Children of the Revolution

by Istani

Marauders era. Will a friend, someone who really cares, manage to tilt the scales when the time comes for Severus Snape to make a crucial choice? Of love triangles and a Silver Trio. AU.

58. You can't put your arms around a memory

Here's the Easter Bunny bringing you a nice litte Easter egg... so enjoy, my dear readers, it's the last chapter.

Thanks to ellennar for betaing.

58- You can't put your arms around a memory

"Oh Severus, you saved Harry, saved me." Lily gushed, still clasping Harry against her chest. "There are no words to express my gratitude."

"Then spare them. I gave the prophecy to Voldemort, I think we're square now, Mrs Potter." Totally unfazed he turned around and went to where Raven and Regulus were sitting in the moist with dew grass, smoking a cigarette, staring into space. He sat down next to them and accepted a cigarette that Raven offered him. There was no need for communication now, they all enjoyed the companionable silence between them, and he was glad to have such friends.

Meanwhile, Lily was loudly accusing her husband for having let her all alone and helpless, and could he possibly grasp what would have happened to them, had Severus not saved them all?

Regulus glanced at Raven, wondering what the hell was going on. Apparently Lily had chosen to give Severus all the credit when it was in fact the three of them who had done the saving.

Raven merely shrugged; it didn't matter.

"You heard what Snivellus said!" James said indignantly. "He started it when he tattled the prophecy to his Dark Lord. Who knows what he's up to now? He's not the saviour you see in him. Probably he just meant to ditch a rival in his rise to dark glory."

"Don't be absurd, Pronks." Sirius interfered in an almost thoughtful tone.

"Tell me you don't buy that change of heart crap from him, Padfoot. After all, it's Snivellus we're talking about."

"We could have been wrong about him. I mean, we were wrong about Wormtail."

"Is that really my brother speaking in a sensible way?" Regulus asked his friends.

But before anyone could answer, Dumbledore arrived at the scene. It had taken longer than Raven would have expected and she didn't know how he'd found out; she simply knew he would appear sooner or later.

He looked around. He saw the rubble that used to be the Potter's home; he saw that all of them were still alive and that no-one seemed to be injured- except for Harry, who had a small flash-shaped gash on his forehead. He knew something important, almost epic had happened today.

"Voldemort is dead, he has been vanquished." Lily told Dumbledore, smiling happily. "Harry is safe."

"The Dark Lord is gone, that much is true," Regulus rose to his feet. His statement earned him surprised glances from everyone since he just indicated that he begged to differ. "I... I don't claim to fully understand what happened- he intended to kill the boy, but the Killing Curse backfired on him... he... he shrivelled and shrank until he was just as small as the boy but not rosy... more like a reddish black... and-"

"That is not possible, Mr Black." Dumbledore interrupted him. "No-one has ever survived the Killing Curse."

"Are you calling me a liar, Dumbledore? That is exactly what happened, for whatever reason." Regulus glanced at his friends for support.

"I saw a green light; I heard Voldemort scream. It was a blood-curdling scream." Raven said finally.

"I was momentarily distracted after he crashed me into that wall," Severus had to admit, and he also realized he had not cared much about Voldemort but was far more concerned about Raven.

"That is really interesting..." Dumbledore mused.

"And we all know he will return, somehow. This is not the end." Regulus continued.

"Would you please elaborate on that, Mr Black?"

Regulus hesitated.

"What do you know, brother? Come on, surprise us once more." Sirius turned to Dumbledore. "As it seems Regulus, Lestrange and Snape have been plotting behind our back for quite a while, and not really to our disadvantage. My secret informant, the one whose name I could never tell you, it was Raven Lestrange."

"Indeed, Miss Lestrange?" Dumbledore gave her his annoying twinkle. "How curious, I never took you to be one for spying."

"There are so damned many things you don't know about me, and actually I like it that way."

Dumbledore chose to ignore her comment and turned to Regulus instead. "You mentioned, Voldemort will return? Please enlighten me, Mr Black, why you believe so."

"Because the Dark Lord created Horcruxes-"

"Horcruxes? Plural? Really, Mr Black, do you have any idea what you're talking about?"

"Yep. He kept boasting about his apparent immortality- everybody knew he sought to conquer death-"

"What in Merlin's name is a Horcrux?" Sirius asked.

