Summary: It's the fifth year anniversary of the final battle and Hermione Granger is waxing poetic about Severus Snape. What happens when he tumbles out of her wardrobe later that night? Where did he come from, and why is he there?

This story was written for the Scratch-That-Niche fest. The prompt is #2: Not Quite Narnia. I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis, so this prompt really drew me in. Micro-pairing is Hermione Granger and Roger Davies (past relationship.) This story is complete in three chapters and will post weekly for two more weeks.

Many thanks and hugs to my beta Amortentia in my Veins. You are awesome!

oooo

"Well, I should be off," Hermione said to Harry and Ron as she got up from the sofa.

"It's early, Hermione. You should stay," Ron advised. "You're just going to go home and mope. Might as well do that here."

She shrugged. "I think your other-halves have been more than accommodating letting us get together for this long. I know Ginny and Lavender don't understand this ritual we have every year, but being with anyone other than you lot just makes me feel worse than I do already."

Harry rose and came up to Hermione, hugging her soundly. "Thanks for coming by. I wish every year that this anniversary wasn't coming up, but every year, here we are."

Hermione looked into Harry's eyes. "It's our ritual. Maybe it's maudlin, but if I didn't have you both to keep me grounded on this day, I'd lose myself in grief."

Ron came up to the two. "Yeah. And this is special—just between the three of us. No one really understands what we went through, you know?"

Hermione smiled wanly at him. "Yeah. No one else would truly understand why none of us like mushrooms anymore."

The boys snickered at her.

"All right, gentlemen," she remarked as she hugged her two friends. "I'll see you both with your spouses in two weeks for dinner."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "Why don't you bring someone this time?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "I would if I could find a decent bloke to date!"

Hugging her two best friends, she turned and left, Apparating once she'd exited Harry's home at Grimmauld Place.

Appearing downtown, Hermione entered her building and took the lift to her flat. Hanging up her cloak, she heaved a sigh as she moved to the kitchen and prepared some tea.

Ron was right, she was definitely going to mope, but this was her private ritual. Every year they'd get together to remember the dead on the anniversary of the battle, and every year, she'd take the time to remember one special departed soul: Severus Snape.

Taking her tea, she went upstairs to her bedroom. Setting the teacup on her nightstand, she opened the drawer, dug around under the books that were within, and pulled out a newspaper clipping.

It was a photograph of Severus Snape that had been published with the story of his death. It had been through that article that the world had found out that he hadn't been a murderer.

She stared at the man in the photo. It was actually a flattering picture. Snape was glowering, but the picture captured a certain allure that Hermione had never noticed when he was alive. Of course, he had been so hidden, she was sure there was a lot that she had never noticed.

"Oh, Severus, I wish you could have had the chance to live free from your two masters. I would hope you could have been happy then. I don't think you were very happy in life, but you never had a chance, did you? Did you know you were going to die?"

Her hand came up, and she caressed Snape's flat, printed face. The picture drew back and looked at her quizzically.

"It's been five years since you died. What could you have done in that time?"

Staring at the picture, she fell into reminiscing about her professor for a long while. Finally, she shook her head, trying to shake herself out of her daydreaming.

Sadly looking down at the photo, she smiled ruefully. 'I'm sorry you didn't survive. I wish you had, because I would have been your friend, Severus."

Hugging the picture to herself for a bit, she finally replaced it in its spot, hidden away so no one could see it but her.

oooo

An angry banging awakened Hermione. She sat up in bed, groping for the wand on her nightstand as the knocking continued from inside her wardrobe.

The doors began to rattle and bang, and through the crack between them a bright, golden light suddenly shone. The whole wardrobe began to shake, tipping wildly from one side to the other before raising several inches into the air, and then, with an enormous crash that rattled the windows, it fell to the floor again, landing neatly on its feet—still and dark and silent once more.

She slipped from beneath the covers and cautiously approached the hitherto well-behaved piece of furniture, wand at the ready. She had just laid her hand upon the doorknob when it flew open and a large, dark figure tumbled out into her arms.

