Chapter Ten

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine.

Hermione shivered on the concrete floor. Despite the boiling heat outside, the hallway remained glacial, almost like sitting in gigantic refrigerator. None too surprising, she supposed, given where she sat. She felt a crackling vent blow another gust from above. An icicle, that's what she felt like: icy, inside and out; numb. Gathering her knees to her chest, she pulled her now-too-large black cardigan around her bare calves.

"Would you like my coat?"

For once, Hermione wasn't startled by his sudden appearance. Instead of launching herself at him and burying her face in his narrow chest, as she so desperately wanted, she simply nodded despondently. The coat was heavy, but its lining was silky and warm as Snape... Severus... delicately laid it over the front of her curled-up body, from feet to shoulders, careful to tuck the upturned collar under her chin. Sighing, Hermione pulled her hands through the sleeves before folding them over her knees again.

"Have they forced Lucius to speak yet?" she asked, her voice small but firm.

"We don't have to talk about this now," Severus replied, standing beside her.

Hermione gazed at his shiny leather shoes.

"I want to," she insisted, finally daring to look up at him. "I want to know that what happened to Thomas... that it was worth... all of this."

Sighing from above, Severus paced a step or two before stopping beside her once again. Then, grumbling, he slowly sank to the floor, seating himself to her right.

"No wonder you're so cold," he remarked as he met the concrete, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing his arms over his chest.

Only a few inches away from him, Hermione could smell his comfortingly clean scent.

"Lucius remains only barely conscious. The Stunner wasn't a severe blow, but as noted in his dramatic monologue, he doesn't have much to live for. In any case, it seems his health was deteriorating prior to the encounter."

Hermione bristled. "So it was all for nothing? We'll get no information from him?"

"Not entirely," Severus said calmly. "In his deliriums, we've been able to sort out the location of his Secret-Kept residence, as well as the names of a few families he had yet to contact. As undesirable as the outcome is, he's possibly giving more information than he would have in a healthy state."

"I suppose I should be reciting some article or statute in regard to the treatment of prisoners right now, but I don't have it in me at the moment," Hermione replied, feeling only slightly more relieved. She turned away from him and looked towards her left. The door at the end of the hallway remained shut.

From beside her, Hermione heard as Severus groaned, or rather growled, in frustration, his calm façade disintegrating. "You can't possibly blame yourself," he argued.

"Who else is there to blame, then? You even warned me about having him in. Merlin, he was only an apprentice! I must have been mad!"

Severus opened his mouth to argue, but Hermione went on, barely taking a breath.

"Now he's ... Well, he's over there," she said, waving her arm in the direction of the door down the hall. "So tell me, Severus, who else is there to blame? I forced him out there with me, and he wasn't ready. And now... now..." She was too winded to finish the sentence, and Snape took advantage of it.

"Look at me, Hermione."

Hermione stubbornly turned away. She was being childish, but it was hard not to when she already felt so small. Just another regret, another weight, another step backwards.

"Hermione," Snape chided as he wrenched her hands from their place around her knees and took them in his own without warning.

Surprised, Hermione turned her head.

"Thank you," he said with satisfaction, ignoring the way she stared at their joined hands. "Now, I will only say this once. It is ridiculous to blame yourself for any of this. As I'm sure you noticed during your brief discussion with him, Lucius was mad, and any encounter with him would have likely resulted in casualties. Furthermore, it's a dishonor to Thomas' heroism to reprimand yourself for this."

Hermione nodded dumbly, considering his words... and the way his hands seemed to be keeping her fingers warm. "You're right, Severus. I'm being ridiculous. It's just..."

"Yes, you are," Severus agreed, cutting off Hermione's next statement. "There's nothing to be gained by dwelling on it. You have learned from the legislation debacle, yes? And your parents, they're alive, aren't they? I'm alive, aren't I?"

Oh yes, he was. Hermione blushed. "Yes, but..."

"Look at the elves you've saved so far, and most likely, the ones we'll find in the upcoming days. And Thomas! He was at the very least bumbling when he came to you. Naïve and wide-eyed. Look at how you influenced him. He came into his own under your guidance. And yes, I know now he's..."

"Okay, yes. Thomas somehow benefited from being around me while I was having a mental breakdown, but..."

"I won't let you find some other excuse to beat yourself up. Everyone makes mistakes. Some bigger than others... far bigger. But there's taking responsibility for your actions, and there's drowning in them. I will not allow you to drown!"

