Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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
- 68
- 69
- 70
“And They Didn't Live Happily Ever After”

Chapter Sixty-Eight

"I Left My Heart in San Francisco"

Disclaimer: (In California-speak)

You know, like, totally know that all the guys you might recognize and say, “Hey, I totally remember that guy from the books” is Rowling's stuff. So Rowling and all her peeps, they own it, 'kay? And, don't be all butt-hurt, 'cause no infringement is, like, meant or done, like, on purpose. Alright?

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

The clock was ticking. Now that not only one, but two Death Eaters had left England without permission, alarms would be going off back at the Ministry where the Aurors normally sat at their desks. But since they were all out scouring the four corners of England, after an anonymous tip had warned them about a Death Eater fleeing, the alarms would be turned off and the attempt to find one Death Eater at some conventional Muggle port or marina would intensify. None would be suspecting that two Death Eaters had left via magical methods at the Ministry itself, right under their very noses.

As the trio of British travelers landed in the Portkey arriving area, they quickly moved aside and exited the area, should the next arrival land on top of them and knock them to the ground. It was common Portkey courtesy which most employed, but some forgot, similar to the way that some Muggles would not remember common courtesy when exiting and entering a Tube carriage.

Looking around, the trio glanced at the sign.

WELCOME TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

ENJOY YOUR STAY, COME BACK SOON

The Cayman Islands were a British Overseas Territory. Although they were closely tied to the Muggle and wizarding governments of the United Kingdom, there were some aspects that made them independent of said government entities; most notably their banking system.

Just as the Cayman Islands were a banking haven for many in the Muggle world, so it was for the wizarding world as well. And as the Malfoy fortune in the British Gringotts vaults had been seized by the British Ministry of Magic, the Malfoy family fortune in other Gringotts branches around the world were left intact, including the one Malfoy vault in the Cayman Islands.

Though Lucius Malfoy was a syphilitic lunatic who slowly went mad, his mind corrupted by a venereal disease and close association with the Dark Lord, he at least had the soundness of mind to make sure that the Malfoy fortune was dispersed about in various Gringotts vaults worldwide.

Now that the travelers had arrived in the country where one of those untouched vaults lay, Draco rushed off to take care of some banking matters while Ginny and Severus, still in Polyjuice form as Hermione, went to arrange another Portkey on to their next destination.

As luck would have it, being a popular banking haven meant that the Gringotts branch in this tiny island country opened extra early, usually in time with European branches. It stayed open late, closing at the same time as the Chicago Gringotts branches, U.S. Central Standard Time.

Ginny had taken some money from Lavender, a small deposit of the fortune Draco and Severus had amassed, and would use some of it to pay for the next Portkey. When things would die down back in England as to Severus' and Draco's disappearance, Miss Brown was going to make discreet transfers to some foreign Gringotts branches in the name of setting up some corporations abroad. It would be a convenient money-laundering operation to hide the money that Draco and Severus had earned during their unsanctioned work for Miss Brown that didn't involve peddling their flesh or company.

It was three o'clock in the morning. Since this tiny nation took travelers from all over the world, the Portkey office was fortunately open twenty-four hours, just like the one back in London.

Ginny and Severus were to wait before getting a Portkey, delaying until Draco returned from Gringotts, as the Goblins would no doubt ask why someone with the Malfoy vault key was asking for entrance and looked like Harry Potter. Draco could use the truth as part of the lie, stating he was going to a Polyjuice party, and even turned his wand and key over to the Goblin as identification. Draco even held aloft a small vial of Polyjuice Potion, which convinced the Goblin to allow Draco access to his vault and also allow for transfer of funds to a branch at their final destination. The Goblin was not aware of the Death Eater Decree back in England, and if he was, he would not care.

Once done, Draco raced back to the Portkey Office at the Ministry where Ginny and Severus were waiting.

Severus was relieved that Draco had needed a little less than an hour to take care of money matters. Draco even agreed to float Severus as much money as he needed until funds from Miss Brown could be finally accessed.

