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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
- 91
- 92
- 93
"And They Didn't Live Happily Ever After"

Chapter Ninety-One
"The Heart Has Reasons That Reason Does Not Understand"

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling.

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

With the slam of the front door, Ginny awoke from her nap to discover Severus was gone and Lavender and Draco were in tears. The next half hour was spent filling Ginny in on the news of Hermione and all that had happened.

While processing all that she had learned, still breaking into uncontrollable sobs periodically, Ginny was overcome with a moment of panic. "Draco, remember that time right after Hermione and Ron's anniversary dinner and what Severus did to his flat?"

Draco immediately understood where his wife was going with her line of questioning. Severus now had access to a fully-stocked Potions lab in his house. Who knew, in a moment of rage and despair, what he might do.

Apparating directly from the living room, Draco wound up on Severus' front porch. The front door was left open, the cyclone blowing the door back and forth, slamming it against the wall to bounce back, then get caught by another gust of wind to slam fully open once more.

"Severus? SEVERUS!"

Draco saw the muddy, wet footprints tracked through the house and to the back door. That door was also left open, opening and closing with the pressure of the winds now blowing through the house.

Running out into the pelting rain, his wand casting a bright light, he called Severus' name out into the gale several times more. His only reply was the wind howling back at him.

Back inside the house, he began rushing upstairs to Severus' Potions lab, but stopped short when he noticed the door to the broom cupboard was hanging open, the latch busted. There were a few twigs from the broom swirling about on the floor with the breeze blowing through the house.

Draco didn't have to ponder. He knew Severus must have taken his broom and flown off in the middle of a cyclone.

A pounding on the front door brought Mounga rushing to see what the urgency was about. Without words, a very sodden and shaken-looking Draco told him something was amiss.

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

She was sure she was going to go mad.

Since recovering from her kidnapping, assault, and still unexplained prolonged sleep, Hermione had continued on with her work for Lavender and her apprenticeship with Albert, in addition to pulling together a case to petition the Wizengamot and Ministry of Magic for a full pardon and exoneration of Severus and Draco. It seemed that even the publishing of Dumbledore's will – explicitly stating their innocence – was not enough to grant them any clemency until Hermione brought the case before the court.

Now the flurry of activity was over, Albert ordered his apprentice to one day of full rest. Hermione was under wand-oath orders to not pick up a book, not study, not brew unless it was for urgent personal necessity, and to relax for one full day. The Potions master had seen other apprentices of his colleagues snap over the years from trying to do too much, and Hermione had nearly done the same. He even urged her to visit her parents, given that she had yet to explain to them about her ordeal. Despite having made a promise to her Aunt Christine to tell them, she had been putting it off for over three weeks.

Aunt Christine had not found out about Hermione's adventures and trip to St. Mungo's until the Friday after everything happened, still not having gotten around to getting a subscription to the Daily Prophet. Upset that she and Hermione's parents were not kept in the loop except from what they gleaned from the paper about the attack, it didn't soothe her much either when she found out the news was kept from them at Hermione's insistence until she could discuss it with them later. Hermione's parents seemed to treat this as par for the course, given there was little about the war she had told them. Unable to share many unpleasant things, Hermione preferred to keep her parents in the dark.

The legal proceedings finished on Friday, with judgment handed down by the Wizengamot less than an hour later for all that she sought in her claim.

Now it was Sunday morning. Hermione figured Lavender was probably in Malu Palekaiko, giving Severus the bouquet she'd bought for him, along with a good slap across the face for what he did to her, in addition to the good news of his exoneration.

"Fish geranium. Disappointed expectations, my arse! That'll show him," she huffed into her mug of tea.

It wasn't just to spite Severus' particular floral choice, but she still felt an obligation to clear his and Draco's name, just as she'd promised. Justice was justice, and right was right, no matter how much she thrilled at the little fantasy of Lavender returning from Hawaii with Severus' balls in a jar. However, that little scenario didn't hold as much allure for her as it did a month ago.

In the month since her attack and recovery, Hermione had gone off the unwise regimen of potions which kept her working far harder and longer than was prudent. Now, with her mind no longer oscillating between the extremes of frantic activity and muddled dubiety, she had time to think about the flowers Severus had sent her.

The note was not laced with any vile jabs or scathing remarks. Read alone, without the bouquet, it seemed sincere and hopeful, despite the few words used. And Severus was not a man to easily switch allegiances. This was a wizard who had stayed true to Dumbledore as his spy out of honor and obligation, despite having the option to taking the easier and less dangerous path. Hermione had granted him his passage to escape, so why he would send a bouquet filled with such hostile intent was beyond her. It seemed uncharacteristic. Then again, the way he'd verbally gutted her during that misunderstanding the day after her anniversary dinner, he was a man who could feel viscerally if he thought he was betrayed. Maybe he did feel betrayed with her encounter with Neville; though how Severus learned of it, she still could not fathom.