And the way he gripped her hands now let her know that he wouldn't. The feeling that this brought washed over her, and for the first time she felt secure. Yes, secure that there was someone to catch her should she slip, but also security in herself. She had always only done what she felt was right, and if she were perfectly honest, her heart had never led her astray.

Perhaps that was why, at possibly one of the worst moments ever, Hermione could feel herself being pulled closer to Severus. Not by his hands, but by an energy, one that had been growing since that night at the pub. It was dizzying, all of these things she was feeling, for Thomas, for herself, for Severus. It was nearly too much, but even her good sense couldn't halt the progress of her head as it moved closer to Severus'.

As their eyes met, his stare read, "Right now?" And he was right, this wasn't the time, but...

"He can see you now. Um, if you're ready." The door down the hall had opened, and Thomas' attending Healer stood awkwardly only a few feet away.

Thank Merlin, Hermione thought gratefully as she stood up. She wanted to kiss Severus, really wanted to, but not there, not then. Looking down her front at Severus' backward-facing coat, she couldn't help but notice that she was no longer freezing. Knowing her face must be red, she took it off hastily, folding it before handing it back.

"Keep it," he said, putting his hand up. "You might need it in there."

"You're not coming?" Hermione asked, putting the coat back on.

"Later, perhaps. I think you two might have some things to discuss."

Nodding, Hermione started down the hallway, pulling his coat tightly around her.

"You're all right, then?"

If Hermione wasn't so pleased to see him awake and breathing, she might have punched Thomas in the shoulder. She couldn't be terribly upset with him, though. His loyalty knew no bounds.

"Yes, I'm fine, silly," she admonished playfully. She resisted the urge to ruffle his sweaty hair. She certainly didn't want to patronize him. "It's you we were all worried about."

Thomas grinned back tiredly. He lay reclining against a pillow, a hospital gown draped over him. It had been a long twenty-four hours.

"He'll be as good as new in a day or so. He just needs his rest," Healer Alvarez said from the other side of the room. He was busy marking up Thomas' chart, though the smile tugging at his lips told Hermione that he had heard their interaction.

"Do you know what it is, then? That Malfoy cursed him with, I mean," Hermione questioned, unconsciously resting a protective hand on Thomas' shoulder.

"Looks to be one of Mr. Malfoy's own creations, a powerful Stunning Spell of some sort," Healer Alvarez replied, reading from Thomas' chart. "It was probably blunted by Mr. Malfoy's weakened state, but it still managed to do enough damage, I'd say."

"But the unconsciousness and the fever..." As she trailed off, Hermione thought of the sight of Thomas lying there in the rubble of the café, only a faint pulse to assure them that he still held onto life, though tenuously. Even after the Healers were able to revive him, he was burning up with a horrible fever that threatened finish the job.

"Well, like I said, it seems to be an original, so I'm not sure we'll ever truly know all of its effects, but its impact seemed to have ruptured something and sent Thomas' organs into shock. That's certainly what caused the fever, among other things."

Hermione looked over at Thomas. Poor, noble Thomas. He was slightly peaky, his copper-colored fringe slick against his forehead, but he was still smiling up at her, silently saying, It's okay; I'm okay.

"Not to worry, though. He's definitely out of the woods. Only took a few elixirs, some surgical spell work to repair damage to vital organs, and lot of fluids. And your well wishes, of course."

Hermione nodded in agreement, pulling Severus' coat even closer.

Healer Alvarez made one final mark to the chart and pinned it to the door. "Right, well, I'll leave you two. Not too long, though. He still needs his rest."

"Yes, of course. Thank you... so much," Hermione couldn't help adding. Healer Alvarez smiled, giving them a slight salute before exiting the room, closing the door behind him.

"So, you're wearing Snape's coat," Thomas said casually, managing to smirk.

Hermione couldn't help rolling her eyes. "Really, that is what you want to talk about after all of this?"

"Hermione, I know what you're going to say. I've known you for a little less than a week, and I know. It's not your fault."

Hermione crossed her arms. "Thomas, you begged me to get you out of it. I should have listened to you."

"But I was fine!" Thomas protested, his voice both raised and hoarse.

"Yes, you were," Hermione replied calmly, trying to settle him again. "You were brilliant, Thomas, you honestly were. I'm so proud of you. And I am terribly thankful that you saved me from that curse."

