Wow, what a wonderful response to the last update! Thank you all so, so much. This one's a bit shorter because it got too long and I had to break it up into chapters 6 & 7. The good news is that chapter seven is nearly finished. As usual, a big thanks to darnedchild and MrsMCrieff, my beta and my cheerleader!

So, here's what... I was accused in a guest review (of course) of 'not reading the books and writing the characters like I just pulled their names out of the HP series and came up with this plot'. First of all, I HAVE read the books, twice actually (if I love book, once is never enough for me). Secondly, I will admit that Severus is not entirely like his canon character. But here's what, he's supposed to be dead! Nearly dying can...change...a person! And I chose to write him like this, this time. That's my prerogative, as a writer. Hermione, I actually take much more exception to because she's been experiencing chronic pain for months and months. As someone who has dealt with chronic pain, I can tell you that it can put a damper on your spirit. Is my Hermione a bit more subdued than 'canon Hermione'? Yes, yes she is. But there is a reason for it, and I 'believe' that I set it up adequately.

I feel better now. I really don't mind a critical review, but it infuriates me when I can't respond and have an adult conversation about it.

Warning: There is some violence in this chapter, nothing that wouldn't have been in the books, I do believe.

I own nothing but the mistakes. Enjoy ~Lil~

When Severus entered Yaxley's mind he found it black and chaotic; everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. It was risky, actually it was ridiculously stupid. He'd never performed Legilimency on someone under the Imperius Curse before, and he'd not informed a single person in the room of his plan. But he didn't care. He wasn't going to trust Hermione's life to some Auror he'd just met.

"I'm not doing it, Snape," he heard, though it was distant and strained. "You won't be able to make me help her."

He followed the voice past the pathetic walls the Death Eater had tried to erect. As if he were interested in the wizard's twisted secrets. For the time being he cared about only one thing.

"This Ministry flunky isn't strong enough to make me help her. She's my greatest achievement. This curse… I'll be famous." He sounded a bit stronger, his voice was coming from a different direction. "Luck was on my side that night, Sevvy, I got to take on the Golden Trio. I was going to avenge our Dark Lord. And then this curse business." He chuckled. "I wasn't even trying. Imagine what I could do if I applied myself?"

"What are you talking about?" Severus asked, half curious and half baiting the wizard. The timing had to be precise. Yaxley needed to be vulnerable and weakened, but not so much that he couldn't perform the counter.

"I wasn't trying to create this curse. I spoke one curse while thinking about the other. Someone had hit me with a weak confusion hex and I was too caught up in the fight to realise that I'd managed to cast them both. I combined them… somehow. It wasn't until I'd gotten away and could feel the connection with your Mudblood. Then I started playing." His laugh echoed all around Severus. "I think they call that a happy accident."

An accident? Hermione had been tortured for months because of an accident? A memory flashed in Severus' mind. He batted it away, trying to focus.

Before he could erect a suitable wall to conceal the memory Yaxley was there with him, in his mind, taunting him. "Oh, this... is... delicious!" he said, his voice mocking. "What a magnificent view of her torment!"

Hermione was spasming on her kitchen floor, tears streaming down her face as she called to Severus help her. "Oh, gods, Severus! M-m-make it stop!" she cried out, the image of her agony vivid in his mind. Behind the memory of his wife begging for relief, was the sound of Yaxley's laughter.

"Enough!" Severus shouted, sending the thought and sound into the black depths of the other wizard's mind. Summoning all his strength, he managed to build a wall and force the awful memory of Hermione's last episode from his thoughts.

Several tense moments passed as Severus centred himself and refocused. He couldn't afford to lose control like that again. Hermione couldn't afford it.

"You never figured it out, did you?" the Death Eater questioned in a darkly gleeful voice. "I got to tell you, Snape, I had so much fun fucking with her and of course fucking with you too. I thought you were supposed to be brilliant. You completely failed her. And I must thank you for that little glimpse into her misery. I'll treasure it."

