AN: This is my first fanfic so I am sure there will be quite a few mistakes. I have attempted one before, but life seems to always get in the way. This was originally intended to just be a oneshot between Hermione and Severus but the story seemed to take on a life of its own. This being said, I have to work chapter by chapter to get this out there. I am a college student and school will be starting back in a few short weeks so I will not promise quick updates. I will however, try to update as often as possible.

Also, the characters are going to be OOC. Remember, the war is over and Hermione (as well as Ron and Harry) has gone through a lot of pain and emotional distress. Anyone would crack under the amount of pressure they have been put under. And Severus is finally free to do what he wants. He is not under the controlling thumbs of two equally powerful wizards.

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5 Years Later

Severus Snape was sitting in his private potions lab at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was once again not focusing on the potion bubbling on a table not too far away but he was instead focusing on the letter he had received about twenty minutes earlier.

This was entirely unlike the dark man. Potions was his passion. Was. About five years earlier, he had discovered a new passion; one he had lost not long after he found it. This would mark the fourth potion he had ruined this week alone. He just could not seem to focus on anything except finding the woman who had sent him the letter he was currently reading.

Once a week for the past five years, he had received a brief letter detailing the going-ons of her life. This was surprising considering how their tryst had ended. When he got the first letter, he was pleasantly surprised. He could still remember the day even though five years had passed.

Severus was sitting at breakfast. To his right was Dumbledore and on his left was Sirius Black who had taken the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts after having his name cleared by the Ministry. His mood was noticeably dark and most people avoided him. Sirius and Dumbledore however would not stop pestering him. Severus and Sirius had made a somewhat cordial agreement when Sirius got hired. While not friends, they did not fight constantly anymore.

Three months before Hermione Granger had left the school and nobody had heard from her since. Dumbledore kept telling everyone not to worry about her, that she was fine and that she did not want contact with anybody. Potter and Weasley still refused to listen and continued to search for her.

Although Severus tried to act nonchalant about it he couldn't help but look up expectantly every time one of them asked Albus about her. He remembered the day it all went downhill. He remembered every word said and he tried again and again to think of something he could have done differently. He could have done something to make her stay. It felt like his heart was stolen that day.

Now, sitting her at breakfast with Black chattering away on one side and Albus on the other side questioning him, Severus couldn't handle much more. He was about to escape to the privacy of his room when the owl post arrived.

Not expecting anything, Severus was surprised to see a brilliant black own land in front of him and hold out its leg. Obviously he had paused too long because the own nipped at his hand harshly.

"Ow," he exclaimed as he jumped back, nursing his hand. He glared at the owl as he gingerly took the letter from its leg. "Ruddy bird."

Deciding to go to his private room to read the letter. Getting up from the table he swooped down the aisle between house tables and left through the doors. In a short time, he was in his rooms and opening the letter. As he read his mouth fell open in shock and his eyes grew wide.

Dear Professor Snape:

I can imagine that hearing from me is the last thing you want right now. I will admit that I wrestled with myself about even writing you. The fact is that I cannot stop myself from thinking about you. I left school to get away from you, you must know that by now. However, my heart does not want to get away from you.

I cannot understand why I feel this way and I know that you do not feel the same. I know that you believe what we did was a mistake but it was indeed the best blessing you could ever give me.

Whether you want me to or not, I am going to continue to send you a letter every week. Whether you keep them or burn them, it does not matter to me. I can get out everything that I need to about you, yet keep my distance. Maybe I will meet someone and you will just turn into an old school professor who is now a good friend. If not, I hope that one day we will meet again.

Until then I will leave you with this. I am well. I have moved and am happy where I am. I have a stable job and am able to take care of myself quite well.

I will leave this letter here until we speak again. Do not worry about writing back. Any owl you send will not be able to find me and mine will not stick around long enough for you to respond.

For now, love from,

Hermione

Here her letter ended. Severus' heart was hurting. All the thoughts running through his head. He could not sort out his feelings and his want for her. Gods, he thought, I think I love her.

True to her word, every week for the past five years he had received a letter. She talked about every aspect of her life that would not give away any information about where to find her. She was also correct about her bird. He had many new scars from that blasted owl. Now, reading her newest letter, he almost wanted to jump for joy. Hermione was returning. She was coming back to him.

He needed to talk to Albus about this, maybe he would know more about Hermione's disappearance and return. With the happy thought in mind, he practically ran from his dungeon classrooms and proceeded up to the Headmaster's office.

Hermione hummed as she packed her suitcase. She was happy to be returning home. Nobody except Severus and Albus knew that she was returning and she wanted to keep it that way. She loved her new life but she missed her old friends.

Another good reason for returning sat on the bed beside her watching her pack her trunk. A little boy looked up at her with adoring love in his eyes. His wonderful chocolate brown eyes that contrasted perfectly with his curly black hair. Alexander was a beautiful five year old child. He was her pride and joy and she knew that Severus finally deserved to meet the child that he had created that fateful day in his private office.

If it wasn't for Alex constantly asking to meet his father, she would probably not be doing this. She did not think that Severus would be happy with the child they had made. He never seemed to like children very much and she worried that he would not love his own child. However, she could never deny Alex anything that he wanted.

Even now he was begging her for chocolate ice cream before they left the city.

"Please mommy?" His little cupid's bow mouth pouted sadly. He knew that the look always worked with his mother and he always worked that to his advantage.

"Please? Just a little bit please mommy. I promise that I will never ask for anything ever again if we can get some ice cream," he hedged. Of course he would ask for more things. The child was beyond spoiled.

