A/N: Sorry the end took so long, I was having hand problems and then my right contact decided to crack and I don't have another pair until sometime next week...Hope you like this, it took a bit to straighten out. Sending you my love with this update and hoping for many reviews...XOXO

Why did she have to leave? Why did he have to stay? Why was the Dark Lord here? Why were they in a post-revel field? What was this place? Why did he miss her so? Severus thought these things behind his mask, unsure as to what the evil despot would want from him. He'd taken damn near everything, including at one point his love and it seems even from
beyond the grave this man chose to steal from him. Hermione wasn't coming back...

"Severus, you did well to inform me of this prophecy. I have much to contemplate and you have a mission. I need you to get into Hogwarts, now more so than ever. Follow through with my previous plan and get hired. Leave me."

The images swirled, he was on a stone floor bowing now, four other people in the room. Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband, Roldolphus, her husband's brother, Rastaban, and again the Dark Lord. Stepping down from his throne, the Dark Lord muttered quietly to them.

"After careful research and studious observation I have determined who this prophecy speaks of." He glanced at Severus, almost as if he was trying to convey to him he was connected.

Arms folded behind his back, the Dark Lord paced in front of them. He was looking more disturbed as he thought.

"There are two families. The Longbottoms and the Potters."

Looking deliberately at Severus once more, for longer as he finished his sentence, the Dark Lord smirked.

"I do not believe that the Longbottoms are a threat, but I will not condone loose ends. Bella, you and those two shall find, torture and kill Frank and Alice Longbottom, as well as their son, Neville. You will do this on Halloween night. Am I understood?"

The three bowed deeper with reverent "Yes, milord."'s.

"Good, now go. And if you fail, do not return here. Do not return at all."

Turning to Severus, the Dark Lord looked to him and smirked once more. He looked away, sitting in his throne again.

"My Lord..." was forced from his throat and the man had the nerve to bare his teeth in a grin.

"You did well, Severus. I will kill the Potter boy and Bella the other and my rule shall remain eternal."

"My Lord, if I may?"

"You may."

Severus realized where this was going. No. He couldn't do this again. His voice caught, but only in his mind. He couldn't stop this. It was just going to go on and on. His mouth worked words he hadn't thought about in years.

"My Lord, you say you will kill the Potters yourself. I humbly ask a favor."

Bowing lower, he scraped the ground with this hair. Their were footsteps and he sighed, damn leading silence.

"A favor, perhaps. What is this...favor?"

He felt himself nod quickly, happy to be worthy of a favor.

"I beg you leave the woman alone...Lily..."

"Hmm." was the only reply. "I will spare her then. But why, I ask, is she important? Surely you aren't soft for Mudbloods?"

He felt his memory self shiver from fear. No, he wasn't afraid of this man, not anymore. He gritted his teeth inside his own mind, determined not to let this figment get to him.

"No, of course not, my Lord. She is merely an interesting conquest. Besides, Dumbledore will be very unhappy if she becomes a whore for our side."

Had he said that? He scoffed, he had said anything and everything that would make the Dark Lord--Gods!!--Voldemort spare Lily. He didn't care.

Chuckling once more, the snake man stopped pacing and nodded.

"And a whore she shall be. Remember that." He waved his wand and he felt hs dream self descend into pain, his mind seperating the two.

He was on the hill again, going through the motions with a furious Dumbledore, knowing what words were to come and fearing the crippling hell that was sure to follow. He would be in the Headmaster's office next, crying like a lovesick puppy, mourning the loss of his only true friend.

Why didn't he go to Dumbledore first? So obsessed with the power he needed for respect, he completely submitted to the drawing power of Voldemort's reign. He had been a fool and it had gotten two people killed, two driven mad, two young children's parents stripped from them before they had a chance to know them, an, dare he say it?, innocent man sequestered in Azkaban, and had endangered countless lives had the planned event gone right.

He started to feel a creeping pain, much like he had felt before he had recieved the news of the Potters death and the Dark Lord's disappearance. It was dragging him under, and he tried to fight. He thought of Hermione, her smiling face, her soft touch, her comforting voice...but she was not here. She had left him as Lily did, alone and in pain.

He succumbed to the pain and started to cry, both in the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk and in his own mind, the pain of years rushing out in one smooth moment. And the Dark Lord was winning, James was winning, and he could do nothing about it...not alone.

Hermione was still stumbling, the fog was leading though, much like a maze. She followed her instincts, turning when she felt it was the time to turn, stopping when she had lost her way. Eventually she was outside the Headmaster's office, the gargoyle staring at her curiously. She bit her lip as she watched it and mumbled as many sweets as she could.

The gargoyle did not move and she huffed. "Severus!"

Leaping to the side, the gargoyle allowed her entrance.

Without pause, she rushed up the steps, flinging the door open hard, not at all surprised when she found Severus, nor surpised when Dumbledore completely ignored her.

The man she was having confusion placing an emotion on was shaking, his body once more wracked with sobs. She flew to him, wrapping her arms around him.

"I killed them...I killed them. I hated him but I never wished this..."

She patted his back, soothing back his hair, whispering reassurances to him.

"No, Severus, it wasn't you...please...it wasn't you."

He shoved her away, glaring at her. "I DID!! It's my fault! Lily's d--dead and it's my fault!"

Hermione opened her arms, not moving toward him, letting him make the decision.

"Voldemort killed her, Severus. The man you gave all your time and energy to kill. She was avenged, you helped kill her murderer. You aren't that man."

