Hermione woke the next morning rather late and naked in the arms of none other than Severus Snape, who was equally in the nude. She turned in his arms to be able to look at him while he slept. At first, she contemplated waking him because of the time, but he was looking so at peace that she just couldn't get herself to actually do so. Instead, she brushed a stray strand of hair out of his relaxed face. 

They just lay there until Hermione thought something to be odd. Quietly she observed him and thought hard about what seemed off about the sleeping man next to her. Suddenly she knew what was not right. 

His eyes were open, and he observed her every move. "Morning," he grumbled, his voice still heavy with sleep. 

"Good morning, Sev." 

She bent over and gave him a good morning kiss. "If one could just wake up like that every day," she sighed dreamily at which he laughed darkly.

 "You are aware that we will be travelling to Australia by portkey in less than two hours, are you?" he asked, cocking one of his dark eyebrows. 

Hermione shot up and ran around the room throwing clothing and other things into her beaded bag. Once finished with that, she sneaked over to Severus who had his eyes closed again. He didn't know she was next to him. That was until she threw herself on him. 

He just groaned at the impact of her warm body on his mixed with the sudden addition of her weight on top of him. "Although you aren't heavy by any means, my dear, I have to remind you of what I told you in the park a few days ago. My poor, old body is not made to be used as a pillow," he said before he started to tickle her. 

"And I told you that you aren't old, Sev," replied the brown-haired witch in between giggles of her own. "However, even the poorest and oldest of bodies should be getting up and under the shower now if they don't want to miss their portkey to Australia," she added with tears of mirth in her eyes.

She wiggled out of his grasp and kissed him again before standing up. Still grumbling, he finally got up and went into the bathroom to take a shower and shave off the stubble on his chin. 

In the meantime, Hermione dressed herself in a white blouse, a dark blue pencil skirt and equally blue high heels. A few minutes later, an equally fully dressed Severus stepped into the room again with his freshly shaved face and his hair still a bit wet.

 "What do you think? Should we tell Minerva where we are headed?" asked Severus, who was wearing a blue long-sleeved button down and dark blue trousers. 

"I think we should. We could tell her that we accept her offers and then leave for Australia. But before that, you will dry your hair. I don't want you to catch a cold. It is winter, after all, my dear," she said in a motherly tone akin to Molly Weasley's, at which he only rolled his eyes. 

"Yes, mum," was his sarcastic retort. He grumbled a spell and his hair was completely dry. He quickly grabbed a dark blue jacket and began to dress in his black leather shoes while Hermione waited for him at the door with her beaded bag in her hands. 

"Have you packed everything, my love?" asked the black-haired man. 

"Sev, I'm a highly structured witch, and I am able to think about the things most necessary even when my time is highly limited. So yes, I think I have everything we may need packed." 

She rolled her eyes at him and shut the door behind them. He chuckled and took her small hand in his, walking to the headmistress' office.

++++++++++++++++

"Come in," rang the voice of Minerva McGonagall just after they knocked on her office door. 

"Good morning, Minerva. We came to tell you that we will be leaving the castle for a few days," greeted Severus his former and future colleague. 

"Leaving? Where are you going?" asked the grey-haired witch, who had her hair up in a tight bun as usual. 

"Severus organized a portkey to Australia. We want to try giving my parents their memories back again," explained Hermione, smiling fondly at the man standing next to her. He squeezed her hand reassuring and smiled at her. 

"How wonderful! I wish you good luck," exclaimed the headmistress. 

"And Minerva, we would gladly accept your offers concerning Severus' job and my apprenticeship," added the younger witch. 

"That's great. I knew you would!" said the aged witch excited. "And now, off with you two." 

Hand in hand they went down to the gates, where Severus pulled out the portkey right before it activated and in a matter of seconds, they were gone.

+++++++++++++

Hermione didn't even need to open her eyes to know that they had indeed arrived in Australia. Between the cold and rather harsh winter in Scotland and the sunny and warm climate in Australia was a difference, an enormous one, if she might say so. 

Severus seemed to think so, too. He took off his jacket and pulled the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows. 

"We have to go along this street, then turn to the right, and then we should be there. I just hope that they're home," said Hermione, grabbing his hand, and together they strolled along the street. 

Just five minutes later, they were standing in front of a nice little white house with a beautiful front yard where all kinds of flowers were growing. 

"Is this it?" asked Severus. 

Hermione was so nervous that she could only nod her head. Knowing that her nerves were blank, Severus went up to the door and rang the doorbell. 

For quite some time, nothing happened, which caused Hermione to chew on her bottom lip in anticipation. Shortly before Severus decided they had waited enough, the door opened. 

"Good morning. How can I help you, sir?" asked a brown-haired, middle-aged man. 

"My name is Severus Snape and this is Hermione Granger. May we come in?" asked Severus. 

Slightly irritated, Wendell Wilkins let the two in and showed them to the living room, where Angela Wilkins, formerly Jean Granger, was sitting, a cup of tea in hand.

"Wendell, who are these people?" asked the woman, setting her teacup on the table before her. 

Before Hermione's father was able to answer that question, Hermione started talking: "My name is Hermione Granger and this is my partner Severus Snape. We came to discuss a personal matter with the two of you." 

An intrigued Angela bade them sit on the second couch while her husband sat down next to her. 

Severus knocked them out using a simple stupefy before they could ask or answer any questions. 

"Severus?!" said Hermione slightly panicked at his sudden action. 

"What? This is much more efficient. It would take so much more time if you were to tell them everything first and even then there is a chance of them saying no. You know, I prefer asking for forgiveness rather than asking for permission. And with them being unconscious, it's much easier for you. Now, start with your task at hand before they come to again," said Severus glancing at the pair in front of them. 

After heaving a sigh, Hermione started working on her parents' memories.

Only a few minutes later she was finished and dropped back down onto the couch next to Severus, who quickly pulled her into his arms as she just buried her face in his chest. 

"I'm so proud of you, Hermione. Now we wait for them to wake up," murmured Severus, kissing her on her forehead. 

Sitting there like that, the two of them didn't see the Wilkins'/ Granger's coming to their senses. 

"Herms...?"