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

Luna was going to hate him when she found out about this. Under most circumstances, that would make him rethink his course of action. The stakes were too high to second guess himself though. Even if Luna refused to see the importance of what he was about to do, he saw the consequences of inaction quite clearly.

Harry glanced at the door to his office. He couldn't see anyone through the streaky tinted glass. Not taking any chances, he warded his office door shut. Then he cast a muffliato.

He picked up the floor powder, only to pause in front of the iron fireplace.

If he did this, Hermione may never forgive him. Part of him couldn't blame her. As awful as her delusions were, she was happier than he'd ever seen her. She was convinced that someone was in love with her for who she was. Could he really take that away from her, especially after the way Ron had destroyed her?

As the soot slid through his fingers onto the brick hearth, he imagined his best friend locked in her living room, spending hours talking to herself, laughing at her own jokes.

Was this the worst thing? If she was happy, why should he interfere? She wasn't harming anyone, nor was she neglecting to care for herself? Could he be overreacting because she brought up his mother?

The image of Hermione strolling down Diagon Ally speaking into thin air flashed in his mind. As she passed by, people stopped in their tracks to look at the woman arguing with herself. Even if she was still well dressed, people would begin to talk, smirk, snicker then openly mock her. It was only a matter of time before she became known as the crazy person who spoke to her old, surly professor and became more ostracized than she already was.

Harry shook his head. Hermione had faced enough disgrace when Ron abandoned her. She didn't deserve to be jeered at anymore, especially if her behavior was due to an illness.

Plus, there was no telling how far this would go. Mental illness affects all areas of one's life. Would she refuse to see anyone in the evening because she would rather be with Severus? Was she planning on marrying this figment of her imagination and start introducing him to others? What happened when she realized this was all a delusion and her world came crashing down upon her?

More disturbing: what if she was telling the truth?

His stomach dropped at the thought. If she wasn't crazy, then he had been in the same room as Professor Snape. He had missed his chance to tell Severus how grateful he was for his sacrifices, to ask about his parents, to inquire about the afterlife. She may have been right about his mother too…

"No," he whispered. "I can't feed into this."

He furrowed his eyebrows. Even if Luna said nothing when she returned home last night, he knew she still believed Hermione. He loved his wife, but sometimes she was too quick to believe in the abnormal. No, he'd been to the afterlife. There was no Purgatory, and his mother had gone straight to heaven. He was convinced of that fact.

What if he was wrong though?

He threw the floor powder in before he could entertain that horrendous thought.

"Dr. Lum's office please."

The fire crackled over Harry's now jumbled thoughts.

After a few moments, a face appeared amidst the flames. "Hello?"

"Hello Dr. Lum."

"Hello Harry," The ashen woman's face grinned. "Long time no see."

"Indeed," he relaxed.

"What can I do for you?"

"I need to speak with you about a potential client."

"Okay," She drawled. "What is going on with this suspect?"

"Oh no." He shook his head. "I'm not here about a suspect, but a friend."

"What's wrong with them?" Her eyes gleamed in interest.

"Well, she's been going through a difficult time lately, much more difficult than I realized."

"Oh dear," her voice was soft. "Is your friend at risk of hurting herself?"

"I don't think so. She seemed happy when I last saw her." He swallowed. "Almost too happy."

"Then what's wrong?"

"She's been seeing Professor Snape every evening for at least the last four months."

"Professor Snape." Her eyes grew.

"Yes, my friend thinks Professor Snape is in her house and speaking with her."

"Well," Dr. Lum hummed. "Stranger things have occurred."

"Not like this."

"Are you sure she's not just practicing divination and perfecting her craft? She may have just found a way to speak with him and was alluding to that."

"The one class my friend dropped was divination because she thought it was useless. There is no way she was practicing it when she saw him."

"I see," She moistened her lips.

"It doesn't stop at seeing him. This friend is carrying on a relationship with him."

"Excuse me?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, she believes they are in a romantic relationship and she is now the love of his life."

"How did she reach this conclusion especially given his relationship with, well, you know?"

"According to my friend, she and Professor Snape been speaking with each other for months. He's been telling her they he loves her, and she says she has secret information about my mother."

"Like what?"

"Like she went to Purgatory instead of straight to heaven. When I tried to correct her," Harry's throat constricted. "Let's just say she did not appreciate being told that Professor Snape may love someone other than her."

She whistled.

"It was difficult," his eyes misted. "But it became clear that she's suffering. She's in so much pain, but there's nothing I can do."

"That sounds very upsetting," Dr. Lum answered. "I'm sorry you have to endure that."

"It isn't half as bad as for me as it must be for her."

"Yes, but hearing her speak about your mother in such a disparaging way must have been difficult."

"I've forgiven her. She didn't mean to hurt me. She's just hurt and needs professional help."

"I'll see what I can do." Dr. Lum sighed. "She has to want help though before I can work with her."

"When she realizes how much pain this is causing everyone she'll accept your services."

"Let's hope so." Dr. Lum's face disappeared for a moment before returning. "Now, what is your friend's name?"

"Hermione," Harry choked. "Hermione Granger."

Her eyes were huge.

"Yes, that Hermione Granger," He took a deep breath. "I never thought I'd ask you for help with her, but she needs it."

"I didn't realize she was in that much pain."

"I didn't either, but after Severus Snape: Saint or Scoundrel came out she seemed to retreat into a fantasy world."

"Ron's engagement couldn't have helped."

"No, it didn't."

From the ashes, he could see the outline of a clipboard and quill. "So, I have a free spot open on Friday at noon. Do you think you could convince her to come in then?"

"I can get her to come, though she may be kicking and screaming," he warned.

"From everything you've described about her, I can only imagine," Dr. Lum replied. "Now, I'll need some patient information, if you can provide it."

"Sure." Harry replied, unaware of the device upon the ground.

Outside, Cormac sneered as he pulled the extendable ear closer to him. At first, he had wanted to discover the name of Hermione's boyfriend. If she was crazy though then she was far less tempting. There was no reason to tie himself to a nutcase, especially one who would choose a surly professor over him.

It didn't change her rejection of him though. He had to admit it stung to lose to a figment of her imagination. If she wanted to live in crazy land that was fine, but not if she hurt him in the process!

Hermione Granger would pay for that. He'd make sure of it.