There was only one hour left on the effectiveness of the Polyjuice Potion, and they hoped it would be enough.

As they entered the line for unscheduled Portkeys, they had to wait behind a witch who was asking the wizard at the desk for recommendations, since she wanted to get away for a three-day weekend and wasn't sure where to go.

Severus was tempted to suggest Azkaban or the Black Hole of Calcutta were lovely this time of year, but once again, he held his tongue.

Ginny stepped up and suggested some places in Italy, remembering some of the details Hermione shared about her honeymoon. The witch thanked her for the suggestion and quickly booked a trip there.

Draco let out a huge sigh of relief and muttered a quiet thanks to his lover for her quick thinking.

"Three Portkeys to San Francisco, California, please," Ginny said.

"Thanks!" the wizard behind the counter said with an exasperated sigh. "I didn't think she was ever going to make up her mind." He paused for a moment before asking, "Didn't you just come in?"

"Yeah, but we needed to take care of a few things here before we went to the States," Ginny replied, keeping it as vague as possible.

The wizard shrugged and arranged for a Portkey to take them in five minutes.

Grabbing hold of the shade of the table lamp that was used as a Portkey, all three of them were transported to the Portkey hub in San Francisco.

As they exited the arrival area, they heard music playing loudly on the other side of a door that led the way to the lounge and bar area.

Walking quickly over to the Portkey Office ticket window, they saw a sign that said, "Back at 2:00 a.m." The hand on the clock affixed to the window was counting down. It read 56 minutes, then 55 minutes.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, it was 1:05 a.m. They had just missed it. The trio would have to wait nearly an hour before the person who attended the window was due to return.

Their Polyjuice Potion dose would be wearing out about the time that the Portkey officer would return, and so they decided to wait a half an hour before taking a second dose in order to keep their current forms.

They had only one dose with pre-added bits of Harry and Hermione, and hopefully, they would not require a third dose. This was their last jump.

They could have taken a Portkey from London to their final destination, but that would have immediately indicated that something was severely amiss, and then everything would have been exposed. The jump to the Cayman Islands was to keep them within the British realm, which would minimize suspicions of Ginny's choice for a holiday with Harry. From there, they could jump to the United States, giving themselves a harder trail to follow, should Aurors be close behind. And a third Portkey away would make following that much more difficult to pinpoint.

With nothing to do but cool their heels, Ginny and Draco decided to hang out in the lounge and listen to the music that was playing, since it appeared there was a live band.

A sign by the door announced that tonight it was "Muggle Music Thursday." The other signs listed days such as "Classical Sunday," "Monday Wizard Blues," and "Tuesday Pot Luck" with finer print indicating that wizard and Muggle music were both played, Wednesday and Friday were wizard jazz nights, with Dixieland on Wednesday and cool jazz on Friday. Saturday had a variety of acts that came through with a schedule of upcoming bands.

It seemed that the music supplied six days of week for the Eye of the Pyramid Lounge was played by the band called “Tommy and his Two-Bit Strung Out Pluckers”; Tommy Donovan on piano and brass, Jimmy "Two-Bit" Hoar on drums and percussion, and Eustice Ernesto on guitar and strings.

As the door swung open, a wall of sound entered the waiting area, overwhelming Severus for a moment, making him place his hands over his ears momentarily in response to the sudden change in volume. The singer was belting out something about some white boy playing "that funky music 'till you die." The crowd was jumping up and down, swaying to the music as the deep bass guitar thumped in time to the drums.

Ginny and Draco went through the door and quickly joined in the swaying throng dancing to the 1970's disco funk. They were unfamiliar with the song, but doing anything they could to blend in with the crowd and appear normal.

Severus stayed behind to peruse the travel literature on a rack near the door. Amid the brochures, he saw advertisements for tours to wizard wineries and resort spas in the valleys between Napa and Sonoma, and areas further north, hidden from Muggles. There were tours for Muggle wineries with warnings that the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was still in effect no matter how much wine anyone sampled.

