SALVE SSHG

Severus Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Herbs and various earthy scents filled the air as well as the scent of old worn leather and dampness. The air of mind-numbing quiet and a sense of utter dread had been so thick it was hard not to breathe it in. The young Gryffindor witch known as Hermione Granger lay in the center of a large black four-poster bed with crisp black sheets and a forest green comforter. The pillows which had been rather worn had black pillowcases as crisp as the sheets. At the present moment, one of the pillows closest to the left end of the bed had been soaked rather horribly from the seemingly endless tears of the aforementioned young Gryffindor witch. Her sobs ranged from silent drops to full-on wails of agony. Her young heart shattered as she continued feeling herself become drained at the release of such a powerful emotion.

She had traces of rubble and dust on her light pink sweatshirt and her blue jeans retained some splatters of blood. Her white shirt had been stained as well but not significantly so. Her normally untamed bushy reddish brown hair had been even wilder and she seemed to have aged quite a bit from the ordeal as she lay there letting her sobs die down. She could still see his face. It only made her cry harder as she resisted the urge to reach out to him. Her small hands clenched in the reflection of her agony as she shifted into the covers for comfort pressing her right cheek firmly against the softness of the pillow in desperation.

On her left hand, a rather large diamond ring with a silver band sat above a second sleek band of silver wrapped neatly around her third finger. Her glistening eyes looked down at it and the memory of how a fraction of light reflected off it and made his eyes appear to shimmer as he slipped it rather smoothly onto her finger. His touch had been warm. Warmer than she had ever expected as she watched him intensively. The familiar dark scowl was ever present as he completed his task.

His scent had been heavily ingrained in the pillowcase. She gripped it tighter as more flashes of memory came paradoxically easing her pain and increasing it at the same time. His voice had swept into her ears as he glared down at her a look of resigned frustration on his face as they stood together before Albus Dumbledore and a less-than-pleased Ministry official. Remus Lupin had been at Hermione's side his brown eyes shifting from her to her new groom. She saw the rather unsubtle glare Lupin gave her future husband and saw as the familiar scowl became accompanied by an icy glare as the two men silently got their points across to one another.

If they had not been old enemies and if the situation had not been so serious she might have even giggled at the jockeying display. More tears as she felt the emptiness of the bed knowing it would never again be filled by the true owner. Hermione had been quite exhausted as she fell into her memories letting them take her away like a calm tide on a hot day. Her heart had been shattered and her body ached beyond belief but it was nothing compared to the torment her soul had endured that day.

The young witch's eyes closed as the final tears of the day fell silently down her cheeks. The image of the dour Potions Master filled her mind and his obsidian eyes gleamed briefly before returning to their cold distant normalcy. He stood before her in his usual black frock coat buttoned up to his neck and lengthy black cape complete with equally black trousers and boots. The small splotches of white from his sleeve which went all the way up the middle of his palm, and high collar. The numerous buttons had been expected and greatly appreciated in his overall appearance.

She took in his pale complexion and lank raven hair nearly covering his pale face except for his rather large hooked nose and angular jawline. Most witches would not dare describe him as handsome but she wasn't most witches and none of them had ever had the privileges with him that she had become accustomed to. Hermione shifted some in her sleep. Her warm amber eyes were still filled with tears as she reached out toward him.

"Severus," she said in a soft pain-filled tone.

"Hermione," he replied with a rare small smile.

She drifted off for a good few hours before dawn had set in.

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Elsewhere...

The world around her seemed to shift and Hermione found herself in the center of a rolling plain with hills and grasses of various colors. A short distance away from where she stood had been a rather large healthy oak tree. Beneath it sat The Potions Master wearing only a long sleeve white shirt and black trousers. His raven hair had been at his shoulders just as she remembered. He looked different in some respects. He had been healthy and years of stress and neglect seemed to have melted away. He still had an incredibly hooked nose but he was rather appealing in the freedom of this place.

Tears streamed down Hermione's cheeks as she looked him over.

"Severus," she said as the pain seemed to melt away.

