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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After	By : ElizabethStump Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 90306 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 115
- 116
- 117
"And They Didn't Live Happily Ever After"

Chapter One Hundred Fifteen
"It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day, It's a New Life"

Disclaimer: In Japanese haiku:
Rowling owns Potter
No copyright infringement
None of this is mine

========================

Hermione could hardly eat her toast. She was equally nervous and excited she would be leaving with Severus that morning.

Severus read through the Sunday edition of the Daily Prophet periodically huffing with exasperation. The paper was filled with not only the usual whitewashed pablum about the Ministry goings-on, but was also chock full of coverage about the party at Malfoy Manor the night before.

The headline "MUGGLES MINGLE AT MALFOY MANOR MIXER" led right into a story that questioned whether the non-magical guests at the fête were aware of the notorious rumors of possible Muggle torture that may have occurred at the house during the first and second wizarding wars.

Once again, it was a piece of pulp meant to enrage the public and titillate their short attention spans until the next falsely-manufactured scandal came along, even if a few Muggles were actually tortured there during both wars.

The fashion pages featured, among many photos, a candid shot of Hermione and Severus descending the staircase at the beginning of the evening, with compliments to Madam Mandel regarding Severus' dashing set of robes. There was also a photo exposé comparing Muggle and wizarding formal wear. Photos of Hermione's parents and aunt and uncle in their finest outfits, the men in black-tie tuxedos and the women in long formal Muggle evening gowns, were compared by fashion mavens to the more traditional evening wear that involved hoop-skirts and bustles. In the end, Ginny Malfoy's silver bias-cut dress was heralded the fashion winner of the evening, with a hint that maybe it was time for the wizarding world to begin moving away from Victorian underpinnings toward something more contemporary and chic, like hobble skirts and flapper dresses. Draco's double-breasted cashmere and silk robes in dark gray, with lapels set in a slightly lighter gray silk velvet, won him the designation of best-dressed wizard at the event.

Severus put the paper down when Hermione made a slightly distressed noise to herself. "Everything all right?"

"Yes, I received an owl from James Hoover, my therapist. He says that he is willing to continue seeing me long distance through the mirrors, especially in light of what recently happened, but that it may be a couple weeks before he can find an evening slot where he can make it to Lavender's offices." She sighed and put the last of her posts away before trying to finish the last of her toast, knowing if she didn't eat something Severus would be cross at her again for not eating.

Hermione hoped Lavender would take her advice and bring Devlin in for sessions with James, given the child had grown up in an unloving household where his aunt convinced him he was not worthy of love and that he was the son of a monster. Harry had also grown up in a very difficult house devoid of any love for him and was treated as a "freak"; she knew how that had caused him long-term mental and emotional scars. Hermione just hoped that Lavender and Ron could help reverse some of the damage done so Devlin could grow up to be a happy and well-adjusted wizard some day.

While they finished breakfast, Marf was busy packing up the bathroom and Hermione's clothes.

As they came out to inspect Marf's progress, Hermione found the top drawer of her dresser left opened. While all her lingerie had been packed, she could still see one item left behind that wasn't packed yet from that particular drawer.

Reaching in, she pulled out the box, waving her wand to end the spell that hid it from all except her and evidently Marf, since he'd packed it in her trunk during her December trip to Malu Palekaiko.

"What's that?" Severus asked, suddenly noticing the plain lidded box that suddenly appeared in her hands he didn't notice before.

Hermione bid him to come over to the settee to join her. With great interest he watched as she pulled off the box lid and peered inside.

"This is what I call my 'escape box,'" she informed him. "Before my parents left for the States to hide during the war, they wanted to make sure that in case the war didn't go as we hoped that I had a means to slip away and maybe rejoin them abroad if necessary."

Severus sat in silence, not missing the significance that Dumbledore had the same thought cross his mind during his last days alive, when he'd urged him to escape to Malu Palekaiko if the Dark Lord won.