Yaxley's last sentence was a whisper. Severus wondered if it was reverence for Hermione's pain or if the other wizard was starting to tire. Fighting his way into Severus' mind had to have cost the the Death Eater more than he'd realised.

"You're buggered, Yaxley," Severus said, contenting himself to exact his revenge at a later date. Once Hermione was safe Severus would make the bastard pay. "You'll spend the rest of your life in Azkaban, no question. But guess what? I can save you."

More laughter rang out as Severus tried to focus on keeping his voice controlled and calm.

"I don't care about justice. I don't care about laws. I don't care about Kingsley or Weasley or Harry fucking Potter. I only care about her. If you cast the counter curse I will get you out of here. I will save your life in exchange for hers. She's all that matters."

"You're disgusting, Snape."

"I'm protecting what's mine."

"You'd make a deal with the devil for some dirty little whore?"

"I'd do anything for her. I'll kill everyone in this room to save your sorry arse if it saves my wife."

He had to believe it, this was Severus' only chance. The scary fact was that it probably wasn't that far from the truth. At this point, he'd do just about anything to save Hermione's life. Minutes felt like hours as he waited to see if the Death Eater would take the bait. Yaxley's mind was malleable, softened by the Imperio, much more susceptible than he would have been otherwise. Severus had thought this through from the moment Kingsley had suggested having one of his Aurors perform the curse. He knew his only chance would be to slip in, take over and make him the deal of a lifetime.

"You… you can do that?" Yaxley asked. He sounded even more strained and weak than he had moments before. "You think you can kill them all?"

"Yes, I know I can. I have it all planned out. Fix her and you're free."

"You're a traitor, Snape. Why should I trust you?"

"Think, you idiot! Think about how far I went to avenge the last woman I loved. What do you think I'd do to save my wife?"

After a few moments of silence Yaxley started murmuring, almost imperceptibly. Severus could hear it both inside and outside of his head, though he didn't have the time or energy to register the words. He wouldn't exit the Death Eater's mind until he was sure.

"Is it done?" Severus asked once the murmuring stopped.

"Yes. The curse is gone," Yaxley said, sounding exhausted.

"You're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. Wait, you're going to…"

Severus pulled out of the wizard's mind with a violent jerk and immediately turned and looked at Hermione lying on the bed. She appeared to be unconscious. Looking quickly at Yaxley, he found him wandless and restrained. "Move Draco," he demanded before sitting on the bed next to his wife. "Call the Healers!"

There was movement behind him, but he barely noticed as he held his wand over her body and started casting diagnostic spells. He had no intention of waking her if it was going to cause her harm.

"Is she okay?" someone behind him asked. Probably Weasley, he allowed himself a millisecond to ponder, though he really didn't care.

The spells confirmed that the curse was gone and that she was as healthy as could be expected after what she'd been through. She was simply worn out after the ordeal, but all in all, she was fine. She will live. Thank Merlin. He had an overwhelming need to wake her up, to talk to her. "I'm a selfish bastard," he whispered to himself before casting Rennervate. But then… then she opened her eyes.

"S-Severus?" she said in a faint voice.

He suddenly didn't care that he was only her husband in name, that he was her caregiver and nothing more. He grabbed her and pulled her to his chest. "It's gone. It's completely gone," he whispered into her hair. "You're okay, Hermione. You'll be just fine."

He felt her arms wrap around his back in a weak hug. "You did it, Severus. You made him fix me." She expelled a deep breath. "Why am I so tired?"

"It's to be expect…"

"You fucking bastard!" Yaxley shouted from across the room, clearly realising he'd just been had, now that his mind was his own once again.

Severus turned to face the Death Eater, never letting go of the witch in his arms.

"You promised!" he screamed as he lunged forward, his restraints suddenly gone, and made for Severus and Hermione.

