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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
- 73
- 74
- 75
“And They Didn't Live Happily Ever After”

Chapter Seventy-Three
"The Child Is Gone"

Disclaimer:
Here's the story by a lovely lady
Who was writing about Harry and his tale.
All the characters belonged to Rowling, which I acknowledge,
The lawyers stay away.

Here's the story, of a fanfic writer,
Who was busy playing with fanon on her own,
There was lots of smut, and an endless story,
Yet she kept writing on.

Till the one day when the writer finally finished
And she knew it was much more than a fic,
That this story became really fucking epic.
That's the way it all became the long fanfic.

The long fanfic,
The long fanfic,
That's the way it became so bloody long.

A/N: Disclaimer a parody of The Brady Bunch theme song.

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

Hermione intended to sleep in as long as she could, since it was Sunday, and Albert wasn't expecting her to show up at his home until noon to work on his garden. She was still worn out from the interview with Luna and the grand opening, which went late, closing at ten o'clock the night before.

The hooting of an owl by the kitchen window woke her up.

Throwing on a terry dressing gown, she shuffled out to the kitchen to find Hedwig waiting for her. She opened the window and Hedwig hopped right in, helping herself to the bowl of owl treats Hermione always had at the ready despite her not having an owl any more. Pig had left when she’d kicked Ron out of their flat, following his master to their new home.

Picking up the letter, she opened it and found a note from Harry as Hedwig took off into the cold morning air.

-------

Hermione,

I need to talk with you. I'll be over
at your flat around 9 this morning.

Harry

-------

Glancing at the clock, she noted that he was due any minute. She wondered how long Hedwig had been waiting.

Just as Hermione was quickly putting something on, with not even a cup of tea in her yet, the Floo flared a brilliant green, and Harry stepped out.

"In here, hang on. Be right there," she called out as she threw on some jeans for her work later in Albert's garden.

Stepping out of her bedroom, she spotted Harry looking defeated. She offered him a cup of tea, as he looked like he needed it more than she did.

Sitting in the kitchen, the gloom of the overcast sky was as dark as the ominous feeling Hermione had building in her stomach; Harry kept his gaze firmly on the mug in front of him.

"I found her," he said, his face impassive and voice bleak.

Hermione's insides began to churn. Her heart beat faster with anxiety at the thought of what had transpired between them to make Harry look the way he did. When Harry left Hermione's Friday night, he was angry, bitter, and full of venom. Now there was this deflated sense of resignation from him.

After being called out on keeping Ginny's secrets from Harry, she felt she had no right to ask him what happened. It was a quid pro quo. If Harry decided out of spite to keep secret what he and Ginny had said or what happened, she would accept that, as much as she yearned to know.

"I saw you that night," Harry began as a non sequitur. "You were all dressed up for your anniversary. I saw you enter the Red Ginseng looking as beautiful as ever in that red dress. I later found out why your dinner ended so early with Ron, but at the time I couldn't believe that on the night when you were supposed to be with Ron drinking and dancing the night away, you were going off to that place."

Hermione's stomach fell through the floor. She remembered that night quite clearly, uncertain until now if she had been spotted.

"I was supposed to watch that block of flats under orders for Moody. He was suspicious as to the types of people who were going in and out of the place. I had my Invisibility Cloak on so I wouldn't be seen, but I saw you. And then not fifteen minutes later you ran out of there, cloak missing, hair mussed. and in tears. I could only assume the worst. But I guess since you admitted to having sex with Snape, my guess wasn't far off."

Hermione was not about to recount the finer details of the timeline and correct Harry until he asked, "Was it a fuck out of revenge?"

"When I offered to wait up for Ron after he was done dealing with the bar fight, he rejected me with a snide comment. Though that was my original purpose for showing up there that night, I left before it went that far with Severus. It was because I suddenly realized I didn't want our first time to be out of revenge that nothing happened that night," she admitted.

"Over three months fucking Snape?"

"And it was over three years for Ron. We're both guilty for falling in love with people other than who we were married to during our marriage, Harry. Even Ginny was in love with Malfoy, but she was in love with him before you two had even dated." Hermione took a sip of tea, tasting the tears that had silently slipped down her cheeks.

They sat together in silence for a while before Harry said, "It was a little while after you left the Red Ginseng that night I heard the scream and found Pansy Parkinson's body in an alley. It was because of her murder I began to take your insistence over Snape and Malfoy's innocence seriously."