Lavender was to return either Thursday or Friday, having gone to scout for possible locations other than Hawaii for the Asia-Pacific facilities. Hermione would know by the end of the week if all of this was as she originally thought, or if this was somehow another tragic misunderstanding between them. The former seemed like the more probable of the two.

Finishing her tea, Hermione decided that since she was banned from studying and even the pleasure of reading, except for the day's newspaper, she might as well go visit her parents, and her aunt and uncle, bringing them up to speed on all that had happened, or at least the parts that she was willing to share. Her stomach was feeling unsettled more and more, and she chalked it up to her nervousness of confessing during her visit.

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

There was a murmur of voices that sounded more like the buzzing of insects. It was bothersome enough that it woke Severus. Now awake, he could discern who was speaking.

"Is Uncle Severus going to be alright?" Akela asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Yes, but you mustn't tell anyone what happened," Rainbow cautioned her daughter. "We don't need rumors swirling about him being mad for flying off into the middle of a lightning storm."

Severus found humor in Rainbow's warning, given she was the biggest town gossip around. He began to chuckle at the absurd hypocrisy of it, but groaned when his chest seized with pain.

"He's up. Get your father and the others," Rainbow said urgently as she rushed back into the room.

Cracking an eye open, Severus saw that he was in the Finaus' guest bedroom, and missing his regular clothes. Somehow, he was in his own nightwear, sans a shirt, though he was missing the memory of how he arrived there.

"Severus? Can you hear me?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes, yes," he said peevishly as he attempted to sit up and decided that that was a bad idea.

"Good, then my spells to repair your ruptured eardrum worked. Any ringing in your ears?" she asked as her wand waved about his face and chest.

"No," he began to reply, but then the ringing began. "Wait, yes, a bit. Right now."

Rainbow swished her wand about and gave Severus a vial of something to drink, which made the ringing disappear.

Draco, Ginny, Lavender, and Mounga all tried to fit into the guest bedroom, along with Rainbow, so Ginny decided to wait out in the hallway and peer in instead.

Mounga conjured chairs for all to sit around the bed. He gave his wife a nod, which she took as her cue to leave them alone for a while. Ginny came in and closed the door.

"Care to share with us what you were thinking when you decided to go flying on one of the worst days of the year to do so?" the huge wizard asked his friend.

"I wasn't thinking." Severus closed his eyes, recalling why he was laid up in the guest bedroom at the Finaus'.

Normally, he probably would have been brought to the clinic, but Mounga probably told his wife to bring him to their home to keep things quiet while treating him, given Rainbow's previous statement.

"Draco filled me in," Mounga began, "and I can understand why you'd be upset, but – right when you have gained your freedom Hermione promised she would do, the one task that was the reason why she remained behind in England as you told me – why on God's green earth would you do something as foolish as fly off into a cyclone? Why? I know you're not a rash person, just tell me what you were thinking."

Severus looked at his friend and wanted to tell him. "Lavender, Ginny. If you could please step outside. Draco, you may stay."

Once the two witches had left and the door was shut, Mounga put up a Silencing Spell to avoid any eavesdropping.

"In a moment of madness it all made sense," Severus confessed, his eyes glassy and distant. "If I offered myself up to the universe, or whatever being out there is toying with our lives for its amusement, then maybe Hermione wouldn't die. It seems any witch I have ever felt anything for has met an untimely and grisly end. Lily, Gabrielle. Any time I've felt feelings for someone, she died. I took the news of Hermione's near-death at a sign from the Fates that she would not live if I did."

"But she didn't die, Severus," Draco reminded him. "And yes, Potter and Kingsley were too slow to stop the first hex, but remember at Pansy's murder trial, how upset Potter was that that bastard would be set free? This time, Potter let him ramble on and confess to everything so he couldn't get off again, and though Hermione got hurt, she's alive, and well enough that she won us our freedom. Now Goyle, Blaise, and Pansy's murderer has been caught and justice is finally served."

"But it was because of me Parker set his sights on her to kill her," Severus retorted.

"No," Draco corrected him. "You ran out before Lavender told me that Parker targeted Hermione long before she started seeing you. Parker is not just Calpurnia's nephew, he's Dolores Umbridge's godson. Remember how Hermione tricked her out into the Forbidden Forest and let the Centaurs carry her away? This was personal. And Parker hated Muggleborns, too. He was the one who set Dolohov off on a rampage at the Ministry. Parker even confessed he was disappointed at the time Hermione left the lift just before the carnage. It wasn't because of you, it was a matter of circumstance that Parker was stalking us as well, and that he saw Hermione come and go to your flat. Ginny as well."

Severus looked ashen. "But at the trial, if that came up during–"

Draco patted Severus' hand, trying to calm him. "Potter and Kingsley had Lavender come over, while Parker was in custody before Moody saw him. Kingsley had her remove those memories so Parker couldn't tell the Wizengamot during the trial about seeing Ginny or Hermione come and go. Though it did come out about Rancelette, which caused quite the furor, as Lavender told it."