"Hmm," Severus mused aloud, "Potion gathering excursions," as he picked up one brochure arranging instructional ingredient collection tours with shaman wizards of various Native American tribes. He had always wanted to do a Potions sabbatical to Australia, but this also piqued his interest, should he be able to freely travel the world one day without persecution as Hermione promised.

There were regional tours to various tribes in different regions: Plains, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, Texas, South, Appalachia, and New England.

"What the...?" Severus plucked up one that touted Muggle Camp.

Ever want to learn how to drive? Watch television? Fly in a plane?

You can at MUGGLE CAMP

A one-week all-inclusive experience where you can try to learn and do everything the Muggle way.

Itinerary includes:

- Cooking lesson and how to cook with a Muggle stove

- Trip to a movie theater

- Lesson on how to ride a bicycle

- Instructions on how to use a telephone and cellular phone

- Driving lessons with a certified driving instructor

- A trip in a twin-prop airplane at some locations

- Surf lessons available at some locations

- Introduction to Muggle electricity and devices including computers, the Internet and electronic mail

- Access to television programming every night and Muggle board games

Contest and prizes for who can go the longest without using their wands

Book now for winter snow camping to experience how tough the Muggle pioneers had it!

Severus put the brochure back with a shake of his head, brown tendrils of Hermione's long hair swaying.

Looking at the clock, it was nearly time for Draco and him to take another Polyjuice Potion dose. Entering the lounge area, he scanned his eyes about, trying to look for a redhead standing next to wizard with a black mop.

Had he not been Polyjuiced into being Hermione, he could have spotted them easier. As it was, he was now several inches shorter and had trouble seeing over the crowd, much less through it.

Winding his way through the jostling and bouncing witches and wizards singing along to Muggle songs, he spotted the two at the front of the stage. They were dancing along with the rest of the crowd, enjoying themselves. Draco was unaware of Severus approaching, until he tapped his hand upon his shoulder.

Just then the song finished, so he didn't have to shout as loud into Draco's ear that it was time to go take another dose of Polyjuice. The plan was to go to the toilets, find a stall, and down a vial away from prying eyes curious as to what each wizard was taking, and possibly asking if he had whatever he was taking to share.

As Severus was about to turn and walk towards the toilets, Tommy Donovan said, his voice amplified with the Sonorus Charm, "This song is for the beautiful brunette in the dark blue at the front of the stage."

Severus suddenly realized that all eyes were fixed on him and Tommy Donovan was looking right at him, giving him a wink before launching into song.

"She's got big red lips

She's got big brown eyes

When she treats me right

It's a big surprise

She won't do anything

That she said she would

She makes me feel good

She makes me feel good..."

Severus glared at the crooner with a bored look and promptly turned around and stomped off towards the loo, Draco following right behind while Ginny stayed at the front of the stage, bursting into fits of laughter.

The older Death Eater was so irritated that he had been come on to while in female Polyjuiced form, he almost went into the “Men's Restroom."

Draco fortunately grabbed him firmly by the back of Hermione's cloak and pointed him over to the "Ladies' Restroom."

'Why would someone need to rest?'

Severus shrugged over the local language dialect and went inside. Once in a stall by himself, he downed his second dose with bits of Hermione's hair in it. He felt the similar ripple sensation course through his veins, noting that he continued to remain looking the same. Severus flushed the toilet to make it appear as if he’d used it for its intended purpose and went to wash his hands.

The witch next to him, who was reapplying her make-up and readjusting her breasts in her brassiere to make them seem fuller and more globulous, remarked, "Boy, Tommy must be sweet on you. He doesn't sing that song for just anyone."

Severus had the distinct feeling that Tommy often used that song to woo some witch and bed her later, something that would definitely not be happening if it involved Severus.

Walking back out into the lounge area where the song dedicated to him was wrapping up, Severus looked out to observe the view.

