Epilogue

Severus Snape did not want to be there. He did not want to sip champagne among a bunch of ridiculously happy, on the way to getting stupid drunk, Gryffindors in a bloody summer wedding. (He conveniently overlooked that the other half of the wedding party were, a little less ridiculously happy but similarly on the way to getting stupid drunk, Slytherins.) He did not want to be there. Period. And as soon as the ridiculous wedding invitation arrived on his doorstep, he promptly RSVPed by tearing the offending paper in pieces and throwing them into the fireplace. Did they think that just because he was now an awarded war hero, he will just magically turn into a sappy Hufflepuff? And that was to be the end of it.

Luna Lovegood obviously didn't get the message as she unexpectedly turned up on his doorstep one fine day. He tried with unfriendly scowling (which she seemed immune to even as a schoolgirl) but couldn't very well close the door into her face. Not when she held a baby in her arms. She swept past him as he begrudgingly invited her in. He half expected her best friend to turn up out of the blue and barge in after Lovegood. But the radiant mother and her child visited him alone and instead of counting his blessings, the Professor took it as a sign of foreboding. He was right as Luna took the offered tea, dumped the child in the bewildered Snape's lap, effectively trapping him onto the sofa and proceeded to inform, he was expected to not only be present at her upcoming wedding but also enjoy himself there.

He tried protesting, reasoning with her (Reasoning with Luna Lovegood? Pft.), appealing to her soft side and being downright rude to her (with baby in his lap, it was kind of hindered) but she did not move an inch.

"Miss Lovegood, nobody wants to see my face at such a happy occasion. Where is Mr Zabini? Why don't we discuss this with him?"

That was his last desperate attempt, and he was beginning to suspect, he might have to show his face at that wedding after all. If Blaise were there, he might have a chance of getting out of it, but he suspected that was just the reason, the groom-to-be, was not there.

"There is nothing to discuss. Blaise agrees with me. And this is my wedding and I want to see your face there," she told him in her calm melodic voice. "Once upon a time, on a day I wanted nothing but to lie down and die, yours was the face of salvation."

Her big blue eyes bore into him. He knew instantly of which day she spoke and believed wholeheartedly, that she had whished for death. He said nothing but he was amazed, will never cease to be amazed, at her eventual recovery. For he did not believe she will ever again be more than a shell of herself again. And in front of him sat the breathing living proof of incredible strength.

"It is my happy occasion and I want you there."

What was poor Professor Snape to say when she put it like that and refused to take back the child, that was babbling (incomprehensively to Snape) and pulling (none too gently) at his hair with his tiny slobbery hands.

"Fine."

As Luna Lovegood finally took back her baby and stood up to leave, his brain kicked into gear and he figured, that he could still simply just not show up. It is not as if the bride-to-be, will chase him around Spinner's End on her wedding day.

"Oh, and just in case you forgot to show up," Luna grinned but her eyes shone wickedly, "my maid of honour, you should remember her, Ginny Weasley, will come fetch you. And I assure you her methods of persuasion, will not include a child. Now say bye-bye to Professor Snape, Matteo. Bye-bye."

The child pointed at him, waving enthusiastically, much like his mother, and then they both disappeared from his doorstep.

Thus, Severus Snape found himself as one of the earliest, albeit not the most cheerful, guests at the Zabini-Lovegood wedding. He did not doubt for a second, that Ginny Weasley would indeed appear in Spinner's End to drag him to this wedding if he failed to show up. Why he didn't sit through the official part, stoically congratulated the newlyweds, and simply left, Severus Snape could not explain even to himself.

It was still late afternoon, but the party was already in full swing. The official part was over, lunch was eaten, women started putting on their more comfortable shoes instead of the death traps they wore before and men, including the groom and best men, had shed their bowties, jackets and robes, the alcohol was flowing and the guests were starting to take over the dance floor.

As soon as Narcissa Malfoy, already three sheets to the wind, started hinting towards the dance floor, he made himself scarce, leaving Lupin to deal with the woman. He moved towards the periphery of the large tent, avoiding the crowds. He looked for the newlyweds to say his goodbyes only to find them in the midst of the dance floor. They, along with the best man, Draco Malfoy, were doing some kind of weird dance, laughing their heads off, clearly more than slightly intoxicated. Snape rolled his eyes at his Slytherins. Two of the best he ever taught and now look at them. His smirk was almost fond, though. He was grateful they made it through. And mostly intact. He has no illusions as to who he has to thank. The girl in a wedding dress with earrings of Butterbeer caps and the fiery redhead, standing at the edge of the dance floor.