Severus was suddenly quite thankful about Lavender's talent for Memory Charms.

Mounga shook his head. So much sorrow and tragedy in his friend's life. "I'm so sorry that all this transpired, my friend. But imagine how Hermione would have felt, having delivered you the freedom you wanted badly enough that you couldn’t stay in England even for her, only for you to kill yourself. And after she had discovered that you never stopped loving her, but that it was merely the wrong bouquet? C'mon, dude. Even Shakespeare was pushing the boundaries of poorly-timed missed messages in Romeo & Juliet. And this? You die? That would be really fucking tragic."

Now that the immediate shock of grief was no longer consuming him beyond reason, Severus could finally begin to see the logic behind Mounga's assessment.

There was a gentle knock at the door. Mounga pulled the Silencing Spell down and unlocked the door with his wand, bidding them to enter.

Peeking her head in, Akela said with contrition, "I'm so sorry to bother you, Papa, but Kaimi keeps bugging me to ask you if she can give Uncle Severus his card." She rolled her eyes over his little sister's pestering and lack of patience.

Severus nodded his head that it was indeed all right.

Kaimi poked her head around the door frame. Mounga assured his youngest that she could enter, but told her to keep it brief.

Shuffling into the room, now feeling a bit uncertain and meek with all the adult wizards staring at her, she ducked her head down.

"You have something for me," Severus prompted her gently. She was a sweet child with a kind heart and an adventurous spirit. He was quite fond of her, as much as Severus could be fond of any child.

"I made you a card." She held it out for Severus to take. Climbing up into her father's lap, she began pointing out the artwork she had drawn, explaining the figures in the drawing beneath a sky filled with menacing black clouds and lightning. "That's you falling, and that's me swooping down saving you before you hit the water. That didn't really happen, but I wish I could have been there to save you like you caught me before."

Severus was moved by her concern. He opened the card and read the words written as carefully as possible in a multitude of colored inks, with her fanciest quillmanship.

-------

'Please get well, Uncle Severus. You're my favorite uncle and I don't want you sick or hurt anymore.

Love, Kaimi'

-------

He could only think of Mounga and Rainbow having to tell Kaimi how he had died, if had he succeeded in his original endeavor. And then he thought of Hermione having to hear from Lavender the same news and how she would react.

Severus broke down into sobbing tears.

"I'm sorry you don't like it," Kaimi began to apologize as she slipped from her father's lap.

"No, honey," Mounga assured her. "I think he likes it very much. He's just very tired right now."

He picked up his daughter and carried her from the room, followed behind by Draco, who shut the door behind him. They left Severus alone in peace to cry, the card resting limply in his hands.

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

On the wall behind Mounga's desk in his judge's chambers was an American flag from during the Revolution. It seemed even the town judge had an ancestor who had involved him or herself in a Muggle war and then had to seek sanctuary for interfering in a Muggle political conflict. Mounga's ancestor, on his mother's side, was the first American sanctuary-seeker. James Wright came to Malu Palekaiko in 1783, right after the Treaty of Paris and the founding of the United States Department of Magic, which immediately went after witches and wizards who participated in the war in ways that violated international law. The Battle of Saratoga turned the tide of the war for independence and may have ended differently if Mounga's ancestor, James Wright, hadn't used his magic to interfere.

While Severus stared at the flag and thought about his own freedom from the British Ministry of Magic's tyranny, Lavender ooh'ed and ahh'ed over the beautiful koa, monkeypod, and kiawe wood paneling that lined the judge's chambers, asking Mounga about the exotic woods.

On a round table towards one side of the room, a large Pensieve rested. It was large enough for Mounga, two lawyers, a witness, the victim, and the accused to use at once, if there was a discrepancy in testimony to an account of events. Sometimes after such use, either the witness, or plaintiff would change their testimony or plea.

Mounga, Severus, Draco, Ginny, and Lavender all stood around the Pensieve. Lavender placed her wand to her temple and pulled out a silvery thread of thought, then another. She was placing them in the Pensieve in order, showing the highlights of the trial instead of two full days of legal proceedings which included a lot of breaks for the Wizengamot to review Hermione's memories that she had provided as evidence, and rehashing the wording of Dumbledore's will ad nauseum. Hermione did include testimony from a few who did speak on Severus and Draco's behalf. The exonerated pair had already read over Dumbledore's will that morning.

The five of them were pulled into the first memory, which opened with Hermione addressing the Wizengamot. There was some formal addressing of some members of the Wizengamot and rituals involved, as Hermione had studied cases that had seemed most impossible to win that had actually won, and their keys to success. Somehow, using certain language – and following some silly and pointless procedures that had no bearing on the case – would certainly sway judgment in her favor.

