It didn't take too long to find the young woman in the library, although she was hidden quite well, curled up amidst several cushions and blankets, slumbering peacefully.

Rather than wake the serenely sleeping witch, Severus Snape plucked up a rather hefty tome from the coffee table and took a seat on the sofa by her feet, settling in to relax in the bubble of domesticity that he had never anticipated being a part of before.

Severus was surprised to find the book on muggle mind sciences quite fascinating and made substantial progress into the text before the witch beside him began to stir. Following her yawn and stretch, Hermione lifted her head to better see the man sitting beside her and smiled sleepily.

"I was almost afraid to wake up. I thought today might've been a dream," she confessed shyly, biting her lip to try and hide her embarrassment.

"I may have thought the same thing as I unpacked my things. I was… uneasy, coming to find you," Severus acceded, matching her shy smile with his own.

"Was I asleep for long? I'm sorry if you've been sitting around waiting for me."

"You needed the rest, and besides, I was able to enjoy some not-so light reading while you napped the day away," Severus responded teasingly. "You read muggle science texts in your spare time?"

"It's… well, it's for a research project of sorts." Hermione admitted.

Severus raised an eyebrow but when that didn't prompt Hermione to extrapolate, after waiting patiently (for him) for several moments, he inquired, "Indeed? What sort of project?"

"Umm, maybe we could return to our conversation earlier? Afterwards, I may feel more comfortable talking about my project with you." Hermione asked after thinking for a moment. Shifting into a more comfortable sitting position, while still clutching to her blanket, she continued. "I really would like to better understand why you are here and why, of all people, I'm of interest to you… You are a hero now, after all. Surely there are far more interesting women throwing themselves at you. Not that I'm not thrilled! I just…"

"I understand, there's no need to explain," Severus interrupted gently. Moving towards the middle of the sofa, he took Hermione's hand in his and looked at their joined hands reverently as he spoke. "Hermione, I know I was not kind to you when you were in school and I know you understand why. I saw you only as the brain among your peers. It wasn't until you were older that I saw you were quite brilliant in your own right, not that I could encourage you at all due to the position I was in.

"But I don't think that I truly saw you as a woman until after the battle. I was… dumbfounded that you stayed by my side during my recovery, that you read to me and cared for me. I was able to hear you much of the time, though I couldn't move, and I was so very grateful for your dedication. I would have surely gone insane had I been stuck in utter silence for those months.

"I know that when I was conscious, I was… grumpy to say the least. But I believe I tried so hard to push you away because I expected you to leave eventually, and the less time I spent around you, the safer I would be. The less lonely it would feel when, inevitably, you moved on with your life once you felt your duty to me was done. I was so torn. You were the highlight of my waking hours, the torment of my dreams, and I knew that I could never deserve the light that you shone on everything around you. I was and still am awestruck by the dedicated, strong, intelligent woman that you have become. You not only saved me in that shack, you kept me going afterwards as well. Had it not been for you, I'm not sure what I would have done or where I would be now. Thank you for that, Hermione."

"Oh," breathed Hermione as she unconsciously squeezed his hand. "That was… far more than I expected. Certainly more than I would have expected you to admit to."

"Indeed. I have overshared. I apologise for making you uncomfortable," Severus replied stiffly, moving to pull his hand away.

"No! No, that's not it. Not at all!" Hermione gasped, using her other hand to hold onto his securely so he couldn't pull away. " Severus… I had no idea that you had felt that way for so long, or that you could hear me while I was talking and reading to you! Sweet Circe, how embarrassing! I said some… Gods… some really stupid things."

"You…. are not uncomfortable?"

"Self conscious, yes. But not uncomfortable. I'm honestly very flattered, Severus. Those are the kindest things anyone has ever said to me." Hermione squeezed his hand in reassurance. "I appreciate your candour.

"For that, I guess… yeah, I guess I should tell you about what I'm researching. I just hope you won't see me differently because of this." Hermione mumbled, debating on whether or not to share. She knew that Severus was not someone that would accept only part of the truth, she would have to entrust him with the entire account of her misdeeds. It was with a large sigh that she began to explain, "Before the war, before we had to go on the run, I obliviated my parents. Then I sent them to Australia to keep them safe. Only… I have yet to find a way to return their memories. I've spent the better part of the last two years researching, speaking with experts, and trying to heal them. I have made no progress so far. They still don't know who they really are… or who I am. Since I've returned, I've.. well…" She gestured to the overladen table that held a wide variety of subjects. "I've expanded my search to include more varied source material in the hopes of finding something that will help bring my parents back to me."

Severus sat silently for several moments, brows pinched in concerned concentration.

"Well…?"

"Well, what?"

"Aren't you going to say something? Tell me my actions were stupid? Reckless?"

"Hermione, have you been on your own in this conquest? I am certain Minerva would have mentioned something had she known."

"This has been a solo venture. As you are surely aware, what I did wasn't exactly legal." Hermione replied stoically; acknowledging and whole-heartedly, accepting responsibility for her actions.

"That has to have been an immense burden to bear, Hermione. I'm sorry that you have been dealing with it on your own." Severus said solemnly as his dark gaze met hers.

