Author's Note: My epilogue is taking a little longer than first anticipated, but it's pretty much done; it just needs some editing. I will have it up some time next week, so that I can have this story finished before school starts.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or related characters. "Big damn heroes," is a line from the television series Firefly.
Eternally Yours
Chapter 25
Big Damn Heroes
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"Is it over then?" Severus asked, after the short silence that followed his report to Dumbledore. Hermione was still a little shook up over Bellatrix's gruesome death, and Severus had asked her to remain in Gryffindor tower while he reported to Dumbledore alone. She was probably relating the day's events to Potter and Weasley at that very moment.
Dumbledore let out a long sigh, and pinched the bridge of his crooked nose. "I wish I could tell you that it was Severus, but it's impossible to know for sure. It has come to my attention that Tom Riddle may have taken certain precautions against his imminent death by splitting his soul into a series of Horcruxes. This information, coupled as it is with the prophesy about Harry Potter, leads me to believe that we may yet again be forced to consider the possibility that Voldemort may not be dead."
"A series of Horcruxes? So this was all for nothing?" Severus' breath hitched in his throat. His head was spinning. All of the horrible things he'd done for the order, all his years as a spy, the lies, the double life, all of it was for naught. The Dark Lord was just coming back, again.
Albus seemed to know his mind, because he patted Severus gently on the hand, trying to reassure him.
Severus looked up at him, and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled maddeningly.
"Not at all, my dear Severus. Not, for nothing. You've bought us time."
"Time?" Severus asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "Time for what exactly, Albus? Time for him to remount his forces again? Time for the death eaters to scatter to the four winds? Time for Lucius to turn my godson into a dark wizard? Time for us to grow old and senile?"
Dumbledore shook his head sadly at Severus' cynicism. "Time for Harry to grow up, Severus. Time for him to be ready when the world has greatest need for him. Time for us to prepare him for what I hate myself for asking him to do. Maybe even time to get ahead of Voldemort this time around, so that no more innocents need die."
Severus frowned. "And, what about me? I think that maybe by betraying Voldemort I might just have blown my cover; you've lost your spy."
Dumbledore nodded, but he didn't seem upset by this. His eyes actually twinkled a little brighter, if that was even possible. "Well, maybe there is finally time for you as well, my dear boy. You cannot even imagine how grateful I am to you for all the sacrifices you've made, but that does not mean that I am in any way happy that you have made them. You have redeemed yourself, Severus. This time that you've given Harry, it's your time too." Dumbledore got that meddling look in his eyes, and smirked. The old man actually smirked! "Maybe it is time you finally started a family."
Severus glared at the old man. "Don't you think that maybe I should let the girl graduate before telling her that you expect her to bear my children?"
"You don't have to worry about Hermione in that respect. She's a smart girl, good head on her shoulders. She must know that I expect her to bear your children."
Severus scoffed, actually managing a smile, and hard pressed to stifle a chuckle.
Dumbledore grinned, practically sparkling. "It's been a while since I've been able to make you do that, Severus. Perhaps I have finally succeeded in mapping that dry sense of humor of yours."
Severus smiled again, allowing him a, "Perhaps."
"I suppose that Potter's next then?" Severus asked.
Dumbledore nodded. "Send him down, would you? Though, I suppose Ms. Granger has already done most of the work for me in that respect. She really is a remarkable young woman, Severus. I'm sure that the two of you will be very happy together."
Severus looked saddened by the Albus' well wishes, which had not been the old man's intent. "I'm sure we will be," he said finally, "for however long it lasts."
"Don't be ridiculous Severus, this is only the beginning."
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It was the weekend, and the Gryffindor common room was empty of all but a few first years, the dynamic duo, and Hermione, so Severus didn't quite get the reception that he'd grown accustomed to. The first years looked pleasantly frightened though; Snape just loved seeing that Gryffindor bravery in action. But the others didn't seem even remotely surprised to see him.
"Potter, the headmaster wants you." Severus was actually pleased that he managed to sound callous and spiteful; after all his years as a spy, he'd gotten quite good at deception.
Potter got to his feet without much change in his expression or demeanor; he'd been expecting this, of course.