The Portkey office and neighboring bar and lounge were in a basement of a former French restaurant located on a discreet alley between Post and Sutter, half a block from Union Square. The restaurant had closed down ages ago, complete with old brick front and tattered striped awning, and was a front for the current wizarding hub of San Francisco. The "window" Severus was looking out of was charmed to reflect the view from the top of the Transamerica Pyramid, which was located six blocks away as the owl flies.

It was raining, which seemed counter to the reputation of California being always sunny. California had a Mediterranean climate, which mean rain in the winter and dry the rest of the year, so it made sense that it was pouring down as it was right at the beginning of their rainy season.

As if reading Severus’ mind, Tommy began to sing about how, "It never rains in California."

Severus was wondering if this was Tommy's way of trying to flirt with him while he was in Hermione's form, noticing "her" observing the rain out the charmed window.

Turning around, Severus saw Ginny and Draco had joined the others in singing the song’s refrain, the lyrics simple and uncomplicated, their arms around each other and surrounding strangers, swaying side- to-side.

Severus went to the bar and ordered a stiff drink. The wizard next to him offered to pay for it, to which Severus just replied with a polite but brusque, "Thank you, but no."

When the song wrapped up, Tommy decided to take requests from the audience. Someone shouted a request for the Rolling Stones, another asked for Madonna, while someone else shouted for Red Hot Chili Peppers. Severus had never heard of any of these bands, and he didn't care. A lot of this music sounded as obnoxious as the music that Hermione initially played on the car radio during their weekend away until he‘d found the classical music station.

For some reason, Tommy must have taken Severus' cool indifference for teasing and said, "Why don't we take a request from the young witch at the bar with the drink in her hand."

Severus swore to himself that if he ever again had to go about in public in Polyjuice form, it would never be as a female as long as he lived. He wondered if Hermione and other witches had wizards picking up on them so regularly, but he suspected that it was just his lucky night he’d caught the eye of this piano-banging wizard who just happened to have the attention of the whole room focused directly on him.

"I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

It was the only Muggle song he could bring to mind, and it was the song Hermione and he danced to during lessons. She had told him about the little snow globe her parents had bought her from a souvenir shop, probably purchased just a few blocks away from where Severus was sitting right now. That song had unofficially become their song.

A small complaint rose through the crowd, one person saying, "Not again!"

Tommy calmed the grumbling crowd when he said, "Now, now. We haven't played it in a few weeks, and I think we can humor the Australian witch at the bar, since she's obviously a tourist and was hoping to hear it. Besides, it's time for a slow dance."

The piano began tinkling out notes that filled the room as he began to sing.

"The loveliness of Paris seems somehow sadly gay
The glory that was Rome is of another day
I've been terribly alone and forgotten in Manhattan
I'm going home to my city by the bay..."

Severus wondered if Tommy got the right song, since the version on Lavender's music box didn't include the intro, when Tommy began to croon sweetly.

"I left my heart in San Francisco..."

Now Severus could recognize the song's melody. It had become a particular favorite of Hermione's when they danced the foxtrot at his flat over the past several months.

He gazed at the window, wishing he could dance with Hermione right now as the couples did, swaying back and forth to the slow rhythm of piano, a soft snare drum, and gentle strings of the violin. Draco and Ginny were dancing, her head placed upon his shoulder, and they moved to and fro.

As the song ended, the crowd erupted into cheers like they did at the end of most songs, a little romance thrown into the night's play list.

"Another request," Tommy called out.

"Free Bird!" someone shouted.

The crowd chanted, "Banned! Banned! Banned!"

Tommy pointed to the sign that hung behind his piano that read in large, bold letters,

NO REQUESTS FOR

FREE BIRD

MARGARITAVILLE

MUSTANG SALLY

BROWN-EYED GIRL

ANY REQUEST FOR THESE SONGS

RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE BANNING

FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS

Tommy threw a ball at the wizard's head who had shouted out the offending request. The man was immediately Portkeyed to some unknown place, most probably the buffalo enclosure in the middle of Golden Gate Park.

A witch with vibrant green hair shouted, "Rock Your Body!"

