A/N- Yay! And done by the deadline too! LoL. Anyways, I hope you like this last chapter; you finally get to find out what the secret is…

Disclaimer- Well, my last name starts with the same letter as hers… attempts to compare, but fails All right, so I am NOT J.K. Rowling. I suppose I shall live… Sniffle

===============================================================

Chapter 3

Severus sat silently as the mine car whirled wildly about the large bank. His mind turned things over and over within his head. What could she have left for me? Oddly enough, his mind would not settle long enough on just one thing to clearly answer this question. After all, she had kept her illness a secret, so what if what she had left him was something else of that matter? No, it was better to not think that way…

Yet… He did. I can't do this…I can't go on alone…He clenched his jaw- none of this was fair. Four years with her was just plainly, not enough for him. She had weaseled her way into his heart nearly a month after the defeat of Voldemort. She had surprisingly (or not so surprisingly, considering the way the girl always sought after knowledge) shown up for a RADP(Recent Artistic Dabbling in Potions) meeting, and had pitched in her views. During the course of the meeting, they had a verbal sparring that rose above the rest of the group. She soon had joined into the regular meetings, and he found out that she had just as dry a wit as he. "I apologize, Severus, but I simply can't help it that you can't view the extent of the theory, any further than the length of your nose."

The mine car stopped then, and he was jerked out of his reverie when the goblin announced, "Professor Snape for vault 493." He looked over to the goblin, which was looking decidedly annoyed by his distraction. He then got out of the small compartment, and nodded for the goblin to continue. As the vault 'clicked' when unlocked, he flinched, slightly, and then went through the open door. It was a large room, filled with many books, and after a moment of dazedly looking around, he started to move through it, fingering them. Not one of them was labeled. How strange…He was about to pick one of them up, when towards the back he noticed an in particular bookcase, that on the top of it held what looked like a letter. He raised his brow, and went to it.

He picked up the envelope, and felt his brows furrow. It is unlabeled…But sheer curiosity drove him on. That was the one thing they did have in common, the never-ending urge to find out everything possible. So he opened it.

Severus,

I knew you would find this easier if I had not put a single marking on the envelope. Your curiosity deceives you, you know. I am finding this hard to put into words, but I know that I must. To spite the fact that I am in fact a Gryffindor, I am in current finding it hard to obtain that characteristic courage they always speak of, at least when it comes to facing you. We have been wed now for a month, and I hope that when you see this letter, I have actually brought you here, or told you before hand what is held within it. The only other option is that… The third option is that in fact what I am mostly telling you in this letter has actually happened, and in that case, then I am sorry. I am so sorry, Severus, for I have deceived you. Not intentionally, mind you, but I just simply could not face losing you. I did not tell you before, because I had thought it was nothing major. They had told me it was a simple infection that would go away in time.

During our year apart however, and while I was pregnant, they told me that I had a few years left to live. That something had gotten into my lungs during the final battle, and started to deteriorate them. I spent all my time trying to find a cure. I hope you don't think that I have simply given up, for I haven't. Unfortunately, my lungs have been getting worse, and I fear that I might not have much time left to find this cure for myself. This is why I am writing you this letter, my love. If by chance, this is getting to you by the third option, I have no doubt that none of this is really new to you now. But, there are other things.

First, on this bookcase you will find around fifty books. They are in chronological order, so they will be easy enough to keep track of the times in them. These are my diaries. I know what you may be thinking, that the know it all does indeed write EVERYTHING down, if her diary's can fill an entire bookcase, and she is only 24, and to this, I shall retort by sticking my tongue out at you. So there, ha! Now then, as I was saying, they start out when I was 10, just before I started Hogwarts, and I am continuing them on till currently. Every minute detail about my life from that time forward is written in them, and I DO mean everything, so you may wish to keep certain parts from prying eyes, though I do wish for you to share them. Not just with anyone though, mind you. Unfortunately, I have reason behind this.

For the second thing, and this is what I have been hiding from you, I find this part most difficult. I have kept from you something far more important than my illness, and I beg your forgiveness for my stupidity. I didn't know how you would react when I told you, though I should have told you the very moment you came back to me. But in my selfishness, I did not. I was looking for the right time, or get some hint on how you might feel on the very subject. Now, it has been two months, and I know with my condition becoming worse, I need to let you know, from my own words.

When you came back to me, I told you I no longer had the baby. You automatically assumed that I had miscarried, or that the baby had died. Oh Merlin, Severus, I am so sorry. I never corrected you on this. I left him with Molly; I couldn't risk having him around, just in case something bad happened to me while I was alone with him. I don't know why I never told you. I was afraid that perhaps you would push us away. Nonetheless, it has been done, and I need you to know. Please forgive me, Severus, and know that I will always love you.

--Hermione

Severus had not allowed himself to think at all as he read the letter, but noticed towards the end that his hands were starting to shake. He laid the paper back onto the bookshelf, and then let out the breath he had not realized he had been holding. Then the thoughts came. Merlin, I… I have a son… The words replayed in his mind over, and over again as he tried to absorb the information. He had gone to her with the knowledge that she had been pregnant, as told to him per Albus, and was willing for whatever that entailed- so long as he could have Hermione back. But she had done as she had said in the letter, and he had assumed the worst, and he did not wish to open new wounds with her at the time, so he never spoke of it again. Now… Now he knew that his assumption had been incorrect.

