Disclaimer: I just borrowed them and they'll probably be 
glad when I bring them back, because I'm a very sick 
person.

Rating: R for violence.

Pairing: Severus/Sirius, Severus/Voldemort

Note: This is songfic, quotes are taken from the 
Wolfsheim song >Once in a lifetime<. 

Plot Summary: The final battle takes place

Devil's Pet VI: Ragnaroek
By Ratwoman
ratwoman02@yahoo.de

>It's getting dark... too soon... a threatening silence 
Surrounding me... a wind comes up from the islands
Distance fades to stormy grey
Washed out from the deep of the ocean
Here I will stand to face your wrath
While all the others are praying.<

Hogwarts was burning. Severus could see a glow at the 
Northern Horizon, like a second setting sun. He turned 
around and let his gaze travel over his frightened 
company. The kids were standing together in small groups, 
whispering, crying. The teachers were trying to encourage 
them, but Severus could see that they were scared as 
well. Professor Sprout was standing together with her 
Hufflepuffs, praying.

They had managed to evacuate the school in time before 
Voldemort's army arrived, except of those students that 
had rather decided to stay and join Voldemort's forces. 
Fools. Didn't they see that it was better to die than 
live in hell?

When the sun sunk beneath the horizon it was still rather 
bright with the flames of Hogwarts rising higher. The 
silver light of the full moon mixed with the glow of the 
fire. 

Remus Lupin went to his four, screaming in pain. His 
scream turned into an animalistic howl when fur grew and 
his form changed. Though Dumbledore had assured the 
children that Remus had drunk his Wolfsbane and was not 
dangerous, most of them shrieked back in fear. Severus 
couldn't blame them; himself, he still felt pangs of 
angst when he watched Remus changing. 

Severus saw Sirius approaching him, not looking scared, 
but confused. "Sev," he asked, "why can Remus only change 
at some days? I can turn into a dog whenever I want." 

Snape reached into his pocket and pulled out a flask. 
"It's time for your medicine, Sirius."

"But it tastes awful!" Sirius said obstinately.

"DRINK IT!" Severus shouted. 

Sirius stared at him with a quivering lip as if he was 
about to cry. Severus sighed and said gentler: "Please, 
Sirius, do what I tell you." Though still looking hurt, 
Sirius took the flask, opened it and drank, pulling a 
face. 

"You're really a bad man!" he spitted at Severus and ran 
over to Harry.

It probably would never cease to hurt to see what a wreck 
Sirius was, mentally. Severus had worked all year on a 
potion to cure him; so far he had only succeeded to brew 
one that would rise Sirius's mental capabilities from 
that of a five-year old to a maybe thirteen-year old. And 
even that had to be taken every few hours or he would 
lose it quickly.

>No rain can wash away my tears
No wind can soothe my pain.<

Albus walked over to Severus, looking worried. "It's 
time." he said.

Severus only nodded his head. 

"Are you ready?" Albus asked. 

Severus nodded again. 

"Wish you luck." Albus said, putting an encouraging hand 
on his shoulder. Luck? He would need it.

Dumbledore started calling together the evacuated to 
proceed on their escape, except of the few chosen to be 
left behind. Severus felt a knot of fear forming in his 
stomach, his heartbeat rising. >Calm down, my heart< He 
closed his eyes, trying to will away the upcoming panic, 
when he heard a familiar voice whining: "But I want to 
stay with Severus."

Shit, Sirius was causing trouble.

"No, Sirius, we must go." Harry answered. 

Severus turned around, transforming his fear into anger. 
"For God's sake, go with James! You'd only be in my way!"

Sirius looked at him exactly like a stubborn teenager 
would. "Ok, then." he hissed. "I don't need you either." 
With these words he turned on his heel and joined the 
others. Harry looked outright desperate, so Severus said: 
"Could be worse. He could be clinging to my robes 
wailing, for example." 

"I just wish he would stop asking me where Lily is." 
Harry answered, before turning around and following the 
others. Severus sighed. Sirius still believed that Harry 
was James; and he constantly forgot that Lily was dead. 
Severus could not even start to imagine how that must be 
for Harry. 

