Soon All the Suns Will Rise

But in the End It's Right

Chapter Title from "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day
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Severus sat on a latticed bench surrounded by their lush spring garden, thriving both by Colleen's hand and Sirius's magic. The waves gently lulled upon the shore, and the midday sun beat down upon his face and exposed arms. Rhiannon had dressed him in a gray t-shirt and jeans, with a white scarf and denim jacket that he'd cast aside while outdoors. She had insisted he appear "approachable" when Potter and his girlfriend arrived for lunch.

Severus wasn't sure "approachable" was the correct term for this current look; he feared "laughable" was more accurate, but it was a bit easier to stomach short sleeves with the Dark Mark nearly faded. Sometimes Severus caught himself staring at the swath of skin with half fascination, half emptiness. He was so used to seeing it glare angrily at him during those rare times he'd been uncovered, and now the faint flesh-tone scar in its place was jarring in its unfamiliarity. Rhiannon liked to kiss and nuzzle it just like Colleen did with her husband's Azkaban tattoo.

The freshly groomed mutt sat across from Severus in the garden, sipping rosehip tea from a blue and white china cup, the latest copy of the Prophet resting on his khaki trousers. Across the front was emblazoned Severus Snape Cleared atop a rather somber looking portrait of him dressed in black and gazing toward a dreary sky. The article itself contained statements from both Potter and Black, who had his own headline just to the right, proclaiming his return to the wizarding world. Of course the front page had been devoted to The Boy Who Lived himself for the previous six days, and Potter had sent an owl to his godfather detailing the whirlwind events in which he'd been forced to take part. He said he was looking forward to some quiet moments in Black's house by the sea.

To the left of Snape's headline was an updated list of Death Eaters and conspirators arrested for war crimes. Each day's additions to the list were a welcome breath of fresh air to the foursome and helped ensure a safer and happier world in which to raise their growing family. With Rodolphus Lestrange sentenced to Azkaban and Lucius and Narcissa laying low after their pardon, Rhiannon's apprehension at possibly losing Delphi had begun to ease, and she was filled with excitement at the chance to practice being a mother. Colleen and Sirius had been relieved to see Felix Middlesworth's name on the list, not out of fear but out of a desire for justice after his harassment of them for over a year. Black did mention that he needed to thank the new Azkaban inductee for his new hairstyle, which Black never missed a chance to admire each time he passed a mirror.

"I was doing some reading this morning," Sirius mentioned, putting the paper aside in favor of an old Charms text he'd laid on the outdoor table.

"Congratulations," Severus replied dryly. He couldn't quite let go of the jabs and banter, and he wasn't sure he ever wanted to.

Sirius shook his head with a chuckle. "Actual research, Professor. I think I may have found the factor that caused the Fidelius to fail. May I?" The Gryffindor lifted the book, and Severus nodded, amused. This analysis should be entertaining.

"The answer is in the first sentence, actually," Sirius began. "The Fidelius Charm is an immensely complex spell involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul."

Severus waited for more, his eyebrows raised expectantly. "And?"

"And, I'm not really a 'single, living soul.' Remus explained that to me right after he died. I could communicate with him, just like I could with Regulus. Only it was more direct— which I suppose makes sense. Remus and I were true brothers, almost from the moment we met. Perhaps Regulus and I could have been, but we just never got there. At any rate, I'm a split soul. Mostly here, because of my love for Colleen and Ben, and the twins— not confirmed yet, of course— but Colleen and I are in agreement on the energies. And of course I'm here because of Rhiannon and her love, and her will to bring me back. But part of my soul exists with them as well— Remus, James, Lily, Tonks, Fred, Ted, Mad-Eye, Dumbledore. I couldn't be the Secret Keeper— the secret could never enter my soul in the first place— or if it did enter, it couldn't stay. It would be like trying to trap a flood of water in a room with an open door."