AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

As Severus' eyes fluttered open, a familiar woman's face came into view. He could hear her soothing voice saying his name, even if it was muffled by his half conscious state.

"Severus?"

"Hermione," Severus rasped. Her face was more in focus. "You're here."

"Where else would I be?" She gave him the smile he'd yearned to see since the moment he landed in Oz. Her hair was wilder than usual, and her clothes somewhat disheveled, yet he had not seen anyone more beautiful.

"There are plenty of other places you could be," Severus' voice was hoarse, no doubt from lack of use. He sat up, wincing when there was a pain in his back.

"No," She took his hands. "There's nowhere else I want to be."

"Good, because I would like you to stay." He rubbed her hands. They were soft, not metallic. Merlin he loved her skin.

Crookshanks leapt onto the bed and began to purr. He rubbed the top of his head against Severus' chin.

"So you made it back too," Severus rasped.

"Made it back?" Hermione asked.

He gave her a small nod.

"I should probably get Poppy, tell her you've woken up," she began. "She'll want to examine you."

"That can wait," he held her hands tighter. "I just want you here."

"I'm here," a tear came to her eye. "I'll always be here."

"Hermione, Luna and I were talking, and we both think you should take a short break," Harry paused upon seeing Severus sitting upright.

"Hello Harry," Severus began.

"Harry?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, that's his name is it not?" Severus answered.

"Yes, but isn't it usually Potter?"

"Wait, y-you're awake," Harry began, Luna standing beside him.

"Your powers of perception are as acute as ever," Severus deadpanned.

"I have to tell Neville," Harry began.

"I think Severus needs to rest before receiving any visitors," Hermione began.

"No," Luna kept her eyes on Severus. "I think he needs to see Neville."

"I'll get him," Harry darted off.

"It appears as if I am more popular than I realized," Severus began.

"We were all worried about you," Luna began.

"Yes, you in a coma for almost a week," Hermione added.

"I was in a coma for a week?" Severus asked.

"Yes, and there were a few nights where you gave us quite the scare," Hermione continued. "One night you were convulsing so hard you undid the stitches on your leg."

"Stitches on my leg?" Severus' mind flashed to the axe slicing him in that area.

"Yes," Hermione's throat constricted. "We were so scared you'd never wake up."

"How exactly was I injured?" Severus asked.

"You saw Ron and me in an embrace, which I can explain," Hermione began.

"'Mione?"

Severus suppressed a groan. Of course he'd come. How could he have been stupid enough to believe dream Tin Woman Hermione that Ron would no longer be an issue?

"Ron, Severus is awake," she began.

"Oh thank Merlin," Ron exhaled. "It's great to see you conscious."

"Indeed," Severus growled.

"Well, I just came to try and convince you to take a break, but that isn't necessary, so I should be off," Ron replied.

"Wait," Severus drawled. "You only wanted to check on Hermione?"

"Yes, and I honestly don't have much time to do that."

"What is more important than the well-being of your dear friend?" He spat out the last two words.

"Severus," another person asked.

Severus suppressed a sigh. Neville always did have the worst timing.

"You're awake, and alive," Neville rushed to the bed.

"That would appear to be the case."

"Boy we sure were scared when the Shrieking Shack fell on you. We didn't know if you had died in it," Neville began.

"The Shrieking Shack fell on me?"

"Yes," Hermione answered. "You walked in on me and Ron embracing, so you escaped to the Shrieking Shack. Then a tornado came and obliterated it. We found you underneath the debris, holding Crookshanks."

"I remember holding him." Severus petted Crookshanks.

"Yes, if you hadn't covered him, he would have died," she continued. "You saved his life."

He hummed before scratching that half-kneazle behind the ears.

"Severus, you're awake," a woman's voice began.

"Perceptive as always, Minerva."

"Oh thank goodness," she exhaled. "We were terrified we'd lost you."

"Indeed, it would have been tragic if you needed to find another potions professor on such short notice."

"Oh don't give me that," she frowned. "I do care for you, as does everyone else in here."

"I know you care," He stopped stroking Crookshanks.

"Now, we will need to discuss your actions before your coma." Minerva crossed her hands over her chest.

"I know, I was a dunderhead running out into a storm."

"Yes, that was idiotic enough, but you hurt Hermione doing so."

"Did she follow me?"

"No, but she was worried sick for you. You hurt her worse than most other people have."

His stomach churned. In his heart he'd promised himself he'd never hurt her. Why couldn't he keep that basic promise?

"I don't appreciate it when people harm Hermione, especially the way you did by running off and never giving her a chance to explain herself. The girl was beside herself when we found you."

"I am getting that impression," he looked at Hermione. "Can you forgive me for fleeing before listening to you?"

"Ron!"

Severus snarled as his head throbbed. So much for killing the Wicked Witch of the West.

"Oh there you are!" Molly rushed over, a huge grin on her face. "I was hoping to see you with Hermione."

"Mum, I only went to check on her," Ron began in an even voice. "Now that Severus is awake, I'm going to leave and allow them to talk to each other."

"Why do they need to speak with each other? Now that she knows he's fine she can leave his side and focus on more important things."

"Right now there's nothing more important than Severus and his recovery," Hermione argued.

"Yes, Madame Pomfrey can give him his bed rest and feed him some chicken soup. He does not need anything more, at least not from you," Molly argued.