"They made me promise not to tell Harry or even Ron. And to this day the boys have no idea about this. You're the first and only person I've told," she said in a voice barely above a whisper, noting the irony of it all. "Driver's license, credit card, passport, cash card, even some Muggle money should I have to suddenly leave and disappear. It was because of this, as well as Dumbledore's fear the Death Eaters might regroup abroad again, that I came up with a nearly foolproof way to prevent any Death Eaters from leaving after the war." Looking up at Severus, she added with a half smile, "Strange that though I came up with those measures I was the one who helped you and Draco escape, foiling my own carefully designed plan."

He felt deeply honored that she would share this great secret with him.

Hermione lifted out each piece to place in Severus' hand for his inspection. They both smiled when she removed the length of black silk from that night Hermione was blindfolded, while she only knew him as Calleo, and he'd begged her for more than she could give at the time.

"And now, despite having an escape box in case of the worst, I still need to leave England to stay safe even after we won the war," she noted with melancholy.

Severus looked at the photo of an eighteen-year-old Hermione on her passport and driver's license, noticing it was going to expire in a couple of years. All of the documents listed her last name as Granger.

As if reading his mind she remarked in an amused lilt, "Maybe before these expire I'll get them renewed, and maybe with a new last name."

Hermione's hint at marrying him one day and changing her last name on Muggle documents from Granger to Snape made him grin. She had not even changed her name on these items after marrying Weasley, but she was willing to do so for him.

Severus put the items back and put the lid back on. "Maybe you could even get a Hawaii state driver's license, and you could take me for another drive in a convertible. I hear the road to Hana on Maui is especially terrifying to most Muggles, because of its narrow twisting road."

Hermione laughed, thrilled that Severus seemed to be open to the idea of another drive. They might even go Muggle again and stay in Muggle accommodations in Maui for the night for the fun of it, making the bed springs creak as loudly as possible, and not even bother to charm them to be quiet next time.

It was almost time to go. Hermione put her escape box in with other sentimental items Marf packed, alongside the green frog-shaped pearl Severus gave her that she kept on her dresser top, and her San Francisco snow globe from her parents.

After one last check, everything had been packed and levitated into Hermione's trunk, including her dresser she'd had since before she married Ron. The only thing left behind was the furniture that was there when she moved in, including the settee, the low table that matched it, and four-poster canopied bed with the bed curtains that changed colors according to Hermione's moods – curtains that she rarely charmed black. Hermione also left the charmed two-way mirror behind, as Lavender would have one of the elves move it to her offices while its match was packed away after Mounga brought it from Hawaii. It was settled in her trunk with a protective cloth over it to prevent breakage during the trip, should the contents shift while Portkeying.

Marf sobbed bitterly that he was losing such a kind and wonderful mistress. When he asked if he could come with them and take care of them in Malu Palekaiko, Severus explained to the diminutive creature that in Malu Palekaiko there were only free elves, so Marf would have to be paid a comparable wage to that of a witch or wizard the house-elf suddenly decided that staying in England was a fine option and wished them the best instead. Hermione was sad that Marf and many other house-elves, though mostly free, still sought to bind themselves in some form of servitude to an employer. She was just glad Lavender was a fair and equitable employer who at least paid the elves in her employ something beyond a pittance and insisted on one day off a month mandatory.

As Hermione and Severus arrived at the Ministry via Floo, they were greeted by Harry. It seems after the night of partying, he was the only one awake and not hung-over enough to see them off, which was fine since Hermione had said most of her goodbyes last night.

Severus carried Hermione's trunk for her, levitating it with his wand behind them as they walked towards the Portkey office while Hermione carried Calleo in her cage. Mounga and his family had taken a slightly earlier Portkey and would greet them there in Hawaii when they arrived.

Just before approaching the desk for those with reservations, Hermione turned to Harry and gave him a hearty hug goodbye, which he returned with equal feeling.

"It's been a long, strange turn of events to reach this point," Hermione remarked.

Harry hummed in agreement, nodding his head. When he had asked Hermione to spy on Ginny to see if she was having an affair, neither of them could have guessed the way that events would have turned out with Harry married to someone else. Neither did they expect Harry to save Snape and Malfoy, two wizards he once loathed with a passion, from a former fellow Dumbledore’s Army member. They certainly did not expect all parties present to be happy that Hermione was going to go off and live with Snape.

"I suppose I should return this to you," Hermione said as she made to remove the Auror's pendant that still hung around her neck.

