It's Not Easy Being a Snape

Happy ending. A mountain of personal headcanons. I want to give the characters I love a happy ending. The heroine is in Slytherin, but not because of her personality. Dumbledore is not vilified. The previous generation’s grudges are left alone. Snape and Draco are not redeemed; they just become a little better because they have a daughter or childhood sweetheart. If you don’t like that, don’t read!!!!!!! She was Snape’s daughter, with black hair and dark eyes. He was the only son of the Malfoy family, with platinum-blond hair. They walked side by side through the corridors of Hogwarts. She had seen him in high spirits on the Quidditch pitch, and she had seen him clench his fists, knuckles white, as darkness drew near. He had seen her intent profile in Potions class, and he had seen her clever, mischievous side. They promised to stay together forever, until the Dark Lord returned. When they were fourteen, they first realized that the word “forever” might not last as long as they had imagined. She had seen people set themselves on fire, people lose their minds, and people locked inside a box for half a year. Some believed they could save their lives by joining the other side; others thought loyalty would earn them protection. Her mother had died in flames when she was a child. She remembered the smell of ash, and she had never believed in the idea of “joining the other side.” [If we’re destined to take completely different paths, will you still hold my hand?] [This is not a story about heroes. It’s a story about choices.] Draco gripped her hand and asked, “If one day I have to choose a side, what will you do?” She squeezed his hand and said, each word deliberate, “Draco, look at me. The flowers will bloom. I promise.” Before everything fell apart, they believed this with all their hearts.