Note: Please read Chapter 20 before reading the epilogue (posted on the same day)! Thanks! :)

Epilogue

"We're going to be late, Mum."

Rose started, absorbed in her task. She had misplaced the locket she normally wore, round and gold with an ornate rose stamped into it; it had been a wedding present from Severus. She rifled around in her luggage once more before huffing, giving up, and simply muttering, "Accio locket."

The locket jingled in her robe pocket, finally breaking loose from the folds of fabric and landing in her palm. Rose sighed in relief.

Violet watched impatiently from her perch on the Inn bed. Rose dangled the locket from her hand, shaking it.

"Got it sorted now," she assured Violet. Violet rolled her eyes moodily, causing Rose to chuckle.

Sure, I mostly raised her, but Severus' character still shines through.

Rose strung the locket around her neck. Then, she shut her suitcase latches with a crisp clack and smoothed her professor's robes, turned a dark shade of pink. Hopefully Headmaster McGonagall wouldn't mind.

"Alright, Vi," she told her daughter. "Are you ready?" She offered her hand, which Violet exasperatedly took, holding her small suitcase in her other hand.

They made their way out of The Three Broomsticks Inn, and through the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade towards Hogwarts. "Maybe you'll be a Ravenclaw like me," Rose told her.

"It's not like it matters, anyway." Violet huffed, though Rose could sense her anxiety.

Rose squeezed her daughter's hand. "Of course it doesn't. Whatever house you're placed in will be the best house."

They arrived at Hogwarts just as the sun had sunk below the horizon. Already, new students were arriving by boat. Rose lamented that Violet wouldn't experience the excitement of traveling across the Black Lake as a first year student. But, what could she have done?

If Rose hadn't accepted the position as Potions Professor, Rose would have kept Violet's childhood home on the outskirts of Hogsmeade; so, Violet wouldn't have had to travel in the typical fashion to Hogwarts with either decision.

Rose would miss her work at J. Pippin's Potions and her comfortable cottage. She had tried to argue with Severus to let her stay at Hogwarts, but he thought it too dangerous after her third year as a teaching assistant. She had spent so many years at the cottage raising Violet alone, it felt as if she had chipped away a small part of herself by leaving the home. But it was time. Finally, her dream of becoming a Potions Professor would be fulfilled.

-o-o-o-

Violet had been sorted into Slytherin. Rose cheered from her spot at the Professor's table. Violet smirked at Rose from underneath the Sorting Hat triumphantly, as if to say: Told you I wouldn't be a Ravenclaw. Rose didn't care. She held the locket at her chest.

How proud Severus would be.

After the hubbub of the house sorting and welcome feast had concluded, Rose said goodnight to Violet, pushing through the crowd of students to hug her daughter tightly, teary-eyed.

It was only after she saw Violet safely escorted from the Great Hall by the Slytherin prefects that she finally snuck away.

She exited the castle from the east, hurrying to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Luckily, the moon was nearly full, guiding her way. At the edge of the dark forest she lit her wand, remembering the tendency of tree roots to reach out and grab passersby.

She hesitated before stepping into the dense forest.

What if I can't find it? What if Severus really did know where it was? And it didn't just appear to us, as I thought?

Rose faltered, chewing her lip in worry. What if it was a dream?

She shut her eyes, exhaling. Whatever was going to happen, it would be worth it.

She began her trek into the forest, using small inscrutable cues in the forest to guide her. A rock with moss on one side and none on the other –— she went towards the moss. A tree forked in two, one side much taller than the other — she went the direction of the larger tree. All the while, she maintained her focus on envisioning the serene pool, surrounded by sparkling stones and moss.

She had been wandering through the forest for what had felt like a half an hour, cringing at any rustling in shrubs and jumping at the sound of howling in the distance. She startled when she felt the ground beneath her become pillowy. She shone her wand at her feet: verdant down-soft moss welcomed her.

And there, just as she had remembered, was the gleaming pool, water trickling gently into it from upslope. She felt exuberant, though she wasn't even sure if it would work.

Did Severus say any enchantments? What if he cast a spell that was undetectable to me?

She shook her head, simply overwhelmed with emotion at finding the sacred place. She fell to her knees, the moss bouncing a little as she kneeled before the pool. She shut her eyes tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered. She swallowed, her throat becoming tight. "For allowing me to find this place once more."

As if in response, a small breeze blew through her hair. Rose laughed, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Severus," she whispered. "Severus, I miss you."

Rose kept her eyes closed tightly. The breeze had stopped, and she suddenly felt very cold. She shivered, goosebumps dotting her skin.

For a moment, she thought it was useless. She opened her eyes slowly.

And there he was.

He kneeled before the other end of the pool, wearing his professor's robes, his hair falling in locks around his face. His form was hazy, as if he was surrounded in mist.

Rose laughed, a sob intermixing itself with the laugh. How she wanted to splash across the pool to him. Somehow, she knew this would break the meeting.

Severus gazed at her with sad, somber eyes.

"Severus," she whispered. "Can you hear me?"

He nodded slowly.

Rose exhaled quickly, holding her breath. She swallowed thickly, tears dropping into the moss.

She blinked, trying to focus. How long will this last? How long has he been waiting?

She began to speak quickly. "Violet is eleven, now. She was just sorted into Slytherin today. And … she looks like you, acts like you, too." Rose paused, laughing. "It only makes sense that when you left, there would be someone else to keep me on my toes."

Severus smiled slowly, sadly, closing his eyes briefly and nodding.

Rose swallowed, inhaling shakily. "You can't speak."

Severus shook his head slowly.

Rose tried to not show her disappointment; she kept going. There was so much to tell him.

"Harry is safe. I believe he is at peace, finally. He's married to Ginny Weasley, he has children — one of them even has your name for a middle name. And … and … Voldemort is dead."

Severus nodded slowly, a smile quirking his lips.

She gazed at him, blinking. His form seemed to be harder to see. She squinted. She had to keep going. Maybe that would keep him here.

"I … I'm the new Potions Professor. And …"

Severus was fading more now.

"Severus, please, not yet, I'm not ready yet."

You already are. Severus mouthed to her.

"Severus!" Rose called, more frantic now. "Wait!"

Severus held up one finger.

She nodded. "I love you. Wait for me wherever you are, won't you?"

Severus nodded. Always, he mouthed. Then, I love you, and disappeared.

-o-o-o-

Rose awoke on a grassy knoll beside the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The sky was painted with watercolors of pink, gold, and tangerine.

Rose smiled, reveling in the beauty of the sun gliding its rays across the dewy meadow. A breeze rustled the forest canopy, a shushing that sounded to Rose like the verse of a song. Or, a statement.

Forever, it said. Forever.

-o-o-o-

Note: If you've made it this far: THANK YOU! This is the longest writing project I've ever completed and I had so much fun writing it (it also helped me through some tough times). Thank you so much for reading - it really means a lot to me.

If you're interested, I'm working on a sequel to Summer Solstice that shows a bit of Rose and Severus' dynamic working together during the school year, so keep an eye out for that.

Thanks again and wishing you all well.