Chapter Fifteen: Severus Awakes

"Yes, Severus, it's me." She giggled in delight at watching him move for the first time in weeks.

"You did it. I knew not to doubt you." She smiled, tears falling from her eyes. At that moment, Sirius walked into the room, followed by his sister.

"Uncle Sevy!" Lil squealed as she ran to his bedside and jumped up on him. Hermione laughed at his tiny grunt when she landed on top of his stomach.

"How are you, Lil?" He croaked, his voice unused for so long.

"Good. Charlie's awake!" Severus smiled, feeling his eyes filling with tears, looking up at Hermione. She was just as stunning as he remembered her. She was still holding onto his hand as though it were her lifeline.

"How is your Daddy?" Hermione asked to see if he had awaken from his long night or not.

"Still sleeping but the medlywitch-"

"Medi-witch, Lil." Sirius corrected her.

"Yeah, the medlywitch," Sirius was now shaking his head, "said that he'll be awake in no time." Hermione just laughed at the little girl. Tonks waddled into he room a little later carrying the twins.

"Nymphadora, you are looking larger than the last time I saw you." Severus said as he noticed her expanding belly.

"Watch it, Severus. You may have just been saved from a near death experience but that doesn't mean I won't hesitate to hex you." Her moodiness causing everyone in the room, except Severus to smirk. "Are you doing well?"

"I'm alive aren't I?" He felt Hermione squeeze his hand tightly. Tonks only nodded and smiled.

"That's great. I just want to thank the both of you for saving our baby." Hermione could see tears were welling in her eyes.

"Not a problem. But I would give most of the credit to this amazing young woman right here." Hermione blushed and Tonks laughed lightly.

"Well, kids, let's go check on Charlie, and give Aunt Hermione and Uncle Severus some time alone." The kids both smiled and left the room to leave Hermione and Severus alone.

"I was afraid I lost you." Hermione spoke first, ever the Gryffindor.

"I was afraid too, but I know how great you really are and I knew I would be fine." Severus replied honestly and pulled her to lie next to him on the hospital bed. She obliged willingly, feeling incredibly natural in his arms.

"I am so happy this worked." He could hear the raw emotion in her voice and was saddened by how hard it must have been for her to do everything on her own.

"Hermione, what I said before I left." Hermione began to believe that he would take it all back and tell her that it was just something he said in case he died, and that he really didn't mean it. She turned around to look at him, fear in her eyes.

"What?" Her voice suddenly laced with anger. "Did you not mean it? Was it just something you were going to say to whoever was around you, regardless, because you were going to die?" He placed his finger on her lips and looked at her with more emotion in his eyes than he had ever showed to anyone.

"Why would you think that? I have loved you so long, Hermione."

"Is that why you saved me all those years ago?"

"Yes, it was. I loved you and it would have killed me to lose you."

"I missed you when you weren't with me."

"As did I. Do you know how many lives you saved?"

"So many, but I was happy that I was able to save you." He could feel her trembling beside him.

"I love you, Hermione." She smiled radiantly. He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. He pulled away only to look into her beautiful honey brown eyes.

"I love you, Severus." He squeezed her hand as they both continued to lie on the bed together, basking in the silence the room offered and the peace neither of them had experienced in a long time.

Severus was checked out of the hospital the next day, as was Charlie. Hermione was happy to be able to walk around the grounds of Hogwarts, holding the hand of her favorite Potions Master, in the beautiful spring weather.

"Albus has decided to host a special ball for the occasion." Hermione said as they stopped underneath a swaying willow tree, perched on the side of the black lake.

"And I bet the students are riled up for the occasion."

"Yes, but I would be lying to say that I weren't excited about it too."

"You mean you like attending these blasphemous parties?" He looked at her, his traditional scowl on his face. She only smiled and swatted his arm friendly.

"Yes, I do. I just need a suitable partner to attend with me."

"Do you have anyone in mind?"

"Well, he has to be able to strike up a good conversation."

"That narrows it down considerably." He was overlooking the lake, watching as the giant squid poked his head above water. A couple third years came walking around the other side of the lake. They were talking and smirking in his direction. He gave them an awful scowl and sent them running.

"Severus!" She smiled nevertheless. She knew she would never be able to change the evil Potions professor.

"What? They were being nosey dunderheads." She shook her head and he wrapped his arms around her even tighter, kissing the top of her head and resting his chin against her soft brown curls.

"So, do know who I should get to take me to the ball yet?"

"Well, I've been thinking and if you don't mind, maybe I'll take you, make it a little easier on you." She looked at him and laughed.

"I could always ask Professor Flitwick." He scowled causing her to laugh. "No, your right; it would be much easier to go with you."

"When is this ball?"

"Tonight." He looked at her in surprise.

"It's nearly five o'clock, shouldn't you be getting ready." Hermione eyes nearly leaped out of her head. She stood up abruptly and started running towards the front doors of the castle.

"Meet me in the entrance hall at seven!" She screamed and he laughed to himself at her retreating body.

AN: There will be two more chapters after this... the angst has retreated and the rest is mainly fluff... Smiles