Thomas lay back a bit, folding his hands over his chest. "I'm glad I did too. I don't even know what I was thinking, really. Just reacting, I guess."

"I told you your instincts would steer you in the right direction," Hermione said, allowing herself to brush back his bangs a little. It had been an intense week for the both of them, but they had certainly bonded.

"I don't know what I'm going to tell my family, or Cheryl, even. Maybe nothing. It'll probably just frighten them," Thomas said with a sigh.

"You'll tell them that you're a hero, or I will," Hermione replied softly. "Keeping secrets from them will only create bigger problems later on. Trust me, I know."

Thomas smiled. "Yes, I suppose you do. Now that coat... "

"Can't you focus on anything else?" Hermione asked exasperatedly.

"Hey," Thomas answered in his defense. "I have been watching you two bickering this entire trip. I've also seen the way you two look at each other when the other one isn't looking. I am perfectly in the right here."

Sighing, Hermione gave in to her impulse and ruffled his copper-colored hair. "Fine. You'll be disappointed to hear that the offer of the coat and light handholding has been the extent of it."

Thomas sighed as well, swatting her hand from his hair. "Well, you don't have very long, do you? Make a move."

Hermione laughed at his enthusiasm. "I'm sorry, have you met Severus Snape? He's not exactly the most receptive person."

"Yes, well, he certainly isn't going to kiss you first," Thomas pointed out, pulling the white hospital blanket over his chest and yawning.

No kidding, Hermione thought unhappily as she stood. "Looks like you're ready for a nap, Thomas. I'll let you get some rest," she said aloud, rising from the seat at his bedside and making her way to the door.

As she reached for the doorknob, she heard Thomas say from his hospital bed, "I would do it again, you know. Jump in front of that curse, I mean."

Turning slightly to face him, Hermione gave Thomas a sad smile. "I know, Thomas. That's part of why I know you'll be a fantastic inspector."

Hermione almost felt at home as she clip-clopped down the drab hallway of the U.S. Ministry of Magic. The click of heels against the unadorned concrete floors must have announced her approach, leading Severus to peek out from Bob Stephens' office. Stepping out into the hallway to greet her, he was careful to close the door behind him.

"Oh, it's bad news isn't it?" Hermione groaned, noticing the strange look on Severus' face. "It's not the elves, I hope. Or is it Lucius? Have his delirious confessions led us on a wild goose chase?"

Severus remained tight-lipped.

Hermione paled slightly. "I'm canned, aren't I? The head of the department is in there preparing to throw me out of the I.C.W." She had entertained fantasies of leaving the job, but in all of them she had had something else lined up already. Would they send her off somewhere else as the Ministry had only a few years ago?

"You should go inside and find out," Severus replied, ever cryptic. But before she could open the door, he blocked her with his arm. "And when you do...find out, that is...I would like to speak with you afterwards," he requested, subsequently removing his arm and leaving Hermione to face whatever awaited her alone.

Stephens' office looked the same as it had during their first meeting. The Re'ems migration route had a few more dots, the Bigfoot map had a few more x's, and the Jobberknoll was busy preening from his perch. However, there was the addition of a large house-elf fact sheet tacked just above the Bigfoot map.

"Ah, Granger, you're here!" Stephens roared from behind his desk, catching sight of her even before she had cleared the entrance. "Please, take a seat."

Hermione sat in the familiar leather armchair across from Stephens, eyeing the room curiously. It appeared that they were the only two occupying it, so perhaps her dismissal wasn't imminent.

"I guess first I should say how pleased I am that Thomas is going to have a full recovery," Stephens began grimly, glancing over at the Bigfoot map that had so impressed Thomas when they had arrived. "However, I am also pleased to hear we captured Lucius Malfoy. While I regret that we may lose him in the coming days, from what Snape has reported, his information has been sound and useful in uncovering more elves. Now, the question becomes what are we going to do with them all?"

Hermione nodded silently. So far none of this had come as a surprise. Though she had spent the last two days at the hospital with Thomas, Severus had kept her apprised of the investigation. The Harrells were certainly not the only family in the D.C. area in possession of an elf, and even on the day of the confrontation with Malfoy, more were being shipped into the country.

"So, that is where you come in, Hermione," Stephens continued. "Tell me, what would you do about this situation?"