"Miss Granger? What are you doing here? Wh… where am I?" he stuttered before passing out.

Hermione stared wide-eyed at the man in her arms. Severus Snape—looking just like he had in her memories—lay there, unconscious. Hermione struggled to lift him before realizing her wand was in her hand. With a quick flick, he was levitated to her bed. She lowered him down gently and examined the man before her.

He looked… whole. She checked his neck—no blood—not even a scar. She had a sudden urge to strip him naked to see if any of the other scars he must have had on his body before still existed. She refrained.

The thought did cross her mind that this might not be Severus Snape. That would be the most logical conclusion, but something inside of her didn't agree with that logic. It wasn't every day that a wardrobe spit out a person from nowhere, mimicking The Chronicles of Narnia. No, something was amiss, and despite her caution, she believed this was indeed Severus Snape unconscious on her bed.

She didn't have to wait very long to find out if her assumption was true because at that moment Snape began to moan, moving his head from side to side. Hermione sat on the edge of the bed and grasped his arm.

"It's all right," she soothed, but he kept moving around in agitation.

"Shh, you're all right," she repeated.

Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and he stared at her incredulously.

"Miss Granger," he muttered, his eyes questioning. "What's going on?"

Hermione pointed her wand in his face and gave him a determined look.

"In my fourth year, I was hit by a spell meant for Harry. Who shot that spell and what did you say about it?"

He arched a brow at her. "Draco Malfoy cast the spell, and I said, 'I see no difference.'"

She pocketed her wand. "Sorry, sir, I had to be sure it was you."

"Sound strategy, Miss Granger, now answer my question," he ordered, trying to push himself up into a sitting position.

"Just stay there," she demanded. "I'm not sure if you're hurt or not."

"I think I would know if I was hurt. I feel fine." He sat up and leaned against her headboard.

She gave him a reproving glare but didn't say anything.

"Now, where am I, and why am I here?" he reiterated with a scowl.

"Honestly, sir, I don't know why you're here. We are in my flat in London."

"You don't have a flat in London," he growled.

"Professor…"

"I am no longer your professor," he ground out.

"True," she agreed. "May I call you Severus?"

His eyebrows furrowed into a single line. "I hardly think…"

"Severus, it's been five years since the final battle," she replied quickly without preamble.

"I beg your pardon?"

"The final battle… it was five years ago to the day."

Severus closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. "But I was just summoned by the Dark Lord… Wait… I had gone to see him…"

His eyes flew open, and he gave Hermione a horrified look. "The snake! It attacked me." His hand went to his neck. He pulled it away and looked at it.

"No blood, my skin is smooth. How can that be? I've never felt such agony before, how could my neck survive such an attack?"

His eyes moved back to Hermione, begging for answers. She reached out and placed her hand over his.

"The snake, it… it…"

"Spit it out, girl!" he snapped.

"It killed you!" Hermione cried before standing and moving away from him.

She rushed to the window, folding her arms in front of her, and looked out at the moon shining high in the dark sky.

"If it killed me, why am I here?" Severus asked, his voice hard with derision.

She wheeled around. "I don't know! All I know is five years ago you died on the Shrieking Shack floor. And tonight, my wardrobe went insane and spit you out. I don't know how you got here, or why you're here, but here you are! Alive!"

"Shit," Severus said under his breath before making eye contact with her again.

They stared at each other for several minutes before Hermione finally broke the uncomfortable silence.

"Do you remember anything after the snake attacked you?"

His eyes narrowed as he thought. Time seemed to draw out for Hermione as she waited for him to answer her.

"I don't remember much," he finally explained. "I remember Potter. I gave him some memories, and then I don't remember anything else."

"That's when you died," Hermione whispered.

"How can that be? I'm lying here on what is evidently your bed! How could I have died?"

He moved to the edge of the bed and stood. "I need to get out of here."

