Hermione groaned softly turning her head away from whatever light was pressing against the back of her eyelids. Her body felt weird, strong yet weak at the same time like she was waking from a deep sleep. A soft rustle of fabric caught her ears before a gentle alluring scent of Jasmine filled her nose. Her mind turned slowly, but smoothly. She recognized that scent mixed with his on her shirt the night she was sure Snape had come to her. She hadn't been able to identify it then but she could now.

It's alright, easy now...just open your eyes.

The voice speaking to her didn't come to her ears but rather from inside. A gentle command followed by a deep soothing feeling. She found no reason why she shouldn't follow their instructions and so, did as she told.

The world came into focus gradually but clearly. She could make out a powder blue chair and something or rather someone else peering down at her just at the edge of her vision. She turned her head just enough to make the face come into view; her brow furrowing as she tried to give them a name but nothing in all her memories could provide her with a single syllable. The woman above her smiled gently before moving out of her line of sight again.

Hermione tried to roll her eyes up to see where the woman had gone but someone else more familiar appeared in front of her line of sight and she found she no longer cared about who the mystery woman was. Hermione tried to move her jaw but found her tongue too heavy to make anything more than an inquisitive noise, her face twisting with confusion.

"You'll feel a bit heavy for a short while...It's normal." Snape came closer, though his face was tight.

Hermione turned her eyes up when the woman who had been above her head moved around so she could be seen clearly. Hermione looked between the two of them for a long moment. They were similar in features, too similar. Aside from their eyes, everything about them seemed almost in sync. The way they held themselves, their nose, their lips. There was no way they couldn't have been related in some manner. Like drama masks, they were nearly opposite. A kind disarming smile hidden at the corner of the woman's mouth while Snape held a deep sense of tragedy on his features.

Galia leveled her eyes on Hermione's own, a look that was as equally unsettling as it was assuring before she turned herself from the room. Snape spared her a glance, frowning deeper. He moved over the chair that was facing the fireplace before bringing it over beside the lounge. He looked almost, dare she say, frightened? Hermione blinked slowly letting out a soft noise before she shifted her head down to look at her hands. The feeling in her limbs was slowly returning and she found herself able to lift her hand up to rub the sleep from her eyes. Her tongue followed next and she swallowed dryly a few times before managing to let out a weak whisper.

"How long...have I been asleep?"

"Nearly two days..."

"I always seem to lose track of time when I'm with you..." Her lip curled just a bit at her wry and poorly delivered joke. Her eyes closed as she thought back to how she could have gotten there before her eyes snapped open with fear. She'd kissed him, more than that, he'd kissed her back. What did that mean? How was she still alive? Why did her lips tingle with the memory? Why did she suddenly feel so warm? Wasn't this what she wanted? What happened now?

Snape watched myriad of emotions play over her face while he listened in on the numerous questions rampaging through her mind. He had no true answers for her but found relief that her mind seemed to be working as it should have been. He took a slow breath gathering his own thoughts and pushing out hers. They had so much to discuss.

"Miss Granger...if you would allow me...to explain everything..."

oOo

Galia walked down the main road with a small bit of pride. For a woman who could literally see thousands of possibilities at once, she found herself pleasantly surprised by nearly all of them. Though there was only one small wrench in the all of it and they were here.

oOo

Harry and Minerva turned their heads from the map that had led them through the winding paths of the forest. The street before then seemed to shimmer with its own power but what was really breathtaking was the large castle that stood in the distance. Harry was sure it was nearly as large as Hogwarts and even in its decay stood brilliantly above everything else.

"Wow...is that the castle Hermione was looking for?"

"Indeed..." Minerva lowered her eyes to the people who were moving through the streets. Not many but enough; though none of them seemed to give any of their interest to them. It was odd but reassuring at the same time. She motioned Harry forward, moving towards the center square. "If you were Hermione where would you have gone first?"

