Summary: Hermione seeks Harry's help with Severus.

A/N: There's exhumation of a body in this chapter. It's not gross, but I understand it could squick some of you out. Thanks again for your interest in this story. I am back from vacation and said it's over.

Chapter 9

"Harry, I need a favor."

Hermione gazed at her friend as they stood in his office. She'd burst in, and after giving Harry a quick hug had delved into what she needed.

"I need to exhume Severus Snape's body," she said boldly.

Harry cringed. "Oy, Hermione. That's morbid."

Hermione smirked. "Yes, you're right, but I need it to bring Severus back."

Harry motioned for her to take the seat in front of his desk. He sat down too.

"Hermione… are you sure about this? It's been ten years. Can you imagine what he looks like?"

Hermione blanched. "My research has said that because of our soulmate bond, his body should have been preserved."

"But what if it's not?"

Hermione's eyebrows knit together, and she looked to the desktop as she thought about what Harry said.

"I don't know. I hadn't let myself go down that road. I'll figure it out, though. I'll fix him."

"Hermione…"

Her eyes shot up to him. "Harry, he's my soulmate. I have to try!"

"Why don't you just move on? There are plenty of great guys out there."

Hermione shot him a glare. "Harry, he is my husband."

"What? How can that be? You said you didn't know he was your soulmate until a little while ago. How could you be married?"

Hermione blushed. "We sealed our bond the other day."

"Hermione, how could you do such a thing?" he asked crossly. "Did he force you to do this?"

Hermione felt ire rising within her. She had a deep desire to hex her friend but decided against it. Nonetheless, her voice rang with fury.

"Of course he didn't! He is my soulmate, Harry Potter. We are meant to be together. That's how I could do it. How dare you insinuate that he would force me into this!"

Harry rose from his seat. He, too, was incensed. "He's dead, Hermione. You made love to a dead man, binding yourself to someone you can never be with. That's insane!"

Hermione burst to her feet as well. She glared at her best friend before speaking again.

"How dare you say I'm insane. We had to bond so I can bring him back. We have to be married for the magic to work. Don't you dare question my motives on this Harry Potter!"

"I'm just worried about you!" He threw up his hands and began to pace. "You're obsessed with this, and I just hope it works, because if it doesn't, I fear for your sanity."

Hermione softened. "I know you're worried, but I'm okay. I know this can work. I know it. But if it doesn't…" Hermione looked to the floor. "I'll be okay. Devastated, but okay."

Harry came around the side of the desk and grasped her arms. "You're sure?"

Hermione gave him a sharp nod.

"You won't try to… end your life to be with him?" Harry asked quietly.

She looked at him then. "I can't say that it hasn't crossed my mind to do so, but no… I won't kill myself. I can't promise you I won't long for death, though, but I won't seek it out. Severus would never forgive me anyway if I did, and I wouldn't want to be stuck with him in eternity if he was forever cross with me."

Harry chuckled. "He definitely can be a git when he's angry."

"Don't I know it."

Harry let go of her and looked down. "I'm sorry I was harsh. I'm worried about you, Hermione. Sure, it would be great for you if Snape were alive again, but the chances are slim."

"Please, Harry, don't. Believe me, my mind has gone there again and again. All I can do is cast the spell and prepare for either outcome. I'm not going to fall apart thinking it's not going to work because that's defeatist thinking. The prophecy said that I would be successful if I didn't despair. I have to concentrate on the positive… that this will work, and we will be reunited. If I think about the other option, I don't know if I could function to perform the spell."

Harry pulled Hermione into a hug. "This must be very stressful. How can I help?"

Hermione softened and collapsed into his hug. "Thank you, Harry. I need permission to exhume Severus."

"You have it. I can help you with his body if you'd like."

"You'd do that?"

"Of course. I have no gripe with a dead man."

Hermione chuckled into his chest. She pulled back and smiled at him. "Thanks for being my friend, Harry."

He scoffed. "You're like my sister, and you've saved my arse umpteen times."

They separated and Harry smirked. "I've got some time now if you're anxious to see your dead husband."

"Harry!" she said as she slapped his arm.

"Come on, let's go," Harry said as he motioned for her to leave his office.

In a few minutes, they were at Hogwarts, walking to Severus' grave. The graveyard for the fallen was near the far edge of the lake, close to Dumbledore's grave. Because there was now a cemetery on Hogwarts grounds, the Anti-Apparition wards had been altered to leave this part of the grounds accessible to anyone who wanted to visit.

Harry and Hermione trudged through the cemetery, glancing at the familiar names on the headstones. They sobered more and more as they proceeded, thinking about the fallen. They stopped for a few minutes to visit Fred's gravesite. Harry leaned down and brushed some leaves off it.

"Damn shame, that. Too bad you weren't soulmates with him."

Hermione snickered. "I'm sure George would be thrilled if I were able to bring him back. I wish there were a way," she drifted off, deep in thought.

