Two weeks had passed since Ron's death, and the castle was nearing completion. Hermione could sense that she was running out of time to stay in the castle. She found that she was rather enjoying the distraction and the company of helping rebuild Hogwarts. She had been using Snape's sleeping potion every night since her first trial of it. She knew that once she left Hogwarts she'd be left without that comfort too. Snape himself had almost completely healed and even spent a couple of hours a day also helping the rebuild, before he became too tired to continue.

The sun was sinking low in the sky and people were heading into the Great Hall for dinner when Harry took Hermione to one side.

"Are you ever going to come stay at Grimmauld Place?" he asked.

Hermione stared at her feet for a moment before replying.

"I… Of course. I'm waiting for the castle to be finished."

"It's not far off. Why don't you come back tomorrow? The Weasley's are coming round for tea and I know they really want to see you."

Hermione hesitated.

"At least think about it." Harry continued when Hermione did not reply.

"Ok. I'll think about it." She said, finally.

"Look, there's something else I wanted to tell you. We're gonna have a memorial built in the grounds. For everyone who died in the wars. Of course, Ron's name will be on there, along with Lupin and Tonks and Sirius and Fred and everyone else. It's going to be unveiled next Friday. I think you should come. It'll give us all closure over it all. I think that's what we all need really."

"Ok." Was all Hermione could say, before she turned and entered the Great Hall.

She didn't feel like eating anymore though, and made her way to the back of the Hall, where Snape was sat alone, reading a book.

They sat in companionable silence while everyone else in the Hall was eating.

"I'm guessing you've heard about the memorial?" Snape said without lifting his eyes from his book once the Hall had emptied.

Hermione sighed.

"I think it'll be really helpful for you. Closure and all that guff."

"That's what Harry said," she replied.

"He has a point." Snape turned a page in his book. "And I think it's about time you went back to Grimmauld Place."

"Has Harry put you up to this?" Hermione snapped.

"It may have escaped your attention but you are not the only one mourning. He is in that house alone and he misses his best friends. The least you could do is pull yourself out of your own self-pity and go and keep him company."

Hermione looked up in shock. He could not believe the one person who had been of the greatest help over the last fortnight was speaking to her in this way. And it was then that she realised he had never stopped hating her; he had just been so bored that he was using her to keep himself occupied.

She wanted to yell at him that he couldn't possibly understand how she was feeling and how dare he be so insensitive. But she was so angry at him that she could feel tears stinging the back of her eyes, so instead got up and stormed out of the Great Hall, walked through the Entrance Hall into the grounds, and sat down under a tree next to the lake.

She let her tears flow freely down her face, her mind racing, going over everything Snape had said, and as much as she hated to admit it, conceded that he was right. She had spent the last two weeks being incredibly selfish, not even thinking how Harry might be feeling, nor the Weasley's or anyone else. As she thought about it, she realised everyone she knew at Hogwarts was as much a victim as she had been feeling she was. Everyone had lost somebody at the hands of Lord Voldemort and she had acted as if she was the only one.

She heard footsteps behind her in the grass, and she turned to see Harry walking towards her. She stood up and ran into his arms, hugging him like she'd never hugged him before.

"Harry, I'm so sorry, I've been so selfish!" she sobbed into his shoulder.

Harry returned the hug, and the pair didn't move for some time.

When at last they parted, Hermione smiled sheepishly at Harry and Harry grinned back.

"I will come back to Grimmauld Place with you tomorrow. I want to stay here one more night, but tomorrow, at the end of the day I'll come to yours. And the memorial is a great idea, to honour all of them, it's the least we can do."

Harry and Hermione sat under the tree for a good few hours, recounting tales of their time at Hogwarts.

Speaking about Ron, laughing at old memories, reminiscing about old teachers, it felt to Hermione as if a great heaviness had been lifted from her chest. The constant ache she'd felt in the pit of her stomach seemed to be fading.

SSHGSSHGSSHG

Snape watched Hermione stomp out of the Great Hall, knowing that although his words had been harsh, they had been needed. She had been of great comfort to him over the last fortnight, but knew she'd be better off away from the school, back with friends.

He'd been happier this past two weeks than he had been in years. She had not been an intrusive companion, but she was someone intellectually stimulating when discussing books that each of them had been reading. He had never known himself to talk so much with anyone else. Not since….

Well, now his guard was down to those levels again, and he made a mental note to put that guard back up, he could not allow himself to become vulnerable.

He caught a glimpse of Harry leave the Great Hall, and knew he was going to talk to her. He himself slinked out to the Entrance Hall, and stood in the shadows, watching as Hermione turned round, got up and hugged Harry and he felt a twinge in his stomach that had nothing to do with hunger.

He watched as they sat back down under the tree, saw Hermione crack a smile, and eventually allowed herself to laugh and Snape could not help but feel pleased she had finally broken through the depression that he sensed had been consuming her since the conclusion of the battle. He knew that in all likelihood she would spend the night crying her heart out again, as she had been most nights before taking her potion. But he also knew the more time she spent with Harry, the less she would feel overcome with grief.

As the lights around him dimmed, he watched for a few more minutes before returning to his bed in the Hall. Tomorrow, he decided there and then, he would return home for the night.

Around half an hour later, as Snape was just getting himself ready to take his sleeping potion, he noticed Hermione entering the Great Hall. He didn't feel like talking with her this evening, so feigned sleep.

As she took the bottle from his bedside cabinet, he sensed her lingering next to his head. Eventually she whispered so that only he could hear her.

"I know you're awake, and you don't want to talk. That's fine. But I just wanted to say thank you. Everything you said was right, and I'm sorry for storming out on you like that. I guess what they say is right; the truth hurts. Anyway, I'll leave you be, I'm sure you'll grab the sleeping potion when you are ready."

He opened his eyes slightly, and looked on as she climbed into bed and took the sleeping potion. He felt another twinge in the pit of his stomach, similar to the one he felt earlier and mentally chastised himself. He knew what it was, but was adamant that he wouldn't admit it to himself. Admitting it to himself would make it real. He turned over, closed his eyes and tried to distract himself by mentally planning lessons for the following term. Sure, it was months away yet, but he couldn't allow the thoughts that were flitting in and out of his mind to make a home there.