Hermione put her mug down and regarded the man next to her. He looked haunted, and she recalled the way Ginny said he was quite disturbed by what he had found.

"The bastard who killed her claimed to have come upon the scene, but I saw the last of the spell come from his wand as I rounded the corner," recounted the young Auror, who now looked far older than he should have. "Had this been any other witch who had died, procedures would have been done differently. As it was, Moody did not cast a Prior Incantato on the sick fuck's wand, I was reassigned to another case quickly, so I could not follow up on her murder. He had this damn smirk on his face, I swear, as if he knew he was going to get away with it."

Harry shook his head, and a small shudder made his body momentarily quake.

"I can't even describe what he did to her body," he whispered with horror. "I still have trouble sleeping some nights; it was as bad as some of the things I had seen during the war. And they wouldn't use Veritaserum on him at all. I wonder if it was because he’d killed a Death Eater that he got away with it, or his possible Ministry connections. Probably both."

The table thumped and wobbled a little when Harry's fist came down on the tabletop in anger.

"I may have not liked Pansy and hated her for being a Death Eater, but even she should not have died in that manner," he said with more force in his voice. "It was as if her life mattered less, and therefore the murderer got away scot-free. What makes us any better than the Death Eaters then, to do something like that? Even when I testified in court, they disregarded my testimony and said I had not seen him cast it, so it was purely circumstantial."

Hermione’s tears fell faster. She wondered if the murder victim had been Severus, would his death at the hands of a murderer be treated so callously and flippantly? She was sure of it.

"Snape told me that he and Malfoy offered to confess their innocence to Moody under Veritaserum regarding Dumbledore's death and the Death Eater attack on Hogwarts. Did you know that?" he asked.

She mutely nodded. Severus had told her when she told him of her plan to find some way to clear their names. Severus doubted she could, if a confession of innocence under Veritaserum would not even be granted.

"So you were right. You did know where they went," Hermione said with subdued amazement.

"And I would tell you, but considering how much you're involved with this, the less you know the better," Harry said, refusing to tell Hermione their location. "Should Moody put the pieces together and you're in his cross-hairs, you will not be spared. But I did talk with Kingsley this morning, so that might help."

Harry didn't elaborate on what he’d said to Kingsley or how he might help. Instead, he said he had to go. Since he was supposed to be on holiday for the next couple of weeks, he would just carry on as if everything was normal, despite the fact that the Ministry would now have on record Ginny's divorce from Harry.

She could just imagine what the headlines of the Daily Prophet would scream on Monday once that bit of news in the magical registry was discovered.

"Wife Leaves Boy Who Lived!"

It certainly would be a busy day for the papers on Monday, since news of two escaped Death Eaters hadn't made it into the papers on Saturday or Sunday, and the interview with Luna was coming out that day as well.

Hermione looked up at Harry who was now standing. He hadn't even finished his tea.

"Where will you go?" she asked.

"Somewhere I can clear my head for a while. I should be back before Christmas, since I only scheduled two weeks off."

Before he went to reach for a handful of Floo powder, Harry stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Will I ever find someone who loves me as much as you love Snape, or Ginny loves Malfoy?"

"I don't know, Harry." She rose from the kitchen table to lean against the doorjamb, observing the wizard with the slumped carriage of someone who was browbeaten and world-weary. "Love finds us when we least expect it. I certainly wasn't looking for it, but there it was, as much as I tried to fight it. And I don't regret one minute of it."

Then Harry was gone.

Hermione didn't even have time to sit back down and finish her cup of tea (that had gone cold) before there was a gentle knock at the door. She wondered if it was more people from the press seeking to interview her and offer her money for an exclusive.

As she opened the door to tell whoever it was to sod off, she blinked back in surprise at the sight of Kingsley Shacklebolt waiting on her doorstep.

"May I come in?" the senior Auror asked.

"Yes, please," she replied as she stepped aside to allow him in. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Yes, that would be lovely."

They moved into the kitchen and Hermione began to make tea for them both, making herself a fresh cup.

Seated at the table, Kingsley said, "I saw Harry this morning."

She only nodded, unable to speak, wondering what Harry told him. Harry had only said that he had gone to see Kingsley and that the older wizard might help, but that didn't mean he still might not arrest Hermione. Harry's cryptic remark also could have meant that Kingsley would make sure Hermione wasn't punished too harshly.

