Hermione stood upon beautiful rolling hills of endless green. The sun shone bright and warm. Nothing but a gentle breeze through the tall wildflowers to be heard. Her head turned down slowly, and she found herself standing in a modestly gorgeous white dress. Gold inlaid in the fabric sparkled in the sun, though when she rose her hands she found two large tarnished steel manacles weighing her down. There was no chain, but she could feel their power. Even here she wasn't free.

When her tear-filled eyes rose again, she became aware that she wasn't alone. A dark figure was coming towards her. The rational part of her brain told her she should be afraid, but her heart stayed her feet. As the sun shifted around their visage her mouth dropped open with confusion.

"Miss Granger."

"Pro-Professor?"

Her head tilted back as he came to his full height before her. Dressed in his traditional clothes, sans the cloak, he looked as though he couldn't have belonged there. Just as she was about to ask exactly where they were, her eyes shifted to a woman standing beside a tree on the hill. She couldn't see her face but she recognized her hair from the photos Harry had shown her. It was then she got her answer and her heart skipped a beat.

When her eyes turned back to the man before her, she saw such deepness in his eyes, emotions she could never name. Her brow flexed as she tried to find her tongue but when his hands took her wrists she found herself wordless. The shackles that had weighed her down glowed brightly beneath his palms and when he pulled back, she watched with astonishment as the metal burst into tiny silver orbs that floated into the void.

Before she could process, his hand reached out again taking hers tightly in his own. It felt so right, so complete, like two halves of a broken vase. Her eyes rose one last time into fathomless black, a small sliver of gold shining through and she felt her world turning dark again.

Snape jolted back into his worldly body; his eyes opening to mere slits against the first rays of sunlight that filtered in through the boarded windows. Every inch of his body felt mysteriously weightless as his soul reunited inside him. His arm burned like fire but he didn't have the ability to call out. His hand twitched against a tangled mass that laid heavily in his palm.

As his vision cleared, he gradually became aware of a weight resting over him. His head turned slowly, he expected the pain but when his eyes turned down he hadn't been prepared for the emotional blow to his already damaged soul. Granger's body lay over his own, her back and legs twisted in a most unnatural way. The mark on her neck pulsed with blue lightning forcing her stilled heart to beat again. The weight under his hand became more clear when he turned his head further.

Her eyes were closed, lips parted but no breath passed their bruised opening. Carefully, as if handling fractured glass, he forced his hand to lift her head. His eyes turned dark with deep sorrow as her head rocked in his palm, completely unrestricted. His gaze shifted to the brand upon her neck that was gradually burning itself out. The crackling lightning working its way inward leaving only smooth unraised skin beneath the tattoo.

"No..." His voice was barely a whisper grated through the remains of his throat. It sounded broken even to his own ears. His brow shifted furrowing deeply as a tear welled in the corner of his eye. Her body remained still in his hold and could no longer bear the sight of her. With all the strength he had inside him, he pulled her limp form up into his chest shielding her head from the growing rays of light. His lips pressed down upon her head and he closed his eyes tightly as he tried to understand just how he could possibly save what was so seemingly lost.

Time was running out, though he may have brought her back from the brink of death once, there would be no second chance. His eyes turned down to the stone that had fallen between them, its red number glaring up at him, 3. His fingers slipped down between them, pulling the stone up. He hadn't known where his wand had gone but he was confident in his wandless abilities.

With as much care as he was capable, he pressed the stone between her still lips and with a small mutter of his own graveled voice, the stone snapped inside. The liquid he had placed inside spilling out onto her tongue.

Just as his thumb ran along the edge of her tainted skin, her body gave a sharp jerk, a most unnatural noise erupting in her throat as though she had tried to exhale and inhale simultaneously. Her eyes opened next, wide and fearful, the chocolate hues swimming with confusion. Despite the protest from his burning limbs, he shifted his hold cradling her head into the crook of his elbow, his hand coming down to pull at her shoulders. Like a lovers embrace, he held her up against his chest trying to see into her mind.

Miss Granger.

Professor, I...I can't...

Just hold on...

Please...please don't let them...see me die...please...

