Chapter 5 (Epilogue)
AN: Yay! I've managed to edit this one too tonight! I hope all who read this enjoyed it as much as I did writing it!
ALERT: Any writers out there reading this or anyone who knows a writer on this site, PLEASE let them know that an "anonymous reviewer" is posting a "review" to pander CHILD PORN! I had to delete their "review" from three of my stories! Please pass this on and let everyone know to check their anonymous reviews in case they are targeted. I about had a panic attack when I saw it and immediately deleted it and went through every story I've posted and got rid of the two others.
Disclaimer: I make no monies with this.
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Fortunately, Sirius Black was exonerated for the crimes he was accused of and the one crime he was convicted of was being an unregistered animagi, was considered as sentence served. A week later found Harry Potter moving in with Sirius Black at Grimmauld Place, permanently, much to Albus' dismay. What made matters worse for Albus Dumbledore was Sirius and Amelia brought charges against the old Headmaster for the crimes they could prove happened.
Sirius was able to have minimal damage done to his mind while at Azkaban by switching to his animagus form whenever the guards were not around, which was most of the time. He did go to a mind healer but it was more for the anguish from Peter's betrayal than anything else. Remus moved into Grimmauld Place once the truth was known and the two friends buried the past and started anew, with Harry there to reap the benefits of having two people to care for him.
Instead of telling Sirius about his time at the Dursleys, Harry allowed his godfather to pull the memories to view for himself. It took Harry and Remus to hold Sirius back after he came out of the pensieve. However, Remus viewed the memories after Sirius calmed down (and was stuck to his seat without his wand) and his eyes glowed golden. Moony was not happy, at all, with how his cub had been treated.
Harry managed to convince them that taking matters into their own hands would only land him back with the abusive muggles or worse, so Sirius took a few days to figure out how to handle them. Since he was the Head of the House of Black, he used his title, and Harry's, to inform the goblins of the treatment of a magical child. The goblins were more than happy to deal with the situation, legally. It was during that meeting that Sirius also started listing charges for Dumbledore which the goblins would carry out as well…legally, of course.
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After Severus had told Dumbledore that Hermionen Bellator had had another family emergency and moved back to America, he continued to teach potions. He had considered leaving Hogwarts, now that he was a free wizard but knew he couldn't. He wanted to teach Hermione first and then, possibly, leave to do his own thing which didn't involve hormonal dunderheads trying their damnedest to blow themselves up.
However, Severus did feel much lighter and found teaching the little heathens not as bad as it had been. He still would leave in a few years but could tolerate teaching until then.
When he approached the new timeline's Hermione and offered her an apprenticeship, Hermionen had been right, she was suspicious and wary of the offer, and him, but had accepted. The apprenticeship would start after Christmas Hols.
While Hermione was his apprentice, Severus often saw traits of his Hermione here and there. He was glad this Hermione would never have the scars or trauma Hermionen had. This Hermione would blaze her way through whatever she chose to do without worry of her life or of her friends.
Severus Snape apprenticed Hermione and watched her blossom just as she had predicted. He also held true to his word, he gave no other witch any mind. He was also able to be a bit less of a bastard to the dunderheads walking the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. Upon Hermione's graduation, Severus was also able to inlay her Master laurels into her collar bone with great pride. Her Mastery project had been making the Wolfsbane potion a one-time drink a week before the full moon and she had improved the taste, making it easier to take and remember to take.
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Amelia had placed the Volde-ball of blackness in a room with Fiendfyre to make sure the megalomaniac was dead for good. Without his Horcruxes to anchor him, the Fiendfyre obliterated his wraith form, allowing the wizarding world to breathe easier for the first time in over five decades.
After Volde-ball was dealt with, Amelia turned her steel gaze to Sirius Black's case and was appalled at what she found. Sirius had been sent to Azkaban without any trial or evidence of wrongdoing. Being at the wrong place at the wrong time was not a reason to be sent to prison. As Amelia dug deeper into the last living Black, she found the only crime he had actually committed was being an unregistered animagus and that certainly didn't carry a prison term as punishment. When Amelia brought this up to the Wizengamot and informed them of Pettigrew's deceit, a special was called and Sirius Black was released immediately after the trial.
Amelia also brought charges against Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore for abuse of power. Unlike in the muggle world, there were no statutes of limitations in the wizarding world. She had uncovered enough evidence that the manipulating old wizard had known exactly what he had done to Sirius Black, Harry Potter, Remus Lupin and several others; all for his "Greater Good". Once charges were formally pressed, Kingsley Shacklebolt stood in as temporary Chief Warlock and presided over the trial.
When Albus Dumbledore was found guilty of all charges brought against him, he was stripped of all titles, vaults, properties and sent to Azkaban to live out his days.
The last thing Amelia did, after Dumbledore's trial, was to speak with Minerva about the Chamber of Secrets. She wanted her Unspeakables to open it and contain the threat within. Instead of killing the poor beast, the Unspeakable was able to speak with it behind a special shield and learn that Salazar Slytherin had brought her in and it was Tom Riddle who had kept her captive.
Under Amelia's steely gaze, the Department of Mysteries was able to relocate the basilisk to a new home where there were a few basilisks she could cohabitate with, making Hogwarts a safe place once again and managing to save another life in the process.