"Actually Hermione's presence would be invaluable," Severus argued. "I would benefit greatly from her friendship and support."

"With all due respect, you have Madame Pomfrey," Molly huffed. "She can care for you. Hermione needs to be with Ron."

"No, she doesn't," Ron replied. "She needs to be with Snape."

"Don't give me that," Molly snapped. "She needs to be with you."

"Mum, there is no reason for her to be with me. In fact, I don't have time for her tonight."

"Don't have time for her?" Molly exclaimed. "How could you say that?"

"Because I'm meeting Lavender for dinner in a half hour."

"Lavender!"

Severus winced and groaned. He was going to need a headache potion once all was said and done.

"You can't be serious about Lavender. The twat will only drag you down!"

"I love her."

"You can't love her." Molly pointed to Hermione. "She's the love of your life. You two even said so."

"That was five years ago," Hermione argued. "We've since realized we're incompatible."

"Nonsense," Molly replied. "You're just having a spat. Somehow you'll get over it. You two always do."

"We're just friends," Hermione argued.

"You're soulmates!"

"We're good friends."

"You belong together!"

"Shut up!

Everyone turned to Severus.

"Molly," he growled. "Your son has made his decision. He does not want to be with Hermione. It is time for you to respect his wishes."

"B-but…"

"Hermione has made her decision too. She does not want to be with him. You need to respect that as well," Severus continued.

"But she and Ronald belong together."

"You are not wanted here, and you are giving me a migraine," Severus argued. "If you do not leave soon, I will get up and throw a bucket of water on you."

Molly's mouth was agape. For the first time in years, she was speechless.

"A bucket of water?" Neville asked.

"Yes, it proves quite effective in silencing some witches," Severus kept his eyes on Molly.

"Like the Wicked Witch of the West?" Harry asked.

"The Wicked Witch of the West?" Neville asked.

"Yes, she's from an overly saccharine Judy Garland movie," Severus argued.

"What was the movie about?"

"Its plot is not important. All you need to know if the protagonist threw a bucket of water on the Wicked Witch, and she melted. I do not know if Molly will melt when doused with some water," Severus returned his attention to her. "But I'm willing to try anything to silence her."

"That won't be necessary," Minerva strolled over the Molly. "It's time to go home."

"But Ronald…"

"I'm a grown adult who can make my own decisions," Ron argued. "I choose to be with Lavender, not Hermione."

Molly opened her mouth.

"Let's go," Minerva began to push her out the door. Before she left, she turned to Neville. "Please give me ten minutes to escort Mrs. Weasley from the premises. We can resume our meeting then."

"That's fine," Neville answered.

"I am glad you are well Severus," Minerva replied. "If you pull a stunt such as that again, the bump on your head from the shack will be the least of your problems."

"I would expect nothing less," Severus answered.

Minerva disappeared with Molly.

"We should get going soon," Luna turned to Harry. "If you want me to get those books on arson investigation for you, we should do it before the library closes."

"Great idea," Harry turned to Severus. "I'm glad you're okay, Snape. It's nice to have you back."

"It is great to be back."

"If you want to have dinner sometime, we would love to have you over," Harry was already braced for his rejection.

"I would very much like that," Severus answered.

"You would?" Harry's eyes grew.

"Indeed I would," Severus replied. "I have not given you much of a chance to get to know me. Perhaps it is time to change that."

""Wow, either that shack hit you harder on the head than I thought, or you mean that," Harry muttered.

"Let's leave before Snape reconsiders his acceptance," Luna replied.

"Great idea," Harry gave him a small smile before leaving. "Goodbye Snape."

"Farewell," he answered.

"I should leave too," Neville replied. "Minerva and I are meeting to discuss my greenhouse proposal."

"So you did work up the courage to pitch your proposal."

"Yes, thanks to this great self-help book I read I was able to muster the confidence to ask for the meeting."

"Self-help book?"

"Yes, it's called, Confidence Will Always Conquer by Lucy Rea Credinta. It's quite a good book. If you want, I can loan it to you."

"I may have to look it over," Severus' stomach constricted at the thought of how similar the title was to the Malfoy crest, as well as the name to Lucius'.

"Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling better. I'll tell you how it all goes."

"Thank you," Severus replied.

Neville gave him one last smile before exiting.

Severus sighed. "I do not think this many people have fussed over me in years."

"Isn't it nice to be loved?" Hermione asked.

"Loved is a strong word for what they feel for me," he answered. "But they seem to tolerate me well enough."

She chuckled.

"Back to my initial question," his expression was more serious. "Do you forgive me for fleeing before you could explain yourself?"

"Yes." She took his hand again. "I forgive you."

"Thank you." He relaxed.

"Severus."

The couple turned to their latest visitor. Severus asked, "Lucius?"

"Yes, it's so great to see you awake," he answered. "We've been so worried about you."

"So I've been told," Severus deadpanned.

"You seem to be in good spirits too."

"Is there a reason I shouldn't be?"

"Well, Hermione told me what happened before you raced into the shack. I was afraid you'd wake up in a fouler mood than usual."

"It is difficult for me to be too upset when Hermione is near." He gave her a small grin, which she gave in return.

"Yes, it appears as if you've received everything you need," Lucius noted.

"Indeed I have," Severus answered. "I'm home, and there's no place like home."


Only the epilogue left...