His eyes turned down, though her heart was beating, it wasn't beating on its own power. It was giving her enough to remain conscious but only just. Her chest stuttered and flexed out of time as her brain attempted to force it back into a natural rhythm. Keeping her heavy form curled tightly to his own, he raised his other hand and placed it flat on her chest. It took every ounce of mental and magical power that he possessed to sort out the cause.

As he shifted he felt the tell-tale press of a vial in his pocket pressing into his lower ribs. It was only then that he'd realized she'd torn his coat and shirt asunder. Without shifting his hold too much, he reached down between them pulling the vial from his inner coat pocket. His arm trembled when he brought it up to the light. It was a small vial, hardly bigger than his thumb, inside with barely three drops left. He'd always carried it with him, ever since Dumbledore had given it to him so many years ago. A bottle, of Pheonix Tears.

His thumb shook as he pressed off the wax seal. He'd never been in the position where he'd had to take them. He'd always used his own stores, for such occasions. He'd never thought of a more perfect moment than now, even with Nagini's venom running course through his now beating heart. He knew he couldn't take it for himself. His eyes turned back down, to the head—so small, so frail—held with care in his embrace. His thumb pressed lightly against her jaw parting the lips he had closed by his hold and pressed the vial gently between. As he watched the clear liquid disappear, he felt his own heart aching.

Hermione's body twitched as the liquid ran down her throat, unable to swallow, it popped slightly before going down inside her lungs and stomach. Her eyes shifted slightly, her vision dark around the edges, all she could make out through the halo of darkness was his strict eyes looking down into her own.

Slowly, a heavy warmth started to push away the fire that burned itself inside her. Like water to a burning flame, she felt the magical power flowing down into her heart. There was a small stutter, a pause where her heart went still and she truly believed that this was it. That they hadn't been able to cheat death. Then, like the rising dawn, a slow power came deep from her core.

Snape watched with bated breath; her eyes went unfocused for a long moment before the darkness that had filled them, the coldness, the hollowness of death, slowly melted away to deep chocolate shimmering with gold so brilliant it put the waning sun to shame. Then, something he had never expected.

Hermione took a slow breath, full of life and power. The darkness around his face melting away like springtime snow. It was then that she felt her soul reaching out, wrapping around his, and a soft smile formed over her lips.

Snape had never before seen a more beautiful smile in his life, never had he seen someone look at him so completely as she did at that moment. His own mouth twitched, a happiness he had never experienced filling his soul. So complete, so vindicated, so rightfully redeemed.

Her eyes lidded heavy but she took a slow a full breath, her body trembling as the last of the brand's power shot like a bolt straight down to earth. Even Snape felt it spark through his own frame, and for a second, for an impossibly long moment, he thought that all his work was for naught. Then, she took another breath, and her head that had been so gingerly held against his chest, pressed slowly against his heart. Just as his jaw moved to call her name his happiness went out like a light.

oOo

Even in victory, Harry could not smile. Though the faces around him looked at him with appreciation and awe, he found no wonder nor amazement in his deed. Yes, he had killed the evilest wizard of all time but he had also sacrificed the kindest, most brilliant witch the world had yet to know.

His eyes turned to the fleeting stars shining through the smashed window of the Great Hall, looking out towards the forest where he had left her, alone, to die. After all she had done for him, after the countless times she had saved his life. He had left her side in the end.

The crowd around him swelled, their mixed voices of victory swirling around outside the heavy silence that was filling his inner thoughts. He had to go to her, he had to bring her home. He had to be the one to take the blame for her death. It was the only way. His brows furrowed deeper as he tried to push through the crowd all vying to touch the 'Boy Who Lived.'

"Harry?" A familiar voice and even more familiar hand wrapped gently around his arm and he turned his head towards the innocent, if battle-worn, face of Ginny. His heart sunk even lower in his chest then, reminded of what he had taken from her brother.

"There's something I need to do..." He pulled himself free of her hold and continued pushing on, unaware that his cryptic message had pulled three others from the crowd. Ginny, Ron, and Neville pushed their way through following after him. The hall was starting to calm but their absence went unnoticed.

