The Burning Pen

An Unlikely Savior
by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 68 ~ Epilogue

”Eileen dating is becoming costly,” Snape said to Odessa as he studied the bill for the gown Eileen was fitted for. She needed it for the Valentine’s Day ball.

Odessa, who was stocking shelves said, “If you think that’s expensive, Severus, wait until she gets married.”

Snape looked shocked.

”Married? What do you mean married?”

”More than likely she’s going to get married, Severus. Usually the bride’s parents foot the bill,” Odessa informed him.

Snape looked thoughtful.

”That’s right. She does have two parents now,” he said, running a pale finger over his lips.

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”What?” Hermione exclaimed as she looked at the bill for Eileen’s gown. Snape had sent it to her, informing her she owed him half the cost and he’d appreciate it if she’d send it as soon as possible.

”Well, it’s part of being a mum, Hermione,” Ron told her.

”But he can afford to pay for this, Ron. He has a business!” she said, frowning. “Look at this price tag. It’s enough for three gowns. It’s just a ball at Hogwarts. It’s not a formal Ministry affair!”

Ron looked at the bill and let out a low whistle. Snape certainly didn’t spare any expense.

”Well, if you went to the Ministry to have a parental contract drawn up, you’d end up paying half of her support anyway, Hermione. Just be glad he’s only asking for half the price of a gown,” Ron told the furious witch.

”It’s far too extravagant,” she complained. “If I have to pay for things like this, I should have a say about the cost of it. I’ll send him a third and not a sickle more.”

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Snape accepted both the third and the Howler Hermione sent him, raving at him about purchasing extravagant items and expecting her to pay for half of them.

”I WORK for a living!” the Howler raged as Snape sat through it, his hair blowing back.

Odessa watched him from behind the shop counter, smirking at how cool he was as the letter screamed at him. When it finished and exploded into ribbons, he looked at the check.

”Well, I received a partial payment at least,” he stated.

”That’s not all you received, Severus. Really, she does have a point. Not everyone can indulge their daughters the way you do,” Odessa said to him.

”I am not about to stop giving Eileen the very best just because her mother whines about it,” Snape replied, rising and walking behind the counter, Odessa turning to face him. “Eileen has certain expectations of me and I intend to continue to meet them.”

”Well, you shouldn’t expect her mother to pay for things beyond her own means, Severus. It’s unfair. She has two other children to provide for.”

”And that’s my fault?”

Odessa snorted and stopped talking, a sign that she knew he knew he was in the wrong. She didn’t waste time arguing with Snape. He could keep an argument going for hours, no matter how wrong he was.

”Oh, you’re giving me the silent treatment now, are you?” he asked her, before grabbing her and planting a kiss on her lips. Odessa spluttered.

”Not in the shop,” she told him pointedly. “At work, we’re supposed to have a working relationship ONLY. You know the rules.”

Snape gave her the eye.

”Rules apply to Slytherins just like everyone else,” she added as he smirked.

”Fine. I’m going to check on my brews,” he said, opening the door to the back room. He paused.

”Perhaps I’ll just take the third,” he added. “It would be harsh of me to put Hermione’s family into debt because of a ball gown.”

”You do that,” Odessa said with a smile.

She did receive her diploma that year, acing the NEWTS with flying colors, but never did find another flat.

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Eileen and Hermione grew closer over the next couple of years, as did Eileen and Rose although they argued a lot of the time. Hugo and Eileen always did have a good relationship, and it was common to find the children at Snape’s house during the summer months. Alsop and Eileen stayed an item, although it was hard during their seventh year because both of them were so focused on their work and getting Outstanding NEWT marks.

They both did excellent.

And little Lily got to learn to waltz via her uncle, surprising Harry and Ginny in her third year by dancing with Snape at another Christmas ball. They had been practicing for more than a year, Snape teaching her during the summer months. He was very smitten with his niece, although he found that she wasn’t like Lily at all, personality-wise, which actually, was a good thing. Lily had always been rather bossy and judgmental. Her granddaughter wasn’t and was quite logical and accepting in her way.

On the dance floor, Snape met Harry’s eyes and tilted his head in invitation, then handed Lily off to him with a bow, returning to the table occupied by Odessa, Hermione and Ron, joining them.

”Aw, that was wonderful, Severus,” Hermione gushed at him as father and daughter danced.

”A father should dance with his daughter,” Snape said dismissively as he watched Eileen and Alsop whirl around the floor. Eileen was dressed more Christmassy this time, red and green accents on her black gown, and a little Christmas corsage pinned over her breast. She looked lovely.

”Eileen and Alsop seem to be enjoying themselves,” Hermione observed. “It’s their last Hogwarts dance.”

Snape nodded, and Odessa reached over and covered his hand with her own. His little girl was about to graduate.

And graduate she did, with the highest marks Hogwarts had seen in more than twenty years, the previous marks made by her mother. Alsop did quite well, coming in second in class.

