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

Nothing was more pleasant than waking up beside Severus.

The spirit floated a few centimeters atop the sheets, surveying their latest research notes. He was fully robed, though she suspected she could change that with a little persuasion.

He hummed, breaking her thoughts. At first, she thought he'd meet her eyes, but he shifted the scroll until he was glancing at the third section. She didn't know whether to be offended that he didn't notice her, or amused that he had such concentration.

A few moments of silence passed before Hermione made her move. She touched his hand, sending a jolt of love through them. Severus glanced down at her before turning pink. "Good morning."

"Morning." She cooed.

"How long have you been awake?" Severus set the scroll onto the pillow beside him.

"Long enough to admire you reading."

"What is so admirable about my reading?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Everything." She squeezed his hand.

His expression remained the same despite his brightening glow.

"You are sensual when you're being yourself."

"You are the first person to accuse me of being sensual."

"Other women aren't always as perceptive as I am," she sat up.

"Either that, or others are too intimidated by my charming personality to give me much thought."

"You are quite charming when you want to be."

"No I'm not." He kissed her hand. "I just choose not to treat you better than I have any other woman."

She chuckled.

"I take it you want breakfast."

She shook her head. "I want something else."

"What would that be?"

She removed the spaghetti straps of her peach nightgown from her shoulders.

"My my, aren't we eager."

"Well, I never could resist a man reading."

"And I could never resist a woman with an intellect such as yours." He tugged at the bottom of his robe, only stopping when he heard a pecking at the window.

"Keep going," she whispered.

"Yes, but The Daily Prophet is here." He released his robe.

"There's never anything worth reading in there, at least nothing as interesting as you."

"So I am more interesting that The Daily Prophet?"

"Infinitely so."

His glow intensified.

"I say forget the owl and enjoy the moment." She slid her nightgown down.

The owl's pecking became more aggressive.

"That thing could destroy the window," Severus warned.

"I don't care at the moment."

"Perhaps you should," He turned to it "It's doubtful eudaimonia involves broken windows."

"Anything can be repaired with the right magic."

He returned his attention to her.

"If you want to help me achieve eudaimonia, then forget the owl and please resume what we were doing."

"Your wish is my command." He purred before removing his robe completely.

The newspaper shook in Harry's hands. His face was as pale as the full moon on a cloudless night. Bile raced up his throat as he tossed it onto the paper.

"Dear, what's wrong?" Luna approached the kitchen table with James in her arms.

"Have you read the paper yet?"

"No, I've been too busy with this little pixie." Luna kissed her son on the forehead.

The baby gave her a lopsided grin.

"You should read the paper then."

"What happened?"

"Hermione was in trouble, and I had no clue." His voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"What kind of trouble?" She asked. "It doesn't have to do with Severus, does it?"

"Not at all. Just," he gulped. "Just read."

He handed her the paper. She shifted James until she could support him and hold the paper at the same time. After a few moments, her eyes were just as wide as his. "Oh my."

"How could I not have known?" Harry buried his face into his hands.

"I didn't know," Luna answered. "I didn't know the harassment was going on either. If I did, I would have told you immediately."

"I know you would have." He shook his head. "I just wish I'd known. I would've done something."

"Perhaps you can still do something."

"What can I do now? Hermione's been suffering for months, if not years, and I unknowingly let it happen. I mean, I knew Cormac had a crush on her, but I didn't know he'd take things this far." Harry groaned. "If I'd known how obsessed he was with her, I would've stepped in."

"Sadly, you can't change the past. All you can do is focus on the present. Now, you can give Hermione your comfort, and start building a case against Cormac."

Before Harry could answer, a wispy leopard appeared before him. "Harry Potter! There's been an incident at 2666 Squire Drive. One person has been injured, though we are unsure how."

"What the hell does that mean?" Harry muttered.

The wisp disappeared before more information could be given.

"Isn't 2666 Squire Drive where Cormac lives?" Luna asked.

"It is."

James reached for his father.

"You may have a chance to get more information on what he's been up to from him if you go," Luna suggested.

"I'll be right over there," the auror stood "If only to give McLaggen a piece of my mind."

"If he's the injured person, then someone already has," Luna mused aloud.

"All the more reason to find them." He replied. "I need to get their address to send them a thank you note and give them a huge handshake."

With that, he rushed to change into his uniform, ready to start his day.

"He's going to kill me."

All the joy of the fusion had evaporated the moment Hermione laid eyes on the front page. A picture of Cormac's slimy smile dominated the paper, as if taunting her one last time. The article was stomach churning, not only for reliving her trauma, but also to hear what he had done to other women prior to her. There was a nagging feeling that she was not safe though. Although her name was not mentioned, anyone familiar with Cormac's obsessions would know who "Ms. Green" was.

"He's going to kill me," she trembled. "He's going to read this, think I encouraged it, and go after me."

"I told you, he is no threat to you," Severus promised.

"How certain are you of that?"

"As certain as I am about the existence of angels."

She gulped.

"He will never hurt you again." Severus touched her shoulder. "You need to trust me on that."

"What about the others?"

"What others?"

"Other people will read this article. Once they do, they'll know it was me he was pursuing."

"I suppose you could ignore them," his glow brightened. "Or take control of the narrative."

"How?" Hermione's voice was weak.

"Give an expose to Betty while the story is hot. Let everyone know the article is accurate, and raise awareness of this issue so he can't do this to other women, assuming he ever recovers."

She blinked.

"You have lived in fear of him for so long. Now is your time to take control of the situation and tell your side."

"I haven't had much control as of late," she admitted.

"Yes, and now you can do so without fear of retaliation."

"Everyone already knows he's been harassing me." She scratched the bed. "I'm only confirming the story."

"Yes," he answered.

"If I say something, they can't twist my words around like I'm playing him."

"Exactly," he answered. "Take control and break free of the hold he has on you."

"I will," she slid off the bed. "It's about time I contact Betty and tell my side."

"There you go," Severus grinned.

Hermione rushed to the hallway, only to stop. She turned around and blushed. "I need to get dressed first, don't I?"

"I don't know. I would quite like the view of you sitting naked at your desk, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, finding your voice, dominating the conversation. You would look amazing doing all of that naked."

"I would imagine I'd look much better doing it clothed."

"You may want to do the interview clothed, but I would not mind watch you write in the nude, if only for the view."

"If you had a body, I would throw a pillow at you." She gave him a playful scowl.

"Then I shall be grateful for my spiritual form."

She opened one of her drawers and shifted through her poorly folded t-shirts. Severus loved this witch, but it wouldn't hurt to teach her a few more housekeeping tricks, like how to pull a shirt from the bottom of the pile and not displace the rest.

"Severus?"

"Yes?"

"If I ask her to come here," she selected a black t-shirt with "Duchess University" written in dark blue. "Will you be there with me?"

"Certainly," he replied. "Though it's doubtful you need me."

"Yes, but I want you there, for comfort."

"It's not every day anyone looks to me for comfort."

"It's not every day I look to anyone for comfort."

"Then I shall be there," he promised before running a hand through her hair.

She relaxed despite not feeling his touch. She could feel his energy, which is all she needed at the moment.

"Go write your letter while I make us scrambled eggs." He kissed her forehead.

"I will," she replied.

With that, they set about performing their respective tasks.