"Harry told me about how he found where Draco and Severus went," he began, adding, "and about Ginny."

The kettle began to whistle and Hermione poured the water into the mugs, wondering if he would allow her to finish her tea before hauling her away. She offered him milk and sugar, which he declined.

As she swirled the spoon in her mug to keep her hand occupied and prevent it from shaking, Kingsley said, "I saw your name on the Portkey office register for departure Friday morning. Along with Harry's and Ginny's."

Hermione was not going to talk unless it was necessary to answer one of his questions. And she would be truthful since there was little point in lying. Moody wasn't afraid to use Veritaserum, much like Umbridge's liberal use of it in Hermione’s fifth year, if it suited the purpose of their designs. Kingsley... would he just have Moody do the dirty work for him?

"Did you give Severus or Ginny your hair willingly for the Polyjuice Potion?"

He knew. She might as well ask him now, to quell or feed this pit of panic in her gut.

"Are you going to take me to Azkaban now?"

"Is there a reason I should take you there?"

"No more reason than why two innocent wizards had to flee to escape unjust persecution despite a clear lack of evidence, and the denial of them to prove their own innocence," she replied, her back straight and eyes full of defiance.

"I once told Severus that if there is anything I could do for him and Draco legally to just ask," he said, his voice devoid of any accusation. "Well, during the war, I did many things illegally to fight against Voldemort and darkness. Injustice is a darkness, and the legality of the Death Eaters Decree is a line I am willing to finally cross in order to help Severus and Draco."

Hermione was filled with relief and hope that someone else besides Lavender and Harry was willing to step up and help clear their names. She let out a huge sigh, releasing the breath that she had not realized she had been holding.

"Which is why I removed any record of you, Harry, and Ginny taking a Portkey Friday morning. I Obliviated the three Portkey officers: the one who Ginny dealt with when booking it, the one who saw your Polyjuiced version, and the one Harry talked to that night when he followed them."

Kingsley was momentarily caught by surprise when Hermione leapt up out of her chair and rushed at him, clasping him in a hug of gratitude, her sobs heaving and expressive.

"Thank you, thank you," she cried into his shoulder.

The Auror patted her back soothingly. "It's all right," he assured her. "I'm glad that there was someone capable of helping of them. Though Harry didn't say it, I suspect you helped provide the materials for the Polyjuice Potion through your old work at the Ministry, is that correct?"

"Oh, shit," she muttered into his shoulder.

If Harry and Kingsley could both figure that out, then the chance of Moody figuring it out was even higher.

"So I take that as an affirmative?" he asked, raising one brow at her as she lifted her head up to regard the Auror.

Had Kingsley not already eased her fears and said he was willing to help, she would have phrased her answer with obfuscation and careful wording.

"I pretended to botch the tests for two key regulated ingredients, but the last one, fluxweed, the box was already destroyed when I came in the Monday after the Ministry's ball," Hermione confessed as she let go of Kingsley to sit back down with her tea once more. "But you already witnessed that with Mr. Dushka having kicked the box aside after using it as an impromptu stepping stool. Or did you miss the fluxweed clinging to his trouser legs when you found him in the lab with his wife and Trevor Spawn," she said, jogging his memory that it was her by the door when she slapped Severus for show.

The Auror placed his forehead in his hand to look down at the table. She wasn't sure if he was embarrassed by recalling discovering the three in a sexual act or found it funny, until he lifted his head suddenly after remembering something else. "Was that Spanish lothario..." Kingsley began to ask, but trailed off.

"Was Delgado what, Kingsley?" Hermione asked back blankly, unwilling to give away Severus' nom de guerre and confirm it was him.

"Severus, you sly, old Slytherin," he remarked to himself, stunned with growing amusement. "There is no way even Moody would think Delgado and Severus were one and the same."

Now Kingsley understood what they did on the side, since he’d always suspected Severus was not going to work as a gigolo for his sole source of income.

Hermione was not going to confirm or deny Kingsley's correct guess. There were enough secrets spilled between the two of them to damn them both, had Moody stolen Harry's Invisibility Cloak and spied on their morning conversation.

"I made a promise to Severus that I would clear his and Draco's names. I will figure out a way. Some way, somehow, I will see to it," she assured him.

