AN: Thank you for all the support over the last 100 chapters! It is very deeply appreciated!

Severus had never been so relieved to have Hermione in his arms. He grew closer to her chest, wishing he could feel her body against his instead of only sensing her essence. At least she was in her house, safe with him.

It was as close to heaven as he'd ever been.

"You were right about Harry," Tears fell through his essence onto the kitchen floor. "He thought I was crazy and almost institutionalized me!"

"I am so sorry," Severus whispered as he brushed his hands atop her hair.

"I should have listened to you and not seen him. It would have been so much better for all of us if I'd just told him I was too busy for lunch."

"I wish things had gone differently for you, I truly do."

"I know," she squeaked.

For what seemed like hours, Hermione sobbed and shook in his arms.

"Was that the only thing that happened today?" Severus asked.

"Well," she wiped her face and sniffed. "You'll probably wonder if I've gone around the bend if I tell you this."

"I would never think of you that way."

"Fine," she took a deep breath. "I don't know if I did this because I was upset or because I felt sympathy for him, but I bought an expensive bottle of tequila for a man in a red suit."

"You did?" Severus' glow was white.

"Yes," Hermione managed to grin. "He was a strange man. I believe his name was Michael Enoch. Anyway he needed to buy some tequila and a glass for his girlfriend."

Severus' glow brightened as he said a silent prayer of thanks to the Trinity that Dismas was right about the reason for Metatron's visit.

"He was such an odd man, with such an odd story about his girlfriend. Then again," She chuckled. "Nothing about this afternoon has been normal."

"Did Mr. Enoch hurt you?"

"Of course not. Why would you think he would?"

"You must admit it isn't every day when someone asks you for a bottle of tequila."

"True." She backed away from him. "But he was a perfect gentleman, though the boss he works for sounds bizarre."

"His boss is one of the most puzzling beings I've met."

"Wait, you know his boss?"

"I've had my dealings with them."

"How would you know who his boss is, unless..." She tilted her head. "Were you able to follow me?"

Severus stared at her. There was no real reason for her to know about her heavenly visitor. Then again, it didn't seem fair to keep such a secret from her.

"What aren't you telling me?" Her voice was lower.

"That man's name was not Michael Enoch. In fact, he wasn't a man at all."

Hermione blinked.

"His name is Metatron," Severus continued.

"Who's that?"

"He is the archangel who tried to get the program pulled."

"He's that Metatron?"

"Yes."

"As in the prosecutor?"

"Yes."

She put a hand over her mouth as her eyes doubled in size.

"I am glad you seemed to escape from the encounter relatively unscathed," he continued. "If he had done anything to you I never would've forgiven myself."

"No, he was wonderful, though that whole boss who loves everyone story makes more sense."

"Why was he talking about his boss?" Severus became a light red. "He did not threaten to report you to them, did he?"

"No," her eyes glistened. "I asked him how he met his girlfriend. He gave me a sweet story about his loving boss introducing them, but that's for another time."

"Indeed," Severus' glow returned to normal. "I don't know why he selected you to help him obtain a bottle of tequila…"

"But this could be the best thing to happen to us all week!"

He closed his mouth.

"Don't you see?" She clasped her hands together. "I helped Metatron. He said he'd pay me back somehow."

"He claimed to be in debt to you?"

"Yes, and he said he'd pay me back."

"How?"

"He never said, but if he really wants to pay me back, then he'll let this program run indefinitely!"

"That would be pleasant." Severus' glow grew duller, "But I'm not sure if that is possible."

"Why not?"

"He doesn't have the power to keep the program going."

"But if he puts a word in a good word for the Trinity…"

"They could override him."

"Metatron himself said his boss was love. If they're willing to let an angel fall in love with a mortal, then they have to be okay with this!"

"I would hope so."

"I know so," she drew closer to her. "As long as the Trinity accepts our love, then who cares what anyone else thinks?"

"I do not."

"Neither do I," her eyes glistened. "I couldn't care less what people such as Harry think. As long as I'm with you, I'm fine."

"You don't care what Potter thinks?" Severus' glow flickered.

"No," she answered. "I don't care what he thinks. In fact, it may take quite some time before I ever speak with him again, assuming I ever do."