Hermione rushed over to him. "Wait, Severus. It's the middle of the night. Where will you go?"

"Anywhere but here!" he ground out before stalking past her.

"Severus!"

He ignored her and quickly descended the stairs. She bounded after him, watching him escape through the door.

"I'll leave it unlatched for you!" she cried out to him.

oooo

Severus took notice of where he was and Apparated away quickly. He reappeared in Diagon Alley, quickly Disillusioning himself, even though the street was empty. Hurrying to Flourish and Blotts, he peered into the window to find the stack of Prophets that were always near the entrance.

His eyes grew wide as he beheld the headline and date.

2 May 2003

Fifth Year Anniversary of the Final Battle Upon Us

Summoning one of the papers to him, he watched as it sailed around, looking for a way to escape the locked bookstore. It zoomed around haphazardly, knocking into a wall here and there until it stopped at the entry door. Folding itself in three, it slid through the mail slot relatively easily. Severus caught it in his hand.

He read the article quickly, catching up on what had happened that fateful night and since. The paper even noted his death, acknowledging he had been a hero working behind the lines for years. He raised an eyebrow at that.

Crumpling the paper in his hands, he scowled. He'd died but had come back to life. Severus groaned within himself. How could everything go so pear-shaped?

He spun away again and appeared at the gates of Hogwarts. Would he still be able to enter them? He waved his wand, and the gates opened silently. Arching a brow, he entered and sealed them up again.

He took in everything as he walked up the pathway. The old oak tree where he used to study was gone, probably a victim of the war. There were several new trees planted. The rest of the grounds looked relatively normal save some different plants. The Whomping Willow had evidently survived as it was swaying back and forth despite there not being any wind.

He came to the doorway and stopped. Looking upon the plaque mounted to the right side of the Great Hall doors, he read the names of those who had fallen, noting his name was prominently at the top under Albus'.

Taking a moment, he mourned for all those who had lost their lives that fateful night. Despite it being years prior for everyone else, it had just been a few hours for him, and the loss of life was devastating. So many youth cut down... future's lost… families destroyed. Lowering his head, he took some deep breaths to calm himself before moving forward.

Lifting his head after a while, he looked sternly at the doors. Would they open for him? Perhaps he should just Apparate? No one wandering the halls would see him, then. Of course, he was still Disillusioned, so no one would see him anyway. Could he still Apparate within the castle grounds even?

Making a decision, he put his hand against the door and felt it give and swing open. He entered and took in the view. Nothing had changed really. Whatever had come of this entryway during the battle, there was no sign of ruin. It had been restored completely to its old-world beauty.

He went to the stairway and climbed up quickly. Finally, he made it to the Gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office. Disillusioning himself, he looked at it, but it didn't reveal any secrets.

He didn't even know who the current Headmaster was, let alone what password they would have set. He sighed before speaking.

"I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts, cut down during the war. I need to enter this office, despite not knowing what the password is. Let me in," he demanded in an authoritative voice.

Nothing happened.

"The password during my tenure was 'Bubotuber Pus.'

Surprisingly, the Gargoyle moved aside, giving him entrance to the moving staircase. He rode it up while deep in thought. Entering the office, he marched over to the desk, intent on having a conversation with the painting that hung behind it.

He stopped short. The painting he was expecting wasn't there. Instead, there was a painting of himself. He glowered at it. The painting glowered back.

"Who are you?" it demanded.

"I would think it's obvious!" Severus retorted.

"Obvious to only a fool. I am dead, so, therefore, you must be an imposter."

"Something has happened. I've come to speak with Albus. You're welcome to listen in," Severus explained before turning his back on himself and moving to the next obvious place to find Dumbledore's portrait. Sure enough, there it was, low on the wall where it would be easily seen.

"Dumbledore," Severus called.

The old wizard just slept as usual.

"Confound it, old man, I need to speak with you! Now wake up!"

Dumbledore startled and opened his eyes. They grew wide as they looked upon Severus.

