AN - I own nothing! I'm just borrowing from J.K. Rowling!

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Chapter 3

Severus took a sip of his coffee—black with two packs of sugar. He arrived earlier than ten. An hour too early. He didn't know why he even showed up to the coffee shop when he knew he could've left the chit on her own according, standing her up. Heck he didn't even know why he had walked into the bookstore earlier that day.

He himself was a resident of New York City, since the first day he had arrived after faking his death. After over eight years, he has enjoyed the city for it was never boring. Still, he was the same man as before. An anti-social with few friends, or actually, no friends at all. The only people that he actually met from time to time were business related. None of them were for personal means.

Severus was no stranger to Hermione's career. It was an open book to the whole world and most especially to anyone in the city. She herself was a resident in the Big Apple as well. Her name was plastered everywhere, along with her books, from billboards, to bus ads. There were articles that were always printed about her, from magazines to newspapers. He wondered how much privacy she actually had in her personal life.

Earlier that day, he stood outside the display window of Barnes and Nobles, and stared at the picture of Hermione and all the books that were elegantly displayed. The bookstore was a regular place for him to go to. He always read a lot, and bought a few books regularly at the store.

He had debated to himself whether or not he was going to enter. He was running out of books to read and need to buy new ones. Eventually, he did enter the bookstore. His original plan was just to get a few books, and go unnoticed by her, and not even bother to look at her. Surely she would have been too busy to notice. But when he saw her, things changed.

Hermione Granger was no longer the curly-haired, unattractive student that he once knew. His eyes had stared at her from moments, unable to look away. She may have not been super-model looking. There were too many of those women in Manhattan. He had distaste for them, not finding them attractive, knowing the possibilities of them being a dunderhead. The Granger girl—no woman, had a kind of glow, or presence on her that he couldn't ignore. She was attractive on a different level.

They had kissed, he remembered. But he was the one that had made the move first. Just thinking about it made his body start to stir. Never in his life did his body ever respond in such a way—wanting. He had bedded many whores before, it was either that they were supplied by the Dark Lord or that he paid them during the rare times when he picked them up, fucking in some motel.

Back to reality, and the present, Severus felt that his pants had tightened in a certain area. He couldn't remember the last time he had a raging hard on, that hurt. He had to adjust himself slightly and think of something else, praying that it would go down soon.

His thoughts then drifted off to the night in which he and Albus talked. It was the talk. Damn the old man for planning things in such a way!

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"Have you gone insane?!" Severus bellowed as jumped up from his chair across from Albus's desk. He was in his deatheater robes, having just come from a meeting with the Dark Lord, and as always, after every meeting, he reported to Albus. "I will not do it!"

"You have to Severus. It is the only way for us to win the war," Albus said calmly as he remained seated in his chair.

"There has to be another option then killing you!" Severus said.

"I'm afraid there isn't," Albus said sadly.

"I already put my plans up in a secret letter that only Minerva will receive after you kill me. It is needed to prove your innocence so you won't be sent to Azkaban."

Severus shook his head and started to pace back and forth across the room. There had to be another way. Killing his mentor wasn't the only solution. No! There had to be another way.

"Severus, you must do it," Albus said. "There is no other way."

Defeated, Severus slumped himself back down in the seat. He hid his face in his hand as he shook his head again. He wasn't just going to accept it.

Albus stood up from his seat and approached the potions master. "My Boy," he said as he placed a hand on Severus's should and gave it a squeeze. "You have made your sacrifice for the war by coming to me and admitting that you joined then became a follower of Voldemort, and then, later becoming a double spy—admitting to your errors. You have risked your life more than I can even count. My life is… my sacrifice."

"I'll kill myself after I kill you," Severus croaked.

"No! You mustn't!" Albus said with hint of anger in his voice. When he saw Severus look up at him he spoke. "I am an old man Severus. I have seen more than a man should see his entire life. My life is already coming to an end, as I am tired and weary. You on the other hand, are still young. You still have a whole journey ahead of you."

"After I kill you Albus, I will feel guilty as I have my entire life. I cannot continue to live in such misery. I want, and need my life to end."

"Then start a new life. After the war, you can start anew. You can learn how to live again. Learn how to breathe, see, hear, and even… love. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has their second chances."

"I have never loved Albus."

"Then you must give yourself that second chance. There will be no misery on that path, that I can assure you. All I want is happiness for you. I look at you as a son, and so does Minerva."

Severus started to bite the nail of his thumb.

"Take the wizard's oath Severus. Promise me you'll kill me and later on… You will live your new life." When he didn't receive at answer, he probed again. "Do I have your oath?"

Severus looked up with sadness in his eyes. "You have my oath."

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Severus's plan of having a second chance at life was to disappear completely by faking his death, and create a new identity. His solution was New York City. A place where millions of people lived. He had changed his name, but not fully; wanting to still use his surname.

For years, no one from his past knew he existed. No one even figured out that the body he used as a dummy was a fake. He had lived a new life, and no one knew who he was. His haunted past, never seemed to follow, as painful thoughts only remained.

Unexpectedly and surprisingly, of all the people in the world, it was Hermione Granger that had come into his life. She was like an interference in his life. What else was new for the girl who he had to rescue many times before because of her stupid adventures with the other two?

Severus turned to look out the window. He saw her step out of a black Mercedes Benz as the chauffer held the door open. After, the car drove away.

He saw her smile at him, and all he could do was remain impassive as she walked towards the entrance. Regret of actually showing up to the coffee shop hit him. Why did he even allow himself to come in the first place? Was this fate playing him again?

Albus then came into mind. The meddling old coot that he was, or used to be. Maybe the old man was laughing down at him from heaven.

"If Granger is your idea of me having a second chance Albus, I will personally choke you with your beard, shove a lemon drop down your throat, and then pull you down into hell with me," he muttered. Thankfully, his erection had flagged down.

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AN – Now we all know the reason as to why Sev's alive. Review!