He looked up from where he had been sketching something on a white notepad. His obsidian eyes held a faint trace of sorrow as he stood up and walked over toward her.

"Hermione," he said breaking into a small smile.

She ran over toward him as he got to his feet. He steeled himself as she lept into his waiting arms as she had done quite often before. It had been the only time that he allowed himself not to immediately reject her advances. He caught her and they tumbled back down into the grass. He laughed as she took it upon herself to try and kiss him into oblivion.

"Still can't seem to control your emotions can you little Gryffindor?" he asked in that rich baritone drawl of his.

"I've missed you," she said suddenly feeling the sadness that filled her heart before returning.

"I'm still here," he replied wiping away the tears that started to fall down her cheeks.

"I want to stay with you," she said nuzzling her face against his chest.

"Hermione," he said seriously. "As much as I would love for that to happen now is not the time...there is so much you are to accomplish."

"It's not fair," said Hermione as more tears streamed down her cheeks. "We didn't have enough time."

Snape wiped away her tears once more.

"Hermione." he began. "We could have been together for an eternity and it still would not have been enough."

Obsidian eyes met Amber.

"You have to go back," he said softly. "There are a lot of people that still need you."

Hermione tightened her grip on him.

The sound of his heartbeat filled her ears like a song she had never wanted to forget.

"I love you, Severus," she said as the tears continued.

"I love you too Hermione," he replied. "Always."

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Two Days Later...

Emerald Green eyes rested on the solid brown door of The Potions Master's Quarters. The chill of the dungeons had set in and Harry James Potter found himself shivering. He stood slightly paled and quite exhausted. His notoriously green eyes had bags under them and his jaw was tight as he watched the baby blue half-moon imprinted robes of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore swirl into view. His long white beard swayed as he tore his sorrowful blue-eyed gaze from the disheveled and exhausted Harry to the door of The Potions Master's quarters. He seemed to have gone just as pale as they stood there with time seeming to move in slow motion.

The only bright color in the halls of the dimly lit dungeons had been the bright red of Ronald Weasley's lengthy and wild hair as he stood beside Harry but well behind the focused Headmaster as he prepared to get passed the heavy wards that kept them outside the stubborn brown door. One other had been in attendance, Madam Poppy Pomfrey, head Med-witch of Hogwarts. She stood on the opposite side of The Headmaster with her eyes focused on the door as well. Tension had been high between all four of them as time seemed to crawl.

Harry grew anxious in the wait as they continued to stand there.

"She hasn't come out of that room in days," said Ron stating what had been quite obvious to everyone around him.

"The final battle was quite rough on her Ron," replied Harry sadly. "She...she misses him."

"Well, I know that she had taken it hard that "The Greasy Git" had to go all noble at the last minute but..." started Ron.

"Ron," said Harry in a warning growl.

"Sorry mate," replied Ron honestly. "Force of habit...It takes some getting used to with you and Hermione being so sensitive about Snape is all."

"He...he was a great man, Ron," said Harry sadly. "I-I wish..."

Ron nodded and placed a hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"Me too," he replied knowing exactly what he meant. "If only he had a contingency plan like Dumbledore."

Harry looked at the ground guilt had been quite heavy as it bore down on him.

The memory of confronting Snape outside the astronomy tower came back chillingly.

"I-I should never have called him a coward...what he did for us..." Harry said feeling sick all over again. "I should never have told her..."

"It's alright mate," said Ron trying to cheer him up. "Hermione will forgive you...she just needs a bit of time."

Harry nodded not at all reassured. He had set the ball in motion to sow discord between Hermione and Snape. He could not see passed his selfish anger and had no idea how badly he truly hurt his friend in the process. Then there was what happened during the final battle. He couldn't get the image of his friend's face being soaked in tears out of his mind. Hermione had been so hurt that she had not said a word to anyone. She simply retired to Snape's room and locked herself away in the dark.

