Summary: Hermione does what she does best… research. While in the midst, she gets a surprise visitor.

A/N: Thanks for reading, everyone. Hopefully, you are enjoying Severus and Hermione being together.

Chapter 5

They had stayed in each other's arms all night, just enjoying being close to one another. Hermione didn't know when she returned to her own bed, but when morning came, she woke up alone. Sighing, she got up, got dressed, and went down to breakfast. She hurried with her meal, nodding to her colleagues, but not starting up any conversations. Once she was done, she quickly returned back to her room and began looking through the soulmates tome for clues about how she could bring her soulmate back from the dead.

She found the ancient book to be fascinating. It outlined how soulmates could combine their magic to strengthen their actual bond and their individual magic. It described how some soulmates could sense their partner's moods and needs from miles away.

She was buried in the text and concentrating so deeply, that she failed to hear a knock at her door. The knocking grew louder, and Hermione jolted up in surprise. She placed Soulmate Magic on the table next to her sofa and got up to answer the door. As she pulled it open, she was surprised to see Harry Potter on the other side.

"Harry!" she exclaimed as her arms went around him.

She hugged him tightly and then drew him into the room. She closed the door behind her and spun around, grinning widely.

"What brings you to Hogwarts?" she asked him.

Harry shrugged. "Ginny's annoyed with me, so I thought I'd bail and come visit you!" He grinned sheepishly.

"What did you do now, Harry?"

"Me? I didn't do anything! At least, that's what Ginny said. I don't help with the kids, or the housework, or anything else according to her."

Hermione motioned for him to follow her to the sofa. They both settled in, and she turned toward him.

"Is she right?" she asked.

"Not you, too!" Harry cried.

"Honestly, I'm not taking sides, but I know she's complained about this to me before. She expects you to be doing things that you're not. Have you asked her what she wants help with?"

Harry looked down and blushed. "That may have been a better idea than storming out in a huff."

Hermione chuckled, then sobered at Harry's glare.

"I know this is serious, Harry, but I think if you two talk it out, you'll be able to get on the same page and you'll both feel better."

"You're right," Harry said with a sigh. "I'll talk with her, but I want to know how you are doing first. I've missed you, Hermione. It's not the same with you way up here at Hogwarts. I'm used to you popping in whenever you felt like it, and us doing the same with you."

"I know. I've missed you, too. But I've been so busy, and the students keep me running!"

"How many exploded cauldrons have you had so far?" Harry asked.

Hermione mentally counted before responding. "Five, and three melted ones. The first week was the worst. The students needed to figure out my teaching style, and the first years were just rambunctious to move forward before I told them to do so. The last two weeks have been better."

"Sounds like everything is going well for you."

Hermione nodded. Harry looked around her sitting room.

"This is nice." His eyes fell on the soulmates book. He reached past Hermione so he could get a closer look.

"Soulmate magic?" he sat back and gave her a quizzical look. "What are you researching, Hermione? Have you finally found your soulmate?"

Hermione laughed nervously and rose from the sofa. She went over to the fireplace and stared at the flames.

"Hermione?"

She was quiet for a minute, thinking about whether she should tell Harry about what had been going on. Finally, she turned back toward him, moved back to the sofa, and sat next to him again.

"Harry, I have something to tell you. It's a bit of an involved story, so please let me get through all of it before you comment, okay?"

He nodded.

"I have found my soulmate, but it's complicated. A few days ago, I found a box hidden in the wall over there." She motioned with her head.

"Stay here for a minute," she said absently as she rose and disappeared into her bedroom.

Hermione opened her side table drawer and extracted the note from Severus. Looking down at it, she debated once again whether she should share this information with Harry. She wasn't sure if he'd think she'd gone mad or what. He was her friend, though, and she trusted him.

Moving back into the sitting room, she settled back onto the sofa with Harry. She looked at him tentatively.

"This note was in the box," she said simply as she handed it to him.

He read the letter, and his eyes grew wide. He looked at her in shock. She waited, but he was silent.

"Aren't you going to say something?" Hermione asked with annoyance.

"You told me to keep quiet until you were done!" he replied.

"Oh, right… well, I guess I changed my mind. What are your thoughts on that letter?" she asked as she pointed to it.

"Well, to be honest, I'm a bit in shock. How could he be your soulmate, Hermione? He's dead." He kept looking at the letter. "Would you want him to be your soulmate? I mean, he was a git when we were students, but then he was a hero, and I've always wondered if he lived how would he be different."

"You're babbling, Harry."

Harry's head snapped up. "Wow, you're usually the babbler."

"That's very true," she admitted.

