A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

Word count: 1000

Warning: mentions war, mentions death

Hermione put a hand on Severus' shoulder. It had been years since the war, years since she'd saved him from bleeding out. Now, it seemed the whole world had shifted it's focus.

"Hermione?"

"I'm fine, it's just, twenty years, Severus. It's been twenty years and I...I thought..."

"You thought that in that time you'd be allowed to forget, allowed to put it all behind you."

"Yes. I was a child, I know I was of age, but I was a child! I didn't get to chose the path then."

"But you have now, my Love. We do not have to attend if you do not wish to. I know the anniversary of the battle is hard to cope with, even after all this time."

"We should go, be hailed as the heroes they claim we are," she laughed softly, tugging slightly on the hem of her sleeve. The green velvet dressed hugged her body in a way that made it hard for Severus to keep his eyes off of her. He had a feeling that was part of the reason she'd chosen to wear it, or maybe it was to show the world how gracefully she'd aged from a gawky teenager to a beautiful woman.

"We could be late, fashionably late, have a drink before we are forced into the spotlight," he suggested.

"Hmm, we could. Minerva won't be happy if we're late though, she'll give us that look."

Severus laughed.

"True, she does have that look, it made me behave even as a student."

"You? Really?" Hermione teased, her brown eyes sparkling. Severus noticed tiny wrinkles at the very edges. He knew his face was lined with them, that his own hair was starting to have a silvery tinge to it. Hermione joked that it made him look distinguished.

"Yes, really," he replied, pulling her against him and kissing her. "You are right though, we should get going," he grumbled.

"Or, we could as you suggested, grab a drink before we get there, toast to the nightmares that our lives were back then, how we both somehow believed there was hope."

"I never believed there was hope."

"You did, you believed we could win the war, and we did, in the end," she said softly, sliding her hand into his as they stepped out of their modest home and into the chilly night air.

"I did not believe I would survive the war, that my life was the sacrifice needed."

"We lost too many people that night, Severus, I wasn't about to lose you as well," Hermione stated, watching Severus pull out a cigarette and light it. She gave him a pointed look.

"I will quit, eventually," he stated. Hermione knew he wouldn't, he'd try she was sure of that, but he was so stuck in his ways, even after all this time. It wasn't as if he made much of a habit though, just when things were stressful. Tonight was one of them, going to this thing, hearing the stories about the war they'd both only narrowly managed to survive.

"I know," she lied, giving him a soft smile as they walked down the street, the lights illuminating them as they walked. Severus' cloak swept the sidewalk making a slight sound. Hermione smiled, remembering how she'd heard it sweeping against the stone floors at Hogwarts, how she'd trained her ears to listen for that telltale sound. It had started as a crush, something stupid, her sixth year. Something about the way Severus had taught defense had sent chills down her spine, watching him had set her heart beating in a way no one else ever had.

"Thinking about the past?"

"Yes, about when I was in school, silly I know."

"Are you thinking about the time you returned after the war, sat on the desk in my office?" Severus whispered in her ear causing her face to flush slightly.

"We almost got caught that time."

"We didn't," Severus commented. They'd reached the bar on the corner. Severus pushed open the heavy espresso stained wooden door. Hermione stepped in, glancing around quickly. She'd developed that habit after the war, it was one she'd never been able to break herself from.

"It's safe," she stated, walking up to the bar, Severus trailing her. He couldn't help but notice the white fairy lights hanging from the gilded ceiling caused the silver pendant around her neck to sparkle. He remembered buying it, holding the chain in his hands, the way her eyes had lit up when she'd opened the velveteen box. That had been her thirtieth birthday, not that long ago. He had no idea how he'd top it for her fortieth, but he was sure he'd find a way.

Hermione had already ordered their drinks.

"A toast," she stated, holding up her glass.

"To?" he asked.

"To the war, to surviving long enough to hate going to these things," she stated. Severus nodded, clinking his glass to hers. They downed their drinks. Severus glanced at the round clock in the corner.

"We should go."

"Or we could have another drink, and then another until we've both managed to forget about twenty years ago?" Hermione suggested. Severus shook his head. They had this discussion nearly every five years or so. This was the first time he was more than a little tempted though.

"One more drink," Severus agreed as Hermione ordered.

"To those we lost," she toasted, her eyes filled with sadness as she remembered those they'd lost, the friends they'd lost. Even after the dust cleared, things had never been the same for either of them.

"To those we lost," Severus echoed as he downed the second drink. Hermione sighed.

"I...They're expecting us, aren't they?"

"They are, we survived, we made a new life together," he said, taking her hand. He laid down the money to pay and they stepped back out into the night to face the memories of the nightmare they knew they could never truly put behind them.