Chapter 81: Epilogue: Five Years Later
"I think it's time for me to finally open a potion's shop with Mum," Severus told Albus as the two sat together over tea one afternoon in late May of the year two-thousand-and-three. "She's agreed to move to Bulgaria." Severus and Mag had taken Albus up on his offer to come and teach at Durmstrang after Voldemort's death. Returning to Hogwarts wasn't something he'd have ever done anyway, because his reason for teaching there was over...and he'd never enjoyed it. The only reason he taught at Durmstrang was because instructing worthy minds in the darker arts was interesting. When Albus chose to continue allowing the world to believe him dead, Severus followed suit. There was just too much to explain otherwise, and if the Ministry was as narrow minded as they both feared, they could end up in Azkaban for a few of the things they'd done even if they were the right choices to make at the time. Mag and Severus didn't even return to England when they got married in late nineteen ninety eight. Instead they had both families come to them in Bulgaria for the wedding.
"Mag will be quitting as well, I presume," Albus asked. Severus nodded. "I appreciate you letting us know in time to look into hiring others to take your place before the next term begins."
"Of course," Severus said. "And I shall still see you often."
"Of course you shall," Albus said. "We're family. I'm pleased to see you finally doing your own thing, as it were, Severus."
Severus cleared his throat. "Well...I suppose it's about time...Because now we have someone else to consider other than just ourselves. Mag will be having a baby in about eight months!"
Albus's warm blue eyes lit up as he gave a pleased laugh. "Oh Severus, that's wonderful! You will make a wonderful parent."
Severus cringed. "I'm not so certain of that, but Mag is excited, so I suppose we shall just see how it goes." His lips twisted into a dry smile. "If fatherhood doesn't suit me, I shall just leave the child on your doorstep."
"Yea! I always wanted a baby brother or sister and Mum and Dad both said no!" The gleeful comment had come from Wulfric Dumbledore who sat at their feet making castles in a large box of colored sand that was his current favorite toy. Bera and Albus had Wulfric the year after Voldemort died, and the four year old was already showing signs of greatness. He used wandless magic in spurts to solidify his sand castles and give them extraordinary details that he would not have been able to accomplish with just his hands alone.
"You can help baby-sit either way, Wulfric. How's that," Severus asked, smiling at the child. To his own surprise, Severus had always enjoyed Albus's son. Of course he'd never had to change diapers or deal when baby Wulfric couldn't sleep, so having his own would be an entirely different situation.
"Really," Wulfric asked excitedly. Abandoning the sand box he dusted his hands on the hem of his little wizard robe as he rushed up to Severus. "Do you promise?"
"Of course I promise!"
"Alright, then," Wulfric said. "I shall forgive you for moving away in that case, but only because I benefit," the boy said, expression grave. "Besides... If I get to help with the baby, that means you can't be that far away."
"Not far at all. I plan to buy the empty shop just down the street, in fact," Severus said.
"The one that used to sell robes," Albus asked and Severus nodded. "That's a nice one," Dumbledore said approvingly. "Where shall you live? Have you looked into buying a house yet?"
"We found a nice sized one across town and Mum wants to live above the shop on the second floor so we've all found something," Severus replied.
"Why didn't I hear of this earlier," Albus asked and Severus shrugged.
"I wanted to make sure we could actually find something suitable...If not we'd have just stayed here and continued to teach for a bit longer."
"Can I help you move," Wulfric asked, bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet. "I'm really good at packing! I helped Uncle Igor move rooms last year!"
Severus chuckled. "Moving house is a bit more complex, but if you're up for it, you may help all you like."
"Goody," Wulfric cried ecstatically. Severus and Albus exchanged an amused glance. Only in childhood could one find unbridled excitement in such activities.
***** (Eight Months Later)
The attachment Severus felt for his baby girl was unlike anything he'd ever experienced in his life. She was a living part of him and of Magritte. Her eyes were large and green like Mag's, her hair black like Severus's and both of them could be seen in her facial features. She had Mag's heart shaped face and most definitely Severus's nose.
/Why do children have such fucking shrill voices,/ Nightshade complained. Severus smiled, knowing that once he'd wondered the same thing, but Serpensortia's vocalizations never disturbed him be they happy or angry. He and Mag had chosen her name together, but Mag had insisted on the middle name, that being Severella. Mag had invented the name, wanting to honor Severus. Serpensortia Severella Snape was the most beautiful baby in the world. "I need to take another picture," Severus said, lifting the camera and snapping the third picture of the hour. When the picture came out, he labeled it at once, wishing to document his baby's childhood from the start. Serpensortia at three days, six minutes old.
"You just took one five minutes ago," Mag said with an incredulous laugh. Severus nodded. That one had been labeled, Serpensortia three days and one minute old. "You're going to fill the house with pictures," Mag said, but gave him a fond smile. "I knew you'd be happy for a baby once she got here."
"You were right," Severus said, and as Sortia reached for her mum's crystal wand he snapped another picture. At last fed up with the camera flash, the baby gave an enraged scream, and of course Severus had to take another photo! "Look how cute her face is when she's angry," he crooned, hastily labeling the photo, Serpensortia grumpy, three days and eight minutes old.
(Dear Reader,
Thank you for going on this journey of Severus Snape's true story with us.
If you wish to read of Severus's time at Hogwarts, when he was close friends with Heather and Raislen, check out our story I Walk Alone, also uploaded here.
Knowledge Is Power is book one in a four book series. To see what happens next, follow Blaise and Gellert in their book, In the Dark, where Severus plays a large role. Then in Kreacher and Regulus's book, The Search Is Over, and at last, in the Lestrange's book, Bad Romance, in which, Spoiler Alert, Mag is their shrink. It's classic!
Playlist Songs that have inspired Severus and co on this journey:
1. Real Bad Mood by the Marie Sisters, (Severus's favorite song of all time!)
2. Split Personality by Pink, (Severus and Nightshade bff song)
3. Infatuation Christina Aguilera (Mag for Severus)
4. I am a rock, Simon and Garfunkel, (Severus Pre Mag)
5. I Walk Alone, Severus Pre Mag
6. Story Teller, by Heather Alexander, Severus's song for Albus
7. Come On Eileen, by Dexys Midnight Runners,Tobias Snape to Eileen Prince.