"A Horcrux is a magical object used to store part of a person's soul, so that in case the body of said person is destroyed, he or she will still live on. It is the darkest of magic, because one has to commit a horrible crime- such as killing somebody- in order to split ones soul." Dumbledore explained. "History knows of some who tried and succeeded, but it is totally unheard of that anybody split his soul more than once."

"It's so typical your brother knows all about the darkest of magic." James whispered to Sirius.

"And yet he did." Regulus said.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Ah, Tom has always been a talented liar, even when he was still at school. Perhaps he led you to believe he created several Horcruxes?"

"We saw the Horcruxes. We destroyed three of them. There is at least one- if not two- left."

Sirius moved a step away from James. If Regulus' story was true, his little brother was pretty cool. But Dumbledore was still sceptical.

"It is not easy to destroy a Horcrux-"

"We bloody know that, thank you very much." Raven interjected, sounding rather grim.

Dumbledore glanced at Severus, looking stern. "You knew all about it, Severus? And yet you didn't tell me, didn't come to me for advice?"

"I promised to spy for you," Severus said, paused for an insinuating moment and continued, "on Voldemort. Not on my friends, though."

"Ah, Severus, you disappoint me. I could have helped you."

"Now that's what I call improvement. When I first came to you for help, I disgusted you. When I don't run to you, I disappoint you. " Severus glanced at Raven. "We were right to ask Alice Steel for advice."

"Professor Steel, that horrible witch?" Lily cried out, scandalised. "She was so scary. The entire time we had Defence against the Dark Arts with her, it always appeared she would prefer to teach us the Dark Arts instead."

"You have to know all about the Dark Arts if you want to fight them," Severus corrected her. "It's not a game of good against evil, white versus black, and in the end one side wins. That's not the point. One cannot exist without the other, because there is no light without shadow. It's all about the balance..."

"This is debatable." Dumbledore cut in. "But it saddens me that you have so little trust in me-"

"Oh please don't tell me that comes as a big surprise! I cannot remember a single moment at Hogwarts when you didn't favour Gryffindor over Slytherin- no matter what they did. They're bullies and they're liars. Their silly little pranks endangered everyone in the castle, on the grounds and even at Hogsmeade when they transfigured into their Animagus forms in order to have full-moon parties with their dear friend Lupin. I'm so sick of all the hypocrisy!" Raven turned to take her leave; she really needed a drink now. "Don't talk to me about trust, Dumbledore, because coming from you the word gets a stale taste."

"Is that true? James? Sirius? We will continue this conversation in my office." Dumbledore decided, and they both hung their heads like two boys who had been caught doing something naughty but knowing they had to fear no serious consequences. Of course, they would get off with a slap on the wrist. They always got off lightly. And in the end, Dumbledore would chuckle softly, amused by their cheek and probably impressed by the fact that they had learned to become Animagi all on their own. In the light of that much magnificence it could easily be forgotten that all Animagi had to be registered.

Raven was so thoroughly fed up with all that. "I guess we're done here."

"Indeed." Severus agreed.

"Yeah, let's go home and have a drink or two." Regulus said. "Edie will be glad to have us all back."

"Severus!" Dumbledore called out. "I have to call in an Order meeting. There is still a lot we have to talk about, would you please accompany me to Hogwarts?"

It wasn't really a question but more like an order disguised as one.

"Headmaster," Severus mocked a bow, "I am not at your disposal tonight. If you want to interrogate me, please call in the Order meeting for tomorrow afternoon, because I intend to take a day off and sleep in."

Dumbledore wasn't really amused by cheek coming from a Slytherin, nevertheless he smiled at him, pretending to take it mildly in his annoying uber-grandfather way. "Of course, my boy. Forgive an old man his curiosity. So let us all rejoice in the fact that Voldemort is gone for now and celebrate tonight. But there will be an Order meeting later tomorrow, and I have to insist upon your attendance. You are all invited."

Raven rolled her eyes.

"Good night, little idiot brother!" Sirius shouted when Regulus Disapparated. Raven followed him, while Severus was being delayed by Lily, who said she wanted to talk to him.

Severus shook his head. "I'm sorry, Mrs Potter, but I'm tired and not in the mood to talk right now. I assume it can wait until tomorrow, when we will meet again anyway?"

It was the second time tonight he had called her Mrs Potter instead of Lily, and she flinched slightly. Then he was gone, too, and the Potters, Sirius and Dumbledore left for Hogwarts.