"If I was Hermione..." Harry scratched his head for a moment, "I uh...I guess I'd go to the castle that I had been researching..." He turned slowly on his heel when someone caught his eye. He stood stock still not even sure he was seeing what he was seeing. "Uh...or..." He stammered watching the cloaked woman move towards the Inn. He'd only caught a small glimpse of her face but there was a strong pull inside his mind turning his thoughts. "I'd go to the Inn...for information..." Harry weakly pointed towards the door that the woman slipped through before Minerva had turned her own eyes.

"Everything thing alright, Potter?"

"Yeah, I just... nevermind... let's go to the Inn first...we don't even know if she's still here...she might have stayed there though..."

"Reasonable logic." Minerva tucked her hands in front of her moving around to follow. Her own senses picking up on something or someone rather powerful nearby. She kept her wand hidden in her palm, just in case.

Harry moved through the square with purpose, his heart was starting to race. What if she wasn't there? What if she'd moved on somewhere else? The words in her letter burned brightly in his mind. He'd already lost one of his best friends, he couldn't lose another. He had to bring her home, let her know she was safe. That he would never let Ron near her again.

Reglan looked up from the counter as two outsiders stepped into the Inn. His eyes shifted to the woman in the far corner for a moment, watching her lower her head with a small nod before he gave them a kind welcoming smile.

"Hello, What can I get for you two today?"

"Hello," Harry's voice wavered from the small tension inside the modest room. His eyes turned over the faces that looked up from their tables, a small bit of fear running down his spine. He didn't believe these people were inherently violent but there was a sort of unspoken rule in the air that they would protect their own—if the need arose. "Uh...Um..."

"We're here looking for answers, nothing else." Minerva was. standing at her full height now, she too could feel the tension but she wouldn't allow herself to be cowed. She moved slowly through the tables towards the bar that the man stood behind.

"We can start with your names." While Reglan's voice remained calm it was clear that he wasn't going to be as cooperative as they had hoped. He motioned for them to take a seat before glancing once more at the far table.

"Minerva McGonagall and this is Harry Potter." The small murmur or hushed astonishment that she had been expecting never came.

"What answers might you be seeking?"

Harry took the offered seat wanting to ease the tension in the room, though Minerva stayed as she was. He gave a glance to Reglan making sure to keep his hands slow when he pulled out a small picture from inside his own cloak. "We're looking for her... She's not well and we think she might have come here... about two nights ago? She would have been wearing a red dress. Possibly upset?" Harry gently unfolded the picture setting it flat on the bar.

Reglan looked down at the picture, it was evident that it had been carried for a long time; the moving image inside showing a brightly smiling teenager in school robes with her arms wrapped around the boy who sat before him and another. "I can't be sure."

The hope that had been inside Harry had started to dim. Minerva had said that no one could enter the town at night. Could she have waited? Was she lost in the forest? It was an old picture. "Please sir, it was her birthday... the night of her birthday...The 19th...she may have come here during the day...or..." Harry lowered his head obviously distressed by the impossibility of the situation.

Reglan pursed his lips tightly, he had been asked to stall the two visitors but even he couldn't bear to see the pain on the young man's face. "A red dress?" Reglan glanced up to the woman who had obviously come to support the young man and let out a soft sigh, "I haven't seen a girl, but I have seen a woman in a beautiful red dress and a cloak two sizes too big..."

Harry lifted his head with a small spark or renewed spirit. "Her name is Hermione. Please, we don't mean her any harm. We just want to bring her home."

Reglan looked at the boy sadly, he didn't have the heart to keep up the charade, his voice grew kinder, "I have seen her, boy. Two nights ago, just as you said. She stayed her until morning. After that, I sent her on her way to the owlery to send a letter and speak with Mrs. Walton about the castle."

Minerva relaxed slowly, but it was clear that the man had been asked to lie. Her eyes turned looking for a man who she believed was scary enough to intimidate such a large man. Her lips went tight when she didn't see who she was expecting but she was sure he was around somewhere.

