Here's another chapter for you all, with a few much needed discussions. I hope you all enjoy! To everyone, I can't thank you enough for reading, reviewing, following and favouriting. Really, I still squeal in delight over how many people have viewed my story, and all the email alerts I get always brighten my day no matter what. Thank you all again!

Just a quick notice, there is a digital painting of Aurelia on my profile, for anyone who would like to see how I pictured her. I'm more of a writer than a painter, so it isn't the best. But hopefully it can serve to show you how I imagined her. Happy reading!

"What in the blazes does she want to see you for?"

"I don't know! I don't know why Ron's mum wants to see me tomorrow. I can't imagine what she would want to say to me, I'm sure everyone else has told her what her son did. I know Fred and George had no issue letting their dad know, Mrs. Weasley had to have been there."

"Well, you don't have to go," said Severus. He let the grey owl out the window, shutting it securely behind it. He went back to the bed, and sat down beside Hermione.

"I know, but I don't think I can refuse her! She's still the mum to 3 of my close friends, and I enjoy Bill, Charlie, and Percy's company as well. I wouldn't be able to get away from her, and to be honest, she kind of intimidates me. I don't think she'll let it be." Hermione flopped back onto the bed, and stared at the ceiling as she ran through all the possible reasons why Ronald's mother would want to see her.

"Perhaps she wishes to tell you there are no hard feelings between her family and you?" Severus suggested.

"Maybe...but why wouldn't she just send an owl saying that? Instead of asking me to come to the Burrow?"

"Who knows? Molly Weasley generally always has some reason for what she does. But I trust her though," Severus said. "She was a tremendous aid to the War, and she's a good person. No harm will come to you. My only worry would be that Ronald is there."

"If he is, I'll turn right back around and apparate away. Plus, there's half a household of Weasleys who would restrain Ron, so I'm not worried about that."

"Well, then go."

"Like I said before, I hardly have that much of a choice," Hermione snorted. "But, I guess I'll have to see, won't I?"

Hermione looked up at the patchwork house, and took a deep breath. Severus looked down at the short witch, and asked, "do you want me to stay?"

"No, no. I've been friends with this family for most of my life. It has to be done, anyways. Even if she hadn't asked, it would've happened at one point another. I'm ready, I guess," Hermione looked up at him apologetically. "I'm sorry your plans for today were ruined."

Much to Hermione's surprise, Severus actually looked almost relieved when she mentioned the failed plans. He gave his usual nonchalant shrug though, and replied with his easy grace. "It isn't a bother. Getting everything settled with the Weasleys is far more important."

Somehow, Hermione didn't quite believe him. Something was up, but she didn't have the time to question him further. Instead she fixed him with a piercing gaze, which he bore with a rather dry quirk of his eyebrow, and Hermione gave up. She obviously wasn't going to get the answer to his odd behavior from mere intimidation. Besides, she was feeling rather intimidated herself at the moment, all though not by Severus.

She glanced once more at the Burrow, and then back at Severus. "I'll see you when this is over, I suppose."

Severus nodded, and let out a woosh of breath when Hermione rammed into him, wrapping her arms around. He patted her back gently, and untangled himself from her. "We'll be seeing each other in a few hours," he said amusedly as he looked down at her. "No need for histrionics."

"I dunno, Severus. With , you can't be certain," Hermione replied, her tone joking. She wasn't in any fear of her safety. The fear she felt was for the verbal kind of assault. She hadn't really paused to consider what Ron's doings had done to his mother, and how Hermione actions had affected her.

Severus snorted, and pressed his lips to her forehead quickly before he apparated away. Hermione turned to face the Burrow, and took a deep breath before she started for the door. A few minutes later, and she was knocking briskly on the door. She was determined to not be quailed by this woman, even though she still didn't know the purpose of the meeting.

The door opened, and Ginny looked back at her in confusion, before a grin split her face. "Hermione! What a great surprise. Wait," she looked around. "Why exactly are you here?"

"Er, your mum invited me over," Hermione replied, beginning to feel just as confused as her friend looked.

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "Did she now? That conniving old woman. She never could stay out of other people's business," she sighed. "Oh well. I guess an old witch needs her kicks somehow. Come on in, I'll make some tea. You'll probably need it."

Hermione followed Ginny into the kitchen, and found Molly Weasley already seated at the table, concentrated on her knitting.

"Hello," she said politely as she sat down. It was strange, how at home she used to feel in this house, and now she felt like a stranger. She didn't quite realise it, but being estranged from Ronald had been equated with not spending time with his parents anymore as it hadn't crossed her mind to come see Mrs. Weasley after her split with Ron.

"Hello, Hermione," she responded, her tones stiff. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm well," Hermione said as she accepted the cup Ginny handed to her. The redhead gestured silently at her, indicating that she would be out in the living room. Hermione nodded her understanding and turned her attention back to the Weasley matriarch. "And yourself?"