"What… what on earth, my boy? Is it really you?"

Severus huffed. "Yes, of course it is. Who would ever want to pretend to be me?" he ground out.

"Well, I don't know, but you can't be too careful these days."

Severus rolled his eyes. "On my first day teaching, you told me that I had a new lease on life with my appointment and that I could honor Lily by my service to the Order."

Albus nodded. "Oh, yes. Well, Severus, it seems you are real. So… what are you doing here alive?"

"I don't know," Severus said in exasperation. "I apparently fell out of Hermione Granger's wardrobe and passed out."

"The potion said nothing about coming back from the dead!" portrait Snape proclaimed.

Severus turned and narrowed his eyes at his framed form. "Obviously," he ground out.

Albus stroked his beard. "Well, perhaps the effects were everlasting, and if someone who could fulfill the requirements came along or circumstances changed, it would cause you to come back to life."

Severus raised his hands in frustration and began to pace. "From what I can tell, nothing has changed, so that can't be it. It's been five years, too. Who would be able to change the circumstances now?"

Albus gave him a measured look. "Well, you should probably start with the obvious. It was Miss Granger's wardrobe you fell out of."

Severus pointed at Dumbledore. "No!" he replied emphatically. "It could never be her!"

"Why not?" Albus asked curiously.

"Because… she's a child!"

"And an insufferable know-it-all," Snape's portrait blurted.

"Well, you may not have noticed, but she is no longer a child. She's quite lovely too. And Severus, there's nothing wrong with being intelligent," Albus replied as he looked at Snape's portrait.

"Merlin, Albus, have you lost your mind? How could you even intimate that? I'm sure she'd run screaming if the topic even came up."

"Now Severus, you give yourself too little credit. There's a lot you have to offer a woman. And besides, think of what this potion was supposed to do."

Severus folded his arms in front of him. "Save my life if there was any chance of happiness to be had. Obviously, there wasn't because I died!"

"But now you're alive! Isn't that marvelous? Just think, there's happiness out there for you, Severus. It may just be with Miss Granger. Shouldn't you find out?"

Severus stared at Albus for a long time. The old painting just looked back at him expectantly. Snape's portrait crossed his arms and gave both a measured look while tapping his finger on one arm.

"This is ludicrous. To think that I have returned to find some kind of happiness is beyond ridiculous!" Severus retorted.

"Then why are you standing here talking to me? Shouldn't you be in your grave… rotting?"

Severus deflated. "Yes. Yes, I should be. Or I should be in the beyond, but I'm here. Why am I here?"

Dumbledore gave him a fatherly look. "My boy, I think that's quite obvious. You just refuse to see it. Is it so hard to believe that there may be some way you can be happy?"

"Yes, of course it's hard to believe, you daft coot. I spent my life being unhappy, paying for a mistake I made when I was twenty. There's the proof of that right there!"

He motioned toward his portrait, who was glaring at him at this point.

Albus leaned in toward Severus. "But don't you see? That life is over." He nodded toward Severus' portrait. "You can start fresh. And what better way to be happy than to have a lovely woman on your arm who adores you?"

"You are daft, Dumbledore. Completely daft!" Severus accused. "There's no woman on earth that could find happiness with me, especially Hermione Granger!"

"Severus, open your eyes. Why else would you be here? The potion had a specific outcome… if you could find happiness, you would live. You're alive. What else could it mean?"

"The meddling wanker has a point," Portrait Severus snarked.

Severus grit his teeth together. The old man had lost it. There was no way a potion he'd taken before he'd died could bring him back to life.

"Thanks for the talk, old man," he said before wheeling around, glaring at his own portrait, and leaving the Headmaster's office.

He was Disillusioned before he reached the bottom of the staircase. He needed somewhere to think. Descending to the Potions lab, he looked around to be sure no one was lurking before entering. He quickly moved back to the private brewing room before making himself visible again. He grabbed a cauldron and set about making a Pepper Up potion. He found easy brews like this always calmed him and helped him to think.

