Severus apparated them to the alley behind the Muggle diner. Hermione was quite impressed and thought that it was the smoothest and most quiet apparation that she had ever been a part of – even including her own! However, before she could mention it, Severus placed a hand on her back and led Hermione inside the diner and to a back booth where they could talk with some privacy. They were soon approached by an older gray and blonde waitress who immediately gave them both a friendly smile, then put her hand on his shoulder, and started talking with Severus in the tone of an old friend.

"Oooh, It's so good to see you again, Steven. It's been a few weeks, hasn't it? You don't usually stay away so long. However, I think that I can forgive you, since it looks like you may have had a distraction!" Here she smiled over at Hermione again, who had quirked an eyebrow in amusement at her table mate when "Steven" was mentioned.

Severus caught her eye and shrugged, almost imperceptibly. Then he introduced her. "Meg, this is my…friend, Mia. Mia, this is Meg, the most talkative waitress in all of England!"

Hermione watched this friendly and casual interaction with some disbelief while Meg snorted in amusement and continued to harass him. "Hush you! Are you going to compliment me all day or are you and your lovely friend going to order? You'll want the usual, I presume?" He nodded and looked over at her. She placed her order, too, and tried to hold back her laughter until Meg left to take her order to the window to the cook. Then she let loose as she leaned closer to him across the table.

"So…Steven… I guess you come here often?" she asked with a smirk.

He leaned closer, as well, and answered her with a smirk of his own. "Severus isn't exactly a Muggle name, you know. Steven is the closest to it that I could think of."

"Steven…St-e-ven. I like it!" Hermione said with a devious smile.

"Don't you dare, Mia. I find that I quite like the way it sounds when you call me Severus," he said this quite seriously and she didn't know how to answer that. Therefore, she was quite happy when the drinks arrived.

"A fizzy drink? He said in a light teasing tone. "I thought that your parents were dentists – whatever would they say?" He realized his error as soon as it left his mouth and tears sprang to her eyes. Shit! "I'm so sorry, Mia. I didn't realize… the letter said…"

"No, no. It's okay," she said drying her eyes hurriedly on her sleeve and taking a few deep breaths. "It still just catches me off guard sometimes – even after all of these years."

"Do you want to talk about it? You certainly don't have to." He asked slowly – wanting to know, but not wanting to push her.

"It's okay. I am sure that you are curious. What exactly did the Ministry letter say about them?"

"Just their names - and that their life status and location were unknown," he answered truthfully.

"Well, at least the Ministry still doesn't know. I have always worried what they would do if they found out." Hermione said, trying to avoid meeting Severus's eyes.

"Found out what?" he asked curiously.

"That I Obliviated them!" she whispered.

"What?" exclaimed Severus, shocked.

She nodded. "I knew what the Death Eaters would do to them. I knew that they would be targeted because of me and my role in the war, especially after the Ministry was infiltrated, and I couldn't let that happen to them! Nobody else seemed interested in trying to protect them. Therefore, before I went on the run, I took away all of their memories of their life here and sent them to Australia to live under a different name. I have made a point of checking on them several times since the war ended. They are alive. They are happy. That's all I can reasonably ask. They… just … don't… remember that they have a daughter." With this statement, she closed her eyes tightly and took a couple of deep calming breaths so that she wouldn't break down right in the middle of the diner. After a moment, she felt his hand grab hers from across the table. He held it gently and stroked his thumb along the back of it. He didn't say anything, he just held it until she was calm enough to open her eyes to look at him.

He then looked at her with both concern and pride for a moment before speaking. "You did the right thing. Don't ever doubt that. You saved their lives. The moment that you went on the run, their lives were forfeit. And you know exactly how and why I know that!" She nodded, of course she knew.

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "That does help a bit."

Just then Meg brought their food. She eyed their clasped hands across the table with interest before smiling gently at Hermione, who was still clearly upset, but controlling it. "Is there anything I can help you with, Honey?" she asked in a voice full of kindness.

Hermione found her voice. "Thank you, but no. There is nothing you can do – just some bad memories." Then she turned her attention to the food. "This looks delicious!" she said, a little surprised, clearly not expecting much from such a simple establishment.

Meg giggled. "I'll be sure to let Albert know!" she said and went to check on another table.

"Albert and Meg are married with four children." Severus said, knowing that she would appreciate a change in subject. They have owned this place for years, but I only discovered it after the war. It's my favorite place to come and be myself where nobody knows me or my history. It's my Muggle sanctuary."

"Thank you for sharing it with me, then!" Hermione said meaningfully. He nodded in reply and they both started to eat.

They talked about inconsequential Muggle topics during their meal, both trying to appear normal and not to get lost in their thoughts. Severus was thinking about how much Mia had gone through in the past few years, how she had nothing left except for a few male friends who all had wives of their own, and how he wished things could be different. Hermione was thinking about how kind he was being, how this man was definitely not the same one that she had known throughout her school days, how much she liked it, and how she wished things could be different.

They had soon finished eating. Severus paid their bill and they both gave their compliments to Albert who had joined his wife at the front counter. He accepted their thanks and gave them a cheerful wave as they said their goodbyes to Meg. As they headed for the door, however, Meg drew Hermione a little to the side and spoke to her in a not-low-enough voice. "You are going to want to hold on to that one, dearie. He certainly has the sexiest bedroom eyes and the voice to match, doesn't he?"

"That he does, Meg," she replied, smiling, but still quite serious, and turned to face the waiting Severus at the door. His pale skin displayed a faint blush on his cheekbones, but he pretended that he hadn't heard anything. She pretended that she hadn't said anything, either. Instead, she gratefully took the arm that he offered and they left to go back to the cottage.