-o-

When the friends arrived at Raven's flat, they were greeted by a visibly relieved Edie and a nearly hysterical Kreacher.

"Dear Master Regulus is back! Hail Master Regulus. And Master Severus. And Mistress Raven. Owls! So many owls tonight, spreading the news and Kreacher hears news of great triumph. Master Regulus is a hero now- and Master Severus, and Mistress Raven. Kreacher is so very, very proud.."

"Is it true, then?" Edie asked. "The Dark Lord is dead?"

"Aye, he's gone... for now. But we don't have to worry about that." Regulus pulled her in for a hug and then (although his rips protested after having been crashed into a wall twice tonight) swept her off her feet to whirl her around. "Will you marry me?"

"Reg! Ye're utterly insane!"

"Does that mean yes?" He put her down again and, without waiting for an answer, kissed her thoroughly.

Severus glanced at Raven and cleared his throat. "Um, I think we should open a bottle and put on some music. Although champagne would be in order, I could use something stronger now."

"Will a bottle of Odgen's Old Firewhiskey do?"

"That's just what I need after you told Voldemort you're his worst nightmare. Honestly, Raven, that was-"

"-probably not the most sensible thing to say? I know. But I was so fucking scared and I didn't want to show fear." Raven fumbled with the pick-up arm of her record player, her fingers trembling ever so slightly. "What did Lily want?"

She had seen her approaching Severus just before they had Disapparated and... well, she hadn't liked it at all. Then she put down the needle and the first chords of Children of the Revolution were sounding from the speakers, filling the room. Her lava lamps were beginning to bubble.

Severus sat down on her bed. "She wanted to talk but I postponed that until tomorrow."

That moment, Regulus and Edie entered the room.

"Are congratulations in order?"

"Sure." Regulus said.

"But we're in no hurry, right?" Edie corrected him, although she didn't disagree.

"Not at all. Let's have a toast anyway."

They were now all sitting on her bed, in a row. Their glasses were filled with Firewhiskey, and they clinked glassed before they downed the contents in a greedy gulp. Then they just sat there, listening to the music, watching the bubbles of the lava lamps, and again there was no need to disturb the companionable silence with meaningless words. They were simply happy being united in friendship and love, things the Dark Lord would never know, and that's why they had succeeded today.

-o-

"Perhaps you should go and see Madam Pomfrey." Dumbledore spoke to Lily when they arrived at Hogwarts.

"I... I'm fine," she assured the Headmaster.

"Harry's bleeding." Her husband reminded her, pointing at the strange little flash-shaped wound on his son's forehead. "Go and see Madam Pomfrey."

"James is right." Dumbledore said with a benevolent smile. "Besides, you need a place to sleep now that your house is in ruins."

"Well, you can all kip at my place." Sirius offered, but it didn't please Lily.

"Your hut is as tidy as the ruins of my house."

"I'll accept your offer, mate."

"So, you want to leave me again, James? After all that happened today you still chose Sirius over your family? Where were you when Voldemort attacked us? When I begged and pleaded with him to spare Harry's life, to take mine instead- where were you? WHERE WERE YOU?"

"Did you really expect me to stay at home all the time, safely locked away, while my friends risked their lives? I'm not a coward, Lily. I cannot hide while others die. We're at war and I'm a soldier for the Order of the Phoenix! For Dumbledore!"

Tears were welling up in Lily's eyes. James' words sounded noble and perhaps they were even meant that way. Nevertheless she felt abandoned and hurt, and also a little bit jealous because she took his words as an excuse to meet Sirius. Sometimes she thought he loved Sirius more than her.

Lily was still crying silent tears long after James and Sirius had left her in Madam Pomfrey's care. The matron tried to soothe her by informing her that Harry was fine, that he hadn't suffered any harm although a funny shaped scar would probably remain. Then she gave Lily a Calming Drought and told her she needed to sleep.

It didn't really surprise Lily that James didn't come to see how his family was faring. After he and Sirius had been reprimanded by Dumbledore for not telling him they were Animagi (which included a demonstration of their Animagus forms that Dumbledore found endearing) they used the Headmaster's Floo Network to get to Sirius' home.

-o-

In the early afternoon of the next day, Severus awoke to the sight of Dumbledore's phoenix Patronus looming over his head, reminding him that it was time for the Order meeting. While debating on whether or not they should accept the invitation, the friends had a breakfast that consisted of coffee and a hangover potion.

