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

Sirius was missing something.

No matter how many lectures he attended, how many libraries he visited, or how many book clubs he sat in on, he could not find a man who suited Hermione. Some were promising, but then they would open their mouths, revealing themselves to be complete dunderheads-good God did he just consider them that? Regardless, even if they proved to be intelligent, they would become arses at the drop of a hat, or they would be engaged in pastimes such as Gobstones. Seriously, who played that game after the age of twelve?

Sirius wouldn't give up though. If he could pass Muggle Studies with an Exceeds Expectations then he could do this. All he needed was a little help, help Severus was less than wiling to provide.

His eyes fell on the book beside him. Perhaps he needed to take a different approach. Aristophanes' definition of a soulmate was one in which both parties wanted to be united for all eternity. So far, he couldn't see her wanting to fuse with any of these men. His wasn't the only definition of love though. After all, Socrates hadn't had his say. Since he always seemed to be right, or at least the one the audience was meant to support, he may have some insight.

Sirius opened the book, noting not for the first time that it still felt odd to get his answers from a book instead of acting and seeing where the chips fell. Then again, even an old, dead dog could learn a few tricks.

The parchment remained unopened on the kitchen table.

Hermione sat across from Severus and met his eyes. He twisted his lower lip, the unspoken question in his eyes.

"I received it earlier this afternoon," She swallowed. "It came to the bookstore."

"What did it say?"

"I haven't read it yet."

"Why not?"

"I didn't feel strong enough to read it without you being with me," her face was pale.

"Why not?" He asked.

"I wanted someone with me if it was a rejection." She bowed her head.

"Why would it be a rejection?"

"You said it yourself, I'm relatively unknown in academia. Perhaps they thought I was simply riding off my fame and did not take me seriously."

"Your calculations were correct. They must be able to see that."

"Your calculations were correct," she emphasized. "Mine though may be erroneous."

"If that was the case, I would have caught any error you made," his glow was a light yellow.

"I know, and I have faith that you would have caught everything."

"Yet you have little faith in yourself."

Hermione took a shaky breath.

"Why?" Severus' voice was softer.

"To start, I'm a college dropout."

"So? You are one of the brightest witches of your age. That alone should give you some credibility."

"Perhaps." She took a bite of her chicken and grinned. "This is good."

"Is it better than the restaurant's?" His lips curled up.

"It's better than the one Great Wall serves anyway. The jury is still out on if it's better than China Queen."

"China Queen always was exceptional," Severus admitted. "Still, you did learn how to cook several meals."

"I did."

"If you can learn to cook in such a short length of time." He leaned closer to her. "Then why can you not make a potion?"

"I don't know."

"Your potion will be accepted. If not, there are other research facilities you can apply to."

"I guess."

"No, that's true. If one research facility rejects the potion then we will find another one which isn't filled with dunderheads."

She took another bite and grinned.

"Now, please open the parchment."

She gulped. "Could you please open it?"

"You don't need me to open it."

"Actually I do."

His glow dulled.

"I know we will work on things if there's a rejection, but if I have to rework things then I need to take more time. My dad is running out of time though," her voice was soft.

"Fair enough, but I cannot…"

"I know." She sat up straighter. "I want you to touch and open the parchment."

He complied with her wishes.

She took another bite, trying to read Severus' expression. Sometimes, his facial expressions were just as hard to read as he was at Hogwarts. His glow was growing brighter though. That had to be a good sign, or so Hermione hoped.

"How does the rest of next week look for you?" He drawled.

"I'm mostly free."

"No, you will not be." He smiled and slid the parchment towards her. "You will be at the research facility testing your potion."

Hermione cheered and raised her hands. Crookshanks leapt and darted out of the kitchen.

"Congratulations. You have just taken the first step towards becoming a potions mistress." His glow was bright.

"Oh my God! I can't believe it! I mean, I knew your calculations were correct, and I knew you could make it!"

"I did very little. You put in most of the work."

"I know, but I still can't believe I got in." Her eyes glistened as she read it.

"They will want to know when you're free sooner rather than later. Wednesday looks like the day they can meet."

"Wednesday is fine!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's perfect actually. I need to write them and tell them that now!"

"Actually, you need to eat first."

"No, this is too important to take time for eating." She stepped towards her office.

"The facility is closed now."

She stopped.

"You can write the letter and send it first thing in the morning. That way, it won't be stuck in the cold the entire night."

"Yes." She ran back to the table. "I can do that."

His glow was bright and as warm as the fireplace in the sitting room.