"Hermione, there's so much in this note. The fact that there's a prophecy that involves both you and Snape is… insane. Then the fact that you are soulmates with him, and that you might be able to bring him back from the dead. Honestly, this is a lot."

Hermione nodded. "I know. Think of how I've felt about it!"

"How do you feel about it?" Harry asked.

Hermione deflated. "You are going to think me a fool," she said absently.

Harry moved closer. "Hermione, of all the people I've ever known, you are the smartest. I could never think you a fool."

She sighed and looked at the fireplace again. "I have always respected Professor Snape. I've always wanted to get to know him better. When I first found out we were soulmates, I found it hard to believe, but in speaking with Severus, he was able…"

"What?" Harry cried.

Hermione put her hand up. "Sorry, I haven't gotten to that part yet. I guess this is where you can be silent until I'm done."

She smiled at him to make sure he wasn't upset with her. He nodded for her to go on.

"Like I was saying, I found it hard to believe, but if the prophecy was true, then of course I wanted to bring Severus back. I also am crushed that my soulmate is dead. I want that relationship in this life, not the next.

"There was another thing in the box… a broken potion vial. When I opened the box, it sprayed in my face. The potion has given me the ability to communicate with Severus in my dreams."

Harry's eyebrows knit together. "Hermione, are you sure? Maybe someone is trying to use you in some way."

"I know you're an Auror, Harry, but this isn't nefarious. I checked the potion once it sprayed me. There's nothing bad in it, and it left no negative effects. It just lets me communicate with Severus."

"You've called him Severus twice now. I take it you accept this letter as truth?"

Hermione nodded. "This prophecy was uttered the summer before our sixth year. Severus knew all that time that we were soulmates. He tested the theory with a potion that can determine if two people are soulmates. It's foolproof, and it showed that we truly are. That part of the prophecy was true."

She got up and started to pace. "I know Trelawney is a quack, but she has uttered true prophecies twice before. I went and retrieved the prophecy, and it's almost exactly what Severus wrote in that letter. If Trelawney got the soulmate part right, then why shouldn't I believe that the rest of it is right?" She turned to Harry. "I have to believe that if I search hard enough, I'll find a way to bring him back."

Harry looked troubled. Hermione waited for him to gather his thoughts. He looked up at her.

"Hermione, won't that involve Dark Magic?"

Hermione folded her arms and thought about it. "It has crossed my mind that it may, but I was talking to Minerva about soulmates. She said that there are some instances where a soulmate can bring their partner back from the dead. That can't be Dark Magic, it has to lie somewhere in the soulmate bond, which is anything but Dark."

Harry rose and came up to Hermione. He looked determined, and Hermione feared he would tell her she was insane, and that she was going to ruin her soul with Dark Magic.

"How can I help?" he asked simply.

"You believe me?" she said dubiously.

"Of course. Hermione, when have you ever been wrong?"

She snorted. "Loads of times!"

"When it mattered?"

Hermione laughed as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"Thanks, Harry. I don't know what I'd do without you!"

They pulled back from each other, and she smiled at him. "Maybe you can ask around about soulmates. Also, check the Ministry library for me."

"I can do that. I'll let you know what I find out."

They separated and Harry headed for the door. "Expect an owl from me in a day or two." He turned and smiled at Hermione. "It's good to see you," he said. "Even if you've gotten yourself waist-deep in intrigue yet again."

Hermione laughed. "Get out of here, you!" she said.

He waved and left. Hermione shook her head at him. Really, he could have reacted much worse, and his offer to help was so appreciated even if he didn't come up with anything. She sighed and turned back to her sofa. Picking up the soulmate's book, she continued her research.

oooOOOooo

Several hours later, she was still at it. She'd taken a break and gone to the Great Hall for lunch, but just like during breakfast, she'd eaten quickly and returned back to her room and the text. She'd been engrossed since.

Her study was interrupted by a tapping at her door. Her eyebrows furrowed, as the sound didn't seem to be someone knocking. She rose and opened the door, and an owl flew in, landing on her coffee table. She rushed over and removed the letter from the owl's leg. She went over to her mantle, the owl following, and pulled out a treat for the bird. He snapped it out of her hand and flew back out the door.

She watched it go and then opened the letter.

Hermione,

Ginny and I talked everything out, and we're good again. In thinking about your task, I reached out to my mother-in-law. Guess what I found out? Molly and Arthur are soulmates. I told her that you're curious about soulmates but didn't say anything more. I'll leave that up to you, but she's happy to tell you anything you want to know. You should make a visit to her.

Harry

Hermione stared at the note in disbelief. Molly and Arthur may hold the key to saving Severus. Taking the letter, she marked her place in Soulmate Magic and left her room, intent on talking to the Weasleys right away.