Dumbledore got through the wards and opened the door. It had been plenty dark and the familiar scents attributed to the once formidable Potions Master had been heavily surrounding them. The notorious blue eyes of the headmaster scanned the darkened front room of The Potions Master's quarters. He stepped inside instantly hit with the familiar scent of herbs as he searched the dark rooms until his eyes fell upon the young witch curled up in a fetal position in the center of the black four-poster bed.

"Hermione," he said sympathetically.

The broken-hearted young witch did not respond. Though he could see that she was still breathing. Her breathing was slow and uneasy as she lay there silent and still in the center of the bed. From what The Headmaster could tell, she had not moved in quite some time and appeared to have been quite pale and considerably thin. A wave of panic went through him and he raced over toward the young Gryffindor and wrapped her up in his arms. She had been cold. His heart pounded rather soundly against the inside of his chest.

With so much loss over the years due to Voldemort's arrogance and selfishness it would not be due to losing yet another wonderful soul to this war. Not when they had lived through so much strife and anguish. The young witch had never really known what the wizarding world could be like in times of peace. The looming threat of Voldemort's return had darkened even the brightest hearts and minds before she had even arrived.

"Hermione," he said softly with an air of desperation.

There was still no response.

"POPPY!" shouted Dumbledore with his mind filled with fear. "Poppy, I need your assistance!"

Without hesitation, Madam Pomfrey entered the Potions Master's quarters with her wand ready. Her dark eyes filled with sadness as she looked upon the Headmaster seeing the fear in his eyes and the helpless expression on his face. He had been a lot more expressive in the aftermath of this war now that the threat of Voldemort had ended. Poppy's eyes shifted to Hermione and she understood just why he had been so worried.

"Hermione," she said nearly breathless at the ill young witch in the Headmaster's arms. "We have to get her to the infirmary as soon as possible."

As if prone to a seamless transition, without missing a beat she stepped over to the floo and gripped a handful of floo powder, and threw it into the nearly extinguished flames. They roared to life and turned green.

"The Infirmary," she said in an urgent tone.

The flames roared and The Headmaster stepped through with Hermione in his arms. Poppy followed close behind as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley tagged along after her leaving the darkened Potions Master's quarters behind. Harry's heart beat wildly against his chest and his palms began to sweat profusely. The sickening feeling intensified as he continued to keep in step with Madam Pomfrey and Ron Weasley, who had been utterly speechless and well beyond terrified of the ailing witch he had known since his first train ride to Hogwarts Castle.

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The Infirmary, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

The Headmaster placed her on an empty bed and The Med-witch began to properly go over her young charge. The grim expression on Harry's face had not gotten worse as his green eyes fell on his friend. She had been so pale and had not shown an ounce of life since he had seen her last. On the floor of Voldemort's stronghold. She had been cradling the body of the dead Potions Master. His blood had been everywhere pooling around them as he lay on the cold stone floor in her arms. She had refused to leave him. It was only the urging of former death eater Lucius Malfoy that got her to return to Hogwarts.

Harry's heart sunk as his eyes took in the scene before him. Hermione had been truly sick then. If anything happened to her it would be all his fault. Ron had not taken his eyes off her either when they arrived. The young witch had been so full of life before. It was as if there had been a spark in Hermione that seemed to ignite everyone around her with as little effort as a smile whenever she had been on to something quite interesting.

"Is...Is Mione...going to be okay?" asked Ron still looking at the young witch.

"W-Well, Is she?" asked Harry focusing his attention on the older witch and wizard.

"Madam Snape is currently being looked after." replied The Headmaster. "If you want any new information, I suppose it would be best if you would wait in the office until we can include anything further."

The boys nodded stiffly and made their way toward Madam Pomfrey's office.

The Headmaster knew better than to tell them to return to their rooms. With Harry's invisibility cloak and disillusionment charms so readily available there was no way either boy would listen. The Golden Trio's entire tenure at Hogwarts was proof of that. When they were safely out of sight, Dumbledore cast a strong silencing charm and then turned his attention back to a sullen Poppy Pomfrey.

"How bad?" asked Dumbledore with a grave expression.

