Ok this is the final, final chapter! Thank you for the reviews and enjoy (I hope!)…

6. Remember

Morning had come far too soon for Hermione following a dreamless, restless sleep. As she opened her eyes, she hoped for a brief second that the previous nights events had been a dream, but all too soon reality revealed itself.

Hermione lay, staring at the cracking ceiling of Percy Weasley's old room. An innocent man was going to Azkaban today, and she was only one that had any idea. With a fresh mind she thought about what Snape had told her, and in her mind, embracing the dark side, because the good side wouldn't let you in did not justify a lifetime in prison. She couldn't let this happen, she wouldn't. She was Hermione Granger for goodness sake, if she couldn't think of a way around this Unbreakable Vow then what was she doing here? The only thing that she really had to offer the order was her intellect, and Snape in Azkaban would do the order no good at all. The more that she thought about it, the more that she resented Snape for putting her in this position. Not only had he laid this burden on her, but also he was denying the order of his help.

Hermione got out of bed, washed and got ready for the day ahead. She did not fear it as she had been; she was going to fix this.

Descending the narrow, windy steps she found that, to her surprise, the Burrow was not quite as noisy and as busy as it usually was in the morning. In fact, a stale, eerie silence seemed to engulf Hermione. Mrs Weasley carried out her usual morning ministrations of cleaning and cooking but without her usual busty, cheery air. Mr Weasley and Professor Lupin sat in deep, almost silent, discussion about something very grave and serious. Harry seemed very annoyed as he stomped and thrashed from one side of the room to the other as Ron watched on, helpless. Ginny seemed to be attempting to lose herself in the day's Daily Prophet, but Hermione noticed her red eyes and blotchy face, Fred and George sat opposite one another, slowly and silently consuming breakfast.

Ron noticed Hermione's entrance and jumped, almost startled.

"Hermione…uh, morning…" he had no idea what else he could possibly say. Everyone else looked up at her, the same solemn, uncomfortable look washed across each face. Everyone besides Harry, who quickly glanced at her, running his hand through his hair before softly, punching a wall. Had the wall belonged to him, and not the Weasley's, the punch undoubtedly would not have been so soft.

"What's happened? What's wrong?" Hermione was beginning to panic; she had not seen everyone in such a mood since Lord Voldemort's return. Lupin and Arthur exchanged glances, Lupin stood up and motioned towards Hermione.

"Come with me Hermione." He gently grabbed her arm and led her into the kitchen.

"Professor Lupin, what on earth is going on? Was there another attack?" A horrid thought surfaced in Hermione's mind at that point, "Oh my god, my parents…are they ok?"

Before Hermione could torture herself with this thought, Lupin stepped in.

"No, no Hermione. It has nothing to do with your parents."

Hermione felt a sensation of relief sweep her body, but it was to be short lived

"It's Professor Snape."

Hermione felt a knot tie in her stomach, a sense of dread prepared her for what she was about to hear. 'God no!' she pleaded silently to herself.

"Last night, not long after you left, Severus was attacked in his home by…"

"Death Eaters" Hermione finished, her voice dry and almost unrecognisable. She did not look at Lupin but seemed to concentrate on a spot on the floor, her eyes glazed.

"Yes, Hermione, they killed him."

A flurry of emotions bombarded Hermione at once, she did not know if she should feel angry, or sad…or guilty.

"His wand, his wand!' she cried.

"Hermione, I don't understand…"

"He had no wand, he had lost it at the battle. They filthy bastards attacked a wizard with no wand! If I had stayed, just a little longer…"

"I probably wouldn't have the privilege of speaking to you right now. We are all just so grateful that you returned when you did. You are an excellent witch Hermione, you know that, but no match for three death eaters."

"Three? It took three of them to kill an unarmed, injured wizard. Fucking cowards. Who?"

Lupin seemed confused.

"Who was it? Which three?"

"I don't think that it really matters…"

"WHO THE HELL WAS IT?" Screamed Hermione, the sound of her own voice scared her. Her scream caused some commotion in the lounge, as there was a flurry towards the kitchen. Lupin seemed alarmed, and as people began to surround them, he was unsure how to proceed.

Hermione was oblivious to her new audience. Tears steamed down her face, "Please Professor" she begged in desperation.

Lupin had no choice.

"Bellatrix, Wormtail and Lucius."

Harry was nothing short of amazed at Hermione's reaction. He had no idea that she had been so fond of Snape, he knew that she had spent some time patching him up last night he didn't think that it warranted this much upset on her part.

"Hermione, why are you getting yourself so upset? I know that his attempt at redemption last night bought him some sympathy, but remember that he killed Dumbledore. I thought that you of all people would be able to be rational about this." Said Harry.

Hermione had barely registered what Harry had said to her, but suddenly his presence seemed to mean something.

