Two

The next few days passed quickly. More students getting situated in their dorms before the classes began for the year. Hermione, being an advisor to those who intended to choose a field that involved Charms usage, had to meet with many of them. She'd seen Snape, no, Raven, a few times, mostly during meals and once in the library, and he'd not even glanced her way. Sam had been at her side nearly the entire time, which helped to keep her mind occupied.

But at night, she'd lain awake for hours thinking. Of him. How he'd survived. How he'd faked his burial. She caught sight of herself in the mirror and frowned. Her hair had partially fallen out of the clip she'd had it pulled up with, and there were dark circles under her eyes. Long days and sleepless nights should be things she'd got used to by this point. It was then she realized that she'd not been thinking of Ron lately.

For the first time in five days, she went to her window and pulled back the curtain to look out at the pond. There was a full moon tonight, so if he was there, she would be able to see him...unless he purposely clung to the shadows out of sight.

But he didn't hide. He was right where he'd stood the last time, and at that moment, he turned to look up at her window for a moment before moving to sit on the bench. She took that as an invitation and started her walk out to meet him, pulling her hair back up in her clip as she did so.

"So," he said softly, "you've finally digested what you now know and are ready to ask your usual hundred questions."

"Did my questions always bother you so much?"

"Yes."

She sat next to him. "Then let's play a game. We each get three questions and honest answers... each night."

"Miss Granger..."

"Call me Hermione. Please."

"Very well, Hermione, but I insist on two. Three may be a bit much at once."

"All right. Shall I go first?"

"No, you shan't." He smirked. "You can start by answering what I'd asked the other night."

"The end of my marriage," she said in resignation. "Of course."

"Your idea, this question and answer game."

"Ron sought to end our marriage when witness accounts of me being unfaithful surfaced. There were even memories that were submitted as evidence against me to be considered as if they were photographs, as there were no true pictures."

"You spoke of lies written by Skeeter. It sounds as though you deny the accusations."

"Is this your second question?"

"Well, your first answer is unsatisfactory."

"But it was an answer all the same."

"Very well. Let me rephrase my second question."

"All right."

"When these false accusations came about, pictures included, how is it that you were unable to prove yourself? Where the hell was Potter...after you stood by him all those years at that!"

"Careful," Hermione said with a rueful smile. "You almost sound indignant on my behalf."

He arched an eyebrow. "Well?"

"I will give you an answer as soon as you answer something for me."

"Go on then. I suppose it's only fair."

"How did you survive? I was there in the end."

"I'd actually been taking antivenin... just in case. You saw me nearly die. When they came back for me, they saw this, gave me Blood-Replenishing Potion, and secreted me away."

"Who are 'they'?"

"Is that your second question?"

Hermione frowned. "I suppose it is."

"Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco."

"What! And they never told anyone? That's horrible! So many people would have..."

"I have my reasons." His voice was clipped.

"Everyone knows you were a good man."

"That has nothing to do with it," he replied. "And you've used up your two questions for this night."

"Fine. Tomorrow night then for that. As for why I couldn't prove my innocence, well, it's complicated."

"I have time."

"The picture-style memories that were semi-published (brought forth for anyone in the courtroom to have a look at) and the eyewitness accounts, those were not faked. There was no set up. They were not of me, but of someone in disguise as me. I couldn't prove it wasn't me because it was something I created that when drank disallowed detection in every aspect: be it Veritaserum, memory viewing of the taker or the giver of the potion, traces of it in your body go undetected, and so on."

"What did you create? New Polyjuice?"

She arched an eyebrow. "That will be a question for tomorrow night."

Snape snorted. "The Malfoys have always been my friends, even in dark times. They came to take me off because they didn't want anyone to destroy my body before it was properly buried. You saw what a couple of Death Eaters got done to them before the Aurors came in to put a halt on outraged parents' actions." He shrugged. "By the time I healed up and they realized, and the world, that I was Albus' man all along, I wanted a new life. Someplace else so I could reinvent myself. I could finally be my own man...no arsehole father ruling over me, no Dark Lord, no Dumbledore. So far, it's been peaceful enough."

"You sound as though there is longing in your voice."

"I admit that at times I do get lonely. Not that I am not accustomed to being alone, but I do miss home, having people who truly know me by my birth name."

