Disharmony in the Dungeons

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 47 ~ Facing Off with Albus

Harry was in the Ministry cafeteria having breakfast when he heard the news.

"They've just brought in Voldemort's body!" an excited Auror shouted through the cafeteria doors. Harry was stunned at the announcement. He sat there, his coffee held frozen mid-air as his fellow Aurors all raced past him. The cafeteria was empty, except for him. Slowly, he put his coffee back down on the table.

They had done it. The gods bless them. Hermione and Snape had killed Voldemort. He was free. Free.

Harry began to shake as the reality of the Dark Lord's death sunk in. The apprehension and fear that he had held in for all these years finally was released. He hadn't been able to show his weakness. Everyone was counting on him and he had to appear strong and confident when he never really was. The-Boy-Who-Lived was willing to fight the Dark Lord, but he wasn't sure that he could beat him. Now he would never know if he would have been victorious. But that didn't matter. Harry had never wanted to be a hero. He only wanted to be free to live his own life. Now, that was possible. Now he could do the things he had put on hold all his life. Find a girlfriend. Take a vacation. Leave the Ministry and pursue a Quidditch career. And so much more.

His trembling slowed, then stopped. Harry pushed his glasses up on his nose and turned his green eyes toward the cafeteria exit. He had to see Voldemort for himself. He had to know it was really true.

Harry exited the cafeteria and took the elevator up to the main floor of the Ministry. It was full of people milling around. Aurors, Ministry Officials, reporters and photographers. He pushed through the crowd until he came to a room blocked by Aurors, who had their arms locked together, holding back the crowd. They all looked at Harry.

"Come for a look, Potter?" one of the Aurors asked him.

Pale, Harry nodded.

"If anyone's got a right to look at him, it's you Harry," another Auror said, lifting his locked arm and letting Harry pass under it. Harry looked at the door for a moment, his hand faltering before the knob. He took a deep breath and turned it, opening the door, stepping through and closing it behind him.

Inside the room were several Aurors, members of the board and two healers. They all looked at Harry silently, and moved away from the table. Harry looked. A blood-soaked sheet covered the body. Slowly he walked up to it, every eye in the room on him as he approached his nemesis. He stopped alongside the table, caught the end of the sheet and lifted it.

He blinked down at the swollen, bruised and pale face of Lord Voldemort. He had been beaten badly. He hardly looked like himself, but the small scales that covered his skin attested this was indeed the Dark Lord. Harry lifted the sheet higher and looked down on the skinned body, and wretched, dropping the sheet, and holding his stomach in an attempt to keep his breakfast down. A fellow Auror walked up to him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"A right nasty sight, ain't it Harry?" the Auror said, "Whoever killed him did a thorough job of it, that's for sure. But I imagine you're glad for it. Saves you the trouble, don't it?"

Harry straightened, still a little green around the gills. Voldemort had died in a horrible way. He knew it was Snape's work. He had gotten his revenge for all those years of torture at the Dark Lord's hands. It seemed right.

"Yeah. Saves me the trouble," Harry replied to the Auror.

He headed for the door, taking one last look at the sheet-covered body. Dead. Voldemort was dead. Harry opened the door and exited. He was immediately blinded by flashing bulbs as photographers took his picture.

"How does it feel to have your fire taken, Harry? Are you angry? Relieved? Stunned? And what are your plans now that you are no longer the Hope of the Wizarding World? Will you stay on as an Auror? Get married? Raise a brood of little Potters? The public wants to know, Harry," Rita Skeeter chirped at him, her quick-quotes quill floating above her as she stared at the wizard hungrily.

"It doesn't matter who killed him," Harry replied, "I'm just glad he's dead."

He pushed his way through the crowd, followed by reporters shouting questions at him, and photographers taking pictures. He pushed through the Ministry doors, and once outside, disapparated.

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Severus and Hermione woke about four in the afternoon, having slept like the dead. Severus lay spooned around his wife, his arms wrapped around her belly protectively, her body pulled tight against his as his chin rested on the top of her head. He felt Hermione stir and pressed his loins against her, beginning to harden.

"Are you awake, Hermione?" he asked softly.

"Yes, Severus," Hermione replied just as softly.

Severus began to hitch up her nightgown. He didn't have a morning hard-on…but still…

Hermione shifted against him, desire thrumming through her as she felt him lifting up her gown. She was ready for him to give her a victory fuck.

Suddenly they heard the Headmaster's voice in the study.

"Severus? Hermione? I need to talk with you. Immediately." the voice called urgently

"Shit," Severus said, his cock throbbing.

"We'd better go see what he wants," Hermione said, already knowing what it was.

Hermione rolled out of the bed and slipped into her housecoat, tying the belt around her as she smoothed her hair back and walked into the study. Severus donned his own robe, though it was quite tented. He followed her, scowling.

Albus' head was in the fireplace looking out at them.