"Have you seen her since?" Harry pulled the photo back into his pocket slowly coming to his feet. She had been there, it was both a relief and a worry.

"No, and that's the truth. Though I think the woman who may have your answers is sitting in the corner." Reglan turned his apologetic eye towards whom he spoke, to his relief the woman merely smiled and lowered her hood.

Harry turned to follow his eyes when a sharp gasp nearly took his feet out from under him. It couldn't have been. It was impossible, but there she was. The woman the order had sent him too. She looked different, her face no longer scarred. Her eyes that turned towards him made him feel like he was falling off the Astronomy tower into a large cloud. Unnerving but comforting at the same time. "Galia..."

Minerva's brow rose into her hairline as she turned to follow his astonished gaze. She'd heard the name but never knew the face. If she didn't know any better she was staring at the female embodiment of the man who she had learned to respect.

Harry pushed himself from the bar with unsteady legs, gathering his courage as he went. Galia turned her head up to his approach a smile growing on her face.

"I see you survived Mister Potter. Please, have a seat."

"Please, can you tell us where Hermione is?" Harry ignored her polite request in hopes of stilling his racing heart. Would she help him still?

"I can."

"Please-"

"Please sit down. I will answer your request but first, I think a nice calming tea would benefit us all."

oOo

"I just wanted to protect you...from all the death that day... including your own..."

"That... that wasn't your call to make..."

"I know that...I...I have no excuse for what I've done..."

Hermione lowered her eyes down to the hands that rested with defeat between his knees. She had never heard him so repentive, so morose, so without confidence. It bothered her more than she ever cared to admit. She had expected a rather harsh tongue lashing on her choices regarding Ron and everything that preceded and followed her birthday. She was sure he knew she had given up her memories. That she had allowed herself to be led astray by her broken feelings. Though she was sure if she had been in her right mind it never would have spiraled out the way it had. Then again, she wasn't so sure.

Hermione took a slow breath before leaning forward to take his hand. Her heart ached when his hand twitched as though her touch hurt him. Though she found nothing that could properly express her feelings at that moment she was sure he could feel it through their touch.

"Do you... remember what I asked of you...before I...passed out?" She didn't dare say die, though she knew she had. She had died in his arms. Even if it had only been temporary she had taken her last breath with his eyes searing into her soul.

"You wanted me to say your name..." His voice was just as deep as hers, his eyes looking nowhere but where her hand held his.

"Can you say it now?" Her request was gentle and kind, filled with a hidden hope that all her thoughts about him held some semblance of truth.

"What difference would it make?" His mind was too busy with his own conflicting thoughts to see into hers. The day was over, the war had been won. What would he saying her name change? Why was he so reluctant to do so and yet nearly unable to hold himself back at the same time?

Hermione held his hand just a bit tighter before raising her eye's to catch his. There was a pregnant pause where she could see his mind turning trying to decipher her need, shifting and twisting through so many emotions, he couldn't figure it out, for once his brilliant mind just couldn't come to the correct conclusion. When his eyes raised just enough to catch her face through his lashes she gave him an almost sad smile. "Say it and find out."

"Hermione."

Severus raised his eyes, his heart beating just a bit faster as he suddenly became aware of why she wanted him to say her name. It was the last wall between them that made them equals. Not teacher nor student, slave or master. Just a man and a woman, side by side.

Hermione smiled, truly and gracefully. It sounded more beautiful than she thought it would have. Her entire body grew warm with the feeling he'd unknowingly placed behind it.

oOo

Galia pressed her finger to her lips as she led Minerva and Harry to the side of the house. She needed them to see what she saw. She needed them to understand what words could not express. She brought them to a stop beside the stonework for the fireplace and held her hand up for silence. Both of them nodded their heads with different stages of worry ticking away on their faces.

