AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

"Professor Trelawney actually hit on you during your first year teaching?" Hermione laughed as she massaged Severus' legs.

"It was not only during my first year of teaching. She tried to seduce me every year at those blasted holiday parties," He lay on his bed, cursing his latest arrhythmia for ruining a lovely evening reading with Hermione. If he hadn't been so weak he would have remained in the library. Alas, he was too exhausted to do anything other than sit propped up by several pillows on his bed. "She thought we would be perfect together. One Valentine's Day she even gave me a prophecy that I should look for the woman with wild hair and an unexpected origin to cure everything that ails me. Then, she passed out from one too many glasses of wine."

"I would criticize her hair, but I have no room to speak," she didn't press as firmly into his legs. "It takes me twenty products to get my hair looking decent at all."

"You hair looks exceptional."

"I'd say you're sweet, but I know you too well."

"Excuse me?"

"I know you're only complimenting me because you want to eat cookies in bed, which I won't allow," she answered.

"Tell me again why I cannot have cookies in bed."

"Because you won't be able to brush your teeth before you go to bed and you'll develop cavities. I cannot allow you to take such a risk."

He raised an eyebrow. "The rose is on its last petals, and you're worried about me developing cavities?"

"Of course I am. We have to think about life after you're cured." She met his eyes.

"You're optimism is touching, though I fear it's misguided."

"It isn't misguided at all. I have some interesting leads on obscure heart strengthening potions, and there are still petals on the rose. As long as they remain, we have time."

"We're running out of time." Severus exhaled as he glanced over at the most recently fallen petal.

"We still have time. If there's still time, there's still hope."

"Maybe," he muttered.

She pressed into him harder. "Do you want another ice chip?"

"Yes."

She ceased massaging his legs and walked over to his lamp stand. Then, she took a couple of ice chips and handed them to him. He nodded before placing them in his mouth and sucking. His body felt less clammy, though he was still sweating. The pounding of his heart continued, but the ice and her touch calmed him. Never before had he thought a woman's touch could provide comfort amidst his fears.

She resumed massaging his legs, as he continued his musings.

If there was anything good which came out of this debacle, it was that he finally felt a woman's soothing touch. Everyone else in his life had been so desperate when they'd touched him, groping at him, uncaring if they were gentle or if he took pleasure in the sensation. The women were only there for one night, and the healers were often too frustrated with him to care if he welcomed their manhandling. He never thought he'd appreciate gentleness, but when Hermione massaged him, he understood why others took comfort in the closeness of another person.

"Does anyone from Hogwarts ever visit?" Hermione asked.

He returned to the present.

"I have lunch with Minerva every few months or so, and she doesn't mention you often. I was wondering if there was a reason for that," Hermione continued.

"Years ago, I told her to stay away," he answered.

"You told her to stay away," Hermione stopped mid-motion.

"Indeed, when I cut ties with Britain, I intended to cut all ties with everything which reminded me of my old life. The only reasons I didn't cut ties with Lucius is because this is his house, he is my closest friend, and I wanted to remain involved in Draco's life. Everyone else I cut off."

"I'm sure Minerva wishes she could've helped you through this curse. If anyone would've wanted to help you, it would be her."

"Yes, she would have pitied me, and felt guilty over allowing Angelina to develop the perception that I was nothing more than a horrendous Death Eater. I don't need those kinds of sentiments in my life."

"Severus, not everyone who wants to help you pities you," she resumed massaging her legs. "Merlin knows I don't."

"You're different from everyone else."

"How?"

"Because you've seen me at my worst and still came back to save me," he argued. "Everyone else would've left me in the snow to freeze to death, but you didn't."

"How could I ever allow one of my friends to die?"

"I was your friend even then?"

"Friend may have been a strong word, but I did care for you even then."

"Because I saved the Wizarding World?"

"No, because I already saw flashes of kindness from you."

"Had I understood who you were, I would have shown more than flashes of kindness," he answered. "You're not like most of the other people who have come in and out of my life. Unlike them, you wanted to save me because you cared for the man under all that bitterness."

"Minerva would care. If she were here, and knew about your health, she'd be trying to save you."

"Not the way you did. You forced me to be accountable while still showing you cared." His throat constricted as his voice softened. "Most people just leave, and if they ever come back they are so racked with guilt they're dealing with a figment of their imagination instead of me. They care about me as some lovesick war hero, not who I am now."