Then Severus Snape, Potions Master, one time Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, former Death Eater and spy got to witness something he'd never before seen. Seven wands, wielded by seven wizards, cast seven curses at the same time. Severus never even had a chance to draw his own wand before all five Aurors (including Potter and Weasley), the Minister for Magic and Draco Malfoy literally tore the evil bastard apart. It was brilliant! He exploded into a million pieces, thus answering the age old question of what happens when seven different (he'd later find out) curses are fired at a single target, at the same time.

There was a dull thud and everyone turned to see two mediwitches standing next to the body of a Healer who had obviously just witnessed the whole thing and passed out.

"Can we get another Healer?" Severus asked. "And someone to see to that one?"

The mediwitches both nodded and ran out of the room, undoubtedly happy to be gone from the scene.

Severus turned back to Hermione. "You need sleep. Your body has a lot of healing to do."

She rolled her eyes. "You just woke me up!"

"I have to talk to Kingsley and your friends will want to speak with you. Then you rest, Mrs. Snape. I can only order you around for a little while longer and I plan on taking advantage of it." He graced her with a small smile, content with the fact that the rest of the room was at his back and would be none the wiser. Staring into her whisky coloured eyes, he felt a sense of relief and anxiety at the same time. She was healed, he should have been elated, but the longing that he knew would come once his wife was out of danger, was already on it's way.

Hermione bit her lip and nodded, not returning his smile.

He made his way over to the Minister as the older man waved off a young Auror. "It was you," Severus said.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You released him, so that you could kill him."

"I haven't a clue how he slipped out of my spell, Severus," Kingsley lied.

Severus nodded. "I can guess which curse was yours, Kings. The Wizengamot will..."

Kingsley laughed, cutting off Severus' prediction. "No one will be investigating this, my friend, and not just because I'm the Minister for Magic. We should have never teamed them together. We were asking for something like this. After this we're splitting them up. They don't know it yet, though. Potter and Weasley needed to bring him in."

"You feel responsible?" Severus asked.

"Of course I do. The Ministry benefited from the enormous amount of publicity we received from the Golden Trio becoming our newest team. I let myself be talked into allowing them to work together when they shouldn't have…" He broke off.

"No, they shouldn't have," Severus finished.

"I assume she won't be coming back," Kingsley commented.

Severus turned and glanced at the bed to find Hermione staring at him. "I don't know. Though I doubt it," he said, holding his wife's gaze.

"As if you'd let her."

Severus glanced back at the older wizard and declared, "I won't have much say now, will I? This is almost over."

Kingsley sighed. "Severus, if you let this night end without having a very serious heart to heart with your wife, you are an even bigger fool than I thought you were. The war is over, there's no need to keep secrets. Not ones like this," he said before walking to the bed to speak to Hermione.

After speaking to Kingsley, Ron and Harry, Hermione was moved to a regular room. It was decided that she should spend the night under observation, just in case. Draco walked in and sat next to her bed. "Well Granger, I must take my leave. Is it a reasonable request to ask you to try to stay out of trouble?"

She nodded and looked down at her hands. "Do you know where he is?" Severus had disappeared just after speaking to Kingsley, that had been nearly an hour prior.

Draco looked a bit uncomfortable. "He said he had something to take care of."

"Do you know what it was?"

"No, Hermione, I don't. But I'm sure it was important," he said solemnly.

She took a deep breath, wincing only slightly and said, "Well, I hope he's getting some rest, he certainly deserves it. Now that this is finally over he can get on with his life."

"You're not going to tell him, are you?"

"No, and I'd appreciate if you'd just forget what happened... before."

"You know, I thought…" he started then he stood up and paced across the room. He was still facing away from her when he once again began speaking. "I thought you Gryffindors more determined than this." He turned around.

