AN: If I don't post in the next few days, Happy New Year! I hope it is filled with hope, joy, and love!

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

Harry shifted his peas from one end of his porcelain plate to the other, mixing them with his half eaten mashed potatoes. A few times he glanced at his red meatballs. His stomach was too knotted to so much as think about eating, regardless of how well Luna cooked her meals.

"Did something happen at work today?" Luna set her fork atop her empty plate.

"Work was fine, I suppose," Harry muttered.

"You suppose?"

Harry exhaled.

From the blue padded playpen to Luna's right, James began to fuss. She picked him up and whispered, "You don't like being ignored, do you?"

James' whimpers confirmed her suspicions.

"That's fine baby." She kissed his cheek. "You have all my attention now."

James grinned.

"I," Harry swallowed. "I may have done something stupid today."

"Oh?" Luna asked as James gurgled.

"Do you remember Hermione's delusions?" Harry began.

"I remember that she finally had the courage to tell you that she's been seeing Severus Snape."

"Finally had the courage?"

Luna nodded.

"How, how long have you know she was seeing Snape?"

"About four months now."

James fell silent.

"You've known for four months and you didn't tell me?" Harry asked, his expression impassive.

"It wasn't my truth to tell," she answered.

"What do you mean?"

"Those visions were her own, not mine. Even if I knew she was having them, I had no right to speak about them."

"So you did nothing?" His eye twitched.

"I waited until she felt ready to tell you, and hoped with time you would have a heart open to receiving the truth."

"What truth?" He sat up straighter and raised his voice.

James whined.

"The truth that she is in love with Severus Snape," Luna replied in an even tone, "And that he is in love with her."

"That's under debate."

"No it isn't, and you know it."

Harry's frown deepened.

"For years you worried about Hermione being alone. We expressed our concerns before we had James. Why is her being in a relationship a problem now?"

"She is in a," Harry made scare quotes, "'relationship' with a dead man."

"Physically he is dead, but as you can see, his spirit is alive."

"Yes, his spirit is so alive only Hermione can see him."

"You could sense him if you opened yourself to him."

"I'm open just fine to Snape's spirit."

"Are you?"

"Let me ask you something," Harry furrowed his eyebrows. "In all the times she talked to you, did you ever think there was even the slightest chance that she was crazy?"

"No," Luna's expression softened. "But you did."

"I still do. But," Harry sagged. "I probably shouldn't have acted on that belief."

"What did you do?" Luna rubbed her son's back.

"I," he gulped. "I took Hermione to Dr. Lum today."

Luna blinked.

"She needs help. I thought she could help her."

"Where is Hermione now?" Luna's voice was low and slow.

"At home." Harry shook his head. "Dr. Lum said she couldn't find anything wrong with her. She said at best it was a harmless delusion, and at worst…"

Luna kept her gentle gaze upon him.

"At worst she was telling the truth, and I allowed my own psychological issues to get in the way of healing," Harry lowered his head.

"Which do you believe?" Luna's voice was gentle.

"What do you mean?" He turned his gaze to her.

"I mean." Luna adjusted a squirming James so he was facing his father. "Do you believe she's crazy, or are you afraid of reconciling with Professor Snape?"

"Why would I be afraid of reconciling with Snape?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Because you did not leave on the nicest of terms."

"But I made my peace with him."

"How?"

"You know how it happened," Harry shrugged. "I had him declared a hero, defended him against his detractors, got his portrait hung, and tried to correct the lies Rita told. I let the Wizarding World know who he was. What more could I do?"

"You could make peace with the fact that you watched him die."

"I am at peace with it," Harry's throat constricted. "I mean, lots of people died in the war. Why would I single his death out in my mind?"

"He wanted to look into your eyes as he died."

"He did it because he loved my mother." Harry turned red. "That's another thing! He loved her, and now Hermione is claiming he moved on with her! What right does she have to claim he moved on!"

James gasped. Daddy was rarely this loud. What was happening?

"Doesn't he have a right to move on?" Luna asked.

"He did everything out of love for my mother! How could he move on with a former student of all people?"

"Is that all Hermione is to you now, just one of Professor Snape's former students?"

"Of course not, but this whole thing is weird. It's just weird to think he's moved on from my mother with Hermione!"

"Most people move on from broken relationships, even if it takes years. One needs to let go of unhealthy attachments in order to have a good life."

"Not Snape. Snape can't move on."

"Why?"

"Because," He huffed. "He just can't."

"Let me ask you something." She rubbed her baby's back. "Do you really want Severus Snape to spend the rest of his existence mooning over your mother?"

"I thought that's what he'd do regardless of what anyone wanted."

"Don't you think it would be awkward if your parents reunited in heaven, and he was still in love with your mother? What is he supposed to do while they spend eternity together, just sit and stare at them in the background?"

