Disclaimer: Not her, not paid, not even very good. Everything you recognize belongs to JKR.

My heartfelt thanks to my beta, sempra, for her unwavering assistance in making this story readable for the public.

Her Gifts

Chapter 12

Six weeks after the Final Battle, the wizarding world was well on its way to recovery. The dead had been buried and mourned, the injured were recuperating or rehabilitating, and Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and Diagon Alley had begun rebuilding. The emotional healing was, naturally, much longer in coming.

The euphoria Hermione had felt as she kissed Ron after he had managed to open the Chamber of Secrets to obtain the basilisk fangs had disappeared with the battle in which they were soon engaged. When Fred had been killed, it affected Ron and the rest of the Weasleys profoundly. Their resolve was strengthened, but their emotional balance was deeply shaken. Ron had not approached Hermione again, which was just as well, since she rather regretted her impetuous actions. She loved Ron, really she did, just not in that way.

Harry had become so depressed with the deaths of so many people he loved that he had decided to spend some time away on an extended vacation in a remote village in Italy. He took Ginny along with him, with the Weasleys' blessings. Hermione exchanged letters with them frequently, and the tone of Harry's most recent letters had sounded far more encouraging.

Hermione's parents were still in Australia, and there they would remain until the Ministry, now run by Kingsley Shacklebolt, felt it would be safe for them to return. It was hard for her knowing they didn't remember her, but she couldn't risk returning their memories until she could safely bring them home.

The rest of the wizarding world seemed to be in an endless state of celebration now that Voldemort was gone for good. There were parties, galas, formal teas, dances, picnics, banquets and all manner of dinners to attend. Hermione went to a few in the beginning, but without Harry or Ron there, she was constantly asked to give a few words, meet this or that dignitary, and shake hands with hundreds of people she had never met. She decided to forgo attending any more for the foreseeable future.

The truth was, after hearing Harry proclaim Severus Snape as a hero for the Order and defending him to the press and the Ministry, Hermione felt very sad that Snape wasn't experiencing the gratitude and recognition that should have been his for the work he had done, the risks he'd taken, and the sacrifices he'd made.

But Severus Snape was, even now, paying for his mistakes. Trapped in a perpetual coma since being collected from the Shrieking Shack, he had yet to show any sign of improvement. Madam Pomfrey had been astounded that he was still alive when Kreacher had brought him to Hogwarts infirmary, his clothes drenched in blood and looking paler than Nearly Headless Nick.

As soon as the battle was over, Hermione had reminded Harry that Professor Snape's body was still in the Shrieking Shack, and Harry had summoned Kreacher, who had gratefully gone to collect Severus, expressing his honor at helping one of Master Regulus's friends. Kreacher's quick thinking, and the house-elf's ability to Apparate into Hogwarts, insured Professor Snape bypassed the Aurors searching the grounds for Death Eaters.

Harry had immediately contacted Kingsley Shacklebolt, upon hearing of Snape's survival from Kreacher, to begin the process of clearing Snape's name. Within the month, all charges against him had been dropped. Harry had reluctantly shown Snape's memories to Kingsley and a closed hearing of the Wizengamot. Kingsley had sealed the testimony and secured a wand oath from every member of the Wizengamot for their silence regarding Snape's private memories. A carefully worded statement was issued to the press, citing Snape's unrelenting service to Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix throughout the past eighteen years.

No one knew what Professor Snape had done to stay alive despite such a devastating injury, but the Aurors had conducted a thorough search of the Shrieking Shack and his home at Spinner's End for any clues. Nothing had been found.

Hermione spent an hour or two every day visiting Snape's bedside. She read him articles from The Daily Prophet or various professional journals to which she knew he had subscribed. Sometimes she read him Harry's letters or just told him about her day or the extensive refurbishing underway at the castle. Occasionally, one of the other teachers would drop by for a brief visit as well.

Snape had received a few letters from Draco Malfoy, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to open his personal mail, so they went unread. After the third such missive arrived, Hermione wrote to Draco, letting him know about Snape's condition with the expectation that Draco would likely throw it away without even opening it. A day later, Hermione received her own letter from Draco, informing her of his house arrest, which was the reason he was unable to visit Snape in person, and asking whether, if it wasn't be too much trouble, would she mind opening his letters and reading them to Snape for him?

So Hermione spent the next afternoon reading Draco's now four letters to Uncle Severus. That bit shocked her somewhat, so she wrote a brief letter to Draco later that same afternoon.

Malfoy,

I know it's none of my business, and you are perfectly right to tell me to bugger off if you like, but

how is Professor Snape your uncle?

Just curious,

Hermione Granger

She was surprised that he didn't take offense and answered her letter promptly.

Granger,

He's not, he's my Godfather.

How is he doing, by the way? I have no way to find out except through you, so if you wouldn't mind,

I would appreciate it if you would let me know. My only conversations lately are with house-elves.

Thank you in advance,

Draco Malfoy

Hermione had no trouble being courteous. She took the time to write a lengthy description of Snape's condition, various tests that were run, the lack of clues at Spinner's End, and all the potions and spells that had been tried. She even went so far as to let Draco know that she held no hard feelings against him, and that she fully understood the predicament he had been in during their sixth year and after. Doing this for Draco actually made Hermione's heavy heart feel slightly better. She sent the letter off the next morning, only to receive another prompt reply.