Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Prologue

October 30, 1981

(present time)

She stood there, inside a dingy Muggle pub, under a disillusionment charm she and her friend have improvised, watching a beautiful young woman with red hair and fair skin; her luscious body was swaying in front of an equally young and handsome man who didn't bother to hide his hardness down there. The beautiful woman's palms trailed on the Muggle man's cloth-covered broad chest, while the latter's fingers were busy undoing the top buttons of her white shirtdress which barely reached her knees.

"Just the top three buttons," the woman whispered flirtatiously to the man.

"As you wish, my sweet," he whispered back, his eyes fixed hungrily on her now exposed cleavage. "Let's bring this somewhere else," he suggested.

Instead of answering, she yanked him for a kiss.

The man's hands traveled to the woman's lower back until they were groping her butt, and the pair kissed each other rather hungrily, not caring if they were surrounded by no less than a hundred people. She continued to press her body against him and he held her more firmly, making sure she was feeling her hardness.

She, the observer, rolled her eyes and shook her head in disbelief. She non-verbally cast a tripping jinx to the man, causing the pair to release each other.

The woman with red hair frowned and looked around. She excused herself to the man to go to the loo.

She followed her red-head friend and lifted the charm off herself.

"Oh, shit! You scared me!" the redhead exclaimed when she saw her through the mirror, leaning against the wall behind her.

"Whatever happened to 'constant vigilance'?" she smirked at her friend.

"I knew for a fact that there weren't enemies here," her friend reasoned while applying powder on her face. "I wasn't expecting you to follow me here."

She rolled her eyes. "Believe me, the moment that bloke touched you, I wanted to hex him. Whatever you just did out there, your mum and dad would probably skin you alive."

"That's why they don't know. Only you know. Too bad you're taken, I can't bring you here," the red-head smirked back and turned to face her.

"Hey!" she protested.

"I just needed a distraction, you know. I allow them to touch me... I need a human touch, but I leave them after inviting me to go somewhere. I haven't - "

"I know," she cut her off, but not in a rude way. "You're my best friend. I know you more than anyone else in the world," she said confidently.

The red-head hugged her. "I love you."

She hugged her back. "I love you, too." They held hands when they pulled away from each other. "It's time, Ginny."

Ginny gave her a sad look. "Already?" she asked and bit her lip after.

She nodded. "I am sure you realized the date today."

Ginny sighed heavily. "I know what's today. I just don't think I'm ready to face him."

"It's been three years and he's still hoping you'd come back, according to - "

"I know. The twins told me. Well, he's not my priority. I need to go home first, just to make sure that they're all right."

"I'll go with you." She took her friend's hand and Apparated the two of them out of the pub to Ginny's home: the Burrow.

.

"Hermione! It's been a while!" She allowed the older witch to pull her to a hug after Ginny answered her mother's security question.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley. It's been six months," she replied.

When the older woman released her, she faced her and Ginny with teary eyes. "You have to leave, don't you?"

Ginny nodded. "I do, Mum. I just want to make sure all of you are safe."

"You don't have to fight, darling," Mrs. Weasley told her twenty-year-old of a daughter.

"Mum, I do. Hermione and I have to be there to make sure the plan will work," Ginny explained and Hermione nodded.

"Well, dear, all right. You take care of yourselves. The twins are here and Albus sent someone to help us take the children to a safe house, just in case."

Hermione and Ginny exchanged looks and frowned. "Who?" asked the latter.

Mrs. Weasley turned her head to the side where the parlour was located and a man with long, black hair emerged into the kitchen. "Hello, kitten. It's been a while," said Sirius Black, eyes on her. Hermione offered a small smile, then Sirius's eyes went to meet Ginny's.

Ginny looked away. "I'll check on the kids, Mum." She left to climb up the stairs.

"Hermione, a word, please," requested Sirius.

Hermione nodded and followed the wizard in the empty parlour. She did not bother taking a seat.

"It's been... what? Three years?" he said, giving her a friendly look.

Hermione took a good look at the wizard in front of her. Sirius was wearing a Muggle jumper with The Beatles written on it, a pair of denim trousers, and trainers with a Muggle brand. "I've heard the Muggle police cornered you two years ago."

Sirius smirked. "Bet Snape was the one who told you?"

She shrugged. She didn't know what to say. They weren't friends, after all. If it were Remus standing in front of her, making a conversation, she would gladly tell him everything.

"You're going to risk your life for them."

"I already did."

"You could've chosen to travel to Australia with your family and leave everything to the Order, but you're here... making sure he would be safe."

She frowned at him. "What's the point of this, Sirius?"

"She was never your friend and she treated you horribly in school."

"And?" she questioned. "Not her son's fault. Just because I didn't like the parents - "

"You liked my brother - "

"- means I wouldn't care for him. Look, Sirius, we have tasks at hand. Can we talk about this some other time? You're free to corner me again once this war is over."

Sirius nodded. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry for everything, especially for the way I've treated Snape."

"Well, you have to tell him that."

"When this is over."

She nodded. "When this is over."

.

A/N: Welcome to another story. I have written this story last year, originally as Hermione-Antonin pairing, but I realized that Severus Snape's happiness is more important to me.

I have been writing lately to divert my attention from the CORONA VIRUS OUTBREAK. No, I'm not sick but please pray for me and the Philippines.

Expect random stories. Writing is my way of coping. Thanks a lot.