Severus' eyebrows quirked. "How very Slytherin of Draco, incorporating his professor's favourite candy into his . . . Potions project." By the end, Severus' voice had gone just a trifle dark.
Dumbledore appeared not to notice that. "Well, we're all a mix of houses, you know. So it shouldn't shock you too much that the spoon was Miss Granger's idea. And what a lovely idea it was. The gelato is delightfully tart at first bite, but with that spoon to counter it . . ." Smiling in appreciation, the headmaster picked up his own bowl of dessert.
The Potions Master tasted a spoonful and nodded thoughtfully. It was quite good. He thought to himself that it might be amusing to ask Draco to prepare a dessert now and again. "Speaking of Draco, I did want to thank you for awarding him those points at the Leaving Feast. Not just on behalf of Slytherin, either. I do believe that rewarding him thusly will encourage him to continue to follow the new path he's forged this year."
Dumbledore looked a little abashed. But then again, it wasn't every day that words of thanks emerged from Severus' mouth. "I know that I was sceptical at first, Severus, but I've come to expect great things from Draco. He has much to offer and he appears to be fiercely loyal."
Severus couldn't help but sigh softly. He'd hoped the headmaster would come to see both his sons as more than just assets to the war.
As if reading his mind, the headmaster added, "And too, I must admit I've grown fond of the boy. He has quite the rapier wit. And his bent for sarcasm . . ."
The Potions Master smiled, knowing his son's tongue was nearly as sharp as his own. "I was surprised you didn't reward Harry as well. Not that I'm complaining."
Dumbledore shrugged. "I knew he wouldn't begrudge Draco his triumph, whereas Draco would have been terribly disheartened to have his deeds this year overshadowed."
"Indeed. I do believe you must have been reading my Muggle psychology book."
Dumbledore laughed. "No, just remembering what it was like to be young."
As the two men enjoyed a companionable silence for some minutes longer, Severus found himself reflecting on what youth was like. For once, though, he wasn't focusing on traumas and regrets as he thought about Harry and Draco. Instead, he was wondering just what part of the castle they might be exploring.
"Am I keeping you from something, my boy?"
Severus felt heat rising to his cheeks. "Not at all, Headmaster. It's only . . ." He paused, feeling foolish.
"I understand," said Albus, nodding sagely. "I hope I'll see you soon. All of you."
Severus rose from the table, but paused halfway to the door. "Albus . . . I don't suppose you know where my sons are at the moment?"
"I suggest you ask the portraits and after that let instinct guide you. That's what I always do."
After following the directions of six paintings and a tapestry, Severus was delighted to hear familiar voices echoing down a dark hall. His face split into a relieved smile. It wasn't that he was worried about his sons being on their own in the castle - far from it. The truth was both simpler, and more profound.
Rediscovering the dusty secrets of the castle with Harry and Draco and the map . . . it was simply too much fun to resist.
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~ The End ~
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Authors' Notes:
From Aspen:
Year 6 is finished, and what a year it's been! However, like in canon, this is not the end of the story. This universe will live on in A Summer Like None Other, which Mercredi and I expect to begin posting in July. If you'd like to be notified when and where the sequel is posted, then you are cordially invited to join the Yahoo group for this story. Simply send an email to ayearlikenoneother-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, or go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ayearlikenoneother/join. After you have joined the group and are choosing your settings, select any email option other than "No Email" in order to receive notices about future chapters or stories in this universe.
Additionally, if you'd like to see the wealth of art that has been created for this story, please visit the Art Gallery I have set up to display the lovely things fans have created and sent me. You can find it at http://aylnoartwork.havenofdreams.com/. The gallery now contains A Year Like None Other read aloud in mp3 audio format! Chapters 1 through 3 are available now. Future chapters will be added as my wonderful volunteer readers complete them.
And lastly, my undying thanks to Mercredi without whom this story would never, ever, ever have been possible. She challenged me to write it in the first place, held my hand as I struggled through the hard patches, and wrote large sections of it as the chapters wound on. She moved from beta to collaborator to co-author, and throughout it all, she's been a very good friend. *offers chocolate to Mercredi*
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From Mercredi:
I'd like to thank Aspen first and foremost for sharing this wonderful project with me and welcoming my numerous plot suggestions and quibbling and also her patience at my comparatively slow productivity. I'd also like to thank my friends Susan and Sabrina for helping me to sneak in some editing and discussion at work -- fans of the story really owe these ladies a tip of the hat for their efforts to keep the story rolling along at good pace. Part of me feels quite guilty that I neglected my real life publisher during this time, but the truth is that this tale of Harry and Sev and Draco and the family they choose to form was simply more in my heart than any dark tales that might actually make it into book form. Participating in A Year Like None Other has been a blessed high point in what has been a difficult period in my life. "Plotting" with Aspen and gleefully reading the endearing reader comments have gone a long way to keep me sane despite workplace stress, medical problems and the frustration of real life adoption efforts (oh, yes, Snape had it SO easy)! Thank you sincerely to my dear friend, Aspen, and to all of you who shared our world and made this project such a labor of love.
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~ Thanks to all of you for reading our tribute to the magical world of Harry Potter. ~
As always, comments are very welcome. If you've read this far, we would just love to hear from you!
--Aspen in the Sunlight and Mercredi--