A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters
Word Count: 324
"You are not fighting this war alone, Severus. I'm right here, I'll always be right here," Hermione promised, putting her hand on his chin. He reached up, curling his fingers around her wrist. She could smell the smoke on him, the hint of mint that clung to his clothing no matter how many times he cleaned them. They were standing in the middle of the battle, standing in an alcove, possibly for the last time, together.
"I can't ask you to stay," he said, the mask muffling his voice slightly. Hermione nodded. She'd known he would say something like that. He wanted her to be safe, wanted her to survive. She didn't see the point if it was without him.
"You didn't ask, so I'm going to do just that, stay," she replied, giving him a soft smile. He returned it, although he knew she couldn't see. He hated wearing the mask, keeping her from seeing his face. He knew he couldn't take it off now, if he did, he knew some wand happy witch or wizard would happily see him dead. He didn't blame them, no one else knew the truth about the whole Dumbledore nightmare.
"You are insufferable, you know that?" he asked, touching his forehead to hers.
"I do, you've been telling me that since the first time we met, and I love you," she replied.
"I love you too," he whispered, holding Hermione in his arms for a moment. She gave him one last longing, hopeful look, before stepping away from him, her wand at the ready, to take on the world that had become little more than a free for all of chaos. He watched her leave, wishing she didn't have to, wishing she wasn't putting herself in harm's way. He wanted to rush back to her, to fight at her side, but the burning Mark on his arm told him fate had other plans for him this day.