After a few minutes the other ones were out of hearing 
distance. With only Remus, Alastor Moody, Neville 
Longbottom, Hermione Granger and the Weasley twins it was 
very quiet on the small meadow between the rocks were 
they had been resting, and where they were to await 
Voldemort's army. Of course they had no chance to stand 
long against the Death Eaters; but that was not required. 
They were only expected to give the others a bit more 
time. 

The Weasley twins stood up, nodded at each other and 
started turning the field the enemies would be crossing 
into a minefield. Who would have guessed that these 
mischief makers would be useful one day?

Severus had no choice but to wait for the next step in 
their preparation until the twins were finished. He gazed 
towards Neville and Hermione, who were speaking quietly 
with one another, both looking pale and sick. Mad Eye 
Moody was standing nearby rigid like a rock in the storm, 
while Remus was pacing nervously to and fro.

It all seemed so unreal. 

>And when silence calls back to me<

He felt isolated, as if he was miles apart from his 
fellows, or maybe in another dimension.

>I find myself feeling lonely<

He wished time would not pass so slow.

>Standing here on the shores of destiny
I find myself feeling lonely<

Fred and George Weasley finally came back, using their 
wands as lanterns. Snape did not really find it necessary 
to lighten his wand, the moon was shining bright enough. 

"We finished." One of the twins, Severus had no clue who, 
said. "Step two." Snape said. The twins nodded and 
followed him approaching Longbottom. The boy looked pale, 
but stood up determined.

"You know what to do, Mr. Longbottom." Snape said. 
"Except of Remus and Miss Granger, who will need all her 
strength later, we will transfer energy to you, so that 
you can cast the strongest protective spell of your 
life!" Snape was aware that his voice was rather 
threatening. 

Neville nodded his head. Poor boy. Since Sirius's malady 
Snape understood far better what a nightmare Neville's 
life must be with both parents in a mental asylum. 

"Um, Professor," Hermione said in a timid voice. "I think 
it would be better if you cast the Patronus spell against 
the Dementors."

Snape rolled his eyes. This was really the worst time 
Hermione could choose to develop performance anxiety. 

"I doubt that, Miss Granger." Snape said curtly. "I'm 
sure you have more happy memories at hand to draw 
strength from than I." 

If possible Hermione Granger looked even more scared, but 
nodded and stepped out of the way. 

"Ready?" Snape asked the others. When they all signalled 
yes, Snape pointed his wand at Neville Longbottom, 
noticing with slight amusement how terrified the boy 
looked. His fellows did the same and all closed their 
eyes, transferring a certain amount of energy to the 
seventeen-year old. Severus concentrated on the energy 
flowing out of him, visualising it in the form of yellow 
light. He broke the stream in time before it could weaken 
him and stepped back. The others did the same. One of the 
Weasley twins looked sickly green in the face - obviously 
he had transferred too much energy. 

The Longbottom boy stepped forward and memorised the line 
were he was to cast a protective shield. They were 
standing between two rather big rocks, it would suffice 
if Neville made a wall that would form a triangle 
together with the rocks, plus a roof to protect them from 
an air-raid. 

Neville concentrated and murmured the words needed for 
the spell. Silver light flew out of his wand and spread 
to where protection was needed, before it vanished. The 
invisible shield should be there now. 

"Demonstra Infirmitates!" Snape called to test its 
strength. Indeed, it shone in a rather dark green. 
Nevertheless Neville Longbottom started to walk up and 
down the shield, adding energy to the few spots that were 
of a lighter green. 

"Invideo!" he finally said when content with the result, 
and the shield became invisible again. 

Snape resumed his old place and stared at the mined 
field. He had heard that people who were dying saw their 
life passing by before their eyes. Maybe what they all 
meant was just that approaching death made them remember 
all their victories and failures. His relationship to his 
parents had neither been good nor bad. Somehow, he was 
just there, they had given him food and clothes and send 
him to school, even asked him how his day/term had been, 
but did not really seem to listen to his answers. He had 
been sad at their funeral because that was what your 
supposed to be when your parents were dead, even though 
they had been not much closer than strangers to him. 

