A/N: Sorry for the delayed update, I just got back from holiday in London. I went to platform 9 3/4 and bought Snape's wand, got on a train to go to Cambridge where I worked for ten days and immediately started writing this chapter. So here it is, the final chapter. I hope you enjoy it- thank you all for reading 3
Hermione wandered down Diagon Alley, enjoying the overjoyed looks of the younger students as they peered through windows and tugged on the hands of bemused parents. She was looking for something, but she couldn't remember what. Not that it mattered, she had plenty of time. She wandered in Flourish and Blotts, leafing through the dusty stacks. It was a book, mostly likely, that she was looking for. The back of her neck prickled and she glanced over her shoulder. Shrugging off the discomfort, she turned back around. There was no one there. She pulled a worn copy of Advanced Potion Making from the stacks, turning it over in her hands. It was familiar, somehow, but she couldn't place her finger on how it was. She leafed through the pages, examining the scrawling writing on the pages. The previous owner was…experimental to say the least. She scrunched her nose at the thought of changing some of the tried and true methods. The conceited arrogance to imagine he knew better than the author. But still the book seemed precious for some reason. She closed the book and placed it back in the stacks. She was being silly and sentimental. She already had a copy of the book, she didn't need another. She headed for the door even though she really wanted to buy it. Leaving it behind seemed unbearable. She headed out onto the street again, pausing as she saw Harry and Ron. She waved them over, frowning as she saw they were not wearing their robes. They probably were stuffed in their trunks and would be wrinkled distastefully by the time they reached Hogwarts. She made a mental note to teach them the fresh press spell. They were seventh years now; younger students would look up to them. They had a duty to present a good image.
The boys hurried over, already laden with sweets from Honeydukes. She embraced them both, not realizing how much she had missed them until they were hugging her back. Her eyes pricked uncomfortably and she let them go. "All right there, 'Mione?"Harry asked, ever the more observant of the two.
She nodded. "Just happy to see you both."
"Harry and I are off to look at the new Nimbus," Ron said, his eyes bright. Hermione wrinkled her nose.
"I have been wanting to get a few things for some…extracurricular potions," she said, not wishing to join them for another stare at the brooms.
"Right then. Meet you at the Leaky Cauldron for a butterbeer later then?" Harry asked and she nodded. She watched them walk off, discussing the intricacies of Quiddich. Sighing, she corrected her mental list of potion ingredients that she needed. She entered the Apothecary, the tinkling bell announcing her arrival. She perused the shelves, grabbing a few of the not so easily procured items. She could always send away an order by owl to be delivered at Hogwarts, but it wasn't guaranteed that the product would be of the best quality. For the more sensitive ingredients she preferred to pick them by hand so she could examine them prior to purchasing. The bell rang again and she almost dropped a jar of dragon's blood when she saw who entered. It was Professor Snape, his dark eyes trained intensely on her. Her stomach fluttered, but she squashed the feeling. Bright pain flared on her wrist and she dropped the dragon's blood, clutching her arm in agony as a bright black symbol etched itself on the inside of her wrist.
Professor Snape loomed above her, his dark eyes almost tender. "Hermione," he whispered, his hands on her arms. Her heart thundered in her breast though her head told her she shouldn't allow him to address her as anything other than Miss Granger. "Come back to me," he whispered. Her brow furrowed, Come back? He lowered his head toward her, and though she knew she should run, she could not move. His lips met hers, and fire consumed her as the memories came flooding back. She knew what she was looking for. Him. She dropped the rest of the supplies she had under her arm and wrapped her arms around his neck.
When she opened her eyes she was not in the Apothecary any longer, but in the Hospital Wing. Severus was clasping her arm, his face hidden in the bed clothes. With her free hand she touched the top of his head. He sat up, his tired eyes hopeful, then launched himself onto her, lifting her back off the bed so he could hold her.
"You brought me back," she whispered.
He pulled back, "Of course."
"I couldn't have found my way back without you," she whispered kissing him once more. He settled her back onto the pillows and smoothed the mussed hair from her face. "Harry?" she inquired, barely daring to breathe before he answered.
"Safe and healed," he promised. "I near had to use the Cruciatus on him to get him to leave. The boy wasn't eating or showering. I think he blames himself."
"Ridiculous," she scoffed, "It was my own fault for not leaving when I needed to go."
"And yet, if he hadn't needed saving in the first place…" Severus muttered.
Hermione frowned, "If he hadn't needed saving I never would have gone back in time." She left the obvious consequence hanging in the air. If she hadn't gone back she never would have fallen in love with him.
He nodded, "Then I suppose for once I am in debt to Harry Potter."
Hermione snorted, "Hardly. You have done far too much to help him to ever be in his debt. But please, don't let him blame himself." He brought her hand to his lips. It was not a verbal agreement, but she knew it was a promise all the same. He set her hand back on her belly, but did not let go. Hermione closed her eyes and placed her other hand upon his. "I saw our future, you know," she said with a smile playing on her lips.
He grimaced, "Was I wrinkled and white?"
Hermione's eyes flew open, "No! Well actually I didn't see you. But the future Hermione told me everything would be okay. And I knew it was you outside- I knew we would survive." She closed her eyes again, "And be happy."
Severus kissed her cheek and climbed into the bed with her. She laid her cheek on his chest and he said, "At least until the baby comes. Then we'll be tired."
She smiled sleepily against the fabric of his shirt, "Tired and happy then."
A/N: Thank you everyone for coming with me on this journey! It has been wonderful. Seriously- thank you so much for all the reviews, favorites, and likes 3 I was really worried about starting my own fanfic. And now that it is done, I cannot believe it. I may just have to write more ;) Thank you for sticking with me through all the huge gaps in posts, I know some of them were quite long.