"Oh, the usual dithering about. I actually called on you for a reason, Hermione," the woman said, sounding much more relaxed now that Ginny was out of the room.

Hermione wondered at that, perhaps the two fiery redheads had gotten into yet another spat. "I figured as much," she said.

"It's about Ronald. I'd like to hear the truth," Molly said bluntly. Her knitting had stopped, and she gazed at Hermione with something akin to pain in her eyes. "I've heard enough from Ron, I want to hear your side to this."

"Oh, erm, are you sure?" Hermione asked. "What has Ron told you?"

"He said you left him for no reason, that you had, as he put it, 'shacked up' with Professor Snape of all people. Ginny said the part about Professor Snape is true, but I refuse to believe it until I hear it from you," Molly said, looking at Hermione in a slightly hopeful manner, as if she wished Hermione would deny all affiliation with Snape.

"Well, Ron and Ginny were right in that regard," Hermione said defiantly, looking at through narrowed eyes. She didn't like what the older redhead had implied. "I am with Severus, yes. We've been happy for several months now."

Molly looked shocked, and more than a little crestfallen at Hermione's words. "So it's true. You're dating Snape. What about everything else?"

"I really had hoped that Ron would've told you the truth, but I guess not," Hermione sighed. "He cheated on me, . I caught him in bed with someone else, and that is why I left him. Severus was kind enough to give me a place to stay while I was unsure of where or what to do."

"You just left? Just like that? But, Hermione, dear," said Molly. "Wasn't your relationship with Ron worth just giving him a bit of time to realise his mistake?"

Hermione's gaze hardened. "It obviously wasn't worth it to him to stay faithful to me, I never saw why I would have to give him a lesser courtesy. After he appeared at Severus' home and attacked him, I decided it was truly over. ," she added in a firm tone, "this is mine and Ronald's business. What he chooses to tell you is fine, but I refuse to play twenty questions with you about my private life.

"The short story is that yes, I did leave Ron. I had my very real reasons, and yes, I am with Severus. I will not be talking to Ron any more."

"Not even as friends?"

"No. Again, really none of your business."

"I beg your pardon," Molly said indignantly. "Ron is my son, that makes it my business!"

"Your son is 20, turning 21 shortly. I think he can handle his own issues."

"Be that as it may, I want to help him. Why won't you reconsider him? How can Professor Snape be the person you want? Really, Hermione," the woman said. "You spent most of your life hating him!"

"I never hated him," Hermione objected smoothly. "He was much teacher, and a member of the Order, and as such I respected him. There was a short time where I lost that respect, when I was under the same impression as everyone else; that he had betrayed us all. But I quickly reevaluated my thoughts on that once it was proven otherwise. He is an amazing man, and I am proud to be with him. I will not reconsider Ronald.

"All though," she added in a gentler tone, "that doesn't mean I want to be estranged from this family entirely. While me and Ron had irreconcilable differences, I hold nothing against you, and Ginny and the twins are still my good friends."

"I just..." Molly heaved a sigh. "I wish things had worked out differently. I wish you hadn't been so hard on him."

Hermione stood up. "I'm sorry, Molly, but I can't subject myself to this any more. Your son hurt me in a way that will never be fixed. He cheated on me, attacked the man I'm with, held me against my will, and then attempted to attack the both of us. If it hadn't been for Severus' quick dueling skills, we might have been injured. He is not the Ron I once knew, and I won't sit here and listen to how much you wish I hadn't done what I did. I'm not changing or going back on my decisions. Severus makes me happier than Ronald ever did."

Molly looked up at the witch, and felt slightly subdued at the furious look in Hermione's normally warm brown eyes, and the wild hair that surrounded her face that seemed to crackle with electricity. Suddenly, she felt a great rush of warmth for the girl, and remorse for her words and her sons actions. "Oh, Hermione, I'm sorry," she said as she stood. "I just need time to get over the fact that my kids are growing up, and things happen. I do wish though," she said as delicately as she could manage, "that you and Ron could overlook those differences and maybe find a way to be friends again. I know he was wrong, and misguided, and I know now that everything he said to me was a lie, but still. Maybe one day."

She sighed. "Until then, you're welcome at the Burrow whenever, like it has always been," the motherly woman said.

Hermione released a relieved breath. "Thank you for that Mrs. Weasley. I honestly don't know what will happen with me and Ron, but if anything does, it will be on our own time."

Molly nodded, and went to give Hermione a hug. The younger girl accepted it gratefully, and Molly pulled back, and looked down at her questioningly. "Really though. Severus Snape?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and let out a chuckle. "He's really more than the snarky, ill-tempered potion's master we all knew. He still is that, but there's more under there. I love him, Molly."

Taken aback by the raw honesty in Hermione's eyes, Molly just simply nodded, at loss for words. She gave Hermione one more hug, and then she decided to take her leave.