Harry shook his head. "No, keep it. When you come back to England for your certification as a Potions mistress, put it back on. Just let me know so I can wear its match before you come," he said as he lifted the other pendant briefly out from under his shirt to show he still wore his half. Looking to Snape, he added, "Two wizards looking after Hermione while she's here is better than one." It was an assurance that Harry did not doubt Snape's ability to protect Hermione when they would come back in about a year, but that a little extra help can sometimes be a good thing, just in case.

Severus agreed and shook Potter's hand. "Thank you."

Hermione waved farewell and even shed a few tears as they made their way to the desk to take a nine o'clock Portkey directly to Malu Palekaiko.

Severus held Hermione's arm to help her as they landed.

Exiting the Portkey landing area, Severus heard Halulu sigh with great relief, "Oh, thank Pele you both made it back safely!" Mounga had briefly brought Halulu up to speed on what transpired, but kept the details vague.

Mounga was waiting on the other side of the counter for the pair.

As Mounga placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder, she glanced over to Severus. "Must I do this now?" she asked, wanting nothing more than to go home and put the trauma of it all behind her.

Severus knew how she felt, but said with resignation, "Once your interview is over, you will be granted sanctuary and will be protected by the island's magic. Then we can both rest easy."

Glancing over at the clock that was just a few minutes past eight in the evening, Mounga said, "Hopefully, you'll be done by midnight, or maybe sooner, we hope."

"I'll wait for you here until you're done," Severus assured her.

Hermione gave him one last hug and fleeting kiss before removing her cloak and being willingly led off to a hallway featuring a row of doors. Severus could hardly believe that it was a mere sixteen months or so since he walked into one of those rooms. It wasn't that long ago, yet seemed like it was another lifetime.

Settling himself into a chair in which to wait alone with his thoughts, Severus wished he had at least pulled out a book to read from Hermione's library before they finished packing her trunk.

"I'm about to close up for the night. Mounga will lock up when you guys leave. Care for a cup of coffee before I turn off the pot?" Halulu asked as she cleaned up for the night.

Severus shook his head. He wasn't sleepy. He should have been, but staying up all night by Hermione's bedside that first night had reset his body clock to London time, without the help of Hermione's Portkey lag potion. He would make use of a vial tonight to set his body back to local time.

In the white room that gleamed with impersonal coldness, Hermione took the seat offered. She noticed the toilet in the corner concealed behind a low screen, no doubt to relieve herself should this take a while. She could only imagine the types of people who came seeking sanctuary – including some who might have once been dangerous indeed, that they would have to provide a toilet so the interrogator could still keep an eye on them until the interview was finished.

"Please place your wand and everything in your pockets on the table," Mounga asked politely.

Hermione did as she was asked.

Mounga removed a vial from his shirt pocket. "This is Veritaserum. Given you are a Potions apprentice, I shall assume you know what it is and does."

She nodded mutely.

Mounga continued explaining, "Now, by law, you asked for sanctuary, and I must give it to you. But part of the process of asking for sanctuary requires the administration of Veritaserum during the processing of your request for sanctuary."

"You don't have to give it to me," she freely offered. "I'll gladly tell you everything you want to know. You were there during the hearing in front of the committee."

Shaking his head, he admitted with regret, "It doesn't exactly work that way. See, we get all types. On one end of the spectrum, we see those who are truly being harassed, hunted, persecuted, oppressed, and tortured, who are the reason why a place such as this exists. All the way at the other end of the spectrum are mass murderers, sadistic psychopaths, and the worst scum who deserve to be wiped from the face of the earth, but they make it here by the skin of their teeth and luck, escaping what I would consider justice. However, because of the magic imbued into our sanctuary, all who come to seek it take Veritaserum, even if they profess innocence and even if we know they are innocent of any wrongdoing.

