This is the end dear readers. Love to my betas and HP does not belong to me.
Hermione checked her appearance in the mirror one last time before leaving—it was silly, but she was nervous. It had been three months since she'd seen Severus.
She had suggested no contact at all, but he wouldn't hear of it. At first she had tried ignoring his owls.
Then he'd sent flowers.
When she had ignored those, he hadsurprised her by calling her home. Hearing his voice—even a phone line could not distort the deep, rich baritone she'd longed to hear—she had finally relented. For the last two months, they had enjoyed weekly phone calls. He would go to his London home on Saturday—a good thing, because their conversations would go on long into the night—to make that evening's call.
They had shared stories of their childhoods, his time as a Death Eater, and the years following the war. Sharing their secrets over the phone had been both easier and more difficult—on more than one occasion Hermione had had to talk herself out of Apparating to his house. The nights he had told her of Lily's death, and when he had broken down as he described the pain of having to kill his mentor in cold blood, she had wanted nothing more than to comfort him, but they had both agreed they would wait.
Until today.
Today would mark the end of their professional contract. And she had something else she wished to share with him—she hoped he would understand the significance.
Severus was nervous as well.
It had been difficult this last month, especially since school had let out, to not just go to her. He had not felt a bone-deep connection with anyone since the early years of his marriage, since before Harry Potter had entered Hogwarts and his life spiraled out of control.
There were so many things he wished he could have done differently.
He still felt guilt over how he had neglected Bee and Helena during those years, but he realized that, had he had it to do over again, nothing would have—could have—changed. Helena was a defenseless Muggle—he had done what was necessary to keep her and their child safe… he understood that now.
He planned to continue visiting the gravesite—but to honor them, not because he couldn't live without them. He'd lived without them for ten years—it had been past time to admit that a year ago—and would continue to do so.
He had finally forgiven himself and was ready to move on with his life—he was ready to let go.
Two soft pops of Apparation echoed through the quiet of the cemetery as Hermione and Severus appeared almost simultaneously.
They were both dressed formally for the conclusion of the rite. The laments were sung one last time, and Severus laid holly and heather on the graves. Both grass-covered mounds were now marked with a stone of obsidian marble with wreaths of holly and heather etched into the surface above the names.
When Hermione sensed he was ready to go, she took his hand. "I have something I want to show you. Do you trust me?"
He nodded his assent and put his arm about her.
She Apparated them to another cemetery—this one not far from Hermione's home. She took his hand in hers and led him to the far corner.
The stone resting there looked very much like those they had just left, save for the inscription:
cJeffery and Jane Granger
May You Live in Peace
1955 – 1997/c
"Hermione," Severus whispered as he read the inscription. "Does this mean… ?"
She turned to him and took both of his hands in hers. "Yes, Severus, this does mean…"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm iready/i to ilet go/i of the past and look to the future. I'm truly free."