Both Snape and Hermione were very proud when Eileen walked across the stage, received her diploma and looked at both of them. Smirking, she turned her cap and cheers erupted from Rose, Ron, Hugo, Lily, Hermione, Odessa, Harry, Ginny and even James, who had graduated the year before and found Eileen wasn’t so bad. Only Albus and Snape weren’t as reactive, both clapping politely. But Snape was very proud

Albus had other things on his mind. He was about to be a father and had to find part time work over the summer and while finishing out his last year of Hogwarts. Neither his parents nor the witch’s parents were going to let him shirk his responsibilities and an abortion was out of the question.

Eileen decided she wanted to be an Auror, took the grueling qualifying test, passed it and enrolled in the eight month training course. At graduation, she was required to state why she wanted to be an Auror. Again Snape, Odessa, Hermione, Ron and family were in attendance. Snape looked at his daughter standing on the stage in her Auror uniform and his heart swelled as she placed the tip of her wand against her throat and invoked the Sonorous charm so she could be heard. She cleared her throat.

”My name is Eileen Hermione Snape. I decided to be an Auror because I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps,” she said, her voice carrying clearly.

Snape’s eyebrows rose, as did Hermione’s. What in the world was Eileen talking about? Snape was an apothecary, not an Auror.

”My father is Severus Snape,” she told the audience. “And he spent the majority of his life fighting against evil and trying to make the wizarding world a better place. He sacrificed a lot in order to do this, and it was a thankless pursuit. Even to this day all he’s done is not acknowledged—“

Hermione’s and Odessa’s eyes began to tear up as Eileen looked directly at her father.

”Well, I acknowledge you, dad. I acknowledge you and thank you for all you’ve done, and like you, I’m going to protect our society to the best of my ability. Not for honor, not for glory, but just because it’s right to do. This—“

She held out the diploma.

”This is for you, dad,” she said softly, her eyes gleaming. “For everything good you stand for. I love you.”

Wild applause rang out as she left the stage, Snape moving through the crowd and reaching her. They embraced for a long time, as both Hermione and Odessa had tears streaming down their faces. When she released Snape, she hugged Hermione, Odessa, Ron and then Alsop, who kissed her unabashedly.

Snape frowned.

”I’m never going to get used to that,” he said to Odessa, who just smiled and took his hand.

Alsop worked at the Ministry in Muggle Affairs as a liaison. The position also allowed him to continue his experiments with Muggle technology in the Wizarding World. Eventually, he discovered a way to magically reproduce the power needed to run these items, first creating a battery using dragon heartstring as a core. He became famous and quite wealthy as a result.

Of course, he married Eileen. She was twenty-five by the time she agreed.

Snape and Odessa also married in a small ceremony attended by his daughter and extended family. Even Molly Weasley was in attendance, she and Eileen having patched things up once Eileen became older and mellower through constant contact with family. She surprised Molly by attending Christmas dinner with Alsop, and the matriarch had burst into tears. It was a touching moment for both of them.

Now Snape and Alsop were pacing back and forth in the waiting room at St. Mungos, Odessa, Ron, Harry, Ginny and Hermione watching them. They would walk to opposite ends of the room, turn walk back toward the center, stop, stare at the double doors, then start walking again.

Finally, a medi-witch entered the room. Both Alsop and Snape froze in place.

”Congratulations, Mr. Potter. You have a girl,” the medi-witch announced.

”A girl? I have a girl? I’m—I’m a father?” Alsop said hollowly, his eyes round.

“Yes, you are, Alsop,” Snape said as everyone hugged each other behind them. “And I’m a grandfather. Now, let’s go see your daughter.”

The medi-witch tried to protest, but Alsop, Snape and the entire family bustled by her, finding Eileen’s room and entering it.

Eileen lay in the bed, her hair still plastered to her head, holding a squirming bundle, her eyes soft as she stared at it. Her dark eyes shifted to Alsop, who hurried to her side.

”It’s a girl,” she said softly as Alsop knelt beside the bed. Snape stared at his daughter and the squirming bundle as she offered it to Alsop, who looked scared to death.

”I might drop her,” he said nervously. Snape moved forward.

”May I?” he asked his daughter softly.

”Oh, yes, dad,” she replied, holding the baby up.

Snape took her gently.

”You basically have to support her bum and her head, Alsop,” he said quietly. “If you lay her in the crook of your arm like so—“

Everyone watched in silence as Snape cradled his granddaughter. He looked down on the baby, pulling the blanket off her head, taking in the dark hair. He gave the child a soft smile.

”Welcome to the world, little one,” he said softly, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

“I’m your grandfather, Severus Snape and you are loved. Very loved.”

THE END

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A/N: And that, my friends, is the end of “An Unlikely Savior.” It could have gone on forever, so I brought it to what I hope is a neat, satisfying close. Thank you so much for reading. Adieu. ***

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