"Firewhiskey is a vile drink." Edie complained. "I'll never have that again. Ever."

"I will have to go since I'm still a member of the staff and therefore can't ignore his order." Severus said while watching Edie with curious interest. Apparently, she was feeling better already. He hadn't really thought about it when giving her the same share of the anti-hangover but as it seemed it had the same effects on Muggles. Had anyone ever tried to use potions on Muggles? Perhaps there were cures for their diseases in his world and- he really, really had to get away from Hogwarts. His skills were wasted in the futile attempt of teaching ignorant brats the beauty and importance of potions; he longed to be back in research.

"If you have to go, we will stand by your side." Regulus decided. "We're in this together, so you will not have to defend our actions and decisions all on your own."

Severus glanced at Raven.

"He's right, of course. And you know it."

He smiled; it was a genuine smile that reached his eyes and made them sparkle for the first time in months... or years. A warm feeling was spreading from somewhere deep within him, reminding him of what true happiness felt like even if he had only experienced it on rare occasions. But things were improving, thanks to his friends.

It wasn't in his nature to simply hug the people he cared for, so he merely said, "Thank you," which was sort of a verbal hug.

-o-

The Order meeting was a tedious affair. They had to tell their story over and over again until finally, everyone seemed to be satisfied with their report. Well, everyone but Dumbledore, who was still mulling things over, and Raven was certain he was up to something.

But the Headmaster just smiled his benevolent smile, blue eyes twinkling in the most irritating way.

"Splendid, isn't it, my friends. Who would have thought that three Slytherins of all people could bring Voldemort down in the end?"

"Well, never underestimate us Slytherins." Regulus said cheerfully.

"Indeed... very true, indeed. Your motivations may be questionable, born out of sheer self-interest and a childish need for a better future for yourselves, but in the end it's the result that matters and not motivation. The ostensible balance is restored, a battle has been won. Cheer now, my dear friends, to many years of peace."

It wasn't over yet. Peace was a fragile thing when there were still two Horcruxes left, and somehow Raven knew that Dumbledore would not focus on destroying them, even if one of them was probably at Hogwarts and therefore within his reach. Perhaps, it wasn't satisfying enough to stop the Dark Lord from coming back one day. Perhaps, Dumbledore still believed in a black and white world where wars were won by heroism and noble intentions.

So be it. It wasn't Raven's business any more. They had told their story. Some members of the oh-so-noble, fucking prudish Order had wrinkled their pretty noses at her due to the scandalous way she had obtained information- dancing half-naked in a shady bar in Knockturn Alley- but that didn't matter. Her conscience was clear. She could leave the Order meeting with her head held up high-

But then, the famous Auror 'Mad Eye' Moody stopped her, and he actually possessed the nerve to offer her a job as junior officer at Auror Headquarters because she seemed to be qualified enough.

"Wait a second!" She stared at him, then she shook her head in confusion. "Maybe I'm just getting this all wrong, but a funny little voice in my head is telling me that you just offered me a job as an Auror?"

"You got it all right, Miss Lestrange."

He shouldn't smile... he looked even more horrible when he smiled.

"Sorry, but I still don't get it. You rejected me more than once when I applied for Auror training- and now, now you're offering me to become an Auror without the training? How weird is that? Ah, hold on- methinks the Mad in your name doesn't only refer to your eye but to your general state of mind, right?"

"Well, you fought the Dark Lord and survived. Your ways of gathering information are unusual but clever. That's all the qualification we need, and it's a generous offer."

"Take your oh-so-generous offer and stick it right where it belongs- up your arse. Meaning, I'm not interested. All I ever wanted was to get a fair chance to prove myself, which you denied me out of sheer bias. But I'm still who I used to be, with all my flaws and rough edges, and nothing will ever change that."

She couldn't stand it any longer, she had to get away from that madness and so she left Dumbledore's office, slamming the door.

"Raven! Wait!"

Severus had followed her outside and now they were staring at the ever-changing staircases of Hogwarts.

"Do you think I'm foolish to not accept his offer?"

"I think you want to learn because you treasure knowledge just as much as I do, and I appreciate that trait of yours very much-"

"Severus?" Lily's voice cut him off. He turned around to see she had left Dumbledore's office, too, and was approaching him.

"What can I do for you, Mrs Potter?" He asked politely.

"I want to talk to you, please. Can we go for a walk?"