Next in the Pensieve came Hermione to state her case, along with a brief outline of her points, and her promise to provide evidence for each one.

Severus watched how at the mention of his name, her lip curled slightly, just as it had in his dream of her.

"She really does hate me," Severus murmured to himself quietly enough that no one else heard him. He didn't like how thin she was becoming again, and he would speak to Lavender to ensure his beloved was eating properly.

During certain points of the memories, Lavender made some comments so that no one would miss something of interest regarding the trial.

They skipped from one memory to another, moving forward sequentially.

Severus and Draco watched intently as Hermione countered one of Moody's claims. The Senior Auror was arguing against exoneration of their names.

Hermione pointed out, "Did you or did you not deny Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy the opportunity for them to confess their innocence with the use of Veritaserum regarding the matter of the Death Eaters invading Hogwarts on the date in question? And did you also deny them the chance to take Veritaserum again when they wished to profess their innocence in regards to the claim they were somehow involved in Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's death?"

Mounga leaned over and said to Severus quietly, "She would have made a fantastic lawyer. I can see why you love her so much."

Lavender waved her hands that Mounga should be quiet as they were getting to the best part.

"I wouldn't say I denied them," Moody said evasively.

"Well, what would you call it, then? Refusal? Decline? Or just plain old rejection of an opportunity to prove their innocence?" Hermione turned to speak to not only the Wizengamot, but the crowds that packed the stands, eliciting murmurs from the observers. She seemed to sense that pandering to the crowd might sway the Wizengamot if public sentiment was on her side.

Severus noted how Moody was beginning to squirm from her line of questioning.

"There hadn't been time since the end of the war to address such matters," Moody countered.

"But time enough for surprise inspections and forcing Veritaserum down their throats in order to see if they were adhering to the Death Eater Decree? Why didn't you ask them about their innocence then, since you had used Veritaserum on them after the war?" Hermione asked, her voice slightly tinged with mock surprise, drawing the crowd around to her side.

Moody did not answer, which gave Severus great delight in watching the spotlight placed on his nemesis in such a manner.

"I have here the memory of Severus Snape speaking with Albus Dumbledore the night that the Headmaster passed away," she announced, holding a vial high in her hand.

"How did you–" Moody began, but he was cut off by Hermione.

"How I came upon this memory is inconsequential to the fact that you have refused to allow Severus Snape or Draco Malfoy to clear their names in Dumbledore's death, or in the accusation of their bringing Death Eaters into Hogwarts. In fact, you have obscured the fact of their true loyalty to Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix.

"I also have here my memories of the final battle," Hermione announced, adding more vials of memories to her hand that remained aloft for the Wizengamot and audience to see. "Of one memory in which Draco Malfoy prevented Ronald Weasley from being struck by a curse from the Death Eater Branby Dollous. And another memory in which both Harry Potter and myself were prevented from being hit by potentially deadly, or at least, gravely injurious spells cast by the Death Eaters Lucius Malfoy and Rabastan Lestrange. Those counter-spells were cast by Severus Snape."

There was a blast of light and the vials that held silvery threads of thought shattered, spilling onto the center floor of the room.

Severus and Draco stood up from their seats aghast, as Pensieve-Moody kept his wand aloft. The spell came from his wand, destroying the memories Hermione had held in her hand. The crowd surrounding them in the memory roared with disapproval.

They were about to start shouting, but Lavender told them to sit down as it was going to get really good.

Memory-Hermione shook her hand, shaking off the last of the memories and shards of glass clinging to her hand.

"There will be no lies or false memories shared in these proceedings," Moody bellowed.

His statement was met with hisses from the crowd. The Chief Warlock, a new one by the name of Blunderbunt, banged her gavel and called for order.

Hermione cast a sardonic smile toward Moody. "Do you think the Wizengamot is so dim and naïve as to not spot an altered or tampered memory?" She shook her head disapprovingly, challenging his assertions. "Either you, a Senior Auror, are poorly qualified for the position you hold, or you are being disingenuous if you think so." Hermione turned around to face the Wizengamot once more. "But since I came prepared in case you might try to destroy evidence, just as you suppressed evidence in the past, those memories I held aloft were not the ones meant for the Wizengamot to view as evidence, unless you think my memory of what I had for breakfast and brushing my teeth this morning somehow pertains to these proceedings."

Hermione's éclat left Severus stunned; he was in awe of her presence, and of her cleverness. Draco laughed heartily and Ginny clapped with excited approval, even though this was just a memory.

Moody's stunt condemned his case, having proven through his actions in front of the Wizengamot, that he was determined to not let anyone prove Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy's innocence.

The memories skipped around a bit more, as the key memories were viewed by the Wizengamot. Near the end, as Hermione was making closing statements, she also insisted since Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy should have never been placed under the Death Eater Decree that all possessions seized by the Ministry should be returned in full. If that was not possible, equitable compensation should be given.