He got halfway to the door before asking, "Password?"
Severus, who was being glared at by Weasley after having sat down and wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist, eyed the first years suspiciously. "It's Lupin's favorite, I believe."
Harry gave a nod, and left out the portrait.
Weasley looked uncomfortable. Under normal circumstances, that would be enough to make Severus stick around and show Weasley exactly what he was missing out on with Hermione. But today, all he wanted was a few precious moments alone with his girlfriend, without the threat of dark lords or death eaters hanging over his head.
"Do you want to go for a walk outside? The sun's shining." Hermione asked, before Severus could suggest it.
Severus stood and extended his hand to Hermione, pulling her to her feet. "See you in class tomorrow, Mr. Weasley," he said politely. He was more than happy to leave the redhead alone to stew. And then he and Hermione climbed out the portrait hole, leaving all that hideous maroon and gold behind them.
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They were on their third lap around the lake, and maybe attracting a little more attention than was wise, but Severus didn't mind; this felt nice. As they rounded a group of trees, and were finally shielded from prying eyes, Hermione leaned into Severus' shoulder.
"What's going on in that greasy head of yours?" Hermione asked, smirking.
Severus ran a hand up through his hair. It was a little greasy; he couldn't remember the last time he'd had the luxury of a shower or, Merlin save him, a bath. "I was just thinking how odd it feels to actually feel happy and relaxed for a change," he answered, "until you started making fun of my hygiene."
Hermione stood on tiptoe, and kissed the slightly greasy locks of Severus' hair. She placed one more kiss on his forehead when she'd finished, and looked deep into his eyes, smiling. "I'm happy too."
Severus ran a hand over Hermione's frizzy hair; truth be told hers wasn't exactly freshly washed either, but he didn't tell her so.
"I guess I'll have to get used to feeling normal," Severus commented absently, continuing to stroke the head on his shoulder.
Hermione scoffed, "Can't stand being without the threat of imminent death hanging over your head? You're as bad as Harry."
"Never compare me to Potter again!" he said in mock outrage.
She just chuckled and pushed him away from her. "You just defeated the Dark Lord, killed Bellatrix Lestrange, and pulled the wool over on Lucius Malfoy, and you have the gall to think that you're normal. You're just like Harry! Mind you, neither one of you would be able to do it without me." She smirked at him again. "And let's not even go into that whole sleeping with one of your students thing."
"I didn't defeat the Dark Lord, I just bought Potter some time, and Lucius isn't as clever as you think he is. And besides, it isn't my fault that you're such a cunning seductress."
Hermione decided to ignore the second half of that statement. "Well you bought us some time too, so let's enjoy it while we can."
"Funny, that's what Albus said."
Hermione just shrugged. "Smart man, Dumbledore."
"Sure," Severus agreed. "Bit mad, but that comes with the territory I suppose. I mean, just look at you."
Hermione nodded emphatically. "I know! Sleeping with my potions professor, what was I thinking? I must be crazy."
"Only explanation," Severus agreed, pushing back that bushy hair and kissing her on the forehead. "I love you."
Hermione couldn't help but smile. "I love you too."
Severus found them a comfortable spot near the base of an ancient willow. He sat, pulling Hermione with him, and she eased comfortably into his lap.
"So," Severus said, "we brewed a potion that most masters wouldn't dream of attempting, made the Dark Lord magically impotent, killed Bellatrix Lestrange, conned poor Lucius into doing all kinds of silly things, and fell in love, all without suffering more than a little greasy hair. We deserve to celebrate. What do you want to do now?"
"Celebrate?" Hermione asked, incredulously. "A bath maybe, but I don't have time for celebrating. Helping everyone save the world all the time is all well and good, but I've got N.E.W.T.'s in six weeks, and I haven't even started studying!"
Severus chuckled. "Well, I have a bathtub and a library full of books. What do you say I give you a hand and we kill two birds with one stone?"
"As long as there's shampoo involved, you're on."
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Author's Note: The epilogue will be up as soon as I get around to typing it up. It's really long and fluffy, and it even has a sex scene at the beginning. The more reviews I get the more likely I am to get it up quickly, so hit the button and tell me you love me.