"I'm sorry." Hermione meant it and understood completely. "It's a very hard decision to leave everything you know."

"Indeed."

"Ever since I had the Polyjuice mishap back in my second year, and then later when Barty Crouch, Jr. paraded about as Moody all those months, I've been obsessed with a better Polyjuice Potion. When we went in to Gringotts Polyjuiced as Death Eaters, even with the longer lasting potion you'd created, we ended up being detected. It only made me want to be the one to create something to get through any detection, including those at Gringotts."

"Why?"

"For the accomplishment, the challenge. I couldn't get funding at work, as it wasn't my department, so I did it at home in my spare time. I planned to show my work to the Ministry and have them buy the rights to it." She shrugged. "There's still the need for espionage at times, you know."

Snape nodded. "Of course."

"Well, it works. I got someone to test it for me. Unfortunately, I let him use my hair, not seeing the harm of him being me for a bit." She wiped a stray tear from her eye. "Sadly, he didn't make the best choices that night. I couldn't prove it wasn't me. No matter what I did or said, it came back that the person was me, not anyone else. I did have notes on a possible reversal potion that I'd been toying with, but conveniently, they disappeared. I expect the enchantment mixed with it had something to do with that...made it vanish so as to make sure the truth remained hidden."

"That's a dangerous potion," he said, though she detected a hint of appreciation in his voice.

"How many times I wished you had lived, that we could have been friends or colleagues, that I could have shared this with you."

"And the person who did this? Why didn't he or she come forward? Was it sabotage?"

This time Hermione could no longer hold back her sorrow. Many tears began to glide down her cheeks, and she knew the loud, heart-wrenching sobs would follow. "N-not tonight," she said, rising to hurry away. She felt his eyes on her the entire time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next few days saw Hermione avoiding Severus in the evenings. She wanted to confide in him, but she didn't want to hear the snide remarks that were sure to come with the answers to his questions. Maybe the question game wasn't very smart after all. She'd simply wanted answers to her questions but didn't want to give any.

No. That wasn't true. She wanted to talk. Wanted to tell someone the full truth. Someone who would believe her, would commiserate with her, would understand. Severus Snape knew how it felt to be an outsider, disliked, but would he have compassion for her problem or would the dark sarcasm she remembered so well make an appearance.

An owl flew in her open window and dropped a single sheet of parchment at her feet before flying back out.

The spiky scrawl on the paper simply read: It was Potter, wasn't it? Come to me. I am at our usual spot.

"What are you playing at, Professor?" she asked aloud.

Reluctantly, she made her way out onto the grounds, uncertain what to expect. "Professor."

"Severus," he replied, sliding over in invitation. "You afforded me the courtesy of using your given name."

"Look, I..."

"I may look the same to you, but things are different now," he said, interrupting her. "It feels as though I am a changed man. Oh, I still feel the same about most things, but I don't have to project myself in a certain way. If I don't like your hair," he smirked and glanced at her messy bun, "I don't have to be ugly about it. Not that I had to before, but it's who I was supposed to be."

"Playing the part," she commented.

"Yes."

"Do you dislike my hair?" she asked, small smile.

"It suits you."

"Thanks." Her smile faltered. "Hang on. Is that good or bad?"

"You decide," he replied slyly.

"So you are saying that you don't have to shut yourself away. You can come out."

"Yes. It seems that I am still a man who enjoys solitude; however, I do crave company at times and wouldn't be opposed to having a friend."

"Me?"

"I think so."

This made Hermione smile brightly. "I'd like that."

"Besides, it wouldn't be the first time a woman has need of my shoulder thanks to a rotter named Potter."

"Oh! Really, Severus," she said, shaking her head. "If I couldn't tell you'd just made a joke, I might be offended."

"Did I?" he asked, placing a hand on his chin as if pondering the answer.

"You did indeed." She reached over without thinking and took his hand in hers to squeeze it. He looked as though he might pull it back but then relaxed, allowing her to grasp it. "I am happy to have made a friend here."

He gave her a true smile. "I confess it's a plus to have someone English."