Draco held his breath.

Once Hermione was done with her closing statement, Lavender's memory skipped to the reading of the Wizengamot's decision.

Not only were Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy to be fully exonerated on the charges of Albus Dumbledore's death and any claims they had any part of the Death Eaters attacking Hogwarts, but they were no longer to be included under the Death Eater Decree. In addition, all monies and valuables seized from their Gringotts vaults were to be returned or compensated for at fair value. Residences of both wizards were returned to them as well, and a formal apology from the Ministry of Magic issued, especially regarding Alastor Moody's unprofessional behavior.

As everyone found themselves back in Mounga's chamber, Draco and Ginny kissed, ebullient at the final verdict and the news that Malfoy Manor had been restored to Draco. Severus sat down in a chair in order to soak in the whole experience of what they just witnessed. It was better than any dream he had of a pardon. Well, he did hope for the nomination of an Order of Merlin, First Class as well, but this was better as it was not some daydream – it was a fact.

"I noticed how no one made mention of the whereabouts of Draco or Severus during the trial," Ginny observed.

"Yes, I did too," Lavender agreed dryly as she took a seat and eased herself down into it. "But it seems that the Wizengamot had been apprised of how you two went missing before the trial, especially after Severus showed up on the front cover of Obscure Oozes & Fabulous Fluids. To bring it up in front of the spectators who watched the trial would merely cause more public 'scandal,' in addition to Moody's performance as an Auror in these matters."

There were so many things Severus wanted to tell Hermione, and he wished more than anything she was there. Maybe he finally found something to commit to parchment for Lavender to take back and personally deliver to her, given how he had lacked the inspiration before.

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

Hermione hated to admit it, but the one day of mandatory rest recharged her batteries more than she could have guessed. It also helped that she no longer had a trial to prepare for.

Looking over the bill of lading listing the materials that had arrived that morning, and the orders for new materials that she would owl off to suppliers later that day to meet demand for the week's production schedule, Hermione calculated gross profits based on the current costs. Once that was done, there was a check of production on the warehouse floor on vats and cauldrons bubbling and brewing away. Only then could she go back upstairs and begin her work with Albert on the latest product they were developing. Hermione was trying to find a way to make sure the baby bubble bath potion would make owl-, cat-, and frog-shaped bubbles down to the last drop.

Lavender's short trip abroad was a good test run to see how Hermione was coming up to speed on running the company. She would have that task while the company's founder was gone during maternity leave beginning around Halloween, give or take a week or two. So far it was nothing that Hermione couldn't handle.

Albert was glad that his apprentice had bounced back after such a harrowing experience. He had known good wizards and witches who had broken under less strenuous circumstances, even without being assaulted. He had given her "the talk" that nearly every Potions master has with their apprentice when they use Potions as a way to keep up with some perceived grueling timeline they must keep up with. He understood why Hermione was rushing to master her languages, theories, code of ethics and all, but he knew there were limits to what even witches and wizards could reasonably do.

Hermione started taking her lunch break to actually rest and eat, instead of rushing off to cram a few more irregular verbs into her understanding of Spanish. With a brief bit of rest, she found she had better retention of what she was reading. She was also eating more by enjoying what the elves at the company served up for lunch, instead of skipping and nibbling meagerly. A month ago, she was starting to look gaunt, but now she wasn't jagged bones anymore.

Putting her mind to her regular Potions work and helping run Lavender's company kept her busy enough so she didn't have to fixate about a certain wizard on the other side of the world, and if Malu Palekaiko was chock full of leggy blondes.

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

Severus was back to work Monday morning with no one else in the town wiser to what had transpired. All bits of Severus' broom had been salvaged from the beach, and he was going to discreetly order a new one later that week.

Before showing up to work, though, Severus had to brew up a batch of the temporary hair dye he'd developed for his former employer. It seems that being slightly struck by lightning had left him with a small solid white streak of hair at his left temple. Rainbow and Ginny said it made him look distinguished. Akela agreed with Draco that it made him look older.

In order to avoid questions about the sudden streak of white that went from the roots to the tips, he colored it to hide it from view. Later, the Potions master could come up with a more permanent solution where he could gradually introduce the gray a few strands at a time.

Draco came in to work, booking clients for Severus and tutoring students in Charms and Transfiguration.

Since Ginny was done preparing for the Pele Festival, she had much more time during her days, as most of her belly dance students took classes in the latter half of the afternoon and early evening. Ginny was showing Lavender about the island during the day.

Severus and the Malfoys took turns hosting Lavender for dinner at their respective homes, in addition to taking her out to some of the finer dining establishments on the island. Lavender was under the impression it was all pineapples and poi, until she ate at Mario's restaurant, amazed that she was able to find good Italian cuisine so far from Italy. He also had some French, Greek, and Spanish items on the menu, but his specialty was cuisine from his home country.

