Summary: Hermione and Snape had a relationship during the war and Snape was presumed dead. Eleven years later he returns without his memory, Hermione is married, and has another secret about their past she hasn't shared yet with anyone.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all the characters from the Harry Potter universe, and anything else that is related to it.
Notes: The story plot is slightly inspired from the film Pearl Harbour staring Ben Afleck, where his character returns from being presumed dead, and finds out his girlfriend is a couple with his best friend now, and also pregnant.
Secondary notes: This is my second long fic here on this site. My first is The Love of One Woman which is also a SS/HG story.
Pairings: HG/SS, HG/RW
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GRACED BY TIME
Written by Professor-Hermione-Snape
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Chapter One
Shadows of the Past, Part I
"He should have been back by now," Hermione Granger exclaimed desperately so, as Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, her best friends since her first year at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardy, stood in the main corridor of the school, awaiting the return of Professor Severus Snape from a Death Eater meeting with Lucius Malfoy. "I fear that something happened this time. He shouldn't have trusted Malfoy like that." Hermione replied softly.
Professor Dumbledore, who was also in the corridor with them, spoke up gentally to the worried group of Seventh years that awaited Snape with such deep concern in respect for their friend Hermione. Everyone knew that in the last year the relationship between Snape and Hermione, had been slowly changing into something no one expected. It was painfully obvious how deeply Hermione cared for the man, given the haunted look in her brown eyes, and the passion in her voice when she spoke of her concern.
"Miss Granger, Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape have been best friends since their early childhood. Long before either joined this School. Severus had no reason not to trust Lucius in this case," Dumbledore rumbled softly. "For several years Lucius has expected Severus of being a Spy for me. Not once has he ever given his suspicions to the Dark Lord out of his friendship with Severus. Lucius Malfoy is a caculating, cunning man, but there are still some values he holds deeply in his heart. Family and friendships are high on that list. So please, do not count Severus Snape out yet, as he is just as cunning as Lucius Malfoy, if not more so."
Hermione allowed herself a small smile but then continued her
death watch over the enterance doors of the School, daring Severus Snape's
return soon, or the bastard she still suspected of his downfall.
***
Hours seemingly passed since they first stood at the doors, but it had now been nearly a full day, and Severus Snape or Lucius Malfoy had not returned from the Death Eater meeting.
"It should have been over hours ago." Hermione said sadly. "He must be dead."
Ron and Harry, seated on either side of her at the doors on the floor, looked at eachother worriedly, and then back at her.
"You don't know that, Mione," Harry whispered, touching her arm in comfort, and then looking back at Ron. "He could still be all right."
"Don't give up yet, Mione," Ron encouraged, painfully so. He had never approved of the relationship between Snape and his best friend. They had seemed far too close for his comfort. Harry suspected they were lovers, and just weren't saying anything about their personal relationship because of their high involvement in the Order. Ron refused to believe that Hermione could ever be with Snape like that though. Especially when she knew how much he was in love with her himself. "I know you've been good friends with eachother. Don't give up on him yet, Mione."
Hermione just casted Ron a sad look. She knew that Ron was in love with her all most obsessivly so, but she never once considered him anything more than a friend. Not since that one night in the dungeons when Snape had confessed his own love for her.
Snape knew their relationship was nearly impossible to have right now. He said that he had no right even telling her of his feelings, but he wanted her to know how he felt in case something should happen in the war, and he never had the chance again.
He had been prepared to just get up and walk away from her right then. Pretend that nothing was said and continue as if nothing had passed between them. But Hermione had demanded that he stay and allow her 'her' turn to speak.
She had declared her own feelings for him happily so. At first she thought them just a silly little crush as he had saved her life more than once over the years. But in the last year her feelings had only grown more deeply in the time they spent together, and she had known for awhile that she was in love with him too.
Feelings confessed, they had made love that night for the first time. That was something also he said he could wait for. That he expected nothing from her. Only a chance to prove he was worthy of her at some point.
That had made Hermione love him only more and she had instigated the first night of passion with a steamy first kiss.
They had been sitting across from eachother at his dinning table and Hermione gentally gathered up his neck coller in her hands to pull him closer to her. The abrupt act had startled him and her sudden lips on his had caused his body to join hers on the other chair.
She wrapped her arms and legs around him tightly and he could have taken her right then.
Somehow they had made it to his bed before the night was over, buttons spilled, clothes everywhere about the neat rooms.
It had been the greatest night of her life filled with countless more after that.
It couldn't be over. Not like this.
Hermione, not being able to put a brave front any farther, sobbed heartbrokenly with her face in her hands, against the cold stone walls. Soft and kind words from her friends were of no comfort any longer.
He was gone. She knew it.
Nothing would ever be the same again.