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Peter Pettigrew was tried by the Wizengamot for his many crimes and given life in Azkaban which had had new wards placed on it to protect against animagus from escaping. It was rumored that the Dementors frequented his cell more than most, even other DeathEaters. However, after news of his crimes came to light, no one felt sorry for the eager DeathEater who betrayed his "best friends".
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The wizarding world breathed a deep breath of relief when all the attacks stopped and the air of malevolence disappeared.
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Lucius Malfoy was able to relax and try to fix the horrible way he had had to raise his son. It would take Draco some time to break treating others so badly but Lucius was sure he would manage. Now that the dark lord was no more there were no more reasons to be something he wasn't. He didn't have a problem with muggle-borns, per se; he had trouble with their nonexistent knowledge of the wizarding world's traditions and ways. Now, he might be able to introduce a course the summer before first years started to help those not raised in the wizarding world, allowing them lessons in what everyone else took for granted.
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The pureblood community was given a major wake-up call when the news of Voldemort and Peter Pettigrew came to light. Many chose to drop the blood purity all together when the Ministry made it illegal to preach anything but tolerance upon penalty of Azkaban. It amazed those like Severus Snape and Amelia Bones just how easily the ideal of blood purity was dropped by so many. They both thought it would take some time for the prejudice to disappear but, given no threats to their family or themselves, most were able to drop it like a hot potato.
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Hermione Granger continued to be best friends with Harry Potter. Ronald Weasley distanced himself from them when it came to light that the dark lord was no more and that Harry no longer had the lightning bolt scar proving he was just "friends" with Harry as long as he was the Chosen One. Harry was more than happy to be shot of the title. He and Hermione became even closer due to this and when Severus Snape offered Hermione an apprenticeship, it was Harry that helped her to accept it, which she did.
As she became accustomed to her Master's ways, she grew to appreciate the man more. Her respect had never lacked for the strict professor but she was now learning that there was more to Severus Snape than most ever dreamed of. She appreciated his no nonsense approach to potions as well as the little tips and tricks he would show her. She attempted to absorb everything he was willing to teach and was often called a 'mini-Snape' which Hermione took as a compliment.
Over her time at Hogwarts, from second year on, Hermione enjoyed learning all she could. She also appreciated that Harry's friendship was something that only strengthened through the years. He became the brother she had always wanted but her parents were never able to provide. She was also grateful that the truth behind Ronald Weasley's friendship came to light after Harry was cured of his soul shard and became just another wizard. Harry, she had to admit, had become more fun to be around and more studious without the danger hanging over his head. She was also happy he was finally with family that cared for him. Hermione learned of his hardships and abuse through the years, a little at a time and understood why it took her best friend so long to confide in her. She appreciated his smiles and laughter even more.
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The best part was that the wizarding world never went through a second war, lives weren't needlessly lost to a madman's ploy to rule the world and purebloods finally realized there was more to life than blood or their very narrow views, especially when a certain muggle-born and her Master introduced them to the wonders of muggle inventions. Ink pens and notebooks became popular with students and the ladies of society enjoyed the many varieties of stationary the muggle world offered Slowly, some of the fashion was accepted with many a witch praising the creativity of muggles.
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With Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore in Azkaban, Minerva McGonagall was asked to become Hogwarts' new Headmistress with the Board of Governors backing her fully, mainly Lucius Malfoy. To everyone's surprise and joy, Minerva set about making changes to the school and its curriculum immediately; starting with updating and improving the wards the Founders had put upon the school at its completion.
Sorting happened fourth year and first through third shared dorms. A communal common room was created for everyone to socialize in. New subjects were added: Maths, English/Literature, Science and (for purebloods) Muggle Studies revamped and (for non-magical raised witches and wizards) Wizarding Society Studies. Several electives were added as well, such as dance, art, music, cooking and spell crafting. Also, the Slytherin dorms were moved to their own tower, much to the students delight.
Overall, Hogwarts and its students, along with the various wizarding shopping centers, enjoyed a much healthier and livelier life.
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Much to Severus' pleasure, Hermione stayed by his side after graduation and receiving her laurels. They worked well together and enjoyed each other's company. Severus also waited to see if she would remember her trip back in time. This timeline turned out much different for the feisty witch than before. This time, she was able to enjoy her time at Hogwarts, never had to erase her parents memories, never had to watch her friends die, never was tortured and had only come close to death once. Instead, she had managed to remain top of her class all seven years. She had managed to graduate with top honors and marks along with completing her Mastery in Potions. She had blossomed to a beautiful and vivacious witch that was able to allow her inner light to shine like a beacon with no one attempting to dim it in any way.
During her apprenticeship Severus had watched her grow and bloom beautifully. She had come into her own within a year of being his apprentice. He took great pride, and so did she, when others would say she was becoming or had become a carbon copy of him with the way she walked (billowed) and watched over his potions classes. They both took it as a compliment.
However, it was on November eleventh at eight at night that Hermione and Severus were having their usual chat about the day over tea when Hermione suddenly went quiet before she slumped in her chair. Severus was at her side in an instant, checking on her. She stayed that way for roughly ten minutes before she suddenly sat up, almost clocking Severus with her head. But when her eyes met his, Severus knew, she had been gifted the memories. When Hermione leaned forward and snogged him senseless, Severus breathed a sigh of relief.
"Welcome back, Hermionen." he whispered as he gathered her in his arms and carried her to his bed where he planned to have his wicked way with the true witch of his heart. Hermione could only smile as she held onto him as tears made silent tracks down her cheeks from happiness.
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~Fin~