Hermione smiled and thought about how much he made her remember Severus smiling at her like that once before he had crushed her hopes and her heart all in one go. Knowing that Alex would get exactly what he wanted, she simply sent him a stern look that caused him to sit very still with his hands in his lap and give his mother a solemn look.

Not being able to keep up the stern façade for too long, Hermione began to giggle at the look of seriousness on her five year olds face. He was just so irresistible. She really hoped that Severus could come to love him as much as she did. Even if he did not love her, he could at least love their beautiful child.

"Okay baby, we are all packed," she began, watching him in the mirror over her shoulder. "Now, just let me shrink the rest of my things then we will pop over and get some chocolate ice cream."

She laughed loudly at his childish shriek of joy and watched as he ran from the room to put his shoes on. Although he could actually do a little magic (he had "borrowed" his mother's wand on a number of occasions) she still made him do some things the muggle way. Australia isn't as strict on underage magic as Britain is but they still would not like Alex using magic this young. But with who his parents were, it is not that hard to believe how smart he was.

Shrinking her trunk and slipping it into her pocket with Alex's things, she headed out of her bedroom to find her child. Presently, he was learning to tie his shoelaces. Although not horrible at it, he still had managed to tangle the laces of one trainer up pretty badly.

Bending down to help him, she fixed the lace then suddenly grabbed him under his ribs and began to tickle. Alex rolled around on the ground, childish giggles escaping his mouth.

"Stop it mommy, please, I give up," he managed around another fit of giggles.

Hermione was giggling as well as she stood up and helped her son to his feet. Taking hold of his hand, she thought about where she wanted to turn up and spun on the spot. On arrival, she checked to make sure that Alex was alright. A look of concentration graced his features but nothing more.

Tugging on his hand, she pulled her now grinning son into the ice cream shop. An older woman was behind the counter taking a man's order so they got in line and waited. Alex was presently jumping up and down trying to see into the inside of the ice cream freezer. Hermione laughed and picked him up so he could see over the top.

"I don't know why you want to see," she said. "You always get chocolate." A soft, indulgent smile graced her features.

"I just wanna look. Maybe I will get something different this time." The serious look on his face showed just how true his words were. Although he always got chocolate, he was always willing to try something new; be it escargot or caviar.

Chuckling, Hermione said, "okay sweetie."

When they finally reached the counter, Hermione smiled at the older woman. "Hello Miss Anne."

"Well hello there dearie," Miss Anne said to Hermione. She smiled down at Alex and reached sly behind her back. Alex grinned real big and clapped his hands. His black curls bounced as he jumped up and down on the balls of his feet.

With a big gasp and smile, Anne pulled a huge chocolate ice cream cone from behind her back. Three scoops ensured Hermione that Alex would not be sleeping tonight. Alex's eyes widened in excitement as he reached up to take the cone.

Anne laughed at the look of childish wonder and Hermione just looked upon the scene with a small smile. They were both going to miss Anne. The older woman was working at the ice cream shop when Hermione first arrived and came looking for a job. The woman was kind enough to hire a pregnant eighteen year old who was down on her luck.

Before long, Anne had become her only friend and a surrogate mother to the one Hermione had lost during the war. Anne was there for Alex's birth and was his godmother. He called her grandma and everyday that Hermione did not work they would stop in for an ice cream cone.

After five years of being there, Hermione was just one step below the owner, Anne. And she had recently found out that when Anne passed on, she was set to get the store. It may not be what she had originally picked to do with her life, but Anne had come to represent family and love. Alex simply adored her.

"Wow, thank you Grandma Anne!" Alex squealed before going to sit in his seat by the counter and proceeding to eat his ice cream.

"I want to thank you so much again Miss Anne," Hermione started before Anne waved her thanks away, smiling.

"It was no problem Dear. You have been an absolute joy to have around these past few years. Since I have no family of my own left, you and Alex have been a Godsend."

Although a muggle, Hermione had informed Anne about the fact that she was a witch about three years previously. Anne had seen her transfigure a towel into a puppy for Alex and Hermione's hand had been forced. Anne was alright with the revelation and rarely asked Hermione to use magic to make life easier. Now Hermione was most grateful for the fact that Anne was letting leave on such short notice and without any clue when she would be returning.

'You just take that little rascal and keep him taken well care of. I will see you as soon as you return." She came around the counter and hugged Hermione before walking over and hugging Alex.

"Goodbye little man. I will see you later," she said before bending down and kissing his round cheek. He smiled up at her and went back to licking his ice cream.

Hermione smiled at the scene. This was her family. One day, she hoped to include Severus into the category but she wasn't very optimistic. The most she could hope for was the he would accept Alex into his life and be a good father.

"We really should be leaving Anne. Alex, say goodbye to Miss Anne, we have to go." Hermione hugged Anne once more and took Alex's hand and led him to the back room. A faint popping sound could be heard in the front of the store as the two apparated away.

Back in the front of the store, the young man who had been ordering ice cream before Hermione and Alex stared harshly at the door the previous two had entered. His face was etched in rage as he hid his expression from the old woman behind the counter. She would know who he was before too long but until then he wanted her kept in the dark. Hermione would be his. Of this he was certain. And the little brat would be gone. It was just a matter of time; just a short wait.

The man stood up and left the ice cream shop and walked a short ways down the street to an open alleyway. He hated to apparate such a long distance and didn't understand why the woman left the country but he would find out and make her pay.