He crushed the Bicorn horn without thinking about it and added it to the cauldron. Stirring, he added the mandrake root and the jewelweed at the appropriate times. He sat back to watch the potion bubble.

After a while, he rose and moved over to the bookcase that held a myriad of potions texts. Running his finger along all of them, he finally came to the one he was searching for. Removing it from the shelf, he read the title.

Potions for Beginners

With a wave of his wand, the fake title washed away to reveal the true title of the book.

Stoppering Death

Severus smirked as he flipped to the potion he'd found and made before he had died.

Happily Ever After

He still snorted when he read the name of the potion, but it evidently did its job. Reading through the entire entry, his eyebrows knit together.

There really wasn't anything about coming back to life there. But yet, there wasn't anything to say that you couldn't come back to life.

This potion is for those in mortal peril. It can save the life of the subject, but only if one condition is satisfied. The drinker of this potion will beat death if they can find happiness thereafter. The potion can take effect at any time after the mortal blow is rendered, restoring the subject perfectly and saving them to find their happily ever after.

Severus frowned. That was quite vague. It could be hinting that one could come back from the dead, but the reference was so obscure, no one reading it in passing would think that was what it meant.

Yet here he stood, in the flesh. Renewed, as it were. He absently touched his neck. That had certainly been renewed. Curiously, he unbuttoned his shirt and looked at his chest. Unblemished. The scar over his left pectoral was gone, as were the gashes across his stomach. Conjuring up a mirror, he looked at his back, which was equally pristine.

He was like new. Perhaps the potion had worked correctly. Maybe he could find happiness in this renewed life.

His thoughts turned to Albus and his suggestions. He snorted. Hermione Granger. Yes, of course, who else could make him happy? The whole idea was ludicrous. He became annoyed as the thought of being forced to be with Granger came to mind.

No, he wouldn't be led that way. He would find and make his own happiness. But he would need her for now. He had nowhere to go, and the girl would probably be soft-hearted enough to let him stay with her while he organized his new life. He grimaced. He was not looking forward to being in the presence of Hermione Granger for weeks on end.

Frowning deeply, he closed the potions book and returned the glamour over it. He walked over to the bookcase and returned it to its place. Meandering back to the cauldron, he noted the correct shade of red and removed the potion from the heat.

Decanting it into small bottles, he cleaned up and left them on the table for the current Potions master to find. He scribbled a note left with them.

It will become obvious in a few days who it was who brewed this. I assure you, it is of good quality. Do with it what you wish.

Placing the note under a bottle, he took one last look at the Potions lab and Disapparated away from his old home.

oooo

Hours had passed by the time Severus return to Hermione's flat. The sun was just coming up as he came through the door. Hermione sat on her sofa with her head lying back against it, sleeping lightly when the door opened.

Severus entered and stopped as he noted her sleeping form. She certainly wasn't the girl he'd remembered. In front of him sat a highly attractive woman who he knew to be incredibly intelligent as well. He shook his head as he stared at her. This line of thinking was useless. That woman could never have any feelings for him. He frowned at the thought.

After a moment, she lifted her head to sleepily gaze at him.

"It would seem you are telling the truth about the date," he said sharply.

"Where did you go?" Hermione asked.

"I visited Dumbledore's painting, then wandered around a bit."

Hermione nodded absently. Severus didn't wait for her to make a reply.

"As I have no money, I have nowhere else to go. My home at Spinners End is evidently now a grocery store. Would it be acceptable if I stayed here while I figure out what's going on?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Of course," she offered graciously. "You can stay as long as you'd like."

"Thank you. I won't stay long. Just long enough to get my bearings," he said.

With that, he moved up the stairwell and disappeared into her bedroom, closing the door behind him. Hermione watched after him incredulously. The man had just stolen her bed! Grumbling to herself she headed upstairs to the other bedroom, where she quickly fell asleep.