"It's not as bad as we initially believed," replied Poppy much to her relief. "She's just been exhausted mentally, physically, and of course emotionally."

The Headmaster let the relief wash over him as well. Although the noting of how truly exhausted Hermione Granger had been gave him pause.

"Yes," he said as his blue eyes scanned the unconscious young witch briefly. "I can imagine we all have been at some point."

Poppy looked over the young witch rather fondly. She fought bravely in the wake of the second war's final battle and had more grace and dignity than anyone the old med-witch had ever known.

"I'm afraid...there's more to add to Miss Granger's problems as of late," she said looking quite serious.

"More?" asked The Headmaster fearing the answer to his question.

"Albus...there's no easy way to say this...but..." began Poppy looking at the Headmaster rather intently. "She's pregnant."

Dumbledore had gone quite pale as he looked over Hermione and then back at Harry and Ron who were waiting patiently for some news in her office.

"How far along?" he asked already knowing the answer.

"About a month," replied Poppy thoughtfully.

"Severus?" asked Dumbledore as if in disbelief.

Poppy nodded firmly.

She had known that due to their marriage, The Potions Professor and Hermione had been together. This wasn't the first time she and The Headmaster have had to discuss something like this. She did not doubt that the snarky wizard had sired this child. Hermione took her wedding vows quite seriously despite the initial agreement that it was to be of convenience.

The Headmaster looked positively shaken. He knew being a single mother would mean that Hermione had her work cut out for her. A wave of guilt washed over him.

"That poor boy," said Poppy sadly remembering the often controversial Severus Snape. "I couldn't imagine what it had been like for the poor girl when she finds out...her husband was killed and now she's expecting a baby that he'll never be around to help her raise."

The Headmaster had been silent as he looked over at the sleeping pregnant witch in question. This was not what he had in mind for her when he practically twisted Severus Snape's arm and forced this marriage. He had only sought to protect Miss Granger from the crushing regime Voldemort had in place and Minister Fudge's backward administration in the Ministry of Magic.

"Severus," he said in a voice full of sorrow as his blue eyes hedged toward tears. "I am so very sorry my boy..."

Harry and Ron appear restless as they waited in the office. The news Madam Pomfrey had given Dumbledore seemed to have upset even him.

"I'll go and break the news," said Poppy evenly.

The Headmaster nodded absently. His gaze shifted toward the sleeping witch as Poppy disappeared back behind the office door.

"I know that you miss him, Hermione," he said softly. "But you must get through this...you must not let this grief overwhelm you...you have a child to consider...his child...It would be a shame to squander the precious gift that Severus has given you."

The young Gryffindor witch shifted some in her sleep. It had seemed that his words struck home. The Headmaster looked back up to see Madam Pomfrey had given Harry and Ron the news. The daunted look on Harry's already pale face showed that even more guilt had set in. As Poppy continued, his green eyes held more sorrow and slow tears streamed down his pale cheeks.

"What have I done?" he asked in a broken tone before his knees gave out and he found himself on the floor in utter shock.

Ron did his best to try and console his friend.

"Harry." he began but had been unable to find the words.

The redhead had been quite choked up as well.

"She's never going to forgive me," said Harry trembling. "She's never even going to speak to me again!"

The reality had hit him like a ton of bricks.

His best friend was never going to want to have anything to do with him again, he had lost her for good. The anxiety and agony set in slowly bringing a chill to the blood in his veins making it like ice.

"What have I done?" said Harry looking back at the office window. "What have I done?"

The tears came more frequently now.

The Headmaster saw something wash over the boy that he had not seen in many years, the familiarity of its keen sting not missed by him in the least.

The question burned in the boy's chest as it once had another.

The emerald green-eyed wizard's face had been grim and contorted with the weight of the guilt threatening to consume him. Yes, it was a feeling he knew all too well and had seen only once on the outside as it were.

This had certainly not been the outcome of what he had imagined all those months ago when he called Severus Snape to his office.

It had certainly not been one that he would have chosen for either of them, but fate it seemed... had other plans for them all that seemingly distant and fateful afternoon...