A/N: Thank you all for the reviews! I hope you continue to enjoy this story, as different as it is from my others. This semester is far nastier than I had originally envisioned, so I apologize for the lack of updates on my current WIPs.

Hope Reawakened

-2-

Without making a sound, Hermione increased her pace until she was nearly running and, upon reaching him, she immediately threw her arms about his neck.

"Hermione," he whispered gruffly, pulling her snugly against his frame. "My gods."

Minutes passed as they silently clung to each other. Eventually, the witch pulled back just long enough to peer up at his face and then quickly reattached herself to his neck. "Severus! Is it really you?"

"Yes," he gasped as he pressed his nose against the side of her head.

"This isn't a dream?"

"If it is, it must be mine," he replied almost breathlessly, "and I wish never to wake from it."

The witch let out a gasping sigh and dug her fingers deeper into the soft fabric of his cloak. "Gods, Severus... I can't believe you're alive! Everyone thought you were dead. I thought you were dead!"

"I thought I was, too, for a while," he murmured, tightening his grip on her. "Merlin, Hermione… I didn't know if you survived. No one ever told me anything except that Potter had succeeded. I never knew if you…"

"I did," she chuckled oddly.

"Gods, I've missed you so much," he gasped, burying his face into the fluffy curls of her hair. "I can't believe I found you."

As tears streamed down her cheeks, she took one step back and stared up into his own moist eyes. "Severus, I thought I watched you die."

"I… I'm so sorry," he replied quietly, cupping her face with his hand.

Her lower lip trembling, Hermione wiped at her eyes and once again squeezed herself against him.

While watching from a distance for several more minutes, Brendan studied the odd man who was holding his mother and making her cry. After a moment, he looked at the portrait of his father and then back down the corridor. Hesitantly, he came up behind his mother and tugged on her cloak.

"Mum," he whispered. "He kinda looks like…"

"I know, baby," she smiled, finally withdrawing her arms from the wizard and touching her son's head. "He does."

"Mum?" Severus repeated quietly, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "You are married?"

Her heart leaped into her throat at the sad expression that had suddenly appeared in his eyes, and she shook her head. "No. I'm not married."

Visibly confused, the man flicked his eyes down to the small boy and then back at her. "Then who…"

With a proud smile, Hermione drew her son in front of her body and cleared her throat. "Brendan, this is Severus Snape. Severus... this beautiful, little boy is Brendan Severus Granger."

His dark eyes suddenly snapped to hers.

"He's just turned six," she added in confirmation of his silent question.

His lips parted as he again glanced between her and the child. Clearing his throat, he attempted to speak. "You were…"

Hermione nodded her head when he trailed off into silence. "I was, yes."

"I didn't know," he murmured dumbly.

"Neither did I," she smirked. "Not until three weeks or so after the battle at Hogwarts."

Brendan quirked his head as he looked up at his mother. "Is it really him?"

"Yes," the witch laughed while running her fingers through his hair. "It's really him."

A bright smile broke out on the boy's face as he turned his gaze to the tall wizard. His chest puffed out slightly as he boasted, "It's my birthday today."

"It… is?" Snape asked, clearly overwhelmed.

"Mmm-hmm," Brendan nodded. "Mum let me stay up so I could come see you."

"See me?"

"You look different."

"Different?"

"Did you really do all those things they said?"

"What—"

"Uncle Ron and Uncle Harry said –"

Hermione covered the boy's mouth with her hand and leaned down to whisper, "Slow down a bit, yeah?"

"Oops," he mumbled when she lowered her hand.

The witch cast an apologetic look toward Snape. "He gets rather talkative when he's excited."

"Must take after his mother, then," he murmured.

A blush graced her cheeks as she tapped her fidgeting son on the shoulder. "Perhaps you could show him what it is you mean."

"Oh, yeah!" the boy exclaimed. Without warning, he tore out of her grasp and snagged his father's hand in an attempt to pull him down the hallway.

"Brendan!" Hermione gasped in censure.

"It's alright," Severus stated, touching her arm briefly as he began moving in the direction that his son was tugging.

Taking in a deep breath, the woman followed several steps behind the pair. They were moving slower then she knew Brendan would have wanted, but the boy was being exceptionally patient as he walked with the limping man. As tears slipped out of her eyes, the witch rubbed at her face and then crossed her arms against her chest. A voice in the back of her head suggested pinching herself, but she was even too afraid to close her eyes for too long lest she find it all an elaborate dream.

After spending almost seven years in mourning, it turned out that Severus Snape – the hero who helped save the Wizarding World, the man she loved, and the father of her son – was alive.

So many questions coursed through her mind. How was it possible? How did he survive? Where had he been? Why had he not tried to contact her? Who had known he was alive? Why come back now? Why come here? But despite her desire to know everything, she was content enough at the present moment just to know that he was there. That he was living and breathing, in her direct line of sight, holding her child's – their child's – hand.

"See?" Brendan stated, gesturing to the display that had been designed solely to celebrate the heroism of the Order's most valuable spy.

Hermione watched as the man's expression fell into one of utter disbelief. His dark eyes swept over all of the information and images presented, tightening briefly at the sight of the Death Eater mask and robes that were displayed in the corner.

"The bravest man I ever knew?" he stated, reading the embossed quote on the wall below his portrait.

"Harry said that," she explained quietly, resting her hand upon his arm. "At your funeral service."

