A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

Word Count: 517

"You look well," Severus stated, watching Hermione leaning the stone wall. She had set down the book she'd been holding and looked up at him.
"You look the same as always," she commented, noting his clothing did not seem to have changed. He was wearing the same black slacks, same black robes, same black everything.

"The tie is new,:" he said after a moment. She rolled her eyes.

"But still black."
"Hermione, it's been nearly three years,"he said after moment. She glared at him. Three years since she'd accepted a teaching position in America for a year, she'd come back after that, but she and Severus had remained broken up. The long distance thing hadn't worked for either of them. Part of her had tried to pick it up, but he'd been so distant, claiming he wasn't interested anymore, that she deserved better. She couldn't argue, but she hadn't wanted better. She'd wanted him. Now, she was standing against a wall at Hogwarts watching the man she loved stand in front of her. She'd only just taken the arthimancy job for a few months, but those months had morphed into her working here until the end of the term.
"Oh, that long?" she asked sarcastically.
"I'm not good at this," Severus admitted, looking at the ground. Hermione bit her lip watching him.
"Wearing a color other than black? Not berating students? I hear things. I heard you made one of the first years cry again. Her sister is my fifth years, Severus," Hermione muttered. Severus raised his head so his eyes met hers.
"Apologizing. Hermione. I'm... I'm... I'm sorry. I was a lot of things. I don't want to be those things anymore. I was an idiot thinking that I could live without you, that I was damaged beyond the point of repair. You showed me I wasn't and I pushed you away. Could you see it in your heart to give me a second chance?"
"Severus Snape begging for me to take him back?" Hermione asked, trying to keep the shock from her voice. She felt the corner of her mouth twinge into an almost smile. Sure, he'd broken her heart, but... that was in the past and now he was trying to make amends. "You have changed," she stated. He nodded, reaching out and taking her hands in his.
"I have," he whispered. "I honestly have, please, I'm sorry."

"I forgive you, Severus. Things were strained then, I was so far away. I mean, I left you here, alone, knowing what you'd, what we'd been through. I forgive you, Severus."

"Thank you."

"As for the rest of it, for us, I've got a meeting this afternoon with Minerva, might need a drink afterwards? If you and a bottle of elf made mead might find your way to my chambers, we could, I don't know, catch up?" Hermione suggested, giving Severus a wink as she rose to her feet. Severus nodded. Hermione smiled, feeling his eyes watching her leave. He might have broken her heart, but giving him a second chance couldn't hurt, could it?