Disclaimer: Harry Potter not mine.

A/N: sorry for the wait on this chapter, but homework caught up with me and I have not had a whole lot of time to devote to this lately. I'll try harder, but I make no guarantees. Please review!

Severus was understandably testy during breakfast. McGonagall knew it was because a certain former student would be leaving Hogwarts within the hour. Once Snape safely saw Hermione back to the muggle world, there was a distinct possibility that she would waltz out of his life once and for all. Of course, he could not tell her how he really felt about that. The decision was hers and hers alone despite the feelings he may have.

Hermione, meanwhile, was taking breakfast in her guest quarters to stay out of the eye of students. It was not the thought of seeing students that bothered her so much as the questions they would have. From what she had ascertained, the prophecy was well known to all witches and wizards, young and old. If the students were anything like she had once been, they would not quit until they got answers they liked. She tossed down her toast in frustration. For the first time in a long time, she was truly curious and there was nothing she could do but wait for the answers to come to her. No one knew how long that would take. Hermione sighed and sipped her tea. Time was passing slowly, and all she could think about was her former life.

A sharp precise knock and the opening of the door brought Hermione to the present. She was about to wipe away the tears she just noticed she shed, but Snape did it for her. His caress was gentle. She instinctively leaned into his touch. "Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome, Hermione." He found her cloak and handed it to her. "May I inquire as to why you were crying?"

"It's, um, it's silly. I was thinking about the past. I was thinking about when things were good, less complicated." She put her cloak on and took the arm offered to her.

As they walked from the guest chambers to the entrance hall and onto the grounds, Snape said, "I'm afraid nothing will be simple anymore, but it will get better." Hermione just nodded. They maintained their silence as they walked to the border of the grounds. Snape apparated to the wooded area near Harry's house.

Several nights previous, Hermione had found the forest creepy and more than a bit unsettling. Now, in the daylight, she found it to be rather pleasant and a good place for a picnic.

'A picnic?' she though to herself. 'Where did that come from?' Letting her mind wander a moment more, she pictured herself and Snape laughing under the trees, drinking butter beer, and feeding each other strawberries. Overall, it was a bit of an odd image, but a pleasing one.

"Hermione?" Snape asked. "Anybody home?" He waved his hand in front of her eyes.

"Huh? Oh, sorry. Daydreaming."

"Must have been a good one. You're practically drooling."

Hermione wiped her mouth with her sleeve and smiled sheepishly. Snape cracked a corner of his lips. They walked up to the door. Snape rapped loudly and announced their arrival as he opened the door. Harry came out of the small kitchen, wiping his hands with a towel.

"Just finished the dishes," he explained. He walked over to Hermione and gave her a hug. "Are you staying to visit or did you just stop to say 'hi?'"

Hermione turned to Snape with a questioning look on her face. He sighed in a dramatic fashion. "We're not exactly on a tight schedule. If you don't mind having visitors, Mr. Potter?"

Harry really and truly grinned. Apparently it was contagious because Hermione reflected Harry's look and Snape even had the ghost of a smile play across his features.

"Can I offer you anything? I know I haven't got much, but . . ."

Snape held up a hand. "We're fine, Potter. Just sit down and visit."

Harry and Hermione found seats in the tiny sitting room. Snape disappeared to the kitchen. In the daylight, Hermione was better able to make out the sparse furniture. She had no intention to comment on it considering she owned even less in her own apartment. She really did need to do something about that.

Hermione and Harry shifted a little unsurely for several moments. This was new territory for them, especially considering the circumstances upon which they parted.

"So, how have you been?" Harry asked.

"Oh, you know, a little crazy. You?"

"The same," Harry said, nodding. They continued to shift awkwardly. Finally, Snape returned and broke the monotony.

"You two are pathetic. It's like witnessing a class of first years attempting to tame a dragon. If you can't figure it out, I'll kick you both out on your asses . . . in the middle of Diagon Alley!" he growled.

Hermione was impressed the way Snape swept out of the room sans his usual black cloak. There was just something majestic in the way that man moved, as if no one could touch him.

"Hermione? You all right?"

"Huh?" She looked over toward Harry.

"You were staring . . ."

She knew what he had not said. She was staring at Snape. "So, where were we?" Hermione inquired. "Right, um, so yeah, the last few years really . . ."

"Sucked?" Harry said.

Hermione looked down and quietly replied, "Yeah."

Once the awkwardness was broken, the two old friends had little trouble explaining their struggles of the last few years. Harry's, of course, centered around the frustration of being disfigured and not having an easy available cure. "I'd be a complete monster if it wasn't for the Order. Snape and Lupin stop by all the time, and McGonagall comes when she can. It'd be nice to actually be able to go out in public sometimes though. I mean, this place is nice and all. It's got a fantastic view of trees and a field. You can't go wrong with the scenery!"

Hermione laughed at Harry's sarcasm. It felt good to be joking a bit with each other. "I'm afraid my problems are more complicated."

Snape chose that moment to return from wherever he had gotten off to. "Hermione, you ran away. There's little I would expect to be simple with you, except your drink choice."

"Yes, thank you for calling that to our attention, Severus." She said his name a bit more harshly than intended. He let it go as she moved on with her story. "When word got around you died with Voldemort, I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to get out. Ron was injured, but he had his family. Mine wouldn't understand if I just showed up like I had quit everything. I tried, several times in fact, to speak to them, but I could never bring myself to it. Shame kicked in and I did the only thing I knew how to do."

"Return to school," Snape said.

"I never really got into my studies. I've always felt guilty about just leaving like I did. Eventually, I started drinking to forget about all that."

"Hermione the drunk! Now there's a picture!"

Hermione slapped Harry on the arm for the comment, but smiled nonetheless. Snape gave a light chuckle to the comment. "You missed her drinking binge the other night, Potter. It was impressive," he stated in even tones.

Harry rose what Hermione supposed was an eyebrow. She sighed in defeat. "I suppose you're right. In my defense though, someone kept supplying me with said drinks."

"And I will continue to do so, Granger."

"You sure do know how to woo a woman, don't you?" Snape smirked winningly.

End Chapter 8