He knew what he had to do. That child was part of him, but more importantly, a part of her. He knew that he should have felt angry about the lie, but he couldn't. This news, this revelation, seemed to make his heart begin again. Perhaps it was the shock of it… But he didn't care.

Before he left the vault, he shrunk the bookcase and letter, and placed them within a small pouch, where he would safely deliver them to his quarters at Hogwarts, so that he could start reading. Then he left, went to a nearby fireplace on the Floo network, and threw in the powder. "Molly Weasley." He felt the sudden lurch of the transportation, and suddenly was standing in the Weasley house. He dusted off the soot on him, and peered around, just a mere moment before a familiar red-haired girl came down the stairs with a baby, also with red hair.

The girl's eyes went wide in shock, and she stammered out a "P-Professor Snape, sir?" He gave a curt nod to her.

"Ms. Weasley."

She suddenly flushed. "Actually, its now Mrs. Potter, it has been for about two years now." At the mention of the marriage he couldn't help but think of his own. How much longer… How much longer before everything I see or hear will not make me think of her?

"I see." He clenched his jaw, and then turned to her, making sure that his emotions were in check. "I have come to see your mother, would you happen to know where she might be, or will I have to attempt to find her myself?"

Before the girl could answer, a voice came from the other direction. "No need for that now. What can I do for you, Professor Snape?"

He swiveled his head towards her. "I would presume that you would know the reason for my visit to you, Molly. I was… Told that you are holding something precious of mine." He had slowly, and carefully pronounced the word 'precious', conveying to her what he had come for, and his feelings on the matter in one fell swoop.

She smiled brilliantly at him then. "Ah, yes, I see. Though I have to admit that I was not expecting you quite so soon. I was prepared for another month or so… Would you perchance like to have some tea before we go up?"

Severus shook his head. "I do believe that I have waited far too long as it is, already." She nodded, and then took him upstairs. "Well, he is in the room down the hall on the right. I believe I will let you be to introduce yourselves. Is there anything else I can do for you right now?"

"Does he have a name?"

"Aurelien Cowen."

His eyes grew wide momentarily, before residing back into their schooled indifference. "My father's name. Very well." He gave her a quick nod before going into the room. It took him only a moment to look inside the large crib just inside the door to become absolutely memorized by the small creature inside. His breath hitched within his throat as the child grabbed onto his finger and cooed at him. It didn't take him very long to take him into his arms in a gentle cradle, letting him play idly with his stray strands of hair. "So, you are Aurelien, then? Nice to meet you, it seems that I am your father, so I hope that the feeling is rather mutual, hm?" The child blew a spit bubble at him, and then fell asleep. He stared at him, admiring the small life that he was holding. He had helped create this… With Hermione… He suddenly had the urge to both laugh and cry at the same time. He felt guilty because he felt such sheer joy at seeing the child for the first time, yet guilty because he could not bring himself to enjoy it more because of the hole inside of his heart. She should have been here for this.

Severus stood holding him for a while before finally putting him back in the crib, unwillingly. Carefully he exited the room and shut the door, trying not to make any extra sound as he did so. He silently went down the hall, and then nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the bane of his life, Harry Potter, standing at the end of the hall.

"Might I ask why it is that you insist on getting in my way, Mr. Potter, or are you simply trying to annoy me?"

The boy looked away and spoke almost inaudibly. "I wanted to apologize."

Snape's eyes grew wide. Surely I am mistaken on this; surely he did not just attempt to apologize to me. It simply isn't in the boy's nature. "Pardon?"

"I apologize, Professor Snape." Before Severus could say anything, Harry pressed on in a quick whirlwind of breathless apologies. "I apologize for suspecting you in my first year, I apologize for believing you wanted to destroy me, I apologize for doubting your intentions, I apologize for looking into your pensieve, I apologize for embarrassing you in my seventh year, and foremost I apologize for never believing that you actually could care for Hermione." Harry let out an exasperated sigh. "I am not saying that I suddenly like you, or that I will ever like you. As Hermione once said, the only thing that we would ever probably agree on is the fact that we would give our lives for others, if need be. I have been thinking lately, after her funeral." He paused momentarily, and Snape took advantage.

"Congratulations, Mr. Potter, at conquering that skill. I know you weren't so adept at such things while at Hogwarts." He smirked.

Harry rolled his eyes and gave a half laugh. "At least I know you're always consistent. I actually came mostly to tell you… If you need help, then Ginny would be more than happy to lend you a hand with…" He nodded towards the door behind Snape. "You know. Hermione sent us a letter explaining that even though you have a busy schedule with teaching, you would never ask for help. So I will offer it." He paused again. "For Hermione of course."

Severus raised his fingers to his nose. "How long have you known of him?"

Harry laughed, "I just received the letter."

Severus nodded. "I will consider it then." He looked at him then, and then twisted his lips into a smirk. "For Hermione, of course." To this Harry simply shook his head, and then went back downstairs. He then looked back at the door that held his slumbering son. He needs me… For the first time since his wife's death, he felt his lips twitch for a smile. That is when he knew, that for his son, he would survive, that he would somehow get through this. Somehow…

===============================================================

A/N- Well, there it is, the end. I hope you liked the story, because if you are reading this you obviously suffered through the entire thing. lol, anyways, once again, I love reviews, so post them please :)