**I don't own these characters or the stories they belong to**

In the end, it hadn't taken long to track down what had happened to Hermione's parents. Wendell and Monica Wilkins had died not in a dastardly Death Eater attack, but in a common automobile accident. It didn't make it any better. Only the certain knowledge that her parents would have died at the hands of Voldemort or his followers had they stayed in Britain assuaged Hermione's guilt at having propelled them on a path that had led to their accidental deaths.

Harry changed the death records, amending them to show that a Mr. and Mrs. Granger, and not Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins, had died with a daughter surviving. This done, Hermione was able to settle their affairs there, and they were able to place headstones. They had a small service, a gathering of two at the graveside, just as they had done at the graves of Harry's parents. This time it was Harry that conjured the flowers.

Wanting to know something of her parent's lives in the short time that they lived there, Harry and Hermione stayed a few days in Australia both to settle things and to explore, following the all the traces of her parent's lives that they could find.

Now it was time to settle into the life that she had made necessary with the choice that she had made, the choice to save Severus Snape from death, binding her life with his in one way or another, their magic bound for the unforeseeable future. Hermione fought down the nerves that always plagued her with thoughts of Severus. It was a constant battle as they moved forward with all the preparations and arrangements necessary to arrange a life that put her in his path, but away from all else that was familiar.

All the same preparations and arrangements that had been made for Severus, were now made for Hermione. Hermione, however, enjoyed Harry's company, and so she had much more fun and help settling in, as he stayed a few days to help out during the process. They had unpacked, explored the environs and gone Muggle clothes shopping. Egads, was it hot and humid in the summer here. It called for a whole other wardrobe for Hermione. After their recent adventures, Harry was in need of a proper haircut and decent clothes at all - they took care of both.

They even had some amusing driving lessons in the black Jeep she had gotten, thankfully finding some country roads nearby, which was a good thing given everything was on the wrong side and neither of them had ever driven before. It had been alternately harrowing and hilarious. Hermione, quick study as ever, had become proficient enough with driving, and on the right side, within those few days that Harry wouldn't be in constant worry over her vehicular safety.

If Kingsley could have seen the preparations for the extensive library that Hermione brought, he would have been highly amused at the similarity to Severus' own set-up. Harry had gone round with Hermione to meet several of the neighbors, old Mr. and Mrs. Lucas next-door left, widowed Mrs. McDonald across the street, Dr. Smith and his family next-door right, The teacher-couple, Walters, with their two teenagers two-doors-down right, and the Robertson's across the back alley. Hermione particularly liked her neighbor across the back alley, Melody Robertson, called Mel, who was in her late twenties, was married to a nice but acerbic man who was totally opposite in personality from his happy, genial, friendly wife, and had an adorable two year old blonde, curly-headed son named Tristan. Kingsley had done a little bit of magical nudging there, to give Melody and affinity for both Severus and Hermione, though truthfully, she was so friendly and caring that it was likely not necessary. A very little memory work to act as a nudge towards affinity for friendship with them both and a slight proclivity for matchmaking, in this case, was very subtle and couldn't go amiss.

Kingsley had arranged so that Hermione's home, which she was renting, mostly furnished, from a couple who had recently left to go on mission for two years, was across the back alley and one house down from Severus' home. Hermione did not yet know where Severus was, but Harry did. He had kept an eye out for Severus when they were about in the neighborhood, but had not seen him, and as they had not been spotted during their visit to the Robertson's nor spent any time in the backyard, Harry didn't think he'd yet caught sight of them. He would dearly love to see Severus' and Hermione's faces when they first saw each other, but it didn't look like he was going to be there to witness it.

When it was time to go, Harry left Hermione with the linked journal, gave her a long hug, plenty of parting instructions, and she'd finally pushed him towards the door laughing at him through her tears. Before going home, however, he did go to visit Snape. If Severus was surprised to see Harry or curious, he didn't show it. It was a short visit. Harry did laugh at the similarities between their libraries and asked how he was settling in and if he needed anything. Snape replied, "adequately," and "no," and refrained from asking what was so amusing about his books.

Only after a long silence in which Harry drank the tea that was offered, did Severus finally relent and ask, "Everything is settled?"

Harry replied, "Yes. Arrangements were made for her parents and affairs settled. Everything has been arranged for her here; she is settled." Harry relapsed into silence. It was entertaining, trying to get Snape to verbalize his curiosity - surely he must be curious. Yes, there, his eyes were glittering more intensely, but that's all he was giving away right now.

Not actually wanting to torture Snape into antagonism, Harry smiled to himself and offered, "She is here and settled nearby. I imagine you will run into each other soon." Harry looked around the comfortable library / den where they had taken tea. "If you aren't holed up in here all the time," Harry smiled. "I hope you'll look out for each other."

Severus merely said, "Indeed."

"I saw the red pickup truck outside. How's the driving going?" Harry asked.

Snape grimaced a bit, "It could use some work," he admitted.

Harry laughed. "I can imagine. I went with her to practice. It was bad - both of us. It's a good thing there are so many empty roads around here. Thankfully she improved quickly, well enough we shouldn't have to worry too much about her being a danger on the road, anyway. I did take the precaution of a few protective charms on her vehicle. Did Kingsley do your truck?"

"Not that I know of," answered Snape.

"I'll take care of it, shall I?" Harry got up and walked over to his old Potions Professor. "Please keep in touch through the journal and let me know if you need anything, sir. I'd be happy to pass on any messages or even pass the journal on if there is someone else you would prefer to keep in contact with," Harry said seriously.

"It will be fine as is for now. I'm supposed to be severely injured and recovering, after all," said Snape.

"Okay," Harry said, and Severus escorted him to the front door.

Harry glanced around the neighborhood to check the coast was clear, inconspicuously cast the protective charms on the large red pickup truck in Snape's driveway and walked back to the porch where Severus waited. "Take care, sir." He said

Snape shook the offered hand and said, "Thank you, Potter."

Harry gave him the I-told-you-to-call-me-Harry look again before smiling and disapparating. At least it didn't sound like a curse when Snape said, "Potter" anymore.