Chapter Two

Thanks to QueenP for betaing this chapter!

Recap

Hermione breathed in a sigh of relief as she disappeared through the walls of the dungeons. She was almost caught!

Closing her eyes, she opened them again. Looking down at her palms, the color of her complexion was the same: a silvery white, color.

Her throat felt incredibly parched. She really would fancy a cup of tea, though she knew it wouldn't happen. She wasn't able to consume anything. Being a ghost, she couldn't even touch anything.

Life was absolutely brilliant.

Hermione Snape walked through the door of the Headmaster's office. The Ghost of Hufflepuff had summoned her stating Dumbledore had wanted to speak with her. While somewhat surprised that Dumbledore knew that she was in the castle, she realized that his intimate knowledge of Hogwarts would have allowed him, above all others, that information.

As she walked through the door, Hermione could feel herself shiver. She was still unaccustomed to this new ability as it didn't feel natural. She looked towards Dumbledore's office and found him sitting at his desk, sucking on a lemon drop.

"Albus," she called to him and smiled when the old man look up.

"Hermione," he said with a smile plastered on his face. "It's good to see you. Come in, come in."

Hermione walked towards Dumbledore and sat on one of the couches. While she still didn't understand how she could walk without falling through the floor or sit in a chair, she was content to know that she could.

"I am a bit disappointed that you didn't immediately come and say hello to me once you've arrived," Dumbledore said. "That is alright though."

Hermione nodded her head. "I am sorry, Albus, but I have been adjusting to my ghost body."

"Ah," the old man said, "I quite understand. Have you seen Severus yet?"

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip and didn't respond. She had been thinking of going to Severus and telling him that she had returned, if only in ghost form. She hadn't though. Why? The answer to that still eluded her.

"I haven't Albus."

Dumbledore nodded his head before leaning forward. "Might I make a suggestion?" he asked. When Hermione nodded her head in consent, he fell silent for a second.

"Hermione, I know it will be difficult for you to do, but you cannot go to Severus. You cannot tell him that you are here as a ghost. He is still trying to get over your death. It would be quite a shock for him to learn that you are a ghost. You know him better than mos--he'll go into denial. He has finally decided to care for your daughter on a daily basis and is no longer shutting her out of his life. For you to come back suddenly would cause him to feel unnecessarily guilty, once again shutting himself off from everyone."

Hermione sat still, shocked by this news. She would never be able to talk to her husband again with this insane request from Dumbledore! She wouldn't be able to tell him that she still loved him and missed him. She wouldn't be able to tell her daughter that Mommy was still here.

'Wait. Did Dumbledore say that Severus could actually look at Liana now? Did that mean he could after I died?' Her mind was made up; she wouldn't tell Severus she was still here.

Hermione walked out onto the empty Hogwarts grounds. Tomorrow would be the day that she left Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had dreamt of this day for the last seven years. She would give her speech as Head Girl, telling everyone in Seventh Year that she was extremely proud of them.

Yet, she didn't want to give the speech that she had worked so hard on. Actually, she was beginning to regret the speed with which time passed. She would be unable to see Severus Snape anymore. They hadn't talked about their future after she was to leave, having never felt the need to discuss it. If only they had, then she wouldn't be dwelling on it now.

There were so many questions running through her head. Would he still want to be with her even after school? How would her parents take this? Most important, how would Ron and Harry take to this news?

"Hermione."

Having jumped slightly when she heard her name called, Hermione turned to face the same person who currently occupied her thoughts. She smiled and spread her arms out towards him. The man walked towards her, quietly embracing the young witch. She could feel his breath against her neck, and his nose was nuzzled into her brown curls.

"What were you thinking about?" he asked her.

Hermione pulled away from him and took his hand. She led him towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where they both sat down...he leaning against a tree and she sitting between his extended legs..

"The future," she responded quietly. She didn't meet his eyes, looking instead toward the brightly burning stars. "What will happen after I leave..."

Hermione felt her stomach grumble, she looked towards the man beside her. He smirked at her, and then shook his head. "You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

The girl shook her head sheepishly. "Now that you've mentioned it, I don't think I've eaten since lunch."

"You should eat you know," he told her. "It isn't healthy for you."

"Oh, would you quit talking about my health for the moment? It really isn't the time."

"Oh?" he said in amusement. "Prey tell when will be the time?"

She didn't answer though. Hermione took his hand, and leaned back to rest on him. With his hand in hers, she encircled it around her waist. Hermione leaned her head down, so that it was resting on his broad shoulders. The man took his free hand and rested it on her belly.

They were looking at the stars; his question lay forgotten amongst them.

"Hermione," he suddenly called, disrupting the comfortable silence between them.

"Hm?"

"May I ask you something?"

"Sure," she responded, honey brown eyes looked towards him.

"You know how I've felt about these emotions, and how they're new to me?" At her nod, he sat up, looking her in the eye. His expression showed nothing. His body language showed nothing, making Hermione very uncomfortable.

Was he going to say that he didn't want to continue this relationship with her any longer?

"Is there something wrong, Severus?"

Severus shook his head, and took one of her small hands into his big ones. "I've discovered myself to be quite fond of you, Hermione Granger. You've stirred so many emotions in me which I've never thought I'd ever feel. I had always thought that I would continue to live my life as a grouchy old Professor. I could never picture myself with someone. I could have never believe I would actually want to share my life with anyone else."

"I always thought that I would be forever lonely. Quite frankly, I was okay with that until you came into my life. At first, I thought these odd emotions would leave me at some point. As the months passed, I came to realize that I wouldn't be able to remain alone any longer. You gave me something to live for, to look forward to. You, Hermione Granger, are my life. To say that I didn't care about you was an understatement. I want to tell you something, but... it's going to take a while for me to get it out right."

Hermione had tears streaming down her cheeks. She urged him to continue. He sat silent for a few seconds, looking at his hands, which were holding on tightly to hers. It seemed like he was contemplating something very important.

"Severus?"

The man didn't answer immediately; he continued to look at her hands, particularly the left one. He started stroking each finger, stopping when he reached his goal, causing Hermione's eyes to widen

"Tell me, Hermione," he said in a voice that made her shudder. He had never spoken to her in that tone of voice. It sounded so soft, so sweet, so caring.

"Anything."

"If I tell you something, something that I've never told anyone else in my entire life, would you accept me for who I am?" Hermione didn't need to respond to that question. "I love you, Hermione Granger," he whispered. He said it with such great relief that an unexpected smile broke out on his face. He seemed happy and, full of life. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Hermione cried in joy, the first word she had spoken throughout his entire speech. She pounced on him, and kissed him fully.