"Err... now is probably not the most opportune moment." He arched a brow at Raven, indicating he had no clue what this was all about.

"It's okay. Go for a walk," She said.

"Well then, Mrs Potter, as it seems I can spare a moment."

"Oh please, Sev, stop calling me Mrs Potter. It sounds so awfully formal. I'm still Lily. We used to be friends, don't you remember?"

"I have not forgotten." Her behaviour surprised him, even bewildered him. They hadn't talked for years now and the last time she had cast him out of her life. So what did she want now?

Nevertheless, he followed her out of the castle and onto the grounds. He allowed her to take his arm and lead him until they were close to the borders of the Forbidden Forest.

-o-

Raven followed them slowly. She had to get out of the castle since she couldn't stand its atmosphere any longer. Then she sat down on the stairs and smoked a cigarette, waiting for Severus to return

-o-.

"Lily, please stop. Whatever you want to talk to me about, do we really have to walk this far?"

Finally, Lily stopped.

"Forgive me, Sev. Stupid me... I... well, after yesterday's events I so feel like running away. I... I would be dead if not for you. You saved my life, Sev. Mine and Harry's."

"Well, basically it was Raven who saved you. She had the cool acuteness of mind to get you out of the line by using the Levicorpus Spell on you." He chuckled but it didn't sound amused. "Who would have thought that? A spell, so often used for mischief or even bullying- it actually saved your life. Isn't it ironic?"

"I'm sorry, Sev. I was so very, very wrong about you. I... I should have listened to you. About James, about everything. But I turned you down. I cast away our friendship. I cared more about what others thought of you- and yet you came to save my life."

"I tried to apologize for what I called you, that's right. Perhaps you experienced it yourself, yesterday, what a congestion of blood pressure can do to your brain when you're dangling upside down for a while. You were shrieking all the time. I lashed out. I didn't mean to but it happened, and you were right when you spoke of my desire to join Voldemort. Then, that was all I wanted. A stupid idea, of course. I know that now. But then, I yearned for it. I craved for the power he promised, hoping it would finally put an end to all the bullying I had to endure, thanks to your oh-so-wonderful Gryffindor friends."

"Oh Sev, I had no idea how much you suffered." Lily sounded genuinely anxious, but he merely frowned at her, not really trusting her sudden anxiety. "Let's forget about the past, Sev. There's still time to start anew. I've missed your friendship."

The frown didn't leave his face as he took a step backwards. He had so yearned to hear her say these words- why did they sound so stale now?

Because I know now what real friendship is like, and it doesn't mean to forsake a friend when he needs you the most. It's about standing by your friend, going through thick and thin together, without ever hesitating to put him straight from time to time when it's necessary... and I had to be put straight. But not with accusations. I needed facts... I needed something to mull over...

"We were best friends, Sev, don't you remember?" Lily continued.

"I do..."

"We can be best friends again. Or more. So much more, Sev. I... I will not say my biggest mistake was to marry James, because he bestowed me with a great gift, and that's Harry. I love my little baby boy so very much and... what I'm actually trying to say, Sev, is that my biggest mistake was to push you away. I'm so sorry I wronged you."

While talking, Lily had moved closer to him and was now standing very close to him. He heard her words and tried to grasp the meaning of them, but he wasn't certain he got them right.

"Oh Sev," she whispered in his ear, "is it really so hard for you to understand that I love you?"

"What?" He gasped. His biggest dream had just come true. Lily had confessed that she loved him. She leaned even closer to him, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him.

His biggest dream was like a soap bubble that suddenly burst. He was too puzzled to push her away but it was all wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

"Stop!" He tried to not let his defensive magic take over and simply throw her away like a puppet. "Lily. Lily. Stop. It's not right. You're a married witch and-"

"I'm going to leave James, for you."

"Don't. Just don't. "

"What's wrong with you, Sev?"

"Well, I'm not interested." He laughed out loud, humourless, and then he repeated his words. "I'm not interested."

"I don't understand. I... I thought you loved me."

"So did I. But Johnny Thunders knows that you can't put your arms around a memory."

"Johnny who? What are you talking about, Sev?"

He laughed again as he finally realized with absolute clarity that he had been in love with a dream, with the memory of warmth in the green eyes of a child, his first memories of happiness. But it wasn't love, because love was not chasing a dream that could burst as easily as a soap bubble.