It was a simple enough question with a far more complicated answer. Under I.C.W. protocol, she was required to advise Stephens to round up all the elves, no matter the quality of their living situation, and quarantine them for a period of at least a month. At that time, it would be required that the elves be shipped back to their country of origin, in this case the U.K., where a government official would handle the creatures.

"The next step in the process would be quarantine," Hermione replied robotically.

"Yeah, I know what the I.C.W. would suggest, but what I want to know is what you would do."

Hermione gaped at the meaty man across from her. It wasn't as if she didn't already know what she would do, and it certainly didn't have anything to do with protocol. She could see flashes of her proposed legislation, the original legislation, in action. It would be a way to employ the elves without excusing abuse. Humane and fair treatment without creating another black market. She saw Margaret Harrell and Mipsy, poster children for how it could work. But it wasn't her position to share her opinion on the matter.

"I'm not really at liberty to tell you what I would do," Hermione reminded him, the weight of her badge suddenly noticeable. "Not in this capacity, at least."

"I figured," Stephens conceded, leaning back in his leather office chair. "That's why I'm prepared to hire you."

"Pardon?" Hermione asked, completely blindsided. Her expectation had been that she would be losing a job, not offered another. "You want to... hire...me?

"You're passionate, Granger. Hell of a lot more passionate than the rest of these bureaucratic drones," Stephens said as he gestured towards the hallway. "I'm sure the inspector's lifestyle is exciting, what with all the traveling, but I could really use someone familiar with the existing legislation to sort this out."

Hermione leaned back in her chair. There it was, a way out, and possibly one better than she had previously imagined. It wasn't in England, but she could learn to like it here. It was certainly better than living out of a suitcase, traveling to every other far-flung village. There would also be no livestock corralling as far as she could see, and wasn't that the biggest bonus of it all?

Of course, there was the unsettled benefit, the one who wished to speak to her immediately after this meeting. At least now she knew why.

"I... I'm flattered," Hermione confessed, still thinking over everything that had just been thrown at her.

"Don't worry, you have a few days to decide," Stephens assured her. "And Snape mentioned you might want a few weeks off to settle some matters back home, and I'm prepared to offer them to you before you start the assignment."

Oh, that. There were things to settle, memories to retrieve, horrors to relive. But she could not, would not, put it off any longer.

"I will consider your offer carefully and give you my answer tomorrow," Hermione finally promised. "It's certainly enticing. I just need to talk to someone first."

Severus' office was devoid of creepy crawlies, pickled organs, and blackened glassware. This alone put Hermione more at ease as she entered. There were still characteristic black drapes, strange, dark-detecting instruments, and shelves and shelves of books, many of which seemed better left untouched, but Hermione could still appreciate these, especially the latter.

Severus looked up from his paperwork, appearing not at all surprised to find her there. "Take a seat," he commanded more than offered, indicating that she should seat herself in the armless wooden chair in front of his desk.

"I'd rather stand, if you don't mind," Hermione replied, walking behind the chair and leaning forward on the back rest.

Hermione watched as disappointment flickered in his gaze. "Right, I'll take that to mean you've turned down Stephens' offer." His tone was emotionless, but his eyes were not.

"No, I haven't turned it down," Hermione countered, watching him carefully.

"You've accepted?"

"I haven't decided," she answered, her heart racing.

"Oh, well," Severus replied. Though it was minute, every flicker of emotion was minute, this was the still the most flustered and confused Hermione had ever seen him. "It's certainly a decision one must make carefully."

"Honestly, I think I've all but made it. I just need to confirm one last thing." As she said this, Hermione moved from behind the chair, carefully making her way behind his desk.

"Yes?" Severus asked, clearly unnerved by the unfolding events.

He swiveled in his chair to face her where she stood, behind his desk, staring at him quite intently. Wordlessly (though a rather loud pep talk was on rotation in her head) she reached forward, taking his two hands in hers and pulling him his feet. Why he was allowing her to direct him so was a mystery, but Hermione wouldn't complain.

Standing over her, only an inch or so between them, Severus seemed to be at least twenty feet tall. However would she reach his lips? Dropping his hands, she flattened hers against his chest. What would she do now, grip the fabric of his good dress shirt and pull him down towards her? The idea was both horrifying and electrifying.

Inhaling, she dared to look up at him, and suddenly there was no question. As if she had done it a million times, she gathered wads of the black fabric in her two fists and pulled him towards her, their lips meeting softly only seconds later. This kiss was certainly a deal breaker.

