So, everyone, this is it. We made it. 73 chapters, can you believe it? I put so much time and effort into this, and I thank all of you for your support and words. You are all wonderful! And thank you for sticking with this. July 19, 2011 was when I started posting this story that was originally just supposed to be a writing exercise. This is the first time I've actually ever finished a story, so this a VERY big deal for me :)
I've grown to love these characters so much, and I'm sad to let them go, but I'm happy with how everything turned out. More than happy.
I couldn't have done it without you lovely reviewers, and I thank you a thousand times over, and a thousand times again.
So, leave your parting thoughts in a review. Thank, thank you, and thank you again.
When Olivia was six, she showed her first sign of magic. Hermione couldn't contain her excitement upon finding that her daughter had accidentally changed the color of her doll's hair. When Severus came home from work, Hermione dashed into the hallway.
"Severus, you're not going to believe what happened today,"
"Are you pregnant?" he asked, sounding hopeful.
"No, but Olivia changed the color of her doll's hair today,"
He looked at her like she had suddenly lost her mind.
"That's great," he said, unsure of what he was supposed to say.
"Unintentionally,"
"Unintention…magic?" he asked, his eyes widening in understanding.
Hermione nodded, unable to contain her grin. In a flash Severus scooped her up and spun her around.
"I can't believe it," he said breathlessly, taking Hermione's face in his hands and crushing his lips against hers. "Where is she?" he asked anxiously.
"In her room,"
Severus immediately rushed to the stairs and climbed them two at a time. Hermione sent letters to all of their friends informing them of the news before Severus came back into the kitchen. He fell into a chair, exhaling loudly.
"That is such a relief," he said.
"I remember you worrying about whether she was going to be magical a few days after she was born," Hermione said with a smile.
"It wouldn't matter to me one way or another if she was magical or not, it's just that our world has so much to offer, and I didn't want her to miss out on it. I'm glad she gets to experience it as we did,"
Hermione joined him at the table, memories of her own childhood more vivid than they had been in almost ten years. Severus sensed her sudden mood change.
"What?" he asked.
"Is this how it's supposed to be when you find out children have magical abilities? How did your parents react when you first showed signs of magic?"
"My dad wanted nothing to do with it, but my mother, she was very proud," he said with a soft smile.
It was another moment before Severus silently followed her thought process. He took her hand in his.
"Hermione-"
"It's fine," she said giving him a forced smile. "I didn't know that it could be this happy. It's probably better seeing as we're both magical, we know how wonderful getting your abilities can be. With my parents…they didn't understand. They were more frightened than anything. I can't blame them, but I didn't get this kind of support, obviously not, my parents had no idea what was wrong with me,"
"Yes, it's easier to accept in a family that already has magic in it. You were the first in yours; it was bound to be hard,"
"I'm just happy that our children have the support we didn't, and no matter if some have magic and some don't, we're not going to treat them any different,"
"No, we're not," Severus said quietly, running his thumb across her knuckles.
The two made their way to bed shortly after. It was on the stairs, in the dark, that Severus stopped her. Hermione turned to him, unsure of what was wrong.
"You were, and still are the brightest witch of your age," he stated.
Hermione wrapped her arms around him, softly pressing her lips to his.
"How did I get so lucky?" she sighed, resting her forehead against his.
"You? I ask myself the same question every morning. Never in a million years would I have imagined my life like this. I guess I should thank you for being so damn stubborn all those years ago and being a nuisance,"
Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"You're more than welcome,"
Olivia was eight and Charlotte six when two new additions to the Snape family arrived. Hermione gave birth to two twin boys, Benjamin and Alex. Though he would never admit it, Hermione was sure Severus was happy to have more testosterone in the house.
When Olivia turned eleven, she received her letter from Hogwarts. She screeched so loud Hermione thought someone had broken in. All day Olivia carried that letter around with her, anxious to show her father, who beamed with pride when he came home from running errands.
On the day that Olivia was to leave, the house was pure chaos. Things had been left until the last minute, and Hermione was sure that they were forgetting things.
"Do you have your books?"
"Yeah,"
"And parchment? Did you find those quills we bought a few weeks ago?"
"I told you I found them last week,"
"Did you pack pajamas?"
"Mom, I have everything, I already looked,"
"Did you pack your toothbrush?"
The silence that Hermione was met with gave her the answer. Olivia darted from the room and to the bathroom for her toothbrush.
"Are you two ready yet?" Severus called up the stairs. "Everyone is ready to go,"
"Almost!" Hermione called back.
Once the toothbrush was packed, the suitcase was sent down the stairs and smoothly into Severus' hands. The two followed soon after.