The trio began playing some music that seemed to place more emphasis on a droning mindless beat and little melody. Severus had had enough. He threw a Galleon in the tip jar for the band in a show of gratitude that, despite protestations from the crowd, Tommy had still played his request. At least in the waiting room the sound would be greatly diminished, and he could see how much time was left before the Portkey office was open again.

Upon entering the waiting room, he saw a wizard place his wand at the lock to the Portkey office and unlock it to enter it. Severus hoped the wizard, who was at least five stone overweight and was sporting a week's worth of facial hair growth, would take down the sign that he would be back later, but he just went to sit at his desk behind the counter, pulled a burger out of a brown paper bag, and began eating.

Severus stared as the Portkey officer paid him no mind. The wizard was shoving the overly-large comestible into his gaping maw before taking a bite – not noticing the slice of avocado that was slipping out the side of his burger, nor the piece of bacon that didn't quite make it all the way into his gob – chewing with his mouth open. There was something dark brown that smelled like barbecue sauce that dribbled down from the corner of his mouth; Ginny had given Severus a bottle of the American condiment after Harry's birthday party to try, and he identified it by the color and scent.

Had this been Severus' first encounter with an American, he would have instantly agreed with Lucius Malfoy's derisive remarks that those former colonists across the pond were uncouth slobs who probably picked their teeth with their own wands.

To Severus’ horror, the wizard took his wand out and did just that. He unhinged his mouth like a snake and shoved it way back amidst his tonsils, probably to dislodge the slop from the trough he’d gorged himself on earlier.

To make matters worse, the Portkey officer finally bothered to notice Severus, Polyjuiced as Hermione, and noted how "she" was staring at him with rapt attention. The wizard wiped his barbecue sauce-soiled hand down the front of his ratty faded red T-shirt, adding to the other colors of the wizard's previous meals visible on the shirt's mottled, spotty palette. It looked more like a bib than a T-shirt at this point. The shirt had the phrase "Which Wand, Witch?" printed on it, an obvious come-on line from long ago that had gone out with bell bottoms and disco. The shirt looked so old due to the faded letters from too many washings, it probably was decades old. The wizard winked at him, mistaking Severus' stare of disbelief for interest.

Severus checked the countdown clock on the window. There was still five minutes more. He debated sitting in the same room as this first cousin to a Mountain Troll, versus having Tommy announce more pick-up lines in front of the rest of the packed lounge.

The fleeing Death Eater decided two hundred witches and wizards in a darkened room staring at him was better that waiting one more minute with this monstrosity. Besides, it was almost time to fetch Draco and Ginny.

As the patrons clapped while singing, "Don't stop believing," Severus found Draco and Ginny in the middle of the crowd, and thankfully not next to the stage. He flashed his hand, indicating there were five minutes left.

They nodded and began heading through the crowd towards the waiting area, which also held the window for the Portkey office.

As they neared the door, Severus hissed in Draco's ear, "Quick, pretend you're my boyfriend."

Before Draco could ask what was going on, Severus clasped Draco's hand tightly and plastered on a sweet smile that even Ginny had a hard time believing as they entered the waiting room.

Just as they walked in, the countdown timer on the window finished and the wizard with the heavily food-stained shirt rose from his desk. Waving his wand, the sign and clock disappeared, and he charmed the glass partition to slide aside.

Seeing that the brunette hottie was taken, since it appeared she was with her boyfriend, the wizard focused his leer on the red-headed smokin' babe in front of him.

"And how can I help you?" he asked, his voice sounding a bit too helpful for a government employee.

"Three Portkeys to Hawaii," Ginny said.

"I can get you a Portkey back to New Zealand directly, if you're heading home," the Portkey officer said, assuming they were from yet another British Commonwealth. Australia, New Zealand, whatever.

"No, Hawaii is where we want to go," she insisted.

"Okay, fine. Which island?"

"Malu Palekaiko."

The unkempt wizard who smelled of grease and beer gave Ginny a second glance, suspicion beginning to etch his brow and narrow his eyes.