Harry stepped out into the courtyard, still littered with the dead, his eyes turning towards the rising sun that cast large shadows over all the land. He turned to make his way down the side staircase when a low yet beautifully tragic song filled the air. He and the others had turned on their heels trying to find the source of the beautifully morose tone.

oOo

Her eyes had closed, but after some time, her lips had started to move; a small noise as though she was trying to speak passing through on the exhale. He had thought for a moment he had lost her, even though she had been with him. They had each sat, too afraid to move for fear of losing the other to the reality that they were teetering on death's edge. The room had gone quiet for some time, just the soft rattling breaths to echo in their torment.

The tear that had worked its way free from his eye, ran down his jaw to land on her cheek, mixing with the dirt and blood that rested there, leaving a small streak behind. His hand rose higher, shielding her from the world around them. He could feel her trying to tell him something, something she believed to be dreadfully important.

"Look at me..." His words, clenched tight by his damaged throat, ghosted over the top of her hair moving the tangled strands. He relaxed his grip giving her the support she needed to turn her eyes to him. When he looked down, he felt her words clear as though she had spoken in the air between them.

The venom...in...your pocket...

Snape's eyes turned down away from her face to the lump in his shirt pocket. It was in that moment he realized that his body was burning, not just in his arm where his mark was but his entire frame felt as though acid flowed through his veins. Even on the verge of death this girl—this woman, thought of everyone but herself. He closed his eyes tight, still unwilling to let her go, why he couldn't have told even the most skilled legilimens, only that he couldn't. His hand that had been holding her side pulled up to reach into his pocket. He could feel her eyes watching him, waiting for him to understand.

When the vial was firmly in his grasp, he lifted it up to his lips without inspection, pressing down the release and without pause, finished the vial. He lowered his hand, letting the glass fall down to the side, his eyes turning back to seek hers. A new smile had formed on her lips, a peaceful, almost happy smile.

It was in that moment, that Snape realized they couldn't stay. Not there, not anywhere. His role in her life had finally come to an end. Like the closing of a chapter, he had done all he could to ensure that her life, one that was almost too short, had been completed. There was no more purpose for him now than to return her to where she belonged.

Hermione could feel it too, she could feel him growing stronger—tenser, against her. She knew he was scared, terrified of what had grown between them. An element of earned trust, something that she was sure he had never before experienced in his life. True, and unadulterated acceptance for who he was, and how amazing he could have been. She wanted to say so many things to him, more than she could even begin to articulate. Though she knew, it would do nothing to change the heart that had been broken so many times before. Still, she wasn't afraid to ask for just one more thing, one more memory that she could take with her. She needed it, wanted it desperately.

Her eyes opened, her lashes brushing against his bare chest, that was growing warmer beneath her cheek. She could feel his heart beating stronger now, as it should properly be. With all the strength that had built inside her, she tilted her head back into his hand. When he shifted his eyes to hers she felt the gentle caress of his inner thoughts pressing against her own.

Say my name?

Mis-

No...

Snape's brow furrowed slowly, his eyes growing just a bit wider when he heard her echo her request. She wanted to hear him say it. His throat still pulsed but he swallowed down the sand that laid heavily in his mouth. He owed her this; if nothing else for her continued bravery. Something he normally would never have made restitution for, she had truly and completely earned it. His respect, among so many other things, had been won over the time she had spent with him, her brilliance and quick wit had saved both of their lives.

"Miss..." His throat contracted tightly as he tried to speak, cutting off his normally baritone voice with a sharp snap. He tried to swallow down the pain but his grimace betrayed his inability to actually speak aloud. His hand shifted, still holding her bruised neck, and watched as the slimmer of hope that had shone softly in the corner of her eyes died out. He felt it then, a small tremor in her neck and he watched with a heavy heart as she could no longer stay with him. He had lost his chance to give her the one simple thing she had asked for.

A deeply melodious song that he hadn't heard in many years started to fill his ears, swaying in and out as though the carrier of the tune was running in wide circles overhead, his head turned towards the corner when a bright flame burst forth out of nowhere and it was in that moment that he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

oOo

"Harry, where are you going?" Ginny held her injured arm to her chest trying to keep it from swaying as she, Neville and Ron thumped down the side stairs after him. "Harry please...just tell us..."

Harry merely shook his head, his own thoughts rampaging through. The song had left them, flying far off into the distance, he was sure of what he'd seen, he was sure Dumbledore was leading him one last time. As his feet landed on the soft grass that expanded out towards the forest from which he'd come, he turned to face his friends. "Please...just...stay here...I beg you..."