"We are- I usually am... But Severus has done enough and I don't want to burden him anymore. He has a life to get back to and a home and…"

"Clearly you've never been to Spinner's End. Why he stays there I have no idea. He could certainly afford a nicer house. Punishing himself, most likely," he added absently. Walking back to the bed, he continued, "He's different with you, you know. He's always been closed and guarded, but since this whole mess he's just… better. Tell me you don't see it?"

"Severus has been unbelievably patient and caring and…" She paused, trying to think of the appropriate words.

"Not Snape-like?" Draco questioned with a smirk.

"Yeah, I suppose." She thought for a moment, remembering all their little chats, watching the film with him, reading, him just taking care of her. She really wasn't accustomed to being taken care of, it was usually the other way around. It was something she'd gotten used to recently. "Gods, I'm gonna miss him so much."

The blond sat back down. "Then tell him, for Merlin's sake!"

Drawing a deep breath she said, "No. He deserves his freedom and not to be bothered with some silly little crush that I seem to have developed."

"You said love, Granger."

"I thought I was going to die, Malfoy! It was a moment of panic. Now, can you please fetch a mediwitch? I need something to help me sleep."

He stood up. "Have it your way. But you could both be happy if you could just be honest with each other."

"Draco Malfoy… Love Guru?" she teased.

As he turned and started for her door, he said, "And don't you forget it."

Twenty minutes later a mediwitch named Wanda brought her some Dreamless Sleep and another phial, something she didn't recognise.

"I'm not taking that," she said pointing to the sleeping draught.

"Mr. Malfoy said you wanted…"

"I know, but not Dreamless Sleep. I'd prefer something mild. And what's this one?" she asked holding the other phial.

"Oh, Master Snape dropped it off a few minutes ago," Wanda explained. "Said it's to help your body restore itself. You've been through a lot, love."

"He was here? My h-husband was here?"

"Mmmhmm." She nodded. "Brought that by and asked how you were doing. I'm sure he's planning on checking on you soon."

Hermione took the potion with no further questions. A short time later the mediwitch brought her a very mild sleep inducer. She fell asleep quickly, dreaming of her husband's deep voice and calloused hands.

Severus stood in the doorway of Hermione's room watching the young witch sleep. It had been over an hour since she'd been given the potions, he knew she was sleeping soundly. He walked into the room; allowing himself this one final night with her, an indulgence he decided he owed himself.

"Hello wife," he said as he sat down next to her. "You're well now, or you will be. I brewed that restorative especially for you. It's keyed to your body and your magic. Don't ask me how I did that, you won't like it." He paused and just looked at her for a while. She was so peaceful and so incredibly beautiful. "You can do anything now, Hermione. You're brilliant, driven, determined and… yes, you really are the brightest witch of your age. I never thought I'd have a wife. If I'm honest, I never really wanted one, not after Lily…" He cleared his throat. "But here you are, perfect for me in so many ways, yet completely unattainable. If I were a different man, I'd have held you more. I would have kissed you. I would have taken you to an expensive dinner. Afterwards I'd have smiled as I watched you get drunk on champagne and rich chocolate. Then I would have taken you home and made love to you. I'd have worshiped you like you deserve."

He drew a deep breath as he sat back in the chair and collected himself. Who the hell have I become? he wondered. I'm get emotional from speaking to a sleeping witch? But he shook it off. No one would know that he made a fool of himself at Hermione's bedside.

Once he felt composed again, he continued, "I wish I could have enjoyed our marriage more. Oddly enough it was enjoyable… at times. But watching someone you care about writhing in pain does tend to put a damper on things. This will be my only chance to tell you because, you see, everyone thinks me brave, but in truth I am a coward. An idiot and a coward. And I did a stupid thing. Hermione… I, well I think that I..." He was unable to actually say the words out loud to her, even in her sleep. "See? A very stupid thing..." he whispered. Taking her hand in his, he studied it for a moment. "But know this: being your husband has been a privilege, and an experience that I will treasure for the rest of my miserable life."

He bent down and kissed her temple. "Goodbye, wife." Then he left.