Severus turned around. He was wasting his time here. Where was Raven? He had tried to subdue his feelings for far too long... because of the circumstances, the war, Voldemort, things like that. And now- oh Merlin, no. She must have witnessed Lily intimate attack on him and had probably mistaken that as a kiss, because he saw her walk away, her shoulders slouched in acknowledged defeat.

No. No. No. Don't walk away. Things are not as they seem...

He started torun, leaving a totally flabbergasted Lily behind. She would get over it.

"Raven!"

Eventually, she stopped and stared at him, but he kept on running until he slithered to his knees right in front of her, panting. "I'm a fool. I'm a fool. I'm a fool... I'm sorry."

Raven tried to hide the tears in her eyes. "Well, I know you're a fool, but what are you sorry for now? Haven't you gotten what you always wanted?"

Severus took her hand and got to his feet again. "I'm sorry... I'm a fool and an idiot because I never told how much I love you. "

"Err.." Her eyes were wide with surprise but she didn't seem to grasp what he just said. Or perhaps he simply wasn't good with words today. Actually, he had never been good at expressing his feelings- on the other hand, what was so hard to understand? He told one witch he was not interested in her and the other that he loved her. Two very simple statements.

"What did you say?"

Okay, to hell with useless words that could be misinterpreted. He snaked one arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Then he gently wiped a treacherous tear off her face before he kissed her, and that felt so very, very right.

-o-

"Oy, Sev, finally came to your senses, eh?" Regulus shouted joyfully when he saw Severus and Raven snogging.

"Annoying little brat," Severus sighed. He broke the kiss but didn't let go of Raven. "We should go home and continue."

"I still don't understand. First you kissed Lily, then you said you love me and kissed me-"

"Whoa, you kissed Lily?" Regulus asked surprised.

"No. She kissed me. Big difference."

"And what happened then?"

"I told her I'm not interested. Besides, she doesn't know Johnny Thunders."

"Now that's a reason!" Regulus agreed while Raven was still a little bit confused. This was so like a roller coaster ride of emotions, down and up and spinning in circles.

"You told Lily you're not interested? Why? I... I mean, you pined over her for ages and when she finally-"

"Raven, do I really have to explain? Isn't that exactly what you wanted, ever since you seduced me in Hawaii and persuaded me to give it a try, telling me you'd let go if Lily ever came to love me more. You knew that wouldn't happen, right? And you knew I would fall in love with you. Call me a fool because it took me so long to realize, but tell me it's not too late."

"Idiot!" She sighed and kissed him.

"Well, I guess there's no use in asking if you want Chinese take-away today," Regulus mumbled, "and besides, I'd rather be alone with Edie anyway."

Then he Disapparated.

-o-

They didn't sleep much that night. Raven feared she might wake up and everything had been a dream. But it was no dream. Severus was there with her and told her he loved her. His kisses tasted sweeter than ever.

The next morning he groaned because he didn't want to return to Hogwarts and teach dunderheads. He would talk to Dumbledore later and quit his job, no matter if the old man liked it or not.

"Coffee?" Raven mumbled, still a little bit dozy.

"Not yet." He pulled her into his arms again and kissed her thoroughly. Probably he'd be late for classes, definitely he'd be late for breakfast in the Great Hall, but he couldn't leave for the day without making love to her just one more time.

He really was such an idiot for having denied himself to feel this way. On the other hand, he knew he had done the right thing by not allowing himself to give in to his feelings because of all the dangers and his life as a double spy. But that was over now. He was free; he had his life back, and he wanted to share it with Raven.

-o-

As expected, Dumbledore was not pleased at all when Severus quit his job. With furrowed brows he glanced at him over the rim of his half-moon spectacles.

"Again you disappoint me, Severus. Do you really think you did enough to redeem yourself of the crimes you committed? Remember you gave me your word to do anything in return if I kept the Potters safe."

"Indeed. But here's the flaw in your plan, Dumbledore. You didn't keep them safe. We saved them- Raven, Regulus and I. We fought the Dark Lord. We gave you knowledge of the Horcruxes. I think I acquitted my part in our contract."

"And if Voldemort returns?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well, you know how to prevent that. Destroy the Horcruxes. And even if he returns, you can't use me as a spy anymore. I suspect Lord V will not accept someone in his ranks who tried to kill him."

"That is indeed very regrettable." Dumbledore ran his hand over his long silvery beard and sighed, before he turned his annoyingly twinkling blue eyes at Severus. "Very well, then, Severus. I don't appreciate your notice of cancellation but I can't force you to stay either. All I can ask of you is the small favour of time to find a replacement."