They sat in companionable silence for several minutes, just watching the small waves lap the shore. Hermione was happy that the grounds were charmed so that there was no humidity, no overbearing heat, and no mosquitoes. She definitely appreciated the magical breeze they'd created to sweep over the grounds. It made the state's climate easier to adjust to. It was something they'd made sure to print in the brochures; obviously, it had been a deterrent for some in the past.

"I suppose I'll go up. With the first day of classes starting on Monday, I still have much to prepare," Severus said.

"But... didn't you want to talk about Harry?"

He stood. "Not until you're ready." Severus took a couple of steps back. "I just didn't want you to keep avoiding me."

With that, he strode off towards the house, and her mind could only acknowledge that he truly was a changed man... and she liked it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next night, it was Hermione who got to the pond first. As she waited, she went over all the things she intended to tell him. She was only a little nervous, for she trusted him now, knew he'd not berate her or ridicule her actions.

"Ah, look who's come out early tonight."

"Hello, Severus," she said, patting the bench. "I want to say some things please."

"Very well."

"When you wrote to me that you knew it was Harry I'd entrusted with my creation, I was relieved that you'd guessed, that I didn't have to come out and say it." She sighed. "I still want to explain what happened. I'm ready to do so."

"All right, Hermione."

The way he looked at her, the way he spoke her name, she felt the first stirring of something more in her stomach... a small tingle, a sensation. This confused her a little, but she plowed on with her words.

"As I said earlier, I wanted to perfect Polyjuice Potion, having experience with it, knowing what it lacked... It was because of you mostly."

"Me? How so?"

"Well, look at all you had to endure, playing that role all those years."

"I didn't need Polyjuice for that, Hermione. In the beginning, I was that bitter, cynical man, angry that Potter had taken the only woman I'd ever cared for, that my own stupidity had turned her against me, and when the need called for me to embellish that part of myself, I gladly accepted that role."

"Maybe that's not what I meant. For people who couldn't mask their true allegiance like you could. People like Ron, Harry, and me who needed to badly but could only use what was available." She leaned forward so that her elbows rested on her thighs and didn't look at him as she spoke. "You are an Occlumens, you can hide your thoughts. Not everyone can do it. Harry learned to do so."

At this, Severus snorted.

"He's much better now." She gave him a sideways glance and appreciated the smile on his lips. "I never could do it, not really. So... I found a way to include that in my Polyjuice."

Severus sucked in a breath. "You mean to say..."

"Yes. I could take the potion, become someone else and lie to the best Legilimens around, and he would never know the difference...without even trying to hide the truth in my mind. This also means that Veritaserum doesn't force the truth out."

"But after..."

"No, the enchantment I used with the ingredients void it even after. Harry took the potion, went about as me, and neither of us could tell the truth about it when it counted. I can tell you now; rather like a he said, she said type of thing, but I can't prove it. When we were together, in the same room, all that came out was that he'd never taken the potion, but yes, he knew I was experimenting with making some, and that it was Hermione Granger who stole into his bedroom and began to make love to his drunken wife."

Severus' eyes bulged. "What the fuck was that idiot thinking?"

"Apparently that it would be hot to make love to his wife as a woman, but he didn't realize, even though I emphatically told him, that if anyone saw him, there was no way to explain he wasn't him. He was supposed to stay at my house while Ron and the kids were at the Burrow for a sleepover night of games with George's and Bill's families to see how long it took to wear off, but Molly Flooed nearly seven hours in to see if I had seen Harry because Ginny had come home after having too many pints at a Hen party for Parvati, so naturally, he'd hurried home to help her and to be sure the kids didn't need anything."

"I thought Miss Patil married long ago to a Slytherin Draco had said."

"Oh, that didn't last. Neither did her next marriage." Hermione waved a hand in dismissal. "Anyway, Harry told Molly to go on home that he'd sent me over to help out until he could get there. Molly did leave... for a little while."

"No, you don't mean to say..."

"Yes. Harry helped Ginny undress, never could hold her liquor that one, and apparently, she was quite oblivious, letting him do whatever he wanted, and he says he couldn't help himself...the thought of his wife with another woman and even better if he were the woman."

"But to use your body, betray your trust that way."

Hermione nodded and wiped away a few tears that had fallen. "I was so angry and hurt, but I can understand on some level."