He did not blame his parents for what had become of his 
life, though - a lot of people with absent parents had 
not become Death Eaters. It was just one moment of 
weakness when he had fallen for a pretty brunette young 
man, who had seduced him, bed him and unrecognised by 
Snape put binding spells on him. One moment that had 
sealed his fate.

>I had a life to give... so many dreams to live<

Not that he was sure that he would not have joined the 
Death Eaters ranks under different circumstances. 

Snape felt a twitching in his left forearm and rolled 
back the sleeve. The Dark Mark seemed to crawl underneath 
his skin and he could clearly see the black lines shining 
through the self-inflicted scars. Snape's memories of the 
moment he had tried to cut out his Mark were blurred as 
if seen through a veil. What had got into his mind he 
knew not. 

Snape turned around to his fellows. "They are coming!" he 
announced. Frightened but brave the young people raised 
to their feed, while Remus growled deeply. Snape 
shivered, trying to shake off different memories of 
hearing the werewolf growling. 

His bigger fear was approaching over the field. 

>Calm down my heart... don't beat so fast<

He could see the first explosions at the other end of the 
field.

"It works!" one of the twins called triumphantly. 
Changing some of their joke articles into fatale mines - 
Severus shook his head at the absurdity of it. But, as 
long as it worked...

Severus shrieked back when he felt something invisible, 
that was not quite solid, touching him. 

//Hello Darkling// Voldemort's voice said in his head.

Lord Voldemort rarely used telepathy to talk to his Death 
Eaters - it was rather difficult and one could easily get 
a headache. 

Snape did not answer. In this form of telepathic contact, 
Voldemort would not receive anything if Severus did not 
send it. 

//So, Dumbledore left you behind?// Voldemort's voice 
continued. //You, and how many people? Five, if I count 
right?// 

>Don't be afraid just once in a lifetime<

//So you are among the people Dumbledore thinks are 
unimportant enough to be sacrificed.// the voice 
continued without mercy. //You know that you have no 
chance. We will cross your little minefield, I have 
enough followers who willingly will put away the mines at 
the sacrifice of their lives. They're doing it just 
now.// Severus could see the explosions coming nearer. 
//Then we will crush your 'resistance' with our sheer 
number.//

Voldemort paused for a moment. //If you give up, I'll 
spare you, Darkling. If you insist on fighting, I'll 
order my people to catch you alive so that we can torture 
you for YEARS!//

Snape swallowed hard, his heart was fluttering like a 
caged bird. 

>Calm down my heart... don't beat so fast

Don't be afraid just once in a lifetime<

Snape closed his eyes, breathing in deeply, then send a 
telepathic reply: //What could you possibly do to me that 
you have not already done?// 

>You made me doubt, you made me fear
but now I'm not the same<

//You have no clue, Darkling, I can be very inventive.// 
Voldemort answered.

Lord Voldemort was silent for several minutes, leaving 
him time to think about his words and to watch the Death 
Eaters' progress. He could recognise their bodies now, an 
incredibly high number of wizards slowly crossing the 
field. A bit apart from the rest at the left side were 
figures that were a bit taller than humans. Other than 
the wizards they did not use their wands to lighten the 
way, because they did not have eyes to see. Dementors. 

As Dumbledore had prophesied the Dementors had joined 
Voldemort's forces. Azkaban was no more. 

//You know what ails me, Darkling?// Voldemort's voice 
said. //They all say it's so cruel how I sacrifice my 
peasants to my cause. But is Dumbledore any different? 
Doesn't he sacrifice YOU for his cause?//

Snape bit his lip. 

//Come back to me, Darkling.// Voldemort whispered 
seductively. //We were so good together.// To underline 
his words, he send him telepathic pictures, memories of 
the time when they had been lovers. A handsome, younger 
Voldemort bending down to kiss and caress him, he himself 
writhing in pleasure. Two bodies entwined, skin rubbing 
on skin. 