She turned on the charm and purred in a sultry manner, "When I come back through here next week, how about you and me go out for a bite?"

This seemed to take the wizard's mind off of any question as to why they wanted to go to an island known for sanctuary rather than one of the major islands instead, like the Big Island or Oahu, even though Malu Palekaiko had a larger wizarding population compared to the other islands. Most wizards and witches went to the major islands for vacations when Portkeying there.

After the wizard gave Ginny some contact information hastily scrawled on a torn-off piece of parchment, she said she was looking forward to it as she paid for their trip.

All the while, Draco did not yank his hand out of Severus', as much as he wanted to. He understood why Severus was desperate to have him pretend they were attached. And Ginny was so much better, and far more practiced, when it came to turning on the feminine wiles to beguile a wizard, even one as slovenly as the cretin behind the counter.

Severus would have said something acerbic and most probably make the wizard consult a dictionary after they left. The wizard did have a name badge on that said "Frank" that Severus was going to take as a literal suggestion and be so with him.

From under his desk, the cretin grabbed a box of half-eaten double-fudge cream center “cookies,” smudged with half-dried mustard, and transformed into a last-minute Portkey.

As the three of them grabbed onto this excuse for a Portkey, Ginny gave the officer one last wink before they disappeared.

Looking around, the three hoped they had reached the right spot, questioning Frank's competency based upon his hygiene habits and charm alone. The waxing gibbous moon was about an hour and a half past the celestial meridian, indicating that they were at the right longitude.

Behind them the ocean lapped at the moonlit silvery sands, the soft reassuring sounds of small waves gently crashing mixed with the raucous chorus of frogs from the jungle in front of them. It was a wall of darkness that loomed up at the edge of the moonlit sand, the jungle and a single large mountain looking black in contrast to the night's star-filled sky. The light of the moon glinted off the palm fronds that lightly swayed as if in a trance.

The weather was warm and they removed their cloaks, feeling the humid breeze against their cheeks.

The only light was a small porch light by the door of a simple one-room thatched hut at the edge of the sand, perched beyond the jungle that looked like it was about to swallow it.

Walking over the sand seemed to want to envelop their boots, they finally got up onto the porch and saw three signs with bells hanging below them, ropes dangling.

"Lumos."

All of the signs were in Hawaiian.

Severus tapped his wand on each and they changed to English.

The first one read, "For Portkey passage through, please ring."

The second one read, "If this is your final destination and are visiting, please ring."

The third one read, "If you are seeking sanctuary, please ring."

They all looked at each other, Severus' wand light giving everyone's face's a pale blue-white cast. Severus reach out and pulled down on the rope hanging from a brass bell underneath the third sign.

As the clapper struck against the bell, a large man in a batik-printed sarong and a simple, clean T-shirt, who was nearly the size of Hagrid, instantly appeared on the front porch next to them.

"Oh, man, what time is it?" he asked, rubbing his bleary eyes with the back of his hand.

"Eleven o'clock, or thereabout," said Severus, the Polyjuice Potion still working. Severus thought there was a three-hour difference from San Francisco, as his Muggle books Ginny got him said so.

The huge wizard looked down to spy the trio standing there. "All three of you are seeking sanctuary?"

They all answered in the affirmative.

"Oh, man, Gary isn't gonna like this, but I better get him," he muttered to himself before Summoning this Gary.

An older Asian-looking wizard in a pair of shorts, who was in the midst of taking off his Hawaiian shirt, appeared next to the giant wizard.

"What the... Why the hell..." the smaller, older wizard began, but stopped short when he realized that there were three people on the front porch besides the wizard who had Summoned him there.

"Three?" Gary asked.

"Yep," the larger wizard replied, popping the "p" at the end at accent his attitude.

"Well, better get Halulu."

"Naw, man. I ain't gonna get her. You can catch shit from her for gettin' her out of bed. I ain't gonna do it anymore," the bigger wizard refused.