"I can relate," she hummed. "People see me as a member of the Golden Trio, and they think getting to know me must be a great publicity stunt. If they can get a picture or an interview with me, then they could brag about it with their friends. There's even one person who thinks that just because I'm a war hero I'd be the perfect wife for him."

"While I think you would make a fine wife, it is not because you are a war hero. You'd make a fine wife because you are you, not because of anything you'd done."

"I'd like to think that. I know I would not make a fine wife to someone who had my whole life planned for me, someone who expected me to sit in the background while he captured Death Eaters or such nonsense."

"Lucius said the Death Eater hunts are ratcheting up again."

"Only because Terry Boot keeps finding them."

"Terry Boot," he scratched the bed. "Was he the Ravenclaw who was easily impressed by the slightest spell?"

"Yes, he is, although he's more impressed with his own magic than anyone else's now," Hermione answered.

"Ravenclaw has a way of producing arrogant blowhards like Lockhart and Boot."

"Yes, well I learned my lesson after my crush on Lockhart." She shuddered.

"You fell prey to his charms?" He chuckled.

Her face turned red as she diverted her gaze.

"My you have grown if you don't fall for charms such as his anymore," he replied.

"Oh yes, and I'm sure you haven't had any embarrassing crushes in your life."

"Other than being stupid enough to bring Angelina into the house, no, I kept love out of everything. I've felt attraction, but never love." His heart pounded against his chest before quickening once more.

"Harry told me you loved Lily."

"I loved who I wanted Lily to be." His voice softened. "It took me years to understand that. Looking back, I would not have worked with someone who cared much for popularity and was dazzled by money."

"That's who Lily was?" Hermione cocked her head.

"At her worst, yes."

"Oh," Hermione mumbled.

"Do not misunderstand me, she could be kind, and she had a heart for those less fortunate. Still, she was not perfect and was at times very self-centered, traits I ignored at my own peril."

"I never knew that about her. Looking back, I suppose I only heard about her good traits, and forgot she may have had some less than flattering aspects."

"Nobody has a poor opinion of her because they're too busy glorifying her sacrifice for Harry, and idolizing me for being this lovelorn fool who panted after her for years," he replied, his heart continuing to race.

"I'm sorry I fell into such a delusion," she replied.

"There's no need to apologize. You haven't treated me like a lovelorn idiot. In fact, you've treated me like a person. That's more than most people do."

"You are a person; a great person who doesn't deserve this terrible curse."

"I was a casual womanizer, and I have never known love. I've never allowed myself to love, and in turn nobody has ever loved me." He grimaced. "From that angle, I got exactly what I deserved."

"No," she pressed harder into him. "You didn't deserve to be cursed by someone who tricked you into letting you into your house."

"You believe that, don't you?" His heart began to slow.

"I don't make a habit of lying to my friends." She smiled. "It's terrible for maintaining relationships."

"I wish I knew that lesson earlier in life. My life would have gone much smoother had I known that importance of maintaining relationships as a youth."

"There's still time to rekindle and nurture the relationships you've allowed to fall by the wayside."

"Perhaps," he replied, knowing an argument with her was futile.

"Do you want another ice chip?" She asked.

He gave her a small nod. She left the bed and grabbed the cup. He muttered his thanks, took a couple and put them in his mouth.

"When we find the cure, and we will, I'll help you rebuild some of your former relationships, assuming that's what you want," she continued.

"You want to keep in contact with me after this?"

"Of course I do." Her smile returned. "You're my friend, and I enjoy staying in touch with friends."

"Yes, but won't going to France every once in awhile become tiresome?"

"With apparation, no."

"Yes, but would you want to go to France for the sole purpose of seeing one person?"

"You act as if I've never been to France."

"I overheard you discussing going to the Alps when you were a student, but France isn't the only place where they are present." His heart slowed.

"That year we were going to Switzerland for a change of pace, but usually we went to Chamonix."

"That's a beautiful town."

"It is. Then of course we had to go to Paris because Mum loved shopping, and we had to do embarrassing things like pass by the hospital where I was born."

"You were born in France?" He held out his hand for another ice chip.

She nodded before giving it to him. "My parents were at a convention for dentists. I wasn't supposed to be due for two more weeks, but I was impatient. So I was born in a Parisian hospital."

"I never would have guessed." He sucked on the ice chips.

"Most people don't know that about me. Come to think of it," she scratched the bed. "Only Harry and Ron know that fact about me."

"So I'm a member of a privileged club of those who know where Hermione was born."

"Yes."

He chuckled. "I feel quite honored."