"I mean." He shuddered. "When you put it that way, it is disturbing, and a bit depressing to think that."

"It's very disturbing," she answered. "Almost as disturbing as finding out your mother wasn't perfect."

His eyes grew.

"It was hard enough to have your imagine of a hopelessly romantic Severus Snape shattered, but it must have been more upsetting to discover your mother was not as pure as you thought. Finding out she was wrathful must have come as a shock," Luna continued.

"She was a good woman."

"Nobody is disputing that she was a good woman."

"But she went to Purgatory, which is only for terrible sinners."

"A soul in Purgatory is saved, just not immediately in heaven. Work needed to be done to help her release her anger towards Snape."

"I thought she was a good enough person to go straight to heaven though."

"She was a good person, but not a perfect one. The Almighty acknowledged that fact and acted on it."

James cooed, emphasizing his mother's point.

"I know, but everyone told me how much she loved me, how she died for me…" Harry choked.

"Having faults does not negate her sacrifice. Severus had faults, but he still saved the Wizarding World and made it to Purgatory."

"He did." Harry slouched.

"Your mother had a darker side, one which led her to be wrathful. It was taken into account when she died. Her sacrifice did mean something, and she was a good person, but far from a perfect one."

"Nobody has ever called her wrathful, at least not anyone I've heard," Harry's voice cracked.

"I know," Luna replied. "Which is why it was hard to hear it from Hermione's mouth."

"She doesn't know my mom."

"No, but you don't know everything about her either. The one in that room who knew her best was Severus Snape."

Harry bowed his head.

"I think you knew Hermione wasn't crazy, but were afraid to admit it to yourself."

"I saw him die," Harry looked at his wife. "I watched the blood come out of his wounds, saw him take his last breath. He was dead when I left him there in that shack."

"Do you wonder if you could have done anything more?"

Harry allowed the tears to flow. His body shook as he let out a wail.

James reached for his dad, hoping to take some of the pain away. Luna walked over to the chair beside Harry and allowed him to lean onto her shoulder.

"I should've saved him, Luna," Harry gasped. "I was so worried about those memories though, and I was still so angry with him. Nobody deserved to die like that though. Nobody!"

"I know," She rubbed his side. "It must have killed you not to save him."

"I didn't care that he was dying at the time. I was so angry with him, and I hated him. At times I hated him. I only got his memories because I thought maybe, maybe it could help."

"You want his forgiveness."

"Yes," he squeaked. "But I doubt I'll get it."

"Why?"

"He probably hates me." Harry sniffed. "Especially after what I did to Hermione."

"You made a stupid decision out of love for a friend." Luna replied. "Severus could relate to that."

"He could?"

Luna gave him a soft smile and nodded.

"Maybe, but," Harry dried his eyes. "Hermione probably hates me."

"No doubt she is angry with you, but hate is a strong word."

"I almost got her institutionalized."

"You tried to help her, even if your attempts were misguided."

"I was supposed to trust and support her."

"You were acting out of fear and friendship. When she calms down, she will understand that."

"Do you think so?" Harry croaked.

"I know so," Luna answered.

Harry relaxed.

"Once everyone calms down, I think you'll have an invaluable opportunity to make peace with everything that's happened."

Harry cocked his head as James reached for him again.

"Severus has a unique perspective on your mother." She handed his son to him. "At first I thought Severus may over idealize Lily, so it wasn't advisable to speak to him about her. Now, I think you can start to see her as a person. If you ask the right questions, you'll really get to know her."

"Hermione and Severus won't want to speak with me." Harry held his son close.

"Hermione will calm down," Luna promised. "And once she does, she will encourage Severus to speak with you so you can both find peace."

"I just wish I could've done more, that I'd understood everything while he was alive."

"He kept things from you to protect everyone, but now you're an adult and know everything. Now is the time for a real reconciliation, if you'll both get out of your own way."

"And you really think that's possible."

"I know it's possible."

"Eh," James muttered, agreeing with his mother.

"You haven't led me astray yet, and you are a brilliant woman." Harry looked down at his son. "You have an amazing and brilliant mother. You know that?"

James made a happy cluck.

"I love you little guy." He kissed James on the forehead. "Just like I love your mother."

"We love you too," Luna answered.

"I don't know where I'd be without you."

"I don't want to think of where I'd be without you either."

Harry hummed and rested his head on Luna's shoulder, saying a silent prayer that reconciliation with Severus and Hermione wasn't out of reach.

Sirius still couldn't understand Aristotle's Physics.

Perhaps he shouldn't be surprised. Hogwarts wasn't known for its outstanding science program. Of course something told him that hyle wasn't taught in most muggle science books. Why was this book called Physics again?

"Where is your companion?"

Sirius dropped the book as his glow went pure white.

"I need to speak with him." Metatron continued, his expression hard as steel. "You are both needed to help me tend to some important business."