They continued on, glancing at a few other tombstones on the way.

oooOOOooo

Severus' grave was closest to Dumbledore's, his right-hand man for eternity. He had a large black stone marker with his name inscribed on it and 'Veiled Hero' inscribed underneath. They finally came upon it, and Hermione stooped down and placed her hand on the stone. Tears came to her eyes as she looked at his name carved in the marker. She quickly wiped her tears away and stood. She looked at Harry.

"Ready when you are," she said.

"What's your plan once we dig him up? Are you going to float him back to the castle?"

Hermione blanched then burst into laughter. "That would be a sight, wouldn't it!"

She eyed Harry, who laughed as well.

"I'm going to Apparate him to the Shrieking Shack. The spell said that bringing a loved one back to life works best at the place of death."

"That's pretty morbid, Hermione."

"Don't I know it."

They moved to the foot of the grave. Hermione took her wand and looked to Harry to make sure he was ready. He had extended his wand as well.

"Difodio," they said together and watched the dirt pull itself from the ground and pile itself next to the grave. Finally, the tomb was exposed. The cement tomb rose up to be level with the ground. Hermione looked at Harry. They gave each other nervous looks. Turning back to the tomb Hermione flicked her wand, and the top stone lifted and moved away.

Hermione and Harry crept up to the casket and peered in. Hermione gasped.

"He looks just as he was when we were in school!" she cried. "He's been fully preserved."

"His neck is healed completely," Harry said as he pointed to Severus' body. "He even looks younger than I remember."

Hermione expelled a relieved breath. "Oh, wow! My hope for this plan working has just increased ten-fold."

"Indeed," Harry replied.

Hermione turned to him. "Are you ready to lift him? He'll need to be lifted up and then moved over close to me. I'll then take him and Apparate him to the shack."

Harry nodded and pointed his wand at Snape's body. He uttered the incantation, "Wingardium Leviosa" and Severus' body began to rise. He directed it up and over to Hermione. She looked at him and nodded.

"Meet me at the Shack," she said as her arms surrounded Severus' body, and she spun away.

Hermione appeared on the upper floor of the shack and took her arms away from Severus' body, which continued to float. Hermione waved her wand and Severus' body moved behind her as she made her way to the bedroom. An ornate four-poster bed sat in the middle of the room. Hermione flicked her wand at the bed, and it was immediately clean with new bedsheets on it. Severus' body floated over to it and hovered. She let his body float down onto the center of the bed. Seeing he was settled, she sat at the edge of the bed and caressed Severus' face.

"Now that's creepy," Harry said as he entered the room.

Hermione withdrew her hand as if she were burned.

"Sorry," she said.

Harry came up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Who am I to stand between you and your dead man?" he asked with a smile. "I fixed up the grave so no one will know it was disturbed."

Hermione grinned. Standing up, she hugged Harry. "Thank you for your help."

"When are you going to perform the ceremony?" Harry asked as they pulled away from each other.

"The Acromantula venom should be here no later than the end of the week. I can proceed once I have it. The potion takes a day to brew, so probably this weekend."

"Do you need any help with that?"

Hermione shook her head. "It's a very personal ritual. I'm the only one who can perform it, and I have to be alone with him."

"All right. Let me know if you need anything. I'll look forward to seeing Snape soon."

"Oh, me too!" Hermione said with a chuckle.

Harry nodded to Hermione and left the room. She soon heard his snap of Apparition after that. She turned back to Severus' body. Reaching out she covered his hand with hers. It was stiff and ice cold, and she shivered as she touched it.

"I'll bring you back, my love. We'll be together soon."

oooOOOooo

Hermione prepared to visit Severus in the beyond. Laying on her bed and closing her eyes, she worked on falling asleep. Soon, she opened her eyes and found Severus sitting at his desk reading. She crept up to him and quickly put her arms around him, kissing his neck. He tilted his head so she could get a better angle.

"Here I thought I had snuck up on you," she said as she continued to kiss his neck.

"Spy," he explained.

Hermione chuckled and withdrew, spinning her husband around so she could greet him more enthusiastically. She sat on his lap and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling his head down so she could kiss him.

"You are exquisite," Severus murmured as he captured her lips with his. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. It seems like so much time between our meetings."

Severus nodded before kissing her some more. She fell into his kisses and returned the fervor of them. Her hand came up and weaved into his hair. She pulled him even closer.

"I love you," she murmured when they'd parted.

"And I, you," Severus replied.

"I have your body, Severus. It looks just like it did when you were alive. It's even better… you appear to look younger and your neck wounds are fully healed. I'd bet other scars are gone too."

He arched an eyebrow at her. "That's a surprise."

She nodded. "Once the Acromantula Venom comes in, I'll make the potion, and we'll be ready to do the ceremony."

Excitement lit Severus' eyes. "I can't wait." He smirked seductively at her. "I can't wait to be alive so I can do this…"

His lips were on her once again, and he caressed her lovingly. Their passion increased until Severus pulled away, his eyes filled with love for her. Maneuvering so Hermione stood, he followed and rose as well, grasped her hand, and pulled her to the bedroom. Closing the door behind him, he pulled her close and kissed her some more. That night he showed her everything he wanted to do with her in life once he was reunited with his body.