He shook his head. "You were but a babe when I commited this crime, as though you could know anything!"

She dropped her arms, frustrated. "So I'm young! Are you going to tell me you weren't? We all make mistakes, Severus. We are human and it should be expected...but you didn't kill Lily. I trust you, I know that inside your heart you know it too."

He stood opposite her, his best sneer in place, she had seen this when he was livid with Harry. She didn't back down though, she didn't know how long she had to help him and she knew leaving before he was convinced would help no one.

"You think I have a heart? I ended many lives with my decision, only a heartless bastard could do that."

She scoffed. "You love Lily? I do believe love requires at least a heart...so don't play that heartless card, it won't work."

He growled, stepping closer to her.

"Why do you care? Probably a Mudblood..." he mumbled the last bit and she laughed.

"I know you're upset, uncomfortable even, but Mudblood? I thought you had reservations about that word."

He glared but said nothing.

"There are people outside this place that need you, Severus. I need you."

He frowned for a moment, his eyes blinking between angry and unsure.

"No one needs me. No one loves me. No one cares."

She decided it was time to drop her formalities, her useless convincing. She closed the gap, grabbed his face and kissed him, letting go of his face and wrapping her arms around his waist. He resisted, fighting her. She didn't let him go and didn't let up until she was out of breath.

When she retreated, he was staring at her with slightly clouded eyes. She held his face again, caressing his cheeks with her thumbs, smoothing away the tears.

"I need you...I--" she hesitated and he looked down. She saw the anger rising in him again and let it out. "I love you...and Severus, I care."

His anger faltered for a moment, replaced by confusion anad she was glad to see, hope.

She...she what? Surely she was just saying this to make him return to the real world? She was using his sensitivities against him. He frowned in both anger and desperation. He grabbed her face over her hands that held his and mumbled.

"Do you mean it?"

She nodded at him. "Yes. Admit you didn't kill them. Face facts."

"Do you mean it?" he asked again, needing her to verify. "Do you love me?"

She looked around, scared. Was she afraid of him? Of Herself? He made her look at him again, watching her closely. She bit her lip and then licked it before softly saying it again.

"I--I love you...I love you, Severus Snape."

He felt an unusual sensation. It was like joy, but much better, like a thousand Patronus', he tried to pin down this emotion but could not. His lips met hers again and he sighed. It felt so right...but she pulled back. Had he done something wrong?

"Severus." she said, looking him directly in the eyes again. "Say you didn't kill them, admit it."

He wrestled with his own tongue, almost unable to work it. She started to pull away but he held her and unsteadily said, "I didn't kill them."

She nodded and kissed him. "Again."

He repeated it, the sounds freeing him. He repeated it like a mantra, over and over. She was right. or course. Repeating it like this made it seem real. He kept going, until finally...all his bad feelings all his regrets seemed to fade.

"I didn't kill them." He felt her lips once more before he started to get lightheaded and Hermione began to disappear.

Reawakening in real life was like swimming to the surface of a lake after minutes at the bottom. He gasped loudly, staring over the room, looking for one thing only. He found her to his right, already standing at his bed. She was smiling at him, he couldn't resist, he hooked a hand behind her head and crushed his lips to hers. She met him equally, holding his face and brushing his hair back. How he loved that...

"Uh-hmm!" someone cleared their throat and he felt Hermione reach forward and hug him tight. He held her back, not caring about who saw, who told, who, even, was standing there shifting their feet.

"I love you." He said clearly, almost whisper-like in her ear. He heard tears in her voice as she mumbled back.

"As I love you, Severus."

A clearer voice than either of theirs laughingly spoke.

"Well, hello, Severus. Welcome back."

He stared over Hermione's shoulder at the old man. Then his eyes took in the rest of the room. Redder than his own hair, Weasley had his right hand on his neck, looking embarrassed. Next to the tomato stood Potter, a small frown on his face as he stared back. Closer to his other side was McGonagall, she was simply watching wide-eyed. Pompfrey stepped in and waved her wand over him, nodding with a smile.

"You are just fine. I suggest you rest, though."

He shook his head, helping Hermione slid into the covers with him. She snuggled up to him, holding him still. He kissed her head, sighing.

"I think I'll stay awake if you don't mind. Suffice it to say I have had enough of dreaming. I like this better."

Dumbledore touched his hand which was holding Hermione's back. The man smiled, truly smiled.

"Glad to have you back, Severus." Turning, Dumbledore ushered the two boys out. "Come now. They need their rest." He walked them out, but Harry dodged and ran back.

"Did you mean it?" he asked, looking fidgety.

Severus smiled with a faraway look, staring at nothing but seeing her.

"She saved me. She was there for me. She cared enough about me to reenter that hell just so I wouldn't be alone. She put herself in danger to keep me going. I more than meant it, Mister Potter..."

Harry's frown melted slowly and he gazed at Hermione, his eyes searching as if he was trying to believe. He set his eyes back onto Severus', a dark yet blank look in them.

"Be good to her." There was a protesting cry from Weasley, but the boy continued. "She's like a sister to me and if you hurt her..."

Severus shocked the room by chuckling.

"Mister Potter, please. I said I loved her. What in all of heaven makes you think I'd willingly hurt her?"

"Cause you're a greasy git." Quipped Ron, getting a glare from Hermione. He smiled at her, but glared at her mate. "I'm with Harry. If you so much as make her cry..."

Severus shook his head. "Overprotective Gryffindors..."