"If we make an exception for one from taking Veritaserum, even if we know they are worthy of the protection they are guaranteed here, then what would it take before others start demanding that it is not fair, others who might have a more questionable background. And while yes, technically, I can't force you to take it, this is the custom. But the custom is also perceived as the law though in actuality it is not law; the law should be blind, treating all equally without bias or preference. If it is any consolation, anything you say in here I am bound to never say. Should you choose to share certain aspects of your background, then it becomes public knowledge and then I may only speak of what you have revealed. I processed Severus, and though you may know him quite intimately, I cannot share things he said to me in confidence during his own interview. As such, anything you share here with me in this room I cannot tell even Severus, unless you were to break the law and things you divulged to me were relevant to said trial case, for instance: if you were a killer granted sanctuary and then attacked someone here."

Hermione had heard from Severus about his interview and Mounga's assured secrecy, but it did not ease her apprehension about taking Veritaserum.

"Does this Veritaserum make me tell you everything?" Hermione queried, knowing there were some variations to the formula and wondering if she would inadvertently tell Mounga about her and Severus' private and intimate moments.

"Only if you deem them relevant to the questions posed regarding your request for sanctuary," he assured her. "This is a slightly varied potion from the traditional Veritaserum you might be familiar with. It's a secret formula only known and brewed by those on the town council who interview those seeking sanctuary. Not even Severus knows this formula, unless he becomes a town council member some day and interviews those seeking sanctuary."

"The ones you said who come here, the more dangerous ones. Will I have to worry about someone like that here?" she asked, the threat of being attacked still looming large in her mind.

"No. Those types who come here know if they so much as set a toe out of line and harm another or blatantly break the law, they will lose sanctuary status and get kicked out. Those who we deem more potentially hostile we place in more secluded and remote parts of the island, and I visit regularly to check up on them and monitor for any possible issues. And while they are free to move about the island and mingle with the rest of the inhabitants, many usually keep to themselves, avoiding temptation. I can assure you that most seek to start over, and they have made earnest endeavors to leave their old lives and habits behind to live out the rest of their days in peace and quiet. For those, it may seem like a prison to you, but a prison of their own choosing versus what options were available had they remained to meet justice in their homeland."

Hermione drank in all that he said, remembering Severus had told her that Mounga's father treated all who came there as if they were the worst of the worst. She was glad that Mounga was running things around here now as Severus was never made to feel like a prisoner, despite his being unable to leave the protective sanctuary of the island while he was still being persecuted and hunted back in England.

"I'm ready," she said with a sense of finality, ready to take the step forward to be granted sanctuary.

With a flick of his wand, Mounga conjured a glass with water. He poured the famous elixir into the water for her to see.

Taking the glass in hand, she took a large gulp of it, feeling the tendrils of the magic loosen her tongue.

"Now, why don't you start at the beginning of everything that led up to the events that occurred that require you now to seek sanctuary," Mounga prompted her.

Of course Hermione had to start at the beginning. And to start at the beginning of it all meant she had to begin her tale with her first year at Hogwarts. With little surprise to Mounga, it began with Ronald Weasley insulting Hermione by calling her a "nightmare," which resulted in her fleeing to the girls' toilet the night Professor Quirrell had let a troll into the dungeons.

As Mounga remembered from Severus' confessions during his interview, he had told Mounga about Weasley's long-standing propensity to insult Hermione. 'Severus was right; Weasley is a big fat jerk,' Mounga mused to himself.

After the troll incident, Hermione said, she became friends with Harry and Ron, which resulted in her squarely in the category of students Severus disliked due to her association with the boy wizard who looked like a carbon copy of Severus' old nemesis. Of course, Mounga would never make mention of the fact that Hermione also reminded Severus of his dead wife, Gabrielle, as Mounga was not allowed to divulge such information. It was Severus' place to share that tidbit, if ever.

Her tale went on in which she and her friends thought Severus was after the Sorcerer's Stone and the various incidents that further put her into the doghouse with Severus, including the robe-burning incident during the Quidditch game. There was stealing from his stores to brew the Polyjuice Potion in her second year, the Shrieking Shack incident in her third year, and other happenstances, when she periodically had to stop talking to allow Mounga to guffaw with surprise or laugh heartily, having heard the tale from a different viewpoint before.

Never had Mounga had the privilege of processing two people so closely connected in their bid for sanctuary. He was acutely made aware that though both were speaking the truth during their interviews, the truth was somewhat subjective from their own points of view. And while their stories did not contradict one another, he did notice the differences, which made his appreciation for listening to two sides of a story in the courtroom more amusing with this elucidating experience.