"So, I expect Molly returned to catch him in the act."

"He said she went mad, hexing and screaming. That sort of brought Ginny around, and then she began crying, vomiting... It was horrible." She sighed. "They Flooed Ron, and Harry fled to where I'd gone...Muggle library just to be sure we weren't both at the same place you see."

"And?"

"After I made sense of what he was saying...and Transfigured something other than underclothes for him to wear...we tried to Apparate together to show them it wasn't me."

"I surmise it didn't work."

"Of course not. My wandwork at its best... wouldn't allow the real me to be in the same place as the Polyjuiced me in the presence of anyone, else it would give him away." She shrugged. "The ultimate spy weapon."

"How is it that you can tell me the truth though?"

"I can say it all I want, but I can't prove it. Harry can't back me up. For all you know, I may be lying, telling you a fantastic story."

"May I look?"

Hermione frowned. "I suppose... as long as you don't go where you shouldn't be."

"I apologize. I shouldn't have requested such a thing."

"No, really. I can understand the curiosity." She touched his face, turning it so that he could gaze into her eyes. "Look. I will try to think only of giving Harry the potion."

"Legilimens," he said smoothly, delving into her mind.

Hermione showed Potter a phial and laughed as she drank it quickly. Potter shrugged as nothing happened and yawned, stretching his arms. "Think I'll take a nap while you mess with that," he said.

"Go on. I'll keep working on this."

"Right then. Wake me if Molly Floos me. She's watching the kids while Gin's out tonight."

"Sure."

The scene began to change. Severus should have left her mind but was mesmerized with what he saw.

Hermione, Potter, and Weasley were at a grave...the one they believed him to be buried in, thanks to Lucius' trickery. She was crying while Weasley awkwardly patter her on the shoulder and Potter, also looking stricken, held her hand.

He pulled away. "S-sorry." His voice was tight, emotional.

"So am I. Couldn't stop myself from thinking it."

Severus coughed to clear his throat. "So it makes a false memory. Doesn't show Potter having anything to do with it at all, even setting up an alibi for him should you try to bring his part to light."

"You got it."

"What happened? After you realized you couldn't both Apparate to his home?"

"It took eight more hours for it to wear off finally, and when we both returned together, as ourselves, the damage had been done. And he couldn't tell them the truth. The only thing that would leave his mouth is, 'Hermione had been there.' They insisted that I'd gone to him, held him captive to try to convince him to be on my side and beg forgiveness. Do you know that had a lot to do with why I lost my job at the Ministry? Harry refused to press charges and plainly said he'd not been held against his will, so they couldn't charge me, but just the circumstances, Percy and Mr. Weasley being higher ranking employees, and that I'd accosted the great Harry Potter's wife; well, you can guess..."

"Miss Granger...Hermione...I am very sorry you had to endure this alone." This time, he reached out to take her hand, which she accepted with ease. "Your brilliance has been your undoing. Such a thing is a tragedy."

"My brilliance forced me to leave all I ever knew while your brilliance enabled you to have that freedom. What a pair we are."

"But a pair nonetheless." He didn't release her hand as he spoke. "When I found out you were coming here, I imagined having to Obliviate you, thinking you were coming here for your own purpose...maybe even to out me or badger me to return home. Then I saw into your assistant's mind that you were leaving because of home problems...he thought of the newspaper articles often, and I could see them clearly each time I delved into his mind."

"She."

"Sorry?"

"Sam is a woman in here," she said, touching her heart.

"I concede. You are right. Her thoughts prompted me to purchase a single paper to read for myself. Apparently, it was older news by then and nothing complete as what you are saying now was in there."

"No, they tried to hush things up because of the Weasleys and Harry. All that was ever said was that I denied any wrongdoing, claiming there was an imposter, but with eyewitness accounts...Ron, Molly, Ginny...what could I do? They just reported that I'd tried to seduce Harry's wife. Then, naturally, other stories surfaced about lesbian affairs I'd had with others, all rubbish! Just slags trying to get some piece of fame and a payout to go away."

"Again, I loathe this for you."

"Thank you, Severus. You don't know how good it feels to be able to talk to someone. Someone who knows them all, someone who can actually see the possibility of such a potion. Do you know the Ministry wouldn't buy it, nor would they look at my research? When I finally got through to Kingsley, I realized that my work would end up being lost if I gave it over. They'd keep it for themselves to use, and I would never get cleared."

