Chapter Two

Disclaimer: Characters: Not Mine

As always thanks to the lovely and amazing kizzy7. She saves me from my own spelling and grammar disabilities. Thanks also to the lovely admins here at TPP for their brilliant work.

For the first time in his life, or whatever this might be, Severus had no thoughts in his head. He opened and closed this mouth stupidly for several moments, his eyes bugging out of his head. This blank state of mind was not a comfortable feeling for him. He stared at her. He stared around the room. He stared down at his own naked body.

His thoughts seemed to come back all at once.

I'm in bed with Hermione Granger, naked.

Why the hell do I keep thinking the word 'naked?'

"Severus. What is wrong with you?"

He realized he was either dead, dreaming, or delusional. He reached out and poked her in the shoulder.

"Are you feeling alright?"

No, I'm not alright. I'm a bloody pervert. As it turns out, my ultimate fantasy is snogging a student. However, it's not as though there is any reason not to proceed. I did resign, albeit by jumping out a window, but never the less... She's not been at school for a year. I'm dead. This is not real. Why not have a go?

Severus smirked and looked into the lovely face hovering over his. "Are you actually willing?"

Hermione laughed. "Why don't I show you?" With that, she claimed his mouth with her own. Her kiss was rich and full of passion. Her hands were stroking him, her body writhing beneath his. This was better than anything he'd ever experienced.

For the next hour, Severus knew nothing but her hands, her mouth, and all the other delights of her body. At last, they were both covered in sweat. He lay on his back with her body curled over his own. He felt her smile against his chest.

"Severus, gods, that was amazing. That's the thing I think I love most about you...every time with you is like the first time." She raised her tousled head to look into his eyes.

Severus stared back at her. He'd never dared to hope that the afterlife might be so incredibly pleasant. He wondered idly if he could use Legilimancy on a spirit or imaginary being or whatever she was. He'd have to try it later, though. Right now, he wanted to bask in the afterglow of the best sexual experience of his life. He didn't have to pay her. She'd enjoyed it. She hadn't stopped him kissing and touching her to demand extra galleons for extra services.

She rested her head on the pillow again, smiling at him.

"Gods, you are beautiful," he whispered. He meant it. She was so lovely, naked before him and open to his desires. Yes, her body was beautiful to him, but more lovely was the open and luminous quality in her eyes. She was not nervous or guarded here with him; she was not ready to flee. This woman was lying completely relaxed in his arms. If anything, she seemed to be straining to get closer to him.

Hermione leaned in to nuzzle his neck. He felt her mouth move against his skin as she said, "You are too kind, good sir. I wish this could last, but sadly, we will have to get up at one point or another today. There's a staff meeting at three."

Severus pushed her away. "Staff meeting?"

"It's just the typical, end-of-term wrap-up that the Headmaster always has. We should be able to leave as soon as it's finished." She smiled at him. "It won't take long, love."

Severus' brow creased in frustration. He had to teach in the afterlife as well? Perhaps children of the spiritual plain were less obtuse than those of the corporal plain. But still, if he could have a relationship with this delectable young woman, teaching dunderheads was quite a small price to pay. He decided that he didn't want to spend all eternity complaining.

"All right, Hermione. I'll go to the staff meeting. Any clue what Dumbledore will be on about?" Severus asked, hoping desperately that the meeting would be brief.

Hermione laughed and shook her head. She reached out to stroke the top of his head. "Exactly how hard did you hit the headboard? Has it caused brain damage? You should know very well that Dumbledore retired nearly fifteen years ago, and Minerva retired three years ago. Surely you recall that ordeal? She begged you to take the post? You told her to bugger off? Any of this ringing any bells?" She looked concerned and sat up a little.

She continued, "Severus, it was on your suggestion that the post was offered to James when you refused. How can you have forgotten?" Hermione looked half amused, half frightened. "Sev, are your ears ringing at all? Your pupils look normal, but that's not always an indicator. Perhaps we should run up to the hospital wing and have Lily take a look."