It was as Hermione told about her fifth year at Hogwarts that more threads of the story began to unfurl, with the addition of Dolores Umbridge to Hermione's confession. From there Severus and Hermione's paths began to diverge during the war, except for where they briefly worked towards the same goal of defeating Voldemort. Progressing along her narrative, the war eventually ended. This resulted in Hermione telling Mounga about her marriage, including Severus yelling at her the night before her wedding, her low-level job at the Ministry, and her inability to secure an apprenticeship.

From here the story became more convoluted with the additional discovery of Ginny's infidelity with Draco, and Hermione's meetings with Severus, when she knew him only as Calleo and how she reluctantly fell in love with him. Hermione skipped over her time together with Severus, keeping only to the relevant details of stealing the Polyjuice ingredients and his invitation to join him to flee, including her meeting with the old fortuneteller.

She shamefully confessed her brief flirtation with Alan Parker at the Three Broomsticks, unaware he had set his sights on her in order to seek his revenge on behalf of his godmother, and their subsequent encounter the night of her anniversary. She even admitted, much later in the confession as it was chronologically relevant, as to why she'd slept with Neville, which then led to the disastrous floral mix-up being misconstrued for something other than what it was.

Upon reaching the part where Severus fled for sanctuary himself, it entered territory Mounga was not familiar with and he listened with rapt attention. When Hermione told Mounga about her and Severus' potions experimentation, which came to bear when she was attacked and Severus' bout with the ice pox; she explained how she and Severus met in an alternate plane. For some reason, this was a source of great relief to Mounga, since he had been perplexed as to the reason why Severus was passed out for those two days during the Pele Festival.

Mounga assured Hermione that he would not share that information about their inadvertent binding, not even with Rainbow, who was still confounded to that day as to the cause of her patient's prolonged and unexplained sleep.

On Hermione's tale went, periodically stopping to drink more Veritaserum as needed. As she told of her tale of nearly wandering into the Valley of Death, she could not help by cry, moved by the fact that Mounga was crying, having himself been involved with the surrounding events. Her interview ended when she gave a brief recap of her petition before the council to change Potions masters, since Mounga had been there himself to witness the hearing.

Sitting back in his chair, Mounga exhaled a huge breath. "Dude. I'm totally floored. What a tale. And I thought Draco and Ginny's story could hardly be topped, but man..." He shook his head, his mouth drawn down in deep contemplation of all that he had heard.

"What else do we have to do before I'm granted sanctuary?" Hermione asked, feeling emotionally spent.

"That's it. Aloha. Welcome to Malu Palekaiko." He shrugged his great shoulders.

Hermione frowned, as it seemed a bit anticlimactic. It wasn't that she expected a shower of silver and gold sparks to sudden baptize her or anything in some magical absolution and blessing, but it seemed that all she had to do was spill her guts and that was it.

"I was wondering, do we have to tell everyone on the island I was granted sanctuary?" Hermione asked, unsure what the answer would be.

"You want to keep it a secret?" Mounga asked, wondering why she looked a bit ashamed.

"Well, it's just that..." How could Hermione phrase this without making it come out wrong. "Must I carry around a welcome packet as a badge that I'm one of the good guys, like a seal of approval? I mean, people were already expecting me to move here anyway to open up operations. Can we just say that due to circumstances we moved up my move date and got a work-around with the council – which is the truth." Hermione hated to admit it, but she didn't want there to be a question as to her reasons for seeking sanctuary. For if people thought it was for criminal activity, she felt it might reduce everyone's esteem of her, and if it was for protection from persecution or harm, then there would be the curious questions and stares of who she was trying to run from. She just wanted to be accepted as someone who moved there of their own volition, not under duress.

"Yeah," Mounga said. "That is if Halulu and my wife haven't told half the town already," he said with a guilty chagrin, wishing he had said something earlier to the two witches to assure some confidentiality.

"Well, if the kneazle is out of the bag, I'll just deal with it then, but I would prefer to just go on without it being publicized so freely." Hermione sighed, hoping she would not have people approach her to drag up the past.