While sitting around the table at Mario's Wednesday night, sipping on a glass of after-dinner port, Severus asked Lavender, "And when do you plan on returning to England?"

"I was thinking of taking a Friday morning Portkey back home." Lavender was sipping some ginger tea while watching a gecko climb the wall behind Severus' head, glad there was some creature on the island that was keeping the giant cockroach population in check. "If there is a letter or gift you'd like for me to bring back to Hermione, I will personally deliver it myself so that there are no mix-ups."

"Or I can deliver it," offered Draco.

Severus did a double-take, understanding the implications of his remark. "You're going back?"

Ginny answered, "Yes. Since watching Lavender's memories and seeing the title of Malfoy Manor restored to Draco, we decided we'll be going back." She quickly added when she saw Severus' brow knit, "But it's only for a short trip. Draco and I both agree that Malu Palekaiko is now our home, but he wants to check on his vault–"

Draco interrupted her with a small correction. "Our vault."

"Our vault to see if all that the Ministry took has been returned. Then there are repairs to Malfoy Manor, since it has been abandoned these years since the end of the war. Plus, I'd like to see some family."

Lavender jumped into the conversation, asking with disbelief, "Wait, I thought you said–"

"I know what I said," Ginny replied, "and while I'm still angry at my mother, I do want to see my father. And the twins, if they'll still speak with me. And Bill. And from what you've told me, Ron also."

"It was bad enough when she went a little..." Lavender said, expanding upon the comment with a twist of her hand and the crossing of her eyes, adding a short whistle for effect to describe Molly's breakdown.

Severus had heard from Ginny about the Howler she'd sent her mother, and Lavender's description of its after-effects. He would have loved to have seen it upon delivery.

"She still gets a bit twitchy when she sees me," Lavender admitted. "Let's hope she doesn't go 'round the bend once more if you see her."

"Would that be such a terrible thing?" Draco asked snidely, still wanting to hex Molly Weasley and delighted by her misery. She had dished enough of it to him and his wife that payback was only fair.

Severus could only think of Arthur and what he must be going through. Though he held little sympathy for Molly, given what she had done to manipulate so many, Severus did feel pity for the patriarch of the Weasley family, having a wife go temporarily mad.

Draco turned back to Severus and quirked a brow. "So if there is a letter you'd like to finish and a new bouquet of flowers I can deliver, I would be more than happy to do that."

"How long do you think you'll be gone?" Severus asked, happy Draco was able to reclaim his property stolen from him, and a little envious he had the fortitude to return to England once more.

Severus had sworn to Hermione that even if she won him his freedom, he'd never come back. With Potter, he said that if Hermione was hurt, he'd consider coming back to put an end to him. And while Harry had mostly kept Hermione safe, Severus still could not bear the thought of stepping upon British soil ever again. It was too soon and his freedom only recently won.

"About a week. I've already canceled my tutoring sessions for while we're gone. And Ginny can't be gone long, with her first belly dance recital to be held during Oktoberfest in a little over a month."

Draco then looked to Lavender and the two exchanged an awkward glance, full of hidden meaning. Lavender jutted her chin and Draco made a face with his brow knit. The witch raised her brow, giving him a look full of knowing, and Draco gave a look of resignation back and nodded. The nonverbal conversation ended when Lavender tilted her head and lowered her eyes in a manner to suggest that Draco should go first.

Heaving a great sigh, Draco began, "Well, I was going to save this for Christmas or your birthday, when plans were farther along. However, given how you and Hermione left each other on ambiguous terms and how nearly disastrous it turned out, and considering how you're both pining for each other still, I might as well tell you."

Severus wasn't sure if this was going to be good news or bad news, but given Draco was going to tell him in a way that Severus was supposed to find pleasing, he wasn't quite so worried. He still crossed his arms in front of his chest out of habit, not caring for Draco's prologue.

"Back in February, I owled Lavender with an idea." Draco said. "Let's face it, tutoring is merely something to keep me busy, as there are other things I'd rather do for a career. So hopefully next year, Lavender will be opening an Asia-Pacific office and manufacturing branch of The Lovely Lavender Company, with me as the Vice President of Marketing and Advertising of the Asia-Pacific region, right here in Malu Palekaiko." Draco was saving the best for last, so he could see the look of surprise on his co-worker's face. "And this new regional headquarters will be run by one newly-minted Potions mistress, Hermione Weasley."

Severus recalled how Lavender had suddenly changed her travel plans after finding out the flowers were a mistake. "And that's why you stayed with your change of plans? That for the fact it was a mix-up and not my intent to hurt Hermione, you decided to go forward with opening your offices here?"

"Very astute, Severus." Lavender sipped her ginger tea, looking very self-satisfied that it all worked out in the end.

"And how do you know that Hermione will still want to come here, much less take me back, even though I never left her?" Severus was hoping Hermione would forgive him, though he was not the one who required forgiveness.

