Hermione had left the hospital more confused than ever. She had known she was having inappropriate thoughts about her teacher a few years back, but figured it was just a silly crush. After leaving him that day she knew there was something there. And she dared to hope that he might have feelings for her as well.

The following months were hard on her. As the time passed she realized more and more that she and Ronald were not right for each other. They argued often, he was selfish and chauvinistic, and she was not giving him all of her. She was there for him constantly, an ear to listen to his worries about his mother and brother and a shoulder to cry on for his loss. She helped him study when they all took their final tests and cheered him on when he applied to the Ministry (she had passed her tests early and McGonagall had offered her any vacant teaching position she desired. She chose Muggle Studies, to honor her past and her parents...wherever they had gone).

But no matter how tied to him she was, she could not forget the bond she felt to their past Professor. She kept tabs on his trial news, went to a few of the hearings and fought alongside Harry in trying to free him. However, no matter the evidence they supplied for him, he had still done terrible things and was sentenced to two years in Azkaban Prison.

Practically the moment after his sentence was announced, she began requesting to visit. For a while she was turned away, being told that he did not want visitors, but she would not give up. Finally, one year after the battle, she was allowed in.

The prison was cold and hard. She had come after a long day teaching Muggle Studies at Hogwarts, not expecting to be let in. As a guard led her to Snape's cell she tugged at her tan slacks and white blouse, realizing it would be strange for him to see her dressed this way. Even after a year she fidgeted with her left sleeve, trying to ensure the scar Bellatrix left was concealed and sometimes fiddled with her shirt buttons, thinking of the scars that lay beneath.

Finally they let her in and she caught her breath at the sight of him. Severus was dressed in ratty robes, more pale than ever, and looking quite gaunt and unhealthy. She instantly wanted to run to him and hold him, stroke his hair and tell him everything would be okay. Instead she crossed the room holding her breath to where he stood near his solitary window.

"Ms. Granger." He nodded. His voice was thin and scratchy.

"I told you to call me Hermione." She managed a small smile and got a surprised look in return.

"Hermione." His voice sounded warmer as he said her name, and his eyes softened. He gestured to the wooden chair beside his bed and sat on the edge of his mattress. She noticed his scar looked much better, though the skin was still quite puckered.

She sat and looked him over. "Are you alright?" She asked. He smirked and gestured around him.

"Of course. How could I not be thriving here?" She felt her cheeks flush as she looked down, regretting asking such a ridiculous question.

"It's called sarcasm, Hermione. Really this is better than I deserve. I've done horrible things. I can't imagine why you'd want to come to such a place, especially to visit the likes of me."

Hermione looked up suddenly. "You are a good man, Severus. I've been trying for ages to see you. I couldn't stay away." Severus had felt a shudder run through him as she said his name. He looked in her eyes and saw the sincerity there but couldn't understand why she would feel that way.

"Hermione, maybe you don't understand. I've been working with Voldemort for years - since I myself was a child. I did it for the wrong reasons but I did it." Severus stood and walked across the room, not wanting to look in her eyes as he continued. "I've killed people, Hermione. Good, innocent people who didn't deserve what they got. I didn't even fight against him in the end. I let things happen. I am a poor excuse of a man and I deserve much more than a two year sentence here."

"You're wrong." He turned to see her standing, eyes full of unshed tears. "Harry told us what you shared with him. I know why you killed Dumbledore and I know you were a double agent. The reasons you entered into his service may not have been the most noble but you made up for them. And I believe you paid for your mistakes when you lost… her." She looked down, tears spilling over as she fiddled with her sleeve again.

Severus felt the wetness on his cheeks and swallowed hard trying to regain his composure. "It was a long time ago." He said, his voice shaking. He wiped his cheeks with his sleeve quickly, not wanting to show signs of weakness - even to her. "I may never recover from that loss but it pales in comparison with my crimes."

Suddenly Hermione was in front of him, holding his hands in hers. Her beautiful brown eyes searched his, honesty and determination shining through. "You must get over feeling this way Severus. It's simply not true. We've all made mistakes but you have caused more good than bad. I hope one day I can convince you of this." Her gaze dropped to his lips for a moment, her face flushing.

He was fairly certain he knew what was going through her mind, and the same thoughts were in his. But he made himself drop her hands and return to his seat on the bed.

"How are Mr. Potter and your beau?" He asked, brushing dust from his thin mattress. He noticed the pause and a small sigh before she returned to her seat to answer him.

"Harry is well. He and Ginny are together, I suspect he'll be proposing soon enough. He asks about you." He looked up when she said no more.

"And Mr. Weasley?" He asked with an arched brow.

"He is…fine, I suppose. The loss of his brother is still hard to bear but he seems to be getting better." She looked somewhat uncomfortable, and was again fidgeting with her sleeve.

"It's been a year, at least. You two must also be thinking about making things…official?" He asked, trying to sound uninterested.

She looked into his eyes, searching for something. Finally she admitted, "I don't know. We haven't spoken of it really. There have been other matters to attend to."

She jumped as a fist thumped on the door and a loud voice told them it was time for her to go. She turned and gave him a long look before rising. She pulled at her sleeve yet again and said "I'll see you in a week or so then. Thank you for allowing me to see you."

Just before she exited his room she heard his pained voice. "If you were wise, Ms. Granger, you would stay away." His tall, lanky figure was again beside the window, his back to her. She smiled a little and shook her head at his stubbornness.

"Well that's the thing, Mister Snape; I'm really more of a book-smarts kind of girl." She enjoyed his quick look of surprise over his shoulder before she quickly turned and exited. As she was escorted out, she brushed her fingertips together, remembering the feeling of his large, rough hands in hers.

Moments after she had gone, Severus was lost in his thoughts. He flexed his hand, remembering the gentle softness of her grasp.