Ginny Weasley was a vision as she stood there, her red hair flowing, a long green dress complementing her complexion and a black-haired baby sitting at her hip. From afar she was a bittersweet memory for Severus Snape. His breath hitched at the dazzling smile on her face as she pointed something to the child in her arms. He once knew another redhead that smiled that bright smile at a baby in her arms. The illusion didn't last but somehow, he still found himself standing next to Ginny. She gave him one of her beaming smiles.

"Professor," she greeted. "You came." He nodded curtly.

"I was persuaded." Her lips twitched but she didn't outright laugh into his face.

"Yes, Luna can be very determined, when she wants something." Her face became sombre. "Consequence of the war. Luna has decided she will determine her own life. Never again will it be determined for her."

"I didn't think you will make it," he said after a short silence. "Either of you. Not that day at the Grimmauld place."

Ginny looked somewhere towards the far end of the tent, but Severus knew she did not see any of it.

"Neither did we, Professor. For a long time, I didn't think I will ever know how to live again." She looked at the dance floor, where Draco and Blaise were doing a strange twist, and laughed suddenly. "But look at them now. Look at all of us. And look at this little guy." She bounced the laughing baby. "He's the new hope for all of us. Aren't you Matteo?"

She clearly loved that baby, but Snape wondered if she still carries that baby slipper in her pocket.

"You are his godmother, I presume?"

"Of course. Tell Professor Snape who is your godmother?" She tickled the child, who giggled, leaving off a string of gibberish, that Weasley seemed to understand but made no sense to Snape.

"Fey."

"A fairy godmother, that's right. We've been reading a lot of fairy tales," she explained. The baby then pointed to him.

"Nape."

"Yes. That's Professor Snape. He will be your Potions Professor at Hogwarts," she explained as if the child was actually old enough to understand. Severus Snape shuddered at the thought.

The Zabini-Lovegood child was sure to be a handful. And incredibly weird. Maybe he should retire. The child will be old enough to go to school in about ten years. So, that's ten years and then he should have about enough. He could retire.

Ginny Weasley seemed to read his mind.

"You aren't thinking about retiring, are you Professor?"

"Some day."

"Not soon, I hope. I would hate for the next generation to be deprived of your withering glare."

"It didn't seem to faze you much, Miss Weasley."

"I've seen worse than you. My children, though, will probably need a firm hand to rein them in." Her eyes sparkled madly, and Snape felt like she was hinting at something. His eyes travelled down her body discreetly, but his untrained eye noticed no changes. When he met her eyes though, she was still smiling.

"Are you…?"

She put a finger to her lips to show him that it is still a secret.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Now I really must retire. I don't think I can survive a Malfoy-Weasley child."

There was no way in hell he was about to teach another generation of Weasleys and Malfoys, much less a child that will be a mix of Weasley and Malfoy. That was to be a child in a league of its own. Probably in Slytherin too, just to torture him.

Ginny Weasley just laughed at this with her tinkling laughter and sparkling eyes, looking more beautiful than Severus had ever seen her.

"Oh Professor, I think you'll do just fine. You survived us, didn't you?"

"Barely. Does that mean another wedding?"

She shrugged unconcernedly.

"Some day."

"But not now. Before…?"

"No, not now." It seemed to Severus, that Ginny Weasley will not let anyone determine her life either. She has conformed for years. Not anymore.

"What will Narcissa say about this?" The woman, dragging a reluctant Remus Lupin to the dance floor, probably very little.

Ginny leaned towards Severus conspiratorially.

"Narcissa Malfoy will take one look at her grandchild and not care if the child was delivered to our doorstep by aliens much less if it was born out of wedlock."

Severus smirked at this. Weasley could read people well.

"Now, Professor, I have to go make sure Draco doesn't make too much of a fool of himself. Any time now, Ron is sure to come here complaining about how my boyfriend is bringing shame to the Weasley name because he can't hold his liquor at all. He has just stopped referring to Draco as him. It all went better than I thought," Ginny said laughing like the whole family drama amused her.

"Of course, Miss Weasley. Good luck. With everything. I am pleased to see you are well."

"Thank you, Professor." She seemed almost moved by his words. "I haven't forgotten that day at Grimmauld place either. I am still grateful for all you've done for me and Luna."

Severus gave her a nod, not knowing how else to answer to that and Ginny nodded back before taking a step towards the dance floor. Before she could disappear among the dancers, she turned back to him, her eyes dancing mischievously and her whole face laughing.

"I expect to see you at my wedding, Professor. Don't make me send Luna to come get you."

Snape grimaced and Ginny, a blue-eyed baby in her arms, glided away through the dance floor to join her friends in the weird dance.

Survivors, all of them.

Narcissa, blissful and oblivious, twirled past him on resigned Lupin's steady hand. It was time for Severus Snape to go home.

Author's note: Wow, I can't believe, that it has been three years since I ended this story. What propelled me to write an epilogue now? Who knows... It has been on my mind since the last chapter...