Severus laid Hermione on his bed; he didn't like that at all, he liked his privacy and she was encroaching upon it. But his couch was so hard it felt like sitting on wood, no matter how many softening charms he cast. If that what it felt like just sitting on it, he shuddered at the thought of laying on the thing, despite what people said of him he did have some humanity.

He pulled up a chair next to the bed and waited for Miss Granger to regain consciousness.

The Battle had been tough; Dumbledore and he had been almost shoulder to shoulder casting spells at Voldermort, trying to take the attention off Potter so he could get close enough to cast the final curse. It worked.

To an extent.

Riddle had saw him and motioned for Nagini to kill potter, while he tried to take down the headmaster.

"Two birds-s with one stone, isn't that right S-S-Severus, soon the wizarding world will be short an old wizard and its supposed s-s-savior." The Dark Lord just sealed his own fate. In that moment Severus knew what he had to do.

"Solaris" he had shouted, a burst of bright white light came form his wand, the dark lord had shielded his eyes (it was so bright in fact, that no one saw Severus run in front of Potter, taking the bite meant for him) Dumbledore, seeing his chance, stunned Riddle, it wouldn't last long, Riddle had a kind of immunity to such spells. But it was long enough for Potter to get over the shock of his evil potions master saving him (again) and cast the killing curse.

Large cries rose around the battle field, but not of victory, the cries came from Riddle's remaining followers. All on their knees, clutching their forearms, if revealed their arms would show melting skin, leaving an indent on each arm where the dark mark used to be.

Then it was as if all was silent in the world, nothing could be heard, nothing moved, not even the trees. Finally, Dumbledore's magnified voice rose up across the field.

"It is over."

This time the cries were of victory, not only that but joy, happiness, and oddly enough, love. Love for the Riddle free future. But Severus was not aware of all this, right then he was bleeding to death on the cold ground, winter's first snow landing upon him.

And that was how Hermione Granger found him, dying, she held his hand, and started shaking, blinking back tears. The headmaster stood behind her and gave her shoulder a light squeeze.

"There is nothing you can do for him." she stood, and ran. See, just because she couldn't do anything, didn't mean Poppy couldn't. He apparated with Severus to the hospital wing, taking use of his ability to do so upon the grounds.

So here he was, four days later, in his quarters with an unconscious Miss Granger.

He looked down at her; he had noticed that she was reading his favorite book (not really for academic purposes, just that it was very humorous).

He knew the girl had a crush on him, even knew that she thought she loved him (being excellent at legilimency of course) it had kept him entertained when the war was a strain to think that one-third of the Golden Trio liked ("loved") him, evil git, Greasy Bat extraordinaire of the Dungeons (not to mention the fantasies that he glimpsed in her mind). Now that the girl was silent for once in her life he could appreciate her for more than her mind. She was dressed in muggle clothing, a red woolen sweater and snug fitted jeans, but more shocking than the fact that she possessed curves (great ones in Severus's opinion) was that her hair longer resembled a rat's nest, but flared out on his pillow in loose curls.

His mind went back to the conversation him and Dumbledore had in the infirmary not to long ago.

The headmaster had sat at the end of his bed, his eyes sad when they fell upon his bandaged neck.

"Severus, what will you do now that you are free?" Snape closed his eyes at that word, free, yes, he was free.

"I have no idea."

Albus looked thoughtful "Are you still my potions master?" Snape's eyes widened, he never believed that Albus would want him after the war was over, not that he was a bad potions master, quite the opposite in fact (except his attitude of course), but now that there was no need for a double agent, why have him? But the real question was did Severus want to? He thought deeply and found he actually liked teaching; the students who wanted to learn made it enjoyable (an image of Hermione popped in his mind, which he quickly pushed away)

"Yes" he said slowly, gratefully (he really did not want to spend the rest of his life alone at Spinners End). Albus stared at him registering his answer, and then his face softened.

"Severus there is nothing that I can say or do that will pay you back for your years of service and what you almost sacrificed in battle, but I want you to know that if there is something, anything, in my power to give I will gladly give it to you, you have but to ask."

At this Severus was not so shocked, he did deserve something.

And now Severus knew exactly what he wanted.

Hermione Granger.