Galia smiled just a little before she ran her hand down the wood revealing the room inside. She knew neither occupant would be aware of her charm and that they couldn't be seen. A small twist of her fingers made a small orb of light appear just on their side and she turned her head to watch the two inside.

oOo

"I know why you did it," Hermione reached forward taking his other hand in hers, her body adjusting to close the gap further between them, "No one wants to watch someone they care about suffer when they can do something about it..." She gave his hands a firm squeeze lifting his eyes back to hers, "But Severus, know this... I've never been afraid of pain...I was afraid of losing you... after all, you had done for me..." Hermione swallowed slowly taking a moment to gather her next thought, "I was afraid...that the world would take a great man from this earth...and there would have been nothing I could have done to stop it..." Hermione moved just a touch closer.

Her hand came up to raise his eyes that had fallen again and she pressed her palm gingerly against his cheek. "I already told you... don't you remember?" Her head tilted down to meet his downcast eyes, "I don't mind scars..." Her other hand rose to join its mate and lift his chin, her thumbs lightly tracing his frown, "The interesting and humbling thing about scars, whether mental or visible, is that even though they are caused by insurmountable pain during their creation; a caring and loving hand can remove all pain of their existence and even though they can remain visible the heart can no longer see them..."

Severus found himself at a complete loss of anything to say. Her words were beyond anything he could have ever expected from someone who he'd dragged into the pits of hell. How could she possibly have such an outlook on life? How could she possibly see things that were nearly impossible to see with any other logic than her own?

"Stop thinking...and just kiss me..." Hermione could have laughed at the shocked look on his face. She wished she had a camera at that moment though she was sure she was never going to forget it.

oOo

Harry and Minerva looked at the other completely taken aback by her words, the spell to allow them to hear their voices died out but they could still see their mouths moving. Neither one of them expected what happened next. Minerva actually gasped when Hermione rose just enough to close the distance completely between them. Harry felt an odd feeling twisting in his stomach, it wasn't bad, per se, just uncomfortable. Galia meanwhile just smirked and ran a hand through her hair nonchalantly.

oOo

Hermione sighed softly through her nose when his hands rose to take her neck, with one coming up through the back of her hair. Unlike last time he didn't resist, rather he tilted his head granting her more access to what she had been going after. Her hands shifted from holding his face to wrap gently around his neck. Hermione shifted to stand between his knees, before leaning one knee beside his thigh into the chair. Nothing in the world ever felt so right as it did at that moment. It was just a kiss, but nothing she'd ever experienced before in her life had ever made her feel so complete. She wondered if he felt it too if he could see past his own doubts to just become apart of what was happening between them now.

Severus felt every wall he'd tried to build between them falling down in loud succession. Their resistance broken when he had spoken her name. His own pride had gotten the better of him but instead of finding himself in pain, he found himself falling into a world that was completely new. It wasn't his first kiss, but it surely was more than he had ever anticipated. All the nights he had spent worried about her, confused by the emotion bottled up inside him. He didn't know if what he was doing was right, but he didn't care. Not then.

When they finally broke away for air neither one of them were able to speak. Hermione took slow heaving breaths while Severus took shallow wisps. Their hands didn't wander from their position but they knew they couldn't remain as they were. Hermione found herself slowly finding the entire situation more than humorous and couldn't stop the small bubble of laughter crawling up the back of her throat.

"And what pray tell is so humorous?" Severus leaned back in the chair as Hermione decided that instead of retreating she wanted to make his chair hers as well. The entire position made his pallor cheeks flush and his back grow tight. He wasn't comfortable at all, and his face showed it.

"Do you know how many rumors were going around school that I had a thing for older men?"

"Uh..." His mouth opened dumbly, another first for the woman in his lap.

"Quite a few if I recall."

"Harry!" Hermione felt her own face growing redder than her house colors. That coupled with her former head of house standing right beside him made her lose her balance. Thankfully Snape was there to keep her from doing a backward swan dive into the hardwood floor.

Galia hid her amusement behind the back of her hand, coming further into the sitting room. She watched the poor young woman scramble back to her feet with Severus' help, the look on her cousin's face more than murderous. If there's one thing she had learned during her time with him, it was that he didn't like being made a fool of.