"I hope you do, Hermione. I certainly hope you do."

The way that Hermione had promised to clear their names made him wonder if this particular witch and Severus had a relationship beyond the procurement of a few ingredients, but the Auror would not pry.

"I will do my best to make sure Moody cannot factor you into their escape," Kingsley promised. "As it is, Harry, Miss Brown, you and I are the only ones who know about the Polyjuice Potion."

"Actually, it is just Harry, you and I, as I was instructed by Lavender to do a Memory Charm on her to that bit of knowledge, since having two of her employees who were Death Eaters escape will put her in line for questioning, so you don't have to worry about that."

Kingsley nodded his head with approval. "And with Harry gone on holiday to someplace, it will just be you and I who truly know how they escaped for the next few weeks. Which means the Department of Magical Law Enforcement can still pursue them fleeing by boat, based on an 'anonymous' tip we got the morning before the alarms went off. And as this same 'anonymous' tipster had proven useful with correct information about a Death Eater who had tried to procure an extra wand for illegal purposes, it will continue to be regarded as a solid lead until proven otherwise." He gave a great theatrical sigh when he added, "Who knows if we'll ever find them. So many ports to leave by boat for any place in the world."

He tsk-tsked as he lifted his mug and took a long sip of tea. Hermione wondered if Severus was this particular anonymous tipster, but decided that was a question for after their names were truly cleared.

"I didn't see the report of two missing Death Eaters in the paper yet." Hermione gave a sigh of relief, heaving her shoulders before slowly exhaling.

"We're trying to keep it out of the papers," the Auror admitted. "Fudge is suppressing the news for as long as he can, given that there is an election next year. Amelia Bones, Moody's and my superior, is ready to run against Fudge in the next election. I have talked with her; she is open to a fully accounted exoneration and public apology to both Severus and Draco if they can be proven innocent by some legally recognizable means, so you can count on one more ally in your quest to clear their names."

The task of trying to clear their names no longer seemed quite so insurmountable, given she had three people now who were in agreement regarding the ex-Death Eaters' innocence. It was three more than when she woke up that morning.

"Do you think you can suppress the papers from writing about Ginny divorcing Harry until at least Tuesday?" she asked. "There is an interview Lavender, Ron and I did with Luna that will be published in The Quibbler on Monday that might change a few minds when it comes to divorce."

"I'll see what I can do, as that is public record," he said, one large hand nervously rubbing the back of his bald pate. "It'll be hard to stop the press from latching on to that. Perhaps an exclusive for the Daily Prophet with Amelia making her announcement to run for Minister might make them decide to wait until Tuesday. I'll owl her."

"Thanks, Kingsley."

As Hermione walked Kingsley to the door, she gave him one more hug in appreciation for all that he had done. It was nice to know that Severus had more allies looking out for him than she initially knew of.

Once the door was shut, Hermione went to the kitchen to cook herself a large and proper breakfast. With her hopes up, her appetite had returned. Given that she would be doing a lot of late autumn chores in Albert's garden all afternoon, she would need something solid to keep her going through the day.

As she fried up some eggs and mushrooms, Hermione began to run through the list of the different types of cuisines Ginny had cooked as of late, as Harry said it was her cookbooks that gave away their locations.

"Spain?" she wondered aloud, given that "Delgado" had gone back to Spain and Ginny had done a lot of Spanish cooking at one point. Hermione would have to do some research if there was someplace in Spain that offered sanctuary.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bill, Fred, and George were helping their father with a major chore that weekend.

A recent storm had blown over the shelter in the pig sty and a new one needed to be built, especially since it was old and the posts were partially rotted.

As the twins were busy digging post holes, jabbing and twirling their wands in the air with a Defodio spell, Bill and Arthur were corralling the pigs into a temporary structure to hold them, so they wouldn't get in the way.

Meanwhile, an owl was flying with the swiftest of speeds, intent on delivering its payload to its intended recipient as soon as possible. The letter it was carrying was beginning to smolder.

As the great horned owl flew over a copse of beech trees – now bare of leaves, its branches looking like skeletal fingers reaching up as if to pluck the bird from the sky – the owl began to descend.

Molly was in the kitchen cooking up a nice hot lunch for her husband and boys, pleased that they had come over that day, despite having been up late the night before with the grand opening of that lewd business. To think that the twins were in business with that witch, who had the gall to show up at Bill's party and insist she was going to marry her son. That witch who sold the company of men on the side, a service that Molly shamefully took advantage of herself.