"The Potters?" he asked weakly.

"Of course. That's it. I should have gotten Lily involved the moment you tried to break the bedstead with your skull. I'm going to call her down here." She put on a purple satin dressing gown and walked out of the room.

Severus was so stunned that he could only sit and stare. Not only were Lily and James Potter a part of this reality, but he was apparently on semi-decent terms with Potter. What next?

Hermione had returned, and she was talking, and he was aware that she'd spelled his clothes onto his body. Images flooded his brain, people and places that he'd known. Severus Snape, the horrible Potions master and spy for the Order among Voldemort's Death Eaters, had known the rules and players in his former life. This new existence was horribly unfamiliar. One of the very few things that could make him lose his cool was inconstant behaviours.

When he was gently shaken a few minutes later, Severus was still lost in his own world. There was no way to know why this had happened, but he was sure of one thing. He would not let go of a woman who loved him, no matter what the cost this time.

He was dimly aware of a pair of small hands gently running over his head, accompanied by the occasional rushes of spells flying over his body. After what felt like an eternity of drifting on an empty sea, Severus came slowly back to himself.

He was staring into the most beautiful green eyes. A soft voice was speaking to him, but he was too mesmerized by the emerald pools of light to respond. He let out a slow breath, realising who it must be. "Potter," he breathed, his voice barely audible.

"Well, James will be pleased. Not only have you managed to avoid permanent damage to this remarkable brain of yours, but you've also managed for once in the last twenty-five years to call me by the proper name." Lily's smile was shining on him like sunlight.

"Now, will the two of you please contain yourselves? I realise that you are still in the 'honeymoon' period, but I'm having to invent too many creative, yet plausible excuses for the injuries caused by your acrobatic and apparently marathon sex-life."

Both Lily and Hermione laughed as Hermione showed her to the door. Severus could now only focus on the word 'honeymoon.' He and Granger were married? Just another tick on the list of 'things that seem to make no sense whatsoever.'

Hermione walked towards him after closing the door. He noticed that they seemed to be in his quarters at Hogwarts, only the rooms had been altered significantly. There were photos on the wall across from his bed, a vase of flowers stood on an end table, and a handmade quilt lay folded on the back of the sofa.

It had to be true. She must live here with him. He was vaguely reminded of a song from an old Muggle children's movie. "When the gods send you a blessing, you don't ask why it was sent." This was real. It was a happy home, and why or how he had it, he didn't want to question.

"What am I to you?" He could not meet her eyes, but he had to ask just the one time. He needed to hear her say it, to explain how the Princess of Gryffindor had come to be in a relationship. Married. The platinum band on his left hand winked at him as it reflected the golden glow of the firelight.

He and Hermione were married. Pleadingly, he looked into her eyes, hoping against hope that she would accept his need for reassurance, at whatever level it made sense to her, and answer his question.

She stared at him for a moment, and then she moved closer and sat in his lap. Softly and ever so methodically, she smoothed the hair back from his face. She kissed his lips in a tender yet chaste way. Looking at him in silence for another moment, she smiled at him.

"You are my love. You are my best friend. You are the only one who can tell me when I'm being woefully, stupidly hard-headed. You are the one who made me feel alive for the first time in my life. You are the only one who's ever made me feel like a real woman, not some stuffy bookworm. You are the one who taught me what it was to truly love. You are the one who showed me how hollow and empty the world was when I was alone. You are everything."

Severus was shocked to find a single tear rolling down his cheek. He hated showing emotion. He hated being vulnerable. Yet here sat Miss Grang...his wife telling him that he'd brought forth all her emotional capacities. She was bloody well inviting him to share some deep, personal insight with her. He couldn't do that, at least not at the present.

He continued to gaze into her eyes and let out a slow, shaky breath. "Hermione, we'll be late for Headmaster Potter's meeting." He might learn in time to be sentimental and sappy, but not yet.