"Harry!" She yelled as though noticing him for the first time. "Harry, you have to go to Snape's house, it sounds ridiculous but you have to. Go into the cellar and there you will find a pensieve, you have to…"

"Hermione," Lupin interrupted, "the three who killed Severus: they also destroyed his home. There is nothing left to speak of, only a shell. Any pensieve in that building will be long gone."

Hermione felt a darkness fall upon her. There was nothing else that she could do or suggest. No one would ever know who Severus Snape really was.

The following week, leading up to the funeral seemed to contain no individual days. Hermione had spent her time attempting to formulate a plan so that the order may discover Snape's secret, but nothing. She spent hours replaying his final words to her in her mind, wishing that she had paid more attention to what he had said, his body language, his expression…anything…but it was hopeless and she knew it.

The others had become increasingly worried about her, Ron and Harry in particular. They had asked her questions that she was unable to answer, physically unable. They had tried to comfort her and had become frustrated and angry with her on several occasions, but nothing made a difference. The injustice of the situation made Hermione feel suffocated and helpless.

And so it was, Hermione found herself stood looking into a hole in the ground with a dark, cheap wooden coffin held above it. A small metallic plate had been screwed onto the lid with 'Severus Snape' engraved upon it. Hermione had placed a single dark blue rose on top, the only flower to be seen. Herself, Professor Lupin, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid surrounded the coffin. That was all. Snape had given his life and his self worth for the sake of all that is good in the wizarding world, and only four attended his funeral.

Professor Lupin stood at the head of the coffin and began to speak with sadness and a hint of regret in his voice.

"Dearest Severus, I am most unsure as to how we should bid you farewell from this world. You led a troubled life, and I acknowledge that much of that trouble was not of your own doing. I truly believe that none of us…" Lupin glanced at Hermione, "…or very few of us knew you well at all. Unfortunate circumstances and a skewed view of this world perhaps led you down the path that you chose and to this premature end, we can only hope now, Severus, that you have found peace at last."

Hermione felt her body tremor as tears fought their way from her tired eyes. She wanted to scream and tell everyone "Severus Snape was a good man! He was not a traitor!" but couldn't. She was the only one who had shed tears; McGonagall bowed her head, dignified and composed as always. Hagrid, who usually needed no excuse for a good cry, did the same. Hermione had always thought that Hagrid had similar suspicions as her regarding Dumbledore's death but they had never discussed it, and now she never could. She assumed that this was why Hagrid had come at all, after all Snape did kill Hagrid's best friend. Lupin seemed to have some sense of the true tragedy of the situation, the tragedy that only Hermione understood.

Lupin extracted his wand and pointed it at the coffin. It began to slowly lower into the grave below it.

"Goodbye Severus." Lupin said softly as the coffin descended.

"Goodbye Professor." Whispered Hermione, almost inaudibly.

The coffin touched the bottom of the grave and then began to disappear under earth that had begun pouring itself on top. Soon the grave had been filled, and shoots of grass appeared where it once had been. The ground looked untouched and anonymous. It had been decided that Snape would not have a gravestone, as there was no information to write upon it. They had no details of his birth, any living family and no suitable inscription. Only a young oak tree marked his final resting place.

Hagrid, McGonagall and Lupin walked away, leaving Hermione. When she was sure that everyone was gone, she began so sob.

"Why? Why did you do this to me?" she demanded, "Its not fair, you could have been someone! Don't you understand…you could have…" she could no longer speak. Sobbing so hard that she could no longer support herself, Hermione let herself fall to the bottom of the tree. Her tears began to subside and her thoughts dominated, she idly began to pick the bark from the tree.

"At least you didn't have to go to Azkaban, got out of it again eh?" she smiled.

Hermione began to feel the sense of unease and frustration that had haunted her all week drain from her. Snape had had his wish, as long as someone knew him, knew the truth, then he would always be here in some form. Hermione did not believe in coincidences. Snape could easily have died earlier that particular evening; in fact it was nothing short of a miracle that he had survived the battle, that one of the Death Eaters hadn't thrown the killing curse at him. Perhaps he was meant to die that night no matter what, but someone somewhere decided to give him a chance at honesty and honour beforehand.

Hermione lay her hand on the ground, and to her surprise felt something there. It was an oak wand. It looked rather beaten and worn. Hermione picked it up, confused. Suddenly a chill ran up her spine as she remembered something that she had read earlier that week. In her attempt to uncover Snape's secret she had tried to find his wand in the hope that his last few spells would help uncover some truths. Unsure of where to begin looking, she began researching what happens to the wands of wizards who have died. She had discovered that the wand should eventually find its way to the wizard's truest friend. Upon this discovery she had no idea where the wand would end up, as Snape didn't have any true friends that she knew of, and so the idea was forgotten.

She now held in her hand, Snape's wand and in an instant she knew what to do. Pointing it at the tree, what looked like fiery lines appeared on the bark and just as soon, vanished. She then tapped the area with the wand, and in perfect script the following words appeared for a brief second only:

Professor Severus Snape

A silent hero

&

A true friend.

I'll always remember.

H x

Hermione had done what she could, and no more.