A/N: I don't own HP or "How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye." J.K. and Patty Loveless do.

How can I help you to say goodbye?

It's okay to hurt, and it's okay to cry

Hermione had never been happier in her entire life. She had a wonderful husband, a great job at Hogwarts, and she was having no qualms with any of her family or friends. She didn't think anything could happen to change her happiness.

Was she ever wrong.

/\/\/\

The day it happened was like any other day. She taught her classes, stayed in the classroom a bit to help some students with some questions, and chatted with McGonagall in the hallway on her way back to her and Severus's quarters.

If she had only known what would be waiting for her when she got there, she might have taken even longer.

When she turned her key in the lock and opened the door, she found Severus sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands. She dropped her bag and rushed over to him.

"Severus, what's wrong?" she asked, putting her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her with red-rimmed eyes. She was shocked; if Severus had been crying, something bad must've happened. It was several seconds before Severus opened his mouth to speak.

"Hermione, come over here," he said quietly, leading her over to the couch, "sit down," he directed, gesturing at the couch. She did as he said, her eyes never leaving him.

"Severus, what's wrong?" she asked insistently. He swallowed and dropped to his knees in front of her, holding her hands.

"Hermione, I have to tell you something, and…" he trailed off, his eyes filling with tears again.

"Severus, please, you're scaring me!" she exclaimed, squeezing his hands. "What happened?"

"Sweetheart, it's your… it's your mom," he managed, keeping his eyes on her.

Her breath caught in her throat instantly. "M-my mom? What happened? Is she okay?" she asked, hoping against hope he wasn't going to tell her what she thought he was going to tell her. He shook his head slightly.

"No, baby. She was—she was in a car accident a few hours ago," Hermione's heart sank to her feet. "They did everything they could," he said, not wanting to come out and say she had passed away.

Hermione was shaking her head over and over, very quickly. "No. No. No. Th-This can't be right. I just talked to her this morning. No." Her whole body started to shake and Severus brought himself up to sit next to her and he wrapped his arms around her. She pushed him away and stood up.

"You're lying!" she screamed, not thinking straight.

"No, darling, I would never do that to you," he said gently, knowing she was in shock. He stood up and started to touch her. She backed away from him.

"Oh my God, oh my God. This isn't happening. My mom can't be de-dead. She's my mother! She's my best friend! No! NO!" she was screaming, sobs racking her body. She put her hands in her hair and gripped the roots, and Severus was sure she was going to pull it out. He stepped toward her again. "My mommy… no… God, please… no," she whispered, her legs giving out as she collapsed to the floor, sobbing. Severus fell to the ground with her, wrapping her in his arms. She didn't resist him this time; she wrapped his arms around his neck and cried into his chest. "Severus, how could this happen? She wasn't old enough to die!" she screamed.

"Shh, baby, I know… I know…" having lost his mother a long time ago, he knew how she felt. He smoothed her hair, rocking her gently back and forth. She suddenly looked up, a look of urgency in her eyes.

"My father. Where's my dad?" she asked.

"Your father wasn't with her, dear. He will probably be at the funeral home making arrangements," he said quietly. "As soon as you are able to Apparate we will go to him, okay?" She nodded and put her face back into his chest, crying harder than ever.

"Oh God, Severus. When today s-started I had n-no idea t-that things would turn out l-this way," she stammered through her tears. He kept smoothing her hair.

"I know, Hermione, but we never can be prepared for things like this," he said, kissing the top of her head.

"What am I going to do without her?" she said, looking up at him.

"It's not going to be easy, darling, but remember, you have your dad, and me, and your friends. I know it isn't the same and it never will be, but you're not alone," he said. He kissed her cheek gently, tasting her salty tears. She wiped her eyes.

"I have to stop crying," she said.

"Hermione… it's okay to cry," he said, a tear dropping down his cheek. Even as she said she needed to stop, fresh tears were forming in her eyes. She fell against him, new sobs shaking her body.

Severus knew all he could do for her right now was hold her and let her cry.

Come let me hold you, and I will try

How can I help you to say goodbye?

tbc

;( I know that one was sad… but I heard this song for the first time in a long time today, and the inspiration came to me. Please review! The next one will be happier, I promise. Love, love!

-r