Snape's Daughter (Book Three)

Chapter Twenty-Nine : The Love of Two Swans

Ellia and Draco returned to 1999, Ellia still crying in Draco's chest as the Boathouse surroundings around them altered to fit the correct time period. Snape's body was no longer lying on the floor, and neither was past Ellia beside him. Instead, it was just Draco and Ellia.

And he loved it.

He embraced her as tight as ever, afraid to let go anytime soon in case she became the girl who was dead on the floor previously. But that never happened, none of. Marley, Panemia, his mother and McGonagall never died, and Patrick was still dead as was Aurora and Severus. Patricia was being held by the Ministry and could no longer harm Ellia. And everything was back to the way it was before, the only person who could remember anything that had happened was Draco.

The only person who would remember the Potions Masters sacrifice of his own life to save his precious daughter, the only person who would remember the way he cradled his daughter whilst she was stone cold like a statue. He would be the only person to remember Aurora Grace crying as her dead best friend lied in her arms, vice Versa to what had actually occurred on the night of the 31st of May, 1998.

And it would remain that way. Contrary to whatever Draco believed about the topic, he made a promise to the Potions Master to not tell Ellia of the events, and to conceal the truth from Ellia, he would conceal it from everybody else as well. He couldn't let go of her at first, for it was so surreal that she was in his arms alive once more, and not dead, just as Severus wanted.

Despite everything Draco thought of Severus Snape, he truly did always love his daughter more than anything, and he proved it with his small sacrifice. He could've used the time turner to save her from Patrick, and for his own life to be saved, but instead he decided to turn time back far enough that he could prevent it from ever happening to Ellia, to prevent the hurt and pain she would experience in the later life, because he knew that as much as she missed him, she didn't belong there.

And Draco would make her happy, just as Severus Snape wanted for his daughter. She deserved it, after everything she suffered. She deserved happiness.

"Draco, thank you," she muttered into his chest, before looking up into his frosty eyes and smiling, the tears slowly drying out, "Thank you so much for doing this for me Draco, thank you." If only she knew what he had actually done.

"Ellia, you are the one I love, I would do anything for you," Draco assured her, "You've just got to take the blame everybody's death of off your shoulder for once."

"I've never felt so happy in a while Draco, I really cannot thank you enough," She smiled, taking hold of his hands and spinning, the blood and water soaked cape trailing along behind her as Draco chuckled.

"Yes, you really are El."

"We must inform Professor McGonagall that we've returned," Ellia said, wiping away her tears as she pulled away fro Draco, heading straight for the door as Draco laughed, following along behind her,

"To her, we've only been a few seconds or minutes at the most."

McGonagall was in the same position in the Great Hall as she was before Ellia and Draco originally left. This time, Horace Slughorn and Filius Flitwick had joined her side, and were engaged in a deep conversation.

"Professor?" Ellia called, as McGonagall turned her head to see Ellia and Draco.

"Oh, Miss Snape," she said, "Excuse me Horace and Filius." The two Professors nodded as McGonagall departed from their conversation, walking towards Ellia and Draco as she took in the sight of their clothing.

"It's done," Ellia told the Professor, Draco wrapping an arm around Elias waist as she did so.

"Well yes I can see that," McGonagall replied, looking up and down at Ellia's clothing, "Goodness gracious what happened to you and your clothing."

"It rained Professor, and there was a lot of blood everywhere, but that doesn't matter anymore," Ellia smiled, as the Professor returned the smile.

"Yes, well Miss Snape that is excellent news but I must insist you clear yourself up, you looks terrible state in those dirty ruined rags," McGonagall insisted," You can use the Gryffindor Dormitories for now, as for you Mr Malfoy, Poppy would like to examine you once more before you can be officially released from our care."

"Of course Professor," Ellia agreed, smiling up at Draco.

"Oh Miss Snape, please, it's Minerva," Minerva assured her, smiling as she rejoined her conversation with Horace and Filius.

"Once we've finished here Draco, we should really see your parents," Ellia suggested, taking hold of his hand from behind her back and exiting the Great Hall with him, their hands encased in each other like a lock and key.

"My mother, oh how it would be nice to see her alive..." Draco said, before cutting himself off.

"Alive? Draco, she never died," Ellia questioned him, as Draco shrugged it off.

"I meant to say it would nice to see her and she'll be relieved that I'm alive," Draco told Ellia.

Ellia asked him, "You haven't seen them in a while, have you?"

To which he replied, "No, and I'm even beginning to miss my father."

After returning to the castle grounds, greeting McGonagall and clearing themselves up, they made the journey back Malfoy Manor as planned. As they walked up the pathway to the front entrance of the manor, they saw the doors fly open as Narcissa came sprinting out of the Manor, embracing her precious child in her arms.

"Draco, I've been so worried," She said, enclosing him in her arms tightly as he smiled, the same thoughts running around in his mind. He'd returned from a reality where she was dead, and he had never felt so received to see his precious mother, safe and alive as she should be.

"Mother, I'm completely fine now, completely healed," Draco ensured her, laughing with her. He looked over her shoulder to see his father stood poised next to a house elf, his own eyes fixed on Ellia as she watched the son and mother re-unite.

"And Ellia," Narcissa smiled, letting go of Draco and embracing his lady friend, "I am overjoyed that you two are happy once more again."

"Speak for yourself," Lucius grunted u see his breath, walking back inside the manor as Narcissa shook her head.

"He shall be over it soon," Narcissa assured them, leading the couple inside of the manor, "So Ellia, I trust you will be staying here for the time being since, from what I have heard, Spinners End is not in liveable conditions."

"If it is accepted by you Narcissa, and Lucius doesn't mind," Ellia said, hearing the doors of the manor slam shut behind her.

"Of course Ellia, it would be a pleasure of mine and my husbands," Narcissa agreed, "And on the lighter note, it is lovely to see you two reconciled again, as I had once said, but it is just so great to see you two together after such a long time."

"Mother..." Draco said, his cheeks brightening in colour as his mother embarrassed him. He'd missed her, he'd missed her so very much whilst in the alternative universe, but she was embarrassing him. That's what mothers did, and he loved her for it.

"It's okay Draco," Narcissa chuckled.