him and held on until he was steady on his feet again.

"I was think of wandering over to Wales this summer. See a few sights." She steadfastly ignored his shallow breathing or the hand that went to the still tender ribs. "Maybe even by Easter, if you're up to taking your classes again. You know, get away from it all."

He nodded a little again. "That would be the safest path. I … I might join you in July."

Rowena nodded and the two descended into the castle proper.

Author's Final Notes:

Please feel free to leave any comments (good or bad) in a review, even if it is just 'Hi, read it, bye'. I'd like to know how many people are reading it through.

A giant "THANK YOU" here for all the people, both on and on the Knight Bus over on for helping with this story. You all helped either pointing out where I went wrong, what needed to be explained, or shot down ideas that should never have seen the light of day.

A is for Amy

Assyria

Barb

Brick

Bufo viridis

Compass rose

Cosmic Black

Darkened Soul

Door

Duj

Emelie

Left hand of Destiny

Fishi

Ithilia

JE aka Yessina

Kamakazi Lentil

Lambrys

Noctu

NorthernComfort

Polaris

Pure Venom

Sergeant Majorette

Severinus

Silimay

Silverthreads

Siva

Thirteen Ravena

Tpetey

Trista

Villette1

Wiltana

Special thanks to Master Yoda, Artoo, and work. Yoda for the quotes, Artoo (my mom) for listening to the rambles and work for ignoring all the little notes tacked all over my cubicle.

Any questions can be sent to my most popular email slytherin4me yahoo . com (take out the spaces): will be answered promptly, or just wait for me in Diagon Alley, I'll be near the ice-cream vendor during the day, and playing in Knockturn Alley at night.

Ladyravena