It had been a year since the great war. Nothing would ever be back to normal. Hermione slumped into an oversized chair as she stirred circles in her tea with her silver spoon. She listened to the chimes that swayed right outside her window. It seemed to help drift her mind into another place. She sipped on the hot beverage as her mind then pondered about the decision she made to go back to Hogwarts. Tomorrow around the same time, she will be in the Gryffindor house, ready to face the year that laid before her.

Hogwarts closed down for a year after the war and she was determined to finish her magical education. Her whole life she engulfed herself in education, grasping at every opportune time to educate herself, and somehow she couldn't figure out what to do after Hogwarts. She was staying over at the Burrow that year, doing little odd jobs here and there. Everyone seemed to be recovering from the war in their own way. So many people were killed and to this day the images where burnt in her head. Hermione flinched at the memories. She remembered the shattering memory of her Potions Master slumped up against the glass wall in the shrieking shack as he was bleeding out. She could hear his body being slammed into the thin walls as Nagini bit into him repeatedly. She clenched her jaws tightly at the sound that replayed in her mind, she never thought he would survive. She spent the following weeks with him in the nurses' corridors. She never knew why but she wanted to be there for him. She would watch the rising and falling of his chest as she silently read. He had her respect after everything he had done for Harry. She remembered reading to him,though grew embarrassed of the thought he could wake up any moment and call her an insufferable witch. Perhaps her insecurities got the best of her. Little did she know he could hear her read from time to time.

It wasn't long after that he was getting regular visitors, he noticed Miss Granger didn't show up as often anymore. Though it was kind of her to visit, he wasn't heartbroken that the know-it-all didn't visit anymore. He didn't want pity nor did he want people to feel obligated to view him differently. What Severus Snape wanted was peace. He was faithful to Lily and protected her son to the best of his ability. He risked his life for too many people. It rather annoyed him that the secret got out that he was one of Dumbledors' spy, yet it was a relief. It is finished. He was well aware that the ministry was going to be his main concern once he awoke. He listened to the commotion going on around him as he drifted in and out of consciousness. The only visitors who seemed to visit him were his Slytherins, his godson and Minerva. Potter did visit eventually, though it made Snape cringe. Potter knew too much about him and he spilled all his secrets to the ministry to save him from Azkaban. He heard people talking around him, he wasn't and idiot. 'If I could have just bloody died, none of this would have to be delt with.' Snape thought bitterly. Unlike Granger, no one talked to him or stayed very long. When she did visit, he noticed she would read to him more. Sometimes she would apologize if the reading material was not interesting but she didn't seem to care otherwise. Unitil one day, Miss Granger was in a talking mood.

She told him about her sister Jonquille. She was only a few years younger than Miss Granger and no one ever knew she had a sister. He didn't really care at what she was telling him but it passed the time.
"I didn't have much a choice, I had to make that sacrifice. For them. It was the only way I knew they would be safe." Snapes mind grew more quiet as he listened to what the girl had to say. What did the witch do this time?
"They 'moved' to Australia, which is where mum grew up as a child before moving back to London." Hermione stated in a matter of fact voice. "Mum always talked about moving back to Australia and opening up her own dental clinic. I simply gave them an opportunity." Hermione said quitly. "That or get killed by Voldemort." she said emotionlessly.

The Granger girl didn't visit him after that 'conversation'. Till that one day he heard Miss Granger talking to Poppy in the distance.

"He should wake up any day now." He heard Poppy say as she came close to his bedside.

"That's a relief." Miss. Granger sighed as she sat down beside him. He could only assume that she brought a book to read to him or would continue to give him her whole life story again.

"If you notice any movement, just be sure to come to get me." He heard Poppy's feet shuffle away as he laid there listening.

"I suppose this will be my last visit Professor." the girl muttered. He internally rolled his eyes. 'No one told her she had to visit him.'

"I've been doing some reading," she continued. 'Why am I not surprised'

"I highly doubt you have found yourself drawn to muggle literature." She smiled.