"I've been calling for you two all day," he said, his eyes sweeping over their dress. "I take it you've been sleeping. Long night?"

"You could say that, Headmaster," Severus replied smoothly. Albus looked at him sharply.

"I want you two in my office as soon as possible," he said. "I think you know why."

His eyes weren't twinkling.

"Yes, Headmaster. As soon as we've showered and dressed," Severus replied.

Albus' eyes fell to the Potions Master's obviously tented robe.

"Just make it a quick shower, Severus," he said, disappearing from the floo.

Hermione looked at Severus.

"I think we've just been cockblocked," she said to him.

Severus looked down at Hermione, so wanting to fuck her.

"I suppose we have," he sighed, "maybe we can make this a quick meeting."

They walked back into the bedroom.

"I highly doubt that Severus. We killed Voldemort. That's going to take more than five minutes to explain," she said.

"Actually, one minute would suffice. We switched the venom to his elixir, he drank it and was made powerless, then we killed him. See? Less than a minute." Severus said as they walked into the bathroom and disrobed, Hermione turning on the shower and stepping in, Severus right behind her.

His black eyes raked over her back and ass as she stood under the stream. He licked his lips.

"Hermione, can I have just a little?" he ventured, pressing against her.

Hermione bumped her ass against him, pushing him back. She turned to him.

"Severus, you know there's no such thing as a little pussy. Especially with you. Now we have to go see Albus. We can fuck our heads off when we get back," she said, grabbing the soap and lathering up her washcloth.

"It would be easier on you if we did it now," Severus said silkily as he wet his own washcloth and took the soap from her. "You know how I am when I'm forced to wait."

"I'll take my chances," she replied, washing her body. Severus washed himself also, his eyes on his wife as she lathered her breasts. Gods, this sucked. He was going to fuck her into next week when they got back from Albus' office, the tease.

Hermione rinsed off and exited the shower, leaving Severus to his lusty little thoughts.

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"I'm sure you've heard of Voldemort's death," Albus said from behind his desk, eyeing the couple who sat in two armchairs before him.

"We were aware of his demise, Headmaster," Severus replied as Hermione nodded.

"Yes, but were you aware of it before the rest of us?" Albus said, looking at the couple intently.

"Maybe by a few minutes," Severus said smoothly.

Albus scowled at him.

"You killed Voldemort," Albus said accusingly.

"Yes we did, Headmaster," Severus answered, "Quite thoroughly."

Albus shuddered a little. He had gone down to the Ministry to identify the body. What a mess.

"You both went against my directive. No one was to touch Voldemort until the Prophecy went into effect," the Headmaster said.

"Headmaster, the death of Voldemort by our hands proves that the Prophecy was fallible. Harry could have failed. It gave no guarantee he would win," Hermione said, "It was a wooly prediction at best, Headmaster. Especially considering the source."

Hermione never had much faith in Professor Trelawny's divination skills. She thought the witch was a huge fraud. Harry having to risk his life facing Voldemort based on Sybil's prophecy never set well with her. Well, she and Severus proved the Prophecy wasn't the predictive wonder everyone thought it was.

"That being what it may, you still should have consulted me before embarking on such a foolish and dangerous endeavor," Albus said a bit angrily.

"Why Headmaster?" Severus asked him. "So you could forbid us to do it? You would have tried to stop us from killing the Dark Lord. And he needed killing now, not in the distant future. Not when he had gathered his forces for a concerted attack. Now. We did what we had to do to rid the world of his evil. Now my wife and I are free of him, as is the entire wizarding world. I refuse to apologize for doing something that had to be done."

The Potions Master folded his arms stubbornly, looking at the Headmaster evenly. Hermione folded her arms as well, looking mutinous.

Albus looked at the couple, who were presenting a united front. They were not sorry for what they had done, and honestly, he had no right to chastise them, particularly since they had been successful. He sighed.

"You two have done the wizarding world a great service. You should be honored for what you have done," Albus said. "I will inform the Ministry immediately."

Hermione spoke up quickly.

"If you don't mind, Headmaster, we'd rather not be honored. It would make our lives a living hell. Not to mention the targets of vengeful deatheaters," Hermione said. Then her eyes widened and she looked at Severus.

"Peter!" she said in horror, "Peter knows we had the Dark Lord. When he hears of his death, he will tell who did it!"

Severus smirked at his wife.

"Don't worry, wife. Peter has suffered a small memory lapse," he said silkily.

"You obliviated him," Hermione breathed.

"Of course. He remembers nothing after giving the Dark Lord his elixir, though I wish I could have let him keep the memory of the ass-kicking I gave him," Severus said wistfully.

Hermione smiled at Severus ruefully. He was something else.

Albus looked at the two of them. It just didn't seem right for the couple to have killed the most dangerous threat to the wizarding way of life and not receive any acknowledgement, but they did have a point. They would become famous and the focus of every tabloid in existence. Not to mention be mobbed for autographs, public appearances and more. More than likely there would be death threats and attempts on their lives as well. They were right. It would be better if no one ever knew.

