A/N: I lied. Last chapter was not the sappy chapter. This is. And it has fluff too!!! Yay! Actually, I'm afraid I might disappoint some people with the Epilogue because it's rather… old romance-novel-ish…  It's sappy and sickly-sweet, so be warned!!!!!

And of course,  in my world, a sappy Snape-chapter means a sappy and therefore OOC Snape, so be warned – again!!!

And, if you want to blame anything for this chapter of sickly-sweet happiness, go blame Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves for the idea and Sense and Sensibility for my choice of words for them. Especially for Severus' part… (Alan Rickman looks sooo good in the wedding scene!!! Snape should wear more red, he really should…)

Yes, all your reviews persuaded me to make them happy.  I like my story being, as Gethsemane put it, "wonderfully poignant," but heck, I got so many people asking for an epilogue, I figured I'd write one. After I got over my bout of writers' block, that is.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything save the plot. The song, "A Thousand Miles," and its lyrics belong to Vanessa Carlton. Harry Potter and Co. belong to J.K. Rowling. DO NOT SUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you.

::end of disclaimer::

Enjoy!

Epilogue

Five years after Hermione's graduation, summertime…

             Severus sat in his room, hunched over a muggle adventure book that he'd read so many times already he'd lost count. It was one of his favorites and he'd read it over and over, sometimes in less than an hour. But today, it was hard to get past the second chapter. He'd been staring at page thirty-seven for about ten minutes, and he was still on the second line.

            Finally, he gave up. Sighing, he closed the book, and stood up. He was restless.  He needed to take a walk, yet a stroll around the castle grounds was not exactly what he was thinking of.  Finally, he headed over to a closet and selected a black cloak. He changed into some muggle clothes, before throwing the cloak over the whole outfit and heading out to the Forbidden Forest. He walked until he reached the border of the forest and of Hogwarts, before disapparating.

Making my way down town
Walking fast
Faces pass
And I'm home bound

Staring blankly ahead
Just making my way
Making a way
Through the crowd

            He apparated in London. Why he chose the muggle city he didn't know.  It just felt like the place to go – though, he realized, it wasn't exactly the place most people would go to when they wanted to have a nice walk. He didn't have any specific place to go, so he just started walking, losing himself in his thoughts. The thoughts that been haunting him for months now. He made his way through the crowd. Unfamiliar faces passed by.  He paid them no attention, for he was always thinking of her.

            He remembered how she would always be the first to have her hand up when he asked a question. The way she would always help Longbottom, no matter how many points he took from Gryffindor or detentions she spent a week. He never used to pay much attention to her before, but somehow, now when the memories came, he thought of things he had never noticed before. The way the sun always caught in her bushy, cinnamon hair. The way her brown eyes would light up at every new piece of information.

And I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall
Into the sky
Do you think time
Would pass me by
Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you... tonight

Hermione sat on a bench outside of the house she shared with her fiancée, holding a flower in her hand. She looked at it idly, not really paying attention. She was thinking of 'him' again today. She'd tried over and over to push the thoughts of him away whenever they came to haunt her- after all, she was to be married in two weeks. It wouldn't do to be thinking of 'him' when she had so much to look forward to, would it?

"So much," Hermione whispered, giving a bitter laugh. She shook her head and sighed.  A month ago she had been so sure of herself, so certain that this was what she had wanted. That Ron was what she had wanted.

She was having second thoughts now.

And today, she couldn't push the thoughts of 'him' away.

It wasn't that she didn't love Ron. But somehow… somehow, when she thought of her future with him, it didn't feel… right. At least not as right as it would with 'him.'

She laughed at herself again. A hollow, joyless laugh, empty of any feeling at all. "Silly girl," she said quietly. "Thinking about that now? A little late, don't you think? Especially after what you did to him."

Suddenly her hand closed in a fist, crushing the flower. Propping her elbow on her knee, she rested her forehead against the fist.  "Oh, Severus…" She murmured.

There's always times like these
When I think of you
And I wonder
If you ever think of me


Cause everything's so wrong
And I don't belong
Living in
Your precious memory

            She wondered what he was doing now. Probably preparing for the next school year. Maybe he was brewing a potion for Madame Pomfrey. Or reading a book. Or inventing a new potion for something or other. Hermione smiled at that thought. He'd always loved coming up with new ideas. She remembered sitting with him outside the school, while he'd explain to her a new potion that could reduce hair loss – one that was easier to make! – or a potion that could allow a person to eat as much as they wanted, and not gain too much weight. She'd loved listening to him.