"Are you thinking of cutting all contact with him?"

"The thought has crossed my mind several times, and I will admit it's attractive at the moment."

If there was one curse in the afterlife, it was that one never forgot a thing. Every memory of the Golden trio came to mind with complete clarity. He remembered all the trouble Potter and Hermione found themselves in, and all the times she had bailed him out. Then, he remembered how they escaped into the Forest of Dean together. Even after Ron abandoned him, Hermione remained at Potter's side.

Would giving up that close friendship lead her closer to eudaimonia, or would it create the emotional dependency upon him Metatron had warned against?

"I still cannot believe Harry would turn on me as he did! He had no right to take me away to a therapist's office! No right whatsoever."

"He was trying to help." Severus' glow was a light blue.

"I know he thought he was, but," the tears returned to her eyes. "He hurt me more than he could've imagined."

"I know he did, but," Severus' glow darkened. "I would not want you to throw away such a deep friendship for me."

"Don't you understand," she took his hands. "You're worth it."

"I know you feel that way," Severus squeezed her hands. "But my goal is to help you discover eudaimonia, not destroy all your existing friendships."

"You aren't keeping me from my friends."

"Is Potter not your friend?"

"I thought he was, but I'm not so sure anymore."

"Are you certain of that?"

"I am becoming more certain of that," her voice was stronger. "I cannot fathom how anyone could do what he did to me, especially one who claimed to be my friend."

"In his mind, was he acting in your best interests, or was he being malicious for the sake of it?"

"I'm sure he thought he was acting in my best interests."

"Then in his own bizarre Potter way, he was being your friend."

"You, you aren't taking his side are you?" She moistened her drying lips.

"No," Severus' glow brightened. "I simply don't want you to spend a decade in Purgatory for wrath as Lily did."

She cocked her head.

"What I did to Lily was malicious, and she had every right to end our friendship. Still, she refused to forgive me, which delayed her entry into heaven."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying." He brushed his thumbs against the back of her hands. "I don't want you to spend more time in Purgatory away from me because you're upset with Potter."

"What he did was inexcusable!" She removed her hands from his.

"Perhaps, but until this point you have had an excellent friendship, even if it did cause me a few headaches."

Her lips twitched upwards.

"You should not be giving up your life and your friends for me," Severus' glow returned to its usual hue. "Perhaps that was what Metatron was concerned with; that you would become isolated from the living and focus more on the dead."

"No, your love has helped me. Can't you see that?"

"I know that, but there are certain facts we must acknowledge," he replied. "I cannot go outside this house, nor can I directly interact with your friends. You cannot take me to a Ministry Ball, allow me to tour your bookstore, or attend a conference with you."

"We don't need to do those things."

"Life could easily pass your by if we remain like this," he warned as he turned dark blue again.

"I don't care. We will find a way around this."

Severus looked down.

"We will get through this together. I know we will!"

"That may not be in your best interests." He raised his head.

"What do you want me to do?" Hermione threw up her hands. "I've found happiness and the love I've always wanted. Now it's unhealthy for me?"

"I wish things were different," his voice was soft. "I truly do."

"Are you going to leave me because you think that's what's best for me?"

"Never."

She stared at him, trying to discern how honest he was.

"I promise to never abandon you, and I will come as often as the Trinity allows me to," he promised. "We must be aware, though, that they could share the concerns I do, along with some additional ones only they can discern. If they do not feel as though those concerns are being addressed," he didn't dare finish the sentence.

"The Trinity is love! They have to accept us!"

"Friendship is love too. They will defend that along with romance."

"True." She sagged.

"Do you honestly want to lose your friendship with Harry over this?"

"I want him to get over his pain and see the truth."

"If he did, would you want to sacrifice him and any other friends you could have for me?"

She exhaled.

"I don't want to hold you back from your life," Severus replied. "Love should help you live your life, not inhibit you from living it to the fullest."

"Please don't go," she whispered. "Please let me figure out a way to make this work."

"We will find a way to get through this, regardless of what forms we take."

"Do you promise that no matter what happens, we will remain with each other?"

"Only if you'll promise me the same."

"I promise."

"Then I promise too."

Once again they embraced, terrified of what the future had to offer.