"I... One day, we will find a way to clear your name."

Hermione smiled ruefully. "I've thought the same thing, but it seems so hopeless. I've been trying to recreate my notes, but I can't even pull the proper memories out to view them."

"Nothing is hopeless. Not anymore." Here he smirked. "You didn't have me before. Imagine what our brilliance combined can yield."

She hugged him fiercely, not caring that he'd stiffened, not caring when her body began shaking with loud, powerful sobs. She was not alone. She had Severus Snape. One day she might be able to explain the truth to her children, sod the rest! Just so Rose and Hugo knew she would never have hurt them that way, that she only left because she had no choice. Her sobs subsided several minutes later, but she remained wrapped in his arms, enjoying the way he now ran his fingers through her hair, which she'd wore down for a change and had taken care to make sure it was presentable.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With the start of the new school year, Hermione had very little time for herself as she adjusted to the new routine of classes, advising students, and grading assignments, but she'd still met with Severus each night even if only for a few minutes. They had conversed about some of the things she'd told him, but he never pried. Instead, he started telling her more about how he'd become Raven, what he liked about the new persona, what he missed.

Hermione found herself heading to the library to check out a few books that she needed for her research on revealing enchantments when she heard Severus' silky voice.

"Good afternoon," he said.

She turned in the direction of his voice to greet him back but realized he wasn't talking to her. And he was glamoured.

"Professor Raven! Where have you been?" said a tall woman with long, red hair. The lady reached out and rubbed his arm affectionately as one might when greeting a lover. "I've been lonely these past couple of weeks."

"I've been preoccupied; however, I've made time for you now, haven't I?"

The lady laughed. Hermione hated the sound.

"Well," she said, "it's a little early, but you know you're always welcome, although I'd prefer you come after hours."

"No one is about," Severus replied smoothly, reaching out to open the door and gesturing for his companion to enter.

"Come on then. We can make it a quick one."

Hermione stood rooted to the spot in the hallway, still staring at the door they'd gone into. She couldn't help the disappointment she felt and didn't move until she heard Sam's laughter from behind her.

"Saw that? Hahahha. Told you they were doing it. Saw him sneak out of here late nights many times," Sam said cheerfully. Her grin disappeared when she saw Hermione's expression. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm fine," Hermione said as she spun on her heel and hurried away.

Sam chased behind her. "You are not fine. Damn it! Stop!"

"What do you want?" Hermione's voice was clipped, and she was quite certain she was holding back more tears. Why would seeing Snape go off with that woman make her feel as much pain as seeing her ex-husband walk off with another woman? Or, worse, actually.

"Shit, do you have a thing for Professor Raven?" Sam's eyes were wide. "I barely see the two of you talk at meals... How did that happen?"

"I do not," Hermione replied indignantly.

"Uh, yeah, I think you do. What's going on here?" Sam's brow furrowed in thought. "I don't get it. Is it because he's British?"

Hermione shook her head. "Just leave off."

"No, I won't."

"You have no right to stick your nose in my business!"

Sam looked as if she'd been slapped. "I think of you as a friend. You deal with enough alone already. Just wanted to help, but fine. I'll mind my own business, Professor." The stung girl strode off, leaving a regretful Hermione behind without a backward glance.

That night Hermione didn't go down to meet Severus, and she didn't reply to the invitation his owl sent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A week later on an early Saturday morning, Hermione ventured down to the pond just before dawn and sat on the bench she used to share with Severus. When she'd seen Sam again after their talk in the hall, the girl acted as though nothing had been amiss, for which Hermione was grateful. One day soon, she would speak with Sam and let her know more of the truth about her past. She'd been a good friend and deserved that much.

"You look lovely... the way the sun's first rays are coming up over the horizon and coloring your long locks just so."

Severus.

Slowly, Hermione turned around. "What are you doing here this early?"

"Still trying to avoid me then?"

"Yes," she said simply and turned away.

"Why? What have I done to deserve this treatment?"

"Ha! That's the rich part about it. You've done nothing wrong. It's me."