But she felt she was in the moral superiority, since she had just paid for a sympathetic ear. She wasn't the one peddling men's favors; some indulgences she had heard about involved more carnal pursuits.

Just as Molly opened the window to call the men in to lunch, she spied the great horned owl barreling towards the window.

She ducked just in time. The bird barely slowed down as it tucked its wings alongside its aerodynamically evolved form while it passed through the window frame. Dropping off the letter with haste, the owl spread its wings once more to brake, its speed still a blur to any human eye that could have tried to follow, and turned sharply as if chasing a hare between the pines. It went out of the kitchen, around through the parlor, swerved again, and tucked its wings in once more as it exited through the same kitchen window. The owl began to pump its wings furiously, trying to get away from the house before the letter it delivered would go off.

The brief shriek Molly gave in fright in reaction to the bird made the Weasley men make haste to run towards the house to see what was the matter.

They ran into the house to see Molly staring at the red letter that was beginning to smoke around the edges. Ginny had arranged for her Howler to be time-delayed. The postponement put the Howler into a stasis that would not go into effect until it was delivered. However, with all the seething rage and vitriol that Ginny had poured into her Howler, it began to wear on the stasis charm during delivery. Had the Weasleys lived farther away, it might not have made the trip.

As Molly reached out with a tentative hand, wondering who had sent her a Howler, a large flock of starlings took off from the great oak tree next to the Burrow, as if startled from a gunshot.

Molly and the Weasley men stood in shock as Ginny's Howler cited chapter and verse of Molly's interference in her life, from stopping Harry from pursing her during the war, to lying to Draco and threatening him the day the Death Eater Decree came out. Ginny's Howler went on to recount how her mother had lied to her, saying that Draco had never come to the house. The Howler was an exceptionally long one considering how much Ginny needed to vent and set the record straight. Ginny bellowed on about how Molly had encouraged Harry to date her despite her lack of interest, and Molly's threats to Ginny that she had better accept Harry's courtship, or the matron would slip a love potion into Ginny's food sometime to hasten her along. It was another instance of bullying into yet another marriage, like Ron. And then to add icing to the piping hot cake, there was the retelling of Molly telling Harry of her assumptions that Ginny had been sexually abused by Tom Riddle, which Ginny's Howler vehemently denied, taking umbrage with her mother's presumption, and interference with her sex life with Harry. But the cherry on top was the final news that she had divorced Harry and had run away with Draco Malfoy in order to marry the wizard she has always loved and should have married in the first place.

Molly fell to her knees, mortified and angry. Fists clenched in the air, she screamed with hysterical fury that her plans had been subverted. Malfoy had got Ginny in the end. Her precious little girl was in that monstrous Death Eater's clutches now. She began to rend her clothes in her frenzy, a near madness overtaking her. First Ron and that gigolo peddler, Lavender, and now this. The scandal of it all, reflecting solely back on her. It was more than she could bear.

The Weasley men stood around, unable to move, ignoring the smoldering pile of ashes on the table from what had been Ginny's Howler. Even Arthur could not move his legs to run to his wife's side to console her, shocked by Molly's coercive interference in yet another of their children's marriages, and the news of Ginny's departure and sudden divorce, even with Molly’s wailing lamentably on the floor.

George noticed that lunch was beginning to burn, and he used his wand to remove the pot from the cooker.

It didn't matter. No one wanted to eat.

Bill, still slightly stunned from the bomb that was dropped at his birthday party with the announcement of Ron and Hermione's divorce, shook his head with pity as he gazed at his hysterical mother.

In the years to come, no matter how much Molly scrubbed that kitchen table, used every potion, charm or spell, the singe marks from Ginny's Howler would never disappear. Even with an opaque tablecloth placed over it, the singe marks still showed through. It was a constant reminder to Molly and the rest of the Weasley family of Ginny feeling betrayed by her own mother and her mother's selfish manipulations.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Justina had gone with Severus, Draco and Ginny up to the caldera to bring their offerings to the goddess Pele. Justina had taken them out shopping to help them pick out the right flowers and Pele's favorite fruits to offer as their show of thanks for providing them with sanctuary. It was Pele’s magic that was imbued into the island that safeguarded them, so she was, in a sense, their protector.

