Chapter 50: Finis amoris ut duo unum fiant*
18 June 1978
The Leaky Cauldron
The Leaky Cauldron has never looked so alive. Fresh off the Hogwarts Express, the recent graduates had popped off to their respective homes and families. There were hugs and kisses, small dinners and parties, but they had all scattered to the wind. For a moment, it felt as if none of it had happened – the tests, the castle, the friends. But then, one by one, they started to appear at that dirty little pub on a side street in London that you wouldn't have noticed unless you knew where to look.
Side by side, the children of Hogwarts filled the tables in the Leaky Cauldron. Out of their uniforms it was impossible to distinguish houses. They were just a collected, a happy and free collective.
The Marauders and Hermione found themselves amongst the lucky few with a booth to themselves. Peter was kneeling up on the bench waving wildly to communicate with Sirius up at the bar. Sirius had immediately volunteered to get them all drinks, jumping at the first chance to put some space between himself and Hermione.
The two had not spoken since the night before. Hermione had shaken her head but with the moon two days away, she needed to use all her energy on attempting to be social.
Remus was slumped beside her looking around the room with a mixture of jealousy and exhaustion. Hermione had tried to start up a conversation with him, but the werewolf was intent on staring at Sirius' back as if it would make his drink come any faster. Shaking her head again, Hermione then looked across the table at James, whose eyes tracked Lily as she flitted through the crowd.
Hermione followed his gaze to see the witch in question, half-hidden in shadows, speaking with Severus Snape. She looked at James.
"It's fine," he shrugged. "She's been thinking about this for a while. She's apologizing."
"For what?" Hermione was stunned.
"Right, you don't know. You know sometimes I forget that we met you just nine months ago. Feels like you've been here ages." He smiled. "Anyway, Sniv-Snape and Lily used to be friends."
"What?"
"Yeah, I know. Hard to imagine now 'cause he's all darkness and she's all light. But it kind of made sense back then. Snape's always been an odd kid and Lily's muggleborn. They grew up in the same area and as the only magical kids, it makes sense that they became friends. Anyway, a bunch of shit happened, but that's a long story—"
"Short version?"
"He called her a, uh, a mudblood. He apologized, but the damage was done."
"So, now she's apologizing?"
"Yeah," James looked over at Lily again. "She's saying she's sorry for throwing away years of friendship and for not giving him another chance. She wants to see if they can rebuild their friendship."
"And you're okay with that?"
"Do I trust the guy? No. But with his apprenticeship, he'll be out of the picture for a while. And I trust Lily. I'm not – I'm not as jealous as I used to be about Snape. I love Lily with everything I am and I know she feels the same about me…"
Hermione watched him as his words trailed off and his face grew wistful. She sighed.
"That's amazing, James." At her words, he returned back to her and grinned, his goofy persona back.
"Don't worry, Pup, you'll have this too. Just not now. You're not allowed to date until you're forty."
"Whatever you say, James." Hermione snorted but her smile never fell.
"You know I love you, right?"
They were standing under the stairs off in their own little world watching their friends and classmates mingle.
"Yeah, I know." Her smile was contagious.
"Good, just making sure." He leaned back and pulled her in front of him, putting his arms around her. They stood there for a moment just basking in the warmth of their embrace.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"You know I love you, too, right?" She felt him smile into her hair as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
It wasn't the first time they had said it and it certainly wouldn't be the last, but something about this time, this moment, felt special to her. She closed her eyes, blocked out the world and focused on him, his scent, his warmth, his strength. She kept her eyes closed as he bent his head to whisper in her ear.
She couldn't see his face but she could almost taste the hope brimming in his eyes. She turned in his arms, looked at him and nodded. He took her face in his hands and kissed her.
This is it, she thought as she clung to him. This is what people write about, sing about, dream about. This is it.
Something frightening stirred in her as he broke the kiss and stared into the depths of her green eyes. She would love this man forever, and nothing, not even death, would ever keep them apart.
The air in the Leaky Cauldron shifted with the weight of a whisper, a promise, and a kiss.
A/N: *It is the goal of love that two shall become one.