Glancing at the three of them, Gary said, "Maybe I should get another witch from the council, or do one of you ladies not mind being questioned by a wizard?'

Severus raised his hand. "I'm a wizard," he stated plainly.

Gary looked at him with disbelief until Severus explained with two words: "Polyjuice Potion."

"Ahh," Gary said with understanding. "Okay, hang on a second, let me go get the other person and we can begin."

A minute later, a woman in her thirties appeared next to them. She had a long fall of dark brown hair that went past her waist, and was hastily putting some sandals on as she mumbled, "Can't wait a minute while I get some shoes on?"

Looking at Gary and the larger wizard, she said, "This better be good."

"Three for sanctuary," Gary explained.

"Three, Mounga?" Halulu asked the giant wizard for confirmation.

"Yep," he said once more, popping the "p" at the end again.

"Well, we'd better get started," the older witch asked. "Which one of you witches is going to go with a wizard for questioning?"

"That one's Polyjuiced," Mounga said, pointing to Severus, who still looked like Hermione.

"All right then. Let's get this over with and hopefully we'll be done before sunrise," Halulu said, her tone indicating her disgruntled attitude over the fact she would probably be denied a good night's sleep.

Halulu placed her wand against the knob of the door to the hut, and a click could be heard. She opened the door. Inside was a large space with a well-appointed waiting area with a corridor off to the side with several doors.

"Who do you want, Gary?" Halulu asked.

"I don't know." Gary turned to look at Severus and Draco. "Which one of you wants to spill your guts out to me? ‘Cause it's me or him, boys." Gary jerked a thumb over at Mounga.

"I'll go with him," Severus volunteered, pointing to Mounga. The mountainous wizard was the least verbal of the bunch, and that suited Severus just fine.

Mounga went to fetch something from behind the counter and handed a small vial to each of his associates. Each one seeking sanctuary was then escorted to their own door along the corridor and bid to enter, followed by their inquisitors.

The room was bare and near gleaming white all around.

Mounga made some movements with his wand and a table and two chairs appeared. A toilet formed out of the wall in the corner with a small privacy screen, and another screen popped up in the other corner, forming a dressing area for some privacy when Severus would change back. It did not escape Severus' attention that the screens were placed in such a way that during interrogation that Mounga would not lose sight of him, but they would still afford some privacy.

Severus hung Hermione's cloak on a hook that appeared on the wall near the door and took a seat opposite of Mounga.

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

Severus placed his wand on the table before fetching the cloak off the hook he had just placed. From the cloak's pockets, he removed the set of clothes he would change into once the Polyjuice Potion wore off, a few extra vials of Polyjuice, the lemon that Hermione had given him, and her handbag.

Mounga waved his wand once more, and a glass with water appeared. From the front breast pocket of Mounga's T-shirt, he pulled out a small vial.

Holding it for Severus to see, he said, "This is Veritaserum. I assume you know what it does?"

Severus nodded.

"Now, by law, you asked for sanctuary, and I must give it to you. However, in order to know what type of people are coming into our community, we'd like to know what you are fleeing from. Some people, it's an obsessive lover or violent spouse; others it's because of laws they have broken; some for political reasons and they are a target of their government. But we've had a few come hear seeking sanctuary that have done some pretty gruesome crap, and they thought that they could continue on with their... habits. As such, we'd like to know why you're here."

Severus nodded once more that he understood.

"Should you prove to be a wizard..." Mounga paused as his eyes looked Severus up and down still in feminine Polyjuice form. "… who might prove disruptive to our community, we will encourage you to set up house in the more remote areas of the island, and you'll be closely watched. We don't want trouble from you, and we won't give you trouble."

The Potions master understood the gravity of his statement.

"I can't force you to take this," Mounga began, but stopped short when Severus gave a derisive snort. Mounga cocked an eyebrow at Severus before continuing. "Well, technically, I can't force you, but should you agree to taking the Veritaserum and telling me everything, that will certainly make things smoother, should you want buy a house, have people willing to do business with you and such..." He trailed off implying that if Severus agreed to tell this wizard everything, life would go smoothly.

