Author's Note: First let me thank everyone who had reviewed, alerted, or put this story on their favorites it means a lot to me.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Do I really need to say that I don't own them? I'm just playing with someone else's toys and do return them in the same shape I have found them (well that may not always be the case).

In the three months that followed that day Severus had ran into Hermione he had tried to decide how best to move forward, trying to pay heed to Potter's words that she wanted him to find a way. He just found fault with everything he could think of, letters could be sent back or left unopened. Showing up on her doorstep could lead to a door being slammed in his face. He just didn't know how to precede with what he wanted to do.

A knock on his door brought him out of his musings,

"Enter."

Severus looked up from his lesson plans to see Potter stepping into his office.

"Severus."

"Harry."

Harry took a step forward then stopped waiting to be invited to sit finally saying,

"I'd like to talk to you."

"Go on." Severus said, he really wasn't in the mood for visitors today.

"So what are you going to do about Hermione?" Harry cut to the chase.

Severus looked up at the young man standing in front of his desk, how did he answer a question that he didn't even know the answer to?

"Is that really any of your business?" Severus finally asked.

"I'm making it my business, it's been three months."

"Very good you can count time."

"Come off it, you can sit there and pretend all you want but I know you want to go after her as much as she wants you too."

"You know….."

"Then what was that in the restaurant?"

"A lapse in judgment."

"Bullshit, I know better."

"You know nothing."

"Right, I know that it's been over four years and she's never gotten over you. For the life of me right now I have no idea why, but she loves you. I know I'm tired of seeing her so depressed about this, now what are you going to do?"

"What would you have me do? She slammed the door right after she told me she never loved me, so you are mistaken." Severus had no idea why he was fighting this, he knew she had lied to him when she said that. He could tell the young man in front of him was worried about his friend. So why in the world was he refusing to just say he would open that door, that is as soon as he decided how to do it.

"How thick are you? She lied to you to make you happy, or so she thought."

Severus in that moment gave up, it was not something he did often but the words he just heard stabbed him and he was just tired. After several moments he said quietly,

"I know."

Harry sat down in front of the desk, if Severus knew this then why in the hell did he let her leave?

"You know?" Harry said dumbfounded.

Severus looked up at, that's when Harry saw the pain in his eyes.

"Yes, I knew when she left that she was lying. I didn't stop her so she could be happy."

"Did either of you ever talk to one another? She….. Listen I know there were things that she was unhappy about, but I know she wished that you would at least treated it like a real marriage."

"I wish I had too." Severus said quietly.

"So fix it, whatever it takes."

Severus wanted to say he didn't know how, but then he didn't know if he wanted the young man across from him to know that he was uncertain about something. Maybe more than one opinion about what to do wouldn't hurt, and it being from Hermione's best friend couldn't hurt.

"Then share your thoughts on how I should go about doing that?"

"You want to know what's not going to get you shot down."

"Yes."

"There is nothing, if you owl her she will return it. If you show up at her door it will be slammed in your face. The best thing I can tell you is persistence and patients."

"Thanks, that's a lot of help." Severus said to him sarcastically.

"It's all I've got, this is not something that's going to be fixed over night."

"I know." Severus said on a breath, he still wondered if it could be fixed at all.

"I do have another question that's been on my mind."

Severus nodded indicating for him to continue.

"Why did you refuse visits when you were in Azakban?"

"What are you talking about?"

"After they took you to Azakban; Minerva, Hermione, myself, and several others asked to visit you. Hermione especially wanted to after you agreed to the bonding intent but Mr. Kaseload said you refused visits from anyone."

Severus gripped the quill he had in his hand saying,

"I was never made aware of any such request."

"What? But we all asked, he said he asked you but you said you didn't want to see anyone."

"The great Mr. Kaseload apparently liked to leave out details, he never passed any such request on."

"None of them?"

"No, as a matter of fact the more I hear about him I want to bring him before the board of representatives. Do you know if too much time has passed for me to be able to?"

"I can check, I'll let you know tomorrow."

"Very well, if that is all."

"Yes I should be getting home to….. Why don't you join us for supper?"

Severus looked up before saying,

"I don't think so."

"Okay, I'll let you know tomorrow about bringing him before the board."

"Thank you." Severus said, two words that he never used lightly.

"You're welcome."

The next day Severus sat in his office when an owl came in dropping a letter on his desk before leaving.

Severus,

In answer the your inquiry yesterday you only have until December thirty-first to file your grievance with board.

Harry

Severus took out a clean parchment, now that he had a reason…. No that wasn't true, he had a reason before to write her but this seemed a better way in than any other. He knew of her tendency to take up causes, now if he could just get her to take up his then the door would be open to him again.

Hermione,

I am bringing Mr. Kaseload before the board of representatives as some of his actions have come to light and his intentions were not the best. I realize when I take this action you will more than likely be called before them, or if you wish as his actions affected you also you may wish to take action with me.

Severus

Well there it was, direct and straight to the point though he was sure it wouldn't matter as he fully expected her to send it back to him unopened. He made his way to the owlery to send the short message. When the task was complete all there was to do was wait.

~~^~~SSHG~~^~~

Hermione was sitting at the table with her books open, she was taking a computer class this time when an owl pecked on the window. She didn't think twice about opening it, Harry sometimes sent her letters from work so the unfamiliar owl didn't bother her.

The writing on the note she saw as she untied it did, what in the world could he want after four years? She didn't care,

"Come back here." She called to the owl on the sill, she gave him a piece of toast before she tied the note back to its leg then said.

"Return to sender."

~~^~~SSHG~~^~~

Severus didn't have long to wait, by supper he had the letter returned to him, he wrote 'urgent' on the outside of the letter taking it back in the morning to be sent back to Hermione, he was almost certain that this would go on for a few days before she finally accepted the letter.

Author's Note: Comments really do make me smile and brighten my day.

Also I wanted to let you know that I have a couple of Severus/Hermione videos on youtube, the link is in my profile.