While neither could account for the amount of time they spent like this, even years later Hermione would still remember how it had felt when his arms slipped around her waist, pulling her close, and how her hands had slithered up his chest and around his neck, finally tangling in his long black hair. It wasn't perfect, noses occasionally bashing, but it wouldn't take long before they were perfectly in sync.

Soon, however, Hermione felt her lungs begin to protest, as well as the balls of her feet. Lowering herself away from him, she was pleased to note that his arms hadn't left her waist.

"And now?" Severus asked softly, staring down at her through his curtain of hair.

"And now I have decided to stay," she answered, resting her head against his shoulder.

"Good," she heard Severus reply, and she couldn't help smiling to herself. There was, however, something else.

Reluctantly lifting her head from his shoulder, she looked up at him again. "I'll have to leave for a few weeks, though. I realize it's you I have to thank for them, but I thought this might be a good time to remind you."

"Would you like me to accompany you?" he offered generously, his arms tightening around her.

"Thank you for the offer," Hermione said, reaching up to cup his cheek with her hand. "But I really do have to do this on my own. And I know I can. Especially knowing you'll be here waiting for me."

She tried to keep the question out of her voice, but Severus answered it anyway. "Of course."

Satisfied, she laid her head against his shoulder again. Hermione Granger and Severus Snape; who would have thought?

Thomas was significantly less distracted during this trip through the airport. His focus was mainly on the ground before him. Hermione tried not to stare. She felt horrible that she would be abandoning Thomas like this. Especially after everything they had been through.

As soon as they reached the gate, an almost imperceptible gape in the terminal wall, Hermione wrapped Thomas into a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh, Thomas. Promise you'll write! Really, if you have any questions about anything, or if Wong is a crap trainer, or if you need any advice. Oh, I just feel awful about this," Hermione fretted, failing to notice the way Thomas was squirming.

"Er, Hermione, this hug's a bit tight..."

"You're choking the boy," Severus warned.

Hermione relinquished her death grip on Thomas reluctantly, straightening his shirt collar as she pulled away.

"Sorry, Thomas," she apologized, giving him some space. "Can you imagine, though? Would you have guessed last week that I would be this upset about you leaving?" She was smiling despite her slightly teary eyes.

"I honestly can't say I would have guessed any of this," Thomas replied with a chuckle. "But I'll be fine. I had a great first trainer."

Hermione could only nod, trying hard to keep herself together.

The Portkey clerk gave the five minute warning soon after, forcing Hermione to quickly give Thomas one last hug before he was through the gate and on the tarmac.

Giving Severus a sad smile, she led him to a nearby set of seats. Her Portkey was next.

"Do you have all of the notes I gave you?" Severus asked when they sat. As he had since they first kissed days before, he tucked her right hand into his left.

"Yes, I have your notes and the other research I've collected. Honestly, reversing the memory charm might be the easiest part," Hermione replied, leaning into him slightly.

Severus squeezed her hand. "You'll feel better after it's done."

"I think so too," Hermione said with a smile. "Oh, I cannot believe all of this has happened in such a short amount of time."

"The separation will give you time to think it over. Decide if it's what you really want." Though he didn't specify, Hermione inferred that he was referring to more than just the new job.

"Or it might just confirm what I already feel," Hermione pointed out.

Severus didn't reply, removing his hand from hers and stretching his arm around her shoulders, holding her close.

Hermione would be spending at least three weeks in Australia, hopefully using most of it to reconnect with her parents. It would be a start at least. After that, she would be spending a week packing up whatever was left in England and visiting with her friends. She wasn't sure how she would tell them about Severus; perhaps they would just have to take a trip and see for themselves.

When her five minute warning arrived, Hermione leaned over to kiss Severus, something they had taken to quite quickly. A few minutes later, she was out on the roasting tarmac, an old newspaper in hand. As she reflected on the last week, she could not think of one thing she regretted. The feeling was freeing.

A/N: And that's it...

Thank you so much to my hardworking beta, justine 34, and my equally hardworking Brit-picker, magicalpresence, who have patiently stuck with me as I took forever to finish this story. Their suggestions and corrections truly made the difference.

And thank you, readers and reviewers, for sticking it out with me as well! I really hope that you found this chapter to be a satisfying conclusion to the story.

Lastly, Please review! As this is the last chapter, I would really appreciate any comments, even if it's constructive criticism, so that I can improve my writing in the future.