It's been a long time, I know. I blame the holidays and the holiday writing challenges I couldn't resist.

Thanks to my wonderful beta Pamela RR for taking the time to always help. Also, a big thank you to everyone following and reading. I truly appreciate the support for this story.

Disclaimer: All canon characters, plots, dialogue, and situations from the Harry Potter series belongs to JK Rowling. I am not profiting from this work.

Thanks to a quick acting Meeley, with a snap of her fingers, Hermione was not bare for all to see. Snape simply raised a black eyebrow, his dark eyes focused directly on hers. Hermione couldn't help but shiver slightly. One might think that deep red eyes were intimidating, but Severus Snape's own black were equally so. Hermione lowered her head and addressed Meeley, who was rolling up a piece of parchment which contained Hermione's measurements.

"Meeley, thank you for your help. I believe that would be all for today. Um..I'll let you know when I need assistance."

"Yes, Miss," squeaked Meeley and the House-elf was gone. Hermione turned to Snape, but before she spoke again, he lifted his hand.

"Follow me." He walked past her, his long flock bellowing as he went into Voldemort's study and stood next to a bookcase. She watched as he retrieved his wand from his sleeve and slowly pointed to the middle shelf. He whispered something under his breath causing the spines of a set of books to glow a bright green. The bookcase moved. Pushing itself back, then against a stone wall. "After you, Miss Granger."

Hermione slowly moved forward walking past Snape, then through an archway to reveal a pristine Potion lab. Shelves upon shelves held well organized potion ingredients, and cauldrons of different sizes and metals were displayed on the opposite side of a large work bench. "He has his own personal lab?"

"Never mind that now." The bookcase behind Snape slammed shut causing Hermione to cautiously move away from her Professor. "Afraid, Miss Granger?"

"No...just...slightly intimidated, I suppose." With a simple shrug he continued.

"We must improve your Occlumency, if we are going to make this happen. You need to make sure that anything that is spoken between us stays that way. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I agree, but I told you. He won't-"

""He knew, Miss Granger!," snapped Snape. "The Dark Lord knew that you and Potter were hiding in Forest of Dean." Hermione's eyes went wide.

"What?"

"How do you think I knew the first day we met?"

"I-I don't know, but...If that's so, why didn't he come after us?"

"True love," he mocked in a sickly sweet tone. Hermione narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "Do please use that brain of yours Miss Granger." Hermione turned her back to Snape; she didn't want to look at him. She leisurely paced the room taking notice of the well organized ingredients, all clearly labeled and perfectly lined up next to each other. Her thin fingers moved across the labels. Daisy, Dandelion Root, Death-Cap, Dittany, Doxy Egg, this is relaxing. A tiny smile appeared as she continued to read and ignore the other person in the room. Dragon claw, Dried apple, Dried fig, Dried Pear. Her fingertips traced over the last word sparking a memory to play in her head. I don't believe I have ever heard anyone debate with themselves over a tin of fruit.

"Tin of fruit," she whispered. Snape raised a curious eyebrow in her direction. "If he heard my thoughts through the locket, he must have heard Harry's and even Ron's." Hermione bowed her head and watched as her tears made small puddles on the polished wood bench. "I'm so tired of crying." Hermione lifted her head as the sound of footsteps drew closer to her. Her eyes meeting his as he leaned against the potion bench.

"The Dark Lord mentioned your whereabouts to me, but I was not privy on how he acquired this information. Not until the first day we met here."

"I guess we can assume that is how he knew Ron left." Snape only nodded.

"Why didn't he go after us if he knew where we were?"

"It seems your ward magic is impeccable, Miss Granger." She felt her lip twitch at his statement.

"Nice to know I'm not completely stupid."

"Insufferable, yes. Stupid...no." Hermione snorted and silence filled the room.

"Professor?" Snape motioned for her to continue. "Did you...see Harry destroy it?" She watched as her former professor walked away, placing his hands behind his back, a site she was all too familiar with through her years of listening to his lectures.

"I'm not entirely sure of what I witnessed Miss Granger, but whatever...was attached to that locket, it is no more."

"Harry did it," exhaled Hermione. "I knew it, the way he reacted."

"What do you mean reacted?" Asked Snape as he turned once again to face her. She opened her mouth, then closed it. What are my other options? He proved himself, didn't he?

"The locket is...was...connected to him."

"In what way, Miss Granger," replied Snape suspiciously.

"In a...Horcrux type of way." Hermione watched as the color slowly faded from Snape's face. His chest started to move quickly and was noticeable through his dark robes. "You see, a Horcrux is created after committing-" Snape raised his hand causing Hermione to stop.

"I am aware of what a Horcrux is Miss Granger!" he snapped. "Children? He sent bloody children!"

"Professor?"

"Do you not understand the implications of this? Do you not understand what this means?"

"I am perfectly aware of what this means, Professor!"

'Are you so sure?" Hermione moved closer to the dark wizard.

"Immortality." The word caused him to stop. His face conveyed so much emotion, even more than his discovery of her relationship with Voldemort. "You might not have much belief in him, but I do. Harry can end this war. And with what you told me, he figured out a way to destroy them."

"Them? There's more of them? How many?"

"We don't know for sure, possibly five or six, but three have been destroyed, including the locket from yesterday."

"What were the other two?" You might as well keep going.

"Tom Riddle's diary and Marvolo Gaunt's ring. The same ring that cursed Professor Dumbledore's hand." Snape roughly rubbed his eyes before pushing his fingers through his long dark hair. His reaction caused her stomach to turn. She had never witnessed him this distressed. It was alarming.

"How did you do it? How did you help Harry destroy it?"

"He didn't do it," replied Snape. Hermione tilted her head in confusion.

"I thought you-"

"Mr. Weasley destroyed it."

"Ronald?"

"Yes, it seems your friend should also be credited for saving Potter's life too?"

"Saved his life? Harry? Is he-"

"He's fine, Miss Granger."

"How did Ron figure out how to destroy the locket?" She asked in disbelief.

"I believe it was you who figured out the way and I only lead him to it." Hermione felt her eyes begin to sting with her tears.

"The sword?" Snape nodded his head. A whimper left her throat and her arms enclosed around the Headmaster. She could feel his body stiffen from the contact, but a simple "thank you" was not enough to show how grateful she was for this. Hermione didn't know how she felt about Ron's return, but despite her harsh feelings towards the red-head, at least Harry wouldn't be alone. Hermione removed her arms from around him, leaving her hands on his shoulders. "They will make it, I know they will." Snape raised his hand, using his thumb to gently wipe away the tears.

"I thought you said you were tired of crying." A delicate smile stretched across her face as more tears slid down her already moistened cheeks.