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She was sitting at the kitchen table when he came home, face buried in her hands, her expression blank from the shock and numbness she was feeling.

There was hope within her that this was a simple mistake. That she had not done anything to betray her husband. But as she read the piece of paper again and again she realized, that she didn't have the answer she was longing for and she was afraid of Severus's reaction. Did he know?

The sound of the door gently opening was as loud as a bomb and she shivered when it ripped her out of her thoughts. Her husband approached her slowly with concern in his eyes as if the situation was already clear for him and Hermione couldn't even look at him, the shame eating at her. Instead she wordlessly pushed the letter towards him and he picked it up, reading it carefully.

"What is the probl- I see. You think he wrote to you," he simply stated and Hermione raised her head to look at him through wet eyes. She hiccupped once before she was able to form a clear answer.

"I'm so sorry. I can't believe I've done that." She let out a devastated sigh and buried her face in her hands again.

Severus came to pat her shoulder affectionately.

"I have a strong intuition that you are not the Ms G. mentioned in this letter," Severus voiced his thoughts and somehow that comforted Hermione immensely. Hesitantly she raised her head and blinked at him.

"In fact I think I should contact someone, who might be able to clear this misunderstanding right now. Let me get some parchment." He went over to a small wooden cabinet and fished for some paper.

"I really hope you are right," Hermione spoke softly, leaning back now and letting a hand brush through her long hair.

It was merely an hour later when a series of knocks sounded at the door to their private quarters. Severus answered shortly after and a young woman entered. She had dark hair and looked familiar, though Hermione didn't remember her name.

The guest smiled friendly and approached Hermione with careful steps. "Good evening. Your husband was so friendly to briefly mention your current condition in the letter he send prior and from your gaze I take it you don't remember me from our days at Hogwarts, which is understandable. You might remember my sister, but... anyways, I guess I should introduce myself first." She held out her hand for Hermione to shake. "I'm Astoria Greengrass."

Hermione took her hand and shook it slightly, her brain already making the important connections. "You are Ms. G."

Astoria smiled and nodded. "Indeed. I merely gave you the book and letter because I needed the support of a friend…concerning my relationship with Draco." A blush formed on her cheeks. "I wasn't sure what to think. Society hates him and I… don't. I wanted your opinion on him, but you already told me what I should do and I just didn't have time to pick this up."

Hermione nodded and relief filled her. She had simply overreacted and misinterpreted the whole situation. "Thanks for clearing this up. After the stress of the last few days I'm glad that at least this riddle is solved." She sighed and sat down on the couch, offering Astoria a seat as well. Severus sat next to his wife, but stayed silent while the women talked.

"I read that you lost your memory and you have been searching for clues. Did you find anything helpful, yet?" Astoria glanced at the two and bit her lower lip.

Hermione sighed. "Only bits and pieces. We thought we had a trace when we visited the potions shop Mr Mayhew runs, but the trail stopped there. I honestly felt like that was the most likely source for my problem."

Astoria leaned forward slightly. "Mr Mayhew from Potions and Draughts?"

Severus frowned. "Yes. What do you know about him?"

Astoria shook her head slightly. "Nothing about him to be honest, but his wife is a whole different deal. She is positively vile and dishonest. A few years ago a friend of my mother got sick after purchasing a simply sleeping draught. Mrs. Mayhew was able to help her, but old Fanny swears she did not use any other products than the sleeping draught and she can't explain how she got sick in the first place. But they couldn't prove that Mrs Mayhew did it." Astoria pursed her lips in thought then raised her index finger.

"Also Mrs Mayhew is an unregistered animagus and has used this ability to steal expensive ingredients from unsuspecting witches and wizards. She used to brag about at a dinner years ago and my mother made fun of her because she was so proud of being a rat. Mr Mayhew however seems harmless. I don't think he knows what his wife was or is doing." She frowned and looked deep in thoughts.

"There has to be a way to find out what she did," Severus said with a firm voice.

Hermione nodded and there was something in the back of her mind trying to piece itself together. "Wait, did you just say she is an animagus rat?"

Astoria frowned. "Yes, why?"

"We need to talk to a student." She stood up and looked at the others. "Cody Foster told me that Gordon Briggs had an accident that involved a rat on the day I lost my memories. I need to know if this is a coincidence or if she was in the castle."

It took Gordon another hour to finally appear in the potions classroom they had chosen for the interrogative. He looked unkempt and tired and not at all amused to be summoned by his Professors.

