Forever Yours

Chapter 1: Home At Last

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry & Nick) are entirely my own.

Warning: This chapter is rated M.

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The sun rose steadily higher into the clear blue sky. The shadows of the tall pines, that once flooded over the lake shore, shortened; allowing light to hit the backs of a wizard and witch who sat silently on a wooden bench at the end of a pier.

The large lake was peacefully quiet that Saturday morning, with only nature make small noises here and there. The eerie wail of a loon echoed in from the distance; a large eagle soared down from the tree tops above, gliding smoothly over the water's glassy surface. A gentle breeze blew across the tarn, one strong enough to lightly flutter the loose hairs of the couple's heads, but still weak enough not to move the water below them.

Severus Snape sighed heavily, relaxing back onto the bench's wooden boards. His left arm encircled the shoulders of his companion. No. Wife. Katherine Dumbledore. She was pulled tightly against him; her head resting on his own shoulder. Her eyes closed as though asleep, but in reality, she was concentrating on the life that laid ahead for the two of them.

Correction. The four of them.

Severus' right hand still rested on Katherine's flat stomach; his thumb gently caressing the black fabric beneath his fingertip. Neither of them spoke, but they both knew that the silence was welcomed. For they had much to discuss otherwise, soon enough.

May second became the first day of the rest of their lives. For Severus, everything changed that much quicker; now he not only had a wife, but a son and another child on the way.

"Severus," Katherine murmured from her spot on his shoulder. "If we sit out here any longer, I'm afraid I'll fall asleep, and I would very much like to take a shower first before I do."

"Alright love," Severus whispered into her cherry blossom scented hair. Slowly, he removed his arms from her person and stood; stretching out a hand to help her to her feet. "I wouldn't mind seeing the place that you've dwelled in for the last sixteen years."

"Me either," Katherine said, as she rose with Severus' help. Their black robes were littered with blood, dust and dirt from the battle earlier that day. They began making their way down the pier towards the shoreline, then into the trees beyond.

The smell of pine filled the air, as the couple passed through the foliage then out into the large clearing. Severus could feel the magic in the clearing. The lawn freshly cut; the gardens looked as though they had been well tended since Katherine's absence.

The quant two story Slytherin green cabin sat quietly in the center. It had an open cellar, that faced the lake, along with a expansive deck that hugged the side of the house off of the first floor. A large picture window opened towards the lake as well. This was home now.

"I wonder what rooms it has added," Katherine said quietly, as they walked up to the front door.

"What?" Severus frowned, stopping to look at her as if she had lost it.

"The house has a spell on it," Katherine explained, as she took out her wand and tapped it three times against the door. "It changes and shifts to accommodate the number of people that will dwell inside of it."

Slowly, she pushed open the door and silently flicked her wand to the curtains on the windows. The light flooded into the room, revealing a moderate size sitting room; a large fireplace stood at one end, surrounded by a sofa and two chairs. A large wireless sat in the opposite corner near an old wooden desk.