"Ah, the it's not you, it's me ploy. That's something I've heard a few times before." He sat next to her. "And it's rubbish. I demand your honesty."

"It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

"Indeed?"

"Yes."

What did she have to lose? So much, a voice whispered.

"I saw you the other day with the librarian."

"So?"

"So... she's tall, beautiful, and a redhead. Everything you like in a woman, I imagine."

"Hermione, Amber is a friend."

"I know she is. Sam told me." She crossed her arms over her chest. "And you deserve friends, even those sorts. It's me I'm angry with."

He arched an eyebrow. "Go on."

"These past few weeks, getting to know you, being closer to you, feeling like I finally had someone I can trust on my side, I didn't realize what I felt, but when I saw you with her, heard the exchange, it hurt, and that's when I knew that at some point, I'd started falling for you."

Severus remained quiet and turned to gaze out at the pond, the artificial breeze blowing his hair about. Hermione sucked in a breath of air as she realized how magnificent the man truly was. How had she not thought him attractive? She supposed it had to do with him being a professor and much older, but now, being colleagues so many years later, they were equals. She'd aged, but he looked the same, timeless.

"Say something," she finally said, hating the silence.

"Amber has a love for Exploding Snap, so I play a few games with her, and in return, she plays three card brag with me." He shrugged. "We play for books, not money."

"But..."

"You should have talked to me. I had no idea what had gone wrong. I, too, have been enjoying your company. Yes, she has lovely, straight, long, red hair, but if you are thinking that I think of Lily when I am with her, you are wrong. Over time, tastes change. Now, it appears that I rather like messy brown hair that falls out of hair clips in just a way that makes me want to reach out and curl it about my fingers." He rose and straightened out his robes as if they were wrinkled. "Going forward, I expect only straightforward actions from you. Never do this again."

"I feel foolish." Hermione's cheeks heated, and she knew they were red. "I'm sorry. I just... I thought why would you bother with me if you had someone like that, and then I realized I had no right to even hope that you might... you know, want me in the first place."

He extended a hand. "Let's have breakfast together in the dining room."

As they walked to the house, she noticed that he hadn't replaced his glamour. "You aren't Raven."

"I thought maybe it was time to show myself."

Hermione frowned. "Are you certain? You've been going on about how you enjoy being Raven. Why the sudden desire to become Severus Snape again?

"I've always Severus Snape, Hermione, and part Raven. I just never had this opportunity before." He paused. "On second thought..." He waved his wand and replaced his glamour. "Maybe I'm not ready at that."

She simply nodded and didn't release his hand as they entered the house, nor when they walked into the dining room. Those who noticed seemed surprised, then pleased. Sam's eyebrows waggled up and down, and her grin never left her face throughout the meal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three months later, Hermione stood at the window facing the pond in her room, waiting for Severus to return. He'd decided that as a Christmas gift, not only to her but to himself, he'd return to England and declare himself alive and well. He'd asked that she not go, and she was hurt at first, but then she appreciated his request. She wasn't ready to face anyone there. Not yet. He sent a letter to let her know he was back in New Orleans but had a stop to make before returning home. That had been over an hour.

She sighed and made to turn away from the window, but then she saw him striding up towards the house. Reminding herself of an overexcited schoolgirl, she began waving from the window, bouncing up and down as she did so. He gave her a single wave in return and, with a loud crack, he Apparated into her room.

"Hello," he greeted, opening his arms to her.

She went to him and held him tight. "Only a few days, but how I missed you, how I worried something would go wrong. If you hadn't sent word that all was going well that second day, I might have gone there to be sure they didn't toss you into Azkaban!"

Severus placed a single kiss atop her head and pulled back to look her, expression quite serious. "We need to talk."

"I'm worried again."

"You needn't worry, but I may have overstepped my bounds."

Hermione pulled away from him and sat on a nearby chaise. "All right."

Severus went to her and knelt before her taking her hands in his. "I confess there was another reason for going to England."

"Oh no! You didn't hurt Ron, did you?"

"Would you care if I had?" he asked, eyebrow arched.

"Only if it hurt my children and their care. Otherwise, not really."

"I didn't hurt Weasley, not physically, but I did make things known."

"What things?"