Severus was pulled out of these pictures when a hand 
touched his shoulder. He shrieked back and turned around, 
facing Mad Eye Moody. "Are you alright?" the old Auror 
never missed anything.

"Yes," Severus answered. "I'm fine." Then he turned back 
and send Voldemort a telepathic reply: //You're 
ridiculous! First you threaten me, then you try to bribe 
me!// 

>I don't pretend that I love you
'Cause there is nothing left to loose<

To his relief Lord Voldemort broke the telepathic contact 
for now. 

Snape turned back to Moody and explained: "I've just been 
talking to Voldemort. He was trying to bribe me."

"What did you answer?" the Auror asked.

Snape shrugged. "I declined his offer." 

Moody murmured something like "I hope so" before turning 
away. 

It was a nerve-racking half hour they had to wait until 
the Death Eaters stopped only thirty feet before their 
protective shield. Severus watched them testing the 
shield with the Demonstrare Spell. He smiled contend; it 
was glowing in a rather dark green. Several of the masked 
Death Eaters approached and examined the shield for 
weaknesses.

Knowing that the protection would not hold forever, 
Severus and the others cowered behind smaller rocks. Of 
course, even rocks could not permanently protect them. 

About ten Death Eaters summoned themselves together at 
the same place and pointed their wands to one spot, 
calling: "Discuto Protectio!"

The shield shook violently, but stayed in place. The 
Death Eaters repeated the spell. The shield shook more 
violently and lost some of its glow. Severus drew his 
wand, pointing it at the Death Eaters who were trying to 
break the shield. He dimly noticed that Moody did the 
same. 

The Death Eaters incantated a third time and Severus 
could watch cracks spreading in the shield before it 
shattered. 

"Avada Kedavra!" Snape and Moody called in unison. No one 
would imprison them for using an unforgivable curse in  
that situation; and besides, Azkaban was no more. Two 
Death Eaters were hit by the full impact of the Killing 
curse and died instantly, three others were brushed by it 
and sank to the ground; Snape had no idea whether they 
were dead or only unconscious. 

Snape and Moody shouted the curse a second time, killing 
two more Death Eaters and brushing two more. The tenth 
one raised his wand but was hexed by Miss Granger with an 
Immobilus Curse. 

Snape breathed out, but there was more to come. Sheltered 
by the rocks the fellows let all kind of hexes and curses 
rain down on everyone who dared to approach them. After a 
few minutes Voldemort called back the wizards and send in 
the Dementors.

At first, Severus felt cold when he saw the dark figures 
approaching. Then his mind was drawn back into the past. 
He was on a graveyard, kneeling on the ground, while 
about a dozen men took turns on him, raping his behind 
and his mouth, unbearable pain and fear and disgust... 
the scenery changed and he saw Sirius, lying on the floor 
of room 101, broken.

Dimly he heard a high-pitched voice scream "Expecto 
Patronus!", then the pictures and voices faded. 

Severus opened his eyes and saw a giant silver Teddy Bear 
chasing the Dementors away. 

Still shivering, Snape turned to look at Miss Granger. He 
was not the only one who was surprised about the shape of 
her Patronus.

"A Teddy Bear?" George Weasley called in disbelief.

"That's not just any Teddy Bear!" Hermione answered. 
"That's Mr. Nelson!"

"Mr. Nelson???" Fred called.

Hermione looked a bit embarrassed. "When I was a small 
child I was afraid of the monsters under my bed, so Dad 
gave me Mr. Nelson and said he would protect me from 
them."

Neville was giggling hysterically. He stopped when a 
Death Eater's curse hit the rock he was hiding behind and 
broke away a part of it. 

Baring his teeth, Snape turned around and killed the 
Death Eater who had dared to attack one of his students. 

But the dark wizards approached in a higher number now, 
Snape knew they would not be able to resist them for 
long. While throwing curses at the attackers, his eyes 
repeatedly flickered to the sky. How long? Time was 
running out. 