"Well, here, people tend to let others alone regarding their lives before coming here, unless the person wants to share. Just be aware my wife loves to pry, but I've seen you handle her, so no worries," he said with a half-laugh.

Severus kept himself busy by mentally going through all the students he could shuffle off to Hermione to make up the four days he had been gone during scheduled tutoring sessions. Then there were the commissions that he'd had to scrap. Fortunately for a few of the ones that required long-term brewing, he had spare batches already brewed and bottled just in case. Just as he was he was starting to go through his inventories at the shop, he heard the door down the hallway creak open.

Hermione practically ran and threw herself into Severus' arms just as he got to his feet. He spun her about and planted a kiss firmly upon her lips. But it was brief, suddenly remembering that Mounga was there and chuckling aloud to himself watching the two reunited.

"It's done," Mounga announced. "She's safe here now."

Severus could not keep an ecstatic smile from spreading across his face. Were he any other person, his eyes might have twinkled even.

Hermione reveled in seeing him so happy, on par with the day she suddenly showed up on his doorstep on Christmas Eve. However, this time it was no brief visit; she was going to stay there with him for the rest of their lives.

Walking up the main street of town, arm in arm, Hermione holding Calleo's cage while Severus took care of her trunk, they heard the music spilling out of Bongo's.

It was almost midnight, and the place was packed.

Severus was glad he went to the bar on Friday nights as those nights tended to draw a slightly older and less rambunctious crowd than the one that populated that bar on Saturday nights – the ones who were presently imbibing unwisely beyond their limit. Many of the young unmarried witches and wizards in the bar were those close to Hermione's age or younger. Many of them were apprentices who sought to blow off steam from a long week working for their masters and mistresses while hoping to find someone attractive of the opposite sex equally interested enough to attempt a brief tryst that night.

Jerry's voice could be heard as he played on the piano, the volume up much louder than during Severus' Friday night visits, when he was surrounded by others who were a bit older seeking a drink after a long week at work before going home to family.

As they passed by the bar, they could clearly hear Jerry singing an older Muggle standard from the 60's that had been rerecorded and recently playing on the local Wizarding Wireless Network .

"... Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
It's a new life
For me

And I'm feeling good..."

Hermione was sure this was yet another case of "radio syndrome," but with Jerry instead of a box belting out a tune that reflected the mood. It was a new day where Hermione and Severus were both free to begin their new life together. They were indeed both feeling good. She leaned her head sideways on Severus' shoulder as they continued their walk home.

"Do we really have to make the trek all the way to the top of the volcano tomorrow? Can it wait until next weekend when we've had a chance to rest?" she whined, seeing the tall mountain looming above the small town.

Recalling the urgency that was imparted to him when he first arrived, he recalled similar words. "You must make a trip to the edge of the caldera and make an offering to Pele in thanks for providing you with sanctuary within the first week, preferably the sooner the better. To not do so would be a great offense and bring bad luck."

"Bad luck?" Hermione scoffed questioningly.

Severus decided that when he, Hermione, and Mounga made the trip up tomorrow, he would share his experiences of seeing Pele in person himself. He would impress upon her the seriousness of the fact it was Pele's magic that was going to keep Hermione safe from future harm, and their need to respect that powerful magic with appropriate reverence.

Up on the porch, Severus set her trunk down with his wand as he fished in his pocket for his keys that Mounga gave back to him at St. Mungo's, while Hermione set Calleo's cage down. After unlocking the door, he pushed it open. Before Hermione could pick up the cage again and walk through, Severus scooped her up into his arms. She squeaked with surprise from the sudden act. Her heart raced at the symbolism of Severus' gesture to carry her across the threshold.

They may not have gone through the ceremony or had the piece of paper to make it official, but to Severus it made little difference. To him, he was finally bringing Hermione into their home at last, and they would no longer be parted.

Hermione suddenly felt a bit shy, like a new bride, and was overcome at this heartwarming gesture of great sentimental significance.

He was reluctant to put her down, and to his relief, Hermione pulled out her wand and cast a Summoning Charm to bring her trunk and Calleo's cage inside, followed by a flick of her wand to close the door.