"Harry..." Ginny came down the final step her eyes filled with concern, "Just tell us where you're going..." She could see the torment in his eyes and it tore so deeply at her heart. For a man who had saved the world, he looked as though he were walking to the gallows.

"Just...do this—for me..." Harry took a slow breath, "I will return...There is just...one more thing to be done..."

Ginny sniffled softly and wiped her nose with the back of her good arm but nodded her head. Taking a stance, she lowered down her head holding out her hand to stop the boys behind her. She trusted Harry, even though her heart ached to follow, she watched as the boy who had finally come to be a man, stepped out into the rubble covered fields.

It was as they watched Harry walk towards the sun that the song that had called to them before returned, brilliant and more beautiful than before. It called out to all those within the castle, raising the heads bowed within and even bringing those capable to their feet. Heads lined the windows of the Great Hall searching for the source of the sound.

Harry saw none of it, none of those who were watching him walk across the sun-stained lawns. His eyes firmly on the path leading him where he thought he needed to be. As the shadows over the land shifted, he noticed a dark form walking up the road that led to Hogsmeade. Harry raised his wand, unsure of what or rather who was approaching.

The figure looked larger than a normal man, though their shape was definitely human. The sun was at their back casting a deep shadow over their entire body. They weren't moving quickly and Harry couldn't see their arms moving on either side. He swallowed down his fear taking further steps towards them, though he could hear his friends worried calls for him to return.

It was just as he heard someone thumping down the small hill to join him did the sun finally break its obscuring hold over their form. Harry's heart skipped three beats as he realized that the reason their arms weren't moving at their sides was that they were holding something. A rather large lump of something wrapped in midnight black cloth.

Just as he made to call out, to reveal the identity of the man walking towards him, he saw him go down. His heart kicked him hard in the chest as he lost sight of them over the small rise. He pushed himself over the hill with reckless abandon trying to be the first to get there. His feet slid in the wet grass when he came to the top of the rise, his eyes widening. He was still at least 10 meters away when he saw Snape's pale face catch in the burning rays. Like an ethereal angel, his head turned towards Harry just after he released his burden gently onto the ground.

Harry was sure he wasn't seeing anything properly in the moment. Possibly too stricken with grief over the loss of his friend, he was surely seeing another, who he had never gotten the chance to know. He had watched this man die. How could be there, just meters before him? Harry cast his hand back trying to find the words to tell the others to stay but he could find no strength to lift his tongue.

Harry stood, chest heaving, unable to process anything he was seeing. That was until Snape's head lowered down and his hand reached out revealing just what he had been carrying. When Hermione's face shined in the shadow of his bent form, Harry couldn't breathe. His heart leaped nearly out of his chest and his feet kicked off the ground with a power he didn't even know he possessed.

As he was running, a low keening noise met him in stride and he turned his head with great awe as Fawkes dipped down low in front of him before racing on ahead. Harry panted with his effort to catch up to the mythical creature, but there was no way he was going to make it. The earth dipped down again and when he came up, he could see both of them clearly. Snape's dark eyes watching him struggle to reach him. It was in that moment that he finally released Hermione completely, resting her gingerly along the path.

Fawkes dipped, nearly obstructing Harry's view; a whispered plea passed his lips as the bird circled low coming up behind Snape to land softly on his shoulder. Just as Harry opened his mouth to call out to the man, he was gone. Just as Dumbledore had done what felt like lifetimes ago, large wings of flame came out and for that second, that heartbeat, Snape truly did look like a Dark Angel.

"No!" Harry stumbled coming onto the gravel path. His eyes turning away from the dying flames to the body that lay still in his path. His knees failed him but he didn't take notice of the sharp rocks falling into his them as he leaned over. His hands shook with tremendous force as he looked down into Hermione's peaceful face. Her head had turned, protected inside the cloak and the first thing Harry noticed was the mark on her neck was completely gone, not a trace left.

"Hermione..." His voice cracked with emotion that was nearly too heavy for his heart to bear. His hands shook, cut and scrapped from catching himself on the rocks below. "Hermione?" His eyes filled with tears that he didn't stop from falling.

He cupped her face gently, wary, and heartbroken. He could hear shouts from behind him, feet thundering closer.