"Things such as his longtime affair with his assistant, his other extramarital activities, the fact that he paid two women to claim they'd had sexual relationships with you after what happened with Ginevra..."

"What! He wouldn't... couldn't."

"He did and has admitted to it all. As well as hiding your notes on the possible reversal spell for the potion. It wasn't the magic. It was Weasley."

Emotion, thick and overpowering, threatened to envelope Hermione; her breath came in shallow, fast pants. "Can't breathe."

Severus leaned forward and kissed her soundly on the lips, shocking her. She pressed her lips back against his and deepened their kiss, bringing her hands up to cup his face tenderly. Affection with Severus was always something to be cherished, but at this moment, she needed it badly...needed him. She tried to pull him closer, wanting to initiate something they'd yet to partake in, but he pulled back, holding her hands in his own.

"I need you to read something for me."

A copy of the Daily Prophet was pulled from his pocket.

Ron had made the first page, as had Gabrielle. The picture showed Gabrielle trying to hide her face from the photographer while Ron, looking afraid and outraged at the same time, tried to wave the person off, obviously not wanting to comment.

Hermione took the newspaper from Severus and opened it up.

THE TRUTH ABOUT HERMIONE GRANGER: WHAT HER HUSBAND AND HIS TART DIDN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW

"Severus?"

"Go on, read," he said, moving to stand, arms crossed in front of his chest, almost as if he expected her to attack him.

"What have you done?"

"Our research has proved fruitful... finally." He nodded to the paper. "Please, Hermione, I cannot bear the suspense as to what your reaction will be, and I would rather you read it than to hear it from me first. I think Skeeter has a way with words at times."

Hermione looked down and began reading what would change her life...again.

Dearest Readers, I must say that I've really outdone myself this time. I, Rita Skeeter, author and reporter extraordinaire, have landed a pair of stories so monumental, my name will go down in history as one of the greats...not that it won't already due to my wonderful work on the Albus Dumbledore book... I digress.

Severus Snape, war hero, mentor of Harry Potter, right hand man of Albus Dumbledore, spy against the late Dark Lord, thought to have died the night said Dark Lord was defeated by our very own Chosen One, is alive and well and making a living teaching Potions in America! He contacted me personally, not trusting any inferior reporter to do his story justice, and wants me to give you even more news!

Here is where I am forced, I mean to say, prepared to make a sincere apology to Hermione Granger for the stories I've posted about her for the past year when her supposed transgressions came to light. Even I can get caught up in wanting to give the public truthful news and make mistakes. You heard that right. Hermione Granger is innocent of all charges her former husband, Ronald Weasley, brought out against her publicly in his bid for a divorce, costing our war heroine her job, her family, her friends, her home, and her children.

Miss Granger has proclaimed her innocence this entire time, that it was another who was Polyjuiced as her who'd done it, but she'd always refused to say who and had no proof to back her claims up. It seems Miss Granger, as per one Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt, had been working on a top secret potion in her spare time that would aid the Ministry in ways unseen before.

"Imagine being able to put a spy in someone's inner circle and nothing would betray them...not the word of another, not Legilimency, not memory taking, not even their own words," said the Minister. "Hermione Granger created that. Men like Severus Snape could have used that in the war against Voldemort, not that someone as clever as he needed it. It's just unfortunate the test subject made a poor error in judgment that evening while still in Hermione's form...they'd used her hair in the potion by the way. We are now willing to negotiate in a possible purchase if she is still interested."

I asked the Minister who it was that had taken the potion, but he refused to tell me. However, Severus Snape had no qualms. Harry Potter himself took the potion; ever Miss Granger's staunchest supporter, he found himself in a position that nothing he could do would help her. He could only deny any part in what happened, thanks to a bit of brilliant spellwork on her part.

"Bloody horrible," Mr. Potter said when asked how he felt about his part in things. "I took the potion, knew the risks, had to go home to help my inebriated wife, and I did something thoughtless, careless. I'm ashamed of what I did, but I am even more disappointed at what I've cost Hermione."

I asked him if she'd forgiven him.

"Of course. She's the forgiving sort, thankfully, because I love her and don't know if I could live with myself otherwise. She was right glad at least I would be here to keep an eye on the children for her. Which I have been, and that's why when Severus Snape approached me, explained there was a way to reverse the enchantment Hermione put on the potion...she's brilliant but scary, that one, always has been...I did what it took to bring the truth out."