"Alex, stop hitting your brother," Severus said, holding Charlie, their five month old son.
"Here," Hermione said, lifting the baby from his arms so he could better handle the bags.
They Apparated to King's Cross. The children enjoyed Apparating, though Hermione couldn't understand, the feeling usually left her a little nauseous. Even Charlie seemed to like it. When they arrived, Hermione gave Olivia her ticket as Severus grabbed a trolley for the luggage.
"Don't lose that," Hermione warned.
"I won't," Olivia said rolling her eyes.
They all bustled into the train station, heading for platform nine and three quarters. Severus took Olivia and Charlotte through first, and Hermione followed, carrying Charlie, and holding Benjamin's hand.
"Alex, don't let go of Benjamin," Hermione said as they quickly walked onto the platform.
The moment they were through, the two four year olds ran through the crowd, spotting Teddy Lupin in the distance, saying goodbye to his parents.
"I guess it's just you and me," Hermione said to Charlie who made a gurgling sound.
Hermione set out to find her husband talking with the Potters. Ginny was pregnant, and she was finally starting to show. They were here to support Olivia, and Hermione couldn't be happier that they were there. All of them were like on giant extended family. Hermione greeted them, and Ginny immediately took Charlie from Hermione's arms.
"Hey, buddy, how are you?" she cooed softly.
"Ron sends his love," Harry said.
"He's not back yet?" Hermione asked.
"No, they extended their honeymoon an extra week,"
"I'm happy for them," Hermione said.
Ron had married Gwen the previous month, and everyone was more than happy that he had finally pulled it back together. He had even apologized about everything he had done to Hermione and Severus, but she told him it was in the past, and not to worry about it.
George arrived, hair sticking up everywhere.
"I didn't miss her, did I?" he asked.
"Uncle George!" Olivia shouted, running forward to hug him.
Hermione watched as George smuggled her a brown paper bag, the two sharing smirks. The Lupins joined them soon after, Teddy leading the way. Tonks had another baby, a girl, who had just turned five.
"Ready?" Teddy asked Olivia.
"Yeah," she replied with a smile.
She turned and hugged her father, tears forming in her eyes. Hermione's eyes began to water as she watched the two embrace. When Olivia turned to her mother, the two laughed at one another crying, hugging tightly.
"Write to me the second you're settled, okay?"
"Mom, dad's going to be there, it's not like I'm going by myself,"
"I know, I just want to know how you're getting on, and who you're living with,"
"I'll write after dinner,"
"Okay, and make sure you get to sleep early tonight,"
"Mom," the girl moaned as the train whistle blew.
Olivia pulled away quickly; giving hugs to everyone in a flash before Teddy stepped aside, helping Olivia onto the train.
"That boy better watch himself," Severus said, glaring at Teddy. "He's too old,"
Through her tears, Hermione looked at him, raising her eyebrows at him.
"What?" he said before rolling his eyes. "I know, like I'm one to talk,"
Children scrambled for the train, and Hermione walked along until she found where Olivia had sat with Teddy. The two waved to one another, as the train began pulling out of the station. Hermione walked along with the train until she reached the edge of the platform, the steam engine picking up speed until it disappeared from the tunnel. The tears flowed freely from her eyes, and she didn't know if she was happy that her daughter was starting school or sad that she wouldn't be in the house anymore. An arm was wrapped around her shoulders, and Hermione leaded against her husband, brushing away the moisture on her face.
"She's going to be fine," he whispered, pressing his lips to her hair.
"Keep an eye on her, will you? Don't let her know though,"
"You know I will,"
Hermione wrapped her arms around Severus, perfectly content with her lot in life.
As Severus stood on the platform nine and three quarters, watching his daughter disappear into the distance, he couldn't help but look over the years that had passed since the war. Not even in his wildest dreams could he have imagined his life turning out as wonderful as this. He had a beautiful, intelligent, and strong wife, determined to remain with him until their last days on this Earth, and beyond. She gave him five beautiful children, each unique in their own way, but each perfect in his eyes. He had a marvelous group of friends that loved his children like they were their own. It wasn't until this moment - standing on the platform, that Severus thanked whatever made him choose life over death as he was slipping away in the damp Boathouse on that horrific night. He was truly blessed.
Hermione turned in his arms, standing on her toes in order to press her lips to his. Severus pulled her tight against his body, trying to communicate feelings he couldn't possibly begin to articulate. Severus anxiously looked forward to the rest of his life, hopeful that the future would be as kind to him as the past few years had been because he was more than ready to spend forever with Hermione, raising their five children and cherishing everyday he was given with his family and friends.