Hermione sat silently, with a slight frown on her face. Her body was still and tensed for a fight, anticipating the harsh reprimand that she knew she deserved.

"If you would like, I would be able to help you put together a plan?" Severus offered warily, looking away in discomfort. He felt far out of his depth and uncertain of where boundaries lay in such a new relationship (for lack of a better word, what do the youths call it now? Dating? Courting? Amicably coexisting with the shared assumption that they would fall into bed together in the near future?) and not wanting to overstep.

"A… plan?" Hermione asked in confusion.

Severus lifted his gaze to meet Hermione's and was terrified to see very obvious tears forming. Immediately, he began to backtrack, "Forgive me for overstepping, that's none of my business, I should not butt my way into your affairs, I did not mean to upset you."

His fear was replaced with confusion when Hermione unceremoniously tossed her blanket to the floor, threw her arms around his shoulders, and buried her face into the crook of his neck. "You have no idea how much that means to me, Severus. I would be so grateful to have your help. Whatever help you would like to give. I don't want to make you feel obligated to help me, but I can't help thinking that you are exactly what I need to be able to solve this puzzle."

"So you… are not mad at me for nosing my way into your business?" he asked slowly and with noticeable uncertainty.

With that, she kissed him. Gently, softly. Conveying her gratitude with a light caress of her lips before pulling back to instead rest her head on his shoulder. "I've spent so much time trying to solve this on my own. I had spent months researching before going to Australia. All my spare time during my last school year. When my attempts bore no fruit, I travelled to Wizarding communities far and wide. I spent time in China and India, Peru, and finally Egypt. I spent weeks in the Library of Alexandria trying to translate old texts before I realised that if I didn't return soon I would drain nearly all of my savings. Not that any of it led to much of anything that I hadn't already figured out." At that she chuckled at herself and her poor planning, something that was not her usual wont. "I've been doing some research since I came back, but mostly I've been trying to distract myself, hoping that letting my mind stray from the problem would help me to see more clearly. I haven't had much luck so far. I just wish I could give them their lives back, but I'm sure they will never forgive me for what I've done." Hermione finished her explanation with a shrug of her shoulders, as if resigned to her fate.

"I won't deny, I am rather envious of your trip to the Library of Alexandria. However, I am certain that we will be able to come up with a solution right here given a bit of time. We will fix this Hermione. Do not punish yourself for what the war pushed you to do, many had to make difficult decisions and few were so selfless. If you hadn't made that choice, there is a very slim chance that your parents would still be breathing today. You are brave, Hermione, and selfless. An embodiment of the most valuable traits of your house. If you will allow me, I will do whatever is within my power to make sure your parents understand that your actions were for their own good," Severus whispered gently to the woman resting against him.

Hermione turned her head, raising her hand to Severus' cheek, and gazed into his eyes. Searching to be sure there was truth to his flattery, but the intensity and honesty of his stare told her that his words were far more than empty words and pretty compliments. He truly believed what he said and that made her heart jump in her chest. "For a day that started out on such a bad note, I'm thinking this may be one of the best days I've had in a long time." With that, she adjusted herself so that she could wrap her arms around the man beside her. "What do you say to some tea?" she grinned and asked after giving his cheek a chaste peck.

"That sounds agreeable," Severus replied, features softened by a hint of a smile.

Immediately they heard a ruckus of pots and pans clanging down in the kitchen, and could only assume that the resident house elf had heard the request. Not a minute later, Kreacher appeared with a tea service which he placed down and quickly disappeared. Hermione's thanks were too slow and ended up directed at the teapot and the vacant space where the elf had been.

As they set about methodically preparing their cups, Severus informed Hermione, "I may take a trip to my house after tea and grab some additional items. I'm afraid that most of the clothes that I brought with me were for work. It would be nice to dress more… casually, while I am here."

"Severus Snape? Dressed casually?! I must still be dreaming!" Hermione teased, sipping at her tea. "I think I would like to see that. You, I mean. Casual and comfortable anyway." Hermione stammered and blushed, "While you take care of that, I could run out to grab some dinner. I quite like the Chippy around the corner if you're up for it?"

"An amenable idea. It has been a bit since I've had some good fish n' chips," Severus replied with a smirk as he finished his tea and stood. With an inclination of his head he said, "I will get moving then and be back in an hour or so. Until then, Hermione."

"Goodbye Severus," Hermione responded with a small smile as he bent to kiss her cheek then left the room.

After errands were run, possessions were packed and unpacked, and dinner was had, Hermione and Severus decided to call it a night.

As if by an unspoken agreement, the denizens of Number Twelve bid each other an awkward, unsure 'good night' and parted with a light, wholesome kiss outside of Hermione's door before retiring to their own rooms.

Both too tired from the unusually hectic day and unexpected new situation that they found themselves in to try to determine when and how to address taking additional steps in their acquaintance…relationship… thing. They couldn't help being a little fearful of moving too fast, pushing too far, and scaring the other away.

Sleep.

Alone.

That certainly seemed like the safest choice to make although easily the most frustrating as well.

A/N: I just want to thank everyone who has been reading, commenting, and following along. It means a lot and I love reading everyone's comments. I hope you're enjoying so far! :)