Potter's wife was with him. She took his hand and said, "I am so sorry for what my family and I have done and said to her. I just thought..."

She began tearing up before she could finish, but we all know what she wanted to say. She'd thought Miss Granger had tried to have sex with her! Molly Weasley had no comment about all this, even though we now know that her son, Ronald Weasley, has been having an affair with Gabrielle Delacour for years now. Even more, he took advantage of the situation by getting rid of the proof by destroying some of her potion and enchantment notes that might have helped clear her name.

It was lucky for Hermione Granger that she happened upon Severus Snape, Potions Master, when she did. Together, they worked to create the spell that would shed light on what's been done. All they'd done had been fruitless until Mr. Snape had the idea to approach Weasley himself. Being a practiced Legilimens, it was easy to reach in and see for himself what had transpired. It's a shame nobody from the Ministry thought to do this before now. How thoughtless! What a bunch of bumbling fools to not fully question everyone, even the accuser!

As far as the children, the Potters have opened their home to them until the courts decide what to do with their father and his new wife, who still have legal custody of them, for their parts in this debacle. The children live at Hogwarts, naturally, but can use the Potters' home as a place to stay while in England. I am quite certain they'll be visiting their mum during summer vacation however.

Little Rose sent a single message with Mr. Snape, which I happened to overhear by complete accident while examining a cloak closet. She said, "Please tell Mum we never liked Gabrielle no matter what Grandma said. We miss her every day and want to see her soon. We believed her the whole time; it's why we didn't want her to leave. Uncle Harry always told us good things and told us to not give up."

Touching, is it not? Turn to page four for more about Severus Snape...

Hermione could read no more. "They believed in me, never stopped loving me," she said happily, tears lining her face.

"They each wrote a letter to you," Severus said, placing two small envelopes in her hands. When she didn't speak, he said, "If I couldn't find the missing piece of the puzzle in Weasley's mind, I was prepared to claim that it was I who had sabotaged you and had accosted Potter's wife."

"Severus..." Her voice was a whisper. "Why?"

"Because, Hermione, I don't think you deserve this. You're withering away here. I had to do something to help the woman I have fallen in love with. What sort of man would I be otherwise?"

"So I was right."

"About?"

"You're feeling the same way I am...love."

He nodded. "I take it you aren't angry with me?"

"You cleared my name! Never." She stood and went to him and pulled him close, taking care not to drop her children's letters. "We were so close to the answer, and you took such a great personal risk to do this. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this, appreciate you."

His answer was a light kiss on her lips, and then he remained silent as she hungrily read her letters. Once done, to lighten her now saddened mood, he said, "I suppose I should let everyone here know that I am truly not Seamus Ravenispe."

"I'm shocked they bought that last name. Couldn't you use your name to come up with anything better?"

"I stole that from the Dark Lord," he said with a smirk.

Hermione grinned. "I am Severus Snape turned to that." She shrugged. "The Raven part does suit you." She ran a hand down the front of his robes. A wicked grin graced her face.

"Why do you look like the witch who stole the golden cauldron?"

"Seamus Ravenispe could have been Seamus Penis-rave."

Red splotches colored his cheeks. "Professor Granger!" Then he gave her an equally devilish look. "Perhaps later you may finally get a chance to rave about that indeed."

It was Hermione's turn to blush. She curled her arm around his and let him lead her to the doorway. There was so much more to talk about, details she wanted about his trip, what he'd learned, how he'd been able to reverse the spell, Harry's part in it, but that would all wait. For now, she would go with him to the staff room to explain the truth. Then... yes, she'd definitely explore the other letters he'd fashioned his name with.

The End

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SW's Notes: I want to thank my recipient for the interesting choice of prompts. I can only hope I've created something she will enjoy.

Original Prompt: Hermione goes to America to teach at a magical school (you can choose what and where). She is runs into Severus who is using an assumed name to teach potions at the same school. He's worried she's going to turn him in or tell someone where he is. She's hiding from her past with Ron and his leaving her and taking their kids from her. Would love to see a happy ending with SS/HG finding love.