He didn't want to watch himself die, again. He had already seen it happen when he watched his own memories. This time though, he watched Hermione's face. He was able to see her heartbreak clearly through her body language. The memory suddenly faded and he was standing beside her at his funeral.

The service was obviously over and everyone was leaving, everyone except for her. Hermione remained still, even after Ron attempted to take her away. Harry stopped him and pulled him off in the other direction. He looked back to Hermione who was standing stoically beside his shiny black coffin. She stared at it. Her hands clasped in front of her.

She stood there waiting for what seemed like a very long time; finally she looked up and knew she was alone. She took two steps towards his coffin and placed her hand atop it. Her head dropped and her shoulders began to shake with sobs.

"Why didn't I tell you? Why did you die?" She asked, her words broken by tears. She dropped her head to lay on the smooth surface of the coffin her arm outstretched over it in a grieving embrace. He watched as she slid to her knees still crying. Her hands were on the side of his coffin, her head bowed. Suddenly he felt horrible. He stood there watching as Harry made his way back to her and helped her up off the ground. They walked away, leaving Severus where he was standing.

The funeral faded but the scenery did not. He saw the ground; a bare rectangular patch marred the grass. He leaned forward and saw his headstone. As Severus read the words he involuntarily shuddered. He heard the sound of someone apparating so he turned and saw Hermione walking towards him. She was wearing a white blouse, black pencil skirt and black heels. He moved back a few steps as she approached him and kneeled down into the dirt where he had just been standing. Her hair was pulled up into a French twist, and with one hand she let her curls loose as she began to cry.

It wasn't like the mourning he had seen from her during his funeral, this was a softer grieving. Her facial expression was somber but he could see the trails of her hot tears running down her cheeks.

"You've been exonerated Severus." She sighed. "Harry and I saw to it. They're awarding you an Order of Merlin first class."

The memories began to change faster, yet they remained at his grave, he was standing and she was sitting. Every few seconds her appearance would change, her hair style and clothes would be different. He watched the seasons change around them. He counted, five years had passed. She came to see him so often for so long. Every time the memory changed her face remained the same, the two identical tear trails unchanged. The memories came to an end and pulled out of the pensive.

Severus was standing in the Headmistresses office once more. He turned to look at Minerva who was still watching him.

"She came to my grave for five years?" He asked searching the old witches face. Minerva's eyes softened.

"Yes. She was there quite often Severus." She nodded slowly. Severus pulled the third vial of her memories from his pocket and turned it over in his hand. "Go on and watch the last of them."

"I don't know if I can." Severus shook his head. "She endured so much."

"Yes, but if the memories that vials contains are the memories I believe it does, everything will make sense to you shortly." Minerva had walked up to Severus and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. Severus nodded and turned back to the pensive and poured in the last vial of Hermione's memories. With a little reluctance he entered.

He was standing in the living room of Minerva's house. He spotted Hermione and himself seated on the couch talking. He walked up behind them to listen to their conversation.

"What exactly do you think the new Mrs. Potter is up to?" Severus asked. Hermione was seated next to him, curled up and leaning against his chest.

"She is overly obsessed with the idea of Ron and I getting back together." Hermione sighed. "I tried explaining it to her, it's like she just starts to block me out as soon as I start to speak."

"I recall her being rather good at that." Severus smirked.

"I can't very well tell her everything, but I have explained it the best I can. I told her that I wasn't in love with Ron, that I couldn't be with the guy I loved…so I forced myself to love the guy I was with. She didn't want to hear it. I apologized to Ron, Gods I do feel terrible about what I did to him." Hermione sat up abruptly. "What should I have done? I thought you were dead."

"I'm not the one to answer that, Hermione." Severus shook his head. Severus looked closer at his memory self and watched how he could hear himself speaking, yet him mouth never moved.

"Well, it doesn't matter now. I have you, you're not dead and I couldn't be happier." Hermione smiled up at him. Severus looked into Hermione's face and it was clear in that moment, she did love him.

"I wish I could have known sooner about your feelings. However, I believe you told me when I needed to know. I was a different man back then, but things are clearer now. I'm happy, and Merlin knows it's been many many years since I've known happiness." Severus reached up and smoothed her hair.

"I know." Hermione's voice dropped as she moved closer to him. "I love you Severus."

"I love you too, Hermione." Severus replied, and they kissed. Severus watched as they firmly embraced and the memory faded. There was no more to watch, and he was pushed from the pensive.

"She didn't show me much in the last vial." Severus shook his head.

"Perhaps whatever she chose to show didn't need many memories to explain." Minerva walked up to Severus. "What did you learn here tonight?"

"She's loved me since the Yule Ball, she mourned me for five years and she loved me completely once she found me alive in your home." Severus' breath hitched. "I saw myself speaking with her in that last memory, Minerva. I loved her."

"You did tell yourself that in your letter, Severus. Why on earth did you not believe yourself?" Minerva raised her eyebrow.

"I have only ever loved once before, and it didn't turn out well for me." Severus averted his eyes.

"Ah, yes, Lily." Minerva nodded slowly.

"Yes, Lily." Severus sighed.

"Well, Severus if I may." Minerva walked over and sat down on her desk, leaning forward slightly as she spoke. "You were a child and loved her the way a child loves. There's nothing wrong with that, but perhaps you put her upon a pedestal and began to love the idea of her."

"I realized that years ago, Minerva." Severus cleared his throat. "I need to speak to Hermione."

"Well thanks to you, I have no idea where she is." Minerva threw her hands out to her side.

"Well we need to find her." Severus shook his head as he spoke. "Potter said she was going to the airport, did he not?"

"Yes." Minerva nodded.

"Well I can't just walk out in public, Minerva! I'm supposed to be dead!" Severus exclaimed. "You must go after her!"

"Me?" Minerva raised both of her eyebrows. "Severus, I have a school to run!"

"Your deputy headmaster can take care of things for a bit. Please, Minerva, go after her. I must speak to her." Severus walked over and took Minerva's hand.

"Severus…" Minerva was hesitant.

"While you go, I'll watch my own memories concerning her. If you find her take her back to your house. I'll be there. I promise." Severus was sincere.

"I'll go." Minerva agreed with a nod. "But don't count your dragons before they've hatched Severus. She could very well already be aboard a plane."

"I know, but I need for you to try." Severus began to take out his own vials of memories.

"Very well. I'll leave after I inform the deputy I will be away." Minerva gave a curt nod as she made her way to the door of her office.

"Minerva?" Severus called out; she turned around as she reached the door.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for this." Severus smiled slightly and turned his attention back to his own memories.

"You're welcome, dear." Minerva smiled and took her leave.