Epilogue

May 1998, again

Hogwarts

The second of May, 1998 dawned, for the second time in Hermione's life. From now on all days would be new, uncharted. It was a bit odd to consider. She kissed Severus on the cheek and slipped out of bed to get dressed. He muttered something and went back to sleep.

Almost without conscious thought she had begun to make plans for this day several months ago. The kids were most likely still asleep, Eleanor already in her fourth year at Hogwarts at fourteen, Caradoc and Felix still in Muggle schools at ten (almost eleven, mum, why can't I go to Hogwarts already) and eight, and Eileen would take care of feeding them that evening so that Hermione and Severus could go out for dinner on their own for a change. Eileen Prince was still the librarian at Hogwarts, but often made time to visit the Snapes in Somerset where they had ended up after selling the house in Cokeworth. Lucius had all but insisted they take over his mother's cottage near Bath, and as soon as Severus saw the small stream, the gardens and the fully equipped potions workshop in the adjacent barn there was no question about it. The house had grown with their family, and Bubbly had been elated to have a home and hearth to care for.

Hermione was still working for Gringotts. As it turned out, the Bank didn't really want to let go once it had found a good candidate, and Gargnak had been rather insulted by her suggesting she should find other opportunities elsewhere, two years into her time with the bank. Since then she had learned to ask for what she wanted instead of assuming it wouldn't be possible. It had helped that she'd learned Gargnak had a thing for cupcakes, especially with raspberries. The knowledge she had brought back in time had also led to several good investments over the years, enriching both her and Severus and the Bank. She'd become a Master in Arithmancy, sponsored by the Bank but working under a friend of Septima's, and was still in regular contact with both her old Master and with Septima at Hogwarts.

Severus had set up a business brewing for some apothecaries and private customers, and was able to hire several potioneers to do the bulk brewing after a few years. His first employee was Vulchanov who had moved back to England once the situation had improved. After a while he had hired someone to manage the business side of things while he could focus on the parts he enjoyed most, tinkering with new potions and taking on interesting cases for St Mungo's.

Her friends were all settled, too. Regulus and Fidelma had divorced after three years and he had ended up dating Hestia instead. Evie had left the country and was working with a group of witches in New York. The Longbottoms and Malfoys often visited, as did the Prewetts although it had taken a few years for the situation to settle when Gideon started dating Lily. It had been hard for Hermione to forgive the witch for her actions immediately after the fall of Voldemort but she had explained that Moody had more or less tricked her into giving up Severus' location. Narcissa had ended up taking on the Wizengamot, claiming the Malfoy seat, while Lucius stepped down from politicking and mainly spent his time working on how to enlarge the Malfoy fortune when he wasn't dabbling in perfumery and peacock breeding.

She took a deep breath and Apparated, picturing the gates and the Castle and the lake as they had always appeared in her mind.

The gates opened at her touch to let her in. She could feel the wards hum under her hands so she had expected someone would have to meet her, but they felt warm and almost welcoming. As if the Castle had expected her.

It was still early in the morning. Dew drops glistened in the pale sunlight and the birds were chattering in the trees. The Whomping Willow had a layer of fresh green foliage and Hagrid's hut had a thin wisp of smoke rising from the chimney. Everything looked peaceful and serene, as if everything was perfectly in order.

She walked up the gravel path to the Castle without seeing anyone. The front door was ajar when she came up the stairs, almost welcoming. She put a hand on the grey stone next to the doorframe, polished smooth where countless students would have had their hands over the years as they pulled the door open, and felt the almost sentient presence of the Castle again like a warm buzz under her hand.

Taking a deep breath she stepped inside. The Great Hall was empty save for Madam Hooch who didn't pay her any notice, and a Ravenclaw student who appeared half asleep in her books. The elves had prepared for breakfast, setting out plates and dishes already. She sat down at the Gryffindor table close to where she used to sit with Harry and Ron, only to gasp when images started flashing through her mind. The Great Hall destroyed by curses and hexes. All the dead lined up by category. The teachers, the students. Her friends. Harry. It felt as if she was back there, the terror and anguish and sour smell of blood and dirt, and the heavy weight of the Castle in her mind, it too dying.

The Castle reached out to her again and gradually other images started filtering through. Students eating breakfast and dinner. A feast, everyone cheering. Quidditch games and the House Cup. She spotted Eleanor in the crowd, and some of the Weasleys. Lavender and Parvati, Luna and Neville, Draco and Hydra Malfoy, and their younger brother Cepheus. And there was Harry looking carefree and happy, no scar on his forehead. The teachers were also there, the Headmistress with much fewer worry lines on her forehead, Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick both beaming smiles at their students when they did something perfectly adequate, the Potions Professor — not Slughorn — supervising brewing in the much more brightly-lit classroom.