"It is a great honor. Being born in Paris is a small piece of information, but I don't want it splattered everywhere, so I'm selective of who I mention it to."

"I promise to guard your secret with my dying breath." His heart rate returned to normal.

"I don't know if you have to do that," she replied. "But I do appreciate speaking to someone who won't tell everyone they've ever met my secrets."

"The feeling is quite mutual. I appreciate not having you report all my details to The Daily Prophet."

"I hate that rumor filled rag."

"Me too, which is why I unsubscribed long ago."

"That was a wise decision." She pointed to the cup. He shook his head. Then, she put it on the table. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," he replied.

"Good." She pulls out her wand. "Let me just take your vitals so I can record them."

He sat by as she did so. His vitals were stable, though not great. Just another reminder that he was on borrowed time. At least he was spending it in her presence. There were worse ways to spend one's final days.

"You've been worse," she began.

"Indeed," he looked at the rose from the corner of his eye. The pile of petals underneath was only growing. There wasn't much time. A few months ago, less time on this earth may have been welcome. Now, he was leaving someone close to him behind, someone who would have few people who could soothe her pain.

Before, he never worried about anyone aside from the Malfoys missing him. Now, it broke his heart to think Hermione would ever cry, much less mourn him. Was there any way to ease the pain of his death?

"What are you thinking?" She asked.

"I was thinking Valentine's Day is coming up," he answered.

"It is?"

"Yes."

"Oh," she blinked. "I guess I forgot the date."

"I'm surprised you'd forget any date." He gave her a half grin.

"Why should I remember it?" She huffed. "Every year I spend it reading a good book, as I do every other evening. The only spectacular thing about it is that the day after I buy myself half off chocolates."

"I loved those half off sales," his mouth watered.

"You bought Valentine's Day chocolates for yourself?"

"Indeed I did. One year, I even cancelled classes to do so."

"So that's why you had a stomach flu."

He smirked.

"What else should I have expected out of a Slytherin?" She relaxed.

"Nothing," he purred.

She blushed.

"In all seriousness, Valentine's Day doesn't have to be about half off candy," he answered. "What if I could give you something different?"

"Are you offering me seventy-five percent off chocolates?"

"No, I'm offering you the chance for a wonderful evening."

"What kind of evening?"

"I do not know," he admitted. "I was thinking the Malfoys could bring in one of their famous chefs and we could have a nice dinner. I could bake us cookies or a cake if you wanted."

"I love your chocolate cakes."

"Then I will bake one. We can do whatever you'd like to make the night pleasant for you."

"Do you promise not to laugh at me if I tell you what I want?"

"No," He answered. "I will never laugh at you again. With you, yes, but never at you."

"I want to dance," she answered in a quiet voice.

He swallowed, thrown by the request.

"It sounds so stupid, but every dance I've ever had has been a disaster and/or I've walked away feeling lonelier than I did when I came. I wound up getting in a fight with Ron and Harry after the Yule Ball, and every time a friend has a wedding I go alone, meaning I just watch everyone dance."

Severus stared at her. There were many things he expected her to say, but dancing wasn't one of them. Not that he couldn't relate to the loneliness. One of the reasons he'd sworn off weddings was so he never had to endure standing in a dark corner alone again.

"Oh goodness I'm sorry," she covered her mouth. "You struggle to stand, and I'm asking you to dance. That's so insensitive. I'm sorry."

"No, it isn't," He took her hands and removed them from her mouth. "If you want to dance, then we shall."

"No, you'll tire yourself out and…"

He squeezed her hands, silencing her. "We will find a way. There are people who dance in wheelchairs, so that is an option if I am no longer able to stand. Otherwise, I will have enough energy for one dance."

"Are you certain?" She asked as she moved her hands away. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable or tire yourself out."

"Hermione, you have done so much for me. Please, let me give you a Valentine's Day you will never forget."

"You really want to give me a special day?"

"I want that more than anything."

"Severus Snape, you're the sweetest man I've ever met." Her eyes misted.

"If you believe that, I would strongly suggest meeting other men. You will find most of them much sweeter than I am."

"I told you, other men see me as a symbol. You don't though. You treat me as a person. That's why I think you're sweeter than any man I've met."

"I'll make you a deal," Severus put out his hand. "If you don't tell anyone I'm sweet, I won't tell anyone you're from Paris."

"Deal." She shook his hand.

Even though they stopped shaking, they did not release each other's hands. Instead, they sat in silence, taking comfort that regardless of what happened, both could say at least one person understood them.