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

Sirius was frightening when he had a brilliant idea.

He didn't say much about his latest scheme. The only hints he gave were that Severus should focus on the potion while he discussed the specifics of whatever he had in mind with St. Pete. Severus didn't have enough time to argue with the dog. If this plan was as idiotic as Severus believed it was, then St. Pete would prevent it from bring implemented. If somehow Black still managed to pull it off, Severus would either reap the benefits, or make it clear that he had little to do with his partner's actions. If the Trinity had any intelligence at all, they would assign him a new partner and let Black rot where he belonged.

Whatever Black's plan was, Severus still had a mission to fulfill. That, and not the dog, deserved his undivided attention.

As Severus continued to scour through Ms. Granger's notes, his mind returned to Dismas' story. This mission was bound to get more complicated, though it was unclear what further action Severus should take. She needed something from him other than this potion, though what this was remained unclear. There was a catch, and it was his job to discover it before it jeopardized his future.

How did getting into heaven become more complex than being a double agent?

"Crookshanks!"

The door clicked shut behind her. The half-kneazle let out a "meow" before jumping off a leather chair and racing to the door.

"Hello there," Ms. Granger cooed. "Did you miss me?"

Crookshanks let out another meow.

"Yes, I missed you too! Yes, I did!"

Severus rolled his eyes. Speaking in a tone of voice that sickeningly sweet should be illegal, especially for someone with someone of Ms. Granger's alleged intelligence.

"The day was hell." Dry cat food was poured into a ceramic cat food dish. "I swear the customers become more idiotic by the day."

Severus stood. Welcome to what was once my world.

"At least it's over now, thank God."

Severus strolled into the kitchen.

Hermione massaged Crookshanks' back as he ate. "I think I may skip research for tonight in favor of a hot bath or reading another mystery..."

"That would be inadvisable."

Hermione leapt and gasped.

"You may want a relaxing evening, but I would appreciate getting out of Purgatory sometime before the next century. In order to accomplish that mission, you need to work."

"You're still here?"

"I thought we established that I existed and I was sent to help you."

"Yes, but I didn't think you would become a nightly visitor."

"I was growing bored listening to Black go on about some scheme he has in mind to escape Purgatory. The only place I can go unsupervised other than my room is here, hence my presence."

"Sirius is scheming again?"

"Sadly, yes, and if I was alive he would be giving me a migraine."

"What does he have planned?"

"I do not know, and quite frankly do not care. It is bound to fail, so I found it unworthy of my attention."

"Is he in Purgatory proper then, or in the same program you're in?"

"Sadly we are in the same program, and are forced to share a room."

Ms. Granger's voice softened. "That sounds like hell."

"It is less than pleasant, but if it only lasts a few more months I will manage."

"Do you think we can find a cure that quickly?"

"We will try anyway."

The color returned to her face. "I'd be more than happy to show you my notes, but I would like some dinner first."

"Be my guest."

She strolled over to her refrigerator. "Would you like something?"

"Even if I did, I could not consume it."

"True." Ms. Granger stared at him, her eyes soft and her lips were cast downwards.

He scowled. "There is no need to pity me."

"I don't pity you."

"Then stop looking at me like that."

She turned away. "I'm sorry. I was only thinking you should not be treated than you are."

"It matters little how I should be treated. I have to make the most of my situation."

"You should be doing more than surviving the afterlife."

"If we find this cure then I will be much better off."

True."

She began scouring her fridge. Settling on some leftover Chinese, she put it onto a plate and into the microwave.

After the microwave beep, she carried the food to the table. "It really does feel odd to eat in front of you."

"Do not think too deeply about it."

"I know, but you must want some food. It's right in front of you, Surely you at least smell it."

"I cannot so much as smell your food, nor do I feel any hunger pangs."

"Still it must be odd for you to see me eating."

"Eating is a normal part of earthly life. It does not bother me to see people acting like people, especially given how differently everyone else behaves."

He watched her as she ate. Judging from its appearance her meal consisted of General Tso's chicken on a steamy plate of rice. It brought back more than a few memories.

During the summer vacation he enjoyed the occasional takeout meal. It was one of his few joys amidst the chaos of the situations he was involved in. Now, it seemed as if eating had only been a way to avoid a painful death.

When had a good meal become pointless?

"I'm sorry I fell asleep on you last night." She wiped a bit of sauce off of her mouth. "I was more exhausted than I realized."

"Have you been sleeping well lately?"

"Usually I sleep just fine, but after seeing you the first time, I decided some research into spirits was in order."

Severus shook his head. Of course the first thing she would do was dive into a book. "What did you discover?"

"I know you're different than a ghost, and what you describe as Purgatory is different than what Dante said it was. Other than that, I couldn't find anything else."

"Dante's description of Purgatory was somewhat inaccurate. From what I understand, Purgatory can be very much what Dante wrote about, but the old methods are not working. They are trying new programs because it's getting overcrowded."

"I didn't know spirits could be overcrowded given that you are non-corporeal beings."

"Apparently space is still at a premium, even in the afterlife."

"Do you think heaven will ever be overcrowded?"