"I know I'm overreacting, but this is such a relief!"

"No, you are not overreacting at all," he answered.

"Maybe not to the average person, but you must have been much more subdued."

"I was far from it. When I got my first acceptance to a research facility I knocked over some ink and spilled it all over my acceptance letter. I had a devil of a time casting the spells to get it all off," his eyes gleamed at the memory.

"When did you first get accepted into a research center?"

"I was seventeen," Severus replied. "I was the youngest person on record to be admitted. Still, the potion was successful, making me also the youngest person to receive a potions patent."

"I believe you still hold that record."

"At least I hold one positive record."

"Out of curiosity, what was that potion for?"

His glow intensified. "It was a stomach settling potion without the side effects of usual treatments. I believe it was called Perut Tenang."

"Oh Merlin!" She covered her mouth with her hands. "I practically lived off of that after my breakup with Ron."

He frowned.

"I was so stressed from the newspapers and moving my stuff out," she explained. "Things got better when I moved to Australia, but for a few months I depended on that potion not to get heartburn."

"I am so sorry you went through any of that." His glow dimmed.

"It's over now. All that matters is that my potion was accepted and I may cure my dad unless," the light in her eyes died. "Unless it does not work as intended."

"If that is the case, then we will revise the potion. We will not stop working until your dad is cured."

"Then what?" Her voice was weaker. "Once he's cured, will you leave?"

"I doubt it," he answered. "The Trinity wants you to find a deeper sense of well being than you have at the moment. I am at a loss as what that would look like though."

"I am too. All I know is that I'm happier than I've been in years."

"I am happier than I've ever been as well."

"Perhaps, but you'll be happier in heaven I'm sure." She sat and took another bite.

"Perhaps," he mused.

"Anyway," her eyes lit up once more. "Perhaps you can come to the conference with me."

"As far as I know I am not allowed to go anywhere other than your apartment."

"Yes, but this is an emergency. I need moral support in order to be happy."

"I would love nothing more than to support you however I can. But…" Severus' glow intensified. "There may be no reason I cannot support you. Deals are modified all the time."

"That they are."

"I will speak with Dismas about it when I next see him. I'm sure he can modify the terms of this arrangement."

"Let's hope so anyway. I could use someone to walk me through everything."

"You will receive direction from the other researchers."

"Yes, but they will only be adequate compared to the advice you give."

He chuckled. "True."

"God," she sighed. "I had almost given up hope for Dad. Perhaps this isn't the cure, but I feel like we're at least getting closer."

"You are much closer to achieving your goal."

"Thank you again." She placed a hand on the table beside his. "I couldn't have done any of this without you."

"No, thank you for helping me with my eternal salvation. I don't think I could be as close as I am to it without you."

"You're welcome."

"Now, go ahead and eat while I explain certain procedures, at least the ones which were in place before I died."

"Okay." She dug into her cashew chicken.

"First, the head researcher will organize a panel of test subjects. Most of them will probably be taken from the cardiac ward in St. Mungo's, though they may put out a call to find them."

"Okay."

"Then, the head researcher will ask them to sign forms consenting to the study. You will receive those consent forms and will need to sign a few of your own. Honestly most of the first day is filling out forms."

"How exciting," she deadpanned.

"Indeed but that was my favorite part of it."

"Why?"

"Because it was simple."

Her stomach sank.

"After all the forms are signed, you must give a presentation on your potion to a panel of researchers as well as the ethics board."

"The ethics board." Her eyes grew.

"It is a formality," he continued. "They merely want to ensure that you are not attempting to turn anyone into a frog purposely and that the study is conducted in a humane manner. There is no reason to believe that they will give you any trouble."

"Okay."

"The next day will be the day you administer it. I will admit that this is the most nerve wracking part since you have to watch the patients' reactions."

"How did you handle watching the subjects?"

"I occluded and scowled. I also snapped at anyone who attempted to make small talk."

"I can't occlude, but maybe I'll want to speak with the rest of them."

"That would be a better way of coping. The waiting is the hardest part, but when the side effects are clear they will know."

"Then what?"

"It will be an acceptance, everyone will congratulate you, and you will sign the legal forms for the patent. Once they begin using it, you will have an additional source of income."

"That sounds so simple."

"It is," he replied. "I have every faith you will be able to navigate the process."

"Thank you." She blushed.

His glow turned pink.

How had he gotten so lucky to have a witch like Hermione in his afterlife?

Hermione stifled a giggle, while wondering how she had gotten so lucky to have a wizard like Severus in her life.