"Very well. I'll honor your request on this, Hermione. But you have both done the wizarding world a great service. A pity you won't be rewarded for it," Albus said.

"Oh, but we have been rewarded. We are no longer in his service, no longer spies. We can live a normal married life now. Have a family," Hermione said as Severus' eyes went wide at her declaration.

"A…a…family?" he spluttered.

"Of course a family," Hermione said. Then she paused as she saw the whites of Severus' eyes.

"We'll talk about it later," she said softly.

Albus was smiling now. Severus as a family man. That was something he would love to see, the Potions Master settled in a normal life. Suddenly his floo turned green and a voice came through.

"Headmaster, is Hermione up there with you?"

It was Harry's voice.

"Harry!" Hermione screamed, "Yes! I'm up here. Come up!"

Severus scowled. Not the Boy-Who-Gagged-Him. Then Severus realized he had paid off his life debt to James Potter, by removing the threat of Voldemort, who would have killed his son. Again, another thumb that he'd slipped out from under. He watched as the young wizard stepped through the floo. Harry was definitely all grown up. He was six feet in height, lean and broad-shouldered. His face had become more angular too, more masculine. The softness was gone.

Hermione ran to him and they embraced tightly, Harry picking the witch up and swinging her around. He put her back down, his green eyes glistening behind his glasses. Hermione's eyes were watery too. Severus groaned.

Harry took her hands.

"You did it, Hermione. You killed him," Harry said softly, "Thank you. Thank you so much for freeing me."

Severus cleared his throat.

"Actually, Mr. Potter, WE killed him, the brunt of the work falling on me," he said snarkily.

Harry looked at the Potions Master.

"Well, I meant both of you," Harry said, a bit snarkily himself.

"'You did it, Hermione' does not imply any plurality, Mr. Potter," Severus said evenly, "It was a distinctly singular address to my wife. I was not included."

Hermione looked at Severus and scowled. Harry sighed.

"Thank you, Professor," he said, meaning it. He was just so used to giving Severus a hard time.

"No need to thank me," Severus replied smirking as Hermione frowned at him. He put Harry through all that just to say he didn't want thanks? Ooh, Severus could be insufferable at times.

Hermione was about to say something to her husband when Harry stopped her.

"It's all right Hermione. I should have expected it," he grinned at her. "Say, do you want to go out and celebrate tonight? You and the Professor?"

Harry made sure to include Severus this time.

"I'm afraid, Mr. Potter that my wife and I out celebrating the death of the Lord we were supposed to have served would look just a bit odd to our grieving brethren," Severus said.

Hermione looked at Harry.

"Severus is right, Harry…but you can come down to our rooms. We can have a celebration there, just us," she said, smiling at him.

Severus scowled. He planned on keeping Hermione busy celebrating in the manner he enjoyed, on her back, on her knees, up against the headboard, bent over…

Harry looked at Severus, and saw that the Potions Master didn't want to share his wife today.

"Maybe later in the week sometime, Hermione," he said.

Hermione looked disappointed. Severus on the other hand, looked pleased as pumpkin juice. Harry gave him a little wink, to which Severus gave a slight nod. Now this was something he appreciated.

"I'm going to get back to the Ministry, Hermione. Lots going on there," Harry said, kissing her on the cheek. Severus allowed this. Harry had been kissing his wife long before he had. Plus the kiss was decidedly platonic. If he had even suspected Harry of having impure thoughts towards his wife, he'd soon be The-Auror-Who-Died.

"Goodbye, Headmaster, Professor," Harry said as he stepped through the floo.

Severus rose.

"Headmaster, if you are through with us, my wife and I will also be departing," he said, catching Hermione by her arm possessively. Albus smiled at them.

"Certainly, Severus. But before you go, I wonder if I might have a pensieve of Voldemort's final hours?" the Headmaster asked.

Severus looked at him steadily.

"I'm afraid not, Headmaster. What passed between the Dark Lord and I during those last hours will remain a secret until the day I leave this earth. I'm afraid I must decline," he said evenly.

Albus nodded his head. He had seen the body, and examined it carefully. The Dark Lord's rectum had been viciously mutilated and torn in a manner reminiscent of many of his sexually abused and murdered muggle victims. He did not think Severus would want to share that particular torture with anyone.

"I thought as much Severus, but it didn't hurt to ask," he said, looking up at him somberly.

"No, it didn't," the Potions Master said quietly, "Good day, Headmaster."

"Bye," Hermione said as her husband tossed floo powder into the fireplace, said their destination and led her through.

Dumbledore stared at the fireplace thoughtfully.

Two of the most courageous people in the wizarding world had just passed through it.

And no one would ever know.

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A/N: Next, the epilogue folks. Please review.