"Agreed. I will not leave before the Christmas holidays if you grant me the weekends and at least two nights a week of duty."

"Agreed." When Dumbledore dismissed him, he swore to himself to never make deals with Slytherins again. Especially not if they played their cards as well as Severus Snape, who also possessed the nerve to smile at him politely all the time throughout their negotiations. He wondered what had happened to the insecure, brooding and angry boy that was so easy to manipulate.

-o-

A couple of days later, when Severus had a night off to spend in London, an owl was pecking at their kitchen window, looking kind of crabby. It seemed to have come a long way for its feathers were all hackly as if it has flown through a storm.

Raven opened the window and immediately the owl started to pick at her fingers, reminding her that she really wasn't a bird lover.

"Sev! It's for you." She called out and retreated a few steps.

Severus handled the situation much better than she; he gave the owl a treat and released it from the letter it was carrying. Then he closed the window again.

He recognized the handwriting at once, but it wasn't one Raven was familiar with.

"Oh, will he ever give up?" Severus groaned.

"Who?" Raven poured him a glass of wine before she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his temple.

"Jared Ash. Of Fyre and Ash Enterprises in New York, probably the biggest company in the wizarding world. They sell everything related to potions- stirring rods, cutting knifes, phials; they produce some very fine cauldrons and they deal with ingredients you can't find elsewhere. To top it all, they have a great laboratory, the New York Potions Research Lab, and Ash wants to hire me as an independent, leading Potioneer with my own team. Apparently, he liked my contributions to the Practical Potioneer- which I released under a pen name, so neither Lord V nor Dumbledore would find out about it- and we started a secret but very lively correspondence through the letter to the editor section of the magazine."

"But he knows who you really are and he wants to hire you." Raven resumed. "Well, isn't that just what you always wanted?"

Severus pulled her closer and made her sit on his lap, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm holding in my arms all I ever wanted."

She hadn't yet grown accustomed to him not denying his love for her; it was still all very new and exciting, even though not much had changed between them. They were still best friends as well as they were lovers, but now they were planning to have a future together.

"Sev, that's a big, fat chance and you know it. Why not accept his offer? Let's go to New York."

Let's get an ocean between you and Lily, before you change your mind. But that was a petty thought because she knew he wouldn't change his mind; Severus Snape was not like that at all.

"You would go to New York with me?"

"Anywhere. Wherever."

Now he grinned. "Well, then isn't it good that one of my conditions was for you to get a place in the New York Auror Training program? Ash agreed, after contacting a certain Alice Steel, who spoke on your behalf."

"You arranged that already? But... but it was only a couple of days ago you told me you love me-"

"Forgive me, Raven. I should have told you that a long time ago, but I always missed the right moment. You know, it's not that easy to admit you're a fool, an idiot- especially not, if you consider yourself to be an intelligent person. Then I blamed in on the inopportune circumstances... Well, or perhaps I simply had to see Lily crashing down like she did when I released her of the Levicorpus Spell. Anyway, even before all of that, I already knew I would never go anywhere without you by my side. That's why I made it a major condition in dealing with Ash."

Raven touched his cheek, trailing her fingers down the line of his jaw, which was set in determination.

"So when do we leave for New York?"

He hugged her hard. It was almost unbelievable what a lucky man he had became. He had found himself a witch he loved and who loved him in return, and he was about to sign a deal that would gain him the reputation he'd always longed for.

On a sad side note, he would miss Regulus and Edie because he had grown quite fond of them.

-o-

In the days and weeks after Lord Voldemort's downfall, many of his followers were arrested and put to trial. When Bellatrix Lestange and her husband Rodolphus, as well as his brother Rabastan, got caught torturing the Aurors Franks and Alice Longbottom, Regulus acted immediately and went to search the Lestranges' house for that golden cup Voldemort had trusted Bella with. Alas, it wasn't there; he couldn't find it anywhere.

Trials were being held almost every day, and most of the Dark Lord's followers were sent to life sentence at Azkaban. It was only fair, Regulus thought.

Then came the day Lucius Malfoy claimed he'd been under the Imperius Curse and was innocent, but Regulus knew of Lucius' role within Voldemort's ranks; he might not have killed but he had definitely financed the Dark Lord's rise. That started a fervid debate between the members of the Wizengamot and it became apparent Lucius had tried to bribe some of them. Though that didn't prove Regulus' words, it showed much about Lucius' character so the Wizengamot decided to send him to Azkaban for seven years.