"Let's just say nobody has expressed such a concern in my presence. Perhaps the Trinity underestimated how many people would fail to live up to their standards."

She grinned. "Perhaps."

Silence fell between them as she continued to eat.

"If you know about the existence of ghosts, why were you so alarmed to see me?" He finally asked.

"I didn't know the ghosts I me while they were alive, but I knew you. When you died I knew you wouldn't stay on earth, so to see you again was terrifying."

"You need to get used to my presence. If I am to go through your notes I will need to be here for extended periods of time."

"Fine." She swallowed her last bite of food. "I only ask that you not be here when I'm not around."

"I need time to look over your notes, and the more time I have pouring over them the less time I'll need to complete this mission."

"I know, but I do not appreciate people, uh, spirits, coming in here without my permission. I value my privacy, and would appreciate you respecting it."

His glow dimmed. "Fine, I will wait for you to be here before I arrive. Still, it is going to be difficult to know when we can meet without a set time."

"I usually finish eating around seven. Would it be appropriate for us to meet then?"

"My entire schedule is dictated by helping you. Whenever you want to come I am available."

"Great. I am free most weekends, except for this Saturday. I'm going to visit my parents."

"Very well, I will not appear until Sunday."

"You can meet me around noon. I should be ready by then."

"That will be fine. Dismas may want to speak with me over the weekend anyway, so that will give us some time."

"Who's Dismas?"

"In short, he's the Good Thief, and the only sane person in this entire situation."

"The good thief is real?"

"If Dismas is to be believed, and I have no reason to doubt him, then yes."

Ms. Granger exhaled. "I had no clue."

"For the record, Anubis is real too."

"Really?"

"Yes, but do not ask me how he related to the Trinity. I only saw him as the prosecutor in my judgment. He was not there when the final verdict was announced."

"Are there any other Egyptian gods?"

"If they exist nobody has mentioned them."

"The afterlife sounds strange."

"It is different than what I expected."

She took a few more bites. Severus rapped his fingers of the table, somewhat disheartened that they made no sound.

"Back to the topic at hand," She began to collect her dishes. "Go ahead and meet me at noon on Sunday. That will work fine."

"I will be there then."

"Good," she touched the plate with her wand. It was as clean as when she'd pulled it out.

For a moment, Severus wondered what had become of his wand. Given that he couldn't touch anything, it was doubtful that it would respond to him. Still, he turned a light shade of blue when he considered that it had just been discarded in his grave along with him, as if it was a piece of trash.

"How should I contact you if I won't be present for one of our meetings?"

Severus' glow brightened. "I will wait in your sitting room for ten minutes. If you do not come then I will search your apartment. If you still are not there then I will depart."

"That's fair, although I would hate for you to waste your time waiting for me."

"It's either sit alone in your apartment or sit in a stark room listening to Black rattle on about something insipid. It's a favor to allow me into your apartment at all."

She smiled.

"That being said, when should I leave?"

"Either when I ask you to, or if I fall asleep again."

"I would strongly suggest telling me if you grow too fatigued. It is rude to fall asleep on a guest, and it is terrible for a woman's back if she sleeps on a recliner."

"I'll remember that."

He turned to the hallway. "We should probably begin…"

"How is Sirius?"

Severus shrugged. "He is well given the circumstances, though he is as eager to get out of this situation as I am."

"I would imagine."

"Now, as for the notes…"

"Did he find any peace at all in the afterlife?"

His glow became a dull red. "Let's just say that he is closer to Harry now than he was in life. That is bringing him great comfort."

"I'm glad," she whispered.

"Indeed." He breezed into the sitting room. "Now, I have only made it through your preliminary notes, but they are more promising than I thought they would be."

"Is that some type of compliment?"

"It's a statement of relief that I'm not working with a dunderhead."

She laughed.

"What is so amusing?"

"You," she took a deep breath. "You haven't changed at all. It's nice to know some things stay the same."

"There are certain things about me which will never change, for better or worse."

"I would say it's for the better."

"Indeed," Severus' hue was a bright yellow. "Now, I like the idea of using strands of hair from a unicorn's tail. It's a promising angle I had not considered."

"I actually discarded that idea when I realized unicorn tail hair might not interact well with some of the other ingredients I was planning to use."

"What would those be?"

Ms. Granger strolled across the room to her cluttered desk and began pulling out more parchments. "I was hoping to use fangs from a Brazilian pit viper since muggle use their venom in heart medication already, but they didn't interact well with each other."

"What happened?"

"The cauldron exploded."

"You may need a third ingredient to stabilize them."

"What would that be?"

Severus picked up a parchment. "Once I read your notes and consider some of my own research we should be able to discover it."

"We?"

"Yes, you did most of the work, I'm only lending my expertise in exchange for reaching heaven. I'd say that qualifies as a team."

"I know, but I never thought I'd ever hear you refer to us as a team."

"I never thought I'd refer to us as a team either."

"Well," her face lit up. "I'm glad to be on your team."

His glow intensified.

"Anyway," we should get back to the notes."

"Indeed," Severus answered, grateful that at least his client wasn't a complete dunderhead.