There were red lehua flowers and strawberries from Ginny and Draco.

Justina explained the symbolism behind the red flowers, involving a tale of two lovers who had been separated, then joined together once more.

Considering their own tragic love story and their reuniting, it was a most fitting offer for Ginny and Draco to make, as the lehua tree is a favorite of Pele’s, one of the first plants to grow and bloom after a lava flow.

Severus was to offer red hibiscus blossoms and 'ōhelo berries. The curious Potions master was about to try one of the delicious looking red berries he’d bought from the local store’s produce section before wrapping up his purchase. Instead, he was soundly slapped on the back of the hand by Justina before he committed a great insult to Pele. “We could all get lost in rain and fog on the way to the volcano as punishment for not offering one to Pele first,” Justina admonished.

The local witch told Severus and his companions the story of the 'ōhelo berries, which were an incarnation of Pele's sister, Ka'ōhelo. After Ka'ōhelo was buried by her son on Kilauea volcano, Pele's home, the bush grew along its slopes. When walking on the way to Kilauea crater, one must offer the first 'ōhelo berry to Pele, tossing it in the volcano, then – once the offer is given – one may enjoy as many 'ōhelo berries as desired on the walk back down.

It seemed there were a great many things the three of them still had to learn to avoid breaking local customs, but they were all fast learners and the townsfolk were more than happy to teach them.

As the four of them trekked up the side of the mountain towards the top of the volcano and island, they had a glorious view to the island below and the vast ocean that surrounded them. About thirty miles to the north north-east lay the Big Island, where Kilauea volcano was currently erupting.

The volcano for Malu Palekaiko erupted periodically too, as Justine explained that Pele also makes her home here sometimes to keep company with those who have magic like her.

Malu Palekaiko was invisible to Muggles, as most magical places in the world are. Ships sailed around the island unaware they had veered off course and then back to their original headings, and people in planes never saw it.

Once at the top of the island, Justina said a heartfelt prayer to Pele on behalf of the newcomers who had come to seek sanctuary and were offering her thanks for her shelter.

Severus, as instructed, tossed a small handful of 'ōhelo berries into the caldera, leaving the rest on a small, primitive altar, which was nothing than some artfully arranged lava rocks. Ginny and Draco did the same, also leaving their offering by the edge of the caldera.

They all said "Mahalo," which was Hawaiian for "thank you. " All of them were sincere in their thanks that they had found sanctuary and were free.

As they began to descend from the top of the island, Severus was also thankful he’d purchased a good set of hiking boots, while Ginny and Draco each wore a sturdy pair of trainers,

Justina warned them that should they come across a beautiful woman with long flowing hair or an old woman with long white hair, that they should always offer her help and respite, and always say "Aloha" to her. Pele had been known to take human form once in a great while.

Scrambling over the rocky lava flows, he asked Justina about the offering of gin to Pele.

"Pthth! That's just a stupid made-up story by a Greek Muggle," the tiny witch said scornfully. "He wanted to get her drunk so she'd put on a show for the tourists that ate at his restaurant. As if! If you really want to please Pele with something alcoholic, you must brew or distill from the fruits or vegetables that grow along the slopes of this island, from the very soil that she made."

Feeling more confident now they had the blessings of Pele secured, they headed back into town for some lunch, Severus picking more 'ōhelo berries along the way to stuff in his many pockets or pop in his mouth. During lunch, the trio began to scan the local rag listing of properties for sale.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

That Monday, the house-elves did a good job of keeping people out of the lobby if they did not have business directly dealing with The Lovely Lavender Company.

The Quibbler hit the stands early that morning and was all that anyone could talk about throughout all of British wizardom. Even the European wizarding press had latched on to this exclusive, as The Lovely Lavender Company had a strong presence on the continent.

As Severus was not there Sunday night to meet Mrs. Paxton, Mrs. Paxton sent an owl to Miss Brown; this was Lavender’s cue to notify the Aurors that not only was Severus missing, but Draco as well. Madam Agatha had canceled her Saturday appointment, which delayed telling the Aurors by another twenty-four hours that two of the “boys” from her stable, who were Death Eaters, had gone missing.