Hermione stroked his cheek in awe at the sight of Severus unable to stop smiling.

"How about we get out of these warm woolen clothes into something a bit more appropriate for this climate," Severus suggested with an arch of his brow that implied so much more.

"And change into what?" Hermione played along with their banter.

"Cool cotton sheets and nothing else," he proposed with a lustful glance that made Hermione gasp with mock drama and throw her head back in surrender to Severus' libidinous intentions.

"Carry me off to your jungle love lair to ravish me, my dark angel lover," she sighed coquettishly, trying not to laugh, but failed as Severus began to chuckle himself.

Severus did not have to be told twice, but he was hoping to make her beg sweetly this time.

Calleo was glad, that after much vociferous squawking and unseemly baying that went on in the room upstairs that seemed to last for hours, her owner finally came back and let her out of her cage. The female human set her up with a few owl treats before going back and continuing on with the incessant whooping and caterwauling that went on far too long until nearly dawn.

============

A/N: Stay tuned, two more chapters and then the epilogue.

And let's give a round of applause to my lovely betas for this chapter, JuneW and Hope.

Yes, I have driven the road to Hana on Maui. It is rather narrow and twisting, but no less stressful and frightening if you grew up driving narrow twisting canyons like I did around Los Angeles: Tujunga, Mulholland, Coldwater, Topanga, Laurel, and some parts of the Pacific Coast Highway. However, if you live in a state that is mostly flat with lots of straight roads, I can see how it can be rather fearsome and daunting, based on some of the souvenir T-shirts they sell locally saying "I Survived the Road To Hana" or "Road to Hana Survivor" and showing a harried driver narrowly missing driving off a hairpin turn and driving off a cliff.

"Feeling Good": song written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. This particular version lyric arrangement performed by Michael Buble. And yes, Buble's version was released in April 2005, same time as the end of this chapter.

And for a bonus, what sort of author would I be to keep talking about Severus' mango chutney and not provide you the recipe. So here it is:

Severus' Mango Chutney
Makes 6+* pints

Ingredients broken down into WET and DRY:

DRY:

5 cups White Sugar
1 3/4 cups Dark Brown Sugar
12 oz Candied Crystallized Ginger: snipped* into approx. 1/2" pieces
1 TBL Mustard Seeds: yellow or brown
1 1/2 tsp Salt
2 cups Raisins: white or golden
1 cup Black Seedless Raisins: e.g. Muscats
1 cup Dates: snipped* into 1/2" pieces

WET:

6 cups Apple Cider Vinegar
8 Large Mangoes: firm but barely ripe, not mushy
6 Large Garlic Cloves: finely minced
1 Small Onion: minced, red, white or yellow
1/4 cup Lemon Juice

Instructions:

Peel the mangoes and dice the fruit into 3/4" sized pieces.
Prepare 6-7 pint canning jars, lids and rings in a hot-water bath per manufacturer's instructions. Keep them simmering in hot water on a back burner ready for canning.
Put everything together in a large non-reactive (e.g. Stainless Steel) pot and bring to a simmer while stirring.
Cook, while stirring, until the mangoes are softened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove all solids to a bowl and reserve. A Wok "spider" is an excellent tool for this. Don't worry about the small pieces that slip through the mesh of the "spider".
While stirring, boil the liquid down to slightly less than half of the original height. To measure the height, stick a clean kitchen knife straight down into the liquid until it touches the bottom of the pot. Carefully remove the knife straight up and measure the height of the liquid clinging to the knife. You must do this when the pot is NOT boiling and the surface is not bubbling. Clean the knife off and repeat as necessary to insure that slightly more than half the original liquid has been evaporated.
Return all the solids to the pot, bring back to a boil, while stirring, and can into pint-glass containers using good hygienic canning practices.

* Notes:
Makes a little over 6 pints. Refrigerate after opening.
Make one-quarter of a recipe and you'll have a good size batch that you won't have to can.
Very long shelf life in the Fridge. I've kept some for 6 months and it was still good. High sugar and vinegar content probably makes the keeping ability at least as good as ketchup.
And in reference to the Ginger and Dates being "snipped," I am referring to the use of kitchen shears, but a good sharp knife will do as well.
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