Hermione had just reached the door when Ginny came bounding up.

"Well? Did she harass you? Make you want to curse yourself?" Ginny said. "Or curse her for that matter?"

"It went as well as could be expected," Hermione replied. "She's still Ron's mother but she understands I can make my own choices. Or at least I hope she does."

"That kind of had to happen, didn't it," Ginny observed as she gave her friend a t hug. "Mum wouldn't have rested otherwise."

Hermione shrugged. "Closure is always nice. Now I have a dark and brooding Potions master to get back to," she said cheerily.

"Yeah, yeah. Tell the old blighter I said hello!"

"I'll do that, though I doubt you'll get a friendly greeting in return," Hermione responded laughingly.

"He'll come around one day!"

"Let's hope so," she replied before shutting the door behind her. Hermione walked to the gate with a sense of relief, that had gone well. She hadn't really known what to expect, but she supposed Molly's questions were reasonable under the circumstances. She didn't appreciate the prying, but if it helped solidify her place in the Weasley home, and served to help Molly, she'd get over the breach of privacy.

She made her way home quickly, and appeared on the front step to the house with the usual loud crack. Walking in, she hung her cloak up and went to the sitting room to find Severus sitting in his armchair, staring at a photo. He jerked up at her footsteps, and slipped the photo in his cloak pocket and stood up to greet her.

Hermione went to him and relaxed gratefully in his arms, sighing willingly when he scooped her up and placed her on his lap as he returned to his seat in the armchair.

"Well?"

"It went fine. No one was murdered, and my temper didn't quite run away from me. Hers didn't either," Hermione replied. "It gave her closure, and me some. It was nice."

"Really? Well, it seems all your niggling doubts were unfounded," Severus said, and then added in a satisfied tone, "I'm glad it went well. Molly is reasonable in all other areas besides her children, but even then she still retains that rare ability to see sense."

"Yes, she's a good woman," Hermione agreed. "I'm sorry it had to come at the cost of ruining your day, though."

"Ah, it's no matter," Severus said, a bit too offhandedly for Hermione to take him seriously. In truth, Severus really didn't mind the day being lost. He had simply planned a day out to the sea cliffs, and the moondew plants. He wasn't too sure of what counted as romantic, but he was moderately sure Hermione would have liked to visit there again.

Hermione chose to put aside her questions at his behavior, and instead gestured towards his pocket. "Who was in the photo you were looking at?"

Suddenly, Severus' eyes darkened, and he seemed to battle with himself for a few seconds. Hermione waited patiently, she knew he would tell if he wanted.

He took a deep breath, and reached to bring the photo out. He looked at it once more, and sighed before handing it to Hermione. There was a pretty redhead in the photo, her sparkling green eyes seemed to be alight with laughter, and her waved in whatever wind was present where the photo was taken. She blew a kiss towards the camera, and spun around, her mouth open in laughter.

"That is Lily Evans. Or rather, was."

The name rang a distant bell, and suddenly, Hermione understood. "Harry's mum?"

"Indeed."

Hermione looked at him intently, noting the way he seemed to be holding back on something. "What happened with her, Severus?"

She knew, from the trial, that there had been irrevocably evidence declaring Severus had fought for the Light almost his entire life, but that evidence hadn't been made known to the witnesses. When Hermione had testified for Severus, she had been going off what she had seen and what she knew of his character. Harry had vaguely told her it had something to do with his mum, but Hermione had quickly forgotten about it. Harry had apologised for not being able to tell more, but he said he had made a promise. Hermione had accepted that, and let it be, as all that really mattered was Snape was cleared of all charges.

"She was the only woman I have ever loved, until you. It's been years since I looked at this photo, and it's brought up painful memories. I don't look back on them in the same way anymore, but they're still there. You've changed me, Hermione. In such a short amount of time, too. You are amazing. I..." he trailed off, the words he had been wanting to say for weeks seeming to just die in his throat.

She looked at him, putting her hand to his cheek to bring his gaze to meet hers. His dark eyes flickered with some lost emotion, something that Hermione couldn't make out, but had never seen before. It struck a sad, melancholy chord deep within her, and she realised what the flicker was. Fear. She leaned forward, and kissed him tenderly, and pulled back. "I really don't know where I would be without you, Severus Snape. I love you."

Severus stared at Hermione, and felt the sudden urge to shudder at the blunt, raw sincerity in her eyes. He opened his mouth to reply, but somehow, the words he wanted to say wouldn't come out. The only woman, the only person, he had ever said those three words to had been Lily. And she had left him without a backwards glance soon after he had admitted that to her. It had torn everything from him, and Hermione had begun the process of making him whole again, but for whatever psychological reason, he couldn't say the words back to her. So he opted for something else, that would express what he felt every time he looked into her beautiful brown eyes.

"Marry me."