"If Hermione was able to be my bridesmaid at my wedding to Ron, I think she can easily forgive you over a simple mistake that was not of your doing," Lavender reminded him.

"Wait, What?" Ginny interjected with disbelief. "Hermione was a bridesmaid at YOUR wedding to my brother, to her ex-husband?"

"Yes, and she was the picture of grace and tact, despite the best man using her name during the toast to the bride and groom."

Draco could only laugh and shake his head. "Any other bits of perception-shredding news we should be made aware of before we Portkey back home, in order to avoid a faux pas of epic proportions?"

So much had transpired in England since the three of them left, and so much had transpired for him as well in Hawaii. For the fact that plans had already been in the works for months meant Hermione already knew that she would be returning to him for a while. Those flowers which spoke of betrayal and loathing were why they had hurt her all the more, her hopes dashed. But now it could all be set to rights. Not only would Hermione be looking forward to them reuniting, but Severus now knew that she would return to him someday soon as well.

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

As part of her apprenticeship, Hermione had to learn to haggle and deal with suppliers. She was getting plenty of experience in that area, helping run Lavender's company and negotiating with commercial suppliers, but Albert needed to teach her the fine aspect of dealing with small-time suppliers of rarer ingredients.

Albert and Hermione emerged from the fireplace, Flooing directly from The Lovely Lavender Company headquarters in London to the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade. After dusting the soot from their cloaks, they looked about until Albert spotted his business associate.

"Business associate" was a generous term for the wizard sitting over in the corner, hunched over his tankard of ale and a grisly haunch of mutton on a pewter platter. The tankard was dented, which seemed to match the wizard's face.

Albert sat down, followed by Hermione. Aberforth came over and gave Hermione a discreet nod, acknowledging a fellow member of the Order, and asked if they want anything.

"Two glasses of Ogden's," Albert replied.

Aberforth returned and placed their drinks in front of them before going back behind the bar. The glassware was just as dirty as Hermione remembered from the last time she was there during the war, or possibly more.

Including the owner-bartender, there were only five people in the entire establishment, which suited the seller just fine. The other patron was a very old wizard on the other side of the room; he was wearing a ragged tartan kilt, with a dirty tam-o'-shanter precariously perched upon his head that was resting upon the table.

"See you got yourself a new wife," the grizzled wizard observed.

"Apprentice," the Potions master corrected him.

"Why buy the sheep if you can get the wool for free, plus a bit of cheese," he chuckled to himself, amused over the cleverness of his own disparaging joke.

Hermione had been warned to take whatever may be said in stride and to merely observe. Learning to deal with characters of this sort were part of the experience of becoming a master or mistress, unpleasant as it may be.

Albert lifted the drink to his lips, but Hermione noted that he didn't sip, only making it appear he was partaking of the libation. This gesture by Albert was to put the other wizard at ease, since drinking and business seemed to go hand in hand with some of the older wizards. Hermione did the same, bringing the drink to her lips and pretending to drink.

This seemed to indicate that business could proceed, as the haggard, unkempt wizard got right down to it. "I've got a hefty lock of succubus hair to sell you. Are you still interested?"

Hermione had never seen succubus hair come through the Department of Standards & Regulations in all her years working there. She had since read of it used in some potions during her apprenticeship, but was unfamiliar with it. Hermione was aware of the Dark Arts aspects of the dark creatures. Whereas hags, banshees, and veelas were integrated and productive members of wizarding society, succubi had a wild and untamable streak in them which made them as dangerous as vampires and hard for men to resist their sexual advances. There were reports of brothels in Turkey run by succubi – wizards and Muggle men entered the brothels, and none left.

Albert fondled the lock of hair, which was long and black, it looked and felt as luxurious as silk.

"Mind if I test a strand for verification?"

The seller nodded his head, but asked that Albert take a small snippet versus the whole shaft of hair.

Albert pulled a vial out and placed the hair sample into it. Hermione had already prepared a testing solution according to Albert's direction before they Floo'ed to the Hog's Head. Inside the vial was a base solution which would react to the acidic nature of the succubus; it would react with a frothing of purple foam when shaken together.

The hair was indeed succubus hair. Albert discreetly slipped the old wizard, whose name Hermione still didn't know, a pouch of Galleons. She wondered if a short-haired succubus was wandering around the British Isles, as any attempt to sneak the hair into Britain would have instantly resulted in it winding up in a Ministry locker for smuggled goods. Then again, succubus hair was not a registered Potions ingredient with the Ministry, and therefore possibly not subject to the same regulation.

"Doing business with you is almost as good as the time I had while getting that hair," the wizard said with a lecherous grin. This showed Hermione his mouth full of half-rotten and chipped teeth, at least the ones that were still in his head.

To conclude business, all three of them drank, Albert and Hermione pretending, the old wizard unaware they weren't imbibing.