Shit, one of the Death Eaters had broken through to their 
hiding! Snape was about to curse him, when Remus jumped 
out of his hiding place, with a growl threw himself at 
the man and ripped out his throat. Severus swallowed and 
watched the werewolf attacking another Death Eater who 
had broken through. He was glad that Remus was on their 
side. 

All of a sudden, a whizzing sound filled the air. Snape 
looked up in relief when he saw the sky filling with 
wizards on broomsticks, throwing down curses on the Death 
Eaters. One of them cut himself off from the others and 
flew in a circle above Snape and his fellows, checking if 
everyone was still alive.

"It's about time!" Snape shouted when he recognised Harry 
Potter. The boy drew off and joined the battle field. 

While the Death Eaters tried to shoot off the flying 
wizards and witches - most of them appraised Quidditch 
players, so they were very fast - about 50 wizards 
apparated in between them, at first unnoticed; that soon 
changed when they started attacking the Death Eaters. 

"NOW!" Moody shouted. Snape jumped out of the hiding and 
ran to the battle field, knowing that Granger, 
Longbottom, the Weasleys and Moody did the same. 

Snape hardly noticed that soon they were joined by the 
wizards from the continent, most of them were apparating, 
the Bulgarian Quidditch team was flying in, some used 
portkeys. 

He knew the plans so he was aware that a handful of 
wizards must have joined by now to create Patroni that 
would help Miss Granger's Teddy Bear to hold back the 
Dementors. 

At his right he noticed the bizarre scenario of dancing 
Veelas and a dozen Death Eaters kneeling down and 
swearing their never-ending love to them. Amusing as it 
was, Snape did not have the time to watch them, fighting 
Death Eaters that dared to step in his way. 

Remus was always near to him, attacking the enemies with 
claws and teeth. At some point he heard Remus whimpering, 
so he turned around. Damn, obviously he had attacked 
Wormtail, but now Wormtail held his throat with his 
silver hand and slowly tightened his grip.

Pointing his wand at Wormtail, Snape called: "Stupefy!" 

Wormtail crumbled to the ground. Remus was about to jump 
at him with bared teeth, but then decided differently and 
just left Pettigrew lying there. Snape shrugged. 
Gryffindor to the last, Remus would not kill an 
unconscious man.

"You killed my father!" a voice behind Snape called. 
Snape turned around and cast a small protective shield in 
time before Draco Malfoy could curse him. Draco had not 
returned to school after last year's Easter; his 
assumption that he had joined Voldemort to avenge his 
father's death had proven right. Severus was not sorry 
for killing Lucius Malfoy; he just wished he had done it 
more slowly. To Draco he said: "Don't be stupid, boy, you 
don't have a chance to stand against me!" 

Draco's pretty face was contorted with hatred, when he 
spat out a curse. Severus had no trouble fighting it off. 
His problem was that he did not want to kill Draco; in a 
way it was his fault that he had made the wrong 
decisions. 

"Hey, Malfoy!" a voice from above them called. 

"Potter!" Draco called with almost equal hatred as 
towards Snape in his voice. 

"Catch!" Harry called and threw something small at Draco. 
Draco caught what looked like a miniature firebolt. 
Looking undecided from Severus to Harry, he finally 
turned the miniature broom into a real one and jumped on 
it. Severus watched him starting and following Harry 
Potter high into the air. 

Severus left the rivals and proceeded on his search for 
Lord Voldemort.   

He passed Minerva, who was fighting with her hair loose, 
eyes flashing angrily. The older lady actually looked 
really scary. 

Snape went straight on, fighting off whoever stepped into 
his way. Fortunately the Death Eaters who knew him seemed 
to avoid him. Severus tried to spare the lives of his ex-
students if they were stupid enough to attack him. They 
were still children for him. 

Finally he reached the spot were Voldemort was, shielded 
by a dozen Death Eaters who were willing to defend him 
with their lives. Dumbledore and Madame Maxime were 
throwing curses at them. Remus Lupin shot forward and 
sprang at the throat of one of the black wizards. The 
Death Eaters shrieked back, but were reminded by 
Voldemort not be scared off by a werewolf.