Regulus was only sorry for Narcissa and little Draco, his godson. On the other hand, perhaps it was even better for Draco to not grow up under the influence of his father.

-o-

"Why did you want to meet me here of all places?"

It was early December as Sirius walked into the Blacks vault at Gringotts, after his younger brother had sort of ordered him to come and meet him there.

"It's so unlike you to show off with your wealth, but alright, here I am standing in the shadow of all the gold you, the heir of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black possess-"

"Oh, shut up, Sirius. It's not my fault you got blasted off that bloody family tree. What is it but a stupid tapestry? I didn't choose to be the single heir of that madness. But since the family tree can't blast me off, I can at least do what's just fair because- although you're absolutely insufferable- you're still my brother."

"Sad but true. Do we have to hug now?"

"Please don't." Regulus laughed and took a step aside.

Now, Sirius could see that there were actually two huge piles of golden coins, one slightly smaller than the other.

"When father died, I split all of our fortune here in two equal parts... I didn't want to profit from you having a different opinion than our parents. I never wanted to be the only heir- well, and most certainly I didn't want to be the one being constantly reminded that it's my obligation to marry and father fine pure-blood heirs to the fucking noble House of Black." Regulus shrugged. "Won't happen anyway... um, at least not the fine pure-blood kids... Anyway, I took all that was needed to sustain mother's lifestyle from both piles, exactly the same amount-"

"Then why is one pile smaller than the other?" Sirius asked a little dumbfounded, still trying to grasp what Regulus was all about.

"Oh, don't worry. That's mine. I had to change some bags of Galleons to Muggle currency, you know, to buy some records, rent a flat, invest in the stock market... things like that. Muggle lifestyle is expensive but it can be quite... lucrative as well."

"And now you're generously offering me my share?" Sirius frowned at his brother, not knowing if he should accept or refuse it. After all, he was not the pitiable stray dog Regulus probably saw in him, so his pride told him to simply walk away. And yet he stayed because his little baby brother seemed to have grown so much that he, the older, didn't want to appear immature.

"Is it really generous to give you what should be yours anyway?"

"Well, you don't have to."

"I know. I could take all the bloody fortune piled up in here and never talk to you again. Is that what you really want? Besides, since the family tree can't blast me off for bringing you back as an heir, it means you're not only back in line for the wealth but also for the responsibility."

"If it's about the fathering part, my wand is at the ready." Sirius said with a lewd smirk on his face.

Regulus laughed. "Brother, you're truly disgusting. Keep your wand in our pants, please. When I spoke of responsibility, I actually meant mother. I know, she's a pest. And I know she will scream and shout at the very sight of you, and she will call you names. She's mad. I mean, seriously mad. Perhaps it wasn't a wise idea to tell her I'm going to marry a Muggle- as you can imagine, she didn't take it well, and probably she won't live long enough to come to the conclusion that you're the better son, but please, go and look after her occasionally."

"Wait a second! Wait- why does that sound like a goodbye, Reg? You alright?"

"Never been better, Sirius. But you're right, this is a goodbye. Sort of. We're leaving. You know, Severus was offered a fantastic job in New York, Raven can finally start Auror training there, and so Edie and I decided to accompany them."

"You're going away." Sirius said after staring wordlessly at his little brother for quite a while.

"Don't pretend you're gonna miss me."

"And if I do?"

No matter what had happened between them or how much they had drifted apart in recent years, Regulus could hardly bear to see that big oaf of his brother looking so forlorn.

"I could owl you my address when we've settled in."

Sirius smirked. "Could I have that hug now I didn't want earlier?"

"You are truly insufferable," Regulus groaned before he finally allowed his brother to hug him, and it was an almost bone-crashingly good brotherly hug that made him realize how much he still cared about Sirius.

"What are you going to do in New York?"

"Well, I was thinking of a career as a monster truck driver... or I'll open the coolest nightclub ever."

Somehow, Sirius didn't doubt his little brother would succeed in whatever he was planning.

-o-

It was Christmas Eve, and while almost everyone in wizarding and Muggle Britain was making last minute preparations for the holidays, four friends boarded a plane that would take them to New York, to a new life.

The plane took off and they were leaving Wizarding Britain behind.