Now that the Aurors had finally identified which two Death Eaters had fled England, they were still focusing on ports and marinas. Posing as Muggle policemen, Aurors swept through every major port, showing pictures (the non-moving Muggle kind) of Severus and Draco's faces to port authorities, shipping companies, and anyone else who might have had an unknowing hand in their escape. When nothing turned up at the major ports, the medium and small ports were then canvassed.

Moody and several inept junior Aurors swarmed over The Lovely Lavender headquarters that Monday. The house-elves were very put out when the young Aurors were accidentally knocking over drums and barrels of items, which then had to be picked up and decontaminated, should it ruin a batch of some potion.

Hermione and Albert were working together on a potion for removing age spots when they were rousted from the Potions master's office. They had to wait in the hallway while their office was tossed for any clues to the two Death Eaters' disappearance.

When Moody interrogated Miss Brown, she could be heard bellowing loudly through the door that she was just as upset as Moody since now she was down two wizards for her side business and would be losing out on money, not to mention her reputation with the clients who she had already pre-booked and would have to be told of the cancellations. There were Galleons to be returned, and apologies to be owled, and it was all a great inconvenience to her.

The demand by Moody that Miss Brown turn over her ledger containing names and amounts paid by people to visit her gigolos was met with a harsh glare and a firm no.

"Should some of the names on this list be discovered by you, or – much worse – made public, let's just say you won't be working for the Ministry for very much longer. You can just start working on your resignation letter right now if you keep pushing it," she promised him.

There was absolute truth in her statement, and Moody, who had interrogated enough people over time to know when someone was telling it, balked. He wondered if it was Fudge, McPeebles, or Amelia Bones who was listed on that ledger, or some close family member whose exposure would cause great embarrassment.

Moody delighted in going after Death Eaters. There was a thrill of adrenaline, plus a never-ending, never-satisfied streak of vengeance that made him so driven to find Severus and Draco, but he loved his job more and the pay was good. He wasn't a man to be bought easily, but given the potential political nature of Miss Brown's secret client list, even he could see that he could do more good by staying in the job and letting this one lead drop by the wayside. Besides, other clues were out there, bound to be discovered and explored.

With nothing left to comb through, Moody and his team of Aurors left. Lavender promised extra butterbeer for the house-elves as compensation for the inconvenience, which was met with wee cheers about the building.

Hermione only hoped that while the Aurors searched Draco and Severus' old flat, that Severus' old place would not be trashed too badly, and any damage done could be repaired. She did intend to move in once the Ministry had peered and spied into every nook and cranny of the place for more clues to their disappearance.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Severus, Draco and Ginny began to settle into life, still living in Justina's hotel until they could find new homes, the young lovers spent more time apart from Severus. They still all went to breakfast and dinner together most of the time, seeking each other’s company daily. But other opportunities to expand their social circle began to draw them apart into their own daily routines.

Severus had bought a new swimsuit, since his musk-ox hair swimsuit, which had the properties to keep him warm even when he was wet, was not suited for swimming in warm ocean waters, versus the chilly lake at Hogwarts. Arnold, one Potions master Severus had become acquainted with, took him diving in a particular area; Arnold pointed out the many potions ingredients that could be collected, while also pointing out that which was protected and could not be collected.

Most days after breakfast Severus would go for a swim in the clear crystal blue waters of the sheltered bay. The vibrancy of the fish swimming close enough to touch was fascinating to him. His afternoons were spent hiking among the jungle forest, becoming familiar with local plants and studying the local wildlife. Ranjit, the other local Potions master, had given Severus a guide book he had written regarding the local birds, insects, and animals; it included a guide for collecting, as some birds were protected on the island.

Ginny had begun spending a lot of time with Halulu after her performance at the Christmas luau. The hula teacher wanted Ginny to start teaching belly dancing, and Ginny started taking private lessons from Halulu who wanted the young redhead to dance the part of Pele at the Summer Pele Festival. There was a lot of dancing to learn and new moves to master.

Draco was busy looking for a place for Ginny and him to call home. He latched onto this notion that he didn't want to marry Ginny until he found them a proper home and could carry her over the threshold, instead of going back to the honeymoon suite at the hotel. The suite was a fine room and it was romantic, but Draco wanted to make their first night as husband and wife the first night in their new home as well. It was really quite old fashioned and gallant, when one thought about it.

All three of them had finally gotten around to buying new brooms since Draco and Severus both had to sell theirs in order to make ends meet under the Death Eaters Decree before Miss Brown hired them. Once working for Miss Brown, the revocation of their Apparition license made it pointless to buy another one.

