AN: First, thanks for reading – this is my first posted story in quite a while and any support is fabulous. Second, this story will focus on an older Hermione and an older Snape - and will not, in most likelihood, deal with many of the canon HP characters that most people expect when reading HP fan fiction. Please review and let me know what you think. Thanks!

After the Wait

Prologue

At 18, Hermione Granger had read the letter that now sat before her and swore that she would never read it again. At 21 she read it once more, despite her vow to do otherwise, and laughed at how silly it was to have kept it at all. At 25 she found it under a box in her closet when she was moving and read it again. Now, at 28, with her life unraveling around her, she read it one last time. She'd been scared and slightly unsettled the first she'd read it, almost flattered the second time, and had blushed a little the third time. Now, she saw it as a way out – The answer to her problems. He had said he'd wait for her – and he did seem the type of man to have infinite patience… but was 10 years asking too much?

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Miss Granger,

I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations on your impending graduation from Hogwarts. You are, without a doubt, the brightest witch of your generation.

However, you are probably asking yourself why I, of all people, would be writing you letter at this particular time. You know as well as any other member of The Order that I do nothing without a purpose or reason, and this letter is no different. As you are well aware, after the death of the former Dark Lord, I was cleared on all charges of high treason and reinstated as a member of the Hogwarts faculty. As grateful as I am to Hogwarts and its staff, I find myself unable to teach there any longer and will move into the field of private research in the coming months.

I will not bore you with the specifics of the research that I will working with, but will simply get to the point of this letter. I want you work with me – as an equal. More than that, I want you as a partner. This partnership, I hope, would extend beyond research and into our personal relationship as well. I realize you are most likely unfamiliar with wizarding customs where romantic liaisons are concerned, but I can assure that, in the wizarding world, our age difference and the fact that you were recently my student would not impede on a public arrange between us.

It has been many years since I last felt for anyone what I am feeling for you, and after careful consideration, I find that these feelings will not go away. Simply put – I want you, wholly and completely. I will wait as long as necessary for your response.

Yours Faithfully,
Severus Snape
Order of Merlin, Third Class

Disclaimer: I don't know anything from the Harry Potter series – book or film. This is just for fun. Please don't sue me!