The staff door opened near the Head table and the Headmistress stepped through, looking around the room. Her eyebrows raised when she noticed the newcomer and she swiftly rounded the Head table, approaching Hermione.

"Ah. The Castle said someone was here. What is the matter? Is it something related to the students?"

Hermione stood up carefully and made her way up the row of tables. "Today is… I had to come, Headmistress."

The Headmistress looked at her for a moment before her face brightened a bit. "Miss Granger, was it? I remember now, you were in Hufflepuff."

Hermione shrugged. "Well, it's Snape now. But please, call me Hermione. It's about time."

The Headmistress relaxed and stowed her wand away. "It's Minerva, as you well know. Come, the Castle has been telling me things over the past few weeks and I presume you're the reason why. Let's have some tea upstairs."

Hermione followed the Headmistress up through the corridors and floating staircases until they reached the Headmistress' office.

The office looked quite different to what it had been both in Hermione's original timeline and when she had met Professor Dumbledore there after going back. The large desk was still prominent, but there was also a leather couch by the fireplace with a tartan plaid on it, and a matching armchair at an angle. None of Professor Dumbledore's odd instruments were on display but there was a cat tree by the window where Fawkes' perch had stood. The office felt cosy, inviting and warm.

Dilys waved at her from a portrait. "Hermione! Good to see you again. Oh, it is today? Oh dear. Welcome back."

"You were successful in your mission," Heliotrope said, looking down from Phineas Black's portrait.

The former Headmaster nodded. "Although we didn't get to see Headmaster Snape behind this desk, I concur. Very well done."

Hermione smiled at them. "Thank you, all of you. You were a great support for me back then, I couldn't have done it on my own."

"Open the desk," Phineas said.

There was a thick scroll in the drawer where she'd found Headmaster Snape's letter, all those years ago on this day.

Your time has found its end and its beginning. On behalf of all of Hogwarts we thank you for your efforts and hope the cost was not too high for you to bear.

When you are ready, Gringotts will host the wand and notebook for the next traveller. The vault will remain open for you to use, and Hogwarts will always be yours to visit.

Do not forget about the past, but do remember to move forward. Now is the time for a new beginning, a new life. We look forward to seeing what you will make of it.

— Heliotrope Wilkins

Hermione read the scroll and put it back in the drawer, letting it close again. It felt as if it belonged there, with Hogwarts.

Minerva eyed her over the rim of her teacup. "Was it worth it, coming here?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "Always. I've gained so much from this life. A husband, a family. Friends. Yes, it was worth it."

"Speaking of, I'm curious to hear what changes you've implemented after Professor Dumbledore, Minerva. I hear a bit from Eleanor but not as much as I'd like."

The Headmistress brightened. "Oh, I've managed to implement a change or two. Did you hear about History of Magic? Binns still teaches, but the students are moved to another classroom with a teacher who is actually alive. Binns still hasn't noticed the students are gone."

Hermione grinned. "Excellent. I heard Muggle Studies is now mandatory?"

"Yes, for the first-years, along with Wizarding Studies to teach the Muggle-borns about our culture."

Before she knew it, the Headmistress was called down to the Great Hall for dinner. They had spent all day talking. Hermione had come up with some more ideas for inter-House cooperation and had also asked about the basilisk in the bowels of the Castle. Minerva had been stunned to silence for a full minute, teacup halfway to her mouth, before she recovered and promised to look into it and also to let Severus help with the disposal. They had also made a plan for the Centaurs and Acromantulas to make the Forbidden Forest a less forbidding place.

When Hermione rose to leave one of the portraits started applauding, and soon all of them did including Albus Dumbledore.

Severus looked up from his book when she tumbled out of the fireplace in their sitting room. He looked much the same as he had in his twenties, but a bit softer around the edges. A hint of grey had recently appeared at his temple, and a few more lines on his forehead but he looked nothing at all like the tortured Professor he had been to her previously. Hermione still felt her heart warm when she saw him, no matter the years.

"Today was the day?"

She nodded. He got up and put his arms around her from behind, sniffing her neck.

"You saved me from teaching, witch."

She twisted around to face him and snorted. "That's your main takeaway from all this?"

His eyes softened. "Undoubtedly the most important feat of yours, Madam Snape."

She silenced him with a kiss that quickly got heated.

"The children are with the Longbottoms," Severus murmured against her skin.

"Oh, is that so?"

"Whatever should we do with our time?"

In response she snaked her hands in under his shirt, stroking his back and then up his front, rubbing his nipples. He inhaled sharply and his eyes went unfocused before he kissed her again.

It was unclear who dragged whom off to the bedroom, but Hermione didn't mind. She had all she wanted in this life, and the next.