Other than Albus and Madame Maxime, Snape had no scruple 
using the Killing Curse. Under different circumstances he 
would have been sentenced to the Dementor's kiss for the 
number of people he had killed today with an 
Unforgivable. 

Three Death Eaters had already fallen, when more (not 
deadly) curses rained down on them from above. Snape 
looked up and saw Harry Potter flying in a circle above 
them; for a moment he actually was worried about Draco 
Malfoy, he had always been his favourite student, and 
Harry obviously had won their duel.

While the number of wizards joining them in their attack 
on the living shield grew, the number of Death Eaters 
surrounding Lord Voldemort thinned out. Severus felt 
triumphal as they attacked the Dark Lord's guard from all 
sides; he was sure they were to break through soon.

His triumph was weakening when one of the Death Eaters 
killed Madame Maxime with the Adava Kedavra. Hagrid would 
wail for years about her loss. 

Fleur Delacour already knelt down wailing at her side. 
Damn, they had a war to win, couldn't that stupid girl 
delay her grief until later? 

Severus briefly gazed over the field. Mundungus Fletcher 
and Arabella Figg had joined them, as had several wizards 
he did not even know. Harry Potter was not the only 
Quidditch player flying in circles above them; Victor 
Krum had joined him.   

Within one minute they had finished off the Death Eaters 
shielding Voldemort. Fleur Delacour stood up and joined 
them surrounding Voldemort; she looked quite enraged.

The Dark Lord tried to look threatening, but Severus 
could see that he was not sure whether he could fight off 
more than a dozen wizards. Raising their wands, they 
called unison: "Avada Kedavra!" 

Hit by blinding light from all sides, Voldemort fell to 
his knees, still alive. 

"Again!" Dumbledore ordered, and they cursed once more. 
This time, Voldemort cast a protective shield around 
himself. 

"Down!" Snape screamed before throwing himself on the 
ground. As expected, the curses bounced off and killed 
about half a dozen wizards, who had not been quick enough 
to make way. The surviving slowly raised to their feet.

"Demonstra Infirmitates!" Dumbledore called, and 
Voldemort's dome like shield started glowing in a dark 
green. 

Harry Potter and Victor Krum landed beside them and 
dismounted their brooms. All stepped nearer to Voldemort 
and searched his shield for weak spots. 

Preferring only Snape to hear his words, Voldemort re-
established their telepathic contact: //Severus// he 
said, //does it really have to end like this? I loved you 
once... I can love you again.// 

//You don't even know what love is// Severus replied.

//Teach me// Voldemort said.

>The love in you, it does not burn
There is no lesson you can learn
And there are sounds you cannot hear
And there are feelings you can't feel<

//Useless// Snape send back, //I don't love you, and this 
time I'm not scared of you.//

"Here." he said aloud, when he found a very small spot of 
a slightly lighter green. The wizards gathered around him 
and shouted: "Discuto Protectio!" It only shook the first 
time. They needed about five tries to break the shield.  

Voldemort shrieked back when his dome shattered. Not 
wasting any time, they pointed their wands at him, 
shouting: "Avada Kedavra!"

Voldemort was hit by a dozen flashes and fell back. He 
was quiet for a moment, then he slowly stirred. Damn, he 
was still alive!

At that moment something brown and furry broke their 
lines and jumped on Voldemort. Severus watched 
thunderstruck as Remus Lupin sunk his jaws into the Dark 
Lord's neck and ripped out his throat.   

A burning pain started throbbing in Snape's left forearm. 
Gasping, he rolled back the sleeve. The Dark Mark was 
burning in a bright red light, then slowly faded away. 
The Mark vanished, only his self-inflicted scars were 
marring his forearm. Lord Voldemort was dead. 

The fights all around them stopped when every Death 
Eaters' Mark burned and faded. Most of them were quick-
witted enough to disapparate, some stayed where they 
were, looking as if it was the end of the world. 