            "So brilliant," said Hermione to herself. But she felt a pang of guilt at the memories. Those memories didn't belong to her. She never should have even been there to hear his ideas.

            She wondered if he thought of her now, when it had been so long. She knew it was a foolish thing to think, but she couldn't help but wonder…

She moved her fist down, but kept her hand closed around the crushed flower, not really noticing it was there.

            God, she missed him. Missed him so much…



Cause I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall
Into the sky
Do you think time
Would pass me by, oh
Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you... tonight

            Severus stopped and looked up to see where his feet had taken him…

…And gasped.

            It seemed that his feet had played traitor to him once again.

He stood in front of the gate of a white picket fence. It opened up to a green, grassy lawn. Sitting proudly on its emerald carpet was an average house. None of this was what shocked Severus. In fact, it wasn't even the bench on the front lawn that had made gasp.

It was who sat on it.

Hermione Granger still looked as beautiful as she had when he'd last seen her, even more so to him. He stared at her for a moment, before realizing that he should leave now if he didn't want her to see him.

            But his eyes had different ideas, and before he could make himself turn away her head whipped up and his eyes met hers. His feet betrayed him again as well, and in seconds he had opened the gate and was headed up the lawn to where she sat.


And I, I don't wanna let you know
I, I drown in your memory
I, I don't wanna let this go
I, I don't...

            Hermione lifted her head to stare nonchalantly down at the street. But her eyes never made it to the asphalt ground.

            Instead, they met the eyes of Severus Snape.

            "I don't believe it," she gasped. But in the mere amount of time it took her to say that he'd already opened the gate and quick, long strides, made his way to the bench.

            She swallowed and stood up. "Professor Snape," she held out a hand. "What a surprise!"

            Severus looked at the hand, and felt a sickening wave of déjà vu. He was brought back to her graduation, that night so long ago. It was his turn to swallow.

"Professor?"

            He blinked and looked at Hermione. Again, he was aware of that feeling of experiences replayed.   He took her hand.

"Miss Granger," he said in greeting, before letting go of her hand.

There was an awkward silence.

Finally, Severus couldn't stand it. "Gabriella, I'm so sorry," he said, taking the girl in his arms.

But she pulled away. "Gabriella," she said quietly, not quite daring to meet his eyes, "does not exist."

Severus would not give up though. He took another step forward. "Hermione, then," he corrected himself, but did not reach for her this time. Even, so she took a step back from him and the bench. "Or Margaret, or Marianne, or Elinor!" He cried. Now he pulled he into his arms, and though she turned her head, she did not pull away. "I do not care what name I should call you by, only that it is you who replies!"

            Hermione closed her eyes, tears threatening to spill again. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so very, very sorry." She pulled away again, looked at the ground. Severus noticed as her right hand went nervously to her left, and fiddled with something there. Severus looked to see what it was.

A gold band adorned her ring finger.  Severus snatched her hand up and stared at it.

Hermione opened her eyes and looked up at him, afraid of what he might say. She watched his face as confusion, then anger, and then suddenly a calm resignation passed over it. She remained silent.

Finally, he put her hand down. "Who's the lucky man?" He asked quietly.

"Severus," she said quietly, her eyes pleading. She took a step forward and put a hand tentatively on his shoulder.

He jerked away and repeated himself, just as quietly as before, "Come now, Miss Granger, who's the lucky man?"

Ron Weasley chose this moment to go outside and check on his fiancée.

Seeing Severus, he stepped up behind Hermione and put an arm protectively around her shoulder. "Hermione, love? Are you OK?" He glared at Severus, not even bothering to say hello.

            Severus stared at the couple; his eyes moving first to him, then to her, and then back again. "E-excuse me," he turned around and, just as quickly as he'd come, left the couple standing on their lawn.



Making my way down town
Waking fast
Faces pass
And I'm home bound


Staring blankly ahead
Making my way
Making a way
Through the crowd

"Dearest, what was that about?" asked Ron.

