The plot bunny just came to me as I was listening to Blue October's "Hate Me." This could stand as a oneshot but I'm considering expanding it; r&r to let me know what you think. The pairing is HG/SS, and I guess it's a fluff fic.

warning: character death

I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters, however much I wish I did. I'm not getting any money, so don't sue me, cause I'm broke.

--mhr598

She was an old woman now, wrinkled and slightly senile. All day, she rocked back and forth in the old chair, gazing out the window to the broad expanse of forest. She was softly humming to herself and stroking her wedding band when her son walked into the room, carrying her lunch.

"Okay, Mom," he said softly. "We've got salmon for lunch today; your favorite, remember?" Not ceasing her rocking, she craned her head around to look at him and smiled.

"You're such a good boy, Conor," she whispered. "Now run off and fetch your father, that's a good lad." At this, Conor swallowed nervously.

"Father's been dead for twenty years now, Mom," he said.

"Nonsense," his mother admonished. "Don't go telling me those tall tales, young man. I wasn't born yesterday; now go fetch your father."

Rolling his eyes, he irritably pushed his long hair out of his face and set her lunch down on the table, before taking his leave. He closed the door on his way out, and turned to face the man waiting for him in the hallway.

"She doesn't believe me," Conor told the younger man. "What can I do, Father?"

Severus Snape smiled and pushed his long, graying blackhair away from his face. "Leave it to me." He looked much the same as he always had; he didn't appear to have aged a day since Hermione Granger first entered his potions classroom 90 years before. Throwing open the double doors leading to their bedroom, he strode in and drew a breath to address his wife. Before he could say anything, however, she smiled.

"I always knew you would come back, Professor," she said faintly. "I can go now." He gasped and grabbed her arms as if to stop her, but she just leaned into his embrace. "I love you, Severus," she whispered with her dying breath.

Devastated, he clutched her close and sobbed into her crocheted sweater. "I love you too, Hermione." He held her all night, as the warmth faded from her body and he rued the day he ever fell in love with a Miss Hermione Granger.