Ginny had left her broom back at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, as it was a present from Harry. In fact, she had left behind all the jewelry, fancy lingerie, and gifts he had given to her over their courtship and marriage. When she packed to leave her husband, she took her plain clothes, her cookbooks and personal library, a few photos, and her music box and belly dancing materials; she left behind everything else they had accrued together during her marriage, or they bought together. It was a way of breaking from the past and making as clean of a start as possible.

Even Draco had sent all the monies Ginny had spent to see him as a gigolo back to Potter, transferring the funds through Gringotts, though there was a question of if Potter would even notice since his vault was also rather full.

They had made a date that all three of them would go flying one afternoon. It would be the first chance Severus had had to fly a broom in years, and he was anxious to ride the wind once more. He’d bought a slightly cooler and lighter-weight version of Quidditch gear for casual flying, purchased at the Pililani Broom and Quidditch supply store in town.

Dressed in his new flying attire, Severus went over to the honeymoon suite and knocked on the door. He wondered if the couple was ready to go, as they had arranged.

There was the sudden change in air pressure and Severus noticed that a Silencing Charm was just brought down. The door cracked open a few inches. Ginny was peering through with a blanket clutched to her person in a way that indicated she was probably nude underneath.

"Yes?" she barked with impatience, glaring up at Severus.

"We were to go flying this afternoon?" Severus reminded her.

Uncharacteristically, Ginny rolled her eyes and turned her head back toward Draco. She said shortly, "You forgot to tell me that was this afternoon."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I forgot when you suggested–" Draco cut off when Ginny hurriedly shushed him.

Turning back to Severus, Ginny said, with a smirk that was similar to one Draco would sport, "Come back in three hours."

Severus smelled the Polyjuice Potion on Ginny's, or should it be Draco's, breath.

The door was shut in Severus' face and the Silencing Charm was put back up, as he could hear “Draco” beginning to giggle, but then it was suddenly cut off.

There would be no way either would be up for flying in three hours. They would be up for lots of sleep if they were going to make the most of the Polyjuice Potion and a bit of role-reversal.

The Potions master contemplated the possibility of playing a joke on them when next he saw them; he would ask them if they had taken precautions, as otherwise Draco was at risk of becoming pregnant. Of course it was impossible, as Ginny's body on contraceptive potions would be just as effective for Draco. There were, however, two previous recorded cases of male pregnancy due to couples playing around with Polyjuice before the witch knew she was pregnant. It would still make for a good trick, especially considering how they had ribbed Severus often about his growing base of female admirers, including Justina, Maria, Antonia, Svetlana, Gretchen, Tina, Miyuki, and the under-aged daughter of Mounga, Akela.

Ginny told him it was his nose that was the advertisement, indicating the old saying about noses and men's endowments. Severus choked on his coffee over that comment.

He wondered if he should wait for Ginny, Draco, or both to have a mouth full of beverage before he played the male-pregnancy joke on them over breakfast.

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

A/N: Thanks to my wonderful betas, JuneW and Hope, for cleaning up this chapter and making it presentable for public consumption.

Fan art by Jade Hallett, “Ginny's Howler”. You can view it on my Tumblr account here: http://atdlhea-betz.tumblr.com/post/145591781810/fan-art-by-jade-hallettk6034-commissioned-by-me

Jade Hallett/k6034's DeviantArt page here: http://k6034.deviantart.com/

The title for this chapter was inspired by the Fiona Apple song, “The Child is Gone.”

I know so many of you who have read my fic have told of your loathing of my interpretation of Molly. I hope this chapter satisfied you.

Here is the story behind the Lehua flowers: http://www.lehuaukulele.com/lehua_flower.html

The legend of 'ōhelo berries can be found here.
http://www.mauimagazine.net/Maui-Magazine/November-December-2012/Oh-Hello/
and
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/May/19/il/FP605190309.html

Strawberries and red hibiscus flowers have also been listed as favorite offerings to Pele.

Here are some more stories regarding Pele:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/hawaiian-legends_n_3898664.html

Here is the real story behind the myth of offering gin to Pele: http://www.kaahelehawaii.com/pages/culture_hookupu.htm

Pililani means "close to heaven." Fitting for a broom store, don't you think?
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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After