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).
Hermione was enjoying a few hours alone before Severus would come back, she really needed him to stay at the school. It bothered her that he was going back and forth for her and wearing himself out in the process. Maybe if he could see that she would be fine on her own he wouldn't want to hover so much. She had always thought Harry was bad as they got older, it was nothing compared to Severus.
She heard him coming through the floo as she finished with supper, yes she finally decided to cook. She just hoped that even if he didn't like it he would keep his mouth shut. He came in the kitchen then said,
"Should you be doing that?"
"I am fine, and yes I don't think the doctor would like it if I starved."
"I could….." he clamped his mouth shut when she shot him a look changing the subject.
"Minerva asked about you today."
"Did you tell her that I'm fine, even if you don't think so." She shot at him.
"No, I told her you were doing good. I'm suppose to ask this of you," Severus had no idea how good this would go over but Minerva wanted her to visit the school. "Minerva would like for you to visit, then as we were talking we had an idea."
"What is that?" Hermione asked setting the plates on the table.
"Why don't you come and stay at Hogwarts while you recuperate. You were worried about me traveling back and forth between here and there. I'm sure I could find a few elves that wouldn't mind helping you while I was teaching and then I wouldn't worry so much about you being alone if I know you can just call one of them."
Hermione thought it over as she set the table then sat down in the chair before saying,
"Is that such a good idea?"
"Why not? It would put my mind at ease and let you have the chance to be alone."
Hermione thought about it, it was true. He would have more to occupy his time if he stayed at the school, and she really didn't have a reason for not visiting right now. She still had five weeks off work, she looked at Severus finally saying.
"Okay."
"Now I….. You agreed?" he was a little shocked he had expected a fight.
"Yes, what did you think I'd fight you all the way to the front gate?"
"Well, yes I did."
"No, I can see how it would be better than seeing how tired this back and forth is making you and then I could have my solitude also. So yes, I'll come and stay at Hogwarts for the next five weeks at least. You do know I will have to go back to work when I'm released."
Severus nodded, he had hoped by then he could convince her to stay with him. He still had that one thing he needed to talk to her about, maybe once she was at the school.
By the time they had her packed, at the school and to his rooms Hermione had to admit she was wore out. The walk was a bit much to do so soon, Severus asked.
"Are you okay, you look a little pale."
"It was just the walk, I think I want to go lie down."
He led her to one door saying,
"Your room, the bath room is through there and there is also an entry from your room, mine is on the other side." He looked down at her tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before saying,
"If you need anything don't hesitate."
"Thank you."
He leaned down kissing her forehead leading her to ask,
"In the hospital, you saw me before they took me to surgery right?"
"Yes."
"You kissed me right?"
"Yes."
"So why haven't you since then?"
Severus really didn't know other than the little thing in the back of his mind having to do with her forgotten memory was holding him back. He leaned down kissing her on the lips before pulling back asking,
"Better?"
"I suppose, I just wanted to make sure I didn't dream everything up."
"No you didn't, now go get some rest."
~~^~~SSHG~~^~~
By her third week there, Severus could tell she was doing better. The hearing was next week, there was something he wanted out of the way before then. When she came back from visiting with Minerva he said to her.
"Hermione we need to talk about something."
"Okay." She said as she sat down on the sofa in the sitting room.
He pulled out a small bottle that contained the memory of the journal asking,
"You know what this is?"
"A memory."
"Yes, it's yours."
"Okay, have you seen it?"
"This one? No I have not but I do know what it is of."
"What is it then?" Hermione didn't like where this was going, she felt a strong sense of foreboding settle over her.
"This particular one is of a journal you kept while we were married."
"Have you seen this journal?"
"Yes, that is how I found out about the memory."
"So you read it also?"
"Yes, but you also left me a note in it."
"Okay."
"This," he said pulling out another small bottle "is another memory you left at my house."
"Have you seen it?"
"Yes, this one I have."
"Will I want to see it, remember what it contains?"
"I don't know, if I go by that you left it with me then no I would say that you never want to remember this."
"Then why even bring this up?"
"Because Hermione, I can't move forward until you decide on what to do about these."
"You think I should see them to make a choice about us."
"I do, I think that this will be the deciding factor for you. No matter how much I want you in my life, I can't knowing that you don't know this. But if you choose to view them or at least this one, I have one you need to see first."
"What is in the journal?"
"Mostly how I treated you, some of your hopes and dreams. But most of it was how badly I betrayed you and hurt you."
"Well I already know that."
"Yes, you only removed the memory of writing them down."
"What's the other memory?"
"Something terrible I did to you in my anger at being forced into a bonding with you, I am in no way proud of what I did and I did regret it as soon as I did it."
She had watched him as he talked, she didn't know if she wanted to see the memory or not. She liked how things were now, it was almost like he expected this memory to change her mind totally.
"You think I should view it." It was a statement more than a question.
"Yes I do, Hermione I'm trying to do the right thing though I might lose you. Going back on what I promised you a few weeks ago."
"Are you saying that we won't move forward until I see this?"
"I can't take us to where I want to be knowing that this is out there."
"Very well, show me."
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.