"Mr Briggs, have a seat. If you cooperate this will be over quickly and you can leave again. We simply have a few questions concerning your rat incident last Thursday. Please tell us as detailed as possible what happened." Severus motioned to an empty chair, while he, Hermione and Astoria stood and eyed the tall boy.

"That bloody thing bit me. That's what happened. I was being really nice to that little devil. Offered some cheese I had left from breakfast. Apparently wasn't good enough. Snobby for a rat, if you ask me."

Severus rolled his eyes. "In detail from the beginning, boy!"

Gordon shrugged. "Fine. So, after breakfast I went to class and then to get to the next class we had to switch rooms, but the door was locked. So while we waited in front of the Charms room I see this rat running at the side of the corridor and suddenly it stops and looks around as if it is smelling or looking around." He makes a grimace. "I know that sound bloody stupid, but I felt like that was a smart rat. So it looks around and I never had a pet for myself so I thought why not give it a try and win it over. Could use some company. My roommate has a snake. It's pretty cool and I'm kinda jelly, so I decided on having this rat as a pet. I pull the cheese out and slowly walk towards it and it was apparently not paying attention, because when it noticed me, it suddenly made a jump back and then instead of trying the cheese it moves to my hand and bites me. But not like a small bite. It was really deep and bleeding. I missed class because I had to visit the hospital wing." He nods and shows them his hand, which has a tiny scar. "I think rats aren't really for me. Maybe I'll get a cat or an owl. I have to see, I'm not sure yet."

Severus sighed audibly and shook his head. "What happened with the rat then?"

Gordon blinked at him and made a face a bit like a fish. "Don't know. I was in a lot of pain. I think it scurried down the corridor again. Into the directions of the stairs, but can't be too sure. This rat was weird after all."

"Thank you Mr Briggs that will be all. You are dismissed."

They waited until he had left before turning towards each other. "Well that wasn't really helpful," Hermione sighed and Astoria nodded at her words. "I mean it did sound like the rat was smart enough, so maybe it was her."

Severus stayed silent for a while, before he spoke again. "She doesn't know that though. She doesn't know we don't have proof. We could confront her and simply act as though we know everything. She will either reveal herself or we will be back to zero. There is nothing to loose, really."

Hermione looked at him with hope in her eyes. "You think this might work?"

He nodded. "But we need Potter for this, too. After all we would bring an Auror if we suspected her of such a crime, right?"

"Mhm," Astoria chimed in. "And she won't dare to threaten you if he is there. Everyone knows of his power and influence."

"Good, then we will do it," Hermione agreed. "When?"

Severus offered her his hand to take. "I will write to Harry immediately. The sooner we do this the higher the chance you will get your memories back," he said and squeezed her hand. "Thank you for helping us, Ms Greengrass. Without you we wouldn't have been able to make the connection."

Astoria smiled at them. "I'm glad I could help, as Hermione also helped me with my personal issues. Write to me once you were successful. I'm very curious as to what happens." She waved at both of them before exiting the room and walking down the corridor. Hermione's gaze followed her for a while before she turned around a corner.

"This was pure luck. I can't believe everything we know now." They walked back towards their quarters and Severus hummed with approval.

"Deep down we both know she did it. We just have to play our cards right to get her to admit it," he sounded as though he was already planning ahead.

"I hope Harry doesn't mind lying to her. It is an abuse of his position as an Auror."

"Oh, please. You three broke so many rules while you where students here, what makes you think he wouldn't do this for you?"

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "You are probably right."

"I usually am."

She gave him a side-glance. "And pretty sassy, if you ask me."

"I recall you liking that about me."

"Do I now? I can't seem to remember." A smile played around her lips and she shrieked when he grabbed for her and started tickling her sides.

Fleeing from him Hermione hid in a nook in the wall and Severus followed her, cornering her.

He had a smirk on his face and Hermione was grinning while she was biting her lower lip.

"You are not playing fair," she accused and stemmed her arms into her sides.

He shrugged.

"You know what they say about war and love?"

Suddenly Hermione's lips were pressed to his and a low sound escaped him, when he realized she was kissing him. Arms sneaking around her, he pulled her close and got his hands tangled in her hair. Meanwhile Hermione seemed completely lost in the sensation of their kiss. She nipped and licked like a woman starved and only when they were both out of breath did she pull back.

Smiling Severus offered her his hand and with a short nod she took it and walked with him down the corridor to their rooms.