***********

A little while later, they were seated in the staff room. Severus was trying his best not to stare, but it was nearly impossible. Many of the staff were as he would have expected, but many were different. Flitwick was still there, same as ever. Hagrid was equally as steadfast. Sinistra was still there. Sybil had even managed not to drink herself to death.

Hooch had been replaced by a lovely redhead. As he stared, Severus realised who it was. Miss Weasley, though a gut feeling told him it would be Madam Potter by now. He cringed, hoping her young husband was not also a member of staff. Longbottom actually tripped and fell as he entered the room. Severus assumed that he would be the Herbology master; after all, it had been the boy's only real talent.

Vector was missing, but that would fit. Hermione was the obvious choice for her replacement. He could imagine that her N.E.W.T. scores had been even higher than her OWLs. Poppy hadn't come in either, but he knew from earlier that Lily had taken her place. Though if Minerva was gone, and Potter Sr. was Head, who taught Transfiguration and Defence?

Just then, an earth-shattering, ear-splitting crash erupted from the door. Everyone in the room jumped in their seats. The door swung open, and two rather dishevelled people stumbled into the room.

Behind him, Hermione said, "Gods above, Tonks. Are the both of you alright?" Severus turned to look at her, and then he followed the newest occupants' progress toward their seats. The light of realisation had just dawned on him when a loud voice, full of laughter, came from the door.

"Well, no way to follow that, Lily dearest. Showed me up again, eh, Moony?"

Severus felt like he'd been hit by lightning. He turned slowly to see James Potter framed in the open door. The wizard he'd hated as a boy had aged extremely well, and though he still brimmed with confidence, something of humility was also present in his wide smile.

He allowed his wife to enter, and then he closed the door behind them. As James made his way around the large, oval table, Lily smiled at everyone in turn. She took the seat on the other side of Hermione, and the two began whispering. Nymphadora Tonks leaned around someone to join in. Severus locked eyes with Remus Lupin, who smiled, seemingly still embarrassed over his less than graceful arrival.

James' voice sounded again, and Severus had to fight to keep his features from sinking into an instant scowl. "As both the Lupins and the Snapes have both had injuries today, I think it was a very good decision not to have gone rock climbing in the Lake District this weekend." Though everyone else laughed, Snape tried to smile, but it was really just a grimace.

James continued. "Now. End of term was surprisingly smooth. I'd like to thank all of you for your cooperation in ensuring that the annual pranks of the winning House were circumvented. I'm also pleased to report that the Board of Governors is very pleased indeed with the exam results. This year is our best ever showing. Higher percentages of Outstandings on both O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s than have ever been recorded..."

Severus allowed his mind to drift off. He looked at the other occupants of the room. No one seemed vexed by his presence; in fact, they all seemed remarkably relaxed, as though none of them had a care in the world.

Hermione looked especially beautiful. Her eyes were shining as James reviewed the academic achievements of the year. She was positively radiant. He looked over at Lily and realised, with something of jolt, that he didn't find her as appealing as the witch seated to his left.

Snape was startled back into reality as the staff laughed again. "...so as to not keep you all too long. Now, please don't forget, you're all invited to come and stay the weekend prior to the World Cup and attend the game as our guests. I'd ask everyone to stay longer, but if my son doesn't get some time alone with his beautiful wife, Lily and I will be well into our dotage by the time we're made grandparents."

The meeting broke up, and they all stood. Snape heard the excited chatter of holiday plans and anticipation of the World Cup. He noticed how many of them smiled at him, really smiled. Or asked after him since his fall (Lily had apparently chosen a fall to cover the embarrassing truth of his supposed head injury).

He had friends. He had a beautiful wife and real friends, not just colleagues. He stared around at the thinning crowd.

"Alright, Severus?" Hermione asked.

"You've no idea, love. You've no idea."

A/N: Thanks to everyone who is reading! Please take a moment to leave me a review, I'd love to hear any and all comments! *hugs*