"A confession under duress?" Severus asked, his tone a bit cool.

"Well, let's say you don't take it. We don't know if you're a mass murderer. People will wonder why you didn't take it. Are you such a horrible person that you refuse to take it?" Mounga gave a great sigh and leaned forward, his meaty arms resting on the table. "If you're worried about everyone knowing your past, don't worry. I am bound to keep confidential what you say here in this room during your processing for sanctuary. I cannot tell anyone. But should you commit a crime that would go to trial, I am allowed to bring up your past crimes as proof that this is a past behavior you have engaged in that has not ceased, and if you pose a danger to our community, then you can get expelled from even here. You can go pay those Greeks to take you, and good luck with that."

Severus reached his hand out for the glass of water, as Mounga poured the Veritaserum in it. He would soon know if killing his wife would make him live as an outcast among outcasts.

As the water slid down his throat, he could feel the familiar sensation. He could feel his body relax and the desire to tell Mounga any and everything.

"Now, if there anything else besides these items on this table in your pockets or that you're hiding on your person?" the interrogator asked.

"No," Severus answered truthfully.

"Let's start with your name," Mounga said as Severus' lengthy confession began.

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

A/N:

I have to be honest. I had a lot of fun writing the character, Frank. Almost too much fun.

Point of note, I wrote this chapter nearly two years ago, long before Rowling came out with her recent “History of Magic of North America” essay on Pottermore. Any resemblance between what she wrote and what I wrote in this chapter and going forward in this story is purely coincidental.

Thank you to my betas for this chapter, JuneW and Cygnuz.

Yes, I have an exact place in mind for the Eye of the Pyramiud Lounge. It's just just as I described, as there is an closed down French restaurant located at 44 Campton Place on a small alley-like street in San Francisco.

"Play That Funky Music" was written by Rob Parisso and recorded by Wild Cherry.

"She Makes Me Feel So Good" was composed and performed by Lyle Lovett

"It Never Rains in Southern California" was written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood

"I Left My Heart in San Francisco" was written by George Cory, and most popularly performed by Tony Bennett as his signature song. To see a lovely rendition of this song performed in a video, please watch this rendition on YouTube: "Union Bank of California promo. Beautifully danced by Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu. SF own local halau, lend their talking hands to the story of the city by the bay." https://youtu.be/JCMj2U3xj7s

Considering Severus goes through San Francisco and requests this song and winds up in Hawaii, I thought this video was rather fitting. You even get a peek of the Transamerica Pyramid in the background.

"Rock Your Body" was written by Justin Timberlake, Chad Hugo, and Pharrell Williams, and performed by Timberlake.

"Don't Stop Believing" was written by Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry & Neal Schon, and performed by Journey.

Malu is the Hawaiian word for "safe." Palekaiko means "paradise." The island they finally Portkeyed to translates into "Safe Paradise."

As for sanctuary being located in Hawaii, the inspiration for sanctuary in this fic come from the City of Refuge on the Big Island of Hawaii that I visited myself a long, long time ago (and recently in April 2015 again) and remembered. Here is some information about this place:

“In ancient times, Hawaiians lived under strict laws. Commoners could not get too close to the chief, nor were they allowed to touch any of his possessions, walk in his footsteps or even let their shadows touch the royal grounds. The penalty for violating a sacred kapu (taboo) was death.

“Breaking a kapu was believed to incur the wrath of the gods. Hawaiians often chased down an offender and swiftly put him to death unless he could reach a puuhonua, or place of refuge. There he could be absolved by a kahuna (priest) in a purification ceremony, then return home with his transgression forgiven. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle.”

http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/big-island/city-of-refuge/

Five stone converts to 70 pounds.

Halulu is a Hawaiian girl's name meaning "to roar, thunder, loud noise, racket."

Mounga is a Polynesian boy's name, meaning "mountain," pronounced mo-oon-gah.
- 68
- 69
- 70
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After