Hermione returned home that evening feeling foggy. The afternoon with Andromeda had resulted in more questions than answers. She had refused to confirm anything (except the existence of the letter) and wouldn't expound on the topic of Snape any further. When she and Harry had left the house 30 minutes later, they had returned to Grimmauld Place. Hermione asked Harry if she could use his owl, Archimedes, to send a letter to Malfoy.

"Hermione, why Malfoy?" Harry had been watching her carefully since they had apparated back from Andromeda's. "What do you think he has to do with this?"

"I don't know Harry, but I intend to find out. Andromeda is his aunt. Snape was-is-someone important to their family. He was Draco's mentor."

Harry nodded his agreement and watched as Hermione scribbled a short missive before sending the black owl off into the sky. She turned from the window to his waiting arms, exhaling heavily. Harry always knew when she needed him, and he drew her into him. A small kiss grazed the top of her head, and they both turned their heads at the sound of the floo roaring to life. They did not separate at the sight of two redheads as they exited the fireplace.

"For Merlin's sake you two." The voice of Ron Weasley's chuckled words drew smiles from Harry and Hermione. "I don't know how you can put up with it, Gin. I lasted a month seeing these two act like this, then that was enough for me."

Hermione's smile shifted to frown at him and stepped from Harry's embrace. Harry turned to reopen his arms to Ginny upon her exit behind her brother, kissing her soundly. "At least you can finally acknowledge your unfounded jealousy. And it only further proves that Ginny is undoubtedly the most mature of the family for seeing past the more unique aspects to the friendship I have with Harry."

Ginny looked at her and Ron. "At the end of the day, Harry has always come home to me. What is there to be concerned about?"

Hermione watched Harry beam at her, and Ron shrugged his shoulders, sitting himself into the chair nearest the fireplace. Hermione was thankful her brief, ill-conceived romance with the youngest male Weasley at the end of the war held no lingering effects to their friendship. Ron has always been jealous, and the deep ties she had developed with Harry during his absence of the Horcrux hunt had not set well when they began dating. Shortly after she moved into Grimmauld to remodel it, Ron had arrived one evening to break things off. She had not fought him, choosing Harry as she had always done. When Ron agreed to move into the house mere weeks later, it proved that their friendship would always be stronger than any romance they could have fostered. The rest of the evening passed in companionable conversation, but Hermione's thoughts strayed easily from her friends. Finally, shortly after dinner, she left to floo to her flat.

Her distracted thoughts almost kept her from spying the handsome grey owl on the kitchen sill. Malfoy's owl, Cepheus, was extending his leg to her. Hermione swiftly untied the note, searched for a treat and watched Cepheus fly out the open window into the darkening sky.

Granger,

Expect me at 8pm.

D.M.

Hermione looked to the mantle clock of her living room. It was 7:45, and she was glad she wouldn't have to wait long for Draco's arrival. She busied herself with a quick tidy of the flat, noting idly that Malfoy had never been to her home before. She changed her clothes and returned to her living room as the clock struck 8, and the green flames sprang to life, announcing Draco's arrival.

He stepped from the fireplace with a practice that reflected his upbringing. He had not a speck of soot on his casual attire, and his stride never faltered as he entered the room. He eyed Hermione, sweeping her from head to toe, and smiled. If she had not spent nearly every day with him for over a year, Hermione would have noted that his smile made him unbearably handsome. But, as she had the occasion to spend so much time with him, and rarely allowed herself to forget their decidedly checkered past, she returned the smile and gestured to the couch.

"Thank you for coming, I know my note did not tell you much. I hope I am not interrupting your evening." Hermione tucked her legs under her and faced Malfoy. He adopted a similar position of comfort and regarded her.

"Not at all. What did you want to talk to me about that couldn't wait until Monday?" He was so relaxed, and she hesitated in her response. They had a tenuous friendship, had never spent time in such an intimate setting, and she panicked at the idea of shattering that.

"I know Professor Snape is alive."

Draco Malfoy stilled and shuttered. His pale exterior became a shade lighter and an odd gasping sound escaped his lips. Hermione sat as still as he did. She waited another beat to see color return to his face before she spoke again. "So, you weren't aware."

Hermione looked down at the hands in her lap. She wrung them a few times and tried to be patient as she awaited Malfoy's response. She looked up as he stood and began walking into her kitchen. She watched him open cabinets until he returned with two glasses and a forgotten bottle of Firewhiskey. "Draco- "

"If we're going to talk about this, I'm going to need a drink." He poured generous fingers into each glass and downed it in one. "Or several."

Hermione made no reach for her share of the liquor. A sour look took over his handsome face and Hermione was reminded of their childhood years at Hogwarts.

"Why would you think that I knew that, Granger?" Her name sounded slightly hideous in her ears. It had been a long time since he had spoken to her like this. "My history with the man is long and complicated. I can't say I loss sleep when it was revealed that he was dead."

Hermione tried not to flinch as Malfoy delivered his missive. He had resettled on the couch and was only slowly nursing his third whiskey, but the casual and relaxed aura was gone. He looked ready to fight, which was the last thing Hermione wanted to do. She just wanted more pieces to the puzzle, and she had been sure Malfoy would have given them to her. Hermione looked again at the hands in her lap. "Why do you care if he is alive?"

Draco's question brought her eyes level. Outside of Harry, Ron, and Ginny, Hermione has never told anyone of her attempts to find Severus Snape. She realized, if she was going to get any more information from Draco, she would have to explain. So, she did. Over the course of the next few hours, as Draco nursed his whiskey glass, Hermione explained. From the end of the final battle to that very morning in Andromeda's house and the note in the kitchen.

At close to half eleven, Draco put his whiskey glass down and faced Hermione. "You've explained to me, in agonizing detail I might add, what you have done to chase this ghost. You haven't told me why it matters so much to you. Why do you care if he's alive, Hermione?"

Two and a half years and no one had asked her that. Draco sodding Malfoy, she internally sneered. Prince of Slytherin, indeed. Hermione schooled her features as best she could, thankful she hadn't released her occlumency shields for the night. But there was something in the way Draco looked at her, almost as if he was imploring her to open up, and she found herself saying the words she had kept so closely guarded: "I think I saved him."

A/N: A two chapter update! Thank you again for all your lovely follows, favorites, and reviews. I'm proud of the traction my first publish is gaining. Please continue to leave reviews, send messages, or recommend. I read them all and and grateful for your kind thoughts and words. -Archer