Hermione had been home for nearly a week. Six days. Six days without Severus in her home and it was driving her a little mad. Ron, Harry and Luna had been by, as had Ginny and even Draco. Molly kept coming over with enough food to feed an army. No one was talking about the fact that he was gone; it was the the big missing elephant in the room. Well, no one except Minerva.

"He's an idiot," the older witch proclaimed during tea the day before.

"No, he's not," Hermione defended. "He's brilliant and…"

"I know dear, but that does not preclude him from idiocy. Not one word! He just vanished without so much as an owl!" she said, her tone disgusted. "He owes you at least an explanation for his disappearance! He wasn't even there to see you home!"

"He owes me nothing. If anything I owe him. And remember the promise you made me, Minerva. Do not mention to anyone that he didn't bring me home from St Mungo's. I'm sure he had his reasons," she said trying to end the conversation with her dignity intact as well as Severus' reputation.

Her former Head of House took her hand and squeezed it lightly. "This isn't how it was supposed to end. I wanted you two to be happy."

"I am happy. I'm alive. He did it, he saved me, Minerva. I'm alive because of Severus Snape. I never expected anything more from him."

When she had woken up in St Mungo's the day after the counter-curse was cast, she really felt like a new person. She was still sore, but nowhere near as sore as she had been. There was no one there to see her home. No Harry or Ron. No Molly or Arthur. And no Severus. She figured that everyone else had assumed her husband would take care of it, as he had been taking care of everything for months. But he'd vanished, leaving only his potions in his wake.

After some thought, Hermione had flooed Minerva and asked her to help her home, but to never mention a word of it to anyone. She was still sore and, well, she just didn't want to walk into that house alone. Not today, she'd thought to herself. Thankfully the older witch seemed to sense Hermione's emotional strain. She only stayed long enough to make tea. Once Hermione was settled on her couch, Minerva placed a blanket over her lap, a warm cuppa in her hand, kissed her forehead and left.

Her home was much the same as the hospital. Not a trace of Severus Snape remained except a small wooden box next to her bed filled with phials. On top of it lay a large parchment in an envelope and a note.

Hermione,

The box contains a month's worth of restorative potion as well as a mild version of the anticonvulsant. You should no longer need the strong one. Take it as needed. Take the restorative once a day with a meal! When you feel completely back to yourself- no soreness, no major tremors- you can stop taking it. Unfortunately, small tremors may be expected for some time. If you should need more than what I have prepared, feel free to owl me and I can send more.

In the envelope you will find the documentation required to end the marriage. All that is needed is your signature. When signed, owl it to me and I'll take care of the rest.

~S.S.

The annulment parchment still sat on the desk in her parents room, she couldn't bring herself to sign it. Several things were stopping her. Not the least of which was that she simply didn't want to. Being married to Severus had just felt… right. If she signed her name to that parchment it would be over. No, worse than over, it would be as if the last several months of living with Severus never technically happened in the eyes of the law. Their marriage would legally have never been valid. The very thought caused her chest to constrict.

Secondly, there was this lingering memory that she couldn't quite get a firm hold of; something ghosting through her mind, strange and nebulous. Almost a conversation but not exactly, more like something she wasn't suppose to have heard. Something private.

It was a memory of Severus' voice, deep and clear, though sometimes soft and oddly strained. He was saying the most unbelievable things, things she'd hoped for but never thought she'd actually hear. She could, somehow, almost feel his lips pressed against her forehead as he bid her goodbye.

Was it a dream? It seemed so real.

After another week of trying to get a solid hold on the faded 'memory', Hermione decided she was being ridiculous. She signed her name at the bottom of the parchment and sent it to Severus.

Right, she thought. Time to get on with my life.

Don't panic! I know a lot of you are new to my writing, but I don't do unhappy endings. Just hold on and I'll make this right.

Thank you all so much for reading this story so far. I'm having a a blast writing it. Please review and let me know what you think. ~Lil~