Hermione gave him a small, somewhat forced smile. As great as it was that the Dark Lord was gone, there was still a lot of grief and trauma pushing down on her, but in his presence, she was able to give him some kind of smile.

"I came to see you and tell you the good news. All of the tireless work paid off. Voldemort is gone. We did it. We all did it."

Severus didn't say anything, nor did his expression change; he merely looked across the room. Hermione wasn't sure if he was trying to comprehend what she said or if he was thinking of something to say.

"Severus?"

"Don't call me that."

"Why not?"

"Because it's far too inappropriate. I'm your professor."

"Not anymore you're not."

There was a pregnant pause. Hermione was trying to figure out the correct way to ask him about what he had done, but she wasn't sure how. She finally mucked up the courage and with a big sigh, just went for it.

"Why'd you do it?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Why did you write all those letters to me while Harry, Ron and I were on the run? And why didn't you tell me it was you?"

"Do you really think you would've trusted me in any way to do what I was telling you to do if you knew it was me?" he replied, raising his eyebrow at her ever so slightly.

"Perhaps you're right. . ." she replied quietly.

"Of course I am."

"Thank you. . ."

"Your thanks are not needed, . I was merely doing what I was asked to do to help end the Dark Lord's wrath."

"I know I know but please, still accept my sincere thank you, would you?"

Severus was going to protest once more, but he thought against it, deciding to give a slow nod, acknowledging her thanks.

"And one other thing..."

"Yes, what could that possibly be?" he droned.

"Call me Hermione, please."

"I make no promises."

Hermione smirked at his response.

Hermione had been floored when she realized who had been writing the letters to her when the Golden Trio had been on the hunt for Horcruxes in her final year. Hermione wouldn't have admitted it to anyone else, but she found herself growing attracted to the mystery person at the time. The way they had written their words and how intelligent they were was titillating. Actively communicating with someone that was on her level of knowledge and expertise was a breath of fresh air for Hermione in the midst of the chaos in the wizarding world and her typical conversations with Ron and Harry. She was transfixed, and she had been more than shocked to find out just less than twelve hours ago that it was Severus Snape whom she had been writing to.

Shockingly enough, it didn't put a knot in her stomach, nor did it leave a bad taste in her mouth. Nothing of the sort that others would probably think if they realized they were attracted to the man in such a way, but it didn't bother her one bit.

"How're you feeling?" she spoke up once more.

"As well as anyone could feel after being nearly killed by a venomous and magical being such as Nagini..."

"Well, I'm very happy you're alive."

"You must be the only one."

Hermione shook her head and chuckled. "You can think that all you want, but it's not the truth. Many people have come to the realisation of how heroic your actions were, they will find you innocent if you go to trial."

"Still an insufferable know-it-all I see," he huffed with a small eye roll that made Hermione smirk. "There will still be plenty of others out there that don't have the same mindset as you, ."

"Hermione."

"Granger. . ." he continued, annoyed with her continued prodding of calling her by her first name.

It was Hermione's turn to eye roll. "Fine, do as you like. I just wanted to see you and speak to you before I left."

"Left to go where?" His low voice rumbled, with a hint of curiosity.

"To Australia to find my parents. I obliviated them some time ago and I-I want to make an attempt to bring their memory back and bring them home."

Severus was silent for a few more moments before responding. "How long have they been obliviated?"

"Almost a year or so..." Hermione admitted in a pained whisper.

"It takes a great deal of skilled magic to bring someone's memory back after a month, let alone a whole year, Miss. Granger."

"I know..." Hermione bit down on her lower lip, trying hard not to let the tears fall, she could feel the straining in her throat as she held back the sob.

Severus truly felt terrible for the girl, but he didn't dare show it. His health was hopefully going to improve, but it would take him a lot of time to gain the strength to perform such powerful magic as reversing an obliviate after such a long period of time.

Granger is one of the reasons I am even still alive...the least I can do is offer some assistance if possible. . .Merlin I hope she doesn't take this incorrectly...

"Miss. Granger," he began, cutting off his inner thoughts. Hermione quickly dabbed at her eyes and met his gaze. "Y-yes?"

"I would like to offer you my help in some way...if I may?"

Hermione was floored. Is he really offering to help me?

"I-umm-that would be great, thank you."

Severus nodded once again. "Owl me when you arrive in Australia, I will give you the best instruction I can through letters, and hopefully this can allow you to restore your parents memory."

"I will! Thank you very much."

"I would, however, appreciate it if you don't go around telling everyone we are communicating," he said in a slightly harsher tone. "Merlin knows they will probably be trying to intercept my owls anyway."

That gave Hermione an idea. She pulled her beaded bag out of her pocket and cast engorio to bring it to its normal size. She fished around in it for a minute, Severus eyed her curiously with a raised eyebrow. Hermione eventually retrieved what she needed. She held out her hand, opening it up to show two revealers in her palm.

"I've had these two for a few years now. Keep one with you, that way we can communicate with the invisible writing, and you'll be the only one that's able to see it using that revealer."

"I must admit, that's clever of you, Miss. Granger."

Hermione was about to reply when she was interrupted by several knocks on the hospital room door.

"Oi!" Hermione heard Dawlish say through the closed door. "You've spent enough time there, Granger. Let's go!"

Hermione took away the one way silencing spell with a wave of her wand. "I'm coming, for Merlin's sake, no need to be rude!"

She turned her attention back to Severus, giving him another small smile.

"I'll speak with you soon. Get yourself plenty of rest."

She stood up and made her way to the door, throwing him a kind smile over her shoulder before shutting the door, leaving him to himself and his own thoughts.

Severus' head was spinning with rapid thoughts and the mixture of emotions he was feeling. An overwhelming feeling of relief hit him like a ton of bricks, coming more and more to the realization that the Dark Lord truly was no more, and that he was finally free.

Not just yet, Severus. His internal thoughts interrupted. You still have to go to trial.

Severus huffed, taking one more sip of water before allowing it to levitate over to the side table and closing his eyes, trying ever so hard to push away those inner thoughts and drift off to sleep.