While the Wizarding World started cheering at their 
victory, Severus sank to his knees, staring at 
Voldemort's corpse. This man had abused him, raped him, 
destroyed his beloved's sanity, in all imaginable ways 
wrecked his life. Why couldn't he feel triumph at his 
death? 

He had been staring at Voldemort's dead body for quite a 
while when Remus Lupin came over to him and sat down at 
his side. Severus looked at the werewolf. He looked like 
sprung out of a Muggle horror movie with his bloody 
fangs. Nevertheless Snape hugged Remus and cried into his 
fur.



***Epilogue***



The summer was nearing its end. Dumbledore was determined 
to restore Hogwarts teaching function; though with a 
delay of one or two months. They were paying dwarfs to 
rebuild the castle, and though dwarfs were the best 
craftsmen on earth, repairing all the damage would take 
years. 

Severus was not looking forward to teaching on a building 
site. Currently, he was sitting with Albus, Minerva, 
Professor Sprout, Hagrid, Sirius and Remus at a table 
outside on the grass, because the weather was fine and 
the Great Hall had not been rebuild yet. Dumbledore 
thoroughly seemed to enjoy the opportunity for a picnic; 
they were just waiting for their guests to arrive.  

Sirius leant over and gazed over Snape's shoulder. "What 
are you writing?" 

"A recipe for a potion." Snape answered equally.

"What else." Sirius replied. Snape had been working to 
improve Sirius's potion over the last couple of months; 
so far he had succeeded to find a recipe that would make 
Sirius almost normal. For one or two hours. 

Their guest arrived; the young people had been strolling 
over the Hogwarts grounds, the place where they had spend 
most of their childhood. 

"Ah, sit down, food is ready!" Dumbledore said 
cheerfully. Severus gazed over the table, thinking that 
they would be very short of teachers when the new term 
started. The few sitting here were the only ones who had 
survived the final battle. Remus Lupin would take over 
the post of the Defence Against the Dark Arts; no one 
would object to the werewolf teaching after he had 
finished Voldemort. 

Who knows, if Snape found further improvements to the 
potion Sirius might be able to teach one day.  

"So, what are you going to study, Miss Granger?" Minerva 
asked.

"Oh, I don't really know." Hermione Granger answered. "I 
like arithmancy very much, but I also like 
transformation, and charms, and herbology, and potions... 
I really don't know what I shall study first!" 

Her boyfriend Ron Weasley rolled his eyes. As far as 
Snape knew, he had applied for a job in the Ministry of 
Magic. Harry Potter of course was going to join the 
National Quidditch team. 

Snape's thoughts trailed off to Draco Malfoy. Potter had 
not killed him, just broken a few bones. Currently he was 
sitting in the provisionally prison on one of the Orkney 
Islands, waiting for his process. At least, without the 
Dementors, it would be a more humane prison. 

Peter Pettigrew had gone into hiding again. Well, he 
would not cause much trouble alone. 

Severus finished writing the recipe and gave the sheet to 
Neville Longbottom. "Tell the mediwitches at St. Mungos 
to brew that for your parents. DON'T try brewing it 
yourself!"

"Thank you, Professor." Neville said surprised. The 
Longbottom boy had survived the battle, though heavily 
wounded. The scars on the left half of his face would 
stay, but he took it with surprisingly equal mind. 

"What are you going to do, Neville?" Professor Sprout 
asked.

Neville shrugged. "Maybe I'll open a shop for herbs in 
Diagon Alley. What else could I do?"

"Why don't you study herbology?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, or I could go and fight boggarts - oh, sorry 
Professor!" he added hastily when he saw Snape's 
murderous gaze. Remus smirked at him over the table.

"I'm really glad that you have all graduated." Severus 
said. 

"But, Harry," Sirius threw in with a smirk. Half an hour 
after drinking his potion he usually remembered that 
Harry was NOT James, "you are coming to visit me, don't 
you?" 

"As often as I can." Harry answered grinning.

Snape theatrically rolled his eyes. "Are you trying to 
threaten me?" he asked.

Actually, he was as close to happiness as never before. 
Life could be better; but it had been much worse in the 
past.

*** 

The End of Devil's Pet