Disclaimer: Nope. My name is not JK Rowling. I don't own the characters nor do I plan to.

AN: This is my first fic...I appreciate any and all feedback. There are some personal experiences that are winding their way into here...love is not as easy as it seems sometimes. Anyhow...Chapter 2!

Severus and Hermione did not speak to each other as they walked down the stairs from her flat. As they reached street level, Mr. Hughes, the owner of The Last Drip coffee stop (the shop below her flat), greeted Hermione warmly. "Hello, dear. My wife just finished baking some of those famous chocolate chip cookies I know that man of yours loves. And please put us down for two at your wedding." Hermione stared speechless as Severus scowled at the well-meaning man. Mr Hughes noted the look of shock that had spread across Hermione's face. "Is everything okay?"

Hermione was not ready to tell anyone about the broken engagement so she just nodded and simply said " yes, just a lot on my mind today." Without waiting for a reply, Hermione and Severus walked away towards the park across the street.

Several seconds passed as they wound through families, screaming children, and lovers strolling hand-in-hand. Finally, Severus glanced at Hermione and noted her set jaw and her tight lips, looking as if she were holding back more tears. He sighed and said "Look, whatever happened between you and Mr. Weasley is really none of my business. I honestly could care less about your personal life. However, seeing as how your personal life right now has the potential to affect our professional work today, would you rather meet up another day? I really do have a lot of work to do back at the castle and you don't look like you would be your usual self…" He trailed off, not knowing what to do with her and feeling very out of place in the Muggle park, and eager to return to the safe confines of Hogwarts one way or another.

They had stopped in the middle of a path, not realizing they had ambled past their apparition point. Sun glinted off a silvery pond dotted with ducks begging children for bread scraps along with a handful of white swans. Bikers, joggers, and roller bladers wove around Severus and Hermione as they stood motionless while Hermione considered Severus' question. Sighing, she finally said," no. we agreed to meet and plan so that's what we are going to do. Besides, it needs to be done. Classes begin in three weeks." Her words were ones of resolution and determination but inwardly, she had no idea how she was going to focus on the task at hand. However, she had an instinctive hunch that she needed to get away from the flat for a while. When Ron got into an angry mood, there was no telling what he would do. It was the main reason she never dared provoke him before…but then again she never had reason to before. She moved ahead of Severus as they backtracked to the apparition point hidden in a grove of trees.

As they reached the apparition point, Hermione glanced around nervously. Severus noted her uneasiness and before he thought about what he was doing, he reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze just as they apparated.

Neither of them noticed the red haired man in the trees with a murderous look on his face.

Landing with a soft thud on the moss covered ground, Hermione looked up at the castle that had been her home in more ways than one since she was eleven years old. After Harry defeated Voldemort, Hermione had helped in the rebuilding and restoring efforts. She only left to study potion making and arithmancy at the Wizarding University but never considered a career other than returning to Hogwarts and becoming a professor. Hogwarts had been her safe haven and she realized she might need that more than ever now.

Severus too, was lost in thought for a moment. He had narrowly escaped dying at the hands of Nagini and had managed to set the record straight with Harry. When he had healed from his wounds, the Ministry and the remaining school governors offered to allow him to remain headmaster. He had no desire to retain the position appointed to him essentially by Voldemort and suggested that Minerva McGonagall be appointed as she was the natural successor to Dumbledore. He would rather everyone forget he had ever been headmaster and was content to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts to the latest generation of dunderheads. It gave him time to pursue the hobbies he had neglected during his years as spy for the Order. As he looked at the castle, he too felt a sense of coming home. Hogwarts had protected him in his direst hour. He owed the castle his life.

Silently, the two professors walked into the castle and headed for the library. Madam Pince was nowhere to be seen as there really were no students to supervise nor books to reshelve. They sat down at a table next to a window with a view of the great lake. As Severus left to go retrieve his notes and plans, Hermione found herself staring out at the lake. Unbidden, images of Ron and Lavender laughing together came back to her mind and she felt her anger begin to rise again. Those images morphed into images of the scene at her flat with her throwing her engagement ring at Ron. Had she really done that? Why hadn't Ron come after her for that? Was it really over? Sighing at that question, two stray tears made their way down her cheek as she stared out into the August afternoon.

That is how Severus found her when he returned with his books. He stopped and stared at her for a moment, recalling the conversation he overheard between Weasley and McGonagall. Seeing the range of emotions flit across her face and the tears streaming down her cheek, he didn't buy the git's "bad potion" explanation to McGonagall. "Dammit," he cursed to himself. "It's no bloody business of mine." Still, Hermione's long brown hair, and long fingers holding her chin up reminded him so much of Lily. "Now where the bloody hell did THAT come from? Focus yourself Snape!" He stood staring at her for a few more moments, noting that she was so far in thought she hadn't even heard him approach until he eased himself in the chair across from her. Hermione shook out of her reverie and reached for her notes as he sat. She noted a look of annoyance on his face but ignored it as it seemed to be his regular "look" and it had long ceased to have any effect on her. She pushed Ron from her mind as she said "I was thinking for the fourth years…."

Three hours later, Hermione was rather satisfied with the work she and Severus had completed. As they packed away their notes, both Hermione and Severus were distracted by an incessant tapping on the window next to them. Glancing over, Hermione inwardly groaned as she recognized Pig, Ron's owl, with a note in her mouth. Severus stopped shuffling his papers and watched as Hermione opened the window and took the note out of the owl's beak. Instead of flying away, Pig stared at Hermione impatiently as if waiting for an immediate reply. Unfolding the letter, Hermione read:

My darling Hermione,

I am sorry I allowed my temper to get the best of me this afternoon. I didn't mean what I said about you being ugly. You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. Please say you'll still be my wife. This was all a silly misunderstanding. I'll see you when you get home. Please don't stay out too late. I can't wait to "make up" with you.

I love you with all of my heart and soul forever,

Ron

Her engagement ring that she had thrown at Ron only a few hours earlier dropped from the letter and landed on the table with a ting. She stared at it dumbly for a moment and then reread the letter and sighed. Turning to Severus, she said in an almost defeated voice "thank you for still meeting with me. I'll see you in three weeks." She started to head out of the library but for reasons unbeknownst to both of them, Severus held an arm out to stop her and ask "are you sure this is a good idea?"

"About teaching fourth years the unforgivable Curses along with the potion antedotes? Well, if you can think of something different…?"

"That's not what I meant MS. Granger. Are you going to be okay going home?" Severus did not know where the emphasis on the Ms. and the concern for his colleague came from. "Perhaps you should wait until you have calmed down."

"Severus, I…I really should get home and try to straighten things out with Ron. Our wedding is a week away and there is so much to be done."

"Fine. Suit yourself." Severus had reverted back to his usual brusque tone as he inwardly reminded him for the millionth time that Hermione's personal affairs were really none of his business.

With a sad half smile looking nothing at all like an anxious bride to be, Hermione picked up her shoulder bag and walked out of the library.