Before Albert and Hermione began to leave, the other old wizard in the plaid kilt rose from his seat. Now awake, he ambled over to the fireplace and raised a leg to set upon the andirons that jutted out from the hearth. He missed, and it took another try before his worn leather boot rested upon the soot-caked metal.

Turning to look at the old Scottish wizard by the fireplace, Hermione sat there in amazement as he opened his mouth and a tenor voice that was sweet and clear came forth. Albert had heard the wizard sing a few times over the decades, and it was the same song the old Highlander sang.

"A wizard called Eòin Greumson
Of bonnie Blackbriar Dornoch
Was bid to fight the goblin horde
Rebellion rose an' duty call'd..."

Sitting there, Hermione heard the old ballad sung with heartfelt longing, bringing tears to her eyes quickly, of lovers separated, with the wizard killing himself in the end to join his witch in death. She could only think of Severus and how circumstance kept them apart. Hermione was unsure if they'd ever see each other ever again, especially now. Listening to the lyrics of how poor Maighread died, she wondered if Severus would have been equally heartbroken as Eòin had she not survived Alan's attack.

Now done, the old wizard from the Highlands ambled back over to his table and laid his head down once more, after downing his firewhisky in one go.

Wiping away the last of her tears, she noticed Albert and even the somewhat gruff wizard were also wiping away their own stray tears as well. She was not the only one affected by the song.

Albert patted her shoulder and indicated it was time to leave.

Hermione wondered how Severus had reacted to Lavender's news of her escape from a death that would have been certain if it weren't for Harry. Would he have even cared?

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

Akela answered the door, surprised to see Uncle Severus there. Her parents didn't tell her he was coming over, but she welcomed him into the house and to sit in the living room. "I'll go get my father."

"Actually, I need to speak to your mother, Rainbow. And I will need your assistance, and Kaimi's as well probably." Severus watched as the young witch blinked back in surprise, wondering how she could help such an accomplished Potions master and more experienced wizard.

"Um, sure. Hang on a sec."

Akela left and came back with her mother, who sat down in the chair opposite from the couch where Severus was sitting.

"As you are aware, there was a great misunderstanding regarding the delivery of the wrong flowers to someone," he began, since Akela was unaware of the finer details of the course of events and he was filling her in. "And with Draco and Ginny going back to England, not only will Mrs. Lavender Weasley be clearing up the matter with the florist, but I wish to also send a lei back to be presented to Hermione by Draco and Ginny. Since I was presented with such a lovely lei upon my welcome, I was hoping you could help me with creating one for Hermione."

Rainbow smiled back serenely and assured him she and the girls would be happy to help him. Severus could have gone to the florist in town, but after living in Hawaii all these months, he'd observed the best flower leis were the ones made by the giver. Every single flower was picked with care from the giver's yard – or their neighbor's. The flowers were all gently strung together with thread, and the ends of the lei were usually hand-tied with a festive ribbon. A store-bought lei wasn't the same.

A lei was supposed to be presented by the giver with a respectful bow and raised to the level of the giver's heart. Draco would have to stand in his stead, since Severus was not going back to England to present a lei.

Akela asked, her mind seeking to make connections between everyone involved. "Mrs. Weasley who is visiting here. Is she married to one of the brothers of that big fat jerk Quidditch player in the calendar I burned?" She remembered how that particular wizard was mean to a "dear friend" of Uncle Severus.

"Mrs. Weasley is married to that particular Quidditch player."

Severus was amazed the girl could unhinge her jaw like a snake as it suddenly hung open. She was gaping in shock, making the connection Lavender was now married to the wizard who had hurt Uncle Severus' "dear friend."

"And I would advise you from referring to Mrs. Weasley's husband with those particular terms, at least while she is still here on the island. Once she's gone, feel free to go back to referring to him that way," Severus said with a slight smile curled upon the corner of his lip.

There was no need to remind the two witches about discretion, especially since Akela had her own history with Kiki and Ulrich, the island's latest little love triangle which ended badly. Akela didn't like being in the center of the rumor mill, and she had already promised months ago to remain quiet about Severus' contentious ties to Ronald Weasley.

They moved into the kitchen and asked Kaimi to join them, since she was particularity skilled at stringing flowers, making sure not to bruise them in the process.

Rainbow pulled out a piece of parchment, along with a quill and ink, ready to scratch out some ideas before they began. "So, what sentiments do you wish to impart in your lei to this Hermione?"

With this lei, Severus hoped whatever hurt Hermione felt could be mended. Hopefully.

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

A/N: Title attributed to quote by Jacques Bénigne Bossuel.

Fan art by Pengu, commissioned by me. You can view Kaimi's card to Severus here:
http://atdlhea-betz.tumblr.com/post/150095394755/fan-art-by-pengu-no-link-available-commissioned

As always, thank you to be fabulous betas, JuneW and Cygnuz.
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And They Didn\'t Live Happily Ever After