"My funeral?"

Sniffling, she nodded. "I told you that we all thought you were dead."

"With no body?"

Her eyes fluttered closed as she dipped her head. After glancing down at her son who was obviously listening, she cast a quick Muffliato before speaking. "The Aurors started incinerating the corpses of Death Eaters immediately after the battle. They didn't care who they were or even bother to report the number of bodies that they had disposed of. I tried to make it back to you as soon as I could, but by the time I could escape the infirmary, the shack was completely engulfed in flames. I tried to… to put out the fire, but I was so… so exhausted and such a mess that I couldn't… and I just… I just thought you were gone. You were gone, and I had…nothing to bury. I had nothing left of you… not until Brendan."

Severus blew out an uncomfortable breath as he touched the side of her face. "Hermione, I'm so –"

"It's okay," she mumbled, waving him off, but failing to stop the deluge of tears that had been threatening to fall. Covering her mouth with her hand, she collapsed onto the bench and bent forward as she sobbed.

"Hermione," he gasped, sinking down beside her and pulling her into his chest. "Hermione, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to –"

"Where have you been?" she hiccoughed, clutching onto his cloak. "I've missed you so much… so much."

"Mummy?"

At the panicked sound of her son's voice, Hermione pulled away from Snape and tried to wipe her eyes with the edge of her cloak. Gaining control of her breathing, she cancelled the silencing charm and attempted to smile. "I'm alright, darling. I promise."

Appearing as though he did not quite believe her, Brendan climbed onto her lap and wrapped his arms about her neck. "It's okay, Mummy."

"I know, sweetheart," she whispered. After placing a kiss to his forehead, the witch embraced him tightly and rested her cheek atop his hair. For several long seconds, she held Snape's sad gaze, and when he attempted to speak she shook her head. Gesturing to her son, she mouthed, "Not right now."

Severus gave a nod of understanding and let his eyes drift back to the stall for a number of minutes.

"Mummy, do you wanna go home now?"

"Just give me a moment," she replied.

"Can Daddy come home with us?"

The man swallowed hesitantly at the question and flicked his gaze to her. When she raised her eyebrows in inquiry, he slowly nodded.

"Of course he can, Bren," Hermione responded. After hearing his muffled word of excitement, she briefly pressed her lips to the top of his head and then moved one of her hands to Snape's thigh. "Did you want to look at anything else?"

Severus shook his head as he placed one hand atop hers. "I only came here to find you."

Her mouth parted at the admission, and she turned her hand over so that she could wrap her fingers around his.

"Have you had a moment yet?"

The boy's statement drew quiet snorts from both of his parents. With a sigh, his mother patted his back. "Yes, love. We can go. Now, are you going to walk, or do I have to carry you?"

At his muffled response, the witch rolled her eyes and withdrew her hand from Snape's in order to better hold onto her son while she stood. "He's usually in bed long before now."

"Not tired," Brendan argued.

"Well, you can tell your pillow that when we get home."

"Uh-uh," he protested, tightening his grip on her neck. "It's my birthday."

"Yes, well, birthday boys have to sleep, too."

"But what about Daddy?" he murmured. "He hasn't had any cake."

Hermione flipped her gaze back to the tall wizard, who was silently watching them with an odd expression on his face. Chewing on her lip, she took in a deep breath. "After he has some cake, will you go to bed?"

"Uh-huh," the boy nodded against her shoulder.

"Sorry," she smirked, catching the man's eyes. "Looks like you're going to have to suffer through a piece."

The corners of his mouth turned upwards as he rolled his shoulders. "I think I'll manage."

"Good," she smiled. "Erm, did you want me to give you the coordinates or Floo address? I know you don't like being apparated by –"

"Side-Along is fine," Severus replied, before hesitating, "Unless you would prefer that I Floo. I don't wish to impose."

"No, no. It's fine." She cleared her throat and adjusted the child to free up one of her arms. "I'm quite good at it, and it would be less hassle with the wards. I just knew that you preferred transporting yourself."

The wizard swallowed slowly and shook his head. "I do not mind."

"Were you ready –"

"Severus?"

Hermione froze at the soft interruption and immediately locked eyes with the dark-haired man. She could see every line in his face harden until it had essentially reverted into the expressionless mask he had worn during the War. Her stomach twisted in response to the change, and she unconsciously tightened her hold on her son.

"Mum," Brendan whispered. "Professor Dummydoor's calling."

"I know, dear," she murmured, before grabbing hold of her former lover's arm. "Severus, you don't need to –"

"I do," he muttered. "Where is he?"

The witch grimaced before gesturing to the left. "Just around the corner."

Giving a curt nod, Snape headed off in that direction. As Hermione watched him, she involuntarily thought of how graceful and powerful his exits had always been with his robes and the ends of his hair billowing in the light breeze he had created with the swiftness of his stride. To compare that to the slow, uneven gait he now demonstrated made her eyes sting with sorrow. Gone was the confident, proud, and arrogant wizard she had known as a student, and in his place was someone much more subdued and hesitant.

"What's wrong, Mummy?"

"Nothing," she lied with a small sniffle. Reclaiming her seat on the bench, she cleared her throat. "Daddy's just going to have a conversation with Professor Dumbledore, and then we'll be on our way. Why don't you close your eyes while we wait?"

"Okay," he sighed, pressing his forehead against her neck, "but you wake me up before 'parating."