Hermione stared after Severus. She closed her eyes in thought. Finally, she made a decision. She would not lose him again. She looked up at he fiancée and best friend. "Nothing, Ron. Nothing." She pulled the ring off her finger and turned to face him.

            Ron looked at her, confused. "Hermione, love, what are you doing?"

            "What I should have done a while ago." She paused to take a breath. "Please, try to understand me when I say this." She hesitated and looked at him.

"Hermione, dear, put the ring back on your finger and come back inside." Ron's voice was worried.

She shook her head. "I can't."

"What?" Ron laughed nervously. "Of course you can. Don't talk nonsense." He grabbed her hand.

"Ron, listen." She pulled away.  "Ron, thank you so much for everything. You've given me more than I've ever deserved. But-" She hesitated. "I- I can't marry you. I- I'm sorry," she blurted out.  Quickly, she handed him the ring, before he could say anything to her. Then she fled, running after Severus, in hopes of catching him before he returned to Hogwarts.

            And Ron, abashed, stared at the ring in his hand in disbelief, before looking to see the woman he had bought it for, only to find that she'd already gone.


And I still need you
And I still miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time, would pass us by
Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you...

Hermione searched the crowd for a black-cloaked figure. Finally, she saw him.

"Severus? Severus!" She called out, but if he'd heard her, he made no sign of it.

She hurried after him, but by the time she'd reached him he'd gone. She spotted him just as he disappeared into an alleyway. Quickly, she ran after him but by the time she'd gotten to the alley he'd disapparated.  Quickly, she apparated to the borders of the Forbidden Forest, but she saw no sign of Severus. Sighing, she transformed. In the shape of a dove, she flew through the forest, searching for Severus.

She caught a glimpse of him through the trees and landed nearby. After returning to human form, she continued her chase on foot. When she reached hearing distance, she called out, "Severus!"

Severus stopped and turned. He stared at her in disbelief. "Hermione?"

"Severus," Hermione gasped.

He hurried towards her. He did not hold her as he would have liked, but stopped a foot away from her. Regaining his composure he asked, "Miss Granger, what are you doing here? Surely Mr. Weasley-"

"I don't really care about Ron right now." She stepped forward. "Only you."

Severus gave up on civility. He gathered her in his arms and held her close. "Oh, Hermione." He rested his chin on top of her head, relishing in the feeling of holding her again.

Finally, Hermione looked up. Their eyes met and he kissed her softly, gently, as if she were fragile and would break.

They pulled away. "Severus, I-"

But he placed a finger on her lips, silencing her. "I know."

He kissed her again, this time with more fervor than before. She returned the kiss with a passion greater than she knew she could.

And for the first time since they both could remember, they were happy. Truly happy.


If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by
Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you...
If I could just hold you... tonight

FINIS.

~*~*~

A/N: ::sigh:: Now it's the end. I hope you all enjoyed this. I know I did.

A very, very special thanks to Lataradk! Hugs, Lataradk!

And a thank you for the wonderful response I've received for this. It really does make a girl feel good you know.

I also should add something about the names that Severus cries out. I took the liberty of using the names of the three Dashwood sisters, Margaret, Marianne, and Elinor (in order from youngest to oldest) in Sense and Sensibility.  So I'm slightly crazed about it at the moment. So what?

::A very angry Hermione Granger walks in::

Hermione: 'I don't care about Ron right now, only you?" Are you insane? What in the world were you thinking?

Me: Um… sappy?

::Severus Snape walks in with a look on his face that could kill::

Snape: You're mad, woman! 'I do not care what name I should call you by, only that it is you who replies?' That's outrageous! I demand that you change it immediately!

Me: Uh-oh. Rebellion of the characters! I better get out of here! ::runs away::

Hermione: Crap! Where'd she go?

Snape: I don't know, but I hope it's somewhere far away from a computer so that she doesn't ever write one of these horrible things she calls fics again!

::somewhere else (I can't tell you where, or else Snape would find me!)::

Miracle: ::typing:: Good, they're gone. Now I can finish.

Please, do review!

Hugs to all!

-Miracle ::still hiding::

Quick Disclaimer:  Sense and Sensibility belongs to Jane Austen. I am not Jane Austen. I do not own Sense and Sensibility.