"But, I thought perhaps you may find appreciation for this one. It's the only thing tha-" her voice cracked. She took in a deep breath and shook her head in disbelief of what she was sharing with her Professor. It was around that time that Hermoine broke it off with Ron. She had been a tad bit emotional that day, not to mention that the war only happened a few month ago. Minutes later she read. Words rolling off her tongue as if every word cut her deeply with emotions.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

-William Ernest Henley

She sniffed and brushed away her tears and scoffed at her emotional state. She snapped the book shut as he listened to her rustling in her bag.

"I guess I should leave you to your own devices," the girl muttered under her breath. He heard the chair move and listened for footsteps to walk away but instead he felt her hair dust his cheek.

"Severus," she whispered his ear. His finger twitched and the hair on his arms stood up. She smiled under her breath.

"I know to address you in that manner might be a week worth of detention." she let out a quiet snort. "Guess you will never know."

"But, if you must know Severus," She continued.

"You are one of the bravest men I have ever known." She drew another breath before sitting beside him on his bed. She then moved her face towards his and planted a kiss on his forehead. He felt drops of tears falling onto his face and the warmth of her face radiating to him. She pulled away and sniffed again.

"I'm not even sure why I'm even talking to you, it's not like you will remember any of this." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Perhaps that's the point of all of this." She smiled again shaking her head as she looked away. She argued with herself before she spoke again. He waited patiently for her to continue but instead, she placed his hand on his stomach. Brushed the hair from his face and got up.

"Take care of yourself, Professor Snape." she spoke as she walked away. He lay there dumbfounded and at a loss for words. No student has ever dared to touch him or speak to him like that. Though he knew she would never be so bold to speak to him in such a way if he were awake. 'The once confident, courageous Gryffindor is now reserved and unsure of the world around her. Surely she will bounce back to being an insufferable know-it-all.'

Hermione fondled the memory of Professor Snape as she finished her cup of tea. She wondered how he was doing now that the war was over. Was he still going to teach? She glanced down at her forearm and put the empty cup on the side table. She traced the scaring on her forearm that had the word 'Mudblood' engraved into her porcelain skin. She remembered the pain; she remembered how the essence of her existence was rather once frowned upon. She let out a long drawn-out sigh. There would be a lot of painful memories at Hogwarts, and it would be empty without Ron and Harry. Though she has respected their wishes to not return to Hogwarts. They have all rather grown apart since the war. There was something unspoken between everyone. Perhaps it was sorrow, anguish, and loss. Perhaps not. She smoothed out her hair and looked accross the room to see Crookshank sprawled accross the bed. She let out a terrible big yawn before she dragged her feet to bed. Tomorrow she will go back to Hogwarts.

Author Notes:

*****I am new to writing. I just started writing fanfiction not to long ago. I am totally open for ideas and input! I am not sure if it is manditory to say this but this is 100% fanfiction. I do not own the Potter World!

I am terribly sorry if this story has already been done, I am more doing it for me more than anything else. It is extremely therapeutic for me at the moment. Now, to make this more personal (Author to Reader - heart to heart) I recently got diagnosed with PTSD and have been on Short Term Disability . . . and well . . .they say write what you know so here it is. I struggle with mental illness and writing has always been a way for me to cope. Not to mention that I really, really want to improve in writing. Therefore, because I am partially human, feel free to correct, to bash, or to voice your opinion. You are entitled, just like myself! I like knowing what I can improve on and how to become a better writer. And just know that I am totally open for any ideas and input! The first four chapters are mainly an introduction - shit doesn't hit the fan till chapter five.

*Also note that the poem that I shared in this chapter is not mine - it belongs to the works of William Ernest Henley. The poem hits me right in the feels. If you have any poetry or have any references